Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 154

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle
Number of Pages: 1432

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ship and has acquired his possessions by his own efforts, supplemented by the strictest integrity.

Our subject was married, in Olmstead county, Minnesota, in 1892, to Miss Andrea Skogsmark, a native of Minnesota of Norwegian parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Kildahl are the parents of three chil- dren, who are named in order of birth as follows : Joseph, Elmer and Nathan. Our subject held the office of county commissioner of Ramsey county two terms, from 1892 to 1898, and is actively inter- ested in public affairs of local importance. He is intelligent and progressive and is deservedly held in high esteem in the community in which he labors.

MATHEW MCGINNIS, who enjoys the dis- tinction of being one of the oldest resident pioneers of Grand Forks county, North Dakota, is success- fully pursuing farming on three hundred and nine- teen acres of land in Harvey township. He was born in county Louthe, Ireland, September 8, 1844.

The parents of our subject, Thomas and Ann ( Skelly) McGinnis, were natives of Ireland and passed their lives there, and our subject was reared and educated in his native isle. He came to Amer- ica in 1869 and located in Connecticut and after one year moved to Minnesota, and in 1871 squatted on the land on which he now resides, and in 1874 entered claim to land as a pre-emption. He was the first settler on the river north of Grand Forks and south of Pembina, and his farm comprises over three hundred acres of good land, including one hundred acres of timber land. His home is pleas- antly situated and is comfortable in every particu- lar, and he has met with remarkable success in his calling.

Mr. McGinnis was married in Ireland, in 1869, to Catherine Blunt. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Maggie. Mr. McGinnis assisted in the organization of his township and served as county commissioner from 1876 to 1882. He also served on the township board and in numerous school offices, and is a man of most active public spirit. He and his family are consistent members of the Catholic church and are held in the highest esteem in the community in which they have spent the past quarter of a century. Mr. McGinnis is one of the oldest settlers living in North Dakota, and he braved the dangers of pio- neer life as well as the hardships, and after having labored persistently for many years he has suc- ceeded in acquiring a valuable property and an en- viable reputation. His farm is one of the best in that locality and bears little semblance to the land as he first beheld it in the days of the trapper and the huntsman and the land as nature made it.

DAVID BROWN, one of the first settlers of the prairie ot Grand Forks county, now has a fine farm in section 32, of Harvey township. where he

has resided for the past twenty years or more, He is a man well versed in his calling and has devoted huis career to agricultural pursuits and enjoys the comforts of a happy home in his declining years.

Our subject was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, August 30, 1830. His parents, William and Agnes (Caskie) Brown, were also natives of Scotland and passed their lives there. the father was a farmer and had a small estate. The grandfather Caskie was a soldier in the British army and was killed in Spain. Our subject had three brothers and four sisters and he is the only member of the family in the United States.

Mr. Brown was raised in Scotland and received his education and early training there and in 1855 emigrated to America, landing at New York. He went direct to Toronto, Canada, and resided in Canada until 1879 and followed farming and saw- milling. He went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, in 1879 and the same year entered a home- stead claim to the land on which he now resides and has held continuous residence thereon since that date. He now owns and operates nearly two sections of fine land and he has placed upon his farm such improvements as entitle it to rank among the finest pieces of property within the limits of Harvey township.

Our subject was married, in Canada, in 1858, to Mary J. Sheppard, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of six living children, who are named in order of birth as follows: Will- iam D .; Edward; Nancy, now Mrs. Russell; Wil- mot ; John; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. T. M. Kobin- son. Edward resides in Oregon and the other chil- dren reside in North Dakota. Mr. Brown and fan- ily are members of the Presbyterian church. They are prominent in the community in which they re- side and well merit their high standing. Mr. Brown has served as chairman of the town board nine years since taking up his residence in Harvey township and assisted in the organization of the township and was first chairman of the township board. He is widely known and his active public spirit has never been called in question. Politically he is a Republican.

ALFRED MOSHER, a pioneer settler of Erie township, and an ex-soldier, is well known as a man of industrious and enterprising character, and has a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings in section 18.

