Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 33

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 33

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Our subject was married in October, 1878, to Miss Adaline Murry, a native of Minnesota. Mrs. Wheeler died in 1881. Mr. Wheeler was married to Miss Josephine E. Connell, a native of Minne- sota, in 1883. Our subject is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias, and was grand master of the Masonic order in North Dakota in 1888. He is a Republican polit- ically and is firm in his convictions, but takes little part in political affairs, and has never sought public preferment. Mr. Wheeler has a handsome gold watch which was presented to him by the First Na- tional Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, in remen- brance of his services in assisting in repelling the attack on that bank in 1876 by the James and Younger brothers. A history of that famous raid

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was written by Professor Huntington, and he tells of the bravery and quick action of Dr. Wheeler at the time. He was visiting his home during a vaca- tion at college in Michigan, and was one of the first to suspect an attempt was being made to rob the bank. Mr. Allen was the first to give the alarını, and at the same moment Mr. Wheeler stepped into the street from in front of his father's store where he had been sittting, and he shouted "robbery," and then turned to get his gun, but remembered he had left it at home, and then went to the Dompier hotel, where an old army carbine with three cartridges were secured, and he was soon at a second-story win- dow. His first shot was at Jim Younger, but the gun carried high, and Younger looked for the gun- ner and rode on, and Mr. Wheeler then shot at Clel Miller, the bullet passing through the body, severing the great artery and death ensued instantly. The third and last cartridge had fallen to the floor and had burst the paper and a fresh supply was then brought him by a friend and immediately followed several shots at Bob Younger by Mr. Manning, and the former dodged behind a stairway and returned the fire, and this was repeated several times, when Mr. Wheeler shot at Younger and the ball struck the robber's elbow, shattering the bone. Younger coolly changed his pistol to his left hand and con- tinned to shoot at Manning, and while Manning was endeavoring to get to the back of the store and Wheeler was re-loading his gun, Younger made his escape, and mounted a horse behind his brother, Cole. The outlaws were pursued and captured, and sen- tenced to life imprisonment at Stillwater, Minnesota, and the watch presented to Mr. Wheeler in appre- ciation of his services is shown with due pride, but the affair is seldom mentioned by Mr. Wheeler un- less he is urged to do so by his many friends.

JAMES L. LEE, LL. D. The professions are well represented in Wells county, and a prominent place among this number is held by the gentleman above named. He is a practicing attorney of Fes- senden, and has attained his high position as an attorney and citizen by faithful service and earnest study, and is a gentleman of excellent education and refinement.

Our subject was born in Toledo, Ohio, in Au- gust, 1856. His foster father, Hiram Lee, was a farmer by occupation in Ohio, and was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Kansas in 1897. The great-grandfather of our subject was born in New England, and the mother of our subject. whose maiden naille was Elizabeth Porter, was born in France and emigrated to America. Our subject was reared by foster parents, of the name of Lee, who were New York people. He was reared in Illinois on a farm and assisted with the work of the place and did not attend school regularly until nineteen years of age, when he attended the country school winters and later attended an academy. Be- tween 1873-76 he attended the law school at Ann

Arbor, Michigan, and graduated in 1887 with the degree of LL. D. He established himself in the practice of his profession in Clear Lake, Iowa, in the spring of £878 and continued there twelve years, during which time he built up an extensive general practice, and in 1889 went to Topeka, Kan- sas, where he practiced two years, and then spent some months traveling through the western states to the Pacific coast. He assumed charge of the collection department of the machine firm of D. M. Osborne & Company, of Chicago, and was thus engaged five years. He located in Fessenden, North Dakota, August 15, 1896, where he estab- lished his office and has since followed his practice.

Our subject was married in Fessenden, North Dakota, March 21, 1897, to Miss Hattie Jones. Mrs. Lee was born in Vexio, Sweden, and came to America in 1886, at the age of fourteen years. Her father, who was of English descent, died when she was five years of age. Mr. Lee is the father of the following children by a former marriage: Fred L., owner and operator of a silver mine in Idaho, residing at Wallace; Stella; and James N., attend- ing Central High School at Minneapolis. Mr. Lee is active in public affairs and is a Republican in politics.

