Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 174

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

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men for his push and energy and worthy citizen- ship. His portrait, in these pages, is that of a manly upright man.

Our subject was born in La Grange, Penobscott county, Maine, September 8, 1844, and was a son of Thompson and Louisa (Staples) Trott, both of whom were natives of Maine. His father was a farmer by occupation and spent his career in his native state and died there in 1875. The mother died in March, 1900, at the age of eighty-four years. Four sons constituted the family of children, and our subject and one brother are the only survivors.

George E. S. Trott was reared and educated in his native state and represented his district in the legislature in 874-1875. He became familiar with farm work and farm methods and in 1877 went to Cass county, North Dakota, locating at Fargo. The following year he entered claim to the northwest quarter of section 10, in Wheatland township, on which he now resides, and the mother pre-empted the northeast ' quarter of the same section. Mr. Trott has improved his entire farm of two compact sections, twelve hundred and eighty acres, and is regarded as one of the solid men of the region in which he makes his home. He had but limited means when he entered Dakota, but has pushed for- ward with an indomitable will and enjoys a well- earned reward.

Our subject was married, in 1894, to Elizabeth C. Huick, a native of Michigan. Mr. Trott assisted in the organization of Wheatland township and has held various offices in the same and taken an active interest in promoting the welfare of the community. He is a Mason of long standing, has passed the thirty-second degree and is respected by his asso- ciates. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party.

GILBERT S. CRYNE, one of the oldest pio- neers of Stark county, enjoys the comforts of a rural home near Gladstone, and does an extensive dairying business. He was born in South Westerlo, Albany county, New York, January 7, 1839. His father. John Cryne, was a farmer and currier, and later in life followed farming near Sheboygan, Wis- consin. He was of German descent. The grand- father of our subject, Peter Krine, was also a farmer by occupation. The great-grandfather of our subject was born at Hesse Darmstadt, Ger- many, and came as a soldier with Queen Ann's troops to New Amsterdam, now New York. He bore the name of Peter Krine, and married a Hol- land woman, and for this was granted seventy-two acres of land one mile west of Boston Corners, the conjunction of the three states, Massachusetts. Con- necticut and New York. Our subject's grand- father and great-grandfather fought in the Revolu- tionary war. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Robins, was of Dutch descent, and was a descendant of the Knickerbockers of New York.

HON. GEO. E. S. TROTT.

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Gilbert S. Cryne was the elder of two children, and was raised in the village and attended the con- mon schools, and in 1851 moved with his parents to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where the father followed farming and grew to manhood, and from his boy- hood days assisted in the support of his parents. He remained at home until 1863, and then moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and followed the carpen- ter's trade there a few years, after which he went to work in the La Belle Wagon Works, and was employed there until 1881. He was made mechan- ical superintendent of the establishment, and the re- sponsibility of the position impaired his health. He went to North Dakota in 1882, stopping at Glad- stone, and is the oldest continuous settler of Glad- stone now residing there. His family joined him in August of that year, and he erected a store and es- tablished the first hardware business in the town, which he conducted two years. He then moved to his homestead a mile and a half from Gladstone and built up what is known as Stone Grange farm. He resided there until 1890, and then removed to his present location, where he has continued in the stock raising and dairying business. He has a cream separator and keeps about one hundred head of cat- tle and from twenty to thirty horses, and has met with most pleasing results in both lines of farming.

Mr. Cryne was married at Scott, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, November 1, 1863, to Miss Aba- gail Fancher. Mrs. Cryne was born in Spring. Steuben county, New York, and was a daughter of Rev. Fancher, a minister of the Christian denomina- tion. The family has been in America many gen- erations and were soldiers in the Revolution. Five daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cryne, who are named as follows: Margaret D., born at Batavia, Wisconsin, March 22, 1865. died October 10, 1866; Estelle A., born December 24, 1866, at Batavia, Wisconsin, and is married and resides in Dakota ; Orissa A., born August 12, 1869, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, now married and living in Da- kota : Mary M., born at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, October 31, 1873, now married and living in Da- kota ; and Gilbertine D., born at Gladstone, North Dakota, May 23, 1887. Mr. Cryne is a prominent old settler, and is historian of the Old Settlers' As- sociation, of which W. B. Powers is president. Mr. Cryne is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM C. FAIRBANKS. In the person above named Lakota finds one of her most energetic and practical men, as well as one of the influential citizens of Nelson county. He at present holds the appointment of United States commissioner, and also conducts a real estate and loan business.

