Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 55

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle
Number of Pages: 1432

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there five years. He then went to Willmar, Min- nesota, and was employed as clerk in a mercantile establishment for several years and then engaged in the mercantile business in Willmar, in company with John A. Berg. After one year fire destroyed their stock and the firm dissolved partnership. Mr. Jorgenson went to Milnor, Sargent county, North Dakota, in June, 1885, and was employed as clerk for Flecten & Company for a few months and in the fall of 1886 engaged with A. Helgeson & Com- pany, as clerk, remaining with them two years, after which he accepted his present position with Tisdel, Melhus & Berger.

Our subject was married, at Irving, Minne- sota, July 1, 1881, to Miss Jennie Olson, a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Jorgenson are the par- ents of three children, as follows: Carl O., Minnie R. and Oliver M. Mr. Jorgenson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. He is an earnest worker for educational advancement and has been presi- dent of the school board for several years. He has many friends throughout that locality and is a gentleman of true worth.

HENRY B. JONES, one of the pioneer settlers of Cass county, has risen to prominence in his lo- cality by his energy and push and is now the fort- unate owner of a fine estate in Casselton township, his residence being located in section 10.

Mr. Jones is a native of Wisconsin and was born at Beloit, March 11, 1850. His parents, Sterling and Elizabeth (Sines) Jones, were natives, respect- ively, of New York and Ohio. His father moved to Indiana from Ohio and engaged in farming at Delphi, and from thence moved to Wisconsin about 1844, where he remained until his death, in 1875. The mother of our subject died in 1899, aged eighty- five years. Eight sons and four daughters were born to this worthy couple, two of the sons serving in the Union army and one son died in the service.

Our subject was reared and educated in Wis- consin and there engaged in farming until 1879. when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and settled on the farm where he now resides, having taken it as a tree claim the previous year. He began the improvement of his place at once upon taking up his residence there and is now the owner of a well-improved farm, one of the best in the county. His farm comprises one half-section of land and it is all under cultivation.

Mr. Jones was married, in 1872, in Wisconsin, to Miss Climena Thompson, a native of Maine. The parents of Mrs. Jones removed to Wisconsin in 1859 and still reside in that state. Sevenchildren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, as follows: Florence, Frank W., Oscar E., Grace M., Mattie A., Marium and Sterling. Mr. Jones has served as township treas- urer and is at present assessor of his township, and in several minor offices in his township and has been actively identified with the upbuilding of the better

interests of that locality and is held in the highest esteem by his associates. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and in political sentiment is a stanch Republican.

PETER BJOMSTAD, the leading harness dealer of Ellendale, North Dakota, has been a resi- dent of that locality since the early settlement and is well known as a successful business man and worthy citizen.

Our subject was born in Norway, November 6. 1853, and was a son of Hans P. and Bertha O. (Evensud) Bjomstad. His father was a native of Norway and came to America in 1871, locating in Minnesota, where he worked at painting. He died in Lanesboro, in 1892, aged seventv-eight years and the mother died in Minnesota, in 1872.

Our subject came to America in 1872 and lo- cated in Lanesboro, Minnesota, and later learned his trade at Rushford, that state, which he followed at different points in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and in 1884 went to Ellendale, North Dakota, where he established his present business.

. Mr. Bjomstad was married, in Montevideo, Minnesota, in 1885, to Miss Julia Thorson, a native of that state, who was born in 1859. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bjomstad, as fol- lows : Hannah B., Hans T., Emma M., Clara J. and Edwin. Mr. Bjomstad is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is a Repub- lican and is a man who keeps pace with current events and is strong in his convictions.

WILLIAM H. M. PHILIP, M. D. The medi- cal profession is so well represented throughout the state of North Dakota that it is difficult to determine who stands in the foremost rank. It is an undisputed fact, however, that the gentleman whose name heads this personal history has a high standing as a physi- cian and surgeon, not only among his people, but among his medical brethren, and he has become well known as an honest and painstaking practi- tioner. He is the oldest resident physician of Steele county and has his office and home at Hope. A portrait of Dr. Philip is shown on another page.