HON. MARTIN HECTOR, one of Fargo's most popular and influential business men, is now president of the Fargo National Bank, which, while not one of the oldest banking houses of the state, is considered one of its most substantial. It was organized in 1897, and its deposits have rapidly in- creased until today they average with any bank in the state. On its organization Mr. Hector was chosen president, O. J. DeLendrecies, vice-president and W. C. McFadden, cashier. Its board of direct- ors is composed of the above named gentleman, together with Seth Wright and George E. Nichols. All are well-known citizens of North Dakota and are numbered among Fargo's most prosperous and reli- able business men. They do a general banking business and issue foreign and domestic exchange.

Mr. Hector, the able president of this financial institution, has been a resident of Fargo since 1872. He came to the Northwest a poor boy without other resources than good health and a determination to succeed, and has worked his way upward in the commercial world until today he stands in the front rank of the successful business men' of this section, having become one of the wealthiest men of North Dakota. He is also prominent in public affairs and has filled a number of positions of honor and trust since coming to this state. He was president of the city council for several years, and has done much to bring about the substantial improvements in which Fargo takes a great pride. He has never sought political preferment or public honors, but holds a high position in social and business circles. In 1893 he was selected as a member of the board of commissioners from North Dakota to the World's

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Fair, and was elected president of that body. While devoting a great deal of time and money to that work (probably equivalent to $1,000), he refused to accept from the state any pay for his services. He is always willing to support any movement calculated to prove of public benefit and the community is fortunate that number him among its citizens.

JOHN P. REEDER. There are few men in Wahpeton, Richland county, North Dakota, in the past ten years who have done more for its commer- cial interests and its growth and development than the man whose name heads this review. He is a prominent figure in business, political and social circles, is at present serving as mayor of the city, and is one of its leading merchants.

Mr. Reeder was born in Lake county, Indiana, November 11, 1863, and there he continued to make his home until about eighteen years of age, being indebted to its schools for his educational priv- ileges. In 1881 he removed to Minnesota, and after two years spent in that state he came to Wahpeton, where he was employed as clerk in a general store for about two years. He then embarked in busi- ness on his own account as a merchant, and today carries a large and well assorted stock of general merchandise, for which he finds a ready sale, having built up an excellent trade in the city and surround- ing country.

In Lake county, Indiana, Mr. Reeder was mar- ried, in 1886, to Miss Josephine Schreiber, a native of that county, and they now have a family of four children : John, George, Gilbert and Herman. Soci- ally Mr. Reeder is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the For- esters. He is one of the most influential and pub- lic-spirited citizens of Wahpeton and has made a most efficient and popular officer, doing all in his power to advance the interests of the city. He has served as mayor continuously since 1896, and prior to that time was one of the county commissioners of Richland county for years. He was also a mem- ber of the school board one year, and in 1894 was a candidate for the legislature on the Democratic ticket, and came within seven votes of being elected. In 1895 he erected the Wahpeton opera house which he still owns and conducts, and has been identified with a number of enterprises which have proved of public benefit.

JUDGE WASHINGTON I. WARREY. This gentleman is widely known as an intelligent and worthy citizen of Sherbrooke, Steele county, and his labors as county judge of Steele county are be- yond criticism. He is outspoken and generous and is always found standing on the side of right and justice, and working for the interests of his fellow- men.

