Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 60

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 60

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In September, 1880, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage with Miss Laura A. Whitton, of Rush- ville, Illinois, and to them have been born four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters. Those living are Ray and Vera.

LOUIS A. JACOBSON, junior partner of the drug firm of Wamberg & Jacobson, of Hope, North Dakota, is a man of excellent business qualifications, and has been identified with the financial growth of Steele county. He now has charge of the exten- sive farming interests of the firm, and is well known as an early settler of that locality.

Onr subject was born in Rock county, Wiscon- sin, December 31, 1859. His parents, Jacob and Randi (Synderol) Jacobson, were natives of Nor- way, and came to America in 1848 and were mar- ried in this country. They reared a family of six children, our subject being the third in order of birth.

Our subject worked on a farm and secured a common school education, after which he engaged in teaching, and by his efforts obtained the means with which to pursue a three-years course of study

at Beloit College. He entered the employ of the American Express Company in 1880, and then spent two years as express messenger, and in the fall of 1882 began buying grain for the Cowgill Elevator Company, and was stationed at Hope, North Da- kota, five years. He purchased an interest in the general merchandise business with Mr. Wamberg in March, 1883, and after his employment as grain buyer turned his attention to the mercantile busi- ness. Since the general merchandise department was disposed of in 1894, and the business is solely a drug business, Mr. Jacobson devotes his attention to the farming interests of the firm. They own fourteen hundred acres of land in various parts of Steele county, and are successful farmers and busi- ness mien.

Our subject was married, in February, 1883, to Miss Etta C. Johnson, a native of Boone county, Illinois. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson, as follows: Ernest, Eunice I., William and Lillian R. Mr. Jacobson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has passed the thirty-second and Shrine degrees, and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Grand Lodge, and is at present grand junior dea- con. He also holds membership in the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He is a man of active public spirit and was elected county treasurer in the fall of 1884, at the first general election. Politically he is a Republican.

SAMUEL TAYLOR is one of the extensive land owners and successful farmers of Richland county, his estate in Center township covering four hundred and eighty acres. He has resided on sec- tion 6 in that township until recently, when he re- moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota. He has accu- mulated a fine property and is one of the substantial . men of that locality.

Our subject was born in Huntingtonshire, England, March 9, 1838. He came to the United States in the fall of 1856, landing at New York November 14, and proceeded at once to Cayuga county, New York. He was engaged in farming for others for three years, and during the summer of 1860 returned to his native land, remaining there until May, 1864, when he again emigrated to America. He resided in the vicinity of Auburn, New York, for about two years, and then removed to Wisconsin, locating in Grant county, where he was employed at gardening for two years, later fol- lowing the trade of a carpenter, and then located on a farm and engaged in farming there until he went to Dakota in 1872. In the spring of that year he began farming on a quarter-section of land in sec- tion 6, Center township, Richland county, and his present well-improved estate is the result of his labors. He has erected a complete set of substan- tial farm buildings and completed every arrangement for the comforts of country life. He now makes his home in the town of Wahpeton, whither he

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removed in the fall of 1899, having a comfortable house which he erected that year.

Our subject was married, in Grant county, Wis- consin, March 15, 1871, to Miss Julia Gudger, daughter of David and Mary (Deats) Gudger. Mrs. Taylor was born in Dodge county, Wiscon- sin, June 11, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been the parents of five children, three of whom are now living, as follows: Charles E., George W. and Flora A. A daughter, Clara, died in infancy, and a son, John A., died in 1886, aged five and a half years. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Taylor is an in- terested worker for the advancement of his locality, and all public enterprises meet with his hearty ap- proval and support. He has followed the pursuit of agriculture during his entire career in Dakota, and has become one of the well known and success- ful men of that region.

ANULF STEENSON, one of the prominent and wide-awake early settlers of Eldorado township, Traill county, is now engaged in diversified farming on his pioneer farm and has accumulated a fine property. He is held in the highest esteem by his associates and enjoys the confidence of those among whom he has resided since the early days of the set- tlement of that region.

