Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 64

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 64

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Our subject was born in Fairfield county, Connect- icut, May 20, 1840, and was the eldest in a family of seven children, born to Burr B. and Maria ( Ben- edict ) Northrop. The Northrop family is of Eng- lish descent, and their settlement in America dates to Colonial times. Our subject was taken to the state of New York by his parents when he was but an infant, and the family made their home in Onon- daga county, where our subject remained on the farm until after attaining his manhood. He enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, September 16, 1852. The first engagement was the battle of Chickamauga, then he served on detailed duty at Gettysburg, after which followed Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, Resaca, l'each Tree Creek, and the capture of Atlanta. Thence he went southward to the sea,

through the Carolinas, and joined in the Grand Re- view at Washington. He was mustered out at Syracuse, New York, in June, 1865, after a long and faithful service. After returning from the war our subject obtained land and engaged in farming near his old home, and in the fall of 1881 he disposed of his interests in the East and sought his fortunes in the new West. He went to Tower City, Dakota, in March, 1882, and in company with three other land seekers was shown over Griggs county. Mr. Northrop located in the part of Griggs county which later became known as Steele county. The country was then wild and the prairie scenery monotonous, and our subject chose land on the north bank of a beautiful little sheet of water known as Willow lake. It then contained about ten feet of water, but has since become dry, but the surroundings are pleasant and the farm is admirably adapted to stock raising, af- fording fine grange and shelter. Our subject moved his family to the new home in the fall of 1883, and they were installed in a 12x24-foot shanty. Crops as a whole were light until 1891, since which time they have yielded well, and prosperity has attended the work, and.our subject is now the fortunate pos- sessor of one and a half sections of land.

Mr. Northrop was married in 1886, to Miss Lydia M. Newton, a native of New York. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Northrop, as fol- lows: Charles N., now farming in Willow Lake township; William H., a graduate of Valley City Normal, a student of McAllister College, and a teacher in Steele county, and also associated with his father in farming; Edwin M., farming in Wil- low Lake township ; Rida A., a teacher in the schools of Hope, North Dakota, and Mary E., now Mrs. George Smith, of Barnes county, North Dakota. Mr. Northrop takes an active part in public affairs, and is the present township treasurer, and has also served as chairman of the township board of super- visors. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Republican, but does not mix in party affairs to any extent.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON, a prosperous and intelligent farmer of township 147, range 66, in Foster county, was one of the earliest settlers of that locality and has witnessed the growth of that region and aided in its development. In connection with this sketch will be found a portrait of Mr. Robert- SON1.

Our subject was born on a farm in Scotland in 1858. His father, William Robertson, was a farmer and came to America and was an old settler in Da- kota. Our subject was the fourth in a family of ten children and was raised in Scotland and attended the country schools until nineteen years of age, and remained at home two years thereafter and in 1879 emigrated to Canada, landing at Quebec. He worked in Pilkington county, Ontario, about five years and had charge of a large herd of fine bred cattle and horses, and then went to Youngstown,

W. Robertson

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Ohio, where he hired out at farin labor and here had charge of a valuable herd of blooded cattle and horses, including one cow valued at ten thousand dollars and a horse valued at forty thousand dol- lars. He came to North Dakota in 1883 and lo- cated in Jamestown and rented land adjoining the town and farmed thereon one year, and in 1884 came to Foster county and entered claim to govern- ment land in section 34, township 147, range' 66. He built a house, 30x16 feet, and his brother, Joseph, and sister, Maggie R., lived with him. He built a sod barn and in 1884 raised his first crop in Fos- ter county on rented land. His house and contents burned the following spring and he lost one thou- sand dollars' worth of property and had nothing left. He cultivated one thousand acres of land in 1894 and hail destroyed the entire crop. He now has a farm of three hundred and twenty acres and operates eight hundred acres annually and in 1900 seeded six hundred acres. His buildings are of the most approved style and are commodious and substantial, and his farm is among the best in the township in the way of improvements. He engages in stock and grain raising and has nineteen head of horses and ten head of cattle, all necessary farm ma- chinery and a well equipped farm in every particu- lar. He followed threshing five years from 1887, and superintended the running of the machine per- sonally. He was among the earliest settlers of township 147, range 66, and Carrington was a small village when he located in this county. He has traveled extensively and as an agricultural district North Dakota, in his judgment, is the best he has visited, and his success is due to his efforts here.

