Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 50

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 50

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Our subject was born in La Salle county, Illi- nois, August 4, 1866, and was the second child and oldest son born to James P. and Charlotte A. (Mc- Vean) Brown. The Brown family settled in Mas- sachusetts prior to the Revolutionary war, and was connected for generations with the growth of the New England states. The great-grandfather of our sub- ject was Major Micha Brown, of the war of [812, and his son, the grandfather of our subject, then but ten years of age, acted as his aide. Three brothers of the Brown family came to America to- gether, and one of the brothers settled in Massa- chusetts and later located in Vermont, and to this immediate ancestor of our subject three sons were born, as follows: Micah ( Major Brown, of the war of 1812) ; James, a sailor ; and William, who served in the British navy as lieutenant under Lord Nelson. To Micha Brown three sons were born, as follows: James C., the grandfather of our sub- ject, who was a physician, and his father's aide; Cyrus M., a captain in the Civil war ; and Charles R., a farmer. The father of our subject was the owner of the Bank of LaSalle, and our subject as

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a boy was engaged in the banking business, and his education consisted in part of the business methods of the institution of which the father was the head. The family removed to Minneapolis in August, 1884.

Our subject went to Hope, North Dakota, in 1881, near where the father owned land, and in September, 1886, a private bank was established under the name of J. P. Brown & Son, our subject assuming control of the business. This institution was reorganized in 1890, as. a state bank, under the name of "The Steele County Bank," with C. A. Brown, president ; C. D. Brown, vice-president, and James D. Brown, cashier. The bank does a gen- eral banking business and handles real estate, in- surance and loans.

James D. Brown was married, in 1889, to Miss Clara D. Ward, a native of LaSalle county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of two chil- dren, as follows: Malcolm J. and Sylvia D. Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Po- litically he is a Republican, and is a man who keeps abreast of the times on all public issues.

OLE O. VOYEN, deceased, was for many years prior to his death one of the prominent and well-known citizens of Eagle township, Richland county, where he was engaged quite extensively in general farming. The surviving members of his family now reside on the homestead, on which every arrangement has been made for the comfort of the family.

Mr. Voyen was born in Norway. April 12, 1847. He was reared in his native land and came to Amer- ica in 1871, locating in Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, where he resided nine years. He then went to North Dakota and settled in Eagle township, where he engaged in farming until his death.

Our subject was married in his native country, January 3, 1869, to Miss Martha Hogengen, who was born in Norway, November 15, 1846. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Voyen, as fol- lows: Indiana O., Alfred F., Matilda, Clara J., Oscar A., Thomas O. and Alexander William.

Mr. Voyen was kicked by a horse while plowing on his farm, resulting in his death, September 30, 1892. He was an industrious and earnest worker and had gathered about him the comforts of life and left his widow and children a valuable estate. Mrs. Voyen has erected a substantial residence on the farm, and is the owner of five hundred and seventy acres of land, located in Eagle township.

"THE HILLSBORO BANNER" is a newsy twelve-page county paper, issued weekly at Hills- boro, Traill county, under the management and editorship of Alvin Schmitt. Its political affilia- tions are Republican, supporting the present admin- istration and voicing prohibition. The paper was first issued in 1880 by Edward Barker, and after

four years passed into the hands of George E. Bowers, and in 1885 was owned by George E. Bowers and Alvin Schmitt. Mr. Bowers became sole proprietor in 1889 and from him it was ex- changed to the present manager, Alvin Schmitt. A stock company was formed in 1896 and Mr. Schmitt became editor and manager. The "Ban- ner" office is fitted with a three-horse-power gaso- line engine, Babcock press and extensive fixtures and equipmena for job printing, and enjoys a lib- eral patronage in this line. The paper has a wide circulation and is among the best newspapers of the county. A review of the life of its manager and editor will be of interest to the readers of this work.

