Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 192

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

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Frank B. Feetham was reared and educated in New Brunswick, and at the age of eighteen years came to Duluth, Minnesota, and remained five years. He then went to Toronto and took a course in the Bengaugh Institute, graduating in 1885. He then worked on the "Plain Dealer" as reporter, and took up the study of law under the instruction of Judge Cochrane, and was admitted to the bar in 1880. He entered the employ of Judge Coch- rane, and continued for two years, and then prac- ticed alone for two years. He then went into partnership with Judge Cochrane, this connection lasting four years, since which time he has practiced alone.

Mr. Feetham was married, in 1880, to Minerva Rupert, a native of Canada, and to this union has been born Lawrence R. Mr. Feetham is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Modern

Woodmen of America, the Foresters and the An- cient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a Republican, and has been active in the interests of his party. He has stumped the county in its be- half, and was at one time candidate on the Repub- lican ticket for states attorney. He enjoys a good practice, and is a thorough and conscientious prac- titioner.

CHARLES HARSHMAN. The wonderful natural resources of North Dakota have called many from professional and business careers into the favored calling of the agriculturist, and among them may be mentioned the gentleman whose name ap- pears in this article. He is a lawyer by profession and a farmer by choice. He has demonstrated that the agricultural wealth and attractions of Grand Forks county are more alluring to the average man than the endless intricacies of the law.

Mr. Harshman was born in River Falls, Pierce county, Wisconsin, January 25, 1860. His parents, Jacob and Alvina (Walden) Harshman, were both natives of Ohio. The father prepared himself for the medical profession, taking a course in the Western Reserve Medical College, of Cleveland, Ohio. He practiced his profession for ten years in Wisconsin, and then took up agriculture, which he now follows. In this family were two children, a son, our present subject, and a daughter, Mrs. J. W. Scott, mention of whom will be found else- where in this volume.

Charles Harshman was reared and educated in Wisconsin and was given a course in the Fourth Normal School. He then read law under Judge Smith, of Superior, Wisconsin, and in 1881 entered the law department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, spending one year there. He then came to North Dakota, but in 1889 again entered the same university, spending another year there, and in 1893 again returned to the same institution and graduated from its classical course.

Mr. Harshman came to Gilby township, Grand Forks county, in 1882, and purchased the farm on which he now resides. The land was then all wild and he proceeded to clear and improve it. He has made it his home continuously since. He now owns and farms eight hundred acres and has one of the finest and most valuable estates in North Dakota. He practiced his profession in Grand Forks four vears, from 1890 to 1894. in partnership with F. H. McDermott, and is still a member of the North Dakota bar, but does only a little local practice, his attention being devoted to his agricultural pur- suits.

Mr. Harshman was married, in 1899, in Wis- consin, to Miss Julia Swanby. Mrs. Harshman is a native of Wisconsin, also, and to this union one child has been born. Charles S. In politics Mr. Harshman is a Republican, and while taking an in- telligent and commendable interest in public affairs. has never sought nor accepted political preferment.

CHARLES HARSHMAN.

MRS. CHARLES HARSHMAN.

FRED KOESEL.

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He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is one of the best posted men in North Dakota on the history and development of the state and is esteemed and respected for his honesty and good citizenship. A portrait of our subject and his estimable wife ap- pears on another page of this history.

CHARLES MCKINNON, a pioneer farmer of Webster township, and one of the enterprising citizens of Cass county, resides on section 26, where he has surrounded himself with the conveniences and comforts of modern country life.

Mr. Mckinnon was born in Ontario, Canada, near London, August 3, 1858. His parents were Gregor and Isabella (Mclntyre) Mckinnon, both natives of Scotland. The father was born in Glas- gow, Scotland, in 1818, was reared to manhood in his native land, and followed farming and fishing for a livelihood. He came to America and settled in Canada, where our subject was subsequently born. He came to Dakota in 1878 and filed a home- stead claim to a quarter of section 24, in Webster township, Cass county, where he has since resided. He now owns three quarter-sections in the county. His wife died in 1897. They had a family of four daughters and three sons, three of the children now living in Cass county. The family was among the first settlers of Webster township, did a great deal of liard work, had great success, and is now living in retirement.

