Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 191

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

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PROF. WEBSTER MERRIFIELD. Among the prominent educators of the Northwest stands Prof. Merrifield, president of the North Dakota State University at Grand Forks, under whose guidance the college is now prospering.

Our subject was born in Windham county, Ver- mont, July 27, 1852. His parents, John A. and Louisa W. (Williams) Merrifield, were natives of V'ermont. The father was a farmer and died in that state.

They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter. Mr. Merrifield received his pre- paratory training in the common schools of his native

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town and at Cushman Academy, Bernardston, Massachusetts, and at Wesleyan Academy, Wil- braham, Massachusetts, graduating from the latter institution in 1872. He spent one year in Indiana teaching, and in 1873 entered Yale, graduating with the degree of B. A. in 1877, and in 1892 was honored with the degree of M. A. from the same in- stitution. He taught two years in Newburgh, New York, and in July, 1879, was chosen as a tutor in Yale, which position he held until 1883. He then resigned and accepted the professorship of Latin and Greek in the University of North Dakota, and was thus engaged until 1891, when he was made president of the university and professor of econo- mics. Two new buildings were erected in 1893 and 1899, a boys' dormitory and a combined armory and dormitory for young men. In the latter year an improved system of sewerage and an electric light- ing plant were installed. The attendance has doub- led since Professor Merrifield assumed charge. In 1899 a law department was established.

Our subject has devoted his entire career to his profession. He is an earnest worker for the high schools of North Dakota. In his work at Grand Forks he has proven his ability, and shown most hearty efforts to bring success to the institution with which he is connected, as well as to provide an advanced education for the younger members of the community. He is a gentleman of wide experience, intelligent, thorough and systematic, and is de- servedly one of the best known and most highly esteemed educational workers of the state.

ABNER ABBEY. Among the pioneers of North Dakota the subject of this article deserves mention in any work purporting to be a history of the progress and development of the state, and es- pecially of Grand Forks county. He became one of the first settlers of Gilby township, on section 24, in 1880. In 1889 he removed to section 27, where he has resided continuously since.

Mr. Abbey was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, August 10, 1849. His parents were Abner and Mary (Nugent) Abbey, the former being a Pennsylvanian by birth, and the latter a native of the north of Ireland. The father moved to Canada, where he spent the last years of his life. Five sons and two daughters were born of this union, of whom four sons and one daughter are now living, their various places of residence being Wisconsin, Min- nesota, Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota. Four sons served in Wisconsin and Minnesota regiments during the Civil war, one son dying at Mobile from sickness contracted from exposure.

Abner Abbey was reared and educated in Can- ada, and in 1870 removed to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and resided for two years in that state. He then visited Montana and spent some time in the southern states. Finally, in 1880, he came to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and during the same year filed a pre-emption claim to a portion of sec-

tion 24, Gilby township. He has made many and valuable improvements on section 27, and is now the owner of one and a half sections of the best and most valuable lands in the county. His buildings are of the most modern and convenient pattern, and his home is one of the most comfortable and commodious of farm properties in North Dakota.

Mr. Abbey was married, in 1884, in Grand Forks, to Miss Emma Gilby. Mrs. Abbey is a native of England, her parents, John and Alisemon (Strow) Gilby, having emigrated from that country to Can- ada in 1853. They had three sons and one daugh- ter, Mrs. Abbey. Two of the sons, James and George, settled in Grand Forks county in 1879, in the township that has been named for them. Mr. and Mrs. Abbey have two children, Alisemon E. and Charles G., both of whom are living. A portrait of Mr. Abbey and his excellent wife is contained in these pages. In political faith Mr. Abbey is a Re- publican. He has been active in public affairs of a local nature and has filled various local offices. He assisted in the organization of the township of Gilby, and has been an influential citizen since the settle- ment of the county. He has been prosperous and successful, gaining his present valuable holdings by industry and good business judgment, as he came to North Dakota with nothing and began at the bottom.

