Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 169

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 169

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After his discharge he returned to Illinois and taught school a number of years. In 1868, along with his school work, he began the study of medi- cine. He attended Rush Medical College, and grad- uated from the medical department of the Wooster University of Cleveland, Ohio, in February, 1878, having practiced medicine six years previous to his graduation. He afterwards practiced in Cleveland until 1883. In May of that year he came to Da- kota and located at Glen Ullen, being among the

earliest settlers of that place. He took up govern- ment land, and went through all the experiences of the dug-out and shanty era of that section of the state, and was the first physician to practice in the western part of Morton county. He was appointed postmaster in 1883, and held the office until 1894. He was reappointed in 1898, and is now serving in that position.

Dr. Morgan was first married, in 1871, his wife dying in 1878. There were four children born of this marriage, Zetta, Emi, Eugie and Sid O., Jr., who was a member of Grigsby's Rough Riders during the Spanish-American war of 1898. He sub- sequently married Miss Helen E. Williams, in 1880, and to this union four children have been born. Those living are: Clara and William C. The two deceased were born before our subject came to Dakota. Dr. Morgan has been active in political affairs of Morton county, having been chairman of the county central committee of his party four years, and chairman of five county con- ventions. He is a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. In addition to his other busi- ness, he is a landholder, and engaged in the raising of sheep, cattle and horses. He assisted in erect- ing the first residence structure on the sight of the present city of Glen Ullen, it being a tent.

JOHN McGAUVRAN, treasurer of Cavalier county, is one of the early settlers of Cavalier coun- ty, and has been a resident of Langdon since 1894. Mr. McGauvran was born in L'Original, County Prescott, Ontario, Canada, December 17, 1855. He was reared and educated in the common schools of his native county, and then attended St. Gabriel College of Montreal, from which institution he graduated. He then engaged in the lumber business with his father for a number of years. In 1882 he came to what is now Cavalier county, North Dakota. filed a claim to land in Loam township and engaged in farming until 1894. At that time he removed to Langdon, and has resided there since.

In the fall of 1894 Mr. McGauvran was elected sheriff of Cavalier county, and two years later was re-elected to the same office, and served a second term. In the fall of 1898 he was elected to the office of county treasurer of Cavalier county, and he is the present incumbent of that office.

Mr. MeGauvran was married in Ontario in 1874. to Miss Sarah Flynn, who is also a native of On- tario. Mr. and Mrs. McGauvran are the parents of eight living children, named as follows: Catherine, now the wife of Robert McGrath; Mary, wife of A. F. Gardner ; Edgar, Frank, Bertha, Leslie, Fred and Gertrude. They have lost three children : Harvey, who was accidentally killed by being run over in Langdon by a wagon loaded with grain, when he was nine years old; Horace, who died in Langdon at the age of nine years, and one daughter who died in Ontario, at the age of three years.

Mr. McGauvran has been prominent in local

JOHN McGAUVRAN.

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politics, and has twice been a candidate for the leg- islature on the Republican ticket, but each time was defeated by his Democratic opponent. He is a genial and popular citizen, and a most efficient official. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Knights of Pythias. He is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable lands, and is one of the substantial business men and estcemed citizens of the county. His portrait, which appears in this work, gives strength and character to this sketch.

OLE S. HAUGEN, one of the substantial farm- ers who came to Grand Forks county with the first courageous pioneers, is still a resident of Gilby township, his home being situated on the northwest quarter of section 28.

Mr. Haugen was born in Norway, November 14, 1857. His parents, Sivert and Johanna (Ol- stad) Haugen, natives of Norway, came to the United States in 1883 and located in Gilby town- ship, Grand Forks county, North Dakota, where they now reside. They have five children, two sons and three daughters, all living in North Dakota.

Ole S. Haugen was reared and educated in Nor- way, and came to the United States in 1878, first locating in Goodhue county, Minnesota. After two years' residence there he came to Grand Forks county in 1880, and in the spring of that year took up land, and has since been a resident of the county. He is the owner of a half-section of the best land in the county, and has enhanced his estate by many valuable and modern improvements.