ALVIN SCHMITT, who is ably conducting the editorship and management of the "Hillsboro Ban- ner," was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, Feb- ruary 13, 1862, and was the fourth child born to William and Barbara ( Metz) Schmitt. He passed the early years of his life in Dodge county and at the age of fourteen years entered a private school and completed an academic course. He entered the office of the "Wisconsin State Register," as an apprentice, at the age of sixteen years, and in 1882 went to Hillsboro, Traill county, North Dakota, where he was employed in "The Hillsboro Banner" office. He has rapidly risen to prominence in news- paper circles and the paper which he controls is suc- cessful financially and otherwise. He is a man of intelligence and true citizenship and highly esteemed throughout that region.

Mr. Schmitt was married, in 1898, to Miss Hat- tie Moll. One daughter has been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Marie Louise.

CHARLES A. SEARLE, one of the representa- tive men of Dickey, La Moure county, North Da- kota, has been a resident of that locality many years, and is closely identified with its business and pub- lic interests. He conducts an extensive business in farm machinery, in company with N. Schmid, with whom he has been associated since 1893.

Mr. Searle was born in Keysville, New York, April 27, 1848, and was the second in a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. His father, John T. Searle, was a native of Vermont, and was a shoemaker by trade, and died in Minne- sota at the age of sixty-seven years. Our sub- ject's mother bore the maiden name of Miller, and was born in Fairhaven, Vermont. She died in Feb- ruary, 1897.

Our subject lived in his native village until thir- teen years of age, when his parents moved to Mil- lersburg, Rice county, Minnesota, where he attended the district school and grew to manhood, his occu- pation for many years being that of a farmer. He went to Cass county, North Dakota, in the spring

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of 1883, and lived in the Red river valley three years, and in 1886 went to La Moure county and entered claim to a homestead near Dickey, on which he conducted farming for a number of years, and in the spring of 1891 established his business in Dickey. He has been successful in every enter- prise and is one of the successful men of the com- munity.

Our subject was married, in Owatonna, Min- nesota, in September, 1876, to Miss Isabelle Whit- son, a native of Canada, who was born in 1858, and was a daughter of William Whitson, who was a cooper by trade. Four children have been born-to Mr. and Mrs. Searle, two of whom were born in Minnesota. They bear the following names: Guy, Earl, Mabel and Clara. Mr. Searle is a loyal citi- zen, and during the Civil war enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, but because of his youth was not permitted to go to the front as a sol- dier, but went as a captain's boy. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in political sentiment is a Republican. . He is a justice of the peace, and is prominent in public affairs in his town and county.

JOHN GREST. A prominent position as a citi- zen and member of the farming community of Leon- ard township, Cass county, is accorded this gentle- man. His life and labors in North Dakota extend over a period of over twenty years, and during this time he has been found standing on the side of right and justice, and manifesting the true spirit of Amer- ican progress in his agricultural pursuits and his connection with the advancement of civilization. He has one of the finest farms of his locality and was one of the first to file claim to land in Leonard township.

Our subject was born in Switzerland, Septem- ber 29, 1848, and was a son of Nicholas and Kath- erine (Tschudi) Grest, who were also natives of Switzerland. His father was a farmer by occupa- tion and emigrated to America in 1856 and settled in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, August 17, where he purchased government land and resided until his death, in 1886. The mother died in 1864 and the father was married a second time, Barbara Fogt becoming his wife. Mr. Grest has two sisters now residing in Winona, Minnesota.

Our subject was reared and educated in Wis- consin and farmed there until 1878, when he went to Cass county and entered a homestead and tree claim in section 8 of Leonard township, where he still' resides. He was the first settler of that town- ship and now owns seven hundred and twenty acres of good land, all of which is under cultivation and thoroughly improved with fine buildings, and is operated skillfully and with the most approved and modern methods, and makes a home of great com- fort and even luxury.

Our subject was married in Wisconsin, in 1871, to Dorothy Schmid, a native of Switzerland. Mrs. Grest emigrated to America in 1867 with her father,

John Schmid, who settled in Wisconsin and later went to North Dakota and died at the home of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Grest are the parents of six living children, named as follows: Nicholas; Mary M., now Mrs. Koehler. John B., Anna B., Kath- erine, and Sula Z. The family are members of the Moravian church and are highly esteemed in their community. Mr. Grest assisted in the organization of his township and has served as a member of the board, and an earnest worker for the upbuilding of his community. Politically he is a Republican and is firm in his convictions.

