Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 30

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

USA > North Dakota > Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life > Part 30

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In his native state, Burleigh F. Spalding was reared and educated until eleven years of age, when he left home, and for five years worked on farms in New Hampshire and Vermont for his board and clothes and the privilege of attending school. At sixteen he engaged in clerking in a country store for forty-eight dollars per year, but later received sev- enty-two. For some time he worked at St. Jolins- bury, Vermont, and then attended the Lyndon Literary Institute, and later the Norwich University, from which he was graduated with the degree of B. Ph., in 1877. The following year he taught in an academy at Albany, Vermont, and next read law for two years with Gleason & Field at Montpelier. He was admitted to the bar in Vermont, March 15, 1880. He served as clerk of the state legislature in 1878.

On the 3Ist of March, 1880, Mr. Spalding came to Fargo, North Dakota, and for one year was in partnership with S. G. Roberts in the practice of law. Later he succeeded to the entire practice of the firm and admitted Charles F. Templeton to a partner- ship. That connection continued for six and a half years, or until Mr. Templeton was appointed judge of the Grand Forks district. In 1891 George H. Phelps became a member of the firm, and in June, 1893, Mr. Newman was also. taken in, but in 1897 Mr. Phelps retired, and business was then carried on under the name of Newman & Spalding until 1898, when Mr. W. S. Stambaugh was admitted to the firm and the name was changed to Newman, Spalding & Stambaugh. This is one of the strong- est law firms in the state, and they enjoy a large and lucrative practice.

On the 25th of November, 1880, Mr. Spalding

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was united in marriage with Miss Alida Baker, of Vermont, a daughter of David and Emily (Cutler) Baker, and by this union five children have been born, namely: Deane B., Frances F., Roscoe C., Burleigh M. and Carlton C.

Mr. Spalding organized the Merchants' State Bank of Fargo, which was started as the Dakota Savings Bank, and re-organized in 1890. He served as its first president, and is quite prominent in busi- ness as well as professional circles. During his res- idence in this state he has taken a very important part in public affairs and is a recognized leader in political circles. He served as superintend- ent of public instruction from 1882 to 1884, and in 1883 was elected a member of the board of commissioners to relocate the capital. In 1889 he was elected to the constitutional convention, served on the judicial, school and public lands com- mittees, and was also a member of the joint commit- tee to divide the archives and property of the states. In 1898 he was nominated and elected a member of congress over the Fusion ( Democratic, Populist and Silver Republican) candidate by a majority of 9.932 votes, and is now most creditably and satisfactorily filling that position. He has been a delegate to nearly all the state and territorial conventions of the Re- publican party during his residence here, and in 1896 was chairman of the committee on resolutions. He was chairman of the Republican state central com- mittee in 1892 and was a member of the same for three years. In 1896 he was elected to the same position from Cass county, and has taken a promi- nent part in campaign work, being a strong and able debater and an orator of note. He is a thirty- second-degree Mason, a Knight Tmplar and a mem- ber of the Sons of the American Revolution. So- cially he is deservedly popular, as he is affable and courteous in manner and possesses that essential qualification to success in public life, that of making friends readily and strengthening the ties of all friendships as time advances.

RUSSELL W. S. BLACKWELL, residing in LaMoure, LaMoure county, is one of the leading at- torneys of North Dakota. He is the present state's attorney of LaMoure county, and is a man whose qualifications and character are befitting one of his station. He is affable, intelligent and possessed of an active public spirit and casts his influence for the better interests of those around him, and is highly esteemed in turn by the people. He was born in the village of Pocasset, on the east side of Buz- zard's bay, in the town of Sandwich, Barnstable county, Massachusetts, August 20, 1853.

The father of our subject, Russell Blackwell, was born in Monument, Massachusetts, and was of Eng- lish-Puritan descent. He was a sea captain in the American merchant marine service, and his fore- fathers followed the seas for two and a half cen- turies. He died at Bourne, November 17, 1898, aged seventy-five years. He was a man of more

than ordinary ability, and was one of the prominent men in his native town. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Lydia B. Phinney, was also a native of Monument, Massachusetts, and survives her husband, and is living in the old home. Five children were born to this worthy couple, as follows : Elisha B., now engaged in the Alaskan trade at Seattle, Washington; Ada, now Mrs. Dr. Robert Newman, of New York City, ; Lillie, now Mrs. E. S. Ellis, residing with her mother; Lydia A., who died at the age of twenty months; and Russell W. S. our subject.