Our subject was born in Geauga county, Ohio, July 11, 1857, and was the only child born to John M. and Julia ( Houghton ) Fairbanks, both of whom are deceased. The family dates in America to 1636, when the first settler of that name made a home in

Dedham, Massachusetts, and the old homestead near that place is still in possession of the family. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and our subject assisted with the work of the place until sixteen years of age, when the father embarked in the mercantile business, and our subject entered the Grand River Institute and later attended Spen- cer's Business College. When about twenty years of age he began his career independent of home aid and kept books one year for a wholesale house in northern Pennsylvania, and then established a gro- cery store in Youngstown, Ohio, and in the fall of 1881 went to Fargo, North Dakota, for his health. He passed the winter there, and in the spring in company with J. W. Bliss and J. C. LeBeau, secured land in Osago township, Nelson county. He owned a half-interest in a team of horses, and ar- rived at his farm with fifteen dollars in cash, and each of the settlers erected a small shanty and as- sisted each other in every possible manner. Our subject devoted himself to agricultural pursuits un- til 1894, and gained a pleasant home. He was elected county clerk of courts in 1894, and held the position five years, and established his family in a comfort- able home in Dakota. In August, 1899, he was ap- pointed United States commissioner and at once en- tered upon the duties of his office.

Our subject was married, in 1883, to Miss Eva M. Cowles, a native of Ohio. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks, who are named as follows: Ruth and Miles. Our subject took an active part in the organization of Osago township, and served as chairman of the first town- ship board. He was chosen chairman of the Re- publican county central committee in 1890, and is now serving in the same capacity.

HENRY F. GEWEKE, a pioneer of Morton county, North Dakota, now has his home in Hebron, where he has proven himself an excellent business man in the mercantile line, and also capable of con- ducting farming and stock raising with success at the same time.

Mr. Geweke was born in Des Plaines, Illinois, March 5. 1872. His father. J. H. Geweke, was foreman of the Chicago White Lead & Oil Company for many years, and was a native of Germany. He came to America in 1869. He was married in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, his wife being Cather- ine Hinrich, who was also a native of Germany.

Henry F. Geweke was the eldest in a family of three children, and was reared in Illinois, and re- ceived a preliminary education in the schools of Des Plaines. In 1885 the family removed to Da- kota and located on a farm two miles south of the village of Hebron. The father took up land and put up farm buildings, and proceeded to improve his land. They experienced all the severe trials of the early settler in North Dakota, including the scarcity of food and sufficient shelter, the difficulty of reaching market, the terrible prairie fires, and crop

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failures through drouth, storms and hail. How- ever, the father worked part of the time at other employment, being in the employ of the oil com- panies at St. Paul a portion of the time. They finally began to prosper, and when the father died, in 1896, the farm had been brought to a high state of cultivation, and was yielding handsome returns annually. At that time the farm was turned over to the management of our subject, and he has proven his ability as an agriculturist from the time he took charge of affairs. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, two hundred and twenty-five acres of which are under cultivation and the rest devoted to pasture. Stock and grain re- ceive about equal attention. He has an excellent set of farm buildings, including a fine barn, and comfortable residence, with all the needed improve- ments, including a windmill which is utilized for various farm purposes. In 1898 the family re- moved to the village of Hebron, and Mr. Geweke opened a general store, which has also proven suc- cessful.

Mr. Geweke was one of the earliest settlers in the region of Hebron. On the arrival of the fam- ily in that vicinity the only sign of civilization was a large emigrant house, 50x80 feet. In this nine families were sheltered, the family of our subject having a place therein assigned to them. The rains and wind came in without interruption, and the hardships they endured are little appreciated by later settlers in the Northwest.

