USA > North Dakota > Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life > Part 158
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Our subject was married in Eden Prairie, Min- nesota, to Miss Ida Moran, who was a native of that town. Mrs. Perkins died on the farm in South Minnewaukon township, Ramsey county, November 23, 1889. Three children were born to this union, named as follows: Cora A., Laura M. and Hattie M. Mr. Perkins was married at Devils Lake, North Dakota, November 10, 1891, to Miss Mary A.
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Wheeler, a native of Illinois. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Perkins, who are named Ormn W. and Marian Gladdis. Mr. Perkins is a gentleman of broad mind and is actively interested in the welfare of his community, and takes a leading part in all public affairs, and is one of the citizens of Ramsey county of whom his fellow men may well be proud.
WILLIAM ELLIOTT, deceased. In the death of the late William Elliott, Ramsey county lost a worthy citizen and prominent farmer, and the fam- ily lost a most devoted father and husband. Mr. Elliott was engaged in farming in Minnewaukon township for many years prior to his demise, and prospered in his vocation, and as a result of his well directed labors a good farm was acquired upon which his family still reside.
Our subject was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1837. He was reared in his native county, and after attaining his majority lo- cated in Iowa, living in different places in that state for twenty years, until 1882. In the fall of that year he went with his family to North Dakota, and settled in Minnewaukon township, Ramsey county, where he resided during the remainder of his ca- reer.
Mr. Elliott was married November 11, 1856, to Mrs. Maria Harmon Swope, who was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, as follows: Sylvester H .; Daniel, who died in childhood; William H., Luther U .; Frank, who died in Minnewaukon township, September 18, 1889, when twenty years of age; and Laura, who died in infancy. Mrs. Elliott was for- merly the widow of Levi Swope, who died in Lan- caster, Pennsylvania. She is the mother of three children by her first marriage, named Samuel, George and Saloma. The two eldest children are now deceased. Mr. Elliott died in Ramsey county, North Dakota, September 25, 1899. His was the record of an upright life, devoted to his home and his community, and in all public enterprises which tended to upbuild the social or financial interests of his township and county he took a hearty interest, and was most highly esteemed by his fellow men.
DR. SAMUEL PAIGE JOHNSON, the pioneer dentist of the city of Grand Forks, and the second to locate within the limits of the state, is one of the most widely known men in North Dakota.
Dr. Jolinson is a native of Essex county, New York, and was born February 4. 1852. His par- ents, Samuel and Lura (Fisher) Johnson, were na- tives of New York, and the father died when our subject was an infant. To the public schools of his native state, principally the union free schools of West Port, our subject is indebted for his prelimi- nary education. In 1873 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and there entered the State University,
and was in attendance at that institution for three years. In 1877 he began the study of dentistry in the Minneapolis Dental College, having studied prior to that time for three years under the instruc- tion of Dr. Bowman, of Minneapolis. He began the practice of his profession in Minneapolis, and continued there three years, until he came to Grand Forks in the spring of 1881. He opened an office in Grand Forks and has continued to practice there since.
In 1887 Dr. Johnson took a special course of lec- tures under Dr. Howard, of Chicago, and has been a constant student of the art and science to which he has devoted so much attention. He is a member of the State Dental Society of North Dakota, and was secretary for seven years of the state dental exam- ining board. He has made a success of his profes- sion, and has built up a large and well established practice. The first wife of Dr. Johnson was Miss Lucy A. Pierce, whom he married in Minnesota in 1881. She died in 1887, leaving no children, and Dr. Johnson was again married in 1889 in the state of Wisconsin to Miss Laura B. Bowman. To Dr. and Mrs. Johnson two children have been born, one son and one daughter. Dr. Johnson is a highly esteemed member of the community, and is popu- lar in social circles. He is a member of the Inde- pndent Order of Odd Fellows and of the American Yeomen. He has attained a degree of renown for his inimitable lectures and impersonations, and is well known throughout the state, as well as in the neighboring states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, where he has attracted attention by his humorous productions from the platform.
