Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 193

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

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HAZEN B. EASTMAN, one of the pioneers of Johnstown township and a prosperous and highly- respected citizen of Grand Forks county, has a comfortable and hospitable home on section 30 of the above mentioned township.

Hazen B. Eastman wasborn in Penobscot county, Maine, September 3, 1832. His parents, Hazen and Eliza (Currier) Eastman, were natives of New Hampshire and Maine, respectively. The father was a tanner and currier by trade and also fol- lowed farming and passed the last sixty years of his life in the state of Maine. The grandfather, Jacob Eastman, was also a native of New Hampshire, and died in Maine. He was a farmer by occupation. The great-grandfather was Ebenezer Eastman, the founder of the city of Concord, New Hampshire. On the maternal side our subject's grandfather was Phinneas Currier, who was a Revolutionary soldier, enlisting from the state of Massachusetts.

HAZEN B. EASTMAN.

MAX SCHULTZE.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Hazen B. Eastman was reared in Maine and obtained his education in the public schools. He then learned the trade of a tanner, which he fol- lowed until 1863, when he enlisted in Company D, First Maine Heavy Artillery, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He served two years in the severest of the fighting and was engaged in the following sanguinary battles: Spottsylvania, siege of Petersburg, siege of Richmond, battle of Cold Harbor and other lesser fights. After the war he returned to Maine and in 1867 went to Missouri and settled in Linn county. He resided there until 1881, when he came to Grand Forks county and filed claim to the southwest quarter of section 30, Johnstown township, where he now resides. He was the first man to erect a farm house within the limits of Johnstown township. He has made many valuable improvements and has one of the best farms in the county.

Mr. Eastman was married, in 1858, to Sarah E. Burke. The marriage took place in Maine, of which state Mrs. Eastman is a native. To this union five children have been born, namely : Abel V .; Mary E., now Mrs. Ira Carpenter; Daniel B., Nettie E., now Mrs. A. W. Sorg, and Grace E. Mr. Eastman is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, his membership dating back to 1853. In po- litical belief he is a Republican and is a model citi- zen and a valued member of the community. His portrait, in this volume, is that of an upright and. honorable man.

SEVERT TOFTE, one of the hardy and thrifty sons of Norway who has done so much to aid in the development of the great northwest, re- sides in a pleasant home in section 28, township 157, range 71, Pierce county, North Dakota, and is regarded as one of the substantial and progressive citizens of the county.

Mr. Tofte was born in Norway, May 13, 1872. His father, Ole S. Tofte, a farmer, came to Amer- ica in 1878, and settled in Rice county, Minne- sota, and afterwards became a pioneer of Da- kota. This move was made when our subject was fourteen years old, and the family located in Pierce county. The father took up government land in 1886.

Mr. Tofte had received a fair education before coming to Dakota, having attended the city schools of Faribault, Minnesota. At the time they set- tled in Pierce county they were the only family north of the railroad track, between Knox and Rugby. At the age of fourteen Mr. Tofte began working out, part of the time on section and part time on the railroad, and up to 1896 occasionally returned home to help his parents on the farm. In 1892 he purchased a quarter-section of land and two years later filed a homestead claim to the southwest quar- ter of section 28, township 157, range 71, put up a claim shanty and improved the land. He now owns four hundred and eighty-seven acres, three

hundred and eighty of which is under cultivation and the rest is meadow. He has a valuable estate, well equipped and highly improved.

Mr. Tofte was married, in 1899, to Mrs. Her- manson, whose maiden name was Matilda John- son, who is a native of Sweden and came to Amer- ica in 1888. Her father, Johannas Swanson, is a farmer in Sweden. By her first marriage Mrs. Tofte has two children and to her union with Mr. Tofte one child has been born.

OLE N. EVERSON, a progressive and pros- perous farmer of Grand Forks county, is one of the pioneers of Turtle River township.

Mr. Everson is a native of Steele county, Min- nesota, and was born May 10, 1856. His parents, Nels and Bertha Everson, were born in Norway, and came to the United States about the year 1833. They first settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, and later removed to Steele county, Minnesota, in 1843. 1 hey still reside in Minnesota. They have hve sons and one daughter, two of the sons living in Grand Forks county.

