Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 27

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

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and 108,896 bushels of potatoes; $73,347 in value of live stock was sold during the same year. Pem- bina is the county seat.

Walsh county, with 397,652 acres under culti- vation, raised, in 1898, 3,960,175 bushels of wheat ; 165,320 bushels of flax; 1,288,823 bushels of oats; 393,042 bushels of barley; 3.738 bushels of rye; 774 bushels of corn; 143,445 bushels of potatoes, and of live stock sold $81,887 in value. It had an to cheese making. He introduced the Holstein cat- assessed valuation of real and personal property seat.

Grand Forks county, with 441,120 acres under cultivation, raised 5,676,322 bushels of wheat ; 238,- 997 bushels of flax ; 1,556,832 bushels of oats ; 574,- 357 of barley ; 7,090 of rye ; 9,460 of corn, and 149,- 407 of potatoes ; $104,637 worth of live stock was disposed of. Real and personal property valued at $9,850,554. The county seat is at Grand Forks.

Nelson county, of which Lakota is the county seat, has 177,779 acres under cultivation. There was raised 1,567,767 bushels of wheat; 104,202 of flax ; 575,214 of oats; 234,049 of barley ; 10,576 of rye; 50 bushels of corn, and 49,187 bushels of potatoes. The live stock amounted to $79,448. The assessed valuation of real and personal property was $2,474,091.

Cavalier county has 800 acres of vacant gov- ernment land; 185,926 acres under cultivation ; raised 1,455,918 bushels of wheat ; 23,410 of corn; 661,917 of oats; 215,422 of barley; 1,534 of rye; 49,317 of potatoes ; $51,993 worth of live stock sold. Assessed valuation of real and personal property, $2,497,215. Langdon is the county seat.

Towner county has 8,000 acres of vacant gov- ernment land; 160,127 acres under cultivation ; raised 1,016,473 bushels of wheat; 67,491 of flax; 400,815 of oats; 204,003 of barley; 1.910 of rye; Io of corn, and 39,616 bushels of potatoes. Value of live stock sold, $27.765. Value of real and per- sonal property was $1,367,492. Cando is the seat of justice.

Rolette county has an assessed valuation of real and personal property of $1,053,387 ; 73.201 acres of land are under cultivation, while 37,600 acres were vacant government land. In it were raised 210,128 bushels of wheat ; 5,321 of flax ; 115,346 of oats ; 28,741 of barley; 19,930 of rye, and 17,419 of corn. Live stock to the value of $34,991 was disposed of. Rolla is the county seat.

Bottineau had 163,360 acres of vacant govern- ment land. On the 136,134 acres under cultivation

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

was raised 516,347 bushels of wheat ; 5,338 of flax ; 178.915 of oats ; 21,355 of barley ; 3,733 of rye, and 26,266 of potatoes. The value of the live stock sold amounted to $44,370; $1,223,795 represented in 1899 the assessed value of property, both real and personal. Bottineau is the county seat.

Ramsey 'county, with an assessed valuation of both real and personal property of $2,776,824, has 1,200 acres of vacant government land, and 133.376 acres under cultivation. In 1898 there were raised 1,191,984 bushels of wheat; 125,195 of flax ; 360,- 157 of oats; 207,376 of barley; 1,935 of rye; 600 of corn, and 45,637 bushels of potatoes. Live stock was sold to the value of $42,494. Devil's Lake is the county seat.

Traill county, of which Hillsboro is the seat of justice, had 389,050 acres of land under cultivation, and raised, in 1898, 5,371,129 bushels of wheat ; 135,425 of flax ; 1,362,620 of oats; 287,892 of bar- ley; 685 of rye; 32,670 of corn, and 103,616 of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $69,816 were sold. The value of the real and personal property in 1899 amounted to $6,263,057.

