Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 45

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 45

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Our subject was marriedin Trempeleau county, Wisconsin, to Miss Martha Lawson, a native of Nor- way. Mrs. Hestdalen died in Eagle township, Sep- tember 12, 1897. She was the mother of eight chil- dren, three of whom died in infancy. The surviv- ing children are named as follows : Lars, Eda, Guast, George and Helen. Mr. Hestdalen married Eda Olson Vik, in Eagle township, in July, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Hestdalen are the parents of one child, who bears the name of Rudolph. Mr. Hestdalen takes an active part in local affairs and has been a member of the board of supervisors and school di- rector.

GILBERT LA DU, register of deeds of Ran- som county, is one of the early settlers of North Da- kota. He has been interested in various business enterprises and is a gentleman of marked business ability and well qualified for the important com- mission which he is at present filling. He is well known as a worthy citizen and faithful officer.

Mr. LaDu was born in New York, June 26, 1847, and was the fifth in a family of eight children born to Brinckerhoff and Susan (Lamerson) LaDu, the former of French-German extraction and the latter of French-English. Our subject engaged in farm- ing until 1871, during which time he completed his education by a year's work at Fairfield Seminary, and also taught school two years. He took land in Lac-qui Parle county, Minnesota, in 1871, and soon

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afterwards established in the drug business with a partner. After one year he became sole proprietor and conducted the business for about three years. He began railroad work in 1876 and is an expert ac- countant. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1881, as ticket agent for the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Company, and in 1883 went to Lisbon, Ransom county, in the capacity of book- keeper for a real estate firm, with whom he was as- sociated until 1886, when he formed a partnership with Edward S. Ellis and dealt in real estate and loan business. He withdrew from the partnership in 1888 and the following year was elected clerk of district courts and served three years, since which time he has been deputy register of deeds of Ran- som county.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Flora A. Squier. Mr. and Mrs. LaDu are the parents of three children, named as follows: Edith G., Elva A. and Viola S. Mr. LaDu, aside from the offices above mentioned, has served as treasurer and county audi -. tor, having been associated with county affairs for the past ten' years, and has served the public longer than any man in the court house at present. He has also been city treasurer and a member of the local school board. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has passed the degrees of the Knights Templar and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite. Politically he is a Republican.

CHARLES W. PORTER. This gentleman stands in a foremost place among the public officials of La Moure county, North Dakota. He has twice been called upon to serve as county treasurer, and is a man of practical business ability, and enjoys the confidence of the people among whom he has chosen to reside since the early days of the settle- ment of North Dakota.

Mr. Porter was born on a farm in McHenry county, Illinois, March 4, 1858, and was the second in a family of six children, three sons and two daughters, five of whom are now living. His father, Thomas W. Porter, was born in England, and was one of the early settlers of McHenry county, Illi- nois, where he was married to Miss Julia Roper, who was also a native of England.

Our subject was educated in the district school near his home and assisted on his father's farm un- til 1880, in which year he went to North Dakota, then a territory, and soon afterward returned to Illi- nois. He again went to Dakota in 1881 and settled in La Moure county and filed claim to the southeast quarter of section 18, township 136, range 63, since which time he has followed farming, and has met with eminent success. He is now the possessor of one and a half sections of land and he has added valuable improvements to his property.

Mr. Porter returned to his home in Illinois in 1883, and while there he was married to Miss Mary Tanner, a native of Illinois, who was born in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been the parents of three

children, as follows: Emma, Grace and Harvey. Mr. Porter was elected county treasurer in 1884, and served two years, and in September, 1898, he was ap- pointed to the same position to fill an unexpired term, and in November of that year he was elected to that office, which he at present holds. He is an efficient officer and commands the respect and esteem of the people. During territorial times he was appointed by Governor Ordway as a member of the first board of county commissioners. Politically he is a Repub- lican and is a man who keeps pace with the times. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of Unit- ed Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. He and family attend the Presbyterian church.

