Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 160

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

USA > North Dakota > Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life > Part 160

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Our subject was born in Dakota county, Min- nesota, Hastings being his native town, and his birth is dated November 19, 1864. His parents, Luther L. and Sally A. (Dance) Twichell, were natives, respectively, of New York and Ohio. His father was a merchant and went to Dakota county, Minnesota, in 1855, and followed mercantile pur- suits at Hastings until 1876, when he removed to Minneapolis and remained there until his death in 1881. The mother died in 1898. Four sons, two of whom reside in Cass county, North Dakota, and two in Minneapolis, Minnesota, were born to this worthy couple.

Our subject was reared and educated in Hast- ings and Minneapolis, completing a high-school ed- ucation, and in 1879 went to Cass county, but soon returned to Minnesota and in 1881 again went to North Dakota and settled on the land where he now resides. He began at once to improve the farm and has developed four sections of choice land, from which the annual output of grain is sixty thousand bushels. He has been remarkably

HON. TREADWELL T. TWICHELL.

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successful in his farm work and is among the well- to-do men of Cass county.

Our subject was married, in 1890, to Grace P. Dill, a native of Wisconsin. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Twichell, as follows: Abagail D. and Daniel H. Mr. Twichell was elected a state representative in 1895 and again in 1897, and in 1898 was elected senator from the tenth dis- trict, in which capacity he is now serving. While a member of the senate he was chairman of the appropriation committee and was also a member of the railway committee and as a representative served as chairman of the committee on state af- fairs and municipal corporations and was acting chairman of the railroad committee when the rail- road law was passed. Mr. Twichell is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in political sentiment is a Republican and an earnest worker for party principles. He has taken an active part in township affairs, assisted in the or- ganization of Durbin township, and has been chair- man of the town board for the past ten years. He is a man of broad ideas and good citizenship and well merits his success and popularitv.

WILLIAM D. MILLAR. The mercantile in- terests of Grand Harbor, North Dakota, have a worthy exponent in the person of Mr. Millar. He is engaged in the hardware and lumber business and has acquired a comfortable competence and a wide reputation as a worthy citizen.

Our subject was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sep- tember 27, 1865. He was reared in his native place and educated in the Woodward College of Cincin- nati, and resided there until the spring of 1884, when he came to Ramsey county, North Dakota, and engaged in farming in Grand Harbor township. He followed this occupation about one year there and then was engaged two years in carrying mail from Devils Lake to Great Falls, Montana. Soon afterward he engaged with A. M. Powell in the real estate and loan business at Devils Lake, and after two years embarked in the same business in Devils Lake for himself, which he continued until 1896, and then removed to Grand Harbor, where he has since followed mercantile pursuits. He en- joys a liberal patronage in the hardware and lumber business and has made a success of that line.

Our subject was married in Osnabrock, Cavalier county, North Dakota, to Miss Anna Cairns, a native of Canada. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Millar, three of whom are living, and are named as follows Helen C., Anna C. and An- drew. A daughter, Bessie D., died March 23, 1900, aged nine years. Mr. Millar is a gentleman of broad mind and his public spirit has never been called in question. He is the present treasurer of Grand Harbor township and school clerk, and is active in all matters pertaining to the upbuilding or de- velopment of his township and county. He holds membership in the Knights of Pythias Lodge.

EZRA H. WILDER, the well known grain buyer for the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Company at Arvilla, Grand Forks county, was born in Erie county, New York, February 16, 1850. He was the first in a family of eight children bestowed upon John and Jane (Clark ) Wilder. The father is dead, but the mother yet survives. Young Ezra was brought up on the farm, and was educated in the local schools. In 1860 the family moved west to Green Lake county, Wisconsin, and six years later to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, our subject accompanying them in their western migrations. In the spring of 1882 he came to Fargo, North Dakota, and assumed the management of the Woodruff farm, and two years later entered upon his present avoca- tion of grain buying. In the spring of 1887 he was superintendent of several farms belonging to Charles A. Pillsbury, of Minneapolis, comprising in all about eight thousand acres. He was in his employment nine years. He had a store in Arvilla, which he conducted for three years. While he was in the store he organized the Arvilla Grain Company, tak- ing charge of the elevator. In 1900 he entered upon the work noted above. He is a capable, energetic business man, and makes a success of what- ever he lays his hand to. He is a Repub- lican and holds to the principle of strict pro- hibition as the only policy for the state to pursue. In 1896 he was elected a member of the county board, and served as chairman in 1899, and is still a member of the board, which position he has filled with much credit. He was married, in 1874, to Miss Mary E. Aiken, and one daughter has been born to them, who is now dead. They oc- cupy their own home in Arvilla, a neat and attractive building put up in 1899.