Our subject is of Scotch birth and was born September 24, 1852. He was the eleventh in a fan- ily of twelve children born to Charles and Eliza (Read) Philip. His father was a sugar merchant in his native country and his fortune was diminished by heavy losses at sea, and while our subject was still an infant the family came to America in search of better times. They resided on a farm near Chi- cago Heights, Illinois, and there remained fourteen years, when they removed to Metamora, Woodford county, Illinois.

At the age of twenty years our subject began reading medicine and in the fall of 1878 entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating from that institution in the class of 1881. In the class

WM. H M. PHILIP. M. D.

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there were one hundred and seventy-two graduates, fifteen only receiving certificates of honor, among whom was our subject. In July, 1882, he went to Hope, North Dakota, where he has been eminently successful and has steadily built up an extensive practice.

Our subject was married, on October 3, 1889, to Miss Libbie Curry, one of Steele county's most successful teachers. Five children have been born to Doctor and Mrs. Philip, as follows : Charles, deceased ; Frank R .; Glandys M .; Ruth E., deceased, and Randall Hunter, deceased. Dr. Philip is a man of exemplary character and holds membership in the Congregational church. He also affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Brotherhood of American Yoemen and Modern Woodmen of America. For several years he has been a railroad surgeon for the Grand North- ern Railroad and is a member of the International Association of Railway Surgeons, American Medi- cal Association and State Medical Society, and was a member of the first state board of medical ex- aminers and served four years, and is the present president of the county board of insanity and super- intendent of the county board of health. He does not seek public favor, but is a man of sound judg- ment and one who keeps pace with the world on all matters of importance, and is outspoken in his opinions and influential as a citizen. In political sentiment he is a Republican.

NELS H. BJOMSTAD, the enterprising and progressive hardware merchant of Ellendale, was one of the first settlers of that region and during the pioneer days assisted many in locating claims and settlements. He now enjoys an extensive pat- ronage and is among the leading merchants of Dickey county.

Mr. Bjomstad was born near the village of Gjovik, on Lake Mjosser, Norway, September 7, 1857, and was the fifth in a family of eleven children born to Hans P. and Bertha O. (Evenrud) Bjomstad, both of whom were natives of Norway. His father was a painter by trade, but farmed in his native land and after coming to America he engaged in paint- ing, which occupation he followed many years. He died in Lanesboro, Minnesota, in 1892, aged seventy-eight years and the mother died in the same place in 1872.

Our subject attended school in his native land until fifteen years of age, when the mother and children, in 1872, came to America to join the father, who had preceded them one year. They located at Lanesboro, Minnesota, where our subject worked on a farm until the spring of 1875, when he ac- cepted a position as clerk in the store of O. Knud- son, Jr., in Albert Lea, where he worked during the summer, and the following winter attended school, after which he clerked in the store of Skinner & Hazeltine one year and in the fall of 1878 went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he secured a

position in a drug store. He pre-empted land near the city and after two and a half years returned to his Minnesota home and after a short time went to Racine, Wisconsin, where he worked in a drug store and later in a lumber yard and in the spring of 1882 went again to Dakota, intending to locate on the Mouse river. His stay there was of two weeks duration only, when he proceeded on foot to Bismarck, then to Jamestown, over one hundred and fifty miles, and thence to Ellendale. He at once engaged in the meat business and also acted as guide to homeseekers and in the fall of 1882 re- turned to Sioux Falls and sold his pre-emption claim, after which he esablished himself in the furniture business in Ellendale and in 1888 purchased an in- terest in the stock of goods owned by W. G. Lock- hart and one year later bought his partner's interest, becoming sole owner, which business he has since conducted.

Our subject was married, near Ellendale, North Dakota, at the home of the bride, October 17, 1886, to Miss Anna Peterson, a native of Wisconsin, who was born June 1, 1871. Mrs. Bjomstad is a dangh- ter of P. A. Peterson, now a resident of Marshall county, South Dakota. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bjomstad, as follows : Harold N., Blanche J., Clarence E. and Mildred V. Our subject is prominent in secret society circles and is keeper of records and seal of the Knights of Pythias and has been clerk of the Modern Woodmen of America for two years, and is now district deputy head consul for the state. He is a communicant and secretary of the Norwegian Evangelical church and is also a member of the city school board and an earnest worker for educational advancement. Politically, he is a Populist and advocates reform principles. In 1898 he was candidate for the office of railroad commissioner. He is a man of sterling character and well merits his success.