JAMES STEWART, a prosperous Bottineau county farmer, who may be found busily engaged in planning and developing his very complete farm on section 13, township 160 north, range 75 west, was born on a farm in Western Ontario, 11. April, 1866, and was brought up as a farm lad in what was then quite a frontier region. His father, James Stewart, was also a farmer, and was born in Perthshire, Scotland. He was a single man when he came to Canada in 1832, but was married to Miss Betty Sin- clair soon after his arrival. She was also of Scot- tish birth. She did not leave the old country until she was quite a mature girl of some sixteen years or more. She had two brothers who did valiant service for the cause of liberty in the Union army during the Civil war. They came to the United States for the purpose of enlisting.

James Stewart is the sixth of nine children born to his parents and grew to manhood on the family homestead. He attended the local school and when he was twenty left home and came into North Da- kota seeking the fortune a new land might have in store for him. He became a squatter on his present location, and put up a claim shanty, 12x14 feet. The hrst year he did not attempt and farming except making such improvements as necessity compelled. The first team he secured he held in partnership with his brother. This was in the spring of 1887. He had no money, and, as he puts it, had to go slow. He farmed with oxen for the first five years, and lived alone for seven years. His first crop was harvested in 1888. Previous to that time he had worked out as best he could. He did this for four years after

ABNER ABBEY AND WIFE.

ISAAC N. JOHNSON.

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his coming. In 1891 a large crop put him on his teet. In that year his wheat ran twenty-six bushels to the acre; in 1892, twenty; and in 1895 it was forty-two bushels to the acre. In 1899 he harvested sixty-five hundred bushels of wheat. He is now the sole proprietor of a half-section of as fine land as may be found in the region, and rents another quarter-section. He has a good farm, thoroughly modern in all its appointments, and lives in a farm house ample and comfortable in every respect.

Mr. Stewart and Miss Annie F. Crites were mar- ried in December, 1892. She is a native of Illinois, and came to North Dakota with her father, W. Crites. He was born in Canada, and is a farmer. They are the parents of two children, Lizzie, who was born in March, 1895; and Willie, in August, 1899. Mr. Stewart is almost exclusively a grain farmer, though his cattle and horses are of good grade. He is a Democrat, and was elected a mem- ber of the county board in 1897. He takes a some- what active part in political matters, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an early settler in township 160 north, and brought nothing with him but his own strength and courage, and has literally conquered fortune by his own thrift and industry.

EDWOOD C. OLSGARD, an earnest and indefatigable worker in the cause of education, has his home in the village of Lakota, Nelson county, and is becoming widely known throughout North Dakota. He is a young man, but thoroughly trained for his work, and his methods are such as commend themselves to modern and progressive thought.

Mr. Olsgard was born on a farm in Minnesota, September 11, 1871, His father, O. E. Olsgard, has been a life long farmer, and a pioneer of this state, having come here in 1882. The grandfather of our subject, Esten Olsgard brought the family to this country from Norway in 1853, and located all his interests and cares on a farm in southern Minnesota that year.

The subject of this article is the oldest in a family of seven children. He was reared on the farm and given a good education. He graduated from the seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1894, and became a student at the University of Minnesota. While pursuing his studies at that school he taught during the years 1896 and 1897, serving as principal of the high school at Lakota. He will complete his work at the University and receive the degree of Bachelor of Literature in 1901. He is now a candidate for the position of county superintendent of schools for Nelson coun- ty, an office for which he has a peculiar fitness both by thorough educational training and prac- tical labor, having served as deputy superintendent for the last two years. He is a Republican in politics and is rapidly coming to the front as a recognized party worker and leader.

The experiences which our subject has had in pioneering were neither special nor peculiar, but nevertheless personally interesting. He came to North Dakota in 1882 in company with his par- ents and applied himself with a hearty good will to the great task of making a delightful home out of a wild prairie. He hauled supplies from the nearest railroad station, sixty miles away, into Nelson county with ox teams, and did whatever he could to help along the common task. He has many times driven ox-team-breaking plows, and has enjoyed a pleasure that can only be under- stood by him who has had the experience of seeing the long, smooth furrows fall away as the plow rapidly eats away the wild land. He is a hard worker and a man of much character and the future is bright before him.

