Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 63

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 63

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Our subject was married, at Fulton, Illinois, January 12, 1876, to Miss Mary S. Finch, who was also a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Springer have been the parents of eight children, three of whom died in infancy. Letha died at the age of fourteen years and the four surviving children bear the following names: Lulu, now Mrs. James Two- hig ; Cornelius, Herbert and Myrtle. Mr. Springer takes an active interest in local affairs and has been

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called upon to serve in various township offices, in- cluding supervisor and school director. He is an earnest worker in religious affairs and with Mrs. Springer belongs to the Evangelical church. He is one of the substantial citizens of Danton township and highly esteemed.

FRED S. GODDARD, a member of the pub- lishing firm of Goddard & Wright, and the present efficient postmaster of Ellendale, is an interested worker for the interests of his community and is held in the highest esteem throughout Dickey coun- ty. He has made a success of his vocation and is a man of excellent business qualifications.

Mr. Goddard was born in McGregor, Iowa, March 6, 1862, and was a son of A. M. and Jennie (McMannus) Goddard. His father was a native of Ohio and was a printer by trade, having started at the work at the age of twelve years. He was foreman of the "North Iowa Times" for twenty- two years, at McGregor, lowa. He died in March, 1883, and the mother of our subject died February 12, 1900, at McGregor.

Our subject attended the schools of his native place until about seventeen years of age, when he entered the "Times" office and there learned the printer's trade, which he followed five years in that office. He went to Ellendale, Dickey county, North Dakota, in 1883, and at once entered claim to land, which at the end of one year he sold. He then took a position on the "Leader" and worked on that paper and in the "Commercial" office until 1887, when he bought an interest in the "Leader," which was the first paper published in Dickey county. Under the management of Goddard & Wright the paper has prospered and is among the bright ex- changes of that region.

Our subject was married, in McGregor, lowa, in 1886, to Miss Anna Erickson, a native of Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Goddard have been the parents of two children : Hubert J. and Robert M. The last named died in infancy. Mr. Goddard is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the auxil- iaries of these orders. He was appointed postmaster of Ellendale under President Mckinley, which office he now holds and he has also served the city as mayor. His efforts have at all times been given to- ward the advancement of his city and county and is one of the recognized public-spirited men of his locality.

ALEXANDER R. WRIGHT, of the firm of Goddard & Wright, publishers of the "Dickey County Leader," is a young man who is rapidly ris- ing to a prominent place among the citizens of Dickey county. He is a resident of Ellendale, where the paper is published, and is one of the earnest workers for the advancement and development of that thriving city.

Mr. Wright was born in County Antrim, Ire- land. February 27, 1873. and was a son of Alexander and Eliza (Harkness) Wright. His father was a farmer by occupation, and after the death of the mother of our subject in 1881, he married Mary E. Smith in 1885.

Our subject attended the schools of his native place and came to America with his parents in 1888, the family locating at Waukesha, Wisconsin, where they remained a short time, and in December, 1888, our subject went to Ellendale, North Dakota, in company with his parents, who settled on a farm. He there assisted with the farm work, and at- tended school, and his work at printing was in the office of the "Commercial" in Ellendale, in which office he learned his trade. He became a member of the present firm of Goddard & Wright in De- cember, 1897, and is now rapidly gaining recognition among the newspaper men of that region.

Mr. Wright is the present city auditor, and takes an active interest in affairs of a public nature. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. A. O. U. W. of America. Politically he is a Republican.

JOHN AUGUSTUS JOHNSON, the present efficient and popular mayor of Fargo, North Da- kota, was born in Sweden April 24, 1842, and came to the United States in 1854 with his parents, set- tling in Washington county, Minnesota. He is the son of Lingren and Elizabeth (Lund) Johnson ; his mother and two sisters died of cholera soon after their arrival in Minnesota, leaving the father, who lived in Washington county until his death, in July, 1895. After the death of his mother he was thrown upon his own resources to shift for himself in a strange land. He attended school at Stillwater, Minnesota, and also the Epworth Seminary at Ep- worth, Iowa. In the fall of 1860 he conceived the idea that it would be profitable to raise stock in Texas and went there; the war breaking out pre- vented him carrying out his plans.