McHenry county had 849,600 acres of vacant government land and only 24,417 acres under cul- tivation. There was raised 164,295 bushels of wheat ; 8,464 bushels of flax ; 73,722 of oats ; 10,639 bushels of barley; rye, 8,716; corn, 1,578, and 12,- 030 bushels of potatoes. Live stock worth $160,- 122 was sold. The value of the real and personal property is set down as worth $769,929. Towner is the county seat.

Pierce county had 240,320 acres of vacant gov- ernment land, and 60,866 under cultivation; 251,- 016 bushels of wheat were raised; 51,733 bushels of flax; 119,577 of oats; 29,229 of barley; 3,157 of rye; 40 of corn, and 10,635 of potatoes. The live stock sold amounted to $23,921. Real and personal property was set down as worth $665,- 417. Rugby is the county seat.

Griggs county, with 149.913 acres under culti- vation in 1898, raised 1,144,942 bushels of wheat ; 208,729 of flax ; 417,763 of oats; 101,615 of barley ; 33.918 of rye; 110 of corn, and 19,828 of potatoes. Live stock sold was valued at $25.383. Tlie real and personal property footed up $2,141,805. Cooperstown is the county seat.

Steele county, with 231,695 acres under culti- vation, raised 2,206,649 bushels of wheat; 115,174 of flax ; 667.386 of oats ; 275,860 of barley ; 1.946 of rye ; 4,095 of corn, and 43,579 bushels of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $47,872 was sold. As-

sessed valuation was $2,889,258. Sherbrooke is the seat of justice.

Benson county, with 75.520 acres of its land va- cant and belonging to the government, had 145.977 acres under cultivation. Of the crop raised in 1,868 of flax; 15,822 of oats ;656 of barley; 515 of 143,258 of flax ; 426,205 of oats; 120,605 of barley ; 2,704 of rye; 75 of corn, and 29,073 of potatoes. Live stock was sold to the value of $39.669. As- sessed value of all property was $1,833,677. The county seat is Minnewaukan.

Ward county, of which Minot is the county seat,. had in 1898 of vacant government land, 3,235,192 acres. There were 10,939 acres under cultivation, and on these were raised 10,492 bushels of wheat ; 1,868 of flax ; 15,822 of oats; 656 of barley ; 515 of rye ; 2,209 of corn, and 13,530 of potatoes. Value of live stock sold, $94,309. Assessed valuation of all real and personal property, $1,622,153.

Williams county had but 1,068 acres of culti- vated land within its borders, while 2,062,482 acres. were vacant government land. There was raised in 1898, of wheat, 1,237 bushels; of oats, 14,906 bushels; barley, 55; corn, 1,165; potatoes, 8,416. Live stock sold for $30,069. Value of property, $688,468. County seat, Williston.

Wells county, of which Fessenden is the seat of county government, had, in 1898, of land under cultivation, 143,861 acres, and 182,610 acres of government property. That year there was raised 890,104 bushels of wheat; 447,139 of flax ; 450,- 616 of oats ; 81,654 of barley ; 8,290 of rye; 1,450 of corn, and potatoes, 31,232 bushels. Live stock sold that year footed up to $29,315 in value. The assessed value of all real and personal property in the county is put down at $2,212,733.

Cass county had 723,789 acres under cultivation and the crop of 1898 was represented by 7,916,- 896 bushels of wheat; 437,903 bushels of flax; 2.347,217 of oats; 404.720 of barley: 32 of rye; 185,766 of corn, and 241,270 bushels of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $184,803 was sold. The valuation of real and personal property for assess- ing purposes is reported at, $14,256,959). Fargo is the county seat.

Richland county, with 332,350 acres under cul- tivation, produced 3,057,714 bushels of wheat ; 150,574 of flax ; 1,443,664 of oats; 152,117 of bar- ley : 1,020 of rye; 201.593 of corn, and 104.684 of potatoes. The live stock amounted to $113,309. The assessed value of all real and personal prop-

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COMPENDIUM OF. HISTORY 'AND BIOGRAPHY.

erty in the county was, in 1899, put down at $7,- 859,284. Wahpeton is the county seat.