EDGAR S. FOLEY. Among the younger rep- resentative stock men of Billings county a promi- nent place is accorded the gentleman whose name heads this review. He and his father, James W. Foley, were among the first settlers of the county, and have followed stock raising near Medora and have prospered by faithful and honest efforts.

Our subject was born in Shackleford county, Texas, December 15, 1870. His father was a na- tive of Belair, Maryland, and spent twenty years in the United States army. The paternal grand- father of our subject was a native of Ireland and the grandmother was of English descent. The mother of our. subject was of German and New England descent.

Mr. Foley was the oldest in a family of seven children, and when he was three years of age re- moved with his parents to St. Louis, Missouri, where he received his early schooling, and in October, 1878, went to Bismarck, North Dakota. His father was commissary sergeant four years at Fort Lincoln, during which time our subject was sent to the pub- lic schools and the preparatory department of the Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He

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then came back to North Dakota, and then went to Vermillion, South Dakota, where he attended the State University. He went to Medora, North Da- kota, in 1889, where his father had located, and in 1890 they entered into stock raising on a small scale, and have continued to see their efforts bring suc- cess, and now conduct cattle raising on a larger scale. They went to the state without means and have built up a good business and are now well to do.

Mr. Foley was married March 22, 1899, to Lil- lian McCoy, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Foley is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was raised on a farm. She was a daughter of Thomas McCoy, a farmer by oc- cupation. Mr. Foley was elected county auditor of Billings county in the fall of 1892, and re-elected three times by the Republican party. He is an effi- cient and faithful officer and popular with the people. He lias also served as clerk of the school board for several years.

CHARLES H. OLMSTEAD, the proprietor and manager of a department notion store at Larimore, Grand Forks county, is making a place for himself among the solid business men of North Dakota. He was born in Orleans county, New York, December 28. 1842, and was the youngest of three sons born to Norman and his first wife, Maria (Hughes) Olm- stead. Of half brothers and sisters there were seven. When our subject was three years old, and just before his mother died, the family went by wagon to Michigan, and settled in Marshall, and a little later on a farm near Bellevue, in that state. There he remained until he was sixteen years old. At that age he left home and found work on a farm a few miles away, and presently became a soldier in the Union army. He was twice enlisted, the first time in 1861, in the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, but for some informality he did not join the regiment. December 27, 1861, he again enlisted, and was mus- tered into the service as a member of Company E. Fifty-fourth Ohio Zouaves. He was in the first engagement at Shiloh, and was there severeiy wounded. He was sent to the hospital, and was mustered out September 3, 1862, as unable to en- dure farther service. He was not willing to leave the service in the midst of such a struggle, and after a time he re-enlisted. This was on October 27, 1863, and he became a member of Company H, Sec- ond Michigan Cavalry, and joined his regiment to take a hand in some of the hardest fighting of the war. He was with General Sherman in the great battles around Atlanta, at Kenesaw Mountain, at Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Columbus and other places. He had the misfortune to be taken captive at Franklin, Tennessee, and was incarcerated at Co- lumbia. When he was in the prison five days he es- caped with two companions, and for three days was trying to make his way to the Union lines. It was without avail, however, as they were all recaptured. Mr. Olmstead was then consigned to the prison at Meridian, Mississippi, and from there was taken to

Selma, Alabama. He again escaped, but was once more recaptured. His captivity, however, was drawing to a close. He was exchanged at Vicks- burg and was placed on the ill-fated Sultana with a multitude of others bound north. When near Mem- phis the boat blew up, and only five hundred soldiers were saved out of more than twenty-two hundred on board. He was hnally mustered out of the govern- ment service June 28, 1865, having made a record of which any man might well be proud.