Mr. Haugen was married, in 1889, to Julia Sta- veteig. Mrs. Haugen was born in Norway, and came to America in 1887. To this union four chil- dren have been born, named in the order of birth as follows: Sever M., Peter, Ingwold and Emma. The members of the family are communicants of the Lutheran church.' Mr. Haugen is a Republican in political faith, but has never sought office. He as- sisted in the organization of Gilby township, and has proven at all times a valued member of the com- munity. He enjoys the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends throughout the county.

ENSIGN P. MERRICK. The subject of this sketch may be truly classed as one of the leading farmers of Dry Lake township, Ramsey county. He has been numbered among the agriculturists of that county many years, and in prosecuting his farm work is very industrious, progressive in his ideas, and makes the best of his opportunities. He has built a good home in section 10, where cheerfulness and hospitality reign.

Our subject was born on a farm in Jefferson county, New York, in the town of Antwerp, March 31, 1834. He was reared in his native county, and resided there until 1873, where he was engaged chiefly in farming, but spent four years in lumber-

ing. He went to Big Rapids, Michigan, in the sum- mer of 1873, and engaged in buying and shipping produce until March, 1879, and then removed to Edmore, Michigan, and followed the same business there four years. He was also street commissioner, and had charge of the water works of that place. He went to North Dakota in April, 1883, and settled on the farm on which he has since been a resident. He has followed agricultural pursuits exclusively, and has erected good buildings on his home farm, and completed a comfortable home. He now owns and operates four hundred and eighty acres of land, and is one of the substantial farmers of his community.

Our subject was married in Champion, Jefferson county, New York, to Miss Maria P. Peck, a na- tive of that county. Mrs. Merrick died at Big Rap- ids, Michigan, August 13, 1873. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Merrick, of whom three are now living and are named as follows: William R., Fred E. and Stella M. Mr. Merrick was mar- ried, July 3, 1878, to Miss Amelia Pool in Theresa, Jefferson county, New York. Mrs. Merrick is a native of Jefferson county, and is a lady of refine- ment and good education. Mr. Merrick was a

member of the first' board of supervisors of Dry Lake township, and has also served as a member of the school board. He was chairman of the board of supervisors of Dry Lake township for upwards of twelve years, and has always taken a good degree of interest in public affairs, and lends his influence for good local government.

F. W. CATHRO, cashier of the Merchants Bank of Bottineau, is one of the leading business men of Bottineau county, and is known throughout North Dakota.

Mr. Cathro was born in Ontario, Canada, May 7, 1863. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, though the family have been in America about two or three generations. Mr. Cathro was reared on a farm in Canada, attended the common schools, and gradu- ated from the high school of Parkhill, and also from the London Collegiate Institute in 1882, having com- pleted the scientific course of that institution at the head of a class of sixty-four members. He then followed farming in Canada two years, and 'in 1884 went to Michigan. He taught school in that state one winter, then took a trip through the south and the northwest, and finally came to North Dakota. He located first in Grand Forks, where he taught school and farmed. Returning to Michigan, he en- tered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In 1886 he came to Bottineau county, took government land, erected a shanty, and began farming, at first with a team of oxen. He also took up school work, and in the fall of 1886 was elected county superin- tendent of schools, and was re-elected in 1888, serv. ing two terms. He was appointed deputy state su- perintendent of schools in 1889, and served in that capacity two terms, being located at Bismarck. In the spring of 1893 he returned to Bottineau, and

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the following winter the Merchants Bank of Botti- neau was established, with W. H. MacIntosh, presi- dent ; W. R. MacIntosh, vice-president, and F. W. Cathro, cashier. The other directors were H. G. Kalbfleisch, W. G. Stoughton and S. Cathro. The bank opened for business March 4, 1893, being the second bank established in the city. Mr. Cathro is also president of the Omemee State Bank, which was established in 1899, Donald McKennon being vice- president, John McKennon cashier, and W. H. Mac- intosh one of the directors.

Mr. Cathro is also interested in agriculture, and holds stock in the LaPorte Cattle Company, which owns fifteen hundred acres of grazing lands and fourteen hundred head of cattle. He is also a stock- holder in the Bottineau Machinery Company, en- gaged in the machine and lumber business in Botti- nea1.

