Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 178

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

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Our subject was born in Sugar Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1863, and was the youngest of three sons constituting the family of children born to Reuben and Isadore (Jackson) Dalrymple. The Dalrymple family in the United States came originally from Scotland, being de- scended from Sir David Dalrymple, by a son, An- drew Dalrymple, born 1684, who left Scotland for Ireland and from thence came to America in 1713. He settled permanently in Worcester county, Mas- sachusetts, and was the father of seven children. One son, Andrew, was a captain in the British army and served in the French and Indian war of 1756. Another son, David, was a farmer, and the ancestor of the present Dalrymple family of North Dakota. Of his eleven children, four served in the Revo- lutionary war, enlisting from Northbridge, Massa- chusetts. One of these sons settled in Pennsyl- vania, and his son, Clark, resided in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, and was the grandfather of the sub- ject of this review.

Mr. Dalrymple at the age of twenty years went to Dakota, in 1883, and entered the employ of his brother and uncle, as assistant superintendent of the Grandin farm near Hillsboro. He held that posi- tion seven years and became thoroughly acquainted with the management of a Dakota farm, and in 1890 purchased section 35, in Hillsboro township, and placed stock upon it and raised his first crop of grain in 1891. He has since increased his holdings and is now in possession of two thousand acres of some of the choicest land in the Northwest. His farm is fully equipped with modern appliances and machinery and an artesian well furnishes an abundant supply of excellent water. He lias fifteen men em- ployed during the working months and three through the winter. The Great Northern Railroad Company has built a spur of their road to the farm, so that wheat may be hauled from the machine.

Our subject was married, in 1891, to Miss Murna Lord, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Dalrymple is a lady of rare attainments and was an educator in Pennsylvania for seven years. Her parents were Samuel and Fidelia (Phillips) Lord, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, the latter of Chatttatt-

qua county, New York. Mrs. Lord was a dauglı- ter of Dr. Joseph Phillips, who came from the Massachusetts Phillips family, also a connection of the Webber family, an old Holland family of early New York. Two children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple, as follows: Dorothy I. and Alton R. Mr. Dalrymple is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has passed the degrees of the Mystic Shrine and also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias. In political sentiment he is a Republican, but does not hold strictly to party lines and devotes his entire atten- tion to his farming interests, taking little part in public affairs.

A. W. BANGS. The 26th of July, 1900, round- ed out seventy years of life for the subject of this sketch, more than fifty of which has been as a bread winner and forty-two in the active practice of the law. Notwithstanding his three score and ten Mr. Bangs stands as erect and steps as firm as though a score or more were taken off-or rather never added-and with his six feet of well moulded body, sharp eyes and healthy complexion he looks a middle-aged man of athletic tendencies. His por- trait, which is to be found in these pages, well sus- tains this characterization.

While Mr. Bangs does not now live in North Dakota, his connection during the '8os with business and politics in what is now North Dakota as well as the interest he retains, having two sons in Grand Forks, demands a place in this volume. He is a native of Pennsylvania, his parents living in Bethany, Wayne county, at the time of his birth, they moving a few years thereafter to Honesdale, in the public schools of which city and later in Scranton he re- ceived his education.

His legal training was secured in the offices of D. N. Lathrop and Lewis Jones in Scranton and he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, August 31, 1858. He opened an office first in Pittston and later in Scranton, but in 1860, having caught the western fever, moved to LeSueur, Minnesota, it being then but a steamboat landing and trading post for the pioneers who were preparing to grub and clear the land in the beautiful and fertile Minnesota valley.

Before moving to LeSueur, Mr. Bangs married Alena Baker Stiles, widow of Scranton. She dying in 1865 left him with two small children, and in a year or more he again married, this time to Sarah D. Plowman, of LeSueur. He continued to live in LeSueur for more than twenty years, taking an active part in affairs of the state and especially of the Minnesota valley, serving as prosecuting at- torney in that county twelve years. He joined and went through with the first contingent in the relief of New Ulm at the time of the great Indian mas- sacrc.