The war-worn veterans found their way to peace- ful life, and the next we hear of Mr. Olmstead he is engaged in the tobacco business in Hastings, Michigan. He remained there until 1881, when he sold out and came to North Dakota on account of his wife's health. He filed claim to a very desirable piece of land, and his family soon joined him. He resided on this farm, which was a half-mile north of Larimore, Grand Forks county, for a year or more after their advent, and in 1883 he came to Larimore, entering into business with a stock of drugs and notions. He has the mercantile sense in a high degree, and the enterprise has steadily grown on his hands until it is now one of the most important in this end of the county. Mr. Olmstead is a Re- publican, and as might be expected an active mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is widely known as a genial and popular gentleman. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Marion Searles. She died in 1881, leaving two children, Lena, who is Mrs. O. H. Philipps, and Ola O., now deceased. In 1884 he was again married, Miss Loie Lane be- coming his wife. She died in 1885, leaving no child. Mr. Olmstead was married, in 1890, to Nellie Hinds, by whom he has three sons, Charles L., Hiram E. and Norman \. They are bright and interesting boys, and the family circle is a charming one.

HON. HUGH PEOPLES. As a leading citi- zen and representative man, there is no one in this section of North Dakota more deserving of notice in a work of this character than Hon. Hugh Peoples, banker and general business man of New Rock- ford, Eddy county.

Progressive and enterprising, he is one of the well-to-do and solid financial men of the great Northwest, and his active public spirit and genuine integrity have gained for him an enviable position among the honored men of the state.

Mr. Peoples was born in Londonderry, Ireland, December 28, 1857. His father, Hugh Peoples, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Woods, were of Scotch-Irish descent. Our subject is the second child in a family of seven children. He received in his native country an academic and technical education, and then entered the service of the Belfast Bank, of Ireland, with which insti- tution he remained six years. He came to the United States for a three months' visit in 1880 and was so pleased with the country that he returned in

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1881 and located in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was employed as draughtsman for some time in the civil engineering department of the Boston & Maine Railroad.

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Peoples came to Eddy county, North Dakota, and located on land ad- joining the town site of New Rockford. In the fall of 1882 he established a small general store on his farm, which business he later removed to New Rockford. The establishment of this mer- cantile business was prior to the building of the railroad through the town in the fall of 1883.

Mr. Peoples was the first settler in Eddy county south of the James river. He is now the owner of the largest store in the county and enjoys an ex- tensive trade in general merchandise and his farm machinery business is one of the most extensive in the state. In 1894 Mr. Peoples established a branch store at Sheyenne. He also engages ex- tensively in grain and stock raising and owns about eight thousand acres of improved farm lands in Eddy and Wells counties.

Mr. Peoples is president of the Bank of New Rockford and of the Bank of Sheyenne. The former began business in 1883 and is now the lead- ing financial institution of Eddy county. He is a man who labors earnestly for the best interests of his community and county.

Politically, Mr. Peoples is an ardent Republi- can and as such was elected to the general assembly of North Dakota, in 1896, and refused a second nomination to the same position in 1898. Before leaving his native land, Mr. Peoples was made a master Mason in Ireland in 1879. In the United States he has attained the other degrees up to and including the thirty-second degree and is a member of the Shrine, the Knights of Pythias and the Yeo- men. He is one of the leading men of the state.

WILLIAM J. MORGRIDGE, the genial and efficient postmaster of Grand Harbor, is one of the prominent and substantial business men of Ramsey county, and one who has done much to promote the welfare of his community.