Our subject was born in Nummedal, Norway, May 19, 1856, and was the youngest in a family of four children born to Steen and Isabella (Anulf- datter ) Knudson. The family came to America in 1860 and settled in Mitchell county, Iowa, where a new farm was opened up, and there our subject received a common-school education and later at- tended the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, Iowa, and fitted himself for a teacher. He taught school for about three years, and in the spring of 1878 went to North Dakota and traveled through that state and Minnesota by team with a companion. During the summer of that year he filed a claim to the southwest quarter of section 6 in Eldorado township, where his buildings now stand. He be- came a permanent settler in the spring of 1879 and lived alone in a 10x12 board shanty till 1881. He borrowed money with which to get to Dakota, and is now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he has erected a fine residence 28x30 feet, and in 1888 built a fine barn 40x52 feet. He has an artesian well, and from this gets a good sup- ply of water, making his farm one admirably adapted to diversified farming. He taught the first school opened in Eldorado township, which was in October, 1879, and about twelve pupils com- pleted the enrollment. He received twenty dollars per month and board for his recompense, and the pupils occupied a 14×16-foot tar-papered shanty.

Our subject was married, in January, 1882, to Miss Gunel Pederson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steenson, as follows: Ste- phen, Tilda, Thomas and Carl. Mr. Steenson was

township clerk from the organization of the town- ship in 1881 to 1894, and was also elected county commissioner for the second district in 1890 and served three years. He was elected county treas- urer in 1894 and proved an efficient and popular officer, being returned for a second term. 11e is a Republican in political faith and has attended county and state conventions of his party. In re- ligious belief he is a Lutheran and a member of that denomination.

PAUL A. SCHMOKER, residing on section 34, in Saratoga township, La Moure county, is entitled to prominent mention as a representative farmer and worthy citizen. He is one of the rising young men of his community, and has made a model farm on which he has added such improvements as enhance its value and add to the comfort of the family. He. is progressive and energetic, and it is by dint of his own persistent efforts that he has accumulated a comfortable competence.

Our subject was born in Fountain City, Wis- consin, February 9, 1865, and was the sixth in a family of eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters. His father, Paul Schmoker, was born in Pennsylvania, and was married in his native state to Miss Rose Steele, a native of Germany. They are now living with their daughter, Mrs. C. E. Lar- son, of Sheridan township.

Our subject attended school in his native place and then worked at farm labor in his vicinity and upon the Mississippi river, and in the spring of 1884 went to La Moure county, North Dakota. For the first three years he worked for his brother-in-law, Nick Schmid, and in 1887 he entered claim to land on which he still resides. He is now the owner of one half-section of land, and his dwelling is on an eminence overlooking the James river valley, altogether a pleasant homestead.

Our subject was married in Dickey, North Da- kota, February 3, 1899, to Miss Viola Mack, a native of Michigan, who was born in 1878. They have one son, Russell Lowell, born November 21, 1899. Mrs. Schmoker is a daughter of C. H. and Rosella Mack, and her father is the present postmaster of Dickey. Mr. Schmoker is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. He is active in public affairs, and although a young man has placed himself in an enviable position among his fellows. In political sentiment he is a Republican, and is strong in his convictions. He keeps pace with the times and stands for equity and right, and is a man in whom the people can repose confidence. His property has been acquired by the exercise of those characteristics which mark the intelligent man who enjoys the comforts of a country life.

JOHN LUCIU'S PRADER, a prominent and successful farmer of township 148, range 66, re- sides on his fine farm near the town of New Rock-

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ford and also conducts the machine business in that place in company with Dr. J. C. Whiteman. He and Mr. Whiteman also operate a steam threshing out- fit, and Mr. Prader has successfully operated a threshing machine since he started to farming. He is a man of energetic spirit and has gained many friends by his push and industry and is one of the rising young men of his community.

Mr. Prader was born in Switzerland, in 1873, on a farm. His father, John L. Prader, came to Amer- ica when our subject was six years old, and he is at present engaged in farming in North Dakota. Most of the forefathers of our subject have served in the Swiss army.

