Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 188

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 188

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JOHN K. BUTTERY, superintendent of the Emery farm at Emerado, Grand Forks county, is a typical North Dakotan, and shows in his own career the possibilities of life on these great prairies. A steel plate engraving of Mr. Buttery appears on another page of this work. He was born in Peter- boro county, Ontario, April 19, 1853, and grew to manhood under his father's roof. He spent his boyhood on the farm and had such schooling as fell to the lot of farm lads of his time. He remained with his parents until the month of April, 1879, when he struck out in life for himself. He came to this state and in the spring of 1880 effected a location on section 18, Oakville township. He made him- self a home there and manifested such ability as a farmer that his services were demanded by those able to pay for them. In the spring of 1895 he was called to the management of the Emery farm. This well known place consists of forty-three hundred and eight acres and its rapid development under his management has been a source of much satisfaction to the proprietor. In his own home farm there are six hundred and forty acres. It has good buildings and is in fine condition.

Mr. Buttery was married, in Grand Forks, Oc- tober 18, 1893, to Miss Wilhelmina J. McLeod. She is a native of Ontario and is the mother of three children : Gordon A., Muriel A. and Wilma E. Mr. Buttery has been treasurer of the township and has taken an active part in church matters. He is one of the officials of the Methodist Episcopal church at Emerado and is also interested in the work of the fraternal societies. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters and the Modern Wood- men of America and wherever found is a reliable and honorable man.

HON. TIMOTHY J. DWIRE, a stockman and prominent farmer of Ransom county, has been for many years one of the leading men of the state. His home is on section 14, township 134, range 58.

Mr. Dwire is a native of Allegany county, New York, and was born February 17, 1859. He is the third child in a family of seven children born to John and Ellen (Dugan) Dwire, both of whom are now living on our subject's farm in the state of New York. They are both natives of County Cork, Ireland.

Mr. Dwire received a common school education at the town of Wellsville, New York, and then for about seven years worked at milling. In 1883 he

JOHN K. BUTTERY.

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came to Dakota with Marshall Davis and took up three quarter-sections of land. He lived with ten- ants and developed a grain farm, but soon found grain-raising unsuccessful. In 1890 he went to Engleville to live, and shipped horses to his farm in New York to be sold there. He also began to in- vest heavily in stock for his Dakota farm, engaging in the raising of cattle, horses and sheep. The wolves proved troublesome for a time. but a pack of four stag hounds solved the difficulty, and sheep- raising has proved a very profitable department.

Mr. Dwire is a Republican in politics, and has taken a very active part in public affairs of the county and state. He was elected to the legisla- ture in 1898, and served on the judiciary, the ap -. propriations committees. He introduced house bill No. 80, providing a penalty for altering or defacing brands and for cattle-stealing. Also house bill No. 176, providing for the bonding of the lands allotted by the state to the Soldiers' Home, in order to raise funds for building a hospital. and he was made chairman of the buildings committee and also of the committee for visiting state institutions. He introduced and put through house bill No. 27, pro- viding for stock running at large from November ist to April Ist. His services to his county and state have been valuable and highly appreciated by the people.

Mr. Dwire was married, in 1886, to Miss Fannie C. Murphy, and to this union four children have been born.

SAMUEL H. WIKEY, pioneer merchant of Wells county, and one of the most enterprising busi- ness men in central North Dakota, was born in Warsaw, Illinois, September 19. 1865. When he was but a few months old the family removed to Missouri, locating at Cuba, and began farming. He worked on the farm and attended the very in- ferior schools of that day and locality, and at the age of fourteen years began clerking in a store in Cuba. He was found faithful to his duties, and continued there three years.

In 1882 Mr. Wikey came to North Dakota, first locating at Mayville, where he worked at odd jobs. returning to Missouri the winter of 1883. In 1884 the family came to Sykeston, and our subject and his father established a hardware house. Their means were limited, and their first building was 20x40 feet. By good business judgment and fair dealing, their trade increased rapidly, and they soon afterward, in 1886, added a general line, in- cluding groceries and general merchandise. They now occupy a building 24x90 feet, with warehouse and shed in the rear, and their stock is valued at from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. They also engaged in farming, the father farming extensively since 1889.

