Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 56

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

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and a horse barn 28 x 60 feet, with a lean-to, and a sheep shed 56 x 60 feet, and also has all machinery for conducting a good farm. He and his partner own two thousand four hundred acres of land, with five hundred under cultivation, and the James river runs through the land from north to south. He engages in stock raising principally and has one hundred and seventy-five head of cattle and one hundred and seventy-five head of sheep, and has been successful in this line.

Mr. Peterson is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is well known in the locality in which he resides. He takes an active part in local affairs and politically is a Republican and has attended numerous county conventions and has been inspector in the last two elections in his township.

HON. GUNDER HOWARD. In the person of the above named gentleman the city of Hills- boro has a worthy business man and citizen and the county and state has an able representative. Mr. Howard, of whom a portrait is presented on an- other page, is popular, progressive and energetic, and his financial interests are of such amount as to allow generosity and liberality in public enterprises, while he lends an influence for good in the commun- ity in which he makes his home. He is engaged in the implement business in Hillsboro and has exten- sive agricultural interests in that locality.

Gunder Howard was born in Norway and was the eldest of a family of five children. His father died while Gunder was but a young boy and at the age of thirteen he assisted his mother in the support of the family. He and the mother and family came to America when he was but seventeen years of age and settled in Houston county, Minnesota, where relatives lived, and Mr. Howard worked at farm labor in that locality, and with the help of the younger children supplied the wants of the family. His uncle tendered him a loan of one hundred dol- lars in 1873 and with this he invested in a yoke of cattle, and the family drove about five hundred miles westward to Minnesota. The mother entered land near Moorhead and our subject "squatted" on a quarter-section and farmed his and his mother's land, comprising one half-section, for two years. He worked for others in 1875 in the imple- ment business in Fargo, and in 1880 went to Hills- boro and, with A. H. Morgan, established the first implement business of the city. The partnership was dissolved after one year, since which time Mr. Howard has conducted the business alone and his present large business is the outgrowth of that mall start. He erected the lower story of his building, 50x100 feet, in 1886, and a stock company added a story the same year to be used as an opera house. Mr. Howard, in company with Mr. Easton Halver- son, owns a farm of over one thousand acres, situ- ated in a most productive part of the Red river val- ley, and from his farming interests alone receives a comfortable income.

HON. GUNDER HOWARD.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Mr. Howard 'was a member of the lower house in 1896 and introduced many of the measures which are now important laws. He served as a member of the following committees: Banks and banking, railroads, warehouse, grain grading and dealing and supplies and expenditures. He served as state boiler inspector for the third judicial district in 1891-92. He is a member of the United Lutheran church and is a thirty-second-degree Mason. Politically he is a Republican and strong in his convictions. His success is well merited and he is one of the men who are popular regardless of party affiliations and held in high esteem by all.

LEWIS LYON, the able county superintend- ent of schools of Stutsman county, North Dakota, resides at Jamestown, near where he has a fine farm. on which he has conducted general farming and stock raising for the past ten years. He is one of the early settlers of North Dakota and in every en- terprise in which he has embarked he has met with eminent success.

Mr. Lyon was born in the state of New York, directly opposite the city of Burlington, Vermont, in 1832. His father, Greshom Lyon, was a native of Vermont, and was of English extraction. He was a farmer and lumberman. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Richard Buckmenster, was born at Salem, Massachusetts, and he and the paternal grandfather both fought in the Revolutionary war, was of 1812 and was in the battle of Plattsburg. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Lucretia Buckminster, was born and raised at Salem, Masachusetts, and afterward moved to Vermont with her parents.

Our subject was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children and was raised on the farm in New York and received a common-school educa- tion and also attended Keuzville Academy, at Burl- ington, Vermont. He went to Chicago, Illinois, in 1852, where he taught school and later engaged in clerking, bookkeeping and various other occupa- tions, and during the Civil war spent two years in the quartermaster's department. H. went to Da- kota in 1879, locating in Jamestown, where he en- gaged in the general merchandise business for ten years, and in 1889 began farming and stock raising, in association with his son-in-law, T. S. Wads- worth. He has held the office of county superin- tendent of schools for the past six years.