TYLER . J. WALKER, general merchant and proprietor of the Fort Ransom Roller Mills, resides in one of the most pleasant spots in Fort Ransom. He is a pioneer of that region, and his efforts have been rewarded by the acquisition of a fine property and an extensive business. His home is one of social comfort and every appointment bespeaks the refine- ment and culture of its occupants.

Mr. Walker was born in Rushford, Filmore county, Minnesota, May 5, 1859, and was the fourth in a family of eight children born to Hiram and Celestia (Nims) Walker. His father was a miller and manufacturer and in 1877 went to Valley City, Dakota, and erected the first mill of that place. Our subject joined him in 1879, and the following year went to Fort Ransom, and filed claim to land, and began farming, and also engaged without aid in the construction of a dam, and the erection of a saw mill, and then from the native timber began the erection of a flouring mill, the capacity of which is now forty barrels. He lived alone two years, camping in a beautiful spot in the bend of the Sheyenne river, directly across from his mill. This place is now a favorite summer camping ground, and the objective point of picnic parties for many miles around. Boating, fishing and bathing are the 20

chief enjoyments, and our subject and wife extend their hospitality to all, and the camping ground, known as "The Park," is open to all. Our subject established in the general merchandise business in 1895, and now carries a complete stock and enjoys prosperity.

In connection with this review it were well to mention the history of the place. Fort Ransom, the site of the old fort, the breastworks of which alone remain, was known by the Indians as Matoti, mean- ing Bear's Den Hillock. The name properly was applied to the highest point of land near the old fort. Near the fort is a spring of purest water, near by which is a flat rock, inscribed in characters which have never been translated, and are probably the work of Indians.

Mr. Walker was married, in 1885, to Miss Mary Hoiland, who is also a native of Rushford, Fillmore county, Minnesota, and was born November 15, 1864, and is a daughter of Aadne and Johanna Hoil- and. Mrs. Walker is a lady of refined tastes, and housewifely instinct, and the home is a model in every particular. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker, named as follows: Lettie and Bessie. Mr. Walker is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Independent Order of Foresters. He is now serving his third term as county commissioner, and takes an active interest in the advancement of his community. Politically he is a Populist.

THEO F. KERR, M. D. This gentleman is the pioncer physician and surgeon of Griggs county and has built an extensive practice throughout that region, and is widely known as an exemplary citi- zen and skillful practitioner. He has resided in Cooperstown since the early days of its history and has been liberal in rendering aid to all public proj- ects. He is intelligent and progressive and there- fore popular as a physician and social friend of his fellows. He has always labored for educational ad- vancement and is one of the promoters of the school systems of that region.

Our subject was born near Owosco Lake, in Cayuga county, New York, May 29, 1846, and was the fifth in a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, born to Alexander and Harriet (Hammond) Kerr. His father was a native of New Jersey and was married in Cayuga county, New York. A brother of our subject, John F., was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting during 1864, and he was killed at Kinston, North Carolina, March 8, 1865.

Our subject remained in his native county until ten years of age, when he removed with his parents to a farm near Ann Arbor. Michigan. He attended the city schools and graduated from the high school, and then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arpor, where he took a degree in literature and art. He then went to California and accepted the chair

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of teacher in Latin and mathematics in the Military Academy at Oakland, which position he filled from 1869 to 1871, and during the next year he was prin- cipal of one of the public schools of Buffalo, New York. Here he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Thomas Lothrop, a prominent physi- cian of that city, and then returned to Ann Arbor and took a course of lectures, and afterward pursued his studies in the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York City and later in the Columbia University, graduating in the medical class of 1874. He then began the practice of his profession in Detroit, Michigan, and continued there until he went to North Dakota in the early '8os. He located in Cooperstown before the railroad was built through that locality and experienced many hardships in the practice of his profession through that country. On one occasion he traveled about twenty-five miles to visit a sick man and upon his arrival found him in a dying condition in a sod hut, where Mr. Kerr was stormbound three days. The patient died, and a young man, who was his partner, and the Doctor were forced to stay with the corpse and subsist on meager rations three days before the storm broke sufficiently for the Doctor to return, and when he did he made the journey through a foot of snow the entire distance. Such experiences are of the past and Mr. Kerr now enjoys an extensive and re- munerative patronage.