He came north as soon as possible and went to work on the Ohio & Mississippi Railway in Indiana, and soon rose to the position of locomotive engineer, in which capacity he served the United States gov- ernment during the latter part of the war in Ala- hama, Tennessee and Georgia. Returning north after the close of hostilities, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was married to Miss Agnes A. Coler, who still survives. After his marriage he re- turned to Minnesota. Five children have blessed the tinion : Alice E. ( now Mrs. Alice E. Mahnken) ; J. Chester, an attorney of Fargo : Clarence F., now in California and engaged in newspaper work; Laura A., at home, and Lawrence E., a soldier in the Philippines.

In 1873 he was nominated for the office of sheriff of Washington county, Minnesota, by the Repub- licans, with which political party he has been affil- iated since he became of age. He was elected by a large majority and re-elected in 1875 and 1877, in

HON. JOHN A. JOHNSON

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each case receiving every vote in the county. While he was sheriff he devoted his spare time to the study of law in the office of Judge McCluer and has been admitted to practice in all the state and federal courts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

In 1880 he came to Fargo as manager of the corporation of Seymour, Sabin & Company, in which he was largely interested. In 1882 he was elected to the city council in Fargo for two years, but resigned after serving one year. In 1883 he was elected a member of the board of education of the city of Fargo and in 1885 was elected mayor of Fargo, defeating Charles R. Reddick. In 1896 he was again elected mayor of Fargo, defeating Colonel W. F. Ball, and was again re-elected in 1898, de- feating Mr. O. G. Barnes by the largest majority ever given a mayoralty candidate in Fargo. He is also first vice-president of the League of American Municipalities, an international organization con- sisting of the leading cities of the United States and Canada.

Mr. Johnson has traveled extensively in Central and South America, the West Indies and Europe. In 1897 he was tendered the position of consul to Guttenburg, Sweden, and declined, which was very much of a surprise to many of his friends, there being over fifty applicants for the position, while Mr. Johnson had not filed any papers nor made an application for it. Some of the Twin City papers cartooned him as the "Fargo freak," it being an unheard of thing for a North Dakotian to refuse a federal appointment, more especially one of so much importance and which carried so great honors as the one he refused.

Mr. Johnson is a member of various fraternal organizations, such as the Masons, Odd Fellows, United Commercial Travelers of America and the Zodiac, and has held im- portant official positions in them all. In Ma- sonry he is a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine and was an officer of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Minnesota for a number of years. He was also deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows for Minnesota one terni and has represented his council in the Grand Council of Commercial Travelers of America. On another page of this volume will be found a por- trait of Mr. Johnson.

DENNIS FORD, deceased. In the death of Dennis Ford, of Gill township, Cass county lost a worthy citizen and excellent farmer, as well as one of the early settlers of the county. He had fully improved his estate and was highly esteemed where he had lived for some years.

Mr. Ford was born in county Cary, Ireland, June 18, 1830, and was a son of Patrick and Kath- erine (Casey) Ford. His parents were natives of Ireland and came to America about 1849 and settled in Canada, where they passed the remainder of their

lives. Our subject was reared in Ireland and came with his parents to Canada and later entered land in Canada and followed farming there until 1878. March 17, of that year, he entered claim to a quar- ter of section 12 as a homestead and began at once to make a home there. He later entered claim to land as a tree claim in the same township and at the time of his death was the owner of one and a quar- ter sections of land.

Our subject was married, in Canada, in 1853, to Bridget King, a native of Ireland. Eleven chil- dren, nine of whom are still living, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, as follows: Catherine, John, Thomas, Julia, Michael, Annia, Morgan J., Maggie and Edward. Mr. Ford died November 16, 1887, mourned by a large circle of friends. Mrs. Ford survives and is now residing on the home farm. Mr. Ford was a member of the Catholic church and as- sisted in the erection of the first church in Cas- selton. He was active in public affairs and served as township assessor. Four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Ford now reside in Cass county. John, who was born in Canada, January 7, 1855, went to North Da- kota in 1880 and homesteaded the land on which he now lives. He is the owner of four hundred acres of land and is a prosperous farmer. He was mar- ried, in 1887, to Margaret Mckinnon, a native of Canada. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, as follows: Dennis, Florence M. and William J.