HON. SKAPTI B. BRYNJOLFSON, who is now retired from active labors, engaged in farming many years in Beaulieu township and has a pleas- ant home in section 36 that is the center of true and generous hospitality. He settled in the midst of the Icelandic colony of Pembina county, and his countrymen have conferred upon him much honor and he has proven himself worthy of their confi- dence in every instance. The lines of his portrait, published in connection with this biography, in- dicate a strong but kindly spirit and show a noble face.
Our subject was born in Forsealudal, Valley of Shade, Iceland, the place of his nativity being Huna- vatnssysla,in the county of Bear Cub Lake. His birth is dated October 29, 1860, and he is the fourth child of seven born to Brynjolfur and Thorun (Alafsdottir) Brynjolfson. Under his father's guidance our subject acquired the rudiments of ed- ucation in his own tongue and about 1873 a pamphlet written in Danish by a Scandinavian resident of Texas, United States, came into the hands of his father and was read with much interest, as it de- scribed life in the New World, and by him was translated into Icelandic and read to the neighbors, and in consequence caused some dissatisfaction
HON. S. B. BRYNJOLFSON.
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among the sturdy people, who for generations liad been able to provide little more than the necessaries of life in their native land and heard such glowing accounts of the advantages of the west. A letter later received from friends in Canada caused a gen- eral and decided movement, resulting in the forma- tion of a colony for emigration, and in August, 1874, a company of three hundred and fifty-two persons embarked on the ship "St. Patrick," arriving in due season in Quebec. Soon after their arrival in America our subject settled in Halifax county, Nova Scotia, and remained there until 1881, when he went to Duluth and from thence, in the spring of 1882, to Pembina county, North Dakota. The father entered claim to land in Beaulieu township and our subject worked in a flour-mill in Winni- peg and at elevator work in Duluth and during the time applied himself to the study of the English language, gleaning his knowledge from books and papers and made remarkable progress in that di- rection and as is characteristic of the nationality, acquired a pure pronunciation and thorough un- derstanding, with a good grammatical style, al- though paying little attention to the study of gram- mar.
Mr. Brynjolfson went to Dakota for permanent residence in 1885 and assumed charge of his father's farm on section 35, in Beaulieu township, and in 1892 removed to his present location and devoted his attention to general farming until 1897, when he leased the land and now enjoys a well-earned rest from active pursuits.
Our subject was married, November 21, 1892, to Miss Groa Johannesson, a native of Iceland, who came to America in 1873, with the first large Ice- landic colony. Mr. and Mrs. Brynjolfson have refined literary tastes and their library contains volumes in English and Icelandic covering a great range of subjects. Our subject has a retentive memory and his mind is stored with folk lore of his native people, and throughout the state of North Dakota there can be found no more entertaining host or charming hostess than these cultured people from far off Iceland. Mr. Brynjolfson was a nom- inee for state representative in 1889, but was de- feated, and in 1890 was elected state senator and served one term. He was chairman of the com- mittee on public health and served on the commit- tee on education and also as a member of the other committees of the session. He introduced many measures that have since become important laws and his services for the welfare of his community commended him to all as a citizen of true public spirit. Politically, he is a Democrat and is strong in his convictions. He holds membership in the In- dependent Order of Foresters.
SAMUEL W. RUTLEDGE, M. D. For twenty years this gentleman has been known to the people of North Dakota as a prosperous and well versed physician, and he enjoys the distinction of
being the pioneer homeopathic practitioner of Grand Forks. He was born in Hardin county,- Ohio, De- cember 31, 1852.
The parents of our subject, Thomas S. and Louisa ( Williams) Rutledge, were natives of Ohio, and the father was a farmer and merchant and moved to Minnesota in 1856 and settled in Olmsted county, and later went to North Dakota, and now makes his home with his daughter at Cando.