OLE E. HEADLAND. For over a quarter of a century this gentleman has been identified with the farming interests of Stanley township, Cass county, and has acquired a comfortable competence and a pleasant home, and gained the confidence and esteem of his associates. He came to America in search of a home and advantages for a young man, and his fine farm is evidence of his prosperity and thrift. He has a thorough knowledge of his calling and has aided materially in the development of that re- gion. His home is in section 2, and he is engaged in general farming.

Our subject was born in Norway, June 1, 1841, and resided in his native land until 1875, when he came to America and landed in New York, in May of that year. He went from there direct to Dakota, and entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land as a pre-emption, and has since resided thereon. He has increased his acreage, and is now the owner of a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, the improvements of which he has placed there, and they include a good residence, barn and outbuild- ings, and all the machinery and conveniences of modern farming.

Our subject was married in Norway, in June, 1873, to Miss Bertha Berdal, who was also a native of Norway. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Headland, named as follows : Ella, Gertie, Andrew, Gertina, Hannah G., Ada N., Edwin H., Jensene M., Adolph J. and Oscar B. Adolph died at the age of eleven and a half years. Mr. Head- land is active in public affairs, and has served as a member of the school board for several years. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

WILLIAM J. MILLIGAN is well known as an early settler and influential citizen of Steele county, North Dakota. He is a man of good business tact, and has met with success as grain buyer, and is the representative in the city of Hope for the St. An- thony & Dakota Elevator Company.

Our subject was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, April 15. 1854, and was a son of William and Alice (Taggart) Milligan, both of whom were

WILLIAM J. MILLIGAN.

MRS. M. A. MILLIGAN.

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natives of county Antrim, Ireland. His parents were married in America, and six children were born to them, our subject being the second child and oldest son. He removed with lus parents to Ford county, Illinois, when about nine years of age, and remained with his father on the farm there until about twenty-two years of age, when he learned the blacksmith's trade. He followed the trade about one and a half years, and April 10, 1883, went to Hope, North Dakota, and soon began work at his trade in Colgate, Steele county, and erected the first blacksmith shop in that town. He disposed of his shop in August, and in the fall worked in the har- vest field and then returned to Illinois for his wife. He returned to Hope, North Dakota, in January, 1884, and for four years worked at various occu- pations, and then began grain buying for the com- pany with which he is now associated. He was located in Colgate for about three years, and was then placed in charge of the business at Hope. He was postmaster of Hope from 1891-94, and was again tendered the office, but refused, on account of party sentiment, although supported by members of both political parties. During the early days many amusements were indulged in to while away the time, and Mr. Milligan was a member and cap- tain of a base ball nine during the summer of 1885, known as the Hope Blackstockings. The team suc- cessfully competed with all amateur teams of the state.

Mr. Milligan was married in 1882 to Miss Mary A. Warner, a native of Ford county, Illinois. Mrs. Milligan is the present postmaster of Hope, North Dakota. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Milligan, as follows : Myrtle M., Edgar, Carrie, Gene, Bert and Mamie. Their many friends will be pleased to find a portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Milligan on another page. Mr. Milligan is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the blue lodge and lodge of perfection in the Ma- sonic fraternity. He is a stanch Democrat in political faith and advocates prohibition.

NELS M. BERSETH. Among the better class of agriculturists, the young man whose name heads this personal history is entitled to prominent men- tion. He possesses many estimable traits of char- acter, is endowed with activity, persistence, and a good capacity for well-directed labor, and has met with marked success in his vocation. He is keenly alive to the interests of his community, and is highly esteemed by his associates. He owns a pleas- ant estate in Eagle township, Richland county, and makes his home there on section 14.