Mr. Cathro was married on December 25, 1888, to Miss Mary Griffith, and to this union three chil- dren have been born. Mr. Cathro is a Republican in political faith, and has taken a leading part in politi- cal affairs of his county and state. For the past six years he has been state committeeman from the twenty-eighth. legislative district, comprising Botti- nean and McHenry counties. He is thoroughly a business man, and uses his influence in behalf of all enterprises and measures that are for the best inter- ests of his county and community.

J. P. REITON, the pioneer hardware mer- chant of Gilby, North Dakota, is one of the highly esteemed business men of Grand Forks county. He is a native of St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and was born September 19, 1864.

The parents of our subject, Peter O. and Mary (Lee) Reiton, were natives of Norway and emi- grated to the United States in 1848. They were married in this country and settled in Wisconsin, near Baldwin, St. Croix county, where they still reside. They are the parents of three sons and one daughter, of whom one brother of our subject re- sides in Inkster.

Mr. Reiton was reared and educated in Wiscon- sin and in 1879 the father went to Grand Forks coun- ty, North Dakota, where he entered a homestead claim to land and also a tree claim adjoining the town of Gilby, and there our subject assisted on the farm. The father improved the land some and in 1885 returned to Wisconsin, and the same year our subject assumed charge of the land and later bought the tract. In company with his brother, Herman Reiton, he opened a hardware store in 1887, under the firm name of Reiton Brothers, which partnership existed until January, 1893, when Her- man retired from the business, since which date our subject has conducted the business alone. The brother died of smallpox in the city of Mexico, February 6, 1900, leaving a large estate there. Mr. Reiton also handles farm machinery in connection with his hardware store. He enjoys a good patron-

age and is one of the well-to-do men of his com- munity.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Emma Douglas, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Reiton are the parents of three children, who are named as follows: Clarence F., Clifford D. and Ruby V. Mr. Reiton is prominent in secret society circles and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Order of Foresters and Modern Woodmen of America. He has served as town clerk since 1887 and is an earnest worker for good government. Politically, he is a Republi- can.

CHARLES E. STOWERS, attorney-at-law, re- siding at Wheatland, Cass county, is entitled to prominent rank as a professional man and citizen. He is thoroughly qualified for his profession and is progressive and possessed of excellent character and active public spirit and is widely and favorably known. His portrait, found in this work, indicates an upright and candid spirit, in which the judicial temper predominates, and will be received with favor by his many friends.

Our subject was born in Wilbraham, Massa- chusetts, November 29, 1861, and was a son of Rev. Charles N. and Maria (Bowen) Stowers, the former a native of Maine and the latter of New York. His. father was a Methodist Episcopal divine and . preached in central New York, and afterward be- came professor of mathematics of Lawrence Uni- versity of Appleton, Wisconsin, and later was presi- dent of the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette, Iowa. He then engaged in the ministry in southern and eastern Wisconsin, and then at Fargo, North Dakota, and later returned to Minnesota and his death occurred at Minneapolis in 1896. Three sons and three daughters constituted the family of children, four of whom are living, and our subject being the only one in North Dakota. The grand- father of our subject, James Stowers, was a native of Maine and was born at Sand Point in 1794. He was a sea-faring man and also followed farnı- ing and shipping and died in his native state. The family were among the Pilgrims. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Rev. Elias Bowen, D. D., of central New York.

Charles E. Stowers was reared and educated in Wisconsin, attending Lawrence University, at Appleton, and also State Normal School at White- water. He went to Wheatland, North Dakota, in the spring of 1880 and purchased land, which he owns and operates. He conducts a farm of a half- section, and has met with success in that line. In 1877-1878 he was employed by the government on the Lemhi Indian agency in Idaho. From 1884- 1886 he resided in Le Sueur county, Minnesota, where he followed farming, and he began the study of law in 1885 in Minnesota, under Judge R. A. Mott, of Faribault. He was admitted to the bar in North Dakota in 1889 and has followed the prac-

CHARLES E. STOWERS.

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tice of his profession in Wheatland continuously since that date. He has steadily built up a good practice and enjoys prosperity.