Mr. Everson was reared on a farm in Minnesota and worked at home until 1876, when he came to Fargo, Dakota, and for one year resided in the south part of Cass county. The following year he came to Grand Forks county and filed a homestead claim to the land on which he now makes his home. He now owns three quarter-sections of valuable land, thoroughly improved and equipped with mod- ern machinery. The log house he first lived in has given place to a comfortable and pleasant resi- dence.

Mr. Everson was married, in 1875, to Gusta Knudson. Mrs. Everson was born in Norway and came to America in 1871. To this union seven children have been born, namely: Bertina, Ma- tilda, Nels, Edwin, Clara, Elmer and Minnie. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

MAX SCHULTZE, county treasurer of Morton county, is one of the most influential citizens of New Salem, Morton county, North Dakota. He is actively engaged in various business enterprises in that city and has met with unbounded success in each and was one of the earliest settlers of that locality. His portrait will be found on another page of this volume.

Our subject was born near Berlin, Germany, October 20, 1852. His father, A. F. Schultze, was born in Germany and was a brick manufacturer and in early life was a contractor and builder. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Bertha Bruncks and her father owned a line of sail- ing vessels. Mr. Schultze was the second in a fam- ily of seven children and was raised in the village and was reared to farm work. He received a high school and German college education and then served

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nine months in the German army. Then he went to England, spent one year in London and from there went to South Africa in the English Volun- teer Army and saw three years of service in three wars in that country. He left the English service as adjutant. He went to his native land in 1880 and clerked in a hardware store in Dresden, Saxony, a year and a half. He emigrated to America in 1882 and spent one year traveling over the southern and western states and for a time settled in New Salem, North Dakota. He followed railroad work a few months and remained in Morton county until the fall of 1883. He then returned to his native land and the following spring came again to Amer- ica and settled near New Salem. He took govern- ment land and followed farming thereon until 1895 and had a well-cultivated tract of three hundred and twenty acres. He then moved to New Salem and engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- ness and in 1897 embarked in the farm machinery business and he now conducts an extensive business in New Salem. He was postmaster of New Salem under Cleveland's first and second terms and was elected county treasurer in 1898 and has a deputy treasurer to look after the duties of the office in Mandan. He is a shareholder in two creameries and his business interests in New Salem claim his entire attention.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Minnie Ahrend, who was born in Germany, near Oldenburg, and came to America with our subject in 1884. Her people are moulders in an iron tac- tory in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Schultze are the parents of four living children, named as follows : Max, Minnie, Elizabeth and Fred. All were born in America, with the exception of Elizabeth. Mr. Schultze was county assessor during 1887-1888, and is the present candidate for sheriff of Morton county, and is actively interested in the welfare of his community. He holds membership in the An- cient Order of United Workmen, Brotherhood of American Yeomen and Woodmen of the World.

HENRY DUNFORD, a progressive farmer and influential citizen of Cavalier county, has a fine estate in Harvey township, and his home is on sec- tion 32.

Mr. Dunford was born in Wiltshire, England, August 26, 1854. His parents brought him to America when he was three years old, and the family settled in Huron county, Canada. There our subject was reared and educated in the coun- try schools. He learned the cabinetmaker's trade in Huron, and followed that calling for eleven years in Huron county. In 1882 he came west to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and for a

few months worked at carpentering. In the spring of 1883 he came to Cavalier county, Dakota, and took up a claim in Harvey township, where he has since re- sided. He now owns five hundred and sixty acres, forming one of the most valuable estates in the

county, and he has placed upon it many modern improvements and conveniences adapted to modern farming.

Mr. Dunford was married in Huron county, Ontario, to Elizabeth Work, a native of Huron county, and to this union nine children have been born, as follows: Laura E., now the wife of Alex- ander McFarlane; Caroline, Nellie, Henry S., Margaret, Lillian, James, Grace and Robert Mc- Kinley. Mr. Dunford has been prominent in pub- lic affairs in the county, has served as county com- missioner since the fall of 1894, and has held local offices in Harvey township for many years. He is a Republican and an active worker in the cause of good government. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the A. O. U. W.

