Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 54

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 54

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In 1890 Mr. Engerud was united in marriage with Miss Clara J. Jacobsen, also a native of Wis- consin, and three children bless this union: Louis, Harold and Karl, all living.

JAMES H. SUMMERS, who is gaining a good support by tilling the soil of township 134, range 56, in Ransom county, and incidentally laying aside a competence for future years, is a representative citizen of his community. He has gained his pos- sessions unaided and it is to his industry and hon- esty that his success is due. He makes his home on section 22, and is surrounded by all the comforts of country life.

Our subject was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, December 25, 1858, and was a son of James and Margaret (Hughes) Summers, the former a na- tive of Limerick, Ireland, and the latter of Dublin. When eighteen years of age our subject left home and went to the lumber camps of Michigan. He went to Lisbon, North Dakota, in March, 1882, and as a carpenter worked at building in that city for some time. He then began farming and has met with success in that line of work. He is interested in raising horses and his stallion, "Champion," is known throughout the county. Mr. Summers has thoroughly improved his farm and his buildings are of substan- tial construction and neat design. His barn is 40x60 feet, and his well, which furnishes excellent water, is fitted with a windmill and facilitates the work of the place.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Ellen Glasheen. Mr. and Mrs. Summers are the parents of six children, as follows: James C., William W., Jolın A., Leo A., Francis and Joseph. Mr. Sum- mers favors the principles of the Republican party, but supports the men which in his opinion will best serve his community. He is firm in his convictions of right and is a man of progressive ideas and pub- lice spirit. He is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America.

FRITZ C. WESSEL is a leading and repre- sentative farmer of Centre township, Richland coun- ty, North Dakota, whose home is on section 18. Naturally energetic and of more than ordinary busi-

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ness ability, he has been uniformly fortunate in his labors and seems especially adapted to the business in which he is engaged. He is a native of Germany, born in Mecklenburg, January 1, 1834, and in 1847, when about thirteen years old, he came to the New World with his parents, Fritz John and Mary L. (Meyer) Wessel, who settled in Dane county, Wis- consin, where both died, the former at the age of eighty-three years, the latter at the age of seventy- nine.

Our subject grew to manhood in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming until 1879 and then came to Richland county, North Dakota, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section 18, Centre township, where he has since made his home. He now has three hundred and twenty acres of productive and valuable land, upon which he has erected a good set of farm build- ings and made other improvements. He is a pro- gressive farmer who believes in keeping thoroughly abreast with the times and has met with well-de- · served success.

In Dane county, Wisconsin, Mr. Wessel was married, January 27, 1857, to Miss Caroline Brendler, who was born in Saxony, Germany, Jan- uary 6, 1838, a daughter of Anton and Sophia (Frank) Brendler. Of the eight children born to them, two died young. Those living are Ellen, now wife of George Bertram; Adele, wife of Will- iam Runge; Robert; Edward; Fred, and Matilda, wife of Herman Quast. The wife and mother, a most estimable lady, died in Centre township, May 19, 1898. Mr. Wessel is quite a prominent and in- fluential man in his community and has most ac- ceptably filled the office of county commissioner of Richland county for four years. Religiously, he is a member of the Lutheran church.

HON. JAMES O. SMITH, a prosperous and intelligent member of the farming community of Cass county, has been associated with the financial and social growth of that district for many years and has gained a goodly fortune and an enviable reputation by his earnest efforts and strict integrity. His farm is nicely located in section 31, of Rush River township, and he has placed upon it such improve- ments as entitle it to rank among the finest pieces of property in that region.

Our subject was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 14. 1854, and was a son of Larkin A. and Belinda (Potter) Smith, natives, respectively, of New Hampshire and Maine. His grandfather, James Smith, was a native of Massachusetts and died in New Hampshire. The family were farmers and the mother's father was a native of Manchester, England.