Mı. Prader was raised on a farm in Wisconsin and attended the country schools and assisted with the work of the farm. He removed with his parents to Dakota when he was sixteen years of age, and the family located on land which the father had taken of the government several years previously and they were among the first settlers of Eddy county. After attaining his majority our subject started for him- self and in the spring of 1884 purchased the north- west quarter of section 8, in township 148, range 66, and lived thereon alone and followed farming several years. He now has a fine farm of six hun- dred and forty acres, about five hundred of which is under cultivation, and on his home farm has a few forest trees, plenty of small fruits, an abundance of good water and a complete set of farm buildings, and is supplied with all necessary machinery of modern pattern for the lessening of labor. He en- gages principally in wheat raising and his best crops averaged thirty-five bushels per acre. He keeps about fifteen head of horses and twelve head of cat- tle. and his estate is well kept in every respect and is a short drive from the town of New Rockford. He and Mr. J. C. Whiteman established the machine business in 1898, since which time they have built up a good patronage.

He is a member of the German Reform church and is a man of good business qualifications and exemplary character and prominent in local affairs of a public nature. He has held numerous town- ship offices and is the present county coroner. Po litically he is a Democrat and stands firmly for the principles of his party.

CHARLES F. SIMS, vice-president of the U'nion National Bank and superintendent of the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Company, is one of the pioneer settlers of North Dakota and a prominent business man of Grand Forks. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, October 10, 1831.

The parents of our subject, George and Hannah (Cross) Sims, were natives of Connecticut and New Hampshire, respectively, and the father was a farmer and moved to Wisconsin in 1860 and now resides near Janesville, that state, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. The grandfather of our

subject, Robert Sims, was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, and came to the United States about 1785 and settled in Connecticut and was there mar- ried. He later removed to Otsego county, New York, and in 1816 to Jefferson county, New York, and died in that state. The paternal grandmother bore the maiden name of Lydia Hanks. The ma- ternal grandfather, Theo Cross, was a native of New Hampshire and went to Jefferson county, New York, in 1823, and his was one of the first families to settle in New Hampshire.

Our subject is one of five sons and is the only one now residing in North Dakota. He was raised and educated in New York in the Carthage Acad- emy, and then learned the drug business at Ant- werp, New York, and followed the same two years, and in 1854 went to Wisconsin and settled in Jeffer- son county and spent two years, when he went to St. Anthony, now Minneapolis, and was engaged in the drug trade there eight years. He started to Idaho in 1864 with an expedition and they were attacked by Indians near Fort Rice and after three weeks were rescued by United States troops and were returned. Twelve men were killed and the others of the number returned to New York. Our subject went to St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1865, and engaged in milling there one year and then started for Montana with twenty-four teams of flour under the guidance of Captain Fisk, who had charge of the previous expedition. This last pushed through to Helena and arrived there with ox-teams. Our subject remained there three years and followed freighting, and in 1868 returned to Douglas county, Minnesota, and remained there until 1877. He had charge of the Alexandria mills and was postmaster one term. He went to California in 1877 and en- gaged in bee culture until 1878, when he returned to Alexandria and entered the employ of the Pills- bury & Hulbert Elevator Company, which was changed to the Minneapolis & Northern in 1885, and our subject came to Grand Forks in 1882 and has had charge of the affairs of the company in that place since that date. He was one of the organizers and one of the first directors of the Union National Bank and is now vice-president of the same.

Mr. Sims was married, in 1861, to Miss Laura E. Dorman, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of Daniel W. Dorman. Mr. Sims is a Republican in political sentiment, but has never sought public office, devoting himself to the business interests, and is highly esteemed by his many friends. A portrait of Mr. Sims will be found in connection with this sketch.

IION. ALEXANDER C. McGILLIVRAY, register of the United States land office, at Bis- marck, and state senator from the thirty-first dis- trict, is prominent both in political and business cir- cles. He is a native of Canada, born in Toronto, On- tario, January 24, 1859. His parents, Neil and Sarah (McCollum) McGillivray, are both natives of

Chast Sims.

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Scotland, and when children removed to Canada, where they now reside.

Our subject was reared and educated in Canada, and on coming to the United States, in 1877, first located in Chicago. For the following five years he was a traveling salesman for a New York dry goods house, representing the firm in Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. In 1882 he came to Bis- marck, North Dakota, where he engaged in clerk- ing for one year and then operated a general store at Weller, this state, which he conducted for nearly two years. During the following ten years he car- ried on a similar business at Dickinson, North Da- kota, was also forwarding agent for the Black Hills freight line, and was president of the Lehigh Coal Company for some years. He now owns and con- ducts a stock ranch at Indian Springs, where he raises Aberdeen and Angus cattle, having the largest herd of those breeds in the West. He is also en- gaged in breeding a high grade of both draft and driving horses, and as a stock raiser is meeting with most excellent success.