Charles Mckinnon was reared in Canada and farined there until coming to North Dakota in 1878. He then filed claim to a quarter-section of section 26, Webster township, on which he now re- sides. He developed his property and is now the ·owner of a half-section of valuable lands.

Mr. Mckinnon was married, in 1894, to Mary Slingsby. Mrs. McKinnon is a native of Wiscon- sin. Her parents, John and Fannie (Bachus) Slingsby, were born in England. They came to Dakota and settled in Cass county in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon have two children, John G. and Isabelle. They have a pleasant home and are re- spected and esteemed by all.

JUDGE OTTO E. SAUTER, judge of the sev- enth judicial district of North Dakota, is a native of Cook county, Illinois, and was born September 17, 1859. His home is now in Grafton.

Judge Sauter's parents were Jacob and Anna N. (Smith) Sauter, natives of Germany and France, respectively. They came to the United States when children in the early part of the century. The fa- ther was for many years a member of the police force of the city of Chicago. He had five sons, four of whom are now living.

Judge Sauter was reared and educated in the graded and high schools of Chicago, and began reading law under Cleveland & Heaton, of Osage,

Iowa. He was admitted to the bar of Iowa in 1881, and then entered the senior class of the law department of Michigan University, graduating from that institution in 1882. He came to Grafton the same year and began the practice of law in partnership with W. A. Cleveland, under the firm name of Cleveland & Sauter. When this partner- ship was dissolved in 1893 he formed a partner- ship with J. H. Frame which continued until 1895, when Judge Sauter was appointed to the bench.

The seventh district was organized and he was elected judge of the same in 1896 and is now serving in that capacity.

Judge Sauter was married, in 1884, to Miss Mamie M. McCarty. They have two daughters. Judge Sauter is a Republican, and has always taken an interest in public affairs. His appointment was an honor to the bench of North Dakota, and he has in every way proved his fitness for the responsible duties devolving upon him. He holds the respect of bench and laity and is esteemed by all.

FRED KOESEL, the pioneer merchant of Rich- ardton, Stark county, is widely known in business circles, and enjoys an extensive patronage. He is a member of the firm of Koesel & Company, who conduct general merchandise establishments in Glad- stone, Antelope and Richardton. They have pros- pered in North Dakota, and are held in high esteem by all with whom they come in contact.

Mr. Koesel was born on a farm in Germany, June 5, 1870. His father, Fred Koesel, came to America from Germany with his family and set- tled in Indiana, and in 1885 went to North Dakota. He was a soldier in the German army, and married Elinor Lubbe. The subject of this article was the eldest of a family of three children, and was reared on a farm and attended the country schools and also a college in Missouri one year. He came to North Dakota with his parents in 1885 and began farming and stock raising for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He continued this line of labor in Morton county until 1894. Ile then entered into partnership with his brothers. August and Albert Koesel, under the firm name of Koesel & Company. They opened the first store at Antelope in 1894, and Fred Koesel conducted the business there three years, and in 1897 established a house at Richardton and has since had charge of the business there. He is also interested in a store at Gladstone, which is in charge of Albert Koesel, while the store in Ante- lope is managed by August Koesel. They conduct jointly the largest mercantile business of any firm in the county, and the building occupied by the firm in Richardton is 24x64 feet, with warehouses and other buildings adjoining. The firm also engages extensively in cattle raising. They were among the first settlers of Stark county, and from a limited start have acquired a fortune and a liberal trade.

Fred Koesel was married, in 1897, to Miss Ber- tha Ott, a native of Wisconsin. Mrs. Koesel is a

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daughter of Adam Ott, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1867 and settled in Wisconsin, and later became an old settler of North Dakota. Mr. Koesel was the choice of the Republican party for county commissioner in 1900. He is prominent in local affairs and is an influential citizen. His por- trait appears elsewhere in this volume.

HON. WILLIAM R. JOHNSTON, one of Walsh county's most enterprising and popular citi- zens, has been a resident of the county since the pioneer days. His home is on section 17, Forest River township.