Our subject is a native of Vermont and was born March 20, 1834. His parents, Alpheus A. and Susan ( Willis) Mosher, were natives of New York. The father was a carpenter by trade and passed the greater part of his life in New York, but died in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where the mother of our subject also passed away. Six sons and two daughters, who grew to maturity, were born to them, and one sister of our subject now resides in North Dakota. The grandfather Mosher came

ALFRED MOSHER.

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from England about 1812 and the maternal grand- parents were from Pennsylvania. Our subject was reared and educated in Vermont until he at- tained his majority and in 1855 went to Putnam county, Illinois, and followed his trade, that of a carpenter, until April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served about sixty days when he was dis- charged and in 1862 he removed to Wisconsin, and in the fall of that year enlisted from that state in Company G, Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until July, 1865. He was with the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in the following battles: Meridian, Mississippi, skirmishes around Vicksburg, Paducah, siege of Atlanta, and with Sherman to the sea, Fort Mc- Allister, and numerous lesser engagements. He es- caped without wounds and in 1865 was transferred to the Sixteenth Wisconsin Regiment a few months before being discharged from the service in 1865. He returned to Wisconsin and remained there un- til 1880 following his trade and then went to Cass county, North Dakota, where he entered a home- stead claim and now resides thereon. He has fol- lowed his trade in addition to farming his land and has met with good success and has a well improved farm.

Our subject was married, in Bennington, Ver- mont, in 1854, to Persis Parker, a native of that state, and a daughter of Thomas and Fannie ( Haines) Parker, both of Vermont. Twelve chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mosher, six of whom are still living and are as follows: Hattie M., now Mrs. E. J. Stowers ; Warren E., Luella, now Mrs. Nutting ; Arthur A., Edgar L. and Harry W. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are highly respected in the community in which they make their home. Mr. Mosher is a Republican in political sentiment. He has served as supervisor of his township and as- sisted in the organization of the same. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His countenance found in a portrait in these pages is that of a man of more than ordinary ability and strong character.

CHARLES W. BEYER, whose place of busi- ness is in Bottineau, Bottineau county, North Da- kota, is the pioneer machinist and blacksmith of the city and one of the first in the county.

Mr. Beyer was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1862. His father, Ferdinand Beyer, was a nativeof Switzer- landandcame to America in his youth. The mother was a native of Canada and of Highland Scotch de- scent. Charles W. Beyer was the eldest in a family of ten children and was reared in the village of Carleton Place, Ontario, where he received a com- mon and high-school education in the village schools. At the age of thirteen years he began work at the machinist's trade. His father was a machinist and operated a large shop, employing a

force of about two hundred men. He did engine building and repairing and all kinds of machine work. Our subject worked in his father's shop and in other machine shops until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He then came to Bottineau county, North Dakota, in 1883, and took up land one and a half miles from Bottineau. He made the trip in covered wagons and with ox teams. At that time the nearest trading point was Bartlett. In 1884 he opened a blacksmith shop on his farm and did general repair work in connection with his farming. He remained on the farm for several years and owned at one time three hundred and twenty acres, and has owned different farms at different times. However, his blacksmith business kept increasing until at the present time he has a shop 25x100 feet, equipped with four forges, two engines, two trip hammers, lathes, polishers, drills, etc., and employs a force of seven machinists. He has the best equipped shop in this section of the state and does all kinds of machinist work and re- pairing.

Mr. Beyer was married, in 1884, to Miss Jane Stewart. Mrs. Stewart is a native of Canada and is of Scotch descent. To this union six children have been born. The family is highly respected in the community and the parents are striving to give them the benefits of thorough education. Mr. Beyer is a Republican in political faith and has been active in public affairs. He is president of the town board and has been at all times a leading man in his party. in the county.

HON. ROBERT J. WALKER, residing on section 5, Irvine township, Ramsey county, is one of the influential and prominent citizens of that region. He has always been found standing for right and justice and manifesting the true spirit of American progress in his financial and social life.