In 1889 our subject, with his brother. R. H. Wikey, established a branch store at Bowden, car- rying a line of general merchandise, and being the

largest store in the place. The firm name at Bow- den is Wikey Brothers, and that of the firm at Sykeston is R. & S. H. Wikey. From 1886 to 1888 the latter was the only store in Wells county.

Mr. Wikey is a Republican, and has taken an active part in the public affairs of his county. He was elected county treasurer in 1890 and re-elected in 1892, serving two terms. He has been school treasurer of the city of Sykeston for the past four- teen years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Ancient Order of United Work- micn.

TIMOTHY O'CONNER. Among the success- ful and prosperous farmers of Eddy county none deserves more complimentary mention than does the gentleman whose name heads this article. tis home is in township 149, range 67.

Mr. O'Conner was born in Ireland on a farm in 1858. He was the fourth child in a family of twelve children born to Hugh and Margaret (Mur- phy) O'Conner, both natives of Ireland. Our sub- ject worked on the farm and attended the national school in his native country, and at the age of twenty-one years came to America, landing in New York City in 1880, his sister and the lady who is now his wife accompanying him. His first work in America was on the Erie Railroad in Jersey City. He then went to Addison county, New York, and worked during the summer on the farm. He then came to western Minnesota and did farm work, and afterward went to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and worked in the Canadian Pacific shops. After about two years there, he came to Eddy county, North Da- kota, in 1884, and filed a claim to government land near New Rockford. He, with three companions, Jerry Carroll, James Sheehan and E. B. Beaton, built a shanty which they placed so as to stand on each of their claims, and in this they lived together and farmed about one year, when, in the fall of 1885. all his partners abandoned him, and he con- tinned to live in the shanty alone till 1886. He met with many discouragements and drawbacks, but has overcome them, and is now the owner of six hun- dred and forty acres of valuable land, four hundred acres being under annual cultivation. He has a complete set of good farm buildings, and his farm is well stocked and well improved, and supplied with all modern farm machinery.

Mr. ()'Conner was married in Minnesota, in 1886, to Miss Mary O'Keefe. Mrs. O'Conner was born in Ireland, and was the daughter of John O'Keefe, a farmer in Ireland, where she spent her early girlhood. To Mr. and Mrs. ()'Conner six children have been born, as follows : Daniel, Agnes, Hugh, Margaretta. John J. and Florence G. After their marriage Mrs. O'Conner accompanied her husband to their claim, and endured the hardships of pioneer life, sharing with her husband cheer- fully the fortunes that came to them in their new home. They are both members of the Catholic

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church. Mr. O'Conner is a Republican in political views, and has taken an active interest in public affairs of a local nature. He attends nearly all con- ventions of his party, and has held school offices for the past ten years. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has won, by his straightforward course and genial good-fellowship, the confidence and esteem of all.

AMUND M. TOFTHAGEN, president of the Lakota Mercantile Company, is a gentleman of rare business ability and has made a name for him- self in North Dakota. He is a man of intelligence and is always a student, making the best of his opportunities to learn of men and the world, and is deservedly one of the popular citizens of his adopted town. His portrait, in these pages, shows an in- telligent and manly countenance.

Our subject was born on the farm Tofthagen, Listad, Norway, November 12, 1858, and was the second child and oldest son in a family of seven children. His parents, Andrew and Mary (Simon- son) Tofthagen, now reside in Wisconsin. The family came to America in 1871 and joined the father at Black River Falls, where the father had been employed for over a year. Our subject was reared on a farm and most of his work was done for neighboring farmers and he supported himself from the age of fifteen years. He received a high- school education and then worked three years in a dry-goods store and in 1882 entered the employ of A. Abrahamsen, general merchant of Grand Forks, and in April, of that year, he filed claim to land as a homestead in Bergen township, Nelson county, and in the spring of the following year settled per- manently on the farm and spent the summer there. In 1885, when the office of county auditor was cre- ated, our subject was appointed to fill the same, and in 1886, without opposition, he became his own suc- cessor by popular vote. He served as register of deeds in 1888-1892, thus making eight years con- tinuous service in the county court house. He then dealt in real estate and loans in Hillsboro, North Dakota, where he remained until 1895. and then assumed the presidency of the Lakota Mercantile company. The business has prospered under his guidance and he is one of the prominent business men of his community.

