Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 46

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 46

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Our subject was married, in 1886, to Miss Lela Johnson. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore, as follows: Frank W. and Eileen V. Mrs. Gilmore was born in Illinois, October 4, 1860, and she died in North Dakota, October 14, 1898. She was a lady who was mourned by a host of friends, and was a member of the Congregational church, and an earnest worker in the same, and she was also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr, Gilmore is prominent in the fraternal world and is a thirty-second-degree Mason, and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the last-named order he has served as grand treasurer for five years, and he was a charter member and the first noble grand of Hope Lodge, No. 19, which was organized August 25, 1885. He also holds membership in the' Brother- hood of American Yeomen. In political faith Mr. Gilmore is a Republican.

JOHN O. STRAND. Although this gentle- man is a foreign born resident of Richland county, he has become thoroughly identified with American civilization and progress, and is one of the sub- stantial citizens of Eagle township, wherein he is a large land owner. He has been a resident of Rich- land county since its early settlement, and his farm is one of the well-improved estates of that region.

Mr. Strand was born in Norway, October 30, 1853. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native land, where he continued his residence until 1873, and in the fall of that year came to America. He located in Menom- onie, Dunn county, Wisconsin, and was employed by a large lumber firm, remaining until the spring of 1878, when he went to Richland county, North Dakota. He entered claim to a homestead on sec- tion 2 of Abercrombie township, where he lived until 1896, engaged in farming with marked suc- cess. He purchased the farm on section 30 of Eagle township, where he now resides, in 1896, and is now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of land. He has a set of fine buildings on his farm, and en- joys the comforts afforded by country life, and is engaged in general farming.

Our subject was married in Eau Claire, Wis- consin, November 17, 1877, to Miss Hilda Thomp- son, a native of Muskego, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Strand are the parents of the following chil- dren : (scar, Holbert. Selma, John ()., Jr., Helen, Myrtle, Clarence, Torfend and Inmar. Three chil-

dren died in infancy. Mr. Strand has held the office of supervisor in Abercrombie township, and takes an active interest in matters of local import- ance. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Politically he is a Republican.

HON. HARRY D. HURLEY, residing on sec- tion 33, in township 146, range 49, in Caledonia township, is one of the most extensive farmers and business men of North Dakota, and is widely and favorably known. He is a man of excellent busi- ness qualifications, and whatever enlists his assist- ance is sure of meeting with success. Careful and systematic in all details, the general outcome of all matters is assuredly desirable and profitable. He possesses twenty-three hundred acres of land, and is also president of the H. D. C. & S. Telephone Com- pany. His home is a commodious and handsome structure and in all its appointments bespeaks the culture and refinement of its occupants. A por- trait of Mr. Hurley appears on another page.

Our subject was born in Fultonville, Montgom- ery county, New York, October 3, 1853, and was the elder of two children and only son born to John and Mary (Chamberlain) Hurley. His parents were natives of Ireland, but the mother is not of Irish descent. His father was a brickmaker.

When our subject was but ten years of age he left home and began driving on the canal, and then was engaged as water boy on the train two years, and then became news agent on the train. Follow- ing railroad work, he began at the lowest position and worked himself up, becoming conductor of sleeping and drawing-room cars on the Vanderbilt system. He heard of the wonderful resources of the Red river valley, and in the fall of 1879, in company with A. W. Russell, went to North Da- kota and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and then resumed his work in the east, and in 1882 went again to North Dakota to engage in farming. In the meantime he had purchased an additional one hundred and sixty acres of land, and cultivated the first purchase. He took the first crop from the original purchase in 1881, and the yield was valued at $6,400. This determined his future, and he set- tled to farming in the West. He now has one of the best improved estates in the state, and during the working season fifteen men are kept busy, while seven private grain storehouses are put in each year. His buildings are of the best, and his resi- dence is equipped with hot-water heat, telephone, all modern conveniences, and is a model in finish and furnishings.

The H. D. C. & S. Telephone Company, of which he is president, was organized in 1898, and has thirty miles of country line, and local exchange at Hillsboro of one hundred and thirty telephones.

