Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 61

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 61

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Our subject was married, in 1887, to Miss Car- oline Pierson, a native of Iowa, who went to Da- kota with her parents in 1882. Mrs. Larson's father, Joseph Pierson, was an early settler of North Da- kota. Mr. Larson has served as township treasurer of Courtenay township, and is active in all matters of a public nature. He is widely and favorably known and well merits his success.

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WINFIELD S. STAMBAUGH, attorney-at- law, has been a resident of Fargo a short time com- paratively, but has gained an enviable reputation as a man of practical nature and sound mind. He is junior member of the firm of Newman, Spalding & Stambaugh, and has become well-known in that locality.

Our subject was born in Plymouth, Ohio, March 10, 1852, and was one of two sons born to David W. and Rachel ( Wyandt) Stambaugh, natives respect- ively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. His father was a lawyer and practiced many years at New Philadel- phia, and died in 1869. He was county attorney for many years and a member of the state senate at the time of his death. Of his two sons the brother of our subject died in 1874.

Winfield S. Stambaugh was reared and educated in Ohio in the high schools of that state, and in 1870 went to Abiline, Kansas, where he remained twenty- eight years. He began the study of law soon after locating in Kansas, and was admitted to practice in all courts in 1874. He read law with Judge John H. Mahon, of the court of appeals, and began the practice of the profession with him in 1875, which partnership continued two years. Mr. Stambaugh then practiced alone until 1879, when he became as- sociated with G. W. Hurd, and the firm of Stam- baugh & Hurd continued until our subject left Kan- sas. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in January, 1898, and entered partnership with the firm above named.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Linda G. Upshaw, a native of Illinois. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stambaugh, as follows: Scott and Lynn. Mr. Stambaugh is a member of the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He joined the last named in 1876, and the grand lodge of Kansas in 1879, and resigned a position on the Grand Tribune of that state when he removed to North Dakota. He is active in public affairs wherever he resides, and is well-known as a man of high charac- ter, and is an earnest worker for good government. He is identified with the Republican party, and is an able campaign speaker.

JOHN SIMONS. There are in every com- munity men of great force of character and excep- tional ability, who by reason of their capacity for leadership become recognized as foremost citizens, and bear a most important part in the development and progress of the locality with which they are connected. Such a man is Mr. Simons, who is prominently identified with the business interests of Valley City, and is also serving as chairman of the North Dakota Railway Commission.

He was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, April 27, 1858, a son of Simon O. and Line Olive Si- mons, both natives of Norway. The father was born in 1816 and diedin Wisconsin in 1861, but the mother is still living and finds a pleasant home with our subject. When a child of six years he accompanied

the family on their removal to Dakota county, Min- nesota, where he grew to manhood upon a farm. During his youth he clerked in a store for a time.

In 1878 Mr. Simons came to Fargo, Northlı Dakota, and the following year took up his residence in Valley City, where he at once embarked in the farm machinery business. Here he has since con- tinned to carry on operations with the exception of four years spent in Superior, Wisconsin, to which place he removed in 1890. There he engaged in the hardware business, and in 1892 and 1893 served as chief of police in that city, having at times forty or fifty officers under him. He creditably filled that position during the most stiring times in the history of that place. In December, 1893, he returned to Valley City and resumed his former business, in which he has met with marked success.

In 1885 Mr. Simons led to the marriage altar Miss Annie Omnes, of Minnesota, and they now have four children, Elsie, Walter H., Cora and Nor- man, all born in Valley City.

Mr. Simons has been honored with a number of public positions of trust and responsibility. He served as sheriff of Barnes county from 1884 until 1890, and held the office of United States deputy marshal here in early days. He has been a member of the penitentiary committee for one term, and in 1898 was elected to his present office, that of chair- man of the railway committee, which he is now filling in a most commendable and satisfactory manner.

RALPH E. MOREHOUSE. While the pio- neers of the country are the men who mold her des- tiny, it remains for the rising generation to carry the work to its desired conclusion, and one of the rising young men of Steele county, North Dakota, who is fitting himself for this great work is the gen- tleman above named. He has begun a career of use- fulness, and is persevering, studious, and possessed of those traits of character which distinguish the worthy citizen and man of business possibilities. He is at present book-keeper and collector in Hope, North Dakota, and is also studying law for admis- sion to the bar.