GEORGE W. HUTCHINSON, a prominent and reliable young business man of Farmington, Richland county, North Dakota, who is now a grain buyer for the Monarch Elevator Company at that place, was born in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Octo- ber 6, 1868, and is a son of M. V. B. and Mary (Babcock ) Hutchinson, the former a native of Ver- mont, the latter of New York. In 1887 they came to North Dakota and for about seven years the father engaged in grain buying at Farmington. He died September 10, 1897, having only survived his wife a few days, her death having occurred August 30, 1897. To this worthy couple were born six chil- dren, namely : Harris W., Fred G., Edith H., George W., Seth B. and Serenta.

In the city of his birth George W. Hutchinson passed the first thirteen years of his life and then removed with the family to Villard, Minnesota, where he made his home until coming to North Dakota in 1887. He now resides in Farmington and meeting with good success in business. He has

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became quite widely known and is highly respected.

In Richland county, December 3, 1897, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Hutchinson and Miss Johanna Hanson, who was born in Norway, in 1872, and is a daughter of Mathew Hanson, of Richland county. A daughter, Josephine, was born of this union, but died in infancy, and a son, George W., born September 17, 1899.

MARTIN L. RUDE, one of the prominent citizens of Hillsboro, Traill county, deals in city real estate there and has become well-to-do by in- dustrious habits and careful management. He has passed through varied experiences and is now spend- ing his declining years amid the most pleasant sur- roundings and esteemed by his fellow men.

Our subject was born on Sulerud, in Eidsberg, Norway, September 18, 1851, and was the sixth in a family of eight children born to Lars and Maria (Olsen) Evensen, both of whom are deceased.

At seven years of age our subject was adopted by a wealthy land owner and remained on his farm until fourteen years of age and then went to Chris- tiania and attended billiard tables in Masonic Tem- ple. He soon obtained work on board a steamer as steward and when fifteen years of age engaged on a large passenger steamer on trips between Tronjehm, Christiania and Hamburg. He then de- cided to devote himself to navigation and began the study of the same and March 4, 1866, passed the examination and soon afterward shipped as seaman on the Madammen and made four trips to France and a trip to Antwerp and Belgium. Shipping on another vessel, he made Newcastle, Constantinople, Odessa and back to Malta, Gibraltar, and thence to England. From there he went to his native coun- try and thence to Cardiff, Wales, and from there came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He remained sixteen days, viewing the wonders of the New World and then shipped for Hongkong. The ship was wrecked near Montevideo, on a coral reef, the crew took to boats and only thirteen of twenty-one on board were saved. Our subject arrived at Mon- tevideo arrayed simply in his underclothes. He next joined the United States navy and remained twelve months, the last three of which he served on the gunboat Wasp, under command of the now famous Sampson. After this he made two voy- ages, the first in a Norwegian vessel to the East Indies and back to Rosaria, and the final trip was on the Harold around the Horn to the Maccabee Isles, thence to Londonderry, from which place he soon took passage for America. He arrived on our shores in 1873 and after a visit at his father's in Douglas county, Minnesota, devoted himself to whatever he could find as employment, railroading, lumbering, contracting, etc., and for about two years worked for McMullen & Company of Minneapolis. He accompanied the government surveyors in 1877 on an expedition to Fort Custer, going by team and boat on the Missouri, Big Horn and Little Big Horn

rivers and he was a great aid in navigating these streams. The work was completed in October of that year and fifty of the men started afoot over the plains, three hundred and eighty-eight miles to Medicine Bow. Mr. Rude then devoted himself to farming in Douglas county, Minnesota, and in 1879 with an ox-team drove to Fargo, North Dakota, and took land in Cass county, where he lived a short time, and in 1880 assumed charge of the laundry at Fargo, which he operated one year. He sold his Cass county farm for four thousand dollars and invested in five hundred and twenty acres of land on the Wild Rice river in Minnesota. This ven- ture proved a complete success and in 1894 he dis- posed of his Minnesota interests for ten thousand dollars and went to Hillsboro, Traill county, and invested in city property and also opened a meat market. He now rents his market and has retired from active business pursuits, devoting his attention to the selling of real estate in the city and he man- agement of the opera house in that city.