Our subject was born in Norway, October 30, 1869, and was a son of Mickel Berseth, a resident of Richland county. In 1872 when he was about two years of age, he came to America with his parents, and the family settled near Northfield, Minnesota, where the mother died in 1875. His father removed the family to Richland county, North

Dakota, in the summer of 1877, and settled on sec- tion 14 of Eagle township. 'There our subject grew to manhood, and was educated in the common schools, and attended one year at Concordia College, in Morehead, Minnesota. He has followed farming since completing his studies, and is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land, on which he has good improvements, and is gaining a compe- tence for future years.

Mr. Berseth was married in Eagle township, Richland county, February 14, 1899, to Miss Mary Stomprud, daughter of Frederick Stomprud. Mrs. Berseth was born in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, January 1, 1874. Both our subject and wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and are highly respected in their community. Mr. Ber- seth takes an active part in local, state and national public affairs and has been a member of the board of supervisors for two years, chairman of the school boad and clerk of the school board. He has been a member of the school board since twenty-one years old. Politically he is a Republican.

ALBERT W. WEDMAN. Among the best class of agriculturists, whose fine estates evidence the present solid prosperity of Stutsman county, this gentleman is worthy special mention. His farm is well improved, and is one of the best in the western part of the county. He is possessed of practical knowledge of his calling, and every arrangement for the lessening of labor has been supplied, and Mr. Wedman has prospered as a general farmer. He makes his home on section 8, in township 140, range 64.

Our subject was born in Port Washington county, Wisconsin, in 1852, and was a son of Peter and Jane (Evans) Wedman. His father was born in America, and was of Holland descent, and was a soldier in the United States army during the Civil war. The mother of our subject was born and reared in England and came to America when a young girl. His father was a woolen manufac- turer in England and later in New York.

Our subject was the third in a family of seven children, and lived at home on the farm until about fifteen years of age, when the family removed to 'the town near the farm and there our subject re- ceived a common-school education. He left home at the age of twenty years, and worked in the lumber woods in northern Wisconsin at contract work which he followed until 1881. He then went to Jamestown, North Dakota, and entered claim to the northwest quarter of section 8, in township 140, range 64, and erected a dwelling and board barn. His first crop yielded abundantly, and he had a fair start toward his present comfortable circumstances. He now has a farm of six hundred and forty acres and by lease and ownership operates about fifteen hundred acres of land each season. His residence and barn are the largest and most substantial in that vicinity and are of modern design and finish.

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He has an ample supply of machinery, including seven binders, and a twelve-horse-power threshing machine and engine, which latter machine he uses for his own threshing only. He engages in grain raising mostly, but is interested to some extent in the raising of cattle, and now has about forty head. His extensive farm interests claim his entire atten- tion.

Mr. Wedman was married in 1873, to Miss Sylvia Lee, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Wedman are the parents of the following children: Fred, Emma, Mand, Harry, Hiram, George, Mabel, Wes- ley, Elsie, and Vinie. Mr. Wedman is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Polit- ically he is a Republican, and is a man who keeps pace with the times in all public affairs, and is highly respected in his community.

CHARLES H. MITCHELL, one of the brave defenders of the Union during the Civil war and the present popular city treasurer of Fargo, North Da- kota, was born in Norwich, New York, June 8, 1842, and is the only son of Charles H. and Mary (Ryder) Mitchell, also natives of the Empire state, where the father was engaged in practice as a physician and surgeon throughout his active business life. He died in 1842. The grandfather, Henry Mitchell, was also a physician and surgeon of New York state and was a very prominent and influential citizen of his community. He was of English descent.

The subject of this sketch was reared and edu- cated at Norwich and Oxford, New York, and after leaving school commenced the study of medicine, but in 1861, on the opening of the Rebellion, he laid aside all personal interests and enlisted in Company G, Sixty-first New York Volunteer Infantry, of which regiment General Miles was then lieutenant-colonel. Mr. Mitchell was in active service with that com- mand for fourteen months, participating in the bat- tles of Yorktown, Fair Oakes, the seven days' fight the battles of Malvern Hill, White Oaks and a num- ber of smaller engagements, and was then dis- charged on account of disability in 1863, but subse- quently he re-enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Infantry, which was as- signed to the Army of the Southwest. He was cap- tured at Cain River Crossing, Louisiana, and held prisoner for six months, being exchanged in 1864. He was then in active service until the winter of 1865, when he was placed on duty in the reconstruc- tion of the south. Fortunately he escaped unwound- ed, and when finally mustered out returned to his home in New York.

