Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 40

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 40

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Our subject was the third in the family and was raised on a farm, and worked with his father on his extensive estates until the spring of 1880, when he went to Nebraska and took charge of his father's farm there, and in the summer of 1882 disposed of his effects and made a visit to North Dakota, when he rented land in Stutsman county. He and his brother-in-law, John Y. Easterbrook, entered into partnership and rented land until 1885. They pur- chased the south half of section 29. in township 140, range 64, in 1882, and three years later erected buildings and made a home for the two families and our subject's brother, and for several years they all resided there, when our subject bought his brother's and Mr. Easterbrook's interests, and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land and controls fourteen hundred and forty acres by ownership and lease. In addition to the above he has since pur- chased three hundred and sixty acres in partnership with John Y. Easterbrook. The firm operated a threshing machine from 1886 to 1892, and were well- known threshers of that locality, and did an exten- sive business in that line. Our subject engages mostly in wheat raising, and has met with success in that line, and on his estate he has erected a com- plete set of substantial farm buildings and his place is fully equipped with machinery of modern pattern.

Our subject was married, March 21, 1894. to Miss Catherine Rudsdale, who was of English and Scotch descent, and was born in Perth, Ontario, Canada. Her parents, William and Margaret (Mc-

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Kerracher) Rudsdale were both born in Canada. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flet- cher, named as follows : Ewert Rudsdale, born April 3, 1895; and Frederick William, born April 4, 1898; both were born in North Dakota. Mr. Fletcher has held numerous township offices of trust and labors for the advancement of his community. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and takes an active part in the social affairs of that denomination, and is a firm supporter of the society. He also holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, and is deservedly popular with the peo- ple among whom he has resided for so many years.

CHARLES L. ALLEN, editor and proprietor of the "Hope Pioneer," is one of the leading news- paper men of that locality, and although he has been the owner of the paper comparatively few years, he has gained a prominent place among the people of Steele county.

Our subject was born in the suburbs of Indian- apolis, Marion county, Indiana, June 21, 1865. The Allen family has been in America several genera- tions, the grandfather of our subject, Joseph Allen, sailing from England during the early days, and settling in Virginia. He later moved to Columbus, Ohio, and finally located on a tract of land south of Indianapolis, Indiana. There were but two log cabins in the vicinity at that time, and he was a pioneer of the days of Daniel Boone. His death occurred in 1878, and the estate is still in the hands of his children. Our subject was the only child born to William and Mary ( Constable ) Allen. At the age of twelve years he started for himself with two dollars in his pocket, and worked at odd jobs in Des Moines, Iowa, for some time, and then learned telegraphy under his uncle at Panora, Iowa. He went to North Dakota, in September, 1883, and worked at farm labor, and the following year ac- repted a position as operator for the Northern Pa- cific Railroad at Cooperstown, North Dakota, and in 1886 entered the printing office of the "Griggs County Courier." He established his first news- paper, the "Tower City Journal," in October, 1890, and two years later erected the first building in En- derlin, North Dakota, and edited the "Enderlin Journal." He purchased his present paper in June, 1895, and has prospered in that work. He erected his present fine building and a handsome res- idence three years later, and now has a well-equip- ped plant for newspaper work and job printing. "The Hope Pioneer" was established in 1882, by the Red River Land Company, and that building, to- gether with the hotel Hope House, and a general store, at one time constituted the business portion of Hope, North Dakota. Mr. Allen has recently in- vested in a valuable farm comprising a half-section adjoining the town on the east, and is enjoying a comfortable competence.

Our subject was married in 1893. to Miss Emma C. Loomis, a native of Prairie du Chene, Wisconsin.

Mr. Allen is prominent in secret society circles, and holds membership in the following orders : Knights of Pythias, D. O. K. K., and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the grand lodge in the last named order. He is a young man of ex- ceptional ability, and is one of the rising citizens of North Dakota. Politically he is a Republcan, and is firm for the principles of his party.

HON. BORGER C. HALLUM, a prominent business man and extensive land owner of Richland county, makes his home in Abercrombie, and has been a resident of North Dakota since the early set- tlement of that section. He is a gentleman of broad and enlightened views, and at all times works for the better interests of the village and community.