Dr. Rutledge was one of a family of seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, and he was reared and educated in Minnesota, and taught five years, and then began the study of medicine. He entered the Homeopathic Medical College of Mis- souri, at St. Louis, and graduated from that in- stitution the same year, and then began the prac- tice in Iowa and remained in that state five years. He went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1881, and has continued his practice there since that date. In 1893 he took a post-graduate course at the Homeopathic Medical College and in 1896 took a course at the Chicago Post-Graduate School. He took a special course in Chicago in 1899 in the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat College of Chicago, and then took a short course in the New York Post-Graduate Medical School.
Doctor Rutledge was married, in 1877, to Miss Marian Fuller, a native of Iowa. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge. Dr. Rutledge is a member of the Homeopathic Insti- tute of Minnesota, and the American Institute of Homeopathy. He was appointed a member of the state board of medical examiners in 1894. and re- appointed in 1898. He enjoys a remunerative general practice, and as a citizen is deservedly pop- ular with those among whom he has labored for so many years.
WILLIAM A. CRARY, for whom the thriving town of Crary was named, is one of the influential citizens of that locality, and has been closely iden- tified with its history and development. He came to North Dakota in the early days, and has aided in extending its financial interests to a marked de- gree, and has a pleasant estate and comfortable home in Crary, Ramsey county, at which place he conducted farming successfully for several years.
Our subject wasborn in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. July 4, 1858, and when he was two years of age removed with his parents to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he was reared to manhood and received a common school education, and also took a course at the state normal at Potsdam, New York. He went to Floyd county, Iowa, in 1879.and worked on a farm there until the spring of 1880, when he went to Ottertail county, Minnesota. and was there engaged in teaching two years. In the spring of 1883 he went to Ramsey county, North Dakota, and located where the town of Crary now stands in Stevens township, where he entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land and resided on
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section 17. He laid out the town site of Crary, in 1875, and has since held his residence there, and for two years operated a meat market in the town. He is well to do and has gained his possessions by honest work and judicious management.
Our subject was married, at Lakota, Nelson county, North Dakota, to Miss Mary MI. McDonald, a native of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Crary are the parents of three children, named as follows: Ethel M., Earl H. and James B. Mr. Crary is an active member of the Congregational church with which denomination he has been identified since 1897. He is prominent in public affairs, having held numerous township offices, including supervisor and justice of the peace, and he gives his hearty support to any enterprise which tends to the development of the resources of that region. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
DR. THOMAS G. DEVITT, M. D., C. M., F. T. M. C., a prominent and popular physician of Grand Forks, North Dakota, has, in the short time he has been a resident of that city, established him- self in a valuable and permanent practice, and has won the confidence and esteem of the community where he has chosen to make his home.
Dr. Devitt is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born March 23, 1867. His parents, William and Eliza (Junkin) Devitt, were natives of Ire- land and Canada respectively. The father still re- sides in Canada, where the mother died several years since. The subject of our sketch was reared and educated in Canada, taking a course in the Lindsay Collegiate Institute, graduating in 1883. He then followed teaching some years, and in 1890 entered Trinity Medical College at Toronto. He graduated from this institution in 1894, winning the first silver medal in his class, and was selected for the position of resident physician of the Toronto General Hospital, and held that position for one year. In 1895 he came to Grand Forks, opened an office, and began the practice of his profession.
Dr. Devitt was married, in 1899, to Miss Ella Wheeler, of Grand Forks. He is prominent in social circles, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and several insurance orders. He was given the position of physician and surgeon to St. Luke's Hospital of Grand Forks and of St. Joseph Hospital, East Grand Forks, Min- nesota. He is always a close student in his pro- fession, and has a broad knowledge of his science, and is thoroughly skilled .in the arts peculiar to his calling. Our subject is a member of the North Dakota Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Also he is a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
HON. WILLIAM J. HAWK, the pioneer mer- chant of Buffalo, Cass county, is one of the men in whose coming to that locality all who honor
honest industry and good citizenship can rejoice. His career has been marked with persistent efforts to advance the interests of his community as well as his personal interests, and he has been rewarded by the acquisition of a comfortable competence and a high reputation. He is engaged in operating an elevator in Buffalo and also in the implement busi- · ness and conducts general farming on four sections of valuable land in the vicinity of the city. His portrait is contained in these pages.