James O. Smith was reared and educated in the public schools of Boston and in 1874 went to Denver, Colorado, where he remained one winter and then returned East and remained in New Hamp- shire and Massachusetts until 1877, when, in May

of that year, he arrived at Fargo, North Dakota. He entered claim to government land in section 2 of Casselton township, and also entered claim to land as a tree claim and began at once the improve- ment of his farm breaking the land with the use of oxen. He is now the fortunate possessor of one section of the best land in Cass county and he has placed on his farm the finest buildings of that vi- cinity. His residence, erected in 1892, is a com- modious and substantial structure and is equipped with all the modern conveniences and comforts, including hot water heat, and is a home of refine- ment and luxury and bespeaks the culture and tastes of its occupants. Mr. Smith removed to Steele county in 1886, for the purpose of personally op- erating a farm he owns there. He has made a suc- cess of farming and with limited means for a start has acquired a good income.

Our subject was married, in 1884, to Jennie Hil- debrant, a native of Illinois. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as follows: Chauncey and Bernice. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was elected to the territorial legislature in 1888 and served during the last session of that body and in 1889 was elected to the state senate and served one term. He served as clerk of the senate in 1897-1898 and has taken an active part in public affairs since residing in North Dakota. Politically, he is a Republican and is a member of the district central committee.

EDWARD T. HALAAS. For the past eighteen years this gentleman, of whom a portrait will be found on another page, has tilled the soil of Foster county, and he now has one of the finest farms of the county, his home being located in township 147; range 66. He has made a success of general farm- ing and is held in a high .esteem as a farmer and citizen of true worth.

He was born on a farm near Christiansund, Norway, August 8, 1863. His father, Thorstein Erikson Halaas, was a farmer and carpenter by trade and lived and died in Norway. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Randi Ole- son, came to America in 1892 after the death of our subject's father and now makes her home in Fargo, North Dakota.

Mr. Halaas is the fifth in a family of eight chil- dren and was raised on the farm and at the age of thirteen years left home and hired out to farm work for two years, and then went to Christiansund and worked in a general store for his uncle, P. Ole- son, and remained there three years. He came to America at the age of eighteen years, landing at Boston, and at once went to Milan, Chippewa conn- ty, Minnesota, where he hired out at farming and also attended English school. He came to North Dakota in the spring of 1883 and traveled over the northern part of the state in quest of a location, and in May hired out on a farm in Grand Forks county. He located on unsurveyed land in Foster county in

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December, 1883, and built a shanty, 6x8 feet, and a sod barn, and farmed with oxen three years. He raised his first crop in 1884 and in 1885 raised eighteen to twenty bushels of wheat per acre. He lived alone the first four years and during the early days had many exciting experiences with prairie fires, and in 1897 fire destroyed his barn and seven- ty-five tons of hay, twenty-nine head of hogs, six work horses and a full blooded Shire stallion, valued at six hundred dollars, the loss amounting to three thousand dollars, with no insurance. He now has a farm of twelve hundred and eighty acres, with all but a half-section under cultivation and one hun- dren and sixty acres in pasture. He has two sets of farm buildings and his residence and surround- ing buildings are substantial and commodious and furnish a home of comfort and are as good as any in that region. Mr. Halaas began life in North Dakota with very little means, having only enough to file his claim and erect a shanty, and the other means with which he purchased his early supplies was on borrowed money, which he worked out. He now has one of the finest farms of Foster county and in 1895 raised ten thousand bushels of grain.

Our subject was county assessor in 1890, 1891 and 1892, and in 1892 was elected county commis- sioner, and is now serving his third term in that ca- pacity. He is actively interested in the general welfare of his community and is deservedly popular with the people among whom he has lived for so many years. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in political senti- ment is a Republican. Mr. Halaas was married, July 14, 1887, to Lina B. Rusten, who was born in Norway, near the city of Hamar, in 1858, daughter of Borger and Ely Rusten. To Mr. and Mrs. Halaas six children have been born : Theodore, Ralph, Ole, Leonard, Olga and Cora.