Mr. Hallum was born in Norway, September 18, 1853, and when but six months of age came to America with his parents and settled in Elgin, Fay- ette county, Iowa. Three years later the family re- moved to Spring Grove, Houston county, Minne- sota, and there our subject was reared to manhood. He received a common-school education and re- mained there until twenty-three years of age, fol- lowing the occupation of a farmer. He went to Dakota in the spring of 1876, and engaged in farm- ing in Cass county for three years, removing from thence to what is now Abercrombie township, Rich- land county. He followed farming there until 1884, when he engaged in the mercantile business in Abercrombie, and now carries one of the largest stocks in the county and is doing a correspondingly large business. He is the owner of fifteen hundred acres of land, most of which is in Eagle township, Richland county.

Mr. Hallum was married in Houston county, Minnesota, in November, 1876, to Miss Sarah J. Bakken, a native of Spring Grove, Minnesota. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hal- lum as follows : Clara, Carl, John, Christena, Sophia, Arthur, Odelie and Benjamin. Mr. Hallum is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Abercrombie, and has filled various important offices in that denomination, and takes an active part in church work. He was elected to the North Da- kota legislature in the fall of 1892, on the Demo- cratic ticket, and served one term. All matters of a public nature are of special interest to Mr. Hallum, and as one of the earliest settlers of Richland county he took an active part in its advancement, and was among the organizers of Eagle township, and chair- man of the town board until he removed to his pres- ent location.

MATHIAS RUNCK, one of the pioneer settlers of Maple River township, Cass county, is success- fully pursuing farming and has been a potent fac- tor in producing solid prosperity of the locality in which he resides. His career has been marked by persistent efforts to advance the interests of those

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for whom he has labored as well as his own interests and he has been rewarded by the accumulation of an extensive and well cultivated tract of land, and the confidence and esteem of his associates.

Our subject was born in Luxemberg, Germany, January 1, 1843, and was a son of Lambert and Elizabeth ( Peshon) Runck, both of whom were natives of the same province in Germany as our subject. His father was an architect and was skilled in his profession, and held a high position. He was employed by the government in planning public buildings and roads. He died in 1865. Our subject had one brother who died in Minnesota, and two sisters, who now reside in Cass county, North Dakota.

Mr. Runck was reared and educated in his native land and followed farming there, and in 1868 came to the United States and located in Winona county, Minnesota, where he worked for one employer eleven years, and then purchased a farm in Waseca county, Minnesota, remaining there until 1882. He pur- chased the farm on which he now resides from the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1880, and after taking up his residence thereon made the first improve- ments and now has a well improved estate consist- ing of eleven hundred and twenty acres of land, and has been remarkably successful in general farming.

Our subject was married in Minnesota, May 18, 1873, to Annie Buchstor, a native of Baden, Ger- many. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Runck, as follows : Rosa, Joseph, John, Annie, the wife of Andrew J. Thamert, a farmer of Pratt, Minnesota, and Nicholas. The family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Runck assisted in the organization of his township, and has served as chairman of the town board since that time, and was also treasurer for some years. In political sentiment he is a Democrat. He is a gentleman of integrity, and his success is well merited.

FRANK J. THOMPSON, a prominent attorney of Fargo, is a man of deep research and careful in- vestigation, and his skill and ability have won him a large and paying practice. Prominence at the bar comes through merit alone, and the high position he has attained attests his superiority.

Mr. Thompson was born in Rockford, Illinois, August 23, 1854. and is a son of Jared C. and Sarah J. (Mason ) Thompson, both natives of New York, During the 'thirties they removed to Michigan, and for thirty years the father was employed as an en- gineer on the Michigan Central Railroad. In 1878 he came to Dakota, and after serving the Northern Pacific Railroad in that capacity for ten years, was transferred to the shops at Dickinson, where he now resides. He has two sons ; Frank J., of this review ; and Fred, also a resident of Dickinson. On both sides ancestors of our subject were soldiers of the Revolutionary war, and were among the minute men who participated in the battle of Lexington. His maternal ancestor was Hugh Mason, who set-

tled in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1634. Ilis paternal grandfather was John Thompson, who died in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1883.