Our subject was married in Chicago, Illinois, in 1856, to Miss Mary H. Forbes, a daughter of Albert G. Forbes, an iron manufacturer. Mrs. Lyon was of Scotch descent, and her great-grand- father, John Forbes, was a captain in the Revolu- tionary war. Two sons and two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, as follows: Mary, now Mrs. Wadsworth, of California ; Walter H., now residing in California ; Julia, a teacher in the public schools of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; and Frederick S., an attorney at law in Minneapolis. Mr. Lyon

is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Sons of the Revolution. He is pres- ident of North Dakota board for asylum for insane and was active in getting the building erected and the institution established. He was a member of the board of education in Jamestown and labors for a higher standard in school matters. Politically he is a Republican and stand firmly forthe principles of his party.

GEORGE L. RYERSON, clerk of the district court of Grand Forks county, is one of the rising young men of North Dakota. He is a gentleman of broad mind, is energetic and progressive and well merits his high standing as an officer and citizen.

Our subject was born in Waushara county, Wis- consin, January 8, 1869, and is a son of Gus and Emma (Anderson) Ryerson, natives respectively of Norway and Wisconsin. His father emigrated to the United States in company with his parents and settled in Chicago, and later moved to Wiscon- sin, where he engaged in farming, and still resides in that state. Our subject is one of a family of five children.

Mr. Ryerson was reared and educated in Wis- consin and at the age of eighteen years entered a printing office at Stevens Point, "The Stevens Point Journal," and remained there four years and learned the printer's trade. He came to Grand Forks in 1890 and found employment on the "Herald," and later on the "Plaindealer," and in the fall of 1891 founded the "Reynolds Enterprise," of Reynolds, North Dakota, and still publishes the same. He was elected clerk of the district court in 1898 and is now filling that office in a satis- factory manner.

Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss Tena Brathovde, a native of Wisconsin. Two children were born to this union, named Glenn J. and Reuben A. Mrs. Ryerson died in 1895. Mr. Ryerson was married a second time, in 1897, Miss Julia Sargeant, of Minnesota, becoming his wife. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ryerson, Thomas Lincoln. Mr. Ryerson is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Foresters, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Masonic fraternity, Zodia and B. P. O. E. He has been a life-long Republican, and has for many years taken an active part in the Republican poli- tics of Grand Forks county.

EDWARD WEBER, who is well known throughout Cass county as a prosperous agricult- urist, who is doing an extensive business in Everest township, is a man of ability. He makes his home in section 9, and has secured by industry and hard work the comforts of a happy country home.

Our subject was born near Landskron, Austria, September 28, 1849, and was a son of Bernhardt

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

and Rosa (Wurst) Weber, both of whom were na- tives of the same province. His parents were farmers by occupation and came to America in 1868, locating in Steele county, Minnesota, with our sub- ject, who had preceded them. The father later pur- chased and lived in Minnesota until 1879, when he removed to Cass county, North Dakota, and en- gaged in farming on land which had been purchased in 1877. He followed farming in Cass county many years and died in Casselton, in February, 1895, aged seventy-two years. The mother survives and is residing at Everett, Washington, where two sons live.

Our subject was reared in Germany till the age of seventeen years, and in 1867 came to America, landing at New York. He went at once to Minne- sota, where he purchased land and followed farming until 1882. He visited Cass county, North Dakota, in 1877. in company with Frank and Joseph Langer, and purchased the section where he now resides, and also purchased a half section for his brother and father. He began the improvement of the land in 1880 and in 1883 removed his family there and has since followed farming on the land. He is now the owner of five sections, all of which is under cultivation, and during the season of 1899 raised twenty-six thousand bushels of wheat, one thou- sand four hundred bushels of flax and seven thou- sand bushels of oats. He also follows stock raising to some extent and devotes his entire attention to his agricultural pursuits.