JOHN H. NELSON, a highly respected citi- zen of Mooreton township, Richland county, North Dakota, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 24, was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, New York, February 24, 1832, a son of Abner G. and Letitia (Sloan) Nelson. When he was quite young he removed with his family to Ohio and after a short time spent in that state went to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where they made their home for two years. The following four years were passed in Winnebago county, Illinois, and from there they removed to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where the father died at the age of forty-five years. The mother survived him many years and died in Moore- ton township, Richland county, North Dakota, when about eighty.

Mr. Nelson's early life was spent in various places and he was employed at different occupa- tions. In 1879 he came to Richland county, North Dakota, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24, Mooreton township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has

since devoted his energies with good success. His present comfortable residence was erected by him in 1889. During the Civil war he laid aside all personal interests and in February, 1864, enlisted in Company G, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, with which he served until hostilities ceased, being honorably discharged in July, 1865.

In La Crosse, Wisconsin, Mr. Nelson led to the marriage altar Miss Melissa Keeler, a native of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and to them have been born six children, who are still living, namely : George H., Charles, William F., Eugene E., Frank U. and Carrie A. The family is quite prominent in the community where they reside.

REV. JOHANR. RORVIK, pastor of Immanuel Norwegian Lutheran Synod, Hillsboro, is a gen- tleman of culture and intelligence and since taking up his labors in North Dakota has endeared hint- self to the people of Traill county. The church over which he presides has prospered since he as- sumed charge and much credit is accorded him for his earnest and unceasing labors for its growth.

Mr. Rorvik was born in Bergen stift, Norway, April 17, 1863, and was the second in a family of six children born to Johan and Petrine (Johnsen) Rorvik, both of whom live in Norway. His father is a wealthy farmer and resides near the coast and devotes his winters to fishing.

Our subject passed his early youth at his native place and when seventeen years of age left home for academic work, preparatory to entering Hanges Minde College in Christiania, with the idea of pre- paring himself for the ministry. He began college life at Christiania when nineteen years of age and completed a three-years course, receiving a degree corresponding to that of B. A. He emigrated to America in 1885 and began working in a furniture store in Minneapolis and in 1886, as soon as his finances would permit, began his studies in Luther Seminary at Madison, Wisconsin, and completed a three-years course in theology. He was ordained a minister in the summer of 1889 and given charge at Brainerd, Minnesota, which he held until 1892 and then took his present charge in Hillsboro. The Synod Lutheran church was organized in 1892 by Rev. J. Ingelstad, and at the time of our subject taking charge of the pastorate numbered about fif- teen families. The membership has increased steadily since that time and now numbers about forty families. The church edifice was built in 1893 and is a wooden structure, but has the largest seating capacity of any church in the city. It is handsomely finished and is one of the leading churches of the county.

Mr. Rorvik was married, in 1890, to Miss Anna Lysne, a native of Northfield, Minnesota. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rorvik, as follows: Ragnar (died within a year), Agnes Rolf and Hilda. Mr. Rorvik is a Prohibitionist and takes an active interest in temperance work.

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GEORGE PORTER, a prosperous and influ- ential farmer of township 137, range 65, is one of the earliest settlers of Stutsman county and has fol- lowed farming almost continuously since taking up liis residence in Dakota. He is practical and industrious and is held in the highest esteem by those among whom he has resided for so many years.