Our subject was born near Lockhaven, Penn- sylvania, November 23, 1840. He left there when an infant and went to Center county, Pennsylvania, where he lived until fifteen years old, and then went to Ohio. He lived in Miami and Clark counties until 1862, being engaged in the milling business. He enlisted in Company A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and served three years. After the close of the war he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he engaged in the milling business six months, after which he removed to Virdin, Il- linois. He was engaged in the milling and grain business there and at Girard, Illinois, until 1883, and in April of that year went to North Dakota and located in what is now Ramsey county. He selected land in Irvine township, where he has since made his home. He has erected good buildings and made valuable improvements and now owns eighteen hundred acres of choice land, located in Ramsey, Towner and Benson counties.

Our subject was married, in Macoupin county,

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Illinois, to Lucy Williams, a native of that county. Mrs. Walker died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Au- gust 7, 1897. Five children were born to this union, who were as follows: Oliver, Wilbur, Theo, Eva, now Mrs. Edward Danley; and Gussie, now Mrs. William Wirtz. Mr. Walker was married to Miss Laura Vose in October, 1898. Mrs. Walker is a native of Maine. Mr. Walker is a supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has taken the degrees of the Knights Templar and Mystic Shrine. He was elected to the legislature on the Republican ticket in 1896 and served one term, and for two terms he was president of the Enforcement League of North Dakota. He takes a hearty interest in public affairs and is deservedly popular and successful.

ERIK NURMI, proprietor of one of the fine farms of section 4. in Enterprise township, Nelson county, is one of the progressive men of his com- munity and has gained a good estate and an en- viable reputation by persistent and honest efforts. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he engages in diversified farming with unbounded success.

Our subject was born in Aljarvi, Wassan, Fin- land, May 18, 1859, and was the eighth in a family of nine children born to John and Wilhelmina ( Hannula ) Nurmi. The father died in 1866 and the mother survives and makes her home in the old country. Our subject remained at home until about seventeen years of age, working at log driving, and then decided to try his fortunes elsewhere. Two of his brothers had preceded him to America and through their influence he came to the New World and joined them at Calumet, Michigan, and there worked in the copper mines five years. He went to Minneapoils, Minnesota, in 1881, and worked on the railroad one year, and then went to Big Horn, Montana, and from thence to the Black Hills region, where he worked in the gold mines until 1889. The following year he filed claim to land in Nelson county and began farming, and al- though the work was entirely foreign to that in which he had previously engaged he progressed rapidly and soon had his farm under cultivation and improvements begun on the place. He now has a valuable estate and has a good competence.

Our subject was married, in January, 1890, to Mrs. Mary Newstrum, nee Headman, with whom he became acquainted during his stay in the Black Hills country. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nurmi, who are named as follows : Hulda W., John E., Ida M., Toivo A. and Hilja A. One son was born to Mrs Nurmi by her

former marriage named Nils Hjelman. Mr. Nurmi is active in public affairs of local im- portance and he and Mrs. Nurmi assisted in build- ing a public town hall in which all amusements are held, and other enterprises for the good of his com-

munity receive his hearty support. He has served as chairman of the township board for the past two years, and is a Republican politically and is prominent in party affairs. He holds membership in the Lutheran church.

CHARLES J. MADDUX, a prominent at- torney at law of New Rockford, and editor and proprietor of the "New Rockford Transcript." is among the well-to-do citizens of that thriving town. He is a business man of exceptional ability, and every enterprise which he supports meets with the most pleasing results. He has risen to prominence by dint of his own efforts, suppelmented by his in- domitable will and active public spirit. A portrait of Mr. Maddux appears in this work.

Our subject was born in Ohio, in 1861. His father, David Maddux, was a descendant of Pur- itan settlers of colonial days, and he was a stock dealer during his career. The mother of our sub- ject bore the maiden name of Catherine Jenkins, and was of American and Welsh descent. The Jenkins family have been in America many gener- ations, and the grandfather of our subject bore the nanie of Israel Jenkins.