JOHN W. MAHER. This gentleman is one of the leading attorneys of Devils Lake, North Da- kota, and stands at the head of the Ramsey county bar. He was born on a farm near Streator, Illi- nois, December 18, 1856. His portrait appears else- where in this work.

Mr. Maher was reared in his native place and received a high-school education at Streator and then entered the University of Michigan, where he took a special literary course and graduated from the law department of that institution in the class of 1880. After spending one year in the law office of Duncan & O'Conor, at La Salle, Illinois, he went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the spring of 1881, and entered into partnership with Hon. George H. Walsh. They continued their practice together until September, 1893, when the partner- ship was dissolved and Mr. Maher went to Devils Lake, where he has since been located in the practice of his profession. From 1884 to 1886 he was dis- trict attorney for Towner county. He was treas- urer of Ramsey county two years and is largely in- terested in Ramsey county and adjoining counties.

Our subject was married, in Ann Arbor, Michi- gan, May 29, 1884, to Miss Sadie Coleman, a native of Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Maher are the parents of six children, who are named as follows: Mary M., Josephine E., Kathleen, Howard, Wallace and Evangeline. Mr. Maher takes an active part in all matters of interest in the development of the county in which he lives and for many years he has been president of the Business Men's Union of Devils Lake. He takes an active interest in the Chautauqua Association and has been one of the directors of the association since its organization. He enjoys an extensive practice and has attained his high standing as a lawyer and citizen by his honest and faithful efforts for the advancement of his community and the manner in which he deals with the cases entrusted to his care. He avoids litigated cases and recently his law business is mostly as counselor. He is courteous, pleasant spoken and takes a prominent position in the social affairs of

JOHN W. MAHER.

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his locality and is an all around worthy and promi- nent citizen of Ramsey county. Since he has re- sided at Devils Lake Mr. Maher has placed a large amount of money in farm loans in this vicinity for eastern parties and is one of the few loan agents in North Dakota who can say that no client has ever lost a dollar of principal or interest on a loan placed in his hands.

FRANK L. ALGUIRE, one of the early set- tlers of Rye township, Grand Forks county, is a native of Leeds county, Ontario, Canada, and was born November 19, 1860. His parents, Stirling and Eliza (Phillips) Alguire, were both na- tives of Canada, the Alguire family being among the pioneers of that region. The father was a farmer, and came to Dakota in 1881 and entered the land where our subject now resides. He died in this county in 1885. The mother died in Canada in 1881.

Mr. Alguire was reared to manhood in Can- ada, remaining there until 1882, when he came to Grand Forks county, where he has since resided. He has developed a good farm from the wild prairie, and now owns three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, well improved, and its value enhanced by many conveniences, good build- ings, etc.

Mr. Alguire was married in 1893 to Addie Molton, also a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Alguire have three children, namely: Evert, Ma- bel and Mildred, all living. Mr. Alguire is a member of the M. W. A. and is popular in his community. He has assessed his township during the past eight years. He has a pleasant and com- fortable home, and enjoys the esteem and good will of all who know him.

TOLLEF JOHNSON, one of the many sons of Norway who have assisted to develop the great northwest into a home of civilization and pros- perity, has become one of the most influential citi- zens of Walsh county. His home is on section 32, Grafton township.

Mr. Johnson was born in Norway August 11, 1852. He remained in his native land until the spring of 1873, when he came to America. He first located in Michigan and made his home in Me- costa county for three years, most of the time liv- ing in Big Rapids. He then removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, and worked at farm work until 1880. In that year he came to Dakota and filed a claim to the land on which he now makes his home. He made many improvements and soon had his land under a good state of cultivation. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land. and is regarded as one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the county.

Mr. Johnson was married in Grafton township to Miss Martha Torkelson. Mrs. Johnson is a

native of Norway. They have five children, named as follows: Thea, John, Melvin, Theodore and Arnold. Mr. Johnson enjoys to a high degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He has been an important figure in public affairs of a local nature, has served two terms on the board of su- pervisors, has been road overseer and has held school offices. He is a great worker for the better interests of his community, and every enterprise worthy of encouragement receives his hearty sup- port.