Our subject was married in Steele county, in 1871, to Rosa Stangler, a native of Germany. Mrs. Weber's parents came to America in 1864 and set- tled in Minnesota. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weber, as follows: Julius E., Emil E., Edward L., Otto E., Gustus F., and Hen- rietta R., deceased. The family are members of the Catholic church and assisted in the erection of the present fine edifice of that denomination in Cassel- ton. Mr. Weber has filled numerous township offices and has served as assessor for the past twelve years. Politically he is a Democrat and strong in his convictions.

FREDERICK A. BAGG, a popular and highly esteemed citizen of Mooreton township, Richland county, is the efficient manager of the Downing farm, which comprises over five thousand acres of land in Mooreton and Garfield townships, and is one of the most valuable estates in the county. Mr. Bagg is a native of Massachusetts, born in South Hadley, July 1, 1858, and is a son of Hiram A. and Harriet (Cleveland) Bagg, also natives of the old Bay state. The father was born in Worth- ington and died in South Hadley at the age of fifty- two years, but the mother is still living. In their family were four children, namely: Frederick A., Lucy H., Harriet C. and Earl H. A.

Our subject was reared in South Hadley and obtained a good practical education in the public

schools of that place. He remained there until the spring of 1887, when he came to North Dakota and entered the employ of J. F. Downing, of Rich- land county, as a carpenter. A year later he as- sumed the management of the Downing farm, and in its operation has displayed remarkable business ability, sound judgment and keen foresight. Dur- ing harvest time he often has one hundred men working under his supervision, and his long reten- tion in his responsible position testifies to his effi- ciency and trustworthiness. He has prospered dur- ing his residence in this state and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land.

In Richland county, Mr. Bagg was married, January 1, 1890, to Miss Sophia Larson, who was born in Norway and brought to America when two years old. To them were born five children, name- ly : Edna, who died at the age of one year ; Urbin, who died in infancy ; Harriet, Florence and Hiram A., residing at home.

ISAAC J. OLIVER. The mature years of this gentleman have been devoted almost exclusively to the calling of a farmer ,and he has acquired a valuable knowledge of this occupation in perform- ing the duties and labors incidetnt tothemanagement of one of the fine estates of Springer township, Ransom county. His career previous to engaging in the pursuit of agriculture was an eventful one, and the quiet of his rural life on a Dakota valley farm is valued because of its comforts and enjoy- ments. His home is on section 17, of township 135, range 57, and his farm consists of one half- section of valley and prairie land.

Our subject was born in Cass county, Indiana, September 10, 1850, and was the seventh in a fam- ily of ten children born to John W and Rhoda (Watts) Oliver. The Oliver family is of English- Yankee descent, and the Watts family, also of English descent, were Virginia pioneers.

Our subject lived in his native state on a farm until about fourteen years of age, when, in 1864, he ran away from home, and enlisted, May 6, 1864, ;in Company F, Third Battalion, Fourteenth United States Infantry, and was stationed in Kentucky until the close of the war. He was sent to Cali- fornia in the spring of 1865, as a member of Cam- pany F, Thirty-second United States Infantry, and during the service experienced several skirmishes with the Indians. His term as a soldier expired in 1867, and he remained in Arizona and New Mexico, following the life of a cowboy. He left Arizona June 2, 1870, for Texas, in company with a pros- pector, one of the '49ers, and traveled through about eight hundred miles of country wherein hos- tile Indians were plentiful. The journey covered six weeks, and was replete with adventures. He then returned to Indiana, where he engaged in farming until 1876, when he engaged in the lum- ber business, and in the spring of 1879 went to

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Fargo, North Dakota, and in October of that year located his valley farm an the Military Reservation in Ransom county. Five families were living in the Sheyenne valley at that point, and in December one of the most severe blizzards known to northern Dakota visited that region. The storm drove thou- sands of antelope to the valley for shelter. The military reservation, where our subject's claim was located was surveyed and opened for settlement and he secured work with the surveying party and became thoroughly acquainted with the topography of the country. The old log house which was his pioneer home still stands, and is in striking contrast to the valuable improvements of that region. Mr. Oliver has made a success of farming in- Dakota, and is one of the pioneers who can review his ex- periences and give authentic history of that country.