Mr. Hurley was married, in 1893. to Miss Theo- dora Miller, a native of Philadelphia. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hurley, named Al-

HON. H. D. HURLEY.

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ton B. Mr. Hurley is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has passed the degree ot the Mystic Shrine. He is venerable master of Hillsboro Lodge of Perfection, and in political sentiment is a Repub- lican, and an earnest worker for party principles. He participated in the county seat fight, and has since taken an active part in public affairs, and served as a member of the state legislature during the third and fifth sessions of that body. During his first term in office he was a member of the ap- propriation committee, and during second term was a member of the judiciary committee, and chairman of the appropriation committee and taxes and tax laws. He was identified with the prohibition move- ment, and labors for reform in expenditures of pub- lic funds. He introduced the bill making Lincoln's birthday a state holiday.

JOHN E. INDERGAARD. Foremost among the pioneers to settle in Foster county, North Da- ota, must be mentioned John E. Indergaard. Mr. Indergaard is a native of Norway, where he was born on a farm January 14, 1862.

The father of our subject, Elling Indergaard Jemne, was a farmer, and his grandfather, Jergan Eastman, was a blacksmith and farmer, while his grandfather, Ole Jemne, was a farmer. Knute Jemne, uncle of our subject, was a soldier in the Norwegian army. In a family of eight children, John E. Indergaard was the third in order of birth. He grew to manhood in his native land and attended the public schools until he was twenty years old. He then came to America, and landing in New York, proceeded west to Minnesota. There he worked for one year on a farm, and then came to Foster county in 1883, and took up government land. He put up a claim shanty, ten by ten feet, and started to improve his land. At that time he owned one team of oxen, five or six dollars in cash, and from these humble beginnings he has built up his present com- fortable fortune. He worked for others a good por- tion of the first two years. In 1885 he raised a crop of wheat of only ten acres, and this yielded him seventeen bushels to the acre. He lived the life of a bachelor for eight years, and in that time had made substantial improvements on his land. He sold his farm in 1892, and located on section IO, township 147, range 66, where he still lives.

In 1894 Mr. Indergaard married Miss Bertha Rooldson, daughter of Sivert Rooldson, one of the earliest settlers of North Dakota. Mrs. Indergaard was born in Norway, and came to America with her parents when she was but one year old. Mr. and Mrs. Indergaard are the parents of the following children : Elling M., Sidney E., and Edna R., all natives of North Dakota.

Mr. Indergaard has been a very successful farmer, and is now the owner of about eight hun- dred acres of excellent land, five hundred acres of which are in a good state of cultivation. His estate is furnished with a valuable set of farm buildings, 15

with ample machinery, and is well stocked. In 1891 his farm produced seven thousand bushels of grain. Mr. Indergaard takes an active interest in polit- ical matters. He is a Republican in political faith. He is a valued citizen, and has helped to develop the natural wealth of Foster county in no small de- gree. He has witnessed the marvelous changes 'that have taken place in North Dakota, and his in- fluence has always been directed to the best interests and advancement of the state and county.

JAY H. MALTBY, the efficient and popular postmaster of Milnor, and editor and proprietor of "The Sargent County Teller," is one of the rising young men of that region. He occupies a prominent place in the minds of his fellows, and has gained his position by carnest and honest efforts.

Mr. Maltby was born in Adams Center, Jefferson county, New York, July 30, 1868. When he was but four years of age he moved with his parents to Detroit, Minnesota, where he was reared to man- hood, and educated in the common schools, and at the high school at Minneapolis. After completing his studies he entered the office of the "Detroit Record," where he learned the printer's trade, and was also employed in the office of the "Fergus Falls Journal." He became foreman and assistant editor of the "Detroit Record," and spent twelve years in the two offices above named. He went to Milnor, Sargent county, North Dakota, in 1891, and pur- chased "The Sargent County Teller," since which time he has been editor and proprietor of that paper. The circulation of the paper steadily increases, and it is one of the leading papers of that locality. It is Republican in politics and stands firmly for the prin- ciples of that party. Mr. Maltby is an able editor, and "The Sargent County Teller" is among the bright exchanges of the newspaper world.