Mr. Warrey was born in Rensselaer county, New York, August 23, 1855, and he and his younger

sister were the only children born to Robert and Hannah (Carver) Warrey. The father had been married previous to his union with our subject's mother, and was the father of three children by his first marriage; and the mother of our subject, by a previous marriage to a Mr. Simmons, was the mother of three children, the family thus consisting of eight children. When our subject was a child the family removed to Binghamton, New York, where the father worked at contracting and building. He was an architect and designer, and also worked at practical carpenter work, and during the Civil war was in charge of the force of pontoon and bridge builders. He died when our subject was nine years of age, and the lad soon went to live with a farmer for two years, and in 1867, after the death of his mother, he took up his residence with an uncle, who was appointed his guardian. When seventeen years of age he became apprenticed to the mason's trade, but he was possessed of a desire for a more liberal education, and when nineteen years of age he accordingly entered Delaware Literary Institute, at Franklin, New York, where he re- mained four years. He worked his way through this institution, but his studies were continually in- terrupted by several terms of school which he taught in the village and country. He descended from a family of educators. A number of his mother's near relatives were prominent among the leading professors in Amherst College and other universities of the east. His ambition, however, was to perfect himself for the practice of law. He went to Wyandotte, Kansas, in 1880, and worked at carpenter work and later joined the police force, studying law in the meantime, but this double duty was undermining his health and he again began the carpenter work and became foreman of a crew for the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad Company, building station and section houses. He did not gain in health, and in August, 1884, went to Fargo, North Dakota, and worked at carpenter work there for a short time and then located in Steele county, North Dakota. He taught school several winters in Steele and Cass counties, and in the spring of 1885 filed a claim to land in Broadlawn township, and until 1893 he was engaged in contract work with headquarters at Hope. He purchased a build- ing at Sherbrooke in June, 1893, and began hotel keeping, and also established a livery barn, and in 1897 also engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness, in which work he is now engaged, and is a successful business man.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Rose L. Wallace, a resident of Page, Cass county, North Dakota. Four children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Warrey, as follows: Victor I., Edward R., Lillian E. and Washington I. The public record of Mr. Warrey is worthy of note. He was elected county surveyor in 1890, and while serving thus was also deputy sheriff of Steele county, and in 1894 was elected county judge, and is now serving his third term, and since taking up

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JUDGE W. I. WARREY AND WIFE.

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his residence in Sherbrooke has twice served as 'deputy sheriff. He is prominent in secret society circles and holds membership in the following orders: Masonic, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and Modern Woodmen of America. In polit- ical sentiment he is a Republican, and is a man of deep thought and deservedly popular with the peo- ple. A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Warrey appears on another page.

HERBERT ROOT, deceased, was for almost twenty years prominently identified with the inter- ests of Valley City, Barnes county, North Dakota, as one of its leading attorneys and business men. He early learned that knowledge is the key with which the poor boy could open the store house of the world and cull its choicest fruits. The result is he became one of the most successful men of his city, and essentially the architect of his own fortune.

Mr. Root was born on a farm in county Holdi- mond, Ontario, Canada, August 12, 1848, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Dobie) Root, also natives of Can- ada. He was a direct descendant of Henry Rott, of Pennsylvania, the name having been changed in his father's time. Isaac Root was born in Lincoln county, Ontario, in 1808, followed the occupation of a farmer throughout life, and died in 1891. The mother of our subject, who was born in 1811, de- parted this life in 1858, and two years later the father married Calista Barrett, who still survives him and resides in Canada.

The early education of Herbert Root was ac- quired in the district schools of his native province. Coming to the United States at the age of twelve years, he located at Quincy, Illinois, and accepted a position as clerk with his uncle, Henry Root, then conducting one of the largest dry goods stores in that city. Our subject remained in his employ un- til 1869, when he entered the Methodist Episcopal College at Quincy, where he pursued a general course of study for one year. The following year he engaged in teaching a country school near Racine, Wisconsin, and in 1870 became a student at Racine College, where he took the classical course and grad- uated with high honors in 1872, standing at the head of his class and receiving the degrees of A. B. and A. M .. He also won five gold medals at that school. It was by his own unaided efforts that he secured his collegiate education. He was next a student at the Nashotah Theological Seminary of Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and from that institution he was graduated in August, 1874.