Mr. Johnston was born near Ottawa, Canada, October 14 1859. He was reared on the farm and remained in Canada until 1878. He attended the common schools of his native land, and in 1878 came to Walsh county, North Dakota, and filed a claim to a homestead in Forest River township, where he now resides. He made valuable improve- ments upon his land from time to time, and is now the owner of nearly one thousand acres of the most valuable land in the county.

In political faith Mr. Johnston is a Democrat, and has been active in public affairs since coming to Walsh county. In 1892 he was elected as rep- resentative in the state legislature, and re-elected in the fall of 1898. He has done good service for the people as their representative, and he has the confidence of all progressive and right thinking citizens, regardless of political bias. He has done much to advance the interests of his county in its material progress.

Mr. Johnston was married, in March, 1895, to Miss Rose McCanell. Mrs. Johnston was born in Canada, in the province of Ontario, and is well pleased with her adopted state.

JOSEPH B. ELLIOT, leading stock man and farmer of McHenry county, is one of the pioneers of northwestern North Dakota. His home and farm are located on the Mouse river, and presents all evidences of modern enterprises in agriculture.

Mr. Elliott was born in Maine, in 1845. His fa- ther, Ezekiel Elliot, was a lumberman and was of Irish-English descent, his ancestors coming to America prior to the revolution. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Nancy Brey. When our subject was two years old the family re- moved to Wisconsin, and a few years later he went intothe pineries of that state. He therefore received limited schooling, being engaged in the pine woods. At the age of fifteen years he enlisted in Company G, Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was immediately sent south. He joined the army of the west under General Grant, and was later under Sherman. He participated in the first attack on Vicksburg, and later in the siege of that place. At Natchez the regiment veteranized, and was then sent on the Meridian campaign, and afterwards with

Sherman on the famous Atlanta campaign and sub- sequent march to the sea. He was at Raleigh, North Carolina, when Lee surrendered, and then went to Washington, and later to Louisville, Ken- tucky, where he was mustered out. He saw over four years of hard, active service, closing it by marching in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He returned to Wisconsin at the close of the war and engaged in lumbering, log-driving and rafting. He then went to Iowa, and later to Wa- dena, Minnesota, in 1878. He purchased a tract of land on the Leaf river, near Wadena, and built a sawmill and engaged in the manufacture of lumber with great success for five years. He then sold out and for two years was engaged in the machinery and tombstone business. In 1887 he drove over- land to North Dakota, reaching the Mouse river in McHenry county, July 5. He brought his family with him, and also considerable stock, including several head of cattle. He began cattle raising, at first putting up a tent. After the first year he be- came permanently located and put up a log house which he lived in until 1895, when his present resi- dence was erected. He now owns eleven hundred acres of land, has a complete set of good farm build !- ings, plenty of machinery, and his farm is well stocked.

Mr. Elliot is a Republican in political faith, and takes a commendable interest in all affairs of a public nature. He was among the earliest settlers of the county and is well known and esteemed throughout the region. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

HON. CHARLES MACLACHLAN. This gen- tleman is one of the able physicians of Eddy county, and has his office in New Rockford, from which. location he enjoys an ever increasing practice. He has gained an honorable position among the people of North Dakota by his active interest in the wel- fare of his fellow men and his labors have been given with a true public spirit.

Our subject was born on a farm in Ontario, Canada, in 1861, and is a son of Malcolm and Chris- tina (McDonald) MacLachlan. His father came to America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1821, and was a farmer hy occupation. The grandfather of our subject, Daniel MacLachlan, was in the British navy.