Of two children our subject was the elder, and was raised in Wabash, Indiana, where he received a liberal education, and later graduated in the law department of the State University of Michigan in 1883. He worked on the "Wabash Times" and the "Wabash Courier" and when fourteen years of age was local writer and also in the advertisement department, and when seventeen years of age estab- lished "The Free Press," at Laketon, Indiana, which he successfully operated two years. He located at New Rockford, North Dakota, in the fall of 1883. and worked on the "New Rockford Transcript" from the fall of 1883 to 1885, when he and Captain W. G. Dunn purchased the plant from W. C. Hayes, who established the same in September, 1883. Our subject bought Mr. Dunn's interest in 1888,sinec which time he has been sole owner. Mr. Maddux was admitted to the bar of the district court in North Dakota in 1888, and began the practice of law, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court in 1890, and since September, 1897, Mr. C. F. Hambrecht has been associated with him in the practice of his profession. Mr. Maddux also has extensive farmi interests, owning about ten or twelve quarter-sections of land. He also owns the town site of New Rockford, having purchased it from the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. He va- cated enough of it to make a one-hundred-and-eighty- acre farm, "and plenty of townsite left." Since 1801 he has represented that railroad as local at- torney on the Devils Lake branch, from James- town to Leeds, North Dakota. He erected the first brick building in Eddy county, and the only steam- heated one within one hundred miles of New Rock- ford. It is supplied with all modern appliances, is 32×58, and was built at a cost of over $8,000. The

HOTEL DAVIES

HOTEL DAVIES, NEW ROCKFORD, N. D.

MADDUX BLOCK, NEW ROCKFORD, N. D.

Transcript in basement. Bank and Commission Offices, first floor. Maddux & Hambrecht Law Offices, second floor.

C. J. maddux.

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basement of this structure is occupied by a barber shop and the newspaper plant of our subject, the first floor is occupied by the Eddy County State Bank; also the grain commission offices of M. Matt- son, where market reports are received every ten minutes ; the second floor of the building is devoted to the law offices of our subject, where he has one of the most extensive libraries in the state.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Jo- hanna Hilty, a native of Indiana. Mrs. Maddux is a graduate of Wabash, Indiana, high school, and devoted many years to teaching in her native state. She taught two years at Laketon, Indiana, three years in North Manchester and five years at Wa- bash, Indiana. Mrs. Maddux's father, Christian Hilty, was born in Gemany and was an architect by trade. Her mother was of Irish descent and was born in America. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maddux, as follows: Charles, Catherine and Doris. Mr. Maddux was elected state's attorney in Eddy county in 1892 and served three terms in that capacity. He was appointed United States land commissioner in 1897, which office he now holds. He has attended every ses- sion of the legislature in North Dakota during territorial and statehood days, and takes an active interest in affairs of a public nature. He is a Re- publican in political faith and has attended all state and county conventions of his party, and carries a strong influence for the principles of that party.

HON. CHARLES A. CURRIER. Perhaps no man in Ramsey county is so well known as the subject of this review for his active public spirit and commendable character. He has resided in North Dakota many years and has always been found standing on the side of right and justice and laboring for the advancement of civilization. He is engaged in the mercantile business in Crary and has extensive farming interests in that vicinity and has made a success of his life work.

Our subject was born in Lowell, Massachu- setts, February 19, 1849. He was reared in New England and received a common-school and aca- demic education, and lived in New England until 1871. In the spring of that year he went to Brain- ard, Minnesota, and engaged in contracting and building about one year and then went to Detroit, Minnesota. He returned to New England in 1875 and remained in Vermont one year, and then re- turned to Minnesota and located in Frazee City, where he engaged in contracting and building. In the fall of 1880 he went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and continued the same line of business and resided there until 1882, and then removed to Larimore, North Dakota. He embarked in the lumber and hardware business in that city and also followed contracting and building. He took up his residence in Ramsey county, North Dakota, in April. 1883. locating in Odessa township, and fol- lowed farming there until 1891. He has since re-

sided in Crary and follows mercantile pursuits, and also conducts farming, cultivating twelve hundred acres of land, most of which is located in Odessa township. He is one of the substantial men of his township and has met with success in each of the business ventures in which he has embarked.