In the spring of 1882, having received an offer of a partnership with Judge W. G. Woodruff he

All Bange

SIMEON GETCHELL.

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moved to Grand Forks, remaining in partnership with Judge Woodruff until 1884.

In 1884 and 1885 he was appointed by the com- missioners of Grand Forks county as counsel. In 1886 he was elected chairman of the territorial Dem- ocratic committee and by his untiring work brought M. H. Day, the candidate for delegate in congress on his ticket, nearer the goal than any Democrat had ever gotten before or since. In fact in the northern part of the territory (what is now North Dakota) and where he spent most of his time during the campaign there was a larger Democratic vote than there has been since, even with the state organiza- tion. Larger in fact than the vote has been during some of the years of fusion.

In 1889 Mr. Bangs formed a partnership with W. H. Day and William Duff Haynie, under the name of Day, Bangs & Haynie, and moved to Rapid City, South Dakota. Since that time he has repre- sented Pennington county in the state senate and has served the county first as county judge and later as prosecuting attorney.

Mr. Bangs has been for years recognized as a man of exceptional legal ability, being accorded without question a place in the fore rank in the Territory of Dakota as well as the states of North and South Dakota.

SIMEON GETCHELL, whose home is on sec- tion 11, township 141, range 58, west, is a promi- nent agriculturist of Barnes county, North Dakota, and a worthy representative of an old and honored family of Maine. In that state his ancestors made their home for many generations, his great-great- grandfather being one of its native sons. James Getchell, who belonged to this family, was a member of the expedition sent out to destroy an English gunboat, which was capturing the merchant marine on the Maine coast, and in this undertaking the Americans were successful. From the western part of the state the family moved to Machias, Maine, one of the oldest coast towns, and there many of the name can still be found.

Frederick W. Getchell, father of our subject, was born in Machias, August 31, 1825, a son of Simeon Getchell, also a native of Maine. After completing his education, the former assisted his father at masonry work and also engaged in farm- ing, lumbering and shipbuilding in the East until 1855, when he removed to Minneapolis. After a short time spent in that city he went to McLeod county, Minnesota, where he made a claim on the northwest quarter of section 6, township 115, range 28 west, and located thereon the following spring. In 1862 he moved to Washington county, that state, and purchased a farm of eighty acres. While re- siding there he enlisted, February 13. 1865, in Com- pany F, Hatchett Battalion Minnesota Cavalry, which was sent against the Indians in the northern part of the state, and he was honorably discharged at St. Paul, February 12, 1866. In 1874 he removed

to St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm and made his home until 1898, when he sold the place and came to Barnes county, North Da- kota. In Machias, Maine, he was married, Octo- ber 2, 1852, to Miss Martha Hanscom, who was born in East Machias, December 14, 1832. Her parents, Moses and Martha Hanscom, were also na- tives of that state, but spent their last days in Min- nesota at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Getchell. There her father died, in 1861, at the age of seventy- five years, her mother in 1868, at the age of seventy- six. Mr. and Mrs. Getchell now reside with our subject and are honored and highly respected by all who know them.

During his boyhood, Simeon Getchell accom- panied his parents on their removal to Washington county, Minnesota, where he made his home until twelve years of age, his early education being se- cured in the schools of Point Douglas. During the residence of the family in Wisconsin he at- tended school at River Falls. In 1880 he made a trip to Montana and the following year he came to Barnes county, North Dakota, where he pur- chased the southeast quarter of section 10, town- ship 141, range 58. Here he has since made his home, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and dne success has not been denied him for he is now the owner of a section and a half of valuable land. At present he is occupying one of the best homes in the township and is constantly adding to and improving his place. He is enterprising and pro- gressive and generally carries forward to success- ful completion whatever he undertakes.

Mr. Getchell married Miss Annie Longfellow, of Marshfield, Maine, where she was born in 1860, a daughter of David and Rebecca Longfellow, and this union has been blessed by the birth of one son, Myron. The family are well known and highly respected and have a host of warm friends through- out the community in which they make their home.

