Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 164

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

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Mr. Dickinson was one of four children and was raised on a farm in New York. He remained with his father until he was twenty-seven years of age, and after attaining his majority assumed charge of the farm on account of the ill health of his father. He engaged in farming and in the dairy business and conducted an estate covering one hundred and fifty acres. In 1868 Mr. Dick- inson built a creamery and operated the same one season and then followed the lumbering and starch manufacturing business until 1881, when he sold the business and went to North Dakota to locate

land and the following year began permanent resi- dence there. He located a halt mile west of Dick- inson, going to that locality with his cousin, W. S. Dickinson, for whom the town of Dick- inson was named. In the spring of 1883 the town was platted by Hon. W. S. Dickinson. Mr. H. L. Dickinson has taken an active part in the growth of the town. They continued farming there until 1888 and then sold to a New York syndicate. The subject of this writing con- ducted the farm for them three years. He moved to Dickinson in 1891 and engaged in the mercan- tile business with Hon. N. C. Lawrence, and in the fall of 1897 purchased his interests and formed a stock company which now conducts the business under the name of the Dickinson Mercantile Com- pany. Mr. Dickinson is president and his brother, L. J. Dickinson, is secretary. The business has prospered since the organization of the company and carries a general line of merchandise. He is also largely interested in stock and sheep raising. He is also interested in the First National Bank and is one of the directors of the bank.

Our subject was married, in 1866, to Miss Sarah G. Chandler, a native of Moira, New York. Mrs. Dickinson is a daughter of Josiah Chandler, of New Hampshire, who engaged in farming. She was a school teacher and followed that profession for some time prior to her marriage. Mrs. Dickinson died in 1881. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson, a son, who was born in Moira, New York, and was named Guy H. Mr. Dickinson was married, in 1891, to Mrs. H. A. Stoughton.

Mr. Dickinson was the first county commissioner of Stark county, being appointed by Governor Ord- way, and was elected to the office for a second term and was a popular officer. He took an active part in the organization of Stark county, and was one of the pioneer settlers of that region and aided in its advancement, and well merits his success in North Dakota.

HON. OLE A. ROD, residing on section 17, of Martin township, Walsh county, is one of the early settlers of that locality, and his present hold- ings are the result of a well-spent career. He is widely and favorably known as a citizen of active public spirit and his endeavors have given much impetus to the financial and social growth of that region. .

Our subject was born in Norway, February 24, 1854. He spent the first sixteen years of his life in Norway, and in April, 1870, left his native coun- try for America. He landed in Quebec, and from there went at once to Story county, Iowa, and there worked out at farm labor and also engaged in farming for himself for ten years and in the spring of 1880 came to Walsh county. North Dakota. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 17, in Martin township, where he has since resided, and he now has a well improved and highly

HON. OLE A. ROD.

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cultivated piece of property. He has erected good buildings and has a thorough knowledge of his calling and has prospered, and his real estate now amounts to five hundred and sixty acres.

Our subject was married in Roland, Story county, Iowa, February 26, 1885, to Miss Ingeborg Aarthun, who was born in Lisbon, Wisconsin, De- cember 23, 1859. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rod, as follows: Bertha, Talleta, Ole A., Jr., Martha, Clara, Inger, Illeda. Mr. Rod has held the office of justice of the peace, and was the first clerk of elections in Martin township, and has served as chairman of the board of supervisors. He was elected to the state legislature on the Re- publican ticket in 1894 and served one term, and did very efficient work. He takes an active part in all local affairs and his success and popularity are merited. His many friends will look upon his portrait with interest.

THOMAS T. SHELL, county treasurer of Rolette county, North Dakota, is one of the best known men of the county and has an extensive general merchandise business in Rolla. He is a citizen of foreign birth, but has the interests of his adopted country at heart and has become a thorough American citizen of true worth.