MYRON H. MORRILL, manager and assistant editor of the "Richland County Gazette," has fol- lowed newspaper work during his entire career, and is a gentleman of excellent education and broad mind. He has been a resident of Wahpeton, Rich- land county, for twenty years, and is one of the up- right and honored citizens of his community.

Our subject was born in Canaan, New Hamıp- shire, May 9, 1860, and is a son of Elisha K. and Susan R. ( Barney) Morrill, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work. When two years of age he removed with his parents to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he resided ten years, after which they moved to Floyd county, Iowa, and re- mained seven years. Our subject received a high school education at Charles City, Iowa, graduating with a four-years course. He has previously served three years as an apprentice in the office of the "Floyd County Advocate," and one year of that time he devoted his evenings to study. After grad- uating from the high school he remained with the "Advocate one year, and, in 1879, in company with his father, purchased a printing office in Northfield, Minnesota, but after a few weeks they removed the office to Wahpeton, in the fall of 1879, and the following December purchased the "Richland County Gazette." This paper had been established about eight months and they consolidated the two offices. They purchased the outfit of a Norwegian paper in 1885, known as the "Vesterheimen," but did not continue the publication of that sheet. The "Richland County Gazette" has a large circulation and is among the bright and newsy papers of the state. It advocates Republican principles, and ad- vances the interests of that region.

Mr. Morrill was married at Cedar Falls, Iowa, August 23, 1881, to Miss Ida May Anderson, a daughter of Rev. John S. and Mary V. Anderson. Mrs. Morrill was born at Prescott, Wisconsin, and her father is a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal denomination in the state of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Morrill have been the parents of four children, two daughters of whom died in infancy; one son, Ralph B., was drowned at the age of fourteen years, the only surviving child being Myron A.

Mr. Morrill has been a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows since 1881. and is also a member of the Rebekah lodge, and Brotherhood of

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American Yeomen. He has been a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Wahpeton since its organization in 1880, and has held various important offices in that denomination, and has served for several years as superintendent of the Sunday school. He has taken the Methodist pas- tor's local course of study and has been ordained in that faith. He is one of the trustees of the Red River Valley University. He has served his vil- lage in various ways, and been a member of the Wahpeton school board. He has always acted with the Republican party and advocated its principles.

WARREN H. LAMB, sheriff of Ransom coun- ty, residing in Lisbon, is a man who has attained a comfortable competence and an enviable position among his fellowmen by the exercise of those traits of character which came to him from thrifty and enterprising ancestors. He began his career with no financial aid and is now one of the substantial men of his community. He has been a resident of Ran- som county for many years and is the owner of a fine estate of three hundred and twenty acres.

Our subject was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, September 18, 1857, and was the eldest in a family of three children born to LaFayette and Zylpha (Ellison) Lamb. His father was a soldier of the Civil war and died in camp. The Lamb family is of Scotch descent, and dates in America prior to the Revolutionary war, by the coming to this country of three brothers from Scotland. The grandfather of our subject, Judge Lamb, resided in Cattaraugus county, New York.

After the death of our subject's father the fam- ily was wholly dependent on the support of the mother, and our subject at the early age of eight years began aiding in their support by herding cat- tle, at which work he was engaged until about twelve years of age, when the mother remarried and our subject was given some educational advantages. From his boyhood he made his way in the world and finally adopted farm work. He went to Cass coun- ty, North Dakota, and worked one year, meanwhile locating land near Fort Ransom, in Ransom coun- ty. He had no stock and little means and built a sod shanty and cared for stock during the winter of 1883-1884, and the following spring secured an ox-team and began the improvement of his farm. He now has a well-improved estate of three hun- dren and twenty acres and raises horses, sheep and hogs. His residence is a comfortable and com- modious one and every convenience of farming is supplied. Mr. Lamb was elected sheriff of Ran- som county in 1896, and re-elected in 1898, when he removed his family to Lisbon and invested in a comfortable home in the city.