Mr. Morgridge was born in Franklin county, Maine, in the town of Chesterville, August 25, 1844. He spent a portion of his boyhood there, and at- tended the public schools. At the age of thirteen years he went to Manchester, Maine, and lived there on a farm, working and attending the com- mon-schools until 1873, when he went to Hallowell, Maine. He was engaged in the shoe business at that place for the five years following, and then, in the latter part of the '6os, he went to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he opened up a mercantile busi- nss. In 1897 he came to Dakota, taking up his resi- dence at Valley City, and there engaged in farming, and was for two years deputy register of deeds. It was in June, 1882, when he entered Ramsey county. He located in Grand Haven township and engaged in farming, in which he made fair money

at the business until 1889, when he came to the vil- lage of Grand Harbor and entered the mercantile business, in which he has since been engaged with great success. He has steadily increased his trade, and enjoys a substantial patronage from all the sur- rounding country. He was appointed postmaster of Grand Harbor in April, 1899. Mr. Morgridge has always been active in the interests of good gov- ernment, and has held the office of township clerk, and also that of school treasurer, and has always used his influence and has labored for the good of his community. He has a host of warm friends, and the confidence of all with whom he has had deal- ings. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

ERNEST W. BRENNER, popularly known as Captain Brenner, is acting in the capacity of sub- Indian agent for the Turtle Mountain reservation, with headquarters at Belcourt, Rolette county. He is thoroughly familiar with the Indians as to their customs and living, having been associated with them for many years at a time in the early days of that locality's settlement.

Our subject was born in Germany May 30, 1844, and was the only child born to Christian and Chris- tina Brenner. The family came to America in 1848 and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. After finishing a common school education our subject became page to Governor Banks, of Massachusetts, and also to his successor, Governor Andrews. In June, 1860, he was employed by General Banks in the scouting service about eight months. He returned then to Boston and secured a po- sition as clerk in the adjutant-general's office, and then joined Banks on his memorable ex- pedition. He worked as a scout and clerk in the quartermaster's department until June, 1865. About 1866 he secured a position in the quarter- master's department in the regular army and went to St. Paul, and in 1868 to Fort Totten as military trader, when that fort was first established, and he remained here until 1882. For ten years he saw nothing of civilization except about twice a year when he made his trip east to purchase goods, and he spent his life with the Indians. He settled on a farm in Eddy county in 1882, but did not meet with success there, and in April, 1887, was appointed to the position which he is now filling.

Our subject was married, in 1872, to Miss Mary Bottineau, daughter of Pierre Bottineau, for whom the town and county of that name are called. Mrs. Brenner died in 1895. One daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Brenner, who is named Christina and is now Mrs. Alexander Charleboise, of Belcourt. Mr. Brenner is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically is a Republican.

ALEXANDER H. McGILVERY, residing on section 28. in Ardoch township, Walsh county, is an early settler of that locality, and is successfully con-

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ducting a good farm. He has built a good home there and aided in developing the agricultural dis- trict in which he chose his pioneer home and is en- titled to special mention as a worthy citizen and industrious agriculturist.

Our subject was born in Perth, Lanark county, Ontario, August 1, 1859. He was reared on a farm near that town and received a common school educa- tion and remained in his native place until 1879, when he decided to try his fortunes in North Da- kota and went to Walsh county. The following year he entered a homestead claim to land in Ardoch township and settled on the farm on which he has since residedi. His buildings are substantial and furnish shelter for stock and products, and he has met with unbounded success, and is now the pro- prietor of an estate covering four hundred and eighty acres of land, and engages in general farm- ing.

Our subject was married near Minto, Walsh county. North Dakota, to Miss Annie J. Laurie. Mrs. McGilvery is a native of Perth, Ontario, and is a lady of refinement and presides over the house- hold duties with true dignity and grace. Four children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. McGilvery, named as follows: James A., Margaret J., William L. and Louise. Mr. McGil- very was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1896 and served three years, and he has also served as chairman of the board of supervisors for several years, and is also township clerk, and is an active and public-spirited citizen, laboring earnestly for the advancement of his community and the general wel- fare of those among whom he resides. He is as- sociated with the Democratic party politically.

SAMUEL FOSTER. In the farming and stock-raising interests of Nelson county the gentle- man above named takes a leading part. He has been identified with the progress of that locality from its earliest settlement, and now has one of the best farms to be found on the banks of Stump lake, and is one of the best Known and most highly es- teemed men of Wamduska township. His home is in section 10 and is one of great comfort and even luxury.