Mr. Tofthagen has enjoyed the advantages of extensive travel and has visited many of the Eu- ropean countries at will and has vivid impressions of the political and social condition on the conti- nent. He is studious and observing and is a pleasing conversationalist on an extensive range of, topics and his fine library in his handsomely fur- nished bachelor quarters in Lakota contains vol- mmes illustrative of the range of his researches. Mr. Tofthagen is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity as a Knight Templar, a member of the Mystic Shrine and thirty-third-degree Elect, and is

very prominent in affairs of the order. He is a Republican nominee for presidential elector in North Dakota, which means an election.

JOSEPH WALTON, one of the prominent and progressive farmers of Eddy county, has developed a fine farm and established a comfortable home in township 150, range 66.

Mr. Walton was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1842. He was the second child in a family of thir- teen children born to George and Mary (Jeweson) Walton, both natives of England. The father was a railroad builder and contractor, and worked in various parts of the United Kingdom on various kinds of public works, and finaly came to America 11 1880 and settled at Old Superior, Minnesota.

Joseph Walton was reared in England, spending his boyhood in various places, accompanying his father on his work. He thus became familiar with many parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Ire- land. At the age of twelve years he went into the English navy and served eight years and nineteen days. He then returned to Yorkshire and worked on public works. In 1870 he came to America, ar- riving in Pennsylvania with three hundred and eighty-four pounds sterling, English money. He traveled through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, In- diana, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri, and then re- turned to England, having been absent one year, lacking seven days, and he arrived in London with but four dollars in money. He then returned to his trade, working on public works, and also worked in the iron mines. In 1876 he was married to Miss Margarette Hills, who was born in Kent. Her father was William Hills, who was accidentally killed in a tunnel while working in the mines. In 1879 Mr. Walton came to Canada, accompanied by his wife. He worked a short time on the Canadian Pacific railroad, and then went to the copper mines of Lake Superior, in Michigan. He spent two years there, and then went to the coal fields of Illinois, and after several years returned to Michigan and worked in the iron mines.

In the spring of 1800 Mr. Walton came to Eddy county, North Dakota, and took a position with the Northern Pacific railroad as section boss, and was thus engaged for three years. During this time he got hold of some land, and in 1893 began farming on section 7, township 150, range 66. His stock at that time consisted of one ox, one cow and two chickens. He worked courageously, however, and added to his holding from time to time, and is now the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, three hundred and thirty being under cultivation, and has a grove of ten acres of forest trees. In 1800 he produced forty-five hundred bushels of grain. His farm is fully equipped with all modern machinery, and is amply stocked. Mr. Walton is a Republican in politics, and has taken a commendable interest in public matters. He is held

A. M. TOFTHAGEN.

MICHAEL GUTTING.

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in high esteem in his community for his honesty and industry, as well as for his genial and kindly nature.

MATH. MILLER, whose valuable farm lies in township 149, range 72, Wells county, is one of the pioneer farmers of the county, locating on his land when all supplies had to be hauled from New Rockford or Sykeston, the latter thirty-two miles distant, and containing but three houses.

Mr. Miller was born in Luxemburg, Germany, August 24. 1867, the youngest of eight children of John Miller, a farmer in Germany. Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the country schools, and at the age of twenty years came. to America, landing in New York on March 3, 1887. He first went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence to Wabasha county, Minnesota. There he followed farming two years, and in the spring of 1889 came to North Dakota and took up a pre-emption and tree-claim in Wells county. He put up a claim shanty, and afterward converted his pre-emption into a homestead claim. In order to get a start he worked out for others three years, and then, in 1891, began farming for himself, having secured a team of oxen, wagon, plow and other utensils. He and his brother, Henry Miller, farmed together about three years. He made many improvements and added to it from time to time, and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, all being under annual cultivation except forty acres, which is hay land. He has a complete set of good farm buildings, plenty of stock, and an abund- ance of modern farm machinery, and the entire estate bears evidence of the thorough agriculturist.