Burleigh county, of which Bismarck is the county seat, as well as state capital, has 261,420 acres of vacant government land, and 28,103 acres under the plow. On these latter were raised 125,852 bushels of wheat ; 921 of flax ; 26,625 of oats ; 614 of barley ; 6,007 of rye; 15,035 of corn and 12,750 bushels of potatoes. Live stock to the amount of $125.577 was sold. The assessed value of all property was $2,- 918,424.

Eddy county has under cultivation some 86,954 acres and but 3,443 acres of vacant government land. The crop report for 1898 showed 510,169 bushels of wheat ; 130,792 of flax ; 180,833 of oats ; 15,531 of barley ; 7,083 of rye and 20,962 bushels of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $26,277 was sold. The assessed value of real and personal property was set down at $1,099,584. New Rockford is the county seat.

Foster county, with 92,365 acres under the plow, had but 2,600 acres of vacant government property. In the county in 1898 there was raised of wheat, 840,401 bushels; of flax, 174,926; of oats, 273,327; of barley, 65,646; of rye, 3,416; of corn, 875 and of potatoes, 17,707 bushels. Live stock was sold to the amount of $18,4II. The assessed value of all property was $1,576,077. Carrington is the seat of justice.

McLean county had 1,159,050 acres of vacant government land, and 20,988 acres under cultivation, and an assessed valuation of all real and personal property of $681,859. The crop report of 1898 shows 75.794 bushels of wheat; 21,811 of flax; 28.936 of oats; 3,142 of barley; 281 of rye; 3,267 of corn and 6,379 bushels of potatoes. Live stock was disposed of for $35,257. Washburn is the - county seat.

Billings county had but 1,000 acres of land under cultivation, while 3,545,100 acres of land was vacant and belonged to the general government. 3,000 bushels of corn and 4,000 of potatoes represent the crop of 1898, but $500,000 worth of live stock was sold. Assessed value of all property, real and personal, $876,178. Medora is the seat of justice.

Barnes county, with 345,212 acres under cultiva- tion, raised 3,011,431 bushels of wheat; 319,920 of flax; 1,099,755 of oats ; 361,170 of barley ; 9,697 of rye ; 13,210 of corn and 74,933 of potatoes. Of live stock $72,109 worth was sold. The assessed value of the real and personal property was in 1899

recorded as $5,083,630. The county seat is Valley City.

Stark county, with 2,486,800 acres of vacant gov- ernment land, had 41,765 acres under the plow. 179,309 bushels of wheat; 2,890 of flax; 53,260 of oats ; 5,134 of barley; 1,274 of rye; 7,480 of corn and 14,820 bushels of potatoes was the crop of 1898, and live stock to the value of $111,575 was sold the same year. The assessed value of all real and per- sonal property in the county in 1899 was $2,296,838. Dickinson is the county seat.

Mercer county had in 1898 of vacant government land, 930,235 acres and 13,734 acres under cultiva- tion. The crop reports for 1898 consisted of 30,- 952 bushels of wheat ; 1,325 of flax; 14,379 of oats ; 1,276 of barley ; 170 of rye ; 658 of corn and 1,937 bushels of potatoes. $46,18I was the value of the live stock sold. The assessed value of property was $167,199. County seat is Stanton.

Oliver county had 195,440 acres of vacant gov- ernment land and 5,766 acres under the plow. The crop of 1898 was represented by 19,977 bushels of wheat ; 598 of flax; 14,146 of oats; 145 of barley ; 339 of rye; 1,122 of corn and 2.745 of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $25,417 was sold. The- total value of real and personal property for assess- ment purposes is reported for 1899 as $290,236. The county seat is Bentley.

Morton county with 66,068 acres under cultiva- tion had vacant government land to the extent of 1,380,500 acres. The crop returns for 1898 were as follows : 280,641 bushels of wheat ; 11,518 of flax ; 106,535 of oats; 4,531 of barley; 1.746 of rye; 23,- 209 of corn and 33,885 of potatoes. Live stock sold amounted in value to $183,438. Assessed value of real and personal property for 1899 was $4,224.71I. Mandan is the county seat.