Our subject was married, November 27, 1877, to Miss Ella Ramstad. Mr. Rude is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a Scottish Rite and Mystic Shrine member. Politically, he is a Repub- lican and is strong in his convictions. He has served two years on the city board and is well known and popular with the people.

CHARLES B. THIMENS, the present well- known superintendent of the water works of Fargo and one of the old and popular steamboat captains on the rivers of the Northwest, was born in Mon- treal, Canada, March 27, 1831, and is a son of Noel and Marie (Gilban) Thimens, who spent their en- tire lives in that country, the father following the occupation of farming. In their family were three sons, but all are now deceased, with the exception of our subject. He was reared and educated in his native land and on starting out in life for himself engaged in farming and clerking there until twenty years of age.

In the fall of 1851 Mr. Thimens landed in St. Paul, Minnesota, and soon began lumbering on the Rum river. Later he turned his attention to steam- boating on the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers and followed that pursuit for thirty years, becoming pilot and captain and also part owner of vessels for several years. For five years he was in the quarter- master's department during the Civil war, carrying troops and supplies up and down the river. In 1874 he went to Moorhead, Minnesota, and took charge of a boat for the Red River Transportation Com- pany, running between Moorhead and Winnipeg, Manitoba, for fourteen years. He was next con- nected with the Grandon line of boats, carrying grain to Fargo and Moorhead and remained with that company until 1893. In 1882 he took up his residence in Fargo, where he has since continued to make his home and is prominently identified with public affairs. He served as street commissioner

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two years, and has since had charge of the water works. He has proved a most competent man for the place, and his duties are discharged in a prompt and satisfactory manner.

In 1858, Mr. Thimens was united in marriage with Miss Sarah H. Grant, a native of Vermont, and to them were born two children, namely: Minnie, now Mrs. F. Painter, and Dora. Since the or- ganization of the Republican party our subject has been one of its stanch supporters and he has ever taken an active and commendable interest in political affairs. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite and is a man highly re- spected and esteemed by all who know him. In his early steamboat career he endured all the hardships nd privations incident to such a life, but, like most of his class, he is a jovial, genial gentleman, who makes hosts of friends wherever he goes.

CHARLES J. LEE, well-known druggist of Valley City, North Dakota, is one of the prominent young men of that place, a leader in business and social circles .. The business interests of the city are well represented by him and whether in public or private life, he is always a courteous, genial gentle- man, well deserving the high regard in which he is held.

Mr. Lee was born in the village of Arcadia, Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, January 9, 1869. His father, John Lee, was a native of Norway, born in 1810, and in early life he engaged in farm- ing in that country. On his emigration to Amer- ica he settled in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, dur- ing the pioneer days of that state, when but two houses stood on the present site of the city. Sub- sequently he took up a homestead where Winona, Minnesota, is now located. In West Salen, Wis- consin, he married Miss Christina Johnson, who still survives him and now makes her home in Green Bay, that state.

During his boyhood and youth Charles J. Lee aided his father in the operation of the home farm and acquired his early education in the district schools of the neighborhood. On coming to Barnes county, North Dakota, he worked for one season on a farm and then removed to Valley City, where he attended school and also worked. In 1893 he entered the Northwestern University at Chicago, Illinois, and took a pharmaceutical course, gradu- ating the following year. He at once returned to Valley City and has since successfully engaged in the drug business at that place, having built up a large and constantly increasing trade. He is now a di- rector in the Valley City State Bank and is also extensively interested in real estate, owning at the present time about one thousand acres of land. This property has been acquired through his own well- directed efforts and good management, for he is a business man of more than ordinary ability, enter- prising and energetic.

In 1897 Mr. Lee married Miss Mary Holver-

son, of Trempealeau county, Wisconsin. He takes a commendable interest in public affairs and although still a young man he has most creditably served as president of the city council. In 1898 he was presi- dent of the Pharmaceutical Association of Northi Dakota, and is past chancellor of the subordinate lodge of Knights of Pythias.