Our subject was married, in Ann Arbor, Michi- gan, in 1874, to Miss Eliza Hill, a native of Wash- tenaw county, that state, and a daughter of Fitch and Martha Hill. Mrs. Kerr's father was a farmer and contractor and builder. Two children, both of whom are deceased, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, named Kenneth and Theo. Mr. Kerr was the first superintendent of schools of Griggs county and held the office until 1894, and he is one of the foremost men of the county from an educational as well as professional view. He has always affiliated with the Republican party in political faith.

CHARLES J. MAHNKEN. Among the able and successful lawyers of Fargo, North Dakota, none stand higher in public esteem than the gentle- man whose name introduces this sketch. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 8, 1860, a son of Charles H. and Mary ( Miller) Mahnken, natives of Germany, who came to the United States when children and spent most of their lives in Mary- land. The father is now deceased, but the mother is still living.

Our subject was reared and educated in New York City, where he attended the public schools. At the age of fourteen he entered a law office as errand boy and clerk, and later spent a year or two at sea as a sailor, during which time he visited many European ports. When eighteen years of age he began the study of law and took a course in the New York City University. He was admitted to practice at the metropolis in 1881 and had an office

there for two years. In 1882 he again visited Europe on legal business, spending six months abroad.

In July, 1883, Mr. Mahnken took up his resi- dence in Fargo, North Dakota, and formed a law partnership with H. D. Hobson, which connection existed until 1885, when Mr. Hobson retired. From 1891 until 1893 our subject was engaged in practice with J. E. Greene, but since then has been alone. He is now at the head of a large and prosperous business and ranks high among his brethren of the legal fraternity. He was elected city attorney in 1896 and again in 1898, and in that capacity served his fellow citizens ably and well. Politically he is a stanch Republican, but has never taken a very active part in political affairs, and socially is a prom- inent Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine.

On the 26th of June, 1886, Mr. Mahnken led to the marriage altar Miss Alice E. Johnson, daughter of Mayor Johnson, of Fargo, and they have a family of three children, namely : Alice, Edith and Charles.

WILLIAM WANSBROUGH, who is now suc- cessfully engaged in the confectionery business at Valley City, North Dakota, is a native of New York, his birth occurring there May 25, 1839. His fa- ther, William Wansbrough, Sr., a hatter by trade, was born near the city of London, England, and emigrated to the United States in 1812. When twelve years old our subject moved with his par- ents to Licking county, Ohio, where he lived on a farm for three years. He then entered a black- smith shop at Granville, Ohio, as an apprentice, and was there employed for three years, after which he worked for one year in the village of Jersey, the same county. The following year he worked at his trade in Alexandria, Ohio, and then returned to Jersey, purchasing the shop where he had formerly worked as an employe.

While at that place Mr. Wansbrough was united in marriage with Miss Susie Handley, of Jersey township, and to them were born five daughters. Four of this number have on different occasions suc- cessfully engaged in school teaching. In 1874 Mr. Wansbrough removed to Pana, Christian county, Illinois, where ne conducted a blacksmith and ma- chine shop for two years. He next accepted a posi- tion with the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad in their shops at that place, and on leaving there he went to Mattoon, Illinois, where, as a blacksmith, he entered the shops of the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Rail- road, and he remained for two years. He then lived for one year on a farm in Coles county, near Mat- toon, and in 1883 came to North Dakota, settling first at Jamestown, where he worked at the car- penter's trade for some time, having also become familiar with that occupation in Licking county, Ohio, in early life. In 1884 he went to La Moure county, where he took up land and engaged in farm- ing for ten years. During the following year he worked at the carpenter's trade in Fargo, then

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spent four years as a clerk in a lumber yard at Gales- burg, and in March, 1899, came to Valley City, where he is now engaged in the confectionery busi- ness. During the Civil war he entered the service of his country, enlisting in Company D, One Hun- dred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and is now a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is widely known and highly respected and has made many friends in the various communities where he has made his home.

ALEXANDER SPRINGER, a prominent and influential citizen of Danton township, Richland county, has been a resident of that locality for over hfteen years. He is an extensive land owner and aside from improving his farms has followed the occupation of a carpenter more or less, and many of the public buildings of that region are his handi- work. In Richland county alone ne has erected the Methodist and Episcopal churches, many residences and hfteen school houses and is well known as a sys- tematic and thorough workman.