Our subject was born near Wilkesbarre, Lu- zerne county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1853, and was a son of Isaac and Jane (Owen) Hawk, na- tives, respectively, of New Jersey and New York. His father was a farmer by occupation and moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, and in 1856 went to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he pur- chased land and resided until his death in 1878, aged sixty-three years. The mother died in 1891. The grandfather of our subject, on the father's side, served in the Revolutionary war.
Our subject was one of three children, two sons and one daughter, and he was reared and edu- cated in Wisconsin and engaged in farming there until 1879, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and entered claim to land six miles south of Buffalo. In 1880 he erected one of the first store buildings in Buffalo and established a gen- eral merchandise store and also engaged in the lumber business and farming implements. He con- tinued thus until 1894, when he disposed of the merchandise and at present conducts the imple- ment business. He erected the first flat house to- handle grain in 1880 and in 1888 erected the ele- vator which he now conducts. He deals extensively in grain and devotes a portion of his time to the op- eration of his fine farm adjoining the city of Buf- falo, Cass county, and is giving considerable atten- tion to the improvement of his stock, which con- sists at present of a small herd of thoroughbred brown Swiss cattle and about forty head of grades.
Our subject was married in Wisconsin, in 1882, to Mary E. Smiley, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are the parents of one daughter, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Della J. Mr. Hawk served in the territorial legislature of 1887 and his efficient services during that session are best evidenced by the fact that he was elected as a representative in the state legislature in 1897 and served one term. He has also filled many local offices and is one of the leading citizens of Cass county. He affiliates with the Masonic fra- ternity and Ancient Order of United Workmen.
THOMAS HOLDEN. Among the gentlemen of Odessa township, Ramsey county, who have made a success of agriculture and are well known as worthy citizens may be named Thomas Holden. He went to that region during the early days of its settlement, and has labored unaided for the acqui- sition of a comfortable home and has fully accom-
HON. WILLIAM J. HAWK.
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plished his purpose. He is proprietor of a fine estate in section 3, and is one of the self-made men of his community. His farm occupies over five hundred acres of land, and he is one of the solid men of Ramsey county. Our subject was born on a farm in Ramsey county, Wisconsin, November 26, 1861, and when he was four years of age re- moved to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, and settled on a farm .with his parents eight miles from Mason City. Here he was reared to manhood and received a good education and resided on the home farm until the spring of 1882, when he decided to try his fortunes in the new Northwest, and accordingly went to North Dakota, and in July of that year set- tled on the farm which he now owns. He has erected substantial buildings thereon and has met with unbounded success in his vocation.
Mr. Holden is possessed of active public spirit, and has held the office of constable of Odessa town- ship two years. Although he is a genial gentleman and well known in social circles of his community he remains unmarried. His sister, Mary J., is now - the wife of Horace E. Stevens, a sketch of whom appears herewith.
HORACE E. STEVENS, residing on section 34, in Stevens township, is one of the substantial men of Ramsey county. He was born in Berlin, Wiscon- sin, March 8, 1858. At the age of seven years he removed with. his parents to Laporte county, Indi- ana, and then removed to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, and settled on a farm eight miles from Mason City, where he grew to manhood and resided until March, 1882. He then went to Ramsey county, North Dakota, and in June of that year settled on the farm where he now resides. He was in the employ of the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Company in Minnesota about four years. He now owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Stevens was married, in Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, to Miss Mary J. Holden, who was born in Green county, Wisconsin, February 12, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are the parents of five children, named as follows: Jessie M., Thomas G., Harvey H., Arthur J. and Roscoe L. Mr. Stevens was a member of the first board of overseers of Stevens township, and chairman of the board for several years. Stevens township was named in his honor. He has also served as assessor and town- ship clerk and school director, and for a short time was deputy county treasurer of Ramsey county.