EDWIN H. GROVEN, a pioneer merchant of Hannaford, is one of the leading business men of Griggs county. He has built up an extensive pat- ronage and is regarded as a man of practical na- ture and business capacity. His general merchan- dise store is fully stocked and he occupies a modern structure of good design and finish.

Our subject was born on a farm in Norway, February 7, 1858. His parents, Halvor and Isa- belle ( Bjorn) Groven, were natives of Norway, and his father was a farmer by occupation and was a man of more than ordinary prominence in his native land.

Our subject was the eldest in a family of six children and resided in his native land until 1871, when he came to America and located at Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm near Koshkonong Lake about eighteen months. He went from there to Dakota county, Minnesota, where he worked on a farm one year and then went

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

to Minneapolis, where he attended school one term, and after completing the course went to St. Paul, and was engaged by C. E. Thomas, dealer in gen- eral merchandise, as collector. He acted in that capacity about eighteen months and in 1880 went to Griggs county, North Dakota. He shipped horses there for sale and continued in the horse business for a number of years. He purchased the general stock of R. C. Brophy, in Hannaford, in the latter part of the '8os. since which time he has con- ducted the business with eminent success.

Our subject was married, in Dakota county, Min- nesota, in 1887, to Alice Starley, a native of Nor- way, who came to America when a child. Mr. and Mrs. Groven are the parents of two children, Isabelle and Oscar. Mr. Groven is regarded as one of the most enterprising and successful men of Griggs county, and is widely known as an old set- tler of that region. He is a Republican in political faith and stands stanchly for the principles of his party, but does not take an active part in public affairs. His strict attention to his business and judicious management have made for him a fortune and a deservedly high standing among the people.

JOHN E. WALKER is entitled to prominent mention among the prosperous and influential farmers of Stutsman county, North Dakota. He was one of the earliest settlers of Corinne township, and is a man whose determination and energetic spirit has forced every discouragement before him and he has steadily moved forward toward success. He is now the owner of one of the finest estates in that region and makes his home on section 20, in township 144, range 62.

Our subject was born in Yorkshire, England, July 25, 1855. His father, William Walker, was a farmer during his entire life in England and the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Eliza Hattison, was also born and raised in England and came to America in 1899.

Mr. Walker was the third in a family of twelve children and was raised on a farm in his native place and received a common-school education. He hired out at farm labor at the age of eleven years, since which time he has depended upon his own resources. He worked in England until twenty-five years of age and in 1880 came to America and settled in Canada, cleven miles north of Toronto. He worked there at farm labor for two years and then went to Douglas county, where he worked one year and in the spring of 1883 went to the northeastern part of Stutsman county, North Dakota. There were but three or four settlers in that part of the county at the time and they were from seven to ten miles distant. Our subject entered claim to the north- west quarter of section 20, in township 144, range 62, and erected a sod barn and a 12×12-foot board shanty. Ile had fifty dollars on his arrival there and the first year his land yieldled well. but part of his crop was destroyed by his neighbor's cattle. He drove to

North Dakota from Alexandria, Minnesota, with an ox team and a team of ponies and had many.ex- citing experiences fording the streams and meeting with other dangers. He now has a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, on which is a small grove of trees and he has added a complete set of farm buildings and has a well-equipped farm. A severe blizzard swept the roof from his barn and carried it three hundred feet, March 9, 1892, leav- ing the stock exposed to the storm. Mr. Walker took bedding from the house to cover the stock, and while exposed to the storm was almost overcome by the cold and lost his cap and mittens and was forced to retreat to the house, reaching there cov- ered with snow and ice. Many times he has fought prairie fires at night and has encountered all of the dangers and experiences of the pioneer settler. In 1891, owing to the inclemency of the weather and scarcity of threshing machines, he was unable to thresh his wheat crop and about eighteen hundred bushels of wheat was lost.

Our subject was married in England, at the age of twenty-one years, to Eliza Ridles, who was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have adopted two children, named Francis and Agnes E. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Po- litically he is a Populist and firmly stands for the re- form principles.