Our subject was born in London, England, and was the second child and oldest son born to Samuel and Martha (Hall) Foster, both of whom are now deceased. The mother was a sister of Lady Som- erset, and the father was in the boot and shoe trade, and thus the families became estranged. The father died November 20, 1874, and in the winter of 1879- 80 the mother and children came to America, and, arriving at Grand Forks, North Dakota, he remained there until spring, when they located on Turtle river. The mother dying in the fall caused the family to become separated, Samuel Foster coming west to Stump lake, Nelson county, where he arrived in the winter of 1880-81, and the remainder of the fam- ily residing at Grand Forks. He at once erected a

settler's shanty of boards and tar paper, and there passed a very severe winter. The nearest neigh- bor was C. T. Harris, and our subject was one of the first three settlers on the east bank of Stump lake, and is at present the odest resident settler of that bank of the lake. He invested in a yoke of cattle and broke fifty acres of land, and in 1882 rented plots of land in that vicinity which had been vacated by pioneers, and cropped about three hun- dred acres of land, and he farmed with profit until 1888, when frost and drought caused a failure of crops for three successive years and the township became almost depopulated. Our subject now owns one thousand acres of fine farming land and keeps about four hundred head of sheep and sixty head of cattle, and has an abundance of excellent water which cannot be equaled in the county. Mr. Fos- ter appreciated this by erecting a sixty-five-foot tower and fourteen-horse-power windmill with which the pumping, grinding feed, churning, etc., is done, and he also has large barns, outbuildings, granaries, etc., and is just completing a comfort- able and commodious residence.

Mr. Foster was married, in 1887, to Miss Frances D. Unglesbee. One son has been born to this union who bears the name of Lionel E. Mr. Foster is a genial, social gentleman and has a host of friends in Nelson county, and is a leading man in his town- ship. He is a Republican in political sentiment, and is a gentleman of firm convictions and honest industry, and his success is well merited.

THOMAS REGAN is a merchant of Larimore whose goods are genuine and whose word is as good as gold in Larimore and throughout Grand Forks county. He is mayor of the city, and is a genial and popular gentleman. He was born in county Limerick, Ireland, November 4, 1851, and was the fourth in a family of five children given to Thomas and Elizabeth (Curtin) Regan, both of whom are deceased. He came to the United States when a child of two years of age, and spent his early boyhood in Michigan, attending school at St. Clair. When he was seventeen he entered business life as a bookkeeper, and when twenty-one began business for himself as a merchant at LaMotte, Iowa. He was in company with a Mr. Kieffer, and the firm was known as Kieffer & Regan. In March, 1882, Mr. Regan made a visit to the Red river valley and was so pleased with the outlook that the firm of Kieffer & Regan transferred itself to Larimore that spring. A store building was just completed and the goods installed when the town was swept by fire and everything they had brought with them destroyed. Nothing daunted, they erect- ed the front part of the building Mr. Regan now oc- cupies, and business was resumed within twelve days after the fire. In 1895 the partnership, though friendly and highly successful, was dis- solved, and since that time Mr. Regan has been alone in his business enterprises. He has devel-

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oped an extensive commercial enterprise, and it has increased greatly in his hands. His stock now in- voices from twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand dollars, and covers every line of general merchandise and clothing. As a tradesman he is progressive and popular. Without doubt he occupies the finest residence in the city, and he has furnished it in the most elegant manner. He is a Democrat and a man of high character. Mr. Regan was elected mayor of the city of Larimore in 1899, and is the present incumbent. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church, and is a member of the order of Elks. He was a delegate to the Kansas City con- vention. He was married, in 1893, to Miss Frances DeRoche, and they are the parents of one daugh- ter, Frances C.

CHARLES P. PETERSON, county. commis- sioner for the third district of Towner county, stands as a foremost citizen and farmer of town- ship 159, range 68. He owns a section of land, most of which he has under cultivation, and has a comfortable home in section 12.

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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 160

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