Our subject was married, in 1883, to Lillie E. Bossuet, a native of Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Stowers are the parents of five children, named as follows : Mason B., Florence U., Nora W., Helen R. and Clara J. Mr. Stowers was appointed trustee of the state prison by Governor Burke and served four years and he has also been called upon to serve in various minor offices in his township. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason and also holds member- ship in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He was the first volunteer in North Dakota for the Spanish-American war, and raised Troop H, Third United States Volun- teer Cavalry, known as Grigsby's Rough Riders, and was its first lieutenant. Politically, he is a Re- publican and stanch in defense of the principles of his party.

BRYNJOLF PROM, cashier of the State Bank of Milton, is one of the prominent business men of Cav- alier county, and is well known as a worthy citizen. He has been identified with the financial interests of that locality for the past fifteen years and the suc- cess attendant on the State Bank of Milton is due in a great measure to his ability and faithful serv- ice. He thoroughly understands and carefully con- ducts the details of the institution with which he is connected and has also interested himself largely in other financial enterprises and has purchased more less real estate in Cavalier county, and he has made many friends by his push and energy. A portrait of Mr. Prom is presented on another page.

Our subject was born in Bergen, Norway, March 19, 1857, and was reared in his native land and completed his education in Munich, Bavaria. He followed civil engineering in Germany until 1880, when he emigrated to America and at once came to North Dakota and was engaged in govern- ment survey work until 1885. He then accepted a position in the Park River Bank (now the First National Bank of Park River) as bookkeeper and assistant cashier and remained in that capacity until 1888, when he accepted the management of the State Bank of Milton, and has since acted in the ca- pacity of cashier of that institution.

The State Bank of Milton is the successor of the Farmers & Merchants' Bank, which was organized in 1887 and was purchased by D. H. Beecher, Sid- ney Clarke and B. Prom in 1888. They continued business under the name of the Bank of Milton until 1890, when the institution was incorporated under the name of the State Bank of Milton.

Mr. Prom was married in Park River, North Dakota, to Miss Anna Aslakson, a native of Carver, Minnesota. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Prom, named as follows : Hazel and Rolf. Mr. Prom holds membership in the Masonic fra-

ternity and is a gentleman of excellent character- istics. He is active in public affairs of local im- portance and has always been identified with the Republican party in political faith.

NELS H. ELVICK. This gentleman is well known both in farming and mercantile circles in Nelson county. He is engaged in general mer- chandise in Michigan City, and for many years followed agricultural pursuits in that region and met with success in his calling. He has made his way single-handed and is a striking example of a self-made man.

Our subject was born on the farm Elvick, in Modalen, Bergen stift, Norway, September 1, 1860. His father bore the name of Hans Elvick, and the mother bore the maiden name of Maria Nelson. The father died when our subject was ten years of age and from that time young Nels was dependent upon his own resources and he earned but a scanty livelihood. When he was sixteen years of age he received thirty-five dollars through an uncle's death and with ten dollars borrowed money set out for America. He went directly to Worth county, Iowa, and there worked on a farm until June, 1882, when he went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and with two hundred and fifty dollars took land in Grand Forks county. He went to Michigan township, Nelson county, in the spring of 1883 and bought improvements of another farm in section 32. Much of the time until 1886 he lived in Grand Forks county and then lived two years alone on the Nelson county farm and would not allow debt to come upon him for anything. He now owns nine hun- dred and fifty acres of land in one tract and has a finely-developed farm with good improvements and a comfortable residence, erected in 1898. He pur- chased a stock of general merchandise in company with Nels Orvik in 1899, and they now conduct a good business in Michigan City.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Rosa B. Wise, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Elvick have been the parents of five children, named as follows: Bert M., deceased; Mary C., deceased ; Cora; Nels and Lillie. Mr. Elvick is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in political sentiment he is a Populist. He is a man of broad ideas, public-spirited and energetic and well merits his success in North Dakota.

WILLIAM WOODS, whose name appears among those of the pioneer settlers of Levant town- ship, Grand Forks county, still makes his home on section It, of that township, where he first located on settling in the county.