Emmons county had in 1898, 345,570 acres of vacant government land and 39.905 acres under cul- tivation. That year there was raised 75,855 bushels of wheat ; 13,031 of flax; 35,072 of oats, 22,245 of barley ; 3.529 of rye ; 31.368 of corn and 11,289 of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $65.634 was- sold. The assessed value of all property is set down at $1.317,184. Linton is the county seat.

Kidder county, of which Steele is the county seat,. had by the same report 266,080 acres of vacant gov- ernment land, and 26,092 acres under cultivation. The crop raised in 1898 amounted to 115,401 bushels of wheat : 29.600 of flax : 23.418 of oats ; 10,4II of barley : 9,360 of rye ; 2.457 of corn and 5,000 bushels of potatoes. $29,142 was the value of the live stock

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 'AND BIOGRAPHY.

sold. The total value of all property was $1,095,- 167 in 1899.

Stutsman county had 352,120 acres of govern- ment land as yet unoccupied and 149,146 acres under cultivation. In 1898 there was raised 1,153,977 bushels of wheat ; 177,677 of flax; 389,951 of oats ; 92,621 of barley; 5,904 of rye; 545 of corn and 37,9II of potatoes. The live stock sold amounted to $51,655 in value. The assessed valu- ation of all real and personal property in this county aggregated $4,825,674. Jamestown is the seat of justice and county government.

Logan county had under cultivation 94,994 acres of land and 199,320 acres of vacant government land. The citizens of this county raised in 1898, wheat to the extent of 49,962 bushels; of flax, 13,- 129; of oats 9,075 ; of barley, 7,451 ; of rye, 5,200; of corn, 2,272 ; and of potatoes 3,717 bushels. They also sold live stock to the amount of $12,672. The assessed value of all property in 1899 was $837,- 919. Napoleon is the county seat.

McIntosh county made a showing of 94,994 acres of land under cultivation and 199,320 acres of as yet, unoccupied government land. Of wheat there was raised 176,734 bushels; 31,288 of flax; 19,709 of .oats ; 33.735 of barley ; 4,547 of rye; 6,071 of corn and 9,600 bushels of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $69,116 was disposed of. The assessed value of all real and personal property aggregated $966,355. Ashley is the county seat.

Ransom county with 179,688 acres under culti- wation, showed as the result of the crop of 1898, the

following : 964,322 bushels of wheat ; 258,629 of flax ; 398,153 of oats; 109,042 of barley; 19,873 of rye; 66,504 of corn and 40,767 bushels of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $59,829 was sold. The total value of all property in the county as assessed was reported as $2,769,371. The seat of county gov- ernment is at Lisbon.

Dickey county had 132,910 acres of land under cultivation and harvested in 1898 the following crop: Wheat, 527,155 bushels ; flax, 64,054; oats, 79,778 barley, 55,149; rye, 20,345 ; potatoes, 36,401. The value of the live stock sold the same year amounted to $41,035. The total assessed valuation of all real and personal property in 1899 was $2,638,839. EI- lendale is the county seat.

LaMoure county,with 141,731 acres of land under cultivation raised in 1898, 989,806 bushels of wheat ; 252,372 of flax ; 245,301 of oats; 126,688 of barley ; 29,171 of rye; 14,028 of corn ; and 22,343 of potatoes. The value of live stock sold was $117,476. The assessed value of real and personal property in 1899 was $2,690,458. LaMoure is the county seat.

Sargent county had in 1898, land under cultiva- tion to the amount of 118,303 acres. The crop of that year included 115,671 bushels of flax; 1,064,- I21 of wheat; 255,535 of oats; 106,045 of barley ; 22,914 of rye; 84,172 of corn and 37,748 bushels of potatoes. Live stock to the value of $75,822 was sold. The assessed value of the real and personal property within the county amounted to $2,201,754 in 1899. Forman is the county seat.