ISAAC N. JOHNSON. It is profitable as well as interesting to recount the experiences and recol- lections of the pioneers of any country, and espe- cially while they are still fresh in the minds of the men who form the subject of the early history of a community. Among the earliest settlers of Johns- town township, Grand Forks county, North Dakota, none is deserving more particular mention than the venerable gentleman whose name heads this review. His portrait is a valuable addition to this volume.

Mr. Johnson was born in Monroe county, New York, October 8, 1825. His parents were Newton and Emily (Demming) Johnson, who were natives of Orange county, New York, and Hartford, Con- necticut, respectively. The father was a farmer, and was reared from the age of three years in Seneca county, New York, and spent his life there, with the exception of ten years spent at Charli, Monroe county, being one of the first settlers of Seneca county, locating there in 1797. at which time his parents settled there. His death occurred September 9. 1854. The grandfather of our subject was Isaac Johnson, a native of New Jersey, who participated in the Revolutionary war, and his father, Jasper Johnson, was one of the first settlers in Newark, New Jersey, going to that place from Long Island, but was originally from Connecticut. The father of Jasper Johnson was one of the pilgrims who came over from England shortly after the arrival of the Mayflower. The Johnsons have been mostly farmers and merchants as far back as the family can be traced.

Isaac N. Johnson was reared and educated in the state of New York, attending school and work- ing on the farm until he reached manhood. He then farmed in that state until 1876. He then de- voted three years to life and fire insurance business. On September 9. 1879, he arrived in Johnstown township, Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and soon after filed a homestead claim and a tree claim to the north half of section 21. He took up his residence thereon, and has since made it his home. He was among the first settlers of the township,

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his brother and one other settler only living between his home and Forest river. The township was not organized until the following year, when it was called "Johnstown." Mr. Johnson was chairman of the board of judges who were appointed on or- ganization, and was elected justice of the peace. The village of Johnstown now stands on his old homestead.

Mr. Johnson was married, in 1849, to Matilda Hutchins, a native of Ovid, Seneca county, New York. To this union two children were born, their son, Wilber H., being the only one living. The mother died in 1896. Mr. Johnson was married to Mrs. Mary A. ( Ray) Lindsey, in 1897. Mr. John- son has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1842, and has been a Republican since the or- organization of that party in 1856.

CHARLES E. HURD, residing in Quinby township, operates one of the most extensive stock and grain farms in Kidder county. Mr. Hurd was born in Morning Sun, Iowa, March 29, 1858. His father, J. L. Hurd, was a druggist, and a na- tive of Vermont. The Hurd family was originally from England, and settled in Vermont prior to the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Nancy Green, was born in Ohio. Her father, Thomas Green, was a native of Ireland and came to America just prior to the war of 1812. He was a soldier in that war and was taken prisoner with General Hull's army.

Charles E. Hurd was the youngest in a family of six children, and was reared in the village of Morning Sun and attended the village school. At the age of eighteen years he leased land and began farming in lowa. He sold out his chattels in 1881 and went to Burlington, Iowa, and engaged in the wood and coal business, continuing there three years. In 1884 he disposed of all his Iowa interests and came to Kidder county, North Da- kota, took up government land in township 141, range 72, and erected a claim shanty and barn, the latter built of sod. He owned four horses, three of them being blind. He also had about fifty dollars worth of farm machinery. He rented land the first year, and from eighty acres of wheat harvested eighteen hundred and four bushels. He improved his farm and in 1800 turned his at- tention largely to stock raising. He now conducts both departments, grain growing and stock, and has made a decided success. He cultivates annu- ally about five hundred acres, and his stock inter- ests yield about three thousand dollars per year. He is said to have the most extensive grain farm and stock ranch in Kidder county, and all his opera- tions are conducted on a grand scale, according to modern methods. He is the owner of eight hun- dred acres of land and controls limitless range for his stock. His farm is equipped with modern con- veniences, has seven miles of fencing and a five- acre grove, the best in the county.