Mr. Shell was born in Lomen Valders, Norway, January 27, 1857. He was the third child and oldest son in a family of six children born to Thorstein and Anne A. (Ellestad) Skjel. He was reared to farm work and purchased a small farm from his father, which he conducted about four years. Many of his relatives were in America and he decided to try his fortunes here, and dis- posing of his farming interests in his native coun- try he came to America in June, 1883. He went to Decorah, Iowa, and worked there two years at farm labor and then went to Minnesota and worked for others there about two years. Early in 1888 he went to Grand Forks, Dakota, and soon after- ward went to Montana, where he worked on the railroad. About that time he heard from his cousin, Ole O. Skalet, with whom he had . crossed the ocean, who proposed they together locate in business at the present site of Rolla, near the old postoffice of Boydton. Here they arrived as the railroad was built there and erected a 22x50-foot building, stocking it with general merchandise, and this was one of the first three business estab- lishments of Rolla. In 1895 our subject bought his cousin's interest in the business and later formed a partnership with R. E. Rognes, the firm name now being Shell & Rognes. They carry the most complete line of goods of any merchandise store of the village.

Our subject was married, in 1893. to Miss Julia Rognes. Mr. and Mrs. Shell are the parents of three children, named as follows: Anna E., Stan- ley and Bessie G. Mr. Shell has not sought pub- lic office, attending strictly to his business affairs,

but was induced by his friends to place his name before the people as a candidate for county treas- urer and was easily elected to the office and is now serving as such, and is popular with all regardless of party affiliations, but has refused renomination owing to the extensive business which he conducts and must needs devote his attention to. He is a Democrat and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

JOSEPH POWLES. This gentleman is one of the old settlers of Cavalier county, North Da- kota, and is widely known as the efficient and popu- lar postmaster of Milton. He has acted in that capacity for the past thirteen years, and prior to this was engaged in improving one of the fertile farms of that region, his land being near the pres- ent town site of Milton. He now owns eight hundred acres of land in Cavalier county and is one of the solid men of the community.

Our subject was born in Herefordshire, Eng- land, December 6, 1848. He was reared in his native isle and after attaining his majority was employed as clerk by the Great Western Railroad of England and remained in their employ as such until 1883. Late in the summer of that year he emigrated to America and at once went to North Dakota, and upon his arrival there he entered a claim to land near where Milton now stands. He resided on his claim about three years and was then appointed postmaster of Milton under the first ad- ministration of President Cleveland in 1887, and has held the office continuously since that date.

Mr. Powles was married, in Hereford, England, to Miss Eliza Heins, a native of London, England. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Powles, named Margaret M. and Fanny E. Our subject and wife are members of the Episcopal church and Mr. Powles holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and is past noble grand of Milton Lodge, No. 29. Politically he is a stanch Repub- lican and an earnest worker for party principles. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1889, and has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his adopted country and especially in local affairs, and has served as justice of the peace of Milton and clerk of the village. He is a man of strict integrity and his public spirit has never been called in question, and he is an influence for good in his community, with whose highest inter- ests his name is associated. He keeps pace with the times and has made many friends in North Dakota. On another page of this volume will be found a portrait of Mr. Powles.

JOHN O. ENGESATHER, one of the most remarkably successful agriculturists of Nelson county, makes his home in section 33, Dahlen town- ship, in which his valuable estate lies.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY. .

Mr. Engesather was born in Sogndal Sogn, Norway, December 17, 1860. He was the fifth child in a family of eight children born to Ole and Johanna (Teigen) Engesather. He was reared in his native land and had the advantages of the high schools for two years, and then was given a primary course in English. Two of his brothers had already come to America, and in 1883 our sub- ject crossed the ocean and proceeded directly to Nelson county, North Dakota, and in April of the same year filed a pre-emption claim and later a free claim to the lands upon which his present resi- dence and buildings stand. When he arrived in Nelson county he had fourteen dollars in cash and was sixty dollars in debt. He erected a small shanty, 7x7 feet, of boards purchased from the neighbors, and he had no team. The roof was of hay and sod. With his brother's ox-team he broke land for himself and his brother, aggregating sev- enty-five acres the first season. He raised a crop in 1884, and the next spring purchased an ox-team of his own, and he and his three brothers lived upon his land and worked in common. He met with success notwithstanding the loss of one or two crops, and is now the owner of eight hundred and eighty acres of valuable lands, and has it well stocked and largely improved. He has a com- fortable residence and convenient farm buildings for the shelter of his stock and the storing of his crops. His barn, built in 1892, is 40×48 feet, and water is found in abundance at a depth of twenty- four feet. In the summer of 1900 he built another barn, 64x52, with room for thirty-two head of horses and ninety tons of hay.