BIOGRAPHICAL

OV. FREDERICK B. FAN- CHER. In studying the lives and characters of prominent men we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success, and the motives that have prompted their action. Success is oftener a matter of experience and sound judgment and thorough prep- aration for a life work than it is of genius, however bright. When we trace the career of those whoni the world acknowledges as successful and of those who stand highest in public esteem, we find in almost every case they are those who have risen gradually by their own efforts, their diligence and persever- ance. These qualities are undoubtedly possessed in a large measure by the gentleman whose name in- troduces this sketch, and added to these is a devotion to principle that may well be termed the keynote of his character.

Governor Fancher was born in Orleans county, New York, April 2, 1852, a son of E. Tillotson and Julia A. (Kenyon) Fancher, also natives of that state, as was the grandfather, Richard Fancher, who spent his entire life there engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. The father followed farming and stock raising in New York until 1867, when he removed to Washtenaw county, Michigan, and made his home there until going to Washington, D. C., in 1880, where he now resides. In his family were only two children.

Governor Fancher was reared on the home farm and was educated in the common schools and in the State Normal of Michigan. In 1871 he went to Chicago, where he was engaged in fire under- writing until coming to North Dakota in 1881. He took up a claim in Stutsman county, proved up the same and engaged in farming for some time, mak- ing a specialty of wheat. He also managed farms for other parties. In 1889 he organized the Alli- ance Hail Association, of which he was president

for six years, and was also president of the board of trustees of the North Dakota Hospital for the Insane for the same length of time.

In 1874 Governor Fancher married Miss Flor- ence S. Van Voorhies, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of John J. Van Voorhies. Socially our subject is a prominent Mason and a member of the. Mystic Shrine. Politically he has always affiliated with the Republican party, and has taken a very active and prominent part in public affairs,_doing all in his power to insure the success of his party and advance its interest. In 1889 he was elected to the constitutional convention of North Dakota, and made president of the same. In 1892 lie was nominated for insurance commissioner and was de- feated, but in 1894 he was re-nominated and elected and re-elected in 1896. Two years later he was the nominee of his party for governor and elected to that office, which he is now so creditably filling. Never were the reins of government in more capa- ble hands, for he is a progressive man, pre- eminently public-spirited, and all that pertains to the public welfare receives his hearty endorse- ment.

CAPTAIN ALEXANDER GRIGGS, the "Father of Grand Forks," is one of the most widely known and highly esteemed men who cast their lot with North Dakota. He is now a resident of the state of Washington, but until recent years was en- gaged in navigation throughout the Red river dis- trict, and was identified with the financial growth of the city of Grand Forks and vicinity.

Our subject was born at Marietta, Ohio, in Oc- tober, 1838, and was a son of William and Esther (McGibbon) Griggs. He removed with his par- ents to St. Paul, Minnesota, when a boy, and later his family removed to Grand Forks, where his par- ents died. Our subject was reared and educated in St. Paul, and at an early age began running on

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

the boats of the Mississippi river, and at the age of twenty years was given command of a boat. He continued there until 1870, and then, in company with others, went up the Red river to Fargo with a view of establishing a line of boats, and during that year the Hill, Griggs & Company Navigation Company was formed. In 1871 Mr. Griggs went to where Grand Forks is now located, and he en- tered a claim to the land on which the old town is located, and named the place Grand Forks on account of the junction of the two rivers. He con- tinued to operate a line of boats between Grand Forks and Winnipeg for many years and continued in command until 1890. He was always active in the upbuilding of the town of Grand Forks, and was one of the founders of the Second National Bank, of which institution he was president for many years. He also acted in the capacity of president of the First National Bank of East Grand Forks for some years, and established the gas works in company with William Budge, and was also a large owner in the Grand Forks Roller Mill. He served as railroad commissioner for some years, and was the third postmaster of Grand Forks and was mayor of the city. He assisted in building the two bridges across the river, and by his hearty support and in- fluence endeared himself to the people as a man of active public spirit. In December, 1892, Mr. Griggs left Grand Forks on account of failing health, and is now engaged in boating on the Upper Columbia river,