Michael Ford was born in Canada in 1863 and went to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1879, where he entered claim to land as a homestead and has since resided. He was married, in 1893, to Cath- erine Primeville, a native of Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Ford are the parents of the following children : Pauline, Dennis E. and Mary E.

Morgan J. Ford was born in Canada and went to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1879, and resided with his father. He is still a resident of the county, but remains unmarried.

Maggie, now Mrs. Alex Mckinnon, resides in Cass county and the youngest son, Edward E. Ford, lives on the homestead farm with the mother.

CHARLES J. HUTCHINSON, proprietor of one of the finest farms in La Moure county, resides on section 4, in Grand View township, and is widely known as a successful business man and worthy citizen. Mr. Hutchinson was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, December 26, 1857, and was the eldest in a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters.

The father of our subject, William H. Hutchin- son, was a native of Vermont, and during his active business career was a grain merchant. He is now living at Alexandria, Minnesota, retired from busi- ness pursuits. He was a soldier in the Civil war and was a member of Company T, Third Iowa In- fantry, and served four years and six months. He

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was a prisoner in Andersonville prison six months and suffered as did others in that most inhuman prison. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Betsey Westcot and was a native of Ver- mont.

When a child of four years our subject re- moved with his parents to McGregor, Iowa, where he lived a short time and then removed to Cato, Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, and there he re- ceived his education, with the exception of one term in the state normal at Oshkosh. He then taught school for a number of years in his native state and in 1881 removed to Alexandria, Minnesota, where he was a salesman in a dry-goods store and was also engaged with his father in the grain and produce business. He remained in Minnesota about four years and in 1885 went to La Moure county, North Dakota, and soon afterward filed claim to the north- west quarter of section 4. in Grand View township. He still resides on that farm, on which he has added modern improvements and from time to time has added to his acreage and is now the possessor of four hundred and eighty acres. His farm is fully equipped with machinery of the most approved style and every convenience of farming is supplied and his home is one of the pleasant places of La Moure county.

Our subject was married, in Cato, Wisconsin, in 1877. to Miss Sarah G. Classon, a native of Reed- ville, Wisconsin, who was born in 1859. Mrs. Hutchinson was a daughter of George F. and Mar- garet ( Forbes) Classon and her father was a miner by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson have been the parents of nine children, as follows : Frank died at the age of thirteen years ; Fred V., William H., Eva, Charles J., Richard, Ella, Margarette and Dorothy. Mr. Hutchinson is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of sterling character and posessed of more than or- dinary ability as a business man, as is evidenced by his prosperity. He went to Dakota without means and is now one of the substantial men of his lo- cality. He has held numerous offices of trust in his county and enjoys an enviable reputation.

MALCOLM L. SARGEANT has resided in Danton township, Richland county, for more than twenty years, and his name has become identified with the growth and development of that region. He went there as a pioneer and from the wild lands has brought to a high state of cultivation a home- stead and tree claim on section 28. He is one of the prominent men of his community and is respected highly throughout the county.

Our subject was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, October 25, 1857. He was but an infant when his parents moved to Dodge county, Wiscon- sin, in 1858, and there resided seven years. The family then moved to Mower county, Minnesota, where our subject made his home until he went to Dakota in the spring of 1879. He entered a home-

stead and tree claim to land on section 28, in Danton township, and has been one of the successful men of that calling in Richland county. His farm is well-improved, and he has erected a complete set of comfortable farm buildings.