On the 11th of January, 1888, Mr. McGillivray, was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Mon- tague, a resident of Caro, Michigan, but a native of London, Ontario. Since becoming a citizen of this country he has been identified with the Republican party, and has been a member of the state central and executive committees. He served as county commissioner of Stark county for three years, and since 1889 he represented the thirty-first district in the state senate, of which he is now a prominent and influential member. In 1899 he was appointed register of the land office at Bismarck and is filling that position in a most creditable manner. He is a man of excellent business and executive ability, whose sound judgment, unflagging enterprise and capable management have brought to him a well-merited success. In manner he is pleasant and cordial, which, combined with his sterling worth, makes him one of the popular citizens of his community.

AURELIUS L. WALL, a prominent lumber dealer of Fargo, North Dakota, has been actively identified with the business interests of that city for some years. Enterprising, energetic and always abreast with the times, he is meeting with well- deserved success and has gained the confidence and esteem of his business associates.

Mr. Wall was born in the town of Hornby, Steuben county, New York, October 20, 1848, a son of Cornelius A. and Olive B. (Stanton ) Wall, also natives of the Empire state. His maternal ancestors were from Connecticut and were relatives of Secretary Stanton, a prominent member of Lin- coln's cabinet. The paternal great-great-grand- father of our subject was Samuel Wall, who came from England to this country soon after the Revolu- tionary war and settled in Rhode Island. The fam- ily continued their residence in the eastern states for many years. The grandfather, Lansing Wall,

was born in New York, and was a merchant tailor of New York City for many years and later of Rome, New York. From his native state the father of our subject removed to Amboy, Lee county, Illinois, in 1854, and there owned and operated a lumber yard and also engaged in school teaching to some extent until 1866, He is still living and makes his home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but the mother died in 1881. To them were born three sons and one daughter, the survivors being our sub- ject and one brother, who is now living in Dundee, New York.

Aurelius L. Wall was reared and educated in Illinois and at the age of fourteen years was offered a position with Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co., of Chi- cago. In 1864 he went to Grand Rapids, Michi- gan, where he remained until 1882, being engaged in the lumber business and also in the furniture trade as a mechanic. He then came to Fargo, North Dakota, and had charge of a lumber yard owned by Crockett & Shotwell for one year. When the Fargo Lumber Company was organized in 1883 he was made superintendent of the same and filled that posi- tion for two years, at the end of which time he re- moved to Binghamton, on the Soo Line. He con- ducted lumber yard at that place for two years and also entered land there. In 1886 he returned to Fargo to take charge of the yard of W. H. White, which he successfully managed until the spring of 1899, when he embarked in business on his own account as a lumber dealer and has since built up a good trade.

On the 27th of October, 1870, Mr. Wall was united in marriage with Miss Ida V. Stebbins, a native of Onondaga county, New York, and to them were born two children, a son and a daughter, but Lottie E. is the only one now living. In his polit- ical affiliations Mr. Wall is a Republican, and in 1893 and 1894 he was a member of the city council of Fargo. Socially he is a Knight-Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and is also a director of the Young Men's Christian Association. He occupies quite an enviable position in both busi- ness and social circles and is highly respected by all who know him.

ZADOK S. HOWE, an ex-soldier and promi- nent citizen of Richland county, North Dakota, has successfully engaged in farming in Center township since the pioneer days of that region. He now has a well-improved farm, and makes his home on sec- tion 10, the location which he chose so many years ago.

Mr. Howe was the eldest in a family of five chil- dren, and was born in Alexandria, Jefferson county, New York, April 27, 1837, a son of Washington and Jeanette (Davis) Howe. His father was a native of Herkimer county, New York, and his mother was. born in Cortland county, of the same state.

When eleven years of age our subject went with his parents to Ionia county, Michigan, where the.