HALVOR C. RASMUSSEN, a public-spirited citizen and leading man of Ramsey county, is now residing upon his farm on section 13, Odessa town- ship.

Mr. Rasmussen was born in Christiania, Nor- way, October 30, 1837. He was reared and educated in his native land and learned the trade of a printer in Christiania. He followed this occupation there until 1866, When he came to America. He landed in Quebec and proceeded to Chicago, Illinois. He lived in that city a number of years, spent one year in Milwaukee and six years in southern Kansas, re- turning to Chicago in 1874. While in Kansas he was engaged in farming. In 1877 he left Chicago and went to Decorah, Iowa, where he spent the fol- lowing four years and then went to St. Paul, Min- nesota. He lived there until 1887. During all this time from 1874 to 1887 he followed printers' busi- ness, and in the spring of that year came to Devils Lake, and was appointed postmaster at that place by President Cleveland. He had previously made a trip to Ramsey county in 1883, and had located a claim, which is now his home farm in ()dessa town- ship, and where his family resided until 1877, when they removed to Devils Lake. He held the position of postmaster for three years, and in 1890 returned to his farm in Odessa township, where he has since resided. He owns six hundred and forty acres, and has prospered in his finances.

Mr. Rasmussen was married in Christiania, Nor- way, to Miss IIelle Trulsen, also a native of Nor-

HALVOR C. RASMUSSEN.

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

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way, and to this tinion six children have been born, four of whom are now living, named as follows: Anton, Reinhard, Ingvald and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen lost two children by death. Mr. Rasmussen has taken an active interest in public matters of a local nature, and has been chosen to some of the more important local offices. He has been a member of the board of supervisors and also school treasurer. He is a model citizen and a valued member of the community in which he lives. His friends will be pleased with his portrait which is published in this work.

THOMAS B. DAWSON. The pioneer settlers are the ones who mould the future of the country, and among those who entered Cass county in early days and have been useful citizens and earnest workers for the general welfare of their respective communities, the name of this gentleman stands foremost. He settled in Wheatland township when it was an uncultivated section and has remained to assist in transforming it into one of the thriving agricultural districts of the county and has gained a good property and an enviable name by his industry and honesty.

Our subject was born in Licestershire, England, April 19, 1854, and was a son of Joseph and Jane ( Baxter) Dawson, both of whom were natives of England. His father was a farmer and died in his native land. Our subject was one of two sons and five daughters born to this worthy couple and is the only member of the family now in North Da- kota.

Mr. Dawson was reared and educated in England and came to America in 1874, settling at Browns- ville, Mitchell county, Iowa, where he remained until June, 1880, and then located at Wheatland, North Dakota, and purchased land in Wheatland township, where he has since followed farming. For five years he was engaged in the machine busi- ness at Casselton, North Dakota, carrying on the farm at the same time. During the early days of the settlement of that locality he bought and shipped horses to North Dakota from Iowa, and was among the first men to open up a farm in that township.

Our subject was married, in 1892, to Jennie N. Delamater, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Dawson is active in public affairs and has served as chair- man of the township board four years and held various local offices. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and several insurance societies. Politically, he is a Republican and is strong in his convictions. He is widely known as a gentleman of true worth and enjoys well merited success.

HON. ERICK GUNDERSON, one of the most successful farmers of Ransom county, was the first settler of Liberty township. He has steadily im- proved his property, but at all times considered it

necessary that he keep from debt and he is now the owner of one of the finest farms of that region.