Mr. Blackwell, when about one year of age went with his parents to Monument, Massachusetts, where he attended school for some time, and in the fall of 1868 removed to New York City, where he en- tered the grammar school and continued his studies in that city until 1873, when he accepted a position as principal of the public school at Foxboro, Massa- chusetts. After one year he engaged in the job printing business, and conducted the same from No- vember, 1874, to 1881, when he disposed of the plant. During that time he continued the study of law which had been commenced in New York City in 1870, and October 6, 1881, was admitted to the bar at Dedham, Massachusetts, and in 1882 he returned to New York City. He had thoroughly familiar- ized himself with the practice of his profession by handling many cases prior to his admission to the bar, and his success was assured. He, however, en- gaged in the mercantile business in New York until 1892, when he went to North Dakota. He visited Jamestown, North Dakota, in April of that year, and began farming near there, conducting the farm during three summers and returning to New York, where he taught the grammar school No. 16, during the winter terms. He removed to the town of La- Moure, November 8, 1894, and engaged in the prac- tice of law, in connection with which he conducts a real estate and general brokerage business, and dur- ing the year 1894 he was elected to the office of state's attorney.

Mr. Blackwell was married at Foxborough, Mas- sachusetts, in 1874, to Mrs. Fannie Thomas, a native of that state. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell, as follows : Waldo R., now prac- ticing law in New York City, having graduated from the University of New York in the class of 1895, with the degree of Bachelor of Law ; and Grace W., who died in infancy. Mr. Blackwell has always labored earnestly for the better interests of his con- munity, and while a resident of Foxboro, Massachu- setts, was appointed justice of the peace by the gov- ernor of that state, which office he held seven years, after which he was re-appointed. He was elected a member of the school committee in 1878, and was re-elected in the same capacity in 1881, and chair- man of the board, serving until his resignation in 1882. Since taking up his residence in Dakota he has been chosen a member of the board of insanity commissioners and is the treasurer of the North Da- kota Bar Association. He was nominated for state's

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attorney on the Republican ticket and endorsed by the Populist party. He is a man who is popular with the people as a public officer regardless of party affiliations, and is deserving of much credit for his labors for the public good. He is a member of Crystal Wave lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Brooklyn, Corneau Consistory of New York City, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Knights of Macca- bees.

FRED FALLEY. America owes much of her progress and advancement to a position foremost among the nations of the world to her newspapers, and in no line has the incidental broadening out of the sphere of usefuless been more marked than in this same line of journalism. North Dakota has enlisted in the newspaper field some of the strongest intellects in the state-men of broad mental grasp, cosmopolitan ideas and notable business sagacity. Prominent among these is Fred Falley, the present secretary of state, and editor of the "Wahpeton Globe.

He was born in York, Clay county, Illinois, July I, 1859, a son of Richard and Louisa (Scranton) Falley, natives of Massachusetts and Illinois, re- spectively. The father, who was a wagon-maker by trade, removed to Illinois in 1842, and there died in 1877. The mother departed this life in the same state in 1868. Our subject received a good high- school education in his native county, and during his youth learned the printer's trade at Lancaster, Wisconsin, under Edward Pollock, who was then publishing the "Grant County Herald." Coming to North Dakota in 1880, he located at Wahpeton, where he worked at his trade about four years. In 1883 he founded the "Sargent County Teller" at Milnor, North Dakota, and conducted that paper until 1887, when he purchased the "Wahpeton Globe," which he is still successfully carrying on. It is one of the best papers published in the state and is the Republican organ of Richland county.