In 1867 Mr. Mitchell went to Chicago, where he remained three years, being engaged in the grocery trade a part of the time and the remainder as an em- ploye in the postoffice. The following two years were passed at Minneapolis, and for seven years he conducted a hotel at Duluth, Minnesota. In 1878 he came to Fargo, North Dakota, and here he has since made his home, conducting a livery, sale and

feed stable and also engaging in farming to some extent.

In 1874 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Mitchell and Miss Eleanore A. Bennett, also a native of New York. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and is now a prominent mem- ber of the Grand Army post of Fargo. As one of its leading, progressive and public-spirited citizens, he has been called upon to serve as alderman of Fargo and in 1898 was elected city treasurer, which office he is now filling in a most commendable manner.

JOEL S. WEISER. One of the busiest, most energetic and most enterprising citizens of Valley City, North Dakota, is Joel S. Weiser, a prominent merchant and business man of that place. He bears in his veins some of the best blood of our early col- onists, being a descendant of Conrad Weiser, of colonial fame, who played an important part in deal- ing with the British and the Indians in the days when our forefathers were striving to free them- selves from the English yoke of oppression, and a man whose deeds were cherished by Washington and those high in authority.

Our subject was born in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, August 31, 1834, and during early life at- tended school and assisted his father on the home farm until eighteen years of age, when he came west. After stopping for about thirty days at Dan- by Station, Du Page county, Illinois, he proceeded to St. Paul, Minnesota, and shortly afterward loca- ted in Shakopee, that state, where he made his home for fifteen years, following the trade of a mason.

On the 31st of September, 1864, Mr. Weiser enlisted in Company I, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was at once ordered to Memphis, Tennessee, where the regiment was on camp duty until the middle of November, when they moved to Nashville, going through Kentucky on the way. After taking part in the two-days' engagement at Nashville, they followed Hood to Pulaski, Tennes- see, and then turned to the right, passing through Clifton, on the Cumberland river, on their way to Mississippi. During the march they were engaged in fighting bushwhackers. On the morning of Jan- uary 17, 1865, they arrived in Eastport, Mississippi, where they went into camp and remained three weeks, during which time they were constantly an- noyed by bushwhackers. They next pushed for- ward to Vicksburg, where they camped five days and then proceeded to New Orleans, where they em- barked on a steamer for Dauphin island. After re- maining there for about four weeks they went up the Perdido river and on through the pines to Span- ish Fort, to which they laid siege and captured April 9. On the 11th they marched towards Montgom- ery and Selma to destroy the rebel works, but on their arrival found they had been taken by Wilson's cavalry regiment. After camping at Selma three days they went to Marion, where the regiment re-

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mained until the close of the war. Returning home they were mustered out August 24, 1865.

Mr. Weiser continued his residence in Shakopee, Minnesota, until 1870, when he removed to St. Paul, and was there engaged in contracting for a period of four years. Later he lived on a farm in Washington county, Minnesota, twelve miles east of St. Paul, for three and a half years, during which time he followed farming, and in the fall of 1877 came to Valley City, where he has since made his home. He erected the second house in the village, known as the Northern Pacific House, which was burned to the ground April 25, 1898. In the spring of 1878 he embarked in general merchandising at this place, and is now the oldest merchant in years of continuous business in the city.

On the Ioth of May, 1854, Mr. Weiser was uni- ted in marriage with Miss Louisa Clever, of Berks county, Pennsylvania, by whom he has had eleven children, six still living, one son and five daughters, three sons and two daughters being now deceased. The youngest daughter, Lillian, was the second white child born in Barnes county, and is now teaching in the public schools of Valley City. The son, Jolin, is in the store with his father.