Mr. Engesather was married, in 1889, to Miss Salvei Vangen. They are the parents of five chil- dren, named as follows: Odine J., Henry E., Wil- helm G., John Arthur (deceased) and Selma M. Mr. Engesather is a valued member of the com- munity and takes an active interest in the public questions of the day. In political views he is a Re- publican and favorable to prohibition. He has at- tended most of the county conventions of his party, and also the state conventions. He is at present school treasurer of his district. He is a consistent member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran church.

WILLIAM L. WILDER, one of the old set- tlers of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is widely known throughout the state, and is now engaged as general agent for the St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company for the north half of North Dakota. He has followed the practice of law in Grand Forks for many years, and has met with unbounded success in his profession and is well known in legal circles.

MARTIN ROOD. A prominent place as a well-to-do and progressive member of the farming community of Ferry township, Grand Forks coun-

ty, is accorded the gentleman above named. He has a fine farm and has added valuable improve- ments to the place, being one of the pioneers of that locality, and now enjoys a good competence and a comfortable home. In his farming he has been instrumental in developing and promoting the growth of that section of the country, and is one of the widely-known men of Ferry township.

Our subject was born in Norway in October, 1853. His parents, Martin and Johanna (Johon- son ) Rood, came to America in 1868 and settled in Mitchell county, Iowa, and from there went to North Dakota, about 1878. The father entered claim to land in Ferry township and resided there until his death. The mother survives him. Four sons and five daughters were born to this worthy couple, and all are now residents of North Da- kota with the exception of two sons and one daugh- ter.

Mr. Rood was reared to the age of sixteen years in Norway and in 1870 came to the United States and settled in Iowa. He remained there until 1882 when he went to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and at once entered claim to land and later moved to the city of Grand Forks and afterward to his pioneer farm, the same being located in Ferry township. He has continued his residence there, and now owns and operates a half-section of choice and well-improved land.

Our subject was married in Minnesota, at Aus- tin, in 1875, to Margaret Kettleson, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Rood are the parents of eight children, who are named as follows: Jo- sephine, Cora, Clarence, Mabel, James, Hobert, Belmar and Belle D. Mr. Rood is one of the pub- lic-spirited men of his community and has served in various local offices, incuding a member of the township board of Ferry township. He is a Re- publican in political sentiment and is a leader of his party in that region and is an earnest worker for party principles.

DR. AUGUST S. EGGERS. As an able prac- titioner, worthy citizen and progressive member of the medical fraternity this gentleman is entitled to a foremost place. He has resided.in Grand Forks for some years and has built up an extensive and . ever increasing patronage and is widely and favora- bly known.

Dr. Eggers is a native of Norway, and was born December 30, 1862. His parents, August D. and Catherine (Van Kerrel) Eggers, were natives of Norway, and the father was a lawyer and also held a government position. He died in Norway in 1888 and the mother survives him and makes her home in her native land. Dr. Eggers has one sister.

Dr. Eggers was educated in the high schools of Norway and also King Frederick's University of Christiania, which he entered in 1881, and the following year began the study of medicine, grad-

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nating from that institution in 1889. He served one term as house physician in the state hospital, and in 18yo emigrated to the United States and first located in Sioux City, lowa, where he re- mained until November, 1891, and then removed to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he has since followed his profession. Ile engages in a general proctice and is skilled in his profession and enjoys a liberal and lucrative practice. He is medical ex- aminer for the New York Life Insurance Company, and Surety Mutual Association of Binghamton, New York, and also the Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association of New York.