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family settled on a farm in Keene township. He remained there until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-fifth Volunteer Infantry, as a musician. He served until June 19, 1865, and after being mustered out of the service returned to his home in lonia county, Michigan, remaining there until 1873. In June of that year he went to Dakota and took the homestead where he now re- sides in Center township. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land and is one of the substantial men of the community.

Our subject was married, in Keene township, Ionia county, Michigan, April 18, 1862, to Miss Nancy McCarty. Mrs. Howe was the third in a family of eleven children born to John and Sarah (Van Decor) McCarty, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Canada. Mrs. Howe was born in Blenham, Ontario, January 25, 1841, and at the age of ten years moved with her parents to Ionia county, Michigan. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Howe, as follows: Ella S., now Mrs. Charles Voss; Harry H., who died at the age of sixteen years ; Charles M., Ora E., now Mrs. D. C. Fuller, and Muriel A. Mr. and Mrs. Howe are earnest workers for the church, and Mr. Howe is a member of Sumner Post, No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Howe is a member of the Relief Corps. He has held various township offices and is an interested worker for education. He is well-known and highly respected as a worthy cit- 'izen.

STEPHEN A. LEWIS, editor of the "Carring- ton Record," is one of the intelligent and rising young men of Easter county, North Dakota. He has been a resident of the state since his childhood, and since attaining his majority has been identified with the development and financial growth of the locality where he has chosen to reside. He is an able editor and is fast attaining a prominent posi- tion in newspaper circles. His paper is one of the bright exchanges of that region, and is Republican in sentiment, and supports every public enterprise tending to the welfare of the locality.

Mr. Lewis was born in Wales, October 25, 1870, and was a son of Car and Anna (Adam) Lewis. Our subject was the youngest in a family of three children, and when six years of age moved with the family to Jamaica, where the father followed the mercantile business. Here he was raised and edu- cated at Potsdam College in the Blue mountains of Jamaica. The family removed to North Dakota in 1883, and settled in Carrington, and the following year moved to Jamestown, and in 1886 the father took land in Eddy county and erected thereon a claim shanty in which the family lived. Our suh- ject began to learn the printer's trade in 1884, on the "Foster County Gazette," owned by Fahning & Appleby, and worked at his trade in different parts of the state until 1808. In October, of that year he established the "Carrington Record," and is the

present editor of the paper. He has met with suc- cess in that calling, and the paper enjoys a wide cir- culation. He is possessed of intelligent and progres- sive ideas, and is deservedly popular throughout that region.

LEWIS O. LARSON, one of the early settlers of North Dakota, has successfully conducted farm- ing and mercantile pursuits and is now the leading merchant of Courtenay. He was for many years an agriculturist, and met with eminent success, but since taking up his business in Courtenay he has increased his patronage in the farm implement business, and has added furniture and also the undertaking busi- ness, and is one of the well-to-do men of Stutsman county.

Our subject was born in Columbia county, Wis- consin, in 1856, and was a son of Ole Larson, who came to America in 1853 and was a farmer by oc- cupation. He was the fifth in a family of nine children, and was reared on a farm in his native state and received his first schooling at the age of fourten years. He went to Washington at the age of twenty years, and worked three years at Seattle, that state, then returned home for one year, and in the spring of 1882 went to the southern part of Nelson county, North Dakota, and took land from the government under his three rights. He erected a claim shanty on his pre-emption, in which he lived alone about six months, and during the first year bought and shipped horses and stock. He filed on his homestead in 1883, and invested about one thou- sand five hundred dollars, and engaged in farming thereon for eight years, and cultivated three hundred and twenty acres of land, and erected a complete set of farm buildings, and raised grain successfully. He rented his farm in 1891, and moved to Coopers- town, North Dakota, where he purchased residence property and resided one year, and in 1892 went to Courtenay and built the first livery barn in that village, which he rented out, and later built a small building in which he conducted the implement busi- ness. His present building, 30x72 feet, which was erected in 1896, at which time our subject became a partner with Mr. J. H. Cooper, and in the spring of 1898 they added a stock of furniture, and also con- duct the undertaking business. A branch store was established at Kensal, North Dakota, in the spring of 1899, and is in charge of J. S. Tufford. Mr. Lar- son owns one hundred and sixty acres of land near Courtenay, and one hundred and sixty acres twelve miles north of that town, and is one of the able busi- ness men of that region.

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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 60

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