Our subject was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, February 27, 1880, and was a son of William E. and Mary L. (Thurston) Morhouse. The Morhouse family is of Holland and the Thurston family of English lineage, and both families settled in the state of New York, prior to the Revolution, and both families were represented in that war. Our subject's father fought four years in the Civil war. He enlisted in 1861 as a member of Company K. First Wisconsin Infantry, and re-enlisted the same year in Company G of the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry. Most of his service was on the Missis- sippi. He was mustered out in 1865 and received an honorable discharge. Mr. Morehouse was the fourth in a family of six children and received a lib-

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eral education. After completing the studies of the Mitchell high school he went to Hope, North Da- kota, in 1896, and began the study of law, with his brother-in-law, T. J. McMahon. A portion of his time is devoted to collecting and bookkeeping work for Dr. Philip of that city, and he also teaches school during the winter months.

Mr. Morehouse is a young man who keeps posted on all matters of public importance, and has a bright future in North Dakota. He is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeoman. In po- litical sentiment he is independent.

JOHN CHEZIK. What can be accomplished by persistent industry and strict attention to busi- ness is exemplified in the life of the subject of this review, who is one of the leading and well-to-do citizens of Summit township, Richland county. He makes his home on section 6, and is engaged in the pursuit of agriculture.

Our subject was born in Bohemia, about 1837. He was reared on a farm in his native land, and re- mained there until the fall of 1860 when he came to America. He remained in Baltimore a short time and then went direct to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he stayed until the fall of 1861. He then went to Grant county, Wisconsin, and was engaged at farm labor for about seven years, after which he purchased a farm in Iowa county, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming for himself. He remained thus until the spring of 1881, when he went to Da- kota, entering a homestead claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 6, in Summit township, where he has since made his home. He now owns one quarter-section of land, and on his home farm has erected a comfortable residence and other farm buildings, and is surrounded by the comforts of country life. His two children, Mary M. and An- thony R., each own a quarter-section of land adjoin- ing their father's.

Our subject was married in Grant county, Wis- consin, November 18, 1865, to Miss Mary Kops- hever, who was born in Bohemia, in March, 1844. Mrs. Chezik came to America with her parents in 1857. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chezik, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving children bear the following names: John J., Mary M., Joseph A., Stasia B., Anthony R., Fred, Rose C and George R.

ISAAC N. WEAR, M. D., of whom a portrait will be found in this volume, is one of the most successful physicians of North Dakota and a prom- Inent resident of Fargo. He has much natural ability, but is withal a close student and believes thoroughly in the maxim "there is no excellence without labor." His devotion to the duties of his profession, therefore, combined with a compre- hensive understanding of the principles of the science of medicine, has made his a most successful

and able practitioner, whose prominence is well deserved.

The Doctor was born in McDonough county, Illinois, March 25, 1852, a son of Joseph D. and Mary (Downs) Wear, natives, of Tennessee and Indiana, respectively. The grandfather, Hugh Wear, was born in Virginia and was a planter of that state prior to his removal to Knoxville, Ten- nessee. Later he became a resident of Illinois, where he took up government land, and in that state he died at the age of eighty-four 'years. The father of our subject, who was a farmer by occupation, also died in Illinois at the age of eighty-one. In his family were five sons, four of whom are still living.

Dr. Wear, acquired his literary education at Abingdon, Illinois, and for six years successfully engaged in teaching school in that state, being made principal of the Plymouth schools at the early age of twenty years. While thus employed he com- menced the study of medicine and in 1876 entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1878. For four years he engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at Fandon, Illinois, and in the meantime took a post graduate course at Rush in 1880.