Mr. Eggers is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and has passed the thirty-second and Mystic Shrine degrees of the order. He also holds mem- bership .in the North Dakota Medical Society and was president of the same in 1897-98, and he also is a member of the North American Medical Asso- ciation. He has served on the United States pen- sion board, but takes no active part in political movements and lends his influence for the upbuild- ing of good local government and the general wel- fare of the people among whom he labors. He has met with unbounded success in his calling and stands high in his profession. In the summer and fall of 1900 he made a very extensive European tour with the purpose of strengthening his profes- sional resources by study at the world's centers of medical science.

MARSHAL MCCLURE, a pioneer newspaper man of prominence, is proprietor and editor of the "Minot Optic." He has for years been identified with the upbuilding of journalistic enterprises in North Dakota, and has devoted his career to news- paper work.

Our subject was born in the Ozark mountains, in Missouri, and moved with his parents to Michi- gan when he was four years of age. His father, Milton McCure, was a Methodist Episcopal min- ister, and was also a writer for the St. Louis Theological Journal, and was the author of the phonetic system. He is of Scotch descent. The mother's people were from New York, near Elmira. and the maternal grandfather settled in Michigan. The father of our subject died in Missouri.

Our subject is the second in a family of five children and was raised in Michigan and lived on a farm near St. Johns, Cinton county. He at- tended the country schools there and at the age of fifteen years walked to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he secured work on the "Review and Her- ald," and lived with Elder James White, the or- ganier of the Seventh Day Adventist church. He remained with him about two years and then worked on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad as news- boy and was thus engaged six years, during which time he learned telegraphy and was then given a position at Manton, Michigan, at the age of twenty- four years. He established the "Manton Tribune"

in 1877, which is still published. He sold the paper in 1878 and went to Fargo and engaged as a re- porter with E. B. Chambers, editor and proprietor of the "Fargo Times." He soon afterward founded the "Wadena Farmer" at Wadena, Minnesota, with Edward Hall, and in 1879 he sold his interests and went to Jamestown. He purchased the "Jamestown Alert," a struggling paper, in 1979, and made a prosperous paper of the same, and started as a daily in 1882. It was a morning paper, with associated press dispatches, and was the second daily paper established in the state of North Dakota. Mr. MeChire dis- posed of the plant about 1888 and went to Minot, where he established the "Minot Rustler," the first paper of the town, and the first publication was in April of that year. He conducted it as a weekly and later as a daily and weekly, and in 1890 sold to Charles E. Gregory, and soon afterward went to Sprague, Washington, and purchased the "Sprague Advertiser." He operated the paper there until 1895 and then removed the plant to Lajunta, Colo- rado, and there sold the plant and founded the "Gillett Forum," in 1894, and the first publication was in April. He left the paper in charge of a partner in 1898 and came to Minot, North Da- kota, and established the "Minot Optic," which he now edits and publishes. The first publication of the paper was December 22, 1898, and he has made a first-class paper of the same. Mr. McCluire is an able editor and excellent business man and has met with remarkable success in newspaper work.

Our subject was married, July 3, 1881, to Ella Powell. Mr. and Mrs. McClure are the parents of one child, a son, who was born in December, 1884, and bears the name of Marshal. Mr. Mc- Clure is a Republican in political faith and is very prominent in affairs of his party, and is a regular attendant at the state legislature and all county and state conventions. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity.

HOMER A. DAVIS, M. D., physician and surgeon of Dickinson, is well known throughout Stark county, has built for himself a lucrative practice since his location in that county in 1892.

Dr. Davis was born in Canada in 1858, the elder of two children born to Henry and Eleanor ( Stann- bridge) Davis, the former a native of Maine and a resident of Lewiston, and a school teacher and a graduate of the Dansville Academy. The mother was a native of London, England. When our subject was but three months of age his par- ents took him from Canada to Lewiston, Maine, where he was reared and educated, finishing his schooling at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from the high school of which place he was graduated at the age of fifteen. His father was killed at the close of the war of the Rebellion, at Mt. Pleasant, Alabama, and our subject, at the age of fifteen, came west to Illinois. There he taught for two

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years, and then returned to New Hampshire, where he engaged in the granite business, which he fol- lowed about ten years. It was in 1888 that he began his study of medicine. He entered the medical department of Dartmouth College, and was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1892.