Mr. Root was then ordained a deacon in the Episcopal church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Wash- ington boulevard and Peoria street, Chicago, and as such was in charge of Grace church at Sterling, Illinois, for a time. He was next sent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Wells, and subsequently became assistant to Dr. John Fulton, dean of the Cathedral at Indian- apolis, Indiana, where he remained a year. He was

then rector at Grace church, Muncie, Indiana, until March, 1877, when he came west and for three years was rector of St. Paul's church at Brainard, Minnesota.

In March, 1880, Mr. Root became a resident of Valley City, North Dakota. His first venture here was in the private banking business, but in 1881 he assisted in organizing the First National Bank, of which he was cashier until January, 1882, when he resigned and organized the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank. He was president of that corporation until it went into voluntary liquidation in 1890, paying one hundred cents on the dollar. He then successfully engaged in farming and the practice of law, and while he maintained an office in the city, his home was in the country north of the place. He was prominent in business circles and occupied an envia- ble position in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

On the 13th of March, 1875, Mr. Root was uni- ted in marriage with Miss Harriet C. Warner, of Racine, Wisconsin, daughter of Eli W. and Hannalı Warner. Her parents were from Hartford, Con- necticut, and were among the early settlers of Racine county, Wisconsin.

Mr. Root died January 5, 1900, at St. Luke's hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota, whither he had gone, accompanied by his wife, for medical advice. His death was due to disease of the heart, and was a terrible shock to a large circle of friends. His best obituary is found in the general epistle of St. James, first chapter, twenty-seventh verse. His mortal part lies in Mound cemetery, Racine, Wisconsin.

EDWARD B. JOHNSON, one of the wide- awake and well-to-do members of the farming con- munity of Shuman township, in Sargent county, has gained an estate covering four hundred and eighty acres of land, by persistent industry and strict at- tention to business. He has been a resident of Da- kota nearly twenty years, and has become thoroughly identified with its history, and in all matters pertain- ing to the upbuilding of his township and county is always ready to aid by his support and good influ- ence. For the past fifteen years he has made his home in section 10 of Shuman township, and his farm is one of the well-improved tracts of land in that locality.

Our subject was born in Norway, December 15, 1854. He was but two and a half years of age when the family came to America, in 1857, and settled in Crawford county, Wisconsin, where our subject was reared to manhood. He attended the common schools, and resided there until the spring of 1880, when he went to Dakota, and settled in Richland county. He resided there five years, and then moved his family to their present home in Sargent county, having taken the land as a homestead in 1883. He has added valuable improvements to the place, and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land, and engages in general farming, meeting with success.

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Our subject was married in Crawford county, Wisconsin, June 25, 1879, to Miss Christina Torger- son, who was born in Crawford county, Wisconsin, September 14, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of four children, as follows: Edward, Emma J., Albert, and Palmer. Mr. Johnson is active in all local affairs, and has served as county commissioner for Sargent county for several terms, and is the present chairman of the board, and has been township assessor of Shuman township for several successive years, and also a member of the school board for several years. He is one who justly deserves his prominent place among the peo- ple of Sargent county.

JOHN F. PHILBRICK, assistant attorney-gen- eral of North Dakota, and one of the most promi- nent and successful lawyers of Bismarck, was born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, June 9, 1855, a son of Richard N. and Olive J. (Green) Philbrick, also natives of that state. The father is a harnessmaker and is now a resident of Concord, New Hampshire.

Our subject was reared in his native state and acquired his early eduction in its public schools. Later he spent one year at Collinsville, Illinois, and in 1877 entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1881. The following year he com- menced the study of law in the office of ex-Gover- nor John P. Altgeld. in Chicago, Illinois, and re- mained there some months. In December, 1882, came to Bismarck, North Dakota, where he contin- ued preparing for his chosen profession, and in 1885 was admitted to the bar. He has since suc- cessfully engaged in practice in Bismarck, and is now a member of the well-known firm of Boucher, Philbrick & Cochrane.