Mr. Hurd was married, in 1878, to Miss Celia Allen. Mrs. Hurd spent her girlhood days in lowa. Her father, Alfred Allen, was one of the earliest settlers of Dakota, and was of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Hurd have three children. Mr. Hurd, though reared under Republican in- fluences, is a Democrat, and takes a deep interest in the affairs of government, and is a public- spirited and patriotic citizen. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. He was among the earliest set- tlers of Kidder county, and to him is due great credit for the rapid development of the community and county.

DR. WILLIAM J. MUSGROVE is an able representative of the medical profession in North Dakota, and his high attainments, technical knowledge and practical ability have placed him at the head of the medical fraternity of the west. He has made his home in Grafton since 1893.

Dr. Musgrove was born in Winchester, Can- ada, in 1855, a son of William and Margaret (Greer) Musgrove, both of whom came to Amer- ica from Ireland in their childhood, and were reared in Canada, where they died. The father was a merchant.

Dr. Musgrove was reared and educated in Can- ada and attended Albert University. He then be- gan reading medicine, and in 1878 entered the medical department of McGill College, at Mon- treal, from which he graduated in 1882. He then went to Drayton, Pembina county, North Dakota, and began the practice of his profession. He re- mained there until 1893, when he came to Grafton, and has been a resident of this city since. In 1889 he took a course in the Post-Graduate School of Medicine of New York, and in 1890-91 attended the New York Polyclinic School. He also took a six weeks' course of lectures in the Post-Graduate School of Chicago in 1895.

He has practiced his profession with great suc- cess and is regarded as one of the most success- ful and conscientious medical men in North Da- kota. He is a member of the North Dakota Medical Society and of the American Medical As- sociation. He was superintendent of the county board of health of Pembina county, and is now president of the state board of health.

BERNT OMANG. Among the foreign-born residents who have aided in the establishment of the new commonwealth of North Dakota, must be men- tioned the gentleman whose name introduces this article. Mr. Omang is the fortunate possessor of one of the most valuable estates in the county of Grand Forks, and his home is situated on section 34. of Gilby township.

Mr. Omang was born in Norway on the 8th day of March, 1849. His parents, Ole Borresen and Annie (Christianson) Borresen, were natives of

B. OMANG AND WIFE.

JOHN B. DUNDAS.

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Norway, and emigrated to the United States in 1879, and both died in this country, the mother at Duluth, Minnesota, and the father at the home of our sub- ject in Gilby township. They had five children, our subject being the only son, and the only one of the children now residing in North Dakota.

Mr. Omang grew to manhood in his native land, and on coming to this country, adopted the name of the old farm in Norway, Omang, which he has since sustained. He learned the trade of blacksmith in Norway, and in 1874 came to the United States, first locating in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he resided six years. In 1880 he came to Grand Forks county and located on the farm that is now his home in Gilby township, making his settlement on that land in April, 1880. He was among the first settlers in the township, helped to organize the civil township, and has served as assessor and justice of the peace. He is now the owner of three quarter- sections of excellent land, and has added many val- nable improvements, and his home is surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of mod- ern country life.

Mr. Omang was married in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1874, to Caroline Evenson. Mrs. Omang is also a native of Norway, and came to America in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Omang have a family of five children, namely: Anna M., Oscar C., Carl A., Emmel B. and Minnie E. A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Omang will be found on another page of this volume. Mr. Omang enjoys to a high degree the esteem and confidence of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. In political views he is independent, and has always given his voice and vote in the interests of what he believed to be better methods and means of govern- ment.

HON. FRANKLIN ESTABROOK, a very prominent and progressive agriculturist of Grand Forks county, has a pleasant home and valuable estate on section 2, Elkmount township.

Mr. Estabrook was born in Grafton county, New Hampshire, October 4, 1827. He was the youngest of six children born to Joseph and Su- sanna ( Merrill) Estabrook, the families of both parents being known in Revolutionary times as stanch rebels and adherents to the American cause. When he was six years old the family moved to Michigan, where he worked on his father's farm until he reached the age of eighteen years. He then entered an apprenticeship to a carpenter and joiner and in due time became a skilled mechanic. He worked at his trade for thirty-six years and was always a thorough and conscientious workman.