Our subject was married, in 1872, to Miss Ma- tilda McCombs, a native of Cass county, Indiana: Six children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, named as follows: lona A., Bertha, Ira L., Angus J., Ella M. and Fred L. Mr. Oli- ver is a member of the Masonic fraternity, An- cient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Repub- lican and stands firmly for the principles of his party.

HOWARD WILSON, one of the earliest pio- neers of Griggs county, is successfully pursuing agriculture in Dover township, and has a pleasant home on section 6. He endured the hardships in- cident to life in an unsettled country, and made his way forward to his present comfortable circum- stances with a determination worthy of following.

Our subject was born on a farm in York coun- ty, Canada, May 18, 1860, and was the third child and eldest son in a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. The father, Samuel L. Wil- son, was a native of York county, and was a farmer and carpenter. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Jane Walks. The father died in 1878, and the mother survives him and makes her home with her children, all of whom are still living.

Our subject attended the district school near his home and assisted his father on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he began to work for others, and in 1883 went to Barnes county, North Dakota, where he remained, and on the 8th day of June, of that year, he filed a claim to his pres- ent farm as a homestead. He is now the owner of nine quarter-sections of land, and one quarter-sec- tion is in Stutsman county. He worked in the pineries of Minnesota during the winters of 1883, '84 and '85, and the following winter carried mail each Saturday, from Uxbridge, now Leal, to San- born and return, and spent the balance of the week attending school at Leal. When he located on his farm for permanent residence he was his own housekeeper for three years, and then employed a housekeeper three yeras. His first wheat crop was

fron ten acres of land, and after hauling it five miles to have it threshed and putting it into the granery, prairie fire destroyed the annual products. Such discouragements did not daunt him and he is now among the fortunate farmers of that locality.

Our subject was married, in Cooperstown, June 19, 1893, to Miss Mary E. Hilborn, a native of York county, Canada, and a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Hilborn, prominent farmers of Barnes county. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, as follows: Milton H., Clifford H. and Fred S. Mr. Wilson is prominent in public affairs, and has held various offices in his county and township. He was appointed to fill an unex- pired term on the board of county commissioners, in 1896, and the following year was elected to serve a term of three years in that capacity. He has al- ways taken an active interest in educational affairs, and has served as school clerk in his district for the past ten years. In point of continuous residence he is the oldest settler in Dover township, and is highly esteemed throughout that region. Politically he is an independent voter.

EMERSON H. SMITH, one of Fargo's most prominent and influential citizens, is now the junior member of the well-known law firm of Newton & Smith. Although he has but recently become a member of the bar, he has already won distinction in his chosen profession. Thoroughness character- izes all his efforts, and he conducts all his business with a strict regard to a high standing of profes- sional ethics.

Mr. Smith was born in Orange county, Vermont, April 8, 1854, and is a son of Richard and Frances (Hall) Smith, also natives of that state, where the father was successfully engaged in business as a stock raiser and tinsmith throughout life. He was a man of prominence in his community and was honored with a number of public positions, serving as a member of the lower house of the Vermont leg- township, is a man of excellent ability and a good

capacity for well-directed labor, and has placed him- self in a high station among his fellows. He makes his home in section 9 and has gathered about him islature for two terms, and as constable sixteen years. He was also captain of Company E, Second Vermont Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and was in the service for two years and a half, participating with the Army of the Potomac in the battle of the Wilderness and in other important engagements. He died in Vermont in 1899, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years, and his wife passed away in 1878. To them were born five chil- dren, four sons and one daughter, of whom two sons now reside in Fargo, North Dakota. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Ebenezer Smith, was also a native of Vermont and a son of Jonathan Smith, whose father, James Smith, was the founder of the family in the new world. He was born in England and on his emigration to this country

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settled in Middleboro, Massachusetts. He entered the Continental army during the Revolutionary war and died in the service, while his son Jonathan was a soldier in the war of 1812. Ebenezer Smith was an extensive farmer, owning one thousand acres of land, and for a quarter of a century he was select- man in his town. He had a family of thirteen chil- dren, eight sons and five daughters.