In 1889 he was elected judge of probate and filled that office for two years, and in 1895 was made as- sistant attorney-general, in which capacity he is still serving with credit to himself and to the entire satis- faction of all concerned. In politics he is an ardent Republican, has been chairman of the county central committee of Burleigh county for the past ten years, and has taken an active and prominent part in the state campaigns. He is a most successful lawyer and popular official, and is widely known throughout the state.

HON. ANDREW HANSON. The farming community of Mayville township, Traill county, has an able representative in the person of Andrew Han- son. He resides on section 10, and cultivates nine hundred and twenty acres of choice land.

Our subject was born near Christiana, Norway, in 1852, and was the second in a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, born to Hans and Christiana (Anderson) Hanson. He came to America in 1867 and settled in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming work four years and then removed to Dakota in 1871. He

worked on the boats on the Red river and at rail- road work to earn his livelihood, and was twenty- five miles from a postoffice. He began farming in 1871,, living in a log cabin 12x14 feet, and has met with unbounded success in his calling. He has a good residence and other farm buildings on his land, and possesses an extensive farm of nine hundred and twenty acres.

Our subject was married in 1878 to Miss Bertha Skogstad. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, as follows: Carrie, deceased; Nels, now attending Lutheran College in Iowa; Annie, attending Normal School in Mayville; Carrie ; Hilda; Hilman, deceased; Tunetta ; Arthur and Bertha. Mr. Hanson was elected county commis- sioner in 1898, and he served as a member of the general assembly in the session of 1890-91. He is. one of the leading men of the county, and every en- terprise which tends to upbuild his community is heartily supported by him, and as a man of exem- plary character he stands high in the minds of his associates. He has gained his possessions single- handed and is enjoying the result of a well-spent career. He holds membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church.

OLE H. EVENSON, deceased. Credit is in- deed due the man who leaves his native land and seeks his fortune in a new country, with the good results which was the lot of this gentleman. He made a success of the pursuit of agriculture, and that in a country where white men had never before made residence. He passed through all the strug- gles of the pioneer and became one of the prosperous agriculturists of Mooreton township, Richland county. He made his home on section 10, and was. surrounded by all of the adjuncts of a model rural home.

Mr. Evenson was born in Norway, January 6, 1853. Upon attaining his majority, in 1874, he de- cided to turn his way toward the new world, and accordingly emigrated to America, landing in New York in the early part of the summer of that year. He soon proceeded to Dane county, Wisconsin, and later went to Northfield, Minnesota, where he re- sided four years and was engaged at carpenter work. He went to Richland county, North Dakota,in March, 1878, and took a quit claim on one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Mooreton town- ship, formerly known as Center township. In the fall of that year he settled on his claim and has held continuous residence there. At the time of his death he was the possessor of four hundred acres of fer- tile land, with improvements that make it a comforta- ble and valuable estate.

Mr. Evenson was married in Northfield, Minne- sota, September 10, 1877, to Miss Mary Thompson, who was also a native of Norway. Mrs. Evenson was born October 22, 1852, and emigrated to Amer- ica about 1870. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Evenson, as follows: Clara, Helmer, Tillie, Ed-

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win, Harry, Ethel, Melvin, Ida ; Clara died in infancy and Edward, died in infancy. Mr. Evenson was a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and was a trustee in the same for several years. He filled various offices of trust in his township, and gained the confidence of the people of his community. He was supervisor and interested in educational mat- ters and has served as school director.

Mr. Evenson made a visit to his native land during the past summer, leaving his home April 28, 1899, and sailing from New York on the steamer Majestic, May 3, landing in Liverpool April 10. He reached Norway May 15, and after a two months stay returned to his home in Richland county, and was welcomed by his many friends. He was well known as a substantial farmer, industrious and hon- est, and in every way qualified to fill the high place which he occupied in his community.

Mr. Evenson died December 22, 1899, and was buried in Dwight cemetery. His health had been failing for the last two years, and during the last six weeks of his life he was confined to his bed. His death resulted from a complicated form of consump- tion. At the date of his death his age was forty- six years, eleven months and two weeks.

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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 33

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