In 1882 Dr. Wear came to Fargo, North Da- kota, where he has since made his home, enjoying a large and lucrative practice. In 1890 he went to Europe and visited the hospitals of London, Paris and Germany, remaining abroad three months, and in 1897, in company with Prof. Senn and Prof. George R. Fowler, of New York, visited Rome and Athens, the Constantinople military hospitals, Vien- na, Buda Pest, Moscow, St. Petersburg and the hospitals of Stockholm and Christiania. In this way he has become familiar with the different methods of caring for suffering humanity in all countries and has adopted those customs and prac- tices which he believes to be the best. This, to- gether with the love he bears for his profession, has been the secret of his great success. For eight years, up to 1898, he was assisted in his work by Dr. Campbell, and in May, 1899, he took in as his assistant Dr. Wheeler, which connection still exists. Dr. Wear is a member of the American Medical Association, the North Dakota State Medical So- ciety and an honorary member of the Minnesota State Medical Society. He is now serving as presi- dent of the North Dakota state medical board of examiners and is ex-president of the North Dakota State Medical Society, and devotes his entire time and attention to his professional duties.

Dr. Wear was married, in 1888, to Miss Lula Thomas, a daughter of Judge Thomas, who is rep- resented elsewhere in this volume. Socially the Doctor is a thirty-second-degree Mason and a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias. Travel and his so- cial, genial nature have made him an entertaining companion and he is a stanch and loyal friend, fond of good fellowship and devoted to those who have his confidence. It should be mentioned in this con-

ISAAC N. WEAR, M. D.

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nection that Dr. Ware is local examining physician for the New York Life Insurance Company, Mutual Life of New York, Equitable Life of New York, Germania Life, Pennsylvania Mutual, Home, Northwestern Mutual of Milwaukee, Union Cen- tral of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Travelers Life. He is also surgeon for the Northern Pacific & Milwaukee Railroad, at Fargo, and also surgeon for Fargo hospital.

HANS J. OSTERN, a prosperous farmer of Hall township, Sargent county, has devoted his en- tire career to the pursuit of agriculture and is thor- oughly posted in the details of farming and has met with marked success since taking up his residence in Dakota. He is an early settler of that region and has improved his own estate and aided in bringing about the present solid prosperity enjoyed in Sar- gent county. He makes his home on section 25 and every arrangement for the convenience or com- fort of the family has been provided.

Our subject was born in Houston county, Min- nesota, December 12, 1860, of Norwegian parents. He was the third in a family of eight children born to John E. and Caroline Ostern. . His parents came to America in the '5os and settled in Houston coun- ty, Minnesota, where the father died January 28, 1899.

Hans J. Ostern was reared on a farm in his na- tive county and lived there until he was twenty years of age, attending school and assisting his father with the farm work. He went to Dakota in the fall of 1880 and worked at farm labor in Cass count- ty for two years and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 25, in Hall town- ship, Sargent county, where he has since resided. He has erected a model residence and made other valuable improvements and is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land.

Our subject was married, in Cass county, North Dakota, December 9, 1882, to Miss Anna Friskopp. who was born in Norway, April 30, 1859. Mr. and Ostern are the parents of two children, named John C. and Clara A. Mr. Ostern is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is industrious and honest and well merits his success.

REV. OLE K. ANDERSEN, pastor of the Standing Rock Norwegian Evangelical church, at Fort Ransom, resides upon his present farm on sec- tion 35 in Fort Ransom township. He is a gentle- man of excellent education, beloved by his people, and possesed of ability and grace of character, which has made the church of which he has charge one of the leading congregations of that denomina- tion.

Rev Mr. Andersen was born in the country vil- lage Ytteren, in Hegeland, Norway, July 9, 1856. He followed fishing and sailing in his native land,

and when twenty years of age came to America, and worked in Minnesota about three years. He then took up the classical and theological courses at Angohing College and Theological Seminary, later completing his studies in Chicago at Dr. Widener's Theological Seminary, when he was or- dained to the ministry in 1887, and at once went to Ransom county, Dakota. He had charge of the Standing Rock congregation and five others in Ransom, LaMoure and Barnes connties, all of which were without church buildings. He now has charge of three congregations, and two of them have erected churches, and the third is to erect a house of worship in the near future. Standing Rock congregation was organized in 1882, by Rev. J. L. Lundeby, who was followed by Rev. L. C. Hill, who in turn was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Andersen. Upon his arrival in Ransom county the congregation consisted of sixty families, and now numbers one hundred families. A church building was erected in 1890, and was completed and dedicated in 1898. It is located in Fort Ransom, and the building is an imposing structure, 50x32 feet, with a vestry 24x16 feet. The spire extends eighty feet from the ground. Mr. Andersen's farm comprises eighty acres of land along the river, and is a pleasant home.