Mr. Porter was born in Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, May 25, 1831. He was raised on a farm and received but three months' schooling a year until seventeen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. He served thus three years and in November, 1851, began a journey, which took him to California, via Nicaragua. While there he "roughed it" for about three years and engaged in gold mining and on one occasion paid fifty dol- lars in gold for forty-nine pounds of flour. He started to cross the mountains prospecting and dur- ing that time had many thrilling experiences and the high waters of Carson creek turned him back and he eventually returned, via the Isthmus of Panama. He returned to Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, and followed carpenter work until August 24, 1861, when he enlisted, among the first to an- swer the call for three-years volunteers, and be- came a member of Company F, Eleventh Pennsyl- vania Cavalry. He received his equipments at Washington and went from thence to Fort Monroe and was in the department of the James river under Major-General Wool and also Dicks, Butler and Grant. He was at Suffffolk, Virginia, when Grant commenced the battles of the Wilderness and then went on the raid into North Carolina and destroyed the railway bridge under a fort guarded by two thousand rebels. He was a sergeant and carried dispatches and also engaged in three raids, one of which lasted twelve days with a loss of twenty- one guns and some prisoners and ambulance corps. Our subject was dismounted forty miles within the rebel lines. He threw away his saber and after four days without food, crawling through woods and wading streams, he managed to reach the Union lines. After three years of brave and loyal service he was mustered out August 28, 1864, and returned to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He worked at his trade there for many years and in the spring of 1882 went to North Dakota and resided in Jamestown from April of that year till July, 1885. Soon after locating in Dakota he filed on land in township 137, range 65, as a homestead pre-emption, on which he erected a small shanty and a sod barn with a straw roof and he sowed his first crop in the spring of 1883. He now has a fine farm, well improved with a complete set of farm buildings and all nec- essary machinery and engages principally in grain raising. His three sons farm in the neighborhood and own three hundred and twenty acres of land, and our subject also owns the same number of acres and all are comfortably situated.

Our subject was married, in July, 1856, to Miss Abbey Cobb, who survived but three years and left

one daughter, Adella, who is now Mrs. F. A. Clem- ens. Mr. Porter married Miss Adaline Harris, January 3, 1868. Mrs. Porter was born and raised in North Bridgewater, now the city of Brockton, Massachusetts. She is of English descent and lìer ancestors came to America in the Mayflower and her father died when she was in her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been the parents of eight chil- dren, the two eldest of whom are deceased. , The other children are as follows: John H., Lyman K., Albert H., Abbey May, Lucia, deceased, and Isaac H. Mr. Porter is school treasurer in his township and is a man of active public spirit. He keeps abreast of the times in all matters of importance and in political sentiment is a Republican.

GEORGE W. NEWTON, senior member of the firm of Newton & Smith, has gained a most enviable reputation as a lewyer and enjoys a successful and lucrative practice at the bar of Cass county. A man of sound judgment, he manages his cases with masterly skill and tact and is regarded as one of the best jury advocates in Fargo. He is a logical reasoner and has a ready command of English.

Mr. Newton was born in Franklin county, Ver- mont, February 12, 1838, a son of Silas W. and Charlotte (Smith) Newton, also natives of Ver- mont, in which state the family was founded in colonial days, being among its pioneers. There the father of our subject passed his entire life as a farmer and millwright. His maternal great-grandfather, John Austin, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and his paternal grandfather, Alvin Newton, a native of Massachusetts, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his father was an officer in the Revolu- tionary war.

Our subject had six brothers and three sisters, but is the only one of the family residing in North Dakota. His boyhood and youth were spent in the Green Mountain state and his literary education was completed in the Thetford Academy, of Orange county, Vermont, from which he was graduated in 1860. For some time he followed the profession of teaching and then commenced the study of law under the direction of Hon. Dana R. Bailey, then of Highgate, Vermont, but now of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After his admission to the bar, in September term of Franklin county court, Vermont, in 1862, he .immediately engaged in practice at Highgate until 1875 and was elected state's attor- ney for Franklin county in 1874, serving in that capacity for two years, having removed to St. Al- bans, Vermont, in the spring of 1875 and resided there for eight years. The year 1883 witnessed his arrival in North Dakota and for some time he was engaged in practice at Bismarck, but since August, 1897, he has made his home in Fargo, forming at that time the partnership which still exists.

On the 9th of May, 1866, Mr. Newton wedded Miss Mary L. Skeels, also a native of Vermont, and to them have been born three sons, who are still

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living, namely : William S., George G. and J. Henry. Mr. Newton is a Republican in politics and has been an active worker in his party's interests. Socially, lie is a member of the Masonic order. During his residence in this state he has taken quite a promi- nent part in public affairs and has been honored with a number of important positions. He was ap- pointed one of the trustees of the penitentiary of North Dakota at Bismarck by Governor Miller and served as president of the board for some time : was a member of the revision commission which revised the codes of the state in 1895; was a commissioner of public property of the state of North Dakota for some years, and also served as citv attorney of Bis- marck for some time. It is needless to say that the duties of these positions he discharged in a most satisfactory manner, as he has always been found true to every trust reposed in him whether public or private.