Our subject was marriel December 27, 1865, in Minnesota, to Miss Ettie I. Strong, a native of Brooklyn. Eight children, seven of whom are now living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Griggs, named as follows: Lois, now Mrs. W. H. Pringle ; Ansel; Jennie; Esther ; Bruce ; James and Clifford. The family all reside in the state of Washington at present. Mr. Griggs is an ardent Democrat and is a man who keeps pace with the times.

HENRY R. PORTER, M. D., one of the most distinguished and honored citizens of Bismarck, North Dakota, and of whom a steel engraving is pre- sented on another page, is the only surviving sur- geon of the three who were with Custer's regiment on the fateful June day, in 1876, when so many gal- lant men perished in the never-to-be-forgotten bat- tle on the Little Big Horn. He was born in Lee Center, Oneida county, New York, February 13, 1848, and is a son of Henry N. and Helen ( Polson ) Por- ter, the former also a native of Oneida county, New York, the latter of Scotland. The father graduated from the Geneva Medical College of New York, and for many years was engaged in practice in that state, but is now living retired in Washington, D. C. The grandfather, Norton Porter, was also a physician and surgeon, and died in New York after many years of practice. Our subject has two sisters who are also living in Washington, D. C.

Dr. Porter, of this review, completed his literary

education at the seminary in Whitestown, New York, in 1868, and then commenced the study of medicine with his father. In 1869 he entered the University of Michigan, where he spent one year, and the following year he passed in England and Scotland. On his return to this country he en- tered the Georgetown University, D. C., and was graduated from the medical department of that in- stitution in 1872.

The same year Dr. Porter was appointed an acting assistant surgeon in the United States army and was assigned to General Crook's command, then in Arizona, where he remained for a year and a half, during which time he was in seven or eight battles with the Apaches. In general orders No. 14, issued by General Crook, and dated, Prescott, Arizona, April 9, 1873, the Doctor is mentioned for gallantry in the engagement in Superstition mountains, January 16, 1873, and again for conspicuous service and gallantry in different engagements against the Tonto Apaches in February and March, 1873.

Later during the year Dr. Porter was transferred to Bismarck, North Dakota, as post surgeon at Camp Hancock with General Custer, remaining with the command until after the death of that famous gen- eral. The most remarkable fight in the history of Indian warfare was the battle fought on the Little Big Horn river in Montana, between the command of General Custer and the allied forces of all the ren- egade Indians in the west under the leadership of Chiefs Gall and Sitting Bull, June 25, 1876. It was remarkable from the fact that not a single man in Custer's command escaped to tell the tale. Of this battle Dr. Porter gives the following account :

"Our expedition left Fort Abraham Lincoln on May 17, 1876, under the command of General Terry, and proceeded overland. Mrs. Custer accompanied her husband on horseback as far as Heart river, a distance of several miles, and there bid him an affec- tionate farewell, and returned to the garrison. We marched in easy stages to Powder river in Montana. Nothing of particular note occurred on the march except that one day we saw, with field glasses, a lone horseman at a distance of several miles. He had evidently seen us and was riding toward our com- mand. We thought of course that he was an Indian, as it did not seem possible that any white man could be off in that wilderness, hundreds of miles from any habitation, alone. As he came nearer we dis- covered that it was none other than Buffalo Bill, the noted scout and Indian fighter. He was one of General Crook's scouts and was off on an expedition of his own. General Crook's command was then in the region of the Black Hills, miles away. After we had gone into camp at Powder river, Reno was ordered out on a scouting expedition. He found a wide Indian trail leading in a westerly direction toward Rosebud river. Custer was then ordered to follow the trail. The Indians had been located by General Terry's scouts, and he told Custer to strike them on the 26th. Terry was sure that his scouts had them well located, and results demon-

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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 27

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