Our subject was married in Austin, Minnesota, January 25, 1883, to Maria L. Harrington, a native of Minnesota. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sargeant, as follows: Guy M., Ruth A., Ethel L., Lavina M., and Eva E. Mr. and Mrs. Sargeant are members of the Evangelical church and take an active interest in church work. He is an earnest worker for the welfare of Danton town- ship, and has served as town clerk for several years, township treasurer, and assessor. It is to such men every community owes gratitude for the part they have taken in developing the financial and social interests.

OLIN L. LANGWORTHY, a prosperous mer- chant of Courtenay, Stutsman county, is an early settler of that locality, and has gained a comfortable competence and an excellent reputation as a business man and citizen. He went to Dakota while yet a boy, and has risen to his enviable position among his fellow men by the exercise of those traits which char- acterize the business man of ability and true worth. For many years Mr. Langworthy was engaged in farming, and is now the owner of a fine estate, and also conducts a lucrative business in lumber and fuel in Courtenay.

Our subject was born in Bay City, Michigan, in 1868. His father, D. A. Langworthy, was of Eng- lish descent, and the family has been in America for several generations. He was a dry goods merchant in Bay City, Michigan, and moved to Dakota in 1884, where he took land in Stutsman county, five miles north of Courtenay. The mother of our sub- ject, whose maiden name was Isabella Cook, was born and raised in New York, and was a daughter of George Cook, who was of English descent, and was a merchant.

Our subject was the younger of two children, and attended the city schools of his native place, and in 1884 went with his parents to North Dakota. They lived in a claim shanty for a few months, and our subject assisted his father on the farm until 1889. when he entered claim to government land and also acquired land by purchase and engaged in farming. He fully improved the farm, and added to his pos- sessions from time to time, and is now the owner of eight hundred acres of land, five hundred acres of which he operates. He began buying grain for the Osburn McMillan Elevator Company in the fall of 1896, and in December of that year established a lumber yard, which he has enlarged, and now car- ries a complete stock in that line, and also fuel.

Our subject was married, in 1899, to Miss Maud Bronson, who was born and raised in Vermont. Mrs. Langworthy's parents went to North Dakota about 1885, and her father, C. R. Bronson, is in

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the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany. Mrs. Langworthy is a lady of rare accom- plishments, and taught several years in the public schools of North Dakota. Mr. Langworthy is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Republican, and is a man who is strong in his convictions for right.

CHARLES J. O. JACOBSON, an intelligent and enterprising general merchant of Preston, Ran- som county, enjoys prosperity, mainly through the exercise of good management and honest dealings. He is the present postmaster of Preston, and is effi- cient in the service.

Our subject was born in Lillihammer, Norway, February 5, 1856, and was the oldest son and second in order of birth in a family of eight children born to Carl J. and Anna (Olson) Jacobson. His father was a goldsmith by trade and passed his days in his native land. Our subject was educated in the high schools of Norway, and learned both German and English in connection with his own language. He was employed in clerking in his native country, and in 1880 came to America on a visit, intending to re- turn after a short stay. He went to Minnesota and there accepted a position in a store at Alexandria, and about 1887 went to Valley City, where he was employed in a store. He formed a partnership with Mr. Lovelace in 1891, at Fort Ransom, and in 1894 disposed of his share of the business, and located his present store. He carries a complete stock of gen- eral merchandise, which, when invoiced last winter, amounted to $4.000. He enjoys his share of the patronage, and has extended his possessions by earn- est labors.

Our subject was married, in 1883, to Miss Eva Olsen, a native of Rushford, Fillmore county, Min- nesota, who was born January 1, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson are the parents of five children, as follows: Annie, Mary, Edwin, Rush, and Chester. Mr. Jacobson has served as school treasurer, and taken an active part in educational matters, continu- ally urging more competent instruction and longer terms of school. He is progressive, and public- spirited, and is deservedly held in the highest estcem by his fellows. Politically he is a Republican.

FRANK W. SCHLABERG, county commis- sioner of Grand Forks county, and the pioneer drug- gist of the city of Grand Forks, was born in Wa- verly, Iowa, March 14. 1862. His parents, Charles F. and Anna (Turner) Schlaberg, were natives of Glasgow, Scotland, and Northumberland county, England, respectively. They came to the United States in 1847, and located in Iowa in the early 'fif- ties. The father is still a resident of Iowa, the mother having died some years ago.