In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. He was near Stone River at the time of that memora- ble engagement,and was first under fire at Lavergne, near Murfreesboro, at the time of the memora-

ble battle of Stone River, when the daring attack was made by Wheeler's cavalry. Ile was also near the field of battle in the Perryville fight. At the expiration of his three years' term of service he was mustered out at Atlanta, Georgia, and im- mediately returned to Michigan. There he took up his trade again and followed that occupation until 1881, when he decided to cast his fortunes with the boomers in Dakota. He sold out his in- terests in Michigan and came with his family to Grand Forks county and located on land where he now makes his home. For ten years he devoted his attention to wheat raising, but the continued low prices and occasional poor crops caused him to give more attention to stock. He has thus de- veloped a home dairy, and now has a herd of twelve valuable milch cows, a cream separator and other conveniences in this line, and has found it a profitable department. He is the owner of eight hundred acres of the best lands in the county, and has it well improved.

Mr. Estabrook was married, in 1855, to Miss Harriet Schofield. She died in 1856. In 1869 he was married to Miss Ada A. Alvord, a native of New Hampshire. They have no children.

In political views Mr. Estabrook is a Repub- lican, but a strong advocate of bi-metalisin and the free coinage of silver and gold. He has taken an active part in political matters, and until the party of his choice adopted the gold standard plank in its national platform he was influential in the affairs of his party in the county. He was elected a member of the first legislature of North Dakota and served on the ways and means committee and the commit- tee on railroads, and introduced several meritori- ous and successful measures into that body. He has been one of the leading characters in public life in the county and has always enjoyed the con- fidence and esteem of all. He is a Mason and Knight Templar.

JOHN B. DUNDAS, one of the well-to-do and influential citizens of Cass county, is pursuing farm- ing in Webster township, where he was a pioneer settler. He has devoted his maturer years to ag- ricultural pursuits, and has met with eminent suc- cess, and is one of the men in whose coming to the county all who honor honest industry and good citi- zenship can rejoice. The reader will pronounce his portrait that of an upright and honorable man.

Our subject was born in Durham county, On- tario, Canada, December 10, 1844, and was a son of David and Ann (Swain) Dundas. natives re- spectively of Ireland and Canada. His father was a farmer and shoemaker and went to Canada about 1812 and settled in Durham county, where he re- mained many years. He died near London, Can- ada, in 1874. The grandfather of our subject, Moses Dundas, was a native of Ireland, and set- tled in Canada in 1812, and died there at the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years. Our subject had

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two brothers and two sisters, and he is the only one of the family in the United States.

Mr. Dundas was reared in Canada and educated there, and followed farming in Canada until 1871, when he removed to Detroit, Michigan, where he resided nine years and engaged in building and con- tracting, having learned the carpenter's trade in Canada. He went to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1879, and entered claim as a pre-emption to land in section 6, of Webster township, and was one of the first settlers of the township. He followed his trade at Casselton two years and then took up his residence on the farm, where he has since made his home. He spent two years in Pullman, Illinois, at his trade, and is a man of ability and good judgment and has prospered in every enterprise.

Our subject was married, in 1868, to Isabella Hockridge, a native of Canada. Five children have been born to MIr. and Mrs. Dundas, as follows: Elizabeth, now Mrs. A. R. Dundas ; Granville, May, James and Isabella. Mr. Dundas has served his community in various school offices, but does not take interest in political affairs and is an independ- ent.

FRANK B. FEETHAM, an able and popular attorney of Grand Forks, has won his way to the front of his profession by means of ability and studious habits.

Mr. Feetham was born in Prince Edward Island, February 6, 1866. His parents, Francis H. and Rebecca (Tupper) Feetham, were natives of England and Nova Scotia, respectively, and the father was a soldier in the English army. He was in the East India mutiny of 1842 and lost an arm during those troublesome times. He emigrated to Prince Edwards Island about 1845 and there taught school, and later entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is now lo- cated at High Forest, Minnesota. The grand- father of our subject was George H. Feetham. He went to Prince Edward Island shortly after his son arrived there and died on the island.

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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 191

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