Our subject was married in 1894, to Miss Maria Andersen. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson as follows: Ely A. and Ethel J. Our subject is a firm advocate of prohibition and in political faith is a Republican. His labors have been successful to a marked degree, and he is de- servedly held in the highest esteem throughout the locality.

ALTON G. COVELL, one of the leading mer- chants of Sykeston, Wells county, is also interested largely in farming and stock raising near that city. He is a man of excellent education and has attained a prominent position as a worthy citizen and busi- ness man.

Our subject was born on a farm in Erie county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1854. His father, W. W. Covell, was of English descent and was a farmer throughout his career. The great-grandfather of our subject, James Covell, served in the Revolu- tionary war. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Ellen E. Barber, was of English descent and her family settled in Rhode Island in colonial times.

Mr. Covell was the fourth in a family of seven children and attended the country schools and took an academic course and began reading law in 1877 and was admitted to the bar in 1880 in Pennsylvania. A partnership was then formed with his brother. C. L. Covell, and he remained with him two years and in 1883 came to North Dakota and located at Carrington and began the practice of his profession, in which he continued there three years. He lo- cated at Sykeston in 1886 and practiced law exclu-

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sively three years and during 1888-1889 was post- master at Sykeston. He established a general store în 1890 and now conducts one of the most extensive business concerns of that city. He was elected state's attorney in 1888 and served one term. He purchased a farm of four hundred and eighty acres in 1891, on which he has a complete set of good farm buildings and engages principally in stock raising.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss E. C. Butts. Mrs. Covell was born and raised in Minne- sota and is of English-German descent, a daughter of D. J. Butts, who is engaged in farming in North Dakota, and was an early settler of that state, hav- ing settled there in 1881. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Covell, as follows: William M., born March 23. 1886; Ellen E., born March 8, 1888; Clarence L., born March 8, 1890, and Alice R., born June 14, 1895. Mr. Covell was appointed United States commissioner in 1898 by Judge Amidon, of Fargo, and now serves in that capacity He is a member of the Congregational church and is a man of exemplary character and deservedly popular with the people.

JOHN A. KLOVSTAD. The lands beyond the sea have sent their full quota of energetic and in- dustrious men to Steele county, North Dakota, and many have won honorable stations as citizens and business men, winning their way amid the disad- vantages attending a stranger in a strange land. Among these is the subject of this review. He has resided in America many years and has thoroughly acquainted himself with American customs and methods and is well known and highly respected in Steele county, where he has been engaged in grain buying for many years and he has a handsome resi- dence in the city of Hope.

Our subject was born in Kongsberg, Norway, September 2, 1860, and was the second in a family of seven children born to Andrew S. and Anna O. (Warket) Klovstad, both of whom are deceased. He came to America with his father and eldest brother in 1870, when ten years of age, and after landing at New York City, they at once made their way to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where our sub- ject secured a position almost immediately with a physician, for whom he worked two years for his board and clothes and attended school regularly during the time. He and his father and brother went to Dodge county, Minnesota, in 1875, and there engaged in farming and in 1880 a home was made in Chippewa county and the same year the mother and the other children of the family joined them. Our subject went to Dakota in 1890 and en- tered the employ of the Red River Valley Elevator Company and was stationed as the agent at Hope. The company failed in about three years and our subject about the same time accepted a position as grain buyer for the Northwestern Elevator Com- pany at Hope. He has prospered as a business man

and possesses a fine residence property in the city as the result of his earnings.

Our subject was married, in 1894, to Miss Mayma B. Laramore. Two children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Klovstad, who bear the names of Annie E. L. and Ralph W. Mr. Klovstad is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the first named has passed the thirty-second degree. In political sentiment he is a Democrat and is firm in his convictions.