Mr. Miller was married, in June, 1894, to Miss Lena Hart. Mrs. Miller is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, and a daughter of Peter Hart, a farmer now residing in Minnesota. The family came to America in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of three children, namely, Henry, Lizzie and Peter. The family are members of the Catholic church, and in politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat. He is well known throughout Wells county, and esteemed for his honesty and uprightness of char- acter.

TOBIAS H. THOMPSON. The farming community of Belmont township, Traill county, is indebted to the Kingdom of Norway for one of its most enterprising and successful citizens, in the person of the gentleman whose name heads this article.

Mr. Thompson was born in Norway, February 24, 1859, and was the sixth in a family of seven children born to Hans and Antoinette (Christoffer- son) Thompson, both of whom later came to Da- kota, and the mother died in this state. At the age of fourteen years Tobias H. Thompson began to earn liis living, first working in a brickyard and

later at railroading, then at surveying, and lastly was made foreman of a construction gang. Having a brother in America, he came to this country in 1882, arriving at Chicago with fifty dollars in money. He came at once to Traill county, Dakota, and joined his brother, Chris. Thompson, who was a farmer of Belmont township, but who is now de- ceased. Mr. Thompson engaged in farm work for two years, and in 1884 built a small house on a school section and started to improve it, with the idea, which he afterward realized, of eventually buying the land by making it pay for itself. He rented it from the state in 1887, and in 1892 pur- chased it. He is now the owner of three hundred and forty-three acres of the best land in the county, and has put upon it splendid improvements, and greatly enhanced its value and yielding powers.

Mr. Thompson was married, in 1881, to Miss Sigre Gunderson, also a native of Norway, and to this union nine children have been born, named as follows: Annie, Hilde (deceased), Henry, Gilbert, Hilda, Arthur, Ottelie, Magda and Tracey. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in political faith, and has been active in public affairs of his county. He has held local offices, and has been a popular choice as a delegate to county conventions of his party, and for several years has been a member of the Re- publican county central committee. He is regarded as the leader of his party in Belmont township.

MICHAEL GUTTING, possessor of one of the fine farms of Wanduska township, Nelson county, is one of the earliest settlers of the so-called Penin- sula of Lake township, and with Mr. Wishert was the first to settle in that locality. He has a comfort- able home in section 18, and has made a success of diversified farming. His portrait appears elsewhere in this work.

Our subject was born in Baden, Germany, Au- gust 8, 1842. He was the eldest of a family of seven children, born to Ferdinand and Magdalena (Vogal) Gutting. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, and engaged in farm- ing and oil manufacturing, and in 1866, with two hundred dollars, he started for America. He ar- rived at Castle Garden, New York, and went direct to Newark, New Jersey, and worked at odd jobs, and in 1871 returned to his native land. After a few months he again came to America, and a year later was joined by his brother, Joseph. He went to Min- neapolis in 1876, and worked there until 1881, when he invested in a team and prairie schooner, and with his wife and two children drove overland to Grand Forks. He there heard of Stump Lake, and May 21 arrived on the farm which he now occupies. The timber of the place attracted him as a settler of that locality, and with the aid of the one settler who lived on the peninsula he constructed a small log house with thatched roof, and then hauled his household goods from Grand Forks and lumber for a floor. The country was wild at that time, and our subject

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was one of about six settlers in the county, but in 1882 it fast became settled. A frame house was later built for the comfort of the family. but traces of the log house are vet to be seen. Mr. Gutting now owns a section of land and is classed among the most successful farmers of the locality. He built a fine barn in 1896, which has since been re- modeled and enlarged.

Our subject was married, in 1873, to Miss Chris- tina Engel. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gutting, who bear the following names: George, deceased ; Charles, now at home ; Christina, Fritz, Lena and Rosa. Mr. Gutting is now serving as school treasurer, and is actively interested in the development and growth of his locality socially as well as financially. He is a member of the Indc- pendent Order of Odd Felows, and is non-partisan in politics.