MILO WAKELY SCOTT, M. D., who is to be found on section 3, Chester township, Grand Forks county, enjoys a wide reputation as an accomplished physician, a business man of more than the ordinary ability, and a man of personal integrity. As a prac- titioner of the healing art he has commanded a wide patronage and achieved a great success. As a citi- zen he was quickly called to responsible positions,
and his voice was potent in determining the devel- opment of the new state.
The parents of our subject were Horace and Maria (Smith) Scott, the former a native of Massa- chusetts, the latter of New York. The paternal ancestors were of Scotch and English descent. Daniel Scott, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Massachusetts, and emigrated to New York at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Dr. Scott comes of a long-lived family. The grand- father died at the age of eighty-five, the father at the age of eighty-two. Daniel Scott had five sons and one daughter-Horace, Merrick, Asa, Walter, Jay and Lina. Horace Scott's family were: Daniel, Horace, Alonzo, Horton and Milo, Laura Ann, Lo- rinda, Cynthia, Helen and Mary. Dr. Scott is the only member of the family who is a resident of North Dakota.
Dr. Scott was born on a farm in Smyrna, Che- nango county, New York, February 21, 1840, and was reared to manhood on the parental homestead. His early education was broad and deep, beginning in the public schools. continuing through the acad- emy at Norwich and the State Normal School at Al- bany. Following his graduation from this school . he immediately took up the study of medicine, and received a diploma from Rush Medical College in 1877. He also attended lectures at the University of Michigan, and at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. With a professional and general edu- cation far beyond the average he began the practice of medicine at Marshalltown, Iowa. In that city he remained about a year ; he spent another year in Illinois. He was still not sure that he had found a suitable location, and he removed to LeSueur county, Minnesota. He did not make a prolonged stay in that region, and about 1879 entered North Dakota, and at once established himself at Grand Forks. He was in the city following his profession closely for some ten years, and then located where he is now living He has been in continuous prac- tice, and has greatly prospered in all his undertak- ings. He owns fourteen hundred and forty acres of land, on which he has made all the needed im- provements, and possesses a farm worthy to be classed among the model places of the Red river valley.
Dr. Scott has been the recipient of many hon- orable appointments and public honors since his ad- vent in Dakota. While he was in Grand Forks he was United States examining surgeon on the pen- sion board, and this position he held until his re- moval from the city compelled his resignation. He was a member of the capital committee, which was appointed by the governor and legislature for the purpose of locating and building the capital of Da- kota Territory, which is now the capital of North Dakota at Bismarck, and was one of the commission in charge of the building, and was treasurer of the commission. He has been coroner of Grand Forks county and county physician, and his duties in these positions were discharged with marked ability.
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Dr. Scott was first married to Miss Jenette Smith. She died in Cazenovia, New York. His second wife was Miss Lizzie Osterhout. She died in Morristown, Minnesota, leaving one son, Horace F. His third wife was Miss Della E. York. She left one daughter, Della Grace. He was married to his present wife, Mrs. E. A. Gould. She was the widow of Walter Gould, a prominent attorney of Moorehead, Minnesota, and is a lady of much tact and ability. Dr. Scott is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Independent Or- der of Foresters. He is a genial and companionable man, and has many warm friends throughout the valley.
ANDREAS ANDERSON, a public-spirited and enterprising farmer of Ramsey county, stands among the foremost men of his calling. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits almost exclusively, and is proprietor of as good a farm as can be found within the limits of Bartlett township, his home- stead being located there in section 29. Mr. An- derson is possessed of unbounded energy, and has arrived at his present comfortable circumstances by the exercise of earnest industry and strict honesty.
Our subject was born in Norway, July 2, 1850, and was reared in his native land and educated in the common schools. He remained in Norway un- til the spring of 1871, when he emigrated to Amer- ica, landing at Quebec, and in May of that year went to Minnesota. He lived in different places until the summer of 1872, when he took up land in Doug- las county, Minnesota, where he continued his resi- dence until 1883. In the early spring of that year he went to Ramsey county, North Dakota, and en- tered claim to the land on which he now resides in Bartlett township. He has placed valuable im- provements on his place, and owns and operates five hundred and twenty acres of good land, and has en- gaged successfully in diversified farming.
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