Frank W. Schlaberg was reared and educated in Waverly, Iowa, attending the public schools and de-

voting his spare time to study at home. In 1880, when he was eighteen years of age, he came to Da- kota, and found employment in the drug store of D. M. Holmes of Grand Forks. He conunued as an employe in this store four years, and then became a partner in the business. In 1896 he succeeded to the ownership of the business, which he still con- ducts. He is a wide-awake, enterprising business man, and his store is one of the leading business houses of the city.

Mr. Schlaberg has never been a seeker of politi- cal favors, but has always taken an active and intel- ligent interest in public affairs, and has done his duty as a citizen, in the interest of good government. Since his election to office of county commissioner he has performed the important duties devolving upon him with fidel- ity to the interests of the people of the county, and has proved a capable and efficient official.

In 1897 Mr. Schlaberg was married to Miss Amanda C. Liedman, a native of St. Paul, Minne- sota. Mr. and Mrs. Schlaberg have one son, War- ren. Mr. Schlaberg is very popular in social cir- cles,, and is a member of the various organizations of the city, including the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, the Elks and the A. O. U. W. In politics he is a Democrat.

EDWARD C. GEAREY, a worthy representa- tive of the Fargo bar and the present efficient police judge of that city, was born in Hudson, Columbia county, New York, June 11, 1841; and is a son of Hamilton B. and Harriet E. (Macy) Gearey, also natives of New York. In early life the father was a seaman, but later engaged in business as a carpen- ter and builder. In 1849 he went to California and on his return east remained in New York until 1870, when he removed to Minnesota, where his death oc- curred in 1877. In his family were six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom one died in infancy.

In the common schools of his native state, Ed- ward C. Gearey obtained a good practical education. He manifested his patriotism and love of country during the Civil war by enlisting August 11. 1862, as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Forty- ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, which was as- signed to the Army of the Potomac. He partici- pated in the hattles of Winchester, Leesburg, Dum- fries, and Chancellorsville, and after the last named engagement was taken ill. In 1863 he was trans- ferred to the Thirty-second United States Colored Troops with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was in service with that regiment until 1865. He was wounded at Honcyhill, South Carolina, on which account he was honorably discharged.

Returning to his home in New York, Mr. Gearey remained there until November, 1865, when he re- moved to Wabasha county, Minnesota. During his residence there he engaged in farming and filled a number of important official positions, being a mem-

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ber of the lower house of the state legislature for three terms. In 1883 he came to Fargo as re- ceiver in the United States land office, and held that position for four years, during which time he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1885. Before retiring from the land office he had succeeded in building up a good practice, and is today one of the most successful as well as able attorneys of the place. Here he has also been honored with public office and has served as police judge since 1897.

On the 25th of March, 1864, was celebrated the mariage of Mr. Gearey and Miss E. Amelia Wells, also a native of New York, and to them have been born five children who are still living, namely : Ham- ilton W., cashier of the Merchants' State Bank of Fargo; Lucia A., wife of E. C. Griffith ; Edward C., Jr., captain of Company B, First North Dakota In- fantry, now with the brave boys at Manila; Frances M., wife of W. J. Heapes and John W., a private in the company of which his brother is captain.

The Republican party has always found in Mr. Gearey a stanch suporter of its principles, and he was the first chairman of the state central commit- tee in North Dakota. He is now chairman of the Cass county committee and has been honored with many important political positions. He is past de- partment commander of the Grand Army of the Re- public in this state, is president of the soldiers' home board, and is a member of the Minnesota Commandery of the Loyal Legion. He is also a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner, and is quite prominent in social, political and professional cir- cles. As a citizen he meets every requirement and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the welfare of his adopted city or state.

HOMER A. NORTHROP, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Willow Lake township, in Steele county, is one of the pioneer settlers of that locality. His pleasant home is on section 20, and the surroundings meet the approval of the eye, in striking contrast to the monotony of the prairie lands around.

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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 63

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