Our subject was born on the farm Moe, near the city of Kongsunger, Norway, May 28, 1844, and was the oldest son and second child in a family of seven children born to Gunder E. and Elen ( Ele) Moc. His parents are now living in Minnesota, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. When our sub- ject was seventeen years of age the family came to America and remained one summer in Beloit, Wisconsin, thence moving to Madison, Wisconsin, where our subject and his father worked at day labor. After about three years they changed their home to Mitchell county, lowa, where they attempted farming, and after seven or eight years they located in Chippewa county, Minnesota, where our subject obtained land and engaged in farming. He be- came discouraged in Minnesota and in the spring of 1878 took a tree claim in Cass county, North Da- kota, near Buffalo, and turned the first furrow in that part of Cass county. He returned to his home and sold his tree claim right and in the spring of 1880 went to Ransom county and took a pre-emption to the land on which he now resides. After selling his tree claim he started to Dakota with thirty-three dollars and he secured three horses, harness and feed and at once began the improvement of his farm. He built a 10x12-foot sod shanty and a sod barn and his family joined him about February, 1881. Times were hard and there were but few settlers and he worked some for others and steadily improved his own place. He now has four hun- dred and eighty acres of land, on which, in 1893, he built a comfortable dwelling, valued at one thou- sand dollars, and in 1897 erected the best barn in the township. This structure is Gox00 feet, with a stone basement and room for about thirty horses and forty cattle and storage for one hundred tons of hay. His present fine property represents the industry and careful management of our subject.

Mr. Gunderson was married, in 1871, to Miss Sarah Everson. The following children have been born to bless their home: George. Charles, Alfred, Lida, Emma, Ida, Eddie, Clara and Minnie. Mr. Gunderson is a member of the Uorwegian Lutheran church and takes a prominent part in church matters. He has served as township treasurer and is a man of active public spirit. He was elected to the state legislature in 1894 and did very efficient work there. Politically, he is a Republican and has served as delegate to county and state conventions and is a member of the county central committee.

OLE HANSEN, one of the leading business men of Sargent county, is a resident of Milnor. He is an old settler of that locality and has for many years been identified with the business interests of that region. He is a man of large means and has taken an active part in all moves calculate 1 to bene- fit his town or county, and his name is closely con-

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

nected with the history of the development of Sar- gent county.

Our subject was born in Norway, January 27, 1853. He came to America in 1859 with his par- ents when he was but six years of age, and the fanı- ily settled in Crawford county, Wisconsin, on a farmı, where our subject was reared to manhood. He continued his residence there until 1879 and in June of that year went to North Dakota and was engaged in farming four years near Kindred, Cass county. He went to Sargent county in the spring of 1882 and entered claim to a homestead in Milnor township, where he lived about three years, after which he located in the village of Milnor, where he has since resided. He engaged in blacksmith- ing some five years and then engaged in the hard- ware and farm machinery business, which he has since followed. He carries a complete stock and is well known as an able business man. He owns one half-section of land in Milnor and Highland townships. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Mill & Grain Company and was chosen president of the same, which position he still holds.

Our subject was married, in Crawford county, Wisconsin, to Miss Lottie Torgeson, a native of that state. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hansen, as follows : Carl, Melker, Tinnie, Christina, Olena and Rodena. Mr. Hansen takes an active in- terest in the affairs of his village and township and has held the office of village trustee in Milnor.

WILLIAM A. McCAIN. The Aurora wheat and stock farm, owned by this gentleman, consists of three thousand and forty acres of farm land and is well improved in the way of buildings. A care is evidenced in the housing of machinery seldon seen in the Red river valley and every detail of the extensive tract is carefully looked after. The home is in section 27, of Blanchard township, and is one of comfort.

Our subject was born in Carroll county, Mis- sissippi, October 14, 1862, and was the youngest of a family of ten children born to William A. and Louisa (Mc.Allister) McCain. The father enlisted for service in the Civil war and never returned home. He was possessor, at the time of his deatlı, of ex- tensive cotton plantations, the home plantation con- sisting of about three thousand acres. The widowed mother, with the help of the children, continued to operate the plantations.

While a youth our subject went to Jackson, Mississippi, working in the cotton warehouse and in 1886 became a partner in the warehouse business. He remained there until the spring of 1887, when hic went to the Red river valley as manager of the Aurora farm. Trained from early life to oversee large farm interests, he soon saw the advantages of wheat raising and in 1891 became possessor of the original Aurora farm, which consisted of four thousand acres. The land yielded abundantly and since 1891 his records show an average acreage

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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 178

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