Our subject was married, in Detroit, Minne- sota, to Miss Annie Abbott, a native of London, England. Mr. and Mrs. Currier are the parents of two children, who are named as follows: Charles E., now attending the University at Grand Forks; and Frank. Mr. Currier was elected to the first North Dakota legislature in 1889 and served one term, and was again elected to that office in the fall of 1896 on the Republican ticket, and proved himself an efficient and faithful repre- sentative. From 1886-89 he served as chairman of the board of county commissioners, and held numer- ous offices in Odessa and Stevens townships. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, and a member of the Knights of Pythias and Knights of the Maccabees.

COLIN MCLACHLAN. For over a quarter of a century the subject of this review has been identified with the farming interests of Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and he is one of the well-known citizens of Harvey township. Among the pioneers of that region he has aided materially in its advancement and is entitled to just credit for his services in behalf of his township and county. He has a good farm, well equipped and comforta- ble in every particular, and he has made a success of agricultural pursuits in North Dakota.

Our subject was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, October 14, 1839, and was a son of Hugh and Isa- bella (Gelispe) Mclachlan, who were natives of the same shire, and lived and died in Scotland. They were the parents of five sons and one daugh- ter, of whom our subject is the only one in the United States. Mr. McLachlan came to America in 1862, after completing his education in his native land, and he first settled in Canada. In 1871 he decided to try his fortunes in the new Northwest, and accordingly went to Dakota and settled in Grand Forks, and about 1876 settled on the farm on which he now resides and where he has spent the intervening years.

Our subject was married, in 1881, to Mary Darrach. Mr. and Mrs. McLachlan are the par- ents of eight children, three sons and five daugh- ters. The family are members of the Presby- terian church and enjoy a large circle of friends in Harvey township.

CHARLES MCCARTHY, of the firm of Den- nett & McCarthy, publishers of the "Milton Globe," is one of the rising young business men of the thriving town of Milton. He has been identified with the paper in that village for the past ten years, and under his efficient management the work

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has prospered and the paper is now one of the well-known and oft-quoted exchanges of the news- paper world of North Dakota.

Mr. McCarthy was born in Madison, Wisconsin, April 27, 1864, and was reared at Menomonie, Wis- consin, and received a common-school education. He followed farming in Wisconsin until 1886, when he went to Park River, North Dakota, and remained about a year and a half, and in the fall of 1887 went to Milton, and in April, 1891, formed the partnership with Mr. Dennett which has since existed, Mr. McCarthy having the management of the business since that date. The "Milton Globe" was established in 1888 by Fred Dennett and oper- ated by him until Mr. McCarthy became a partner in the business. It is a Republican paper, and has a circulation of about seven hundred and fifty copies each issue, and is rated among the bright and newsy papers of the state.

Mr. McCarthy was married, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Miss Stella Carr, of Crystal, Pembina county, North Dakota. Mrs. McCarthy is a refined and cultured lady and is a native of Illinois. One son has been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Lynden Charles. Our sub- ject is a gentleman of broad mind and good execu- tive ability and in political sentiment is identified with the Republican party, and by voice and pen stands firmly for the principles of his party. He is well informed on all current events and is fast taking his place among the prominent men of his calling. As a business man he is esteemed for his integrity and as a citizen occupies a high position in the minds of those among whom he resides.

EDGAR ANDERSON, cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Crary, North Dakota, is one of the promi- nent business men of Ramsey county and is a gen- tleman of excellent business qualifications and meets with success in his financial ventures. He is one of the founders of the bank with which he is as- sociated and he has placed it among the sound finan- cial institutions of the county.

Our subject was born in Ossian, Winneshiek county, Iowa, June 26, 1857, and was reared and educated in that county and at the State Univer- sity and State Normal School, graduating from the latter in 1882. He then entered the law de- partnient of the State University, where he grad- uated in 1883 and was then engaged in teaching in Austin, Texas, three years. He was principal of the East Austin schools three years, when he returned to Iowa and served two years as deputy clerk of the district court. He went to North Da- kota in 1893 and was one of the organizers of the banking institution which he has since guided to success.

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Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 154

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle Number of Pages: 1432

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle
Number of Pages: 1432