Mr. Weiser has been prominently identified with public affairs during his residence in this state. He was a member of the territorial council under Gov- ernor Church, also of the second assembly of the state legislature under Governor John Burke, now of Minnesota. During his career in Bismarck he was appointed watchman of the constitutional con- vention. He was the first treasurer of Barnes coun- ty, being first appointed by Governor Howard and later elected to that position for two terms, serving in all five years. He was also mayor of Valley City for four years, and alderman and member of the school board for years. He was given the honor of christening the city in which he now lives, and has borne a very active and prominent part in her up- building and prosperity. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church and is an honored member of the Grand Army post. In business affairs he has met with a well deserved success during his residence here, and he has also won the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens and of all with whom he has come in contact, either in public or private life.

OLE. N. HEM, register of deeds of Traill county, is among the popular and influential public officials of that county. He has resided in Hillsboro for the past four years, but previous to that time was a well-known and prosperous business man of Portland. He attends strictly to the duties of his office, and is efficient, thorough, and a man in whom the people repose confidence.

Our subject was born in Christiansands Stift, Norway, June 16, 1857, and was the oldest in a fam- ily of eight children, born to Nels and Guro ( Hem) Sundvall, both of whom are deceased. The mother died when our subject was twelve years of age.

Mr. Hem worked at farm labor and attended the Military College, and at the age of twenty-two years, after completing his education, he came to America and worked a short time in Swift county, Minnesota, and later entered a hardware store in Benson. He went to Traill county, North Dakota, May 13, 1882, and worked in a hardware store in Portland, and in the early part of 1884, assumed the management of the lumber business now con- ducted under the firm name of the Beidler & Rob- inson Lumber Company. He was elected to his present office in 1896 and then removed his family to Hillsboro.

Our subject was married, in 1883, to Miss Amelia H. Engeland, a native of Norway. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hem, as follows: Nils, deceased, Hans, Gina, Ida, Otto, Effie, Alfha and William McK. Mr. Hem served as mayor of Portland and also treasurer while a resi- dent of that place, and has participated in public affairs wherever he has resided. He is a man of the best of character, unassuming, and earnestly de- voted to his work, and his popularity is best evi- denced by the fact that he was returned to the office of register of deeds of Traill county by general vote. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Wood- men, of America, and Ancient Order of United Work- men. In political faith he is a Republican and at- tends the county and state conventions of his party and is firm in his convictions.

FRANK N. GILMORE. The financial stand- ing of Hope, in Steele county, North Dakota, has been materially increased by the labors of this gen- tleman since taking up his residence here. He was one of the five original business men of the city, and has always taken an active part in affairs of a public or social nature. He is the possessor of a fine farm near the city, and is a resident of Hope, wherein he is the manager of the lumber yards of the Beidler & Robinson Lumber Company.

Our subject was born in Monroe county, Maine, January 4, 1855. His grandparents on the father's side were from Scotland and England, and were early settlers of Monroe county, Maine, where they followed farming. Our subject and an older sister were the only children born to Josialı and Rosella (Nichols) Gilmore, and our subject is now the only survivor of the family. The father was a general merchant in the town of Monroe, and he died when our subject was but one year of age, after which the mother and two children made their home with the maternal grandparents, and resided in Davenport, Iowa. After about two years they returned to a farm, and there our subject remained until about seventeen years of age. He then learned the manu- facture of sand-paper in Melrose, Massachusetts, and when about twenty-five years of age learned telegraphy and was employed with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad. He joined a North-

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ern Pacific surveying party in the spring of 1882, and traveled through Montana, and in the fall of that year began work for the company with which he is now engaged, at Portland, Traill county, North Dakota, and in the spring of 1883 was placed in charge of the yards at Hope. He is a successful business man, and has gained the confidence of his employers and associates. He is the owner of one half-section of land, and has gained a comfortable competence by earnest efforts.

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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 45

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