The literary education of our subject was ob- tained in the schools of Marshall and Jackson, Mich- ian, and in the former city he learned the machinist's trade, serving a five years' apprenticeship, but he never followed the same. For two years he en- gaged in teaching music, and in 1876 began the study of law at Jackson, Michigan, with Highee & Gib- son, both well-known attorneys in that state. Soon after his admission to the bar in the spring of 1878 Mr. Thompson came to North Dakota, and located at Fargo, where he opened an office, and has since successfully engaged in practice of his chosen pro- fession. In 1881 he formed a partnership with H. Krogh, but this connection was dissolved in 1892, and he has since been alone.

At Minneapolis, Minnesota, in November, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Thompson and Miss Elmadine Bissonette, a native of Montreal, Canada, and they now have two children : Jeredine and Jack Dacotah. In 1889 Mr. Thompson was elected to the state legislature and was chairman of the judiciary committee of the house. He was ap- pointed assistant attorney-general under Hon. C. A. M. Spencer, and served in that capacity for some time. On attaining his majority he became identi- fied with the Republican party, which he continued to support until 1895, when he became a Populist and is now chairman of the state central committee of that party. He is very prominent in Masonic circles and has taken every degree in the order. He is now secretary of all the state organizations in that fraternity ; was potentate of the Shrine six years ; is now recorder in the same, and also holds those offices in the Scottish Rite bodies. He also belongs to the Benevolent and Patriotic Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the United Commercial Travelers. He has always taken a most active and prominent part in public affairs ; has stumped the state in the interest of his party at different times, and is the author of the resolution introduced into the first legislative assembly by which native-born children of North Dakota are known as "flickertails." He stands high among his professional brethren, and is very popular with all classes of citizens.

PETER O. HEGLIE, an enterprising and influ- ential farmer, residing on section 32 of Wal- cott township, is one of the carly settlers of Rich- land county. He now has a well-improved estate, and is the fortunate possessor of six hundred acres of land. His labors since taking up his residence in Dakota have been crowned with success, and he is regarded as one of the substantial and public- spirited men of that locality.

Our subject was born in Norway, January 5, 1850. He came to America with his parents when he was sixteen years of age, and the family settled in Filmore county, Minnesota, where our subject

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lived at home, on his father's farm, until April, 1878. He then went to Dakota with his wife and three children, and entered a homestead claim to one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. He also took a tree claim, on which is his present home. He has erected substantial buildings, and made such improvements as are to be found on a model farm. He engages in general farming, and his estate evidences the care- ful labors expended on every detail.

Our subject was married in Filmore county, Minnesota, in November, 1874, to Miss Bertha Thompson, a native of Norway. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Heglie, seven of whom are living, and bear the following names : Ole, Ran- dine, Tina, Oscar, Pauline, Ella and Josephine. Two sons and one daughter are deceased ; a son, Julius, died at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Heglie was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1896 on the Republican ticket, and his popularity is best evidenced by the fact that he was elected in the same capacity in 1898. He has held the different township offices in Walcott township, and takes an active part in local affairs. He is an earnest member of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church.

JOHN NELSON. This gentleman, of whom a portrait appears on another page, is acting as reg- ister of deeds of Grand Forks county, to which office he has been twice elected. He is a man of sterling characteristics and is ably and faithfully discharging his official duties and is held in the highest esteem by all with whom he has to do.

Our subject is a native of Ireland, and was born in county Armagh, January 18, 1844, and is a son of David and Alice ( Speer) Nelson, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The parents were farmers by occupation and spent their lives in Ireland. The father died in 1882 and the mother in 1895.