In political faith Mr. Geweke is a Republican, while his father was a Democrat. The father was always active in political matters, and served as con- stable and deputy sheriff for six years in Morton county. He was well known and esteemed through- out the county, and did a great deal toward the de- velopment and advancement of his community and county to the end of his days. He deserves a promi- nent place in the history of the times. Our subject has also been active in public affairs, and has at- tended many of the county conventions of his party. and is a recognized worker in the interest of good government, both local and national. He is a mem- ber of the Order of Foresters.

JOHN A. VAN LIEW. A prominent position as a citizen and member of the farming community of Lake township, Ramsey county, is held by the gentleman above named. He resides in section 18, where he located over seventeen years ago, and he has accumulated a good property and enjoys the confidence of his fellow men.

Our subject was born on a farm in Livingston county, New York, January 10, 1853, and was a son of Martin and Clara ( Spicer) Van Liew. The father entered the Union army during the Civil war, and the mother and family removed to Michigan in 1864 and settled in Kent county, and they have re- sided there most of the time since that date.

Our subject was educated in the common-schools

and his early life was spent on a farm, and he later engaged in a flour-mill, and followed that occupa- tion in Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas for seventeen years. He went to North Dakota in the spring of 1883, and entered claim to land in Lake township, Ramsey county, and settled thereon and began farming operations, giving up the business at which he had been engaged for so many years. He has since been a resident of Lake township, and has accumulated four hundred and eighty acres of land, on which he has placed good improvements in the way of buildings, fences, etc., and has successfully followed general farming.

Our subject was married in Rochester, Minne- sota, to Miss Ellen M. Farrell, a native of St. Law- rence county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Van Liew are the parents of three living children, named as follows: Harry W., Dawn E. and Mary. Horace died July 4, 1898, at the age of fifteen years, and one son died in infancy. Mr. Van Liew is very active in public affairs of local importance, and has served as county commissioner two terms in Ramsey county and has held various offices in Lake township. He is intelligent and enterprising, and well merits his success and high station.

WILLIAM H. SEITZ. Among the prominent educational workers of North Dakota may be men- tioned the subject of this review, who is now serv- ing in the capacity of superintendent of schools in Morton county. He has devoted his career to school work and has made a success of it. The reader will be glad to look upon Mr. Seitz's portrait con- tained in this work.

Our subject was born on a farm in Ohio. No- vember 1, 1859. His father, Jacob R. Seitz, was a farmer throughout his career and he was born in Maryland. He served in the United States army during the Civil war. The grandfather of our sub- ject was a native of Germany. His mother, whose maden name. was Sarah E. Brewster, was born in America. The parents of our subject were married in Ohio, and of their family of thirteen children he was the second in order of birth and the eldest who grew to maturity.

Mr. Seitz was reared on a farm and then at- tended the country schools and graduated from the Central Normal, at Danville, Indiana, and at the age of seventeen years taught his first term of school. He was employed in Ohio as salesman and manager of a clothing store and was a member of the county board of school examiners in that state. He went to North Dakota, in August, 1892, and accepted a position as superintendent of the Mandan city schools in Morton countv. and also as principal of the high school, which position he filled six years, and in 1898 was elected county superintend- ent of schools. He has done very efficient work in elevating the educational standard in North Da- kota, and while engaged in the Mandan schools changed them from an ungraded to graded schools,

WILLIAM H. SEITZ.

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and saw the corps of teachers increase from five to ten in number and the average daily attendance in- crease fifty per cent. He has been equally active in making important changes in the county school affairs.

Our subject was married, in 1887, to Miss Fannie M. Robins, who was born near McArthur, Ohio. Mrs. Seitz is a daughter of Harvey Robins, a pros- perous farmer. She is of English and German de- scent. Mr. and Mrs. Seitz are the parents of seven children, named as follows: Bertha G., born in 1888; Harry H., born in 1890; Robbin P., born in 1892 ; William Ray, born in 1894 : Gladys May, born in 1896; Ira James, born in 1898, and an infant, un- named, born June 7, 1900. Mr. Seitz is chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias lodge, which order he joined in 1892. He is deservedly popular.

EDWARD BARNUM is well known as a pros- perous merchant of Lakota, Nelson county, where he has been a resident for several years. He was born in Kent, Ontario, Canada, November 27, 1837.