In 1885 Mr. Falley married Miss Clara Mitchell, who died in 1892, leaving one son, Richard M. He was again married in 1896, his second union being with Mrs. Sadie Pyatt, by whom he has one son, Morgan. Fraternally Mr. Falley is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically he is a pronounced Republican. He served as sec- retary of the state senate for several sessions, and in 1896 was elected secretary of state and re-elected in 1898. He has proved a most efficient and popu- lar officer, and during his incumbency has made a host of warm friends throughout the state.

COLONEL WILLIAM H. ROBINSON, treas- urer and general manager of the Beidler & Robinson Lumber Company, with headquarters at Mayville, is a gentleman of much executive ability and is widely known as an intelligent and public-spirited

citizen. He is identified with various financial en- terprises in that part of the state, and has made a success of life, winning his way upward by ener- getic efforts and faithful service.

Our subject was born in Chicago, Illinois, Oc- tober 21, 1843, and was the eldest of a family of five children born to Henry and Jane ( Hutchings) Robinson. His parents were natives of England, and the mother still lives at Albert Lea, Minnesota. After entering upon his business career Mr. Robin- son was called to defend his country, and enlisted, in 1861, in Company F, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. Returning from the war, he began clerking for J. Biedler Lumber Company in Chi- cago, and was with that firm about twelve years, and in 1876 began for himself in Allerton, Iowa, and in. 1882 disposed of his Iowa interests and ar- rived at Portland, Dakota, in May, and under the firm name of Beidler & Robinson established the lumber business at Portland, and in 1885 the firm of Beidler & Robinson Lumber Company was incor- porated. They now own twenty-six lumber yards in North Dakota and Minnesota. Soon after the incorporation of the company the headquarters were taken up in Mayville, and the business of the com- pany has been more than successful. Mr. Robin- son is also junior member of the firm of Dibley & Robinson, dealers in steel combination and wood bridges, the firm having headquarters at Fargo. Mr. Robinson is also Indian trader at Standing Rock agency at Fort Yates, North Dakota.

Our subject was married in 1870 to Miss Lil- lian Abbott, of Chicago. One daughter was born to this union, who is now Mrs. R. H. Bush, of Grand Forks. Mr. Robinson was married in 1896 to Miss Edith Anderson. Mr. Robinson was a member of the senate in the first state legislature, and did very efficient work toward passing the prohibition bill through the senate. He also assisted in securing the location of the State Normal at Mayville. He is prominent in public affairs, and has been promi- nently identified with the Republican party of the state; was a delegate to the Minneapolis national convention, and attended the St. Louis convention and was there elected national committeeman for North Dakota. He was chairman of the state cen- tral committee during three campaigns, and at pres- ent is chairman of the state central committee and a member of the national committee. Mr. Robinson is a Knight Templar and thirty-second-degree Mason, and also holds membership in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

ALBERT N. CARLBLOM, the present well- known state auditor of North Dakota, and a recog- nized leader in the ranks of the Republican party, was born in Cokato, Wright county, Minnesota, December 17, 1865, a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Anderson) Carlblom, both natives of Sweden. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to the United States in 1864, and settled in Wright county,

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Minnesota, where he followed his chosen calling until 1881, when he became a resident of Sargent county, North Dakota, making his home there until called from this life in 1899. His wife had passed away in 1898. To them were born seven children, five sons and two daughters, all living in either North Dakota or Minnesota.

Our subject acquired his early education in the common schools of his native state and then entered Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1886. Prior to coming to this state with his parents in 1881, he had engaged in teaching school in Minnesota, and later followed the same profession in Sargent county. He also engaged in farming and clerking for some time. In 1889 he was appointed deputy county treasurer of Sargent county for two years, and in 1891 was made deputy auditor of the same county. He was elected auditor in 1892, and so creditably and satisfactorily did he fill the office that he was re-elected in 1894 and again in 1896. In 1898 he was elected state auditor on the Republican ticket and entered upon the duties of the office Janti- ary 3, 1899. His public duties have always been most promptly and faithfully discharged, winning the commendation of even his political enemies, and he has proved a most popular official.

On the 23d of March, 1898, Mr. Carlblom mar- ried Miss Josephine Peterson, also a native of Min- nesota. They are the parents of one daughter, Vera Leonore. Mr. and Mrs. Carlblom are members of the Lutheran church. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its prin- ciples, and he has been a member of both state and county committees, and has served as president and secretary of the Sargent County Republican League. He is widely and favorably known and has many friends throughout the state.