Mr. Nelson is the eldest of three sous, and is the only one in the United States. He was reared and educated in his native isle and spent two years in Armagh College, and then began his business career as clerk in a general store. He emigrated to Amer- ica in 1868, landing at New York, and at once lo- cated in Henry county, Illinois, where he established a mercantile business in Morristown and remained there three years, and then removed to Cambridge in the same county, and there followed farming until he removed to Dakota in 1882. He located in Lar- imore, Grand Forks county, when he went to North Dakota, and purchased land and also acted as agent for the Standard Oil Company and the Great North- ern Express Company, and also handled wood, ice, and general dray business. He continued thus en- gaged until his election to his present office as reg- ister of deeds in 1896. His re-election in 1898 is best evidence of his efficient work and popularity.

Ou subject was married, in 1868, to Miss Char- lotte E. McIlroy, a native of Ireland. Five sons and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, named as follows: Clement W., Horace C.,

Allice A., Albert T., Henry R. and Vance W. R., all of whom are living. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is an active partici- pant in public affairs of local importance, and while a resident of Larimore acted as alderman for ten years and was also a member of the school board. Since attaining his citizenship in the United States he has been identified with the Republican party politically, and is stanch for his party principles.

HERBERT F. CHAFFEE, president and man- ager of the Amenia & Sharon Land Company, of Amenia, Cass county, North Dakota, is a young man of exceptional business ability and successfully con- ducts the affairs of the extensive firm of which he is the head. He has resided in Dakota many years, and is held in the highest esteem by his fellow men.

Our subject was born in Sharon, Connecticut, November 20, 1865, and was a son of Eben W. and Amanda (Fuller) Chaffee, a sketch of whose lives appear elsewhere in this volume. He was reared in his native place and attended the public schools of that city, and Williston Seminary at East Hamp- ton, from which institution he graduated in 1885. He went to Dakota in 1881, and returned to Con- necticut to complete his studies. He was book- keeper and assistant treasurer of the company with which he is now connected, and at his father's death in 1892, assumed the position of president and man- ager.

· Our subject was married in Manchester, Iowa, December 21, 1887, to Miss Carrie T. Toogood, who was born in Iowa, and was a daughter of the late George Toogood, of Manchester. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chaffee, named as follows: Eben W., Dorothy A., Herbert L., and Esther C. The youngest child died in Amenia, North Dakota, January 10, 1899, aged nearly four years. Mr. Chaffee is a man of broad mind and keeps pace with the times in all public affairs, and is earnest in his efforts to advance the community in which he resides, and strengthen good local gov- ernment, and is deservedly popular with the people.

EBEN W. CHAFFEE, deceased. The exten- sive interests of the Amenia & Sharon Land Com- pany were conducted by this gentleman many years with eminent success, he being one of the organizers of the company and associated with its movements as president and manager till his death. He was widely and favorably known throughout Cass county, and was a man of much business fore- thought and excellent characteristics, gaining a host of friends by his charity and benevolence.

Our subject was born in Sharon, Connecticut, January 19, 1824. His life was spent in Connecti- cut, where he was engaged in farming and survey- ing until 1877, when he settled permanently in North Dakota. He went to Dakota first in 1875. in which year the Amenia & Sharon Land Company was or-

John Nelson

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ganized, he being one of the promoters of the com- pany. This company had originally forty-six sec- tions of land, all of which was located in Cass county, and Mr. Chaffee was treasurer and state agent, and had sole charge of the firm's business.

Our subject was married in Sharon, Connecti- cut, to Amanda Fuller, a native of that city. Three children were born to this union, one of whom died in childhood. The daughter, Florence, became the wife of John H. Reed, and died in 1881. The son, Herbert F., assumed charge of the business upon the death of his father, and a sketch of his life appears also in this work.

Mr. Chaffee was stricken with paralysis and died suddenly, October 19, 1892. He was a member of the state constitutional convention, and was promi- nent in public affairs, and an exemplary citizen. He was an earnest supporter of religious work, and was a member of the Congregational church of Amenia.

RICHARD POLLOCK, a prosperous and in- telligent farmer of Cass county, resides on section 9 of Pontiac township. He was born on a farm in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 1850.