Our subject was married, in 1878, to Miss Mary E. Keckle, a native of Iowa. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lamb, as follows : Grace, Anna and Delnor. Mr. Lamb is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd

Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. Po- litically, he is a Republican, and is a delegate to the numerous county and state conventions. He is an efficient officer, loyal to his duty and honored throughout the county regardless of party affilia- tions.

ROBERT B. GRIFFITH. In the extensive financial interests of Grand Forks, North Dakota, the gentleman above named takes a leading part. He has been identified with the growth of that city and locality for many years and is one of the best known business men of the state. Mr. Griffith was born at Welland, Ontario, Canada, December 24, 1856.

The parents of our subject, James and Ellen (Randall) Griffith, are natives of Canada and the family originally came from Wales. The father was for many years engaged in business in Canada, and in 1883 came to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he now resides.

Our subject was reared in Canada and received a liberal high-school education there and was then employed with L. G. Carter, of Port Colborne, ten years in the dry goods and clothing business. He came to Grand Forks, North Dakota, November 2, 1881, and established a general merchandise business in this city on a limited scale and now op- erates one of the largest department stores of the Northwest and the annual business amounts to three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. He is a stockholder of the Union National Bank and also of the Northwest Fire & Marine Insurance Company. He employs from sixty to seventy-five people and was the founder and is still proprietor of the Ontario Store, the largest department store of the Dakotas.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Minnie Webster, a native of Minnesota. The family con- sists of two children, Paul and Pearl. Mr. Griffith is an active worker in church and temperance af- fairs and is a member of the Y. M. C. A. He is president of the North Dakota Enforcement League, is a gentleman of sterling qualities, honest and en- ergetic and is an influence for good in his com- munity. He is firm in his adherence to the right and is highly esteemed in the city in which he has spent so many years of his life.

HENRY NEVERMAN, one of the pioneer set- tlers of the James river valley, has acquired a com- fortable competence and considerable property since taking up his residence in the state of North Da- kota. He has a well improved farm in Grand Rapids township, in La Moure county, and his home is on section 34. He also possesses land in other localities and is one of the substantial men of his community and a highly esteemed citizen.

Our subject was born in Mecklenburg, Ger- many, June 14, 1858, and came to America with his

HENRY NEVERMAN AND WIFE.

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parents in 1860. They settled on a farm in Colum- bia county, Wisconsin. His parents were Fred and Sophia (Long) Neverman. His father continued farming in Columbia county until his death, which occurred in 1865, when our subject was still a child, and the mother later married John Long and is now a resident of Wisconsin.

Mr. Neverman left home when he was fourteen years of age and has engaged in farming continu- ously since. He went to La Moure county, North Dakota, in 1880, and filed on the southwest quarter of section 18, in Grand Rapids township, which he still owns, together with four quarter-sections ac- quired later by purchase, in La Moure county, and one quarter-section in the vicinity of Moorehead, Minnesota. He went to La Moure county when Dakota was but a territory and he had but limited means with which to advance his interests, but has steadily gained as regards financial strength and is in more than comfortable circumstances at the present. Jamestown was the nearest railroad town and he hauled provisions from there, taking three days to make the journey. He lived alone the first five years after taking up his residence there and experienced pioneer life.

Our subject was married, in 1885, near his old home in Wisconsin, to Augusta Seidschlag, who was born in Germany September 25, 1858. A por- trait of Mr. and Mrs. Neverman appears on another page. Mrs. Neverman was a daughter of Carl and Caroline Seidschlag, and her father is now living in Grand Rapids, North Dakota. Her mother died in Germany and Mrs. Neverman came to America in 1882. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Neverman, as follows: Carl, Ida, Henry and Esther. Mr. Neverman is active in public affairs of local importance and has held numerous offices in his township.

WILLIAM SQUIRE, deceased. The farm lands near Spiritwood are valuable as grain-raising lands, and one of the possessors of an extensive tract in that locality was the gentleman above named. He fortunately chose his farm there and prospered in his calling, and was one of the sub- stantial men of his community. He was one of the pioneers of Stutsman county and met with many discouragements, but during his life conducted a well-improved farm, gained a comfortable com- petence and an enviable reputation.