NICHOLAS IMMEL, a representative citizen and model farmer of Kidder county, resides in township 140, range 71, and has met with success in his chosen calling.

Mr. Immel was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the river Rhine, in 1840. His parents, Peter and Annie ( Haneuer) Immel, emigrated from Ger- many in 1846 and settled in Wisconsin and were among the pioneers of that state. At that time our subject was but five years old. The family set- tled about thirty miles north of Milwaukee, Wis- consin, and the father followed farming. Mr. Immel is the fifth in a family of fourteen children, was reared on the farm, and had limited school advantages in his boyhood. At the age of eighteen he spent one year on Lake Michigan as a sailor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the Sixth Wis- consin and was sent south. His first skirmish was at Gaines' Mill, Virginia. He spent three years in the service, and was in the following great battles : Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. At the close of the war he came home and worked three years in the lumber woods of Wisconsin during winters and in summer en- gaged in rafting on the rivers as far south as St. Louis. He then engaged in broom manufacturing in West Bend, Washington county, Wisconsin, and continued in this line for seven years, when his plant was completely burned out, leaving him only the clothing he had on his back. His loss was six thousand dollars. This occurred in 1878. For three years following he worked at carpenter work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and for the next two years worked at anything he could find to do.

In 1883 he came to Dawson, North Dakota, took up government land, and, although he had only six dollars in money, he proceeded to construct a shell of a house and a dugout barn, being accom- panied only by his eldest son. He earned ninety- five dollars at carpentering and had to take his pay in Dawson town lots. His family joined him in 1884, and the next year he rented a farm and began farming, while making such improvements as he could on his claim. He raised three thousand bush- els of grain, one thousand of which he received as his share of the crop. This put him on his feet financially for the time being, and he then began farming his own land. In 1891 fire destroyed all

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buildings except his residence, together with grain and some stock, machinery, hay, etc. The railroad paid him three hundred dollars for the damage, they having caused the prairie fire that burned out his farm yard. He owns a well-equipped farm and also rents land for cultivation each year. He has made a success of farming and stock.

Mr. Immel was married, in 1868, to Miss Mary Able. Mrs. Immel was born in Germany, the daughter of Michael Able. She came to America with a brother in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Immel have a family of eight children, named as follows : Peter, Louisa, Gusta, Albert, Isabel, Clara, Wal- ter and Annie, all born in Wisconsin. Mr. Immel is a Democrat, and has been active in political and public affairs. He has been a school officer for the past eight years. He is a member of the G. A. R., has been commander of the local post, and has held most of the offices at various times.

WILLIAM DINWOODIE, an enterprising and progressive farmer of township 162, range 75, was born on a farm in Scotland December 12, 1850, but is thoroughly Americanized in his ways and thoughts. . His father, James Dinwoodie, was a shepherd, and married Elizabeth Peterson, whose people were also shepherds.

William Dinwoodie is the oldest in a family of nine sons and one daughter, and grew up on a farm. He was inured to hard work, and walked three miles to attend the nearest school. At eighteen he left home and worked for Richard Frier, a sheep breeder in the Scottish lowlands. He was with him three years, and was managing shepherd for David Brownfield seven years.

Mr. Dinwoodie was married to Miss Mary Ketchin, November 22, 1870. She was born in the lowlands of Scotland, and her father, Archibald Ketchin, was a butcher. One of her uncles served in the British army. She is the mother of five boys: James, born in 1882; Archibald, 1885; John T. E., 1887; William R., 1890, and David P. in 1892.

As might be expected Mr. Dinwoddie is well posted in the sheep business, and has given it much thought since coming to North Dakota. He ar- rived in Bottineau county July 3, 1885, and his family came a week later. He took a pre-emption claim and built a log house and farmed for four years with oxen. He has tried to engage in gen- eral farming from the first, and there has hardly been a year in which he has not had from thirty to four hundred head of sheep on the farm. In 1889 he traded oxen for a span of horses, and this was the first span in Bottineau county. They were mares and from them he has raised thirteen head of horses. His experience with sheep is worthy of special mention. He has kept careful count and in 1899 each sheep netted him one dollar and one cent each. In 1900 from fourteen ewes he had eighteen lambs, and what he has done is a line for

the future. He now owns a fine farm of four hun- dred acres, and has two hundred acres or more under cultivation. He is a Democrat, and much interested in school and church matters. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, of which organization Mr. Dinwoodie is an elder.