Mr. Woods was born in Ontario, Canada, March II, 1855. His parents were John and Lydia A. (Lyons) Woods, both natives of Ireland, the former born in 1709 and the latter in 1819. They came to America in 1849, first settling in New Jer-

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sey, but the following year removing to Canada, where the mother still lives and where the father died. They reared a family of seven sons and one daughter, three of the sons and the daughter now living in North Dakota.

William Woods was reared to manhood in Can- ada and followed the trade of cooper there until 1879. In the spring of that year he came to Grand Forks county and filed a pre-emption claim to the northeast quarter of section II, Levant township, where he made his home and where he has since resided. He has made it a model farm and has surrounded his home with the conveniences of modern country life. He is the owner of a half- section of the best land in the county and has made a success of agriculture.

Mr. Woods was married, in 1883, to Sarah S. Headrick, a native of Ontario, Canada, and they are the parents of the following children : Florence O., Sadie M., Emma L., Annie L., Clifton W., William Roscoe and Robert H. The members of the family are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church. In political belief Mr. Woods is a Republican and has taken a commendable in- terest in local public affairs. He has served as town- ship treasurer for six years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and has been for many years one of the influential and substantial men of Grand Forks county. He is esteemed for his integrity and has the confidence of all.

GEORGE W. LEE. An enviable reputation has been gained by this gentleman in North Dakota. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Stark county and among the foremost business men of the coun- ty, having his residence in Gladstone, where he is associated with the extensive financial interests of that locality. He is a young man of excellent capa- bilities and has made the most of his opportunities and has reaped a just reward.

Our subject was born on a farm near Suttons Bay, Michigan, December 20, 1869. His father, Robert Lee, was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to America at the age of twelve years. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wiegand, was born in America.

Mr. Lee was the second in a family of six chil- dren and was raised on a farm until twelve years of age, when the family removed to Northport, Michigan, and there the father engaged in the mill- ing business, and owned a saw and flour-mill. Our subject was educated in the common schools and graduated from Mayhew Business College at De- troit, Michigan. He went to North Dakota in 1883 and settled near Gladstone on a farm and entered claim to government land. His father built the Gladstone Roller Mill in 1885, which is still the only mill in Stark county. Our subject worked for his father several years and after the father's death, in 1893, the property was divided and the mill was allotted to our subject. Mr. Lee began farming

again in 1898 and now owns and operates four hun- dred and eighty acres of land and engages wholly in wheat raising. He embarked in the lumber busi- ness in Gladstone in 1895 and conducts the only lumber yard in the town. He also engages in horse raising to some extent. He conducts the mill and has made a success of the business. The mill is a one-hundred-barrel capacity mill and has various warehouses, etc., and is equipped with a seventy- five-horse-power Corliss engine and a dynamo which lights the mill by electricity.

Our subject was married, at Northport, Michi- gan, in 1881, to Miss Jennette White, a native of Michigan, of Yankee descent. Her father, Otis L. White, was a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are the parents of two children: Rufus, born in 1882, and Hazel, born in 1889. Mr. Lee was elected county treasurer in 1890 and re-elected in 1892 and served two terms, since which time he has served as county commissioner of the second district, having been elected to the office twice. He is a Republican politically and is a leader of his party in Stark county, and attends county and state conventions. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity.

CHARLES J. PARTRIDGE, clerk of the dis- trict courts of Rolette county, is one of the promi- nent men of his community and has acquired a sound financial position in his neighborhood. He is a native of London, England, and was born De- cember 12, 1857.

Our subject was the oldest in a family of nine children born to James and Elizabeth (Bruin) Partridge. His father was engaged in the manu- facturing business and our subject was employed in keeping books for the establishment, but being naturally inclined to see the world, he decided to journey to America and in 1882 arrived at Toronto, Cadada. He made his home in Canada until 1886, and in the spring of that year went to St. John's and worked in the saw-mills of that place. He was soon afterward appointed deputy treasurer of Ro- lette county, and in 1887 was elected county auditor and served five years. At the expiration of his term of office he established in the real estate and loan business in Rolla, and in 1897 was elected county clerk of the courts.

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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 169

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