The Barnum family in America originated with the arrival of three brothers in Colonial times, and they were patriots in the Revolution. The grand- father of our subject served in the war of 1812. The father of our subject, David W. Barnum, was of Welsh extraction, and the mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Snooks, was of German descent.

Mr. Barnum was the second in a family of four children, and was raised on the Canadian farm un- til 1853, when he removed with his parents to Still- water, Minnesota, where the father operated a ho- tel. Our subject went to Hastings in 1856 and bought wheat, and in April, 1863, enlisted in Com- pany L, First United States Veteran Volunteer En- gineers. He was engaged at Mission Ridge, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, in Octo- ber, 1865, and then returned to Hastings and en- gaged in the real estate, loans and insurance busi- ness, which he followed until the spring of 1886. He then went to Nelson county, North Dakota, and pre-empted land in section 6, in Wamduska town- ship, and engaged in farming a half-section of land, and his home was on the banks of Stump Lake for ten years. He raised small grains, sheep and other stock, and in 1897 became manager, and also owned an interest in the Wamduska Land & Live Stock Company. He purchased the mercantile business which he now operates in Lakota in 1808. This was formerly owned by F. A. Rahders, and the stock is valued at ten thousand dollars. Mr. Bar- num has prospered in his business and enjoys a lib- eral patronage.

Our subject was married, in 1853, to Miss Cath- erine Mclaughlin, who died in 1865. Three chil- dren were born to this union, named in order of birth as follows: Caroline A., now Mrs. E. C. Clemmens, D. D .: Hannah L., now Mrs. P. S. Dunham, of Lakota ; and George W., now residing in San Fran-

cisco, California. Mr. Barnum was married, in

1866, to Miss Mary J. Hodgson. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnum, named Lewis E., now deceased. Mr. Barnum is a member of G. K. Warren Post, No. 41, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and he also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican in political sentiment.

ANDREW A. TAYLOR, county sheriff of Ro- lette county, is one of the deservedly popular offi- cials of the county, and enjoys a good income from the livery business in Rolla, and a farm of four hun- dred acres near the town.

Our subject was born in Whitby, province of Ontario, Canada, July 2, 1862, and was the third in order of birth in a family of five children, and the eldest son, born to Malcolm and Adaline ( Mil- ler) Taylor. The father still resides in Canada. Our subject lived with his paternal grandparents after he was about eight years of age, until he was fifteen years of age, and was reared on a farm. He then hired ont to farm work, and in the spring of 1881 joined a party of emigrants bound for Dakota, arriving March 18. After remaining there sev- eral months he returned to his old home, and in the spring of 1882 went to western Manitoba. He took land near Brandon, and remained there about three years, and then becoming discouraged, owing to failure of crops, he went to the Turtle Mountain dis- trict and entered claim to land in what is now Ox- ford township. He, however, made his home at St. Johns, and with a buggy, one horse and a 10X12- foot log stable started a livery business. This busi- ness grew as years went by, and when the county. seat was changed to Rolla our subject removed there in 1890, and purchased the livery business of L. Bush, and has continued in the same, and now holds a greater portion of the patronage. He has re- cently invested in four hundred acres of land near Rolla, and during the past season followed agricult- ure thereon.

Our subject was married, in 1884, to Miss Eva Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been the parents of one child, who bore the name of Myrtle, and is now deceased. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. At an early day he mixed freely in local public affairs, and was a candidate for sheriff, but was defeated by the nominee who in turn he defeated in 1898, since which time he has performed the duties of county sheriff in a most satisfactory manner. He served as deputy sheriff three years.

JOHN WOODS. To those who entered Da- kota during the pioneer days of her history and have aided in the development of the great agricultural and natural resources of the state by honest and earnest industry, is due the credit of her present solid prosperity. Such an one is Mr. Woods, who

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now owns a pleasant and well improved farm in Forest River township. Walsh county, and has been a resident of section 21 since the early days of the settlement of that locality. He has brought his land to a high state of cultivation, and the build- ings on his place are comfortable and furnish am- ple shelter for produce and stock, while for the com- fort of the family a commodious and comfortable residence has been erected.