In the old Green Mountain state Emerson H. Smith grew to manhood and received excellent edu- cational advantages, attending the St. Johnsbury Academy and the Randolph Normal School, both in Vermont, and the Meridian Academy of New Hampshire. He then entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1882. He was made principal of the schools at Newmarket, New Hampshire, and served as such for two years, dur- ing which time he took up the study of law with Judge Mellows, of that place. As his health failed, he came west in 1884 to Fargo, and was superin- tendent of the city schools here for seven years, or until 1891. He then followed farming for one year and resumed the study of law with Seth New- man. He was elected mayor of Fargo in 1892, and during the two years he filled that office did much to assist the city after the great fire. He again took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar before the supreme court in 1896. He at once opened an office in Fargo and alone en- gaged in practice until forming his present part- nership, in 1897. He is meeting with well-deserved success and occupies an enviable position among the representative legal practitioners of the city. As a Republican he takes quite an active and prominent part in political affairs, and in the interests of his party has made many speeches throughout the state. He still maintains an interest in educational affairs and for five years was one of the trustees of Fargo College.

On the 16th of August, 1882, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Ella Knight, who was born in Orleans county, Vermont, and they become the parents of two children, but only Helen E. is now living.

JUDGE C. F. TEMPLETON, senior member of the firm of Templeton & Rex, is an attorney of note and has long stood at the head of the Grand Forks county bar. He is thoroughly learned in his profession, always a student as well as practitioner, intelligent, and devoted to the interests entrusted to his keeping, is earnest in his convictions and an able advocate, and impresses upon his listeners his own convictions. He has built up an extensive practice in Grand Forks, and is one of the public- spirited citizens of that city.

Our subject was born in Washington county, Vermont, June 21, 1856, and was a son of Horatio and Rhoda (Folsom) Templeton, both of whom were natives of Vermont. The father was engaged in farming and the general merchandise business

and died in Vermont in 1895, aged seventy-six years.

Mr. Templeton was reared and educated in his native state and attended Barre Academy, at Barre, Vermont, and entered Dartmouth College in 1874 and graduated from the institution in 1878. He at once began the study of law at Montpelier, Ver- mont, and was admitted to practice in December, 1880. During the same year he went to Fargo and formed a partnership with Hon. B. F. Spaulding, which existed until July, 1887, he having been ap- pointed by Governor Church attorney-general for the territory, and he served until October, 1888, and then resigned to accept the judgeship of the old eighth judicial district, being appointed by Cleve- land in October; 1888. He was re-elected in 1889 and 1893, and continued on the bench until 1897. January 1, 1897, he resumed his practice at Grand Forks, having removed to that city in 1889. He and Mr. Scott Rex are now associated in the prac- tice of law, and are widely known throughout that region and receive a good share of the patronage.

Mr. Templeton was married, in Vermont, in 1881, to Miss Edna C. Carleton, a native of Ver- mont. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Templeton, named as follows: Bertha C., Maud R., Francis H. and Ruth C. Mr. Temple- ton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has passed the Knight Templar degree of the order. He is a Democrat politically and has affiliated with the party throughout his career, but takes but little part in political movements.

JAMES O. WOLD, an enterprising member of the farming community of Ransom county, has devoted the greater part of his life to agriculture, in the pursuit of which he has been very fortunate. He is proprietor of a fine farm in Liberty town- ship, his homestead being located there in section 8.

Our subject was born near Bergen, Norway, March 25, 1842, and was the second in a family of eight children born to Ole J. and Maria (Johnsen) Wold. The mother now lives in Minnesota and our subject is now the oldest of her living children. He worked in his native country by the year until he became of age, and then crossed the ocean to America, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin, where his cousin resided. Later he went to Winne- shiek county, Iowa, and there passed his first winter in America, attending the public school and soon ac- quired a good English education. He purchased a farm in Moore county, Minnesota, and there re- sided until the spring of 1882, when he disposed of his interests and went to North Dakota. He spent one month in Cass county, and then located on the farm which he now owns, filing a homestead claim to the land. He had seven head of cattle and three horses, but was without means, and for the neces- saries he and his two sons worked out by the day. He is careful in the conduct of his farm and by the best of management has acquired a well improved

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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 56

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