WILLIAM W. LUNDY, a prosperous and con- tented Bottineau county farmer, was born in On- tario, Canada, in February, 1864, and is now a thor- oughgoing American. His father, John Lundy, is a farmer, and is still living in Canada, but the son prefers Dakota. The family is of Irish nativity, and Frank Lundy was the first to come from Ire- land and settle in Canada, where his son still lives. His grandson, William, forms the subject of this article. John Lundy married Sarah A. Skelton. She was born in Ireland, and came to this country at the tender age of three years. She became the mother of eight children, William being her fourth child.

Mr. Lundy was reared to a farm life, and knew in his own life the meaning of hard work. When he was eighteen he left home and tried the resources of the Canadian northwest. For a year and a half he did farm work in Manitoba, and then came into North Dakota. This was in 1883, and almost im- mediately on his entrance into the territory he "squatted" on government land, as settling on land before it was legally open to entry, was called. This location was made in Bottineau county, which presents a very different appearance today than it did at that time. He put up a log shanty twelve feet square, which he occupied only a week. He went to work in the Red River valley. All he had was his hands, and making a farm was slow work. In 1886 he was forehanded enough to purchase a yoke of oxen. With these he did his first breaking, and from that time he has made progress every year. He has sold and bought several farms, and now lives on section 14, township 162, range 76. In 1886 he harvested his first crop of wheat. He had six acres, and the yield was good, but he could not thresh it until it was spoiled. His career in Dakota is a story of struggle. He has faced every kind of danger and discouragement, but he did not falter or fall back, and now is comfortable and prosperous. He owns a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, with two hundred and fifty in cultiva-

tion, and the balance in pasture and meadow. He has a complete set of buildings, a barn 40x70 feet, and a house 16x24 feet, one and a half stories high. He has the farm machinery that the place needs, and keeps everything up in fine shape. He was in- terested in a threshing machine business from 1896 to 1899, and has also investments in a mercantile establishment. He is a Democrat, and belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. He has had an honorable career, and may well be looked upon with admiration by the new generation in North Dakota- he did so much to make the country what it is today.

COLONEL CLEMENT A. LOUNSBERRY, member of the historical commission of the North Dakota Historical Society and editor of the "Rec- ord." published under the auspices of the North Da- kota Historical Society, at Fargo, North Dakota, was born at Newville, Dekalb county, Indiana, March 27, 1843. He was educated in the public schools at Hicksville, Ohio, where he went to re- side after the death of his parents, which occurred before his seventh year; also at the public schools in Michigan. At fourteen years of age he went to Fort Wayne to learn the machinist's trade, but there being no opening he started on a tramp in search of work, landing finally at Marshall, Michi- gan, where he secured work on a farm, near Al- bion, and spent three winters in the vicinity in the country schools. April 21, 1861, he enlisted in re- sponse to Lincoln's first call for troops and be- came a private in Company I, First Michigan Volun- teers and was mustered into the United States service for three months. Three days before the expiration of his term he was wounded and taken prisoner at first Bull Run and remained a prisoner at Libby prison, in Richmond, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Salisbury, North Carolina, until June 17, 1862, nearly a year. Mustered out July 6, 1862, at De- troit, Michigan, he enlisted again in the Twentieth Michigan, August 9, 1862, and upon the organiza- tion of the regiment he became first sergeant of Company I; January 26, 1863, he became second lieutenant Company K; November 19, 1863, first lieutenant Company H ; May 12, 1864, captain Com- pany A ; December 2, major by brevet "for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign before Richmond, Virginia." This appointment was made by President Lincoln. December 20, 1864, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel and March 2, 1865, colonel. This latter commission was received by him on his twenty-second birthday and his friends claim for him that he was the youngest colonel in the service who rose from the ranks. The colonelcy was offered him some months before, but declined on the ground that it belonged to his old captain. His military record, as stated above, will be found on page 875, Michigan in the War, published by the state of Michigan. Ile was wounded, as stated, and taken prisoner at the First Bull Run; again he was wounded and taken prisoner at

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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 188

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