Our subject was born in Pakenham, Ontario, December 17, 1844, and was reared on a farm near that town. He spent his boyhood days and early manhood there, and in 1866 and again in 1870 served in the Canadian forces called out to resist the Fenian raids, and still has in his possession a medal presented to him at that time by the English au- thorities. In the spring of 1878 he came to North Dakota and settled on the land which now com- prises part of his home farm in section 21, of Forest River township. He entered a pre-emption to one hundred and sixty acres of land, and also took a homestead tract in the same township. He now owns and successfully operates four hundred acres of land, and has spent his career in the pursuit of farming, and has a general knowledge of his calling which is a help to all around him.

Our subject was married in Almont, Ontario. June 8, 1870, to Mary Ann Poole. Mrs. Woods was born in Pakenham, Lanark county, Ontario, January 29, 1845, and has been an able companion and helpmeet to her husband during their married life. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are the parents of six children, named in order of birth as follows: Mar- garet. Jennie. William P., Henry S., Alice L. and Alma M. Mr. Woods takes an active interest in educational affairs, and has held various school offices in his township. He is a member of the Pres- byterian church, and is prominent in affairs of that denomination and has been an elder of the church for several years. He is a gentleman of the high- est integrity of word and deed and commands the esteem of his associates and fellow men.

"THE LAKOTA HERALD." under the edito- rial management of Charles E. Cox, is the leading paper of Nelson county, and is well known through- out the state for its bright and newsy style and the thoroughness of its editorial work.

"The Herald" was established in 1894, by St. Jolın & Lovett, as the "Nelson County Herald." but in 1895 it passed into the hands of the Herald Pub- lishing Company, with E. H. Kent as managing ed- itor, and the paper assumed the name of the "Lakota Herald," and has since that time espoused the cause of the Republican party. On May 1, 1899, Charles E. Cox took charge of the publication as managing editor. "The Herald" is now a six-column quarto sheet, and has a circulation of upward of twelve hundred copies. The office is one of the best equip- ped in the state, being fitted out with a Potter book and job press, a three-horse-power gasoline engine

and turns out a high grade of job work. The cir- culation of "The Herald" is steadily increasing, and is growing in popularity, and wields a great in- fluence in general political matters, as well as in pub- lic affairs of a local nature. It is the official paper of Nelson county.

CHARLES E. Cox, managing editor of the "La- kota Herald." is a young man of varied and extended experience in the rigid school of life, and is well fit- ted and mentally equipped for the work he has un- dertaken. He was born in Ellenville, New York, June 24. 1874. He is the youngest of six children born to Jacob and Emeline (Eastgate) Cox. In 1881 our subject accompanied his parents to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, where the father took up lands and followed farming.

At the age of thirteen years Charles E. Cox left home and entered a printing office at Northwood, North Dakota. For several years he worked at va- rious places in the state, being employed a few years on the "Larimore Pioneer," and also on the "Graf- ton News and Times." As stated in another place, he took editorial charge of the "Lakota Herald" May 1, 1899. Mr. Cox is thoroughly informed on general affairs, and in touch with the conditions in North Dakota to a degree that entitles him to the confidence and respect of the reading public.

WILLIAM SCANLAN, M. D. One of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Cass county who is rapidly rising to an assured position in his profession, is the gentleman above named. He is among the younger members of his calling and has resided in Page, North Dakota, comparatively few years, but has built a good practice and has pros- pered since entering upon his duties there. He is also interested in farming near that city and enjoys a good reputation as a business man and citizen. His portrait, found in these pages, shows a manly and upright character.

Our subject was born at Mt. Sterling, Crawford county, Wisconsin, August 18. 1869, and was a son of Michael and Margaret E. (Hays) Scanlan, natives, respectively, of Vermont and Boston, Mas- sachusetts. His father was a farmer by occupa- tion and settled in Wisconsin in 1856 and still re- sides in that state at Mt. Sterling. The grandfather of our subject, John Scanlan, was a native of Ire- land, and emigrated to Canada in an early day, and later moved to Vermont, and from thence to Wis- consin. He was killed at Milwaukee, that state, in 1856. Our subject had three brothers and two sisters and one brother and one sister are now re- siding in Cass county.

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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 174

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