Our subject was married in Minneapolis, Min- nesota. November 19, 1890, to Miss Alice Hostet- ter, who was born in Filmore county, Minnesota. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maltby, as follows: Dexter J., Allen J., Violet E., Belva A., and George D. Mr. Maltby is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Modern Woodmen of America, and American Yeoman. He was appointed postmaster of Milnor in 1897, and assumed the duties of the office July 15, of that year. He takes an active part in the local government, and has been village clerk of Milnor for three years. He is public-spirited and progressive and well merits his success.

THE CASS COUNTY STATE BANK of Casselton, Cass county, North Dakota, was organized March 1, 1891, with an author- ized capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. The following officers were chosen: Pres- ident, E. H. Paine : vice-president, Wallace Grosve- nor : cashier, A. H. Paine, and directors, Wallace.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Grosvenor, R. M. Pollock, J. H. Gale, E. H. Paine, and A. H. Paine. At the end of the first year Mr. E. H. Paine was succeeded by John C. Hunter, as president, and W. C, Macfadden was chosen cash- mer. Mr. Hunter continued as president two years, and Mr. Macfadden the same length of time as cashier, when Robert Riddell, now of Minneapolis, was appointed president, and N. M. Young, cashier. Mr. Grosvenor has continued as vice-president throughout the life of the institution. The present board of directors is R. Riddell, N. K. Hubbard, L. C. Hornell, W. Grosvenor and N. M. Young.

NICHOLAS M. YOUNG, the active manager of the above institution, is a native of Canada, and was born in Ontario, February 6, 1860. He was a son of Richard and Jane ( Laton) Young, both natives of Canada, and his father was a lumberman and passed his life there.

Mr. Young was reared and educated in Canada, attending the Clinton Collegiate Institute of Clin- ton, Ontario. He then taught school three years, and in 1881 went to North Dakota, and located at Drayton, and remained there and at Pembina and Grafton for some time in the newspaper business. He was associated with Frank M. Winship, in pub- Jishing the "Walsh County News," and was manager of the "Pembina Pioneer Express" two years. He removed to Fargo in 1884, and began the study of law with Boyesen & Phelps, and completed the course with S. B. Bartlett, of Casselton. He was admitted to the bar in 1887, and then spent two years when R. M. Pollock in the practice of his pro- fession. He went to West Superior, Wisconsin, in 1890, and engaged in the real estate and loan business three years, and then located in Casselton in 1894, since which time he has resided there.

Our subject was married in 1890 to Ellen L. Davis, a native of Vermont. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Young, who bears the name of Lucien F. Mr. Young is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has passed the degrees of the Com- mandery, Knights Templar and Mystic Shrine. He is a Republican in political sentiment, but does not enter actively into party matters, lending his in- fluence for good local government. He is a gentle- man of excellent business capabilities, and progres- sive, and the institution whose affairs he conducts is under careful and approved business methods, and he is highly respected as a business man and citizen.

CHRISTIAN J. JOHNSON, owner of one of the fine farms of Eagle township, Richland county, is a man who commands respect wherever he is known. He is industrious and faithful in his efforts and his labors have brought good results. He makes his home on section 36 of Eagle township, and has been a resident of Richland county nearly twenty years.

Our subject was born in Norway, June 2, 1846. He came to America with his parents in June, 1803,

and settled in Racine county, Wisconsin, on a farm. After about three years the family moved to Da- kota county, Minnesota, where our subject stayed two years and then returned to Wisconsin and re- mained one year in Racine county, working at farm labor. He then went to Menomonie, Dunn county, Wisconsin, and worked at carpenter work for ten years, till the spring of 1880, when he re- moved to Richland county, North Dakota, and en- tered clain to land as a homestead on section 30, in Eagle township. He lived there about eight years, and then purchased the farm where he now resides on section 36, of Eagle township. He has erected substantial buildings and otherwise improved the property, and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He has made a success of farming, and is one of the progressive men of his community.

Our subject was married in Racine county, Wisconsin, July 24, 1870, to Miss Esther Thompson, who was also a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of five children, named as follows: Nellie, Anna, Hilda, Amelia, and John. Mr. Johnson takes an active interest in the welfare of his township and county, and has served as a member of the board of supervisors of Eagle town- ship.