WILBUR F. CHAPMAN. This gentleman is the fortunate owner of one of the fine estates of Ayr township, Cass county, and is well known as a pioneer settler of that locality. He has devoted his attention wholly to his farm work and has he- come well-to-do and also gained an enviable station among his fellows.

Our subject was born in Youngstown, Ohio, September 26, 1848, and was a son of Wells A. and Catherine ( Mercer) Chapman, who were natives of Ohio. His father was a stock dealer and went to Wisconsin in 1849 and both parents died at Fox Lake, that state. They were the parents of four sons and three daughters, our subject being the only one now in North Dakota.

Mr. Chapman was reared in Wisconsin and re- ceived his education there and remained in that state until 1879, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, with his brother, Homer M. He home- steaded on section 30 in Ayr township, and he and his brother were among the earliest settlers of that. locality. He has resided there since that date and is now the owner of one half-section of land, all of which is well improved and furnishes a comfortable income.

Our subject was married, in 1881, in Wiscon- sin, to Martha Davies, a native of Wisconsin. Mrs. Chapman's parents, John H. and Mary J. ( Perry) Davies, were natives of Wales and Canada, respect- ively. Her father emigrated to America in 1843 and died in Wisconsin. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, as follows: Kath- erine J. and Jay W. Mr. Chapman assisted in the organization of his township and was a member of the first township board. He is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yoemen and in political sentiment is a Republican.

HOMER M. CHAPMAN, deceased, brother of Wil- bur F. Chapman, was a prominent farmer of Ayr township for many years and met with success in his vocation. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, March 9, 1841, and went to Wisconsin with his parents. He enlisted, March 7, 1865, in Com- pany A, Fifty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Army of the Potomac in Virginia. He served until the close of the war and was dis- charged from the service August 22, 1865, with the rank of corporal.

Mr. Chapman went to Dakota with his brother

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in 1879 and homesteaded on section 30 in Ayr town- ship, Cass county, where he resided until his death, which occurred January 20, 1900. Our subject was married, December 7, 1882, at Watertown, Wiscon- sin, to Elizabeth Prentice. Mr. Chapman was one of the organizers of the township and actively inter- ested in the general welfare of his community, but never sought or filled public office, devoting his time to the operation of his farm and met with remark- able success in his vocation. He was mourned by a large circle of friends as a true citizen, worthy the esteem of his fellow men.

JOHN LUBENOW. Among the foreign born residents of Richland county, North Dakota, who are thoroughly identified with American civilization and progress may be noted this gentleman. He owns a fine estate in section 7, of Sumit township, where the usual improvements have been made and such arrangements consummated as make it a comfortable home.

Our subject was born in Germany, April 19. 1846, and came to America in 1866. He went to Dodge county, Wisconsin, removing from thence to Dakota in May, 1872. He located on section 7, in Sumit township, at once and has since made his home there. He owns three quarter-sections of land and is successfully engaged in general farming.

Mr. Lubenow was married, in Wisconsin, in 1872, to Minnie Mitzel, a native of Germany. Mrs. Lubenow died in January, 1880. Four children, two sons and two daughters, were born of this union, the sons now surviving, as follows: Emil and Frank. Mr. Lubenow was married in Richland county North Dakota, March 15, 1880, to Augusta Mitzel. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lubenow : Louisa, John, Lina, Albert, Richard, William and Fred. Mr. Lubenow is thor- oughily conversant with the details of his calling and a visit to his farm at once convinces one of his industry and careful methods. He uses modern ma- chinery and otherwise lessens the labors incident to farm work. He is held in the higliest esteem by his associates and is entitled to much credit for the part he has taken in the present thriving condi- tion of that vicinity.

NICHOLAS SCHMITT. Among the better class of agriculturists of Richland county, North Dakota, who have given to that district fame as a thriving farming country, may well be named the gentleman whose life history is here presented. He has worked earnestly for the advancement of his community and his fine estate has done much to further the interests of that region. He makes his home on section 14, in Summit township, and is one of the early settlers of that locality.

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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 61

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