Our subject was born in Devonshire, England, in 1825. His father. Francis Squire, was a farmer by occupation and the Squire family for over one hundred years had been in possession of the farm where our subject was born and raised. Mr. Squire's mother's death occurred during his in- fancy. He remained in his native land until about thirty years of age, when he came to America and located in Canada, after which, in the fall of 1880. he went to North Dakota. He took government land as a pre-emption and homestead. He had 110

means with which to conduct his farm work, and he spent the first summer and two winters in James- town and was enabled to earn good wages, as he was handy at all kinds of employment. He started farming in the spring of 1882 and his first barn was a duguot. He moved onto his homestead and erected a good residence and although his first crop was sown by hand, he reaped a bountiful harvest and was enabled to further his work. The farm now comprises six hundred and sixty acres, more than half of which is under cultivation, and in the fall of 1899 he marketed two thousand bushels of grain and the year previous shipped five thousand bushels of wheat. The farm has all necessary farm machinery, including a steam threshing outfit. The residence and nearly all of the contents were de- stroyed by fire in 1898.

Our subject was married, in England, to Mary Jane May, a native of that place. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Squire, as follows : Elizabeth, who is now married and resides on a farm in North Dakota, William, Francis, Mary and John. All the children, with the exception of Elizabeth, are living at home. Mr. Squire sud- denly departed this life, December 11, 1890; his loss was deeply felt by all his friends and neighbors. He was a man who kept pace with the times in all matters of a public nature and was strong in his convictions for right. Politically, he was a Demo- crat.

GEORGE W. PEASE, who is now living re- tired in Wahpeton, Richland county, North Da- kota, was born in Monmouth, Kennebec county, Maine, May 16, 1828, and is a son of Eben and Lydia (Kelly) Pease, who continued their residence in that county throughout life, the former dying there at the age of seventy-five years, the latter at the age of eighty-two. By occupation the father was a farmer.

Our subject was reared upon the home farm in his native county and after attaining man's es- tate engaged in farming in Kennebec county and in mercantile business at Livermore Falls, until com- ing to North Dakota in 1877. During the dark days of the Civil war he enlisted in the Second Maine Cavalry and was in the service for about two year and a half. On his arrival in this state Mr. Pease settled on a farm in Richland county and gave his attention chiefly to farming until 1896, when he removed to Wahpeton for the purpose of laying business, but is now the president of the Red River Valley Hail Insurance Company, and is still owner of nearly six hundred acres of valuable land in Richland county.

On the 30th of May, 1858, in Franklin county, Maine, Mr. Pease was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Morrill, who was born in Chesterville, that state, March 16, 1837, a daughter of Burnham and Hannah ( Mench) Morrill, natives of New Hamp- shire and Maine, respectively. Five children were

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born to Mr. and Mrs. Pease, but one is now de- ceased : Eben, who died in New Mexico when about thirty years of age. Those living are Mary E., now the wife of E. M. Nelson, of Richland county, North Dakota; Georgiana, wife of W. A. Kellien, of Helena, Montana; Frank D., a physician, who is now serving as surgeon of the First North Da- kota Volunteer Infantry and is with the army at Manila ; and Walter W., now managing his father's estate in Richland county.

JOSEPH J. BOND was born in Middlesex county, Massachusetts,, February 12, 1862. His parents, Thomas Davis and Olive (Thompson ) Bond, were natives of Massachusetts, and the father operated the Bond cracker factory of Boston, Massachsetts, for many years. This factory was founded by Captain Joseph Bond, the grandfather of our subject, and was conducted by the father of our, subject until his death in 1889. The grand- father was also a native of Massachusetts and op- erated the cracker factory throughout his career. The great-grandfather served with the Massachusetts troops in the Revolutionary war. Our subject has one brother and two sisters, all of Massachusetts.

Our subject was reared and educated in Massa- chusetts and began life as a clerk in a wholesale dry-goods business, which he followed one year, and then followed other lines of business and in 1882 went to Cass county, North Dakota, as book- keeper for the Cass & Cheney farm, and filled that position one year. He was appointed financial agent for this estate and continued such for about five years, when he purchased nearly twenty-four hundred acres of the farm which he has since con- ducted and on which he has a pleasant and com- fortable home.

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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 50

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