CHARLES A. DIGNESS. Among the better class of agriculturists of Traill county, the gentle- man above named is entitled to a foremost rank. He has a pleasant home in section 26 of Garfield township, and has gained a high standing with his associates for his push and energy and active public spirit.

Our subject was born in Solor, Norway, in 1855, and was the second in a family of eleven children, born to Svenung and Maren ( Bredesen) Digness. He remained in Norway until 1864 and then emi- grated to America and settled at Decorah, Winne- shiek county, Iowa, and there attended business col- lege and gained a good knowledge of the English language and the principles of commercial life. In 1878 he went to Traill county, North Dakota, and entered claim to three hundred and twenty acres of government land. He now has one of the best im- proved farms of the locality and is thoroughly versed in the most approved methods of its operation. He has a comfortable residence erected in 1897, and a fine barn with sheds and shelter for over thirty head of stock and seventy tons of hay. The farm is well arranged in the way of improvements and he has made a success of general farming.

Our subject was married in 1883 to Mina Caro- lina Jensen. Three daughters and one son have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Digness, as follows : Selma, Anna, Cornelia and Agnar. Mr. Digness has served as a township officer since the organiza- tion of Garfield township, with the exception of three years, when he served as county commissioner, being chosen for the latter office in 1891 and served

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one term. He was a delegate to the state convention in 1890 on the Republican ticket, and was nominated presidential elector on the Fusion ticket in 1896. He is a leader in township and county affairs, and well merits his enviable reputation.

CHARLES M. LOVETT. An honorable posi- tion among the farmers of township 143, range 65, in Stutsman county, is willingly accorded this gen- tleman by his associates. He occupies one of the well-developed farms of the county, and is greatly respected in the community where he has spent the past eighteen years.

Our subject was born in Maine in 1845. The family has been in America since colonial times, and formerly lived in the vicinity of Salem. His father, Richard N. Lovett, was a ship carpenter and builder, and in later years followed farming to some extent. Israel Lovett, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a sea captain, as many of his forebears had been before him, and the grandfather of our subject, Rob- ert Lovett, was a millwright. He was also a lieu- tenant in the war of 1812. Our subject's mother, Sarah V. Martin before her marriage, was a native of Maine, as were also her parents. She was raised in her native state, and her family was closely identified with the sea, two of her brothers being sea captains and her father a ship builder.

Mr. Lovett was the fourth in a family of six chil- dren, and was raised in Maine, spending the greater part of his time till early manhood on the farm. He was accorded a good education in the common and higher schools, attending Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Bates University. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted in the navy and was assigned to the United States ship Casco, a light draft torpedo ship, where he saw almost two years' service. He was at the battle of Fort Fisher, and was among the first to enter Richmond after its evacuation, going in small boats to clear the way. This little flotilla entered Richmond on the morning of the 3d of April, 1865, accompanied by Admiral Porter and Abraham Lincoln. The vessel on which he was doing duty was ordered to guard the Potomac when Booth was trying to escape. Our subject was dis- charged from the service in June, 1865, and returned to his home. He re-entered the school-room, but his eyesight and health soon began failing and he was forced to abandon college. He then spent a year and a half at home, traveled some, and in 1867 went to California, where he engaged in teaching and merchandising. He taught at Nevada City, Ophir, San Luis Obispo, Lincoln, Arroyo Grande and other places, was the Republican nominee for superintendent of schools of San Luis Obispo coun- ty in 1877, and altogether put in about sixteen years teaching in that state. He holds a teacher's life diploma of California, and was for many years a member of her examining boards.

His health further failing, he went to North Dakota in 1881, and took government land in Stuts-

man county-a homestead, pre-emption and tree claim. Like many others, he put up a shanty and sod barn and started in with a team of oxen. His first crop of wheat was a poor yield, but oats aver- aged nearly ninety bushels per acre and were sold for eighty-five cents per bushel on the place. In 1882 he built a substantial house and other build- ings on the homestead where he has since resided. He has now six hundred and forty acres of land with comfortable improvements ; excellent water, a fine grove of trees, a herd of cattle, plenty of horses and farm machinery and is called a successful farmer.