HON. DENNIS W. DRISCOLL. Success is determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity, and to pursue this with a resolute and unflagging energy. It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually be- comes an important factor in business circles and in public life. Through such means Mr. Driscoll, state treasurer, has attained a leading place among the representative men of North Dakota, and his well-spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know him. A portrait of Mr. Driscoll will be found in this volume.

He was born in Canada, September 22, 1849, and is a son of John J. and Julia ( Dennison ) Dris- coll, natives of Canada. The parents were married in Canada, where the father died during the in- fancy of our subject, and in 1856 the mother re- moved to Detroit, Michigan. There our subject was reared and educated and also learned the pot- ter's trade, which he followed until 1873. In 1870 he removed to Boone county, Iowa, where he worked at his trade for a time, and in 1875 became

a resident of La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was first engaged in selling farm implements and later traveled for the Deering Company.

Coming to North Dakota in 1879, Mr. Driscoll located in Pembina, Pembina county, where he be- came a member of the firm of Johnson, Hohner & Company, agricultural implement dealers. When Walsh county was formed, in 1881, he went to Acton in the interest of the same company. In 1881 he took up his residence at Grafton, continui- ing in the employ of the same company until 1887. He was next engaged in farming and stock raising for eight years and then returned to Grafton, where he still makes his home. He is now engaged in the real estate business, is vice-president of the Graf- ton National Bank, and president of the Bates Carbon Book Company of that place. In business affairs he is prompt and notably reliable, and has met with most excellent success.

In 1882 Mr. Driscoll led to the marriage altar Miss Clara K. Hogg, a native of Nova Scotia, and to them have been born four children, namely : William J., Charles H., Nellie H. and Clara K., all living. Since attaining his majority Mr. Driscoll has always cast his ballot with the Republican party, and although he has never been an office seeker, he was elected, in 1898, to the office of state treas- urer, carrying every county in the commonwealtin. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. The farm of Mr. Driscoll, which consists of fourteen hundred acres, is located in Acton township, Walsh county, and is devoted to grain and stock interests.

HON. ASA SERGEANT, one of the first set- tlers of Traill county, is a gentleman who commands respect wherever he is known. He has spent a use- ful career in North Dakota, and is one of the wealthy and influential citizens of Caledonia, and operates several hundred acres of rich land.

Our subject was born in Peacham, Caledonia county, Vermont, August 5, 1844, and was the fourth in a family of six children born to Elijah and Sylvia ( Watts) Sargeant, both of whom are de- ceased. He enlisted in the fall of 1862 in Company F, Fifteenth Vermont Infantry, and after a short service returned to his native state. In 1868, dur- ing the first "boom" of the Red river country, he and some relatives invested in land on the Minnesota side of the Red river, and in 1870 our subject went to look at the land purchased. He worked during the season in Minnesota and passed the winter in Pembina. In the spring of 1872 and he entered the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, working in the store at Georgetown, and soon afterward was established in a store at Caledonia, and later for three years at Walla Walla. In association with C. M. Clark, he rented the Caledonia flouring mills in 1876 and later they purchased the plant. The mill was erected in 1872, and was the second mill built in what is now North Dakota. The frame of

Dill Driscoll

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the structure is of oak, hewn from the native tin- ber, and the whole building is as sound as when erected thirty years ago. The mill was sold some years afterward, but was repurchased by Mr. Sar- geant and Edward Braseth. They are running the mill at the present time. It is a one hundred-barrel capacity mill, and is run by steam and water power combined. Our subject now owns seven hundred acres of land, bounded on two sides by the Goose and the Red rivers. He is now planning a departure to the Pacific coast to join his family and remain there for some time, and perhaps make his home there.