HENRY JOHNSON, one of the substantial agriculturists of Grand Forks county, resides on his estate in Lakeville township, of which he is a pioneer.

Mr. Johnson was born in Norway July 3, 1853. His parents were John and Annie ( Hansen ) Hige- son, natives of Norway, who emigrated to America in 1885 and settled in Grand Forks county. Both parents died in 1890. They had a family of six sons and two daughters, four of the sons being now deceased.

Henry Johnson was reared in Norway and came to the United States in 1874. He first settled in Rice county, Minnesota, where he resided until 1878, when he came to Grand Forks county and filed a homestead claim on land in section 27, Lakeville township, where he now resides. He improved his land and erected good buildings and is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres, compris- ing one of the most valuable pieces of property in the county.

Mr. Johnson was married in 1879 to Miss Renda Peterson, who is also a native of Norway. To this union six children have been born, as fol- lows : Annie, Peter, Helford, John, Victor and Mamie. The family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Johnson is independent in his polit- ical views, and takes a strong interest in public affairs. He has served as a member of the town board and was active in the organization of the township.

MARTIN JACOBSON, of whom a portrait ap- pears on another page, is a prominent merchant and successful farmer of Minot, Ward county. He is one of the pioneers of that county and has influenced the business development of his county and city to a very great degree.

Mr. Jacobson was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, October 17, 1863. His father, Jacob Knut- son, was born in Norway and came to America about the year 1835 and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa. He was the sixth in a family of seven children and was reared to farm work. He obtained his education in the public schools and at the age of eighteen years left home and went to North Dakota. He worked one year in Richland county for cx-Governor Miller and then returned to Iowa, where he remained three years. He then returned to North Dakota, in 1886, with five horses, a wagon and farm implements, taking them by rail to Buxton in Traill county, and thence drove over- land to Ward county, a distance of two hundred

MARTIN JACOBSON.

M.JAGOBSON

SINDICATO SMOHS-

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$THDICATE BOM

M. JACOBSON BLOCK, MINOT, N. DAK.

1897

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

and twenty-five miles, and made a location at a point eight miles from Minot. He erected a shanty and began farming. He made a success of it from the start. He continued to conduct farming for eleven years and then, in 1897, while still continu- ing his stock raising and dealing business, he opened a hardware store at the corner of First and Main streets, Minot, and though starting in a small way, he now has the largest hardware business west of Grand Forks. He carries a stock valued at fifteen thousand dollars and his business amounts to between forty and seventy-five thousand dollars a year. In 1897 he removed his family to Minot, where they now reside. Mr. Jacobson still conducts farming, and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land and a limitless range for his stock. He owns four hun- dred and fifty head of stock and these yield him a handsome profit.

Mr. Jacobson was married, January II, 1887, to Miss Anny Kettleson. Mrs. Jacobson was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, three-fourths of a mile from the birthplace of Mr. Jacobson, and it is said they were born the same day and hour. They grew up together, attended the same school and were communicants of the same church, and have resolved to continue companions through life. They are the parents of six children, as follows: Earl H., Chester J., Elletta C., Mildred A., Alton T. and Vernon M., all born in North Dakota and one in thecity of Minot. Mr. Jacobson is a Republican in political belief and has been active in public affairs. He was appointed county commissioner in 1887 and was elected to the same position in 1888 and re-elected in 1891, serving three terms. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and of the Knights of the Macca- bees. He is well and favorably known through- out the county, having a personal acquaintance at one time with every resident within its limits, and is deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all. For many years he has taken a leading and active part in politics; was a delegate to the state Republican convention of 1900, held at Grand Forks and at this time (August 6, 1900) is a prominent candidate for the state senate for the twenty-ninth senatorial district.

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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 193

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