Mr. Lovett feels he has been much hampered in the race of life by being so much of the time an in- valid.

The subject of our sketch was married, in 1879, to Miss Emma C. Powell, a native of Oregon. Mrs. Lovett's father, Silas Powell, was an American of German descent and a farmer by occupation, and one of the pioneers of Oregon.

Her grandfather, Joab Powell, was an eminent Baptist divine.

Mr. and Mrs. Lovett have been the parents of the following children, the eldest of whom was born in California and the younger children in North Da- kota: Homer S., Laura G., Edna J., Waldo M., Harriet P. and Earl.

Mr. Lovett is a gentleman who keeps abreast of the times in all matters of a public nature and is written considerably for the press upon educational and political topics and is well equipped on public questions. He is at present identified with the re- form principles of the Populist party, but was a Republican prior to 1896, changing his views when he believed his party had abandoned its principles.

He is a pleasant gentleman to meet and highly esteemed in the community where he lives.

JAMES McGURREN, one of the oldest set- tlers of Cass county, has prospered as an agri- culturist and is now residing on his fine farm in sec- tion 20, Casselton township. His possessions have been acquired by dint of honest efforts, and he has gained an enviable station as a citizen of intelli- gence and enterprise.

Our subject is a native of Ireland, and was born in county Tyrone, November 1, 1836. His parents, John and Margaret (Murphy ) McGurren, were natives of Ireland, and the father died there when our subject was but three years of age. The mother and stepfather came to America and died in this country.

James McGurren was reared in Ireland as a farmer until 1857, when he emigrated to the United States and settled in Herkimer county, New York, and remained there until 1861. He then enlisted in the Ninety-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry as a member of Company G, and served in that company and regiment four years, participating in the following battles: Second Bull Run, Freder-

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AND BIOGRAPHY.

icksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Antietam, Wilderness, thirty days' siege of Petersburg, Wel- don's Road, and in the latter engagement he was captured and held a prisoner six months in Libby, Salsbury, North Carolina, and Danville, Virginia. He was wounded at Gettysburg and Weldon's Road and in front of Petersburg, and soon after his release from prison was mustered out of the service, after a brave and loyal service. He was promoted three times while in active service, first to be sergeant, second, orderly or first sergeant, third, first lieutenant, and was commissioned cap- tain, but did not muster in. He then returned to New York and lived there until taking up his resi- dence in North Dakota, in 1878. He settled on the farm where he now resides in that year, taking one quarter-section of land as a homestead. He now owns an entire section, and is among the sub- stantial men of his calling.

Our subject was married, in New York, in 1868, to Julia Drum, a native of that state. Eleven chil- dren, six sons and five daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGurren, all of whom are liv- ing. Mr. McGurren has served as school and town treasurer, and is active in local public affairs. He is a member of the Catholic church. In political sentiment he is a Democrat, and is strong in his convictions.

HON. NATHAN UPHAM, of Grafton, ex- register of deeds of Walsh county, and the first man to serve in that capacity in the county, deserves es- pecial mention as being one of the leading men who helped to organize and execute many enterprises and to assist in the work of bringing order out of chaos in the early days of Walsh county and North Dakota. He is well known throughout the state and the Northwest.

Nathan Upham was born in Nova Scotia, No- vember 24, 1857. His parents, Henry and Char- lotte (Peppard) Upham, were natives of Nova Scotia, where the father was superintendent of pub- lic instruction for fifteen consecutive years. He was a graduate of a Boston college and his parents were among the pilgrims. Our subject"s grandfather was a sea captain and secured a large grant of land in Nova Scotia. In 1881 Henry C. Upham, the father of our present subject, came to Dakota and located at Acton on the Red river, then the only town in this region. He soon after went to Grafton and in the same year, 1881, started the "Walsh County Times." The next year he purchased the "News" and consolidated the "News" and the "Times," which he continued to publish until 1889.

The paper was Republican in politics and the or- gan of the party. That year he sold the paper to Mr. Bates and retired from active business. He died in 1889. Of his six sons and three daughters, four sons are now living. On son died in Manila, hav- ing gone there as a member of Company C, First North Dakota Volunteers.

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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 46

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