Our subject was married in 1879 to Miss Amanda Houghton, who went to Dakota in 1876. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sar- geant, as follows: Vie, a student of music and also a teacher of music; Charles, a student of Pacific University, of Oregon; Helen, deceased; Martha ; Ray, deceased, and Neal Mr. Sargeant was elected to the territorial legislature in 1876, which met at Yankton, and he was appointed by the governor among the first county officers, as both probate judge and county treasurer. In the fall of 1886 he was elected county register of deeds and served three terms. He is one of the solid men of Traill county and is well and favorably known throughout the state of North Dakota.

MAJOR ALANSON WILLIAM EDWARDS. Colonel Cadle, adjutant-general of the Seventeenth Corps, commanded by the brave, popular and genial General Frank Blair, in the following letter to "The Forum," has some words for an old comrade and explains how he comes to write :

"Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Re- cording Secretary's office, P. O. box 35, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 31, 1898 .- To 'The Forum': The So- ciety of the Army of the Tennessee desires to keep in its records memoranda showing the services of their members. Some time ago I wrote to Major Edwards and asked him to send me a sketch that would enable us, when he died, to print his obituary. He sent me a very brief statement, but knowing as much, or more, of his record than he modestly stated to me, I have written the enclosed, and if you think it worth while it might be printed, because it shows a great deal of his experience in the Army of the Tennessee in the war of the Rebellion.

"He was certainly a gallant soldier in our army, and credit should be given to living men as well as dead. Therefore, I send this to you with the hope that it may be used, and that, as an obituary of our society, it may be long before it will be required. Major Edwards does not know of this communica- tion. Yours very truly,

"CORNELIUS CADLE."

"Major Alanson William Edwards was born in Lorain county, Ohio, August 27, 1840. His father removed to Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1848. Major Edwards attended the county schools and was

afterward, in 1856-57, a student at Mckendree Col- lege, Illinois. He was a railroad express agent and telegraph operator at Gillespie, Illinois, when the war broke out.

"He enlisted at once for the three months' serv- ice, but the quota of Illinois was thien filled, as was the first call for three years' volunteers. He en- listed and was mustered in as a private of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois In- fantry, at Camp Palmer, Carlinville, Illinois, August 4, 1862. He served in the Western army, begin- ning at Columbus, Kentucky. He was a clerk in the office of the adjutant-general, district of Jack- son war department, General Grenville M. Dodge, of Corinth, Mississippi.

"In April, 1863, by authority from the war de- partment, General Grenville M. Dodge, at Corinth, Mississippi, organized the First Alabama Union Cavalry from loyal refugees, driven from their homes in the mountains in north Alabama by Con- federate conscripting officers. Major Edwards was appointed first lieutenant and adjutant, with George E. Spencer as colonel, and was afterward promoted to captain L troop of this regiment.

"He served with General Van Derveer as acting assistant adjutant-general, district of Rome and of Marietta, Georgia, and was near Kenesaw mountain with General Sherman when Sherman signalled Corse at Allatoona to 'hold the fort,' at the same time that Captain Flint, of Company E, First Ala- bama Cavalry, was aide to General Corse, and wrote at Corse's dictation the answer about 'losing his cheek, but was able to whip all hell yet.'

"Major Edwards commanded Company M of his regiment on the 'March to the sea,' and in the close approach to Savannah he rode with the First Alabama Cavalry over the torpedoes planted in the road by the enemy. Lieutenant F. W. Tupper, his successor and adjutant of the regiment, having his leg blown off, and many of the regiment were se- verely wounded.

"Colonel Cornelius Cadle, the adjutant-general of the Seventeenth Army Corps, being that moment in advance with the First Alabama Cavalry, directed the provost marshal of the corps, Major John C. Marvin, to bring to the front all the prisoners of war, and they, upon their hands and knees, dug into the ground and took out the torpedoes-the unexploded ones-that several of these prisoners had assisted in 'planting' a few days before. It happened that the Confederate sergeant who had supervision of the placing of these torpedoes was one of the prisoners, and he readily found them and carefully aided in clearing our way to Savannah, the city that was a Christmas present from Sherman to our president, Lincoln.

"At Savannah Major Edwards was detached from his regiment by order of General Sherman, and assigned to duty as acting assistant adjutant- general, Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, and served with General Corse, the division com- mander, until after the grand review of the armies

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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 30

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