Immediately after the conferring of his degree he came to Dickinson and began the practice of medicine. He has succeeded to a marked degree, and has won for himself an enviable place in the ranks of his profession. In 1894 he purchased a share in a drug business in Dickinson, of which he now owns a controlling interest. In addition to the usual stock of a western drug store they carry a heavy line of druggists' sundries. The stock is valned at nine thousand dollars.

Dr. Davis was married in New Hampshire, in 1880, to Miss Florence I. Davis, a talented musi- cian and accomplished lady. To this union three children were born, namely: Harold, who was graduated from the Dickinson high school at the age of seventeen years, served in the Philippines with the North Dakota Volunteers and was pro- moted to corporal. He died on the return voyage on board ship. Homer, who was graduated from the Dickinson high school at the age of fifteen, and is now engaged in the drug business with his father. Florence, now twelve years of age, and a natural musician, playing the piano with remarkable ability for a child of her age. The mother died in 1888.

Dr. Davis married Miss Anna Downer in 1889. Mrs. Davis is a native of Keene, New Hampshire, where she was reared to womanhood. She received a good musical education. She presides over the Doctor's home with grace, and the hospitality ex- tended the visitor is marked with a refinement not too often met with in western homes. Mrs. Davis received her musical education at Keene, New Hampshire, her best training being received from private instructors, among them Prof. Ernst Perabo, a noted musician of Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Davis has always been a Republican in political faith and has taken an active interest in pubic affairs in the community and county. He has been county physician for six years and presi- dent of the county board of health for five years. He is popular as a man and successful as a phy- sician and merits the high esteem in which he is held.

WILLIAM DOUGLAS, whose name must be familiar to every one acquainted with the history of Grand Forks county, was one of the earliest settlers of Gilby township, on section 9 of which he has had his home since 1879.

Mr. Douglas is from Canada, having been born in Durham county, province of Ontario, August 13, 1851. His parents, Hugh and Elizabeth ( Brown) Douglas, were born in county Tyrone. When children they came to America with their

respective parents and settled in Canada. They were married there and the mother still resides there. The father, who in the early days ran a boat on the St. Lawrence river for many years, later became a farmer and died in Canada in 1866. He had four sons and five daughters. Two sons and a daughter reside in North Dakota. One served in a Michigan regiment during our Civil war.

William Douglas was reared and educated in Canada, and in 1879 came to Grand Forks conuty and settled in Gilby township, and in July of that year filed a homestead claim to the northwest quar- ter of section 9 of that township, and was one of the very first to locate. He took up his permanent residence upon this tract of land in the early spring of the following year and has resided there since. He now owns a half-section of valuable land, all under the plow, and has developed and improved it into one of the most valuable estates in Grand Forks county.

Mr. Douglas was married, in July, 1882, to Rachel Kinsala. Mrs. Douglas is also a native of Canada. To this union four children have been born, named as follows: Edith M., Ethel M., Hugh P. and Helen, all of whom are living. The family are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Douglas is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in St. Johns Lodge, No. 36, Forest River, North Dakota, where he was in- itiated in 1896. He now belongs to Kurum Lodge, of Gilby, instituted in 1899. He is also a member in good standing of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. In political matters Mr. Douglas is independ- ent, using his franchise for what hie deems to be the best interests of the community, state and nation. He has taken much interest in educa- tional matters and has been a member of the school board for ten years. His services have been of the most valuable nature and he has the respect of all.

WILLIAM J. THOMPSON. In compiling a list of the pioneer settlers of Rich township, Cass county, a prominent place should be accorded the gentleman above named. He has prospered as an agriculturist and is the owner of three sections of land and his home farm in section 10 is well im- proved and furnishes every comfort.

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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 164

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