Dr. MacLachlan is the tenth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children and was reared on the farm. He attended the country schools and the high school and graduated from the Canada Busi- ness College. He then taught in the last named institution one year, and in 1882 accepted a posi- tion on the "Toronto Globe," and continued thus one year in the editorial department. He came to Benson county, North Dakota, in 1883, and entered claim to land as a pre-emption, on which he built a sod shanty. He lived therein until the spring of 1884, when he proved his claim, and in the mean-

EmacLachlan med

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time engaged in farming. He was appointed dep- uty county treasurer of Barnes .county, after the disappearance of A. M. Pease. He then took a position in the business college of which he was a graduate, and taught the general branches and also stenography, and in the fall of 1885 began the study of medicine at the Toronto Medical Col- lege. He graduated from that institution in 1889 with the degree of M. B., and later took the degree of M. D. C. M. of Victoria College, and was li- censed by the College of Physicians & Surgeons, of Ontario, after which he came to New Rockford and established his office. Since 1896 he has been associated with Dr. John Crawford in the practice of his profession and they are well known as skill- ful practitioners and have met with success. Dr. MacLachlan engages quite extensively in farming and is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land in that locality and also a stock ranch in Kidder county. He was one of the earliest set- tlers of Benson county, and traveled over Eddy county when there were no towns or railroads with- in its limits.

Dr. MacLachlan was elected a representative to the state legislature of North Dakota in 1894 and has given very efficient service for the better in- terests of his community. He was a member of the first state board of medical examiners and served in that capacity for five years and then received the appointment of vice-president of the state board of health, on which he also served two terms. He was appointed surgeon-general of the North Dakota National Guard under Governor Allin, in 1896, which office he still retains, and is a member of the board of trustees of the state hospital for the in- sane at Jamestown. For ten years Dr. MacLachlan has been local surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias and Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Politically he is a Republican and is now state central committeeman of his party for the counties of Eddy, Wells and Foster. He is a man who keeps pace with the times and stands firmly for right and justice. A portrait of Dr. MacLachlan will be found elsewhere in this volume.

PATRICK LYONS, one of the successful ag- riculturist of Grand Forks county, is a resident of Grand Forks township, and his pleasant home is surrounded by the conveniences and comforts of a modern country estate.

Mr. Lyons is a native of the province of On- tario, Canada. His parents, John and Catherine (Fitzherald) Lyons, were born in Ireland. They emigrated to Canada early in life, and thence to North Dakota in 1879. They settled in Grand Forks county, where they both died in 1895. Of their family of two sons and one daughter, our subject and one sister now reside in Grand Forks county.

Mr. Lyons came to North Dakota and entered land in Grand Forks county, where he now re- sides, and proceeded to improve and cultivate his farm. Ile now owns a valuable quarter-section of land, with a good set of farm buildings, and equipped with all modern farm machinery neces- sary for carrying on up-to-date farming opera- tions. He has been successful in his undertak- ings, and is widely and favorably known for his integrity and uprightness of character, and for his industry and good fellowship. He has taken no active part in political matters.

EDWARD I. DONOVAN, M. D., president of the Citizens State Bank of Langdon, is one of the best known physicians and business men in Cavalier county.

Dr. Donovan was born in Northumberland county, Ontario, December 25, 1858. He was reared and educated in the high schools at Camp- bellford, Ontario. He then taught school for four years. He then took up the study of medicine, and graduated from Queens College, Kingston, On- tario. In 1886 he came to North Dakota and prac- ticed with his brother, Dr. P. C. Donovan, at Neche, for one year. He then came to Langdon, where he has since been in continuous practice.

The Citizens State Bank of Langdon was es- tablished in 1893, and Dr. Donovan became its president. In 1887 he engaged in the drug busi- ness and erected the block in which his business is now conducted. He has proven himself a valu- able citizen and useful member of the community, and has always been found ready to offer encour- agement and support to every worthy enterprise.

Dr. Donovan was married in Kingston, On- tario, in 1890, to Miss Mary McKenty, a native of Kingston. They have one son, Edward John.

VICTOR MOYNIER, one of the young and enterprising farmers of Burleigh county, North Dakota, was born in the eastern part of France, in the Alps mountains, in 1872. The name "Victor" has been given to the eldest son in this family for many generations. Our subject's father, Victor Moynier, was also a native of l'iance, but now re- sides in Burleigh county, North Dakota, and is ex- tensively engaged in sheep raising.