ORVILL E. VOSBURG belongs to that class of intelligent and enterprising farmers who have attained a high position among the people. He has pursued farming in Ransom county for many years and amid pioneer experiences and the discourage- ments which beset the early settlers of a country had steadily gained a place as a well-to-do and worthy citizen. He resides on section 24, in town- ship 134, range 55, and has gathered about him the comforts of life. His farm comprises one half-sec- tion of land, on which he has placed good improve- ments and made such arrangements as tend to the economical conduct of the same.

Our subject was born in Wayne county, New York, June 15, 1857, and was a son of Charles and Charity (Earles) Vosburg. He is of German descent, his grandparents hailing from Germany. Our subject went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1879 and upon his arrival there he had but twenty- five cents in his possession. He worked at Wood- side about one month and then spent nine months in working in Pine county and in June, 1881, went to Dakota and entered claim to land on which he erected a 12×14 board house and where he lived alone until 1884. He has a well-improved farnı, with good buildings and a well fitted with a wind- mill and attends personally to the work of the place. He has six cows, of the Durham breed, and the income from the dairy products is no small share of the income of the place.

Our subject was married, in 1884, to Miss Lizzie Howell. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vosburg, named as follows: William, Clara, Ruby, Adelia, John, Charles and Charlotte, de- ceased. Mr. Vosburg is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. In political faith he is a Republican and is a leader of his party in Ransom county. He has served four years as county central com- mitteeman and has also attended various conven- tions in the county as a delegate. His labors for

the advancement of his community have been given freely and he is respected and esteemed wherever he is known.

GUSTAV A. R. NICKEL, a well-known black- smith and highly esteemed citizen of Farmington, Centre township, Richland county, comes from the Fatherland, his birth having occurred in Breslau Oberschlasin, Germany, April 19, 1863. In the spring of 1867 he was brought to America by his parents, Ernst and Johanna P. (Hering) Nickel, also natives of Germany, and the family settled in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where the father died at the age of fifty-five years, the mother at the age of thirty-eight.

Our subject made his home in Chippewa Falls for fifteen years and was educated in the common schools of that place. In his father's shop and under the direction of that gentleman, he learned the trade of a blacksmith, to which occupation lie has since given the greater part of his time and at- tention. On leaving home, he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was employed at his trade for two summers and then spent five months in Mon- tana. Returning to Wisconsin, he worked in the lumber woods of that state for eight seasons and in 1889 came to Dakota, soon afterward locating in Farmington, where he has since successfully en- gaged in blacksmithing. He is an expert mechanic and a thorough business man and the success that has come to him is certainly well merited. He has also filled the office of justice of the peace in a most creditable and acceptable manner and is regarded as one of the valued citizens of his community.

In Centre township, Richland county, Mr. Nickel was married, October 9, 1890, to Miss Alice Erd- mann, who was born on a farm in Wisconsin, Feb- ruary 3, 1870, and at the age of seven years came to North Dakota with her parents, Casper and Eva E. (Fuss) Erdmann. Our subject and his wife now have an interesting family of three children, namely : Ernest R., Alice P. and Minna R.

OLE B. JORGENSON, who has devoted his career to mercantile pursuits, is a gentleman of wide experience and is well known as a citizen of lionest principles and earnest efforts. He makes his lione in Milnor, Sargent county, and is connected with the firm of Tisdel, Melhus & Berger, general mer- chants of that village.

Mr. Jorgenson was born in Norway, October 31. 1856. When ten years of age he came to Amer- ica with his parents and the family settled in Kandi- yohi county, Minnesota, where the father engaged in farming and where our subject remained until he was sixteen years of age. He was educated in the common schools and at the Normal School at St. Cloud, Minnesota, and at the age of sixteen years entered the employ of W. W. Pinney, a merchant of New London, Minnesota, as clerk, and remained

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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 54

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