Our subject's father, William Pollock, was a native of Ireland, and was there married to Margaret McSherry, also a native of that country. Our sub- ject remained at home until after he attained his ma- jority, and then located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he engaged in the horse business, and con- tinued there six years, and then removed to Battle Creek. While residing there he made a trip to Scotland, purchasing four head of fine horses, two Shires, one Clyde, and one Coach, and continued in business in Michigan till 1889. In that year he went to Pontiac township, Cass county, North Dakota, and there settled on a farm, on which he has since resided, and has met with success in general farming.

Our subject was married in Battle Creek, Mich- igan, in 1889, to Miss Mary E. Moore. Mrs. Pol- lock was born in Michigan, in 1860. Mr. Pollock is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In political sentiment he is a Democrat, and keeps pace with the times in all public matters. He is widely and favorably known as a farmer and wor- thy citizen.

WILLIAM M. JONES, county auditor of Ran- som county, is one of the early settlers of North Dakota. He has passed through the experiences of pioneer life, and has surmounted the difficulties which beset the early settler, and is among the pros- perous men of that region. He has engaged in various business enterprises, and is a gentleman of much ability and practical labor.

Our subject was born in Caswell county, North Carolina, March 4, 1850, and was the third in a family of seven children born to James W. and Martha J. (Mims) Jones. The mother died in 1892,

and the father in 1899, leaving our subject the only survivor of the family. The father owned a tobacco plantation of about two hundred acres, and on that farm our subject was reared and remained until he was about eighteen years of age, when he entered a general store at Yanceyville, clerking there three years. He was next employed in the same position at Marion, Alabama, and then went to Louisville, Ken- tucky, where he engaged four years in the commis- sion business. He closed his business in 1879, and went to Fargo, North Dakota. The town then num- bered about one thousand inhabitants. Our subject was established in the confectionery and fruit busi- ness for two years, during which time he located a homestead tree claim, and pre-emption in the vicinity of Lisbon, then unplatted. He improved his farm, and sustained a residence there, but his business kept him in Fargo most of the time until 1883, when he engaged in farming. He gave up farming in 1888, and set up in the mercantile business at Buttzville, Ransom county, and in 1896 began dealing in real estate in Lisbon. Soon afterward he returned to his native state, and after remaining there about four months returned to North Dakota, since which time he has met with success.

Our subject was married in 1876 to Miss Mary John, of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of five children, as follows: Mary St. J., William M., John P. Ernest J. and L. Inez.

Mr. Jones is a member of the Baptist church, and politically is a Democrat. He assisted in the erec- tion of the first store building in Lisbon, and is one of the gentleman whose life and labors in North Da- kota have been devoted to the better interests of his country.' He was elected to his present position in November, 1898, and is conducting the affairs en- trusted to him with fidelity and increasing popu- larity.

CHARLES E. WILSON, the present well- known and popular sheriff of Cass county, North Dakota, is a native of Connecticut, his birth occur- ring in Hartford, May 14, 1860. His parents were Roswell and Rebecca (Teskey) Wilson, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Connecticut. They spent the greater part of their lives in the Nutmeg state, but both died in Ontario, Canada. To them were born five children, three sons and two daugh- ters, but our subject is the only one of the family living in North Dakota.

The early life of Charles E. Wilson was passed in Connecticut and Buffalo, New York, and at the age of thirteen years he became a resident of Chicago, Illinois, where he finished learning his trade, that of an upholsterer, which he followed there until coming to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1878. Here he was also interested in the furniture trade until 1887, when he became interested in a general business. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man and in his undertakings has met with well-deserved suc- cess.

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In July, 1882, Mr. Wilson led to the marriage altar Miss Ida Seigne, who was born in Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of three daughters who are still living, namely: Addie M., Constance E. and Ellen M. Fraternally Mr. Wilson is identi- fied with Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Since casting his first vote he has affili- ated with the Republican party, and has done all in. his power to advance its interests and has served 011 the county central committee. He was a member of the board of county commissioners from the second district of Cass county for six years, and for the same number of years was a member of the city council of Fargo. In 1896 he was elected sheriff and so ably and acceptably did he fill the office that he was re-elected in 1898 by an increased majority. A trust reposed in him has never been misplaced and he has the entire confidence and respect of his fel- low citizens.

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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 40

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