Victor Moynier, the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native land, and received a good edu- cation in that country. In 1888 he accompanied his father to America, and, on landing in New York city, they came directly to Burleigh county, and for three years lived on rented land south of Bis- marck. In the autumn of 1888 the rest of the family came from France and joined them on the farm. Victor Moynier worked at home and also part of the time for other farmers, turning all his earnings to the support of the family. In 1893 the father took up government land in Gibb township,

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and in the fall of the same year Victor also filed a claim to a tract in the same township, erected a claim shanty, and proceeded to improve his land. He has been very successful, and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of the best lands in the county, has one hundred and forty acres under cultivation and the rest in pasture for stock, his farm being supplied with an abundance of water.

Mr. Moynier is independent in his political views, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He was delegate to various Republican county con- ventions, and is regarded as one of the rising young men of the county. He is a member of the Catholic church. He has evinced great good judgment in all his business affairs, and his integ- rity and reliability are unquestioned.

ARNE L. TORBLAA, whose home is in sec- tion 29, Grafton township, is well known as one of the leading and most enterprising farmers of his township and of Walsh county.

Mr. Torblaa was born in Norway July 20, 1861. He remained in his native country till the age of fifteen years, and received a common school edu- cation. He came to America in 1876 with his par- ents, and they first settled in Mitchell county, Iowa. He worked on the home farm in Mitchell county four years, when he and the family came to Walsh county, North Dakota, in the fall of 1880. He took government land in section 29, Grafton township, and has since resided there. He soon began to make improvements on his farm, and has from time to time added buildings and other conven- iences, together with all modern farm machinery, and now owns four hundred and eighty acres, forming an estate of great value. Mr. Torblaa was married in Grafton township to Ingeborg Hellerud. She lived but a short time, dy- ing at her home in Grafton township. Mr. Torblaa was again married in Grafton township, his wife being Miss Gertrude Bradley, a native of Norway, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Leonard J., Iver N., Gena B., Bertha D. and Robert M. Mr. Torblaa has taken an active interest in public matters, and has served as a member of the township board and on the school board. He is one of the most popular and influential men in Grafton township.

LEVI MELLON, a successful farmer of Bot- tineau county, North Dakota, whose home is in township 161, range 76, was born on a farm in Ontario, Canada, in 1858. His father, Charles Mellon, was a blacksmith, and later in life became a farmer. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, of Irish parentage, and married Lucy Gittey, a native of Ontario of Irish descent.

Levi Mellon is the fourth in a family of ten children, and from early boyhood was inured to

hard work. He had very fair schooling, both in the country and in the village, and when eighteen left home to care for himself, and entering the lum- ber woods of Michigan presently became an ex- pert lumberman. He put in some fourteen years in the woods and on the drives, and came to North Dakota in the spring of 1882. He spent a year cu Forest river at Grafton, and March 27 ,1883, landed in Bottineau county, driving overland from Graf- ton, and "squatted" on his present location March 27, 1883. He was married to Miss Pool in 1876. She died in May, 1898, and was the mother of nine children : Fred, Stanley, Ethel, Ida, Irene, Mont, Dora and Forbus, all born in Canada. Much of the family success may fairly be attributed to Mrs. Mellon. In 1883 Mr. Mellon put a log house on the site of the present home, and hauled all his supplies from Devil's Lake with ox teams, one hun- dred miles away. There he also marketed his first wheat. He has had good crops and poor. In 1888 untimely frosts caused the absolute failure of his wheat, but, take it all into consideration, he has done grandly well. Mr. Mellon went into the threshing machine business and has carried it on some ten years. In 1896 a fire was started from his engine, and before it could be extinguished burred up four hundred dollars' worth of grain, for which he had to pay. To-day he is the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of land, well cultivated and highly improved, and makes one of the largest farms in this part of the state. About eight hun- dred acres are under the plow. A never failing water supply for the stock is found in Oak creek that crosses the farm from north to south, and never runs dry. He has a good house, a barn put up in 1896 with stone basement and ample out- buildings. During the harvest he runs four bind- ers and the farm is a busy place. Mr. Mellon is a Democrat and a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, the Yeomen and the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters.

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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 192

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