OLIVER M. FRASER. As a gentleman of the highest integrity and an efficient public officer of Walsh county, the gentleman above named is well known. He has served five successive terms as auditor of Walsh county and has built up an envi- able reputation for uprightness of character and sound financial methods. His career has been one of continued successes in every direction in which his faculties have been directed and in matters tend- ing to promote the general welfare and to develop the business or society interests of his adopted town he has taken a hearty interest and aided materially in various ways in the upbuilding and strengthen- ing of good local government and as a man and cit- izen is held in the highest esteem.

Our subject was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, June 12, 1859. His parents, John and Kate (Mowat) Fraser, were natives of Scotland and Canada, respectively, and passed their lives in Canada, where the father was a merchant. Our subject was reared and educated in Canada, attend- ing the Collegiate Institute. He spent some time afterward in Canada and in 1880 went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and engaged in the lumber business there one year and then engaged in the machine trade and in 1883 came to Grafton. Here he worked in the county treasurer's office two years ' and was also engaged as city justice and also fol- lowed the loan and insurance business during 1887- 1888 and in the fall of 1888 was elected county auditor. His efficiency and popularity are best evidenced by the fact that he has been elected to that office five consecutive times. He is also United States commissioner for North Dakota.

Our subject was married in 1889, to Miss Ett- genie Gjeme, a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser are the parents of two sons and one daugh- ter. Mr. Fraser is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, the Foresters and Knights of Pythias and in political sentiment has been a life-long Demo- crat.

JOHN DORSEY. Among the self-made men of Richland county, North Dakota, who have ac- cumulated what they have of this world's goods through their own energy, industry and persever- . ance, may be numbered the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is now a resident of Mooreton township, and owns and operates a most desirable farm on section 13.

A native of Minnesota, Mr. Dorsey was born in Goodhue county, March 8, 1859, and is a son of

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Michael and Mary (Heffron) Dorsey. The father died in Goodhue county in 1864, when about thirty- eight years of age, but the mother is still living. In the county of his nativity, our subject received a fair common-school education and was reared to habits of industry. On leaving home at the age of fifteen years he started out to make his own way in the world and during early life was employed at different occupations, but chiefly at farm labor. In 1879 he removed from Minnesota to North Dakota and has since been a resident of Richland county with the exception of about a year spent in his native state. For two years during his residence in North Dakota he was engaged in the agricultural imple- ment business, but since the spring of 1890 has de- voted his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuit of his present farm, comprising six hun- dred and forty acres of rich and arable land.

On the 19th of March, 1889, in Richland county, Mr. Dorsey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Boynton, who was born in Canada July 22, 1860, a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Turner) Bovnton, both natives of England. The father died at Port Perry, Ontario, Canada, at the age of seventy-two years, but the mother still survives. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey, namely : Walter, who died in infancy, Grace, Neil and Doris. Mr. Dorsey has taken quite an active and prominent part in the public affairs of his township, was treasurer of Centre township for two terms and is the present township and school treasurer of Mooreton township.

OLOF P. PETERSON. The stock-raising and agricultural interests of township 147, range 64, of Foster county, have a worthy representative in the person of Mr. Peterson. He has a comfort- able home in section 25 and has gained an enviable reputation in that locality as a farmer and citizen.

Our subject was born on a farm in the southern part of Sweden April 6, 1859, and is a son of Peter and Karna ( Jepson) Peterson, who lived in Sweden throughout their lives.

Mr. Peterson was the eldest in a family of four children and was raised on a farm and attended the common schools. He left home when a young man and worked out at farm labor in Sweden five years and at the age of twenty-one years engrated to America and at once went to Red Wing, Minne- sota, and during the first fall worked at railroad work there. He remained in Minnesota until 1887 and worked for others, and then he and his brother bought a small place and followed grain raising principally for three years and met with good suc- cess. Our subject came to Foster county, North Dakota, in July, 1890, and worked at odd jobs in Carrington two years. He bought a sixteen-horse- power steam threshing outfit in 1892 and has fol- lowed threshing since that date. He purchased land in section 25. township 147, range 64, and built a set of farm buildings thereon in 1896 and Legan stock rising. Ile has a cattle barn 56 x 202 feet,

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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 55

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