Our subject was born in Alexandria, Jefferson county, New York, November 4, 1849. At the age of twenty years he went to Whiteside county, Ilu- nois, where he resided until the spring of 1882. He then went to Dakota and located on section 27, in Danton township, residing there until 1892, when he removed to section 19 of the same township, residing there at the present time. He has erected a set of good buildings on his farm and is the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of land, most of which is in Danton township.

Our subject was married, in Evans Mills, Jef- ferson county, New York, June 26, 1869, to Miss Emma A. Russell, who was born in Jefferson coun- ty, New York, July 21, 1847. Mrs. Springer died in Danton township May 23, 1897. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Springer, as follows: Ernest O .; Rosa L., now Mrs. Herbert Helmer ; Anna M., now Mrs. George Strong ; and George R. Mr. Springer takes an active part in church affairs and is an earnest worker. He has been called upon to fill numerous local offices and has served as school clerk for ten successive years, chairman of the board of supervisors three terms, justice of the peace three terms, constable two terms and school director. He was appointed postmaster of Moselle by President Mckinley in July, 1896, which office he still holds.

THOMAS McCOY, residing on section 24, in Kelso township, is one of the first settlers of Traill county and has become one of the most prominent and influential citizens. He conducts an extensive farm, which he has acquired by dint of energetic efforts, and his high standing as a farmer and his pleasant surroundings are the result of his well spent career.

Our subject was born in Lanark county, Upper

Canada, November 20, 1847, and was the eighth in a family of eleven children born to Neil and Rose (McNaughton) McCoy. His parents were born in Ireland and his father, who is now over ninety years of age, resides on the old homestead in Can- ada.

Mr. McCoy was reared to farming and as a woodsman and was thus occupied in Canada until 1873, when he went to Ottertail county, Minnesota, and in the spring of 1877; after losing his crops in Minnesota, he went to North Dakota and accepted a position as foreman of Division No. 2 on the Grandin farm, and was thus employed eight years. He filed on land in 1877, on which his wife lived, and there Mrs. McCoy contributed her share to pioneering. In 1885 Mr. McCoy began farming about four hundred acres of land for himself and he is now the owner of one thousand acres. His farm is well drained by the Elm river, which passes through it, and the entire estate bears evidence of the best of management and careful tillage. Mr. McCoy has been remarkably successful in his farming deals, on one occasion, in 1891, purchasing a half-section of land and the same fall gathering sufficient crop from the tract to pay for the land and have a good balance. This land has since doubled in value and is one of the best yielding tracts of the entire farm.

Our subject was married, in 1875, to Miss Cath- erine Tierney. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, as follows: William, now at home ; Minnie ; Vincent, a student of Morehead Nor- mal School; Annie, a student of the academy at Fargo; Annastacia, a student of the academy at Grand Forks ; Ambrose ; Celia ; Tessie and Alfred. Mr. McCoy has served as chairman of the township board and in various local offices, and was elected county commissioner in 1889, serving two terms. Mr. McCoy is one of the few men of Democratic faith who has been elected to county offices and he is popular with all, regardless of party interests. He is a member of the Catholic church and is an exemplary citizen and one who enjoys well-merited success.

FRANK LONG. The early settlement of North Dakota called to that state many men of energetic spirit and good character. They entered into all trades and vocations, and perhaps one of the most important was the farming interests which have been so materially enhanced by this class of citizens. Among those who now enjoy a comfortable home and the esteem of their fellow men stands the gentle- man above named. He located first in Traill county, North Dakota, but for the past seventeen years has been a resident of Cass county and is well known as an old settler and exemplary citizen of Ayr town- ship.

Our subject was born in Dodge county. Wis- consin, May 20, 1857. His parents, John and Fran- cis (Schwaher) Long, were born in Germany and came to America about 1837 and settled in New

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York, and in 1840 moved to Dodge county, Wis- consin, where the mother still lives and the father died there. They had two sons and two daughters who grew to maturity, and our subject is the only one in North Dakota.

Mr. Long spent his boyhood and early youth in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in 1880 went to North Dakota and entered a claim to land in Traill coun- ty, which he sold in 1883 and then settled in Cass county, where he has since resided and has met with remarkable success as an agriculturist.

Our subject was married, in 1886, to Saralı E. Preston, a native of Oakfield, Wisconsin. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Long, as follows: Francis, Thomas A. and Inez E., all of whom are living. Mr. Long was one of the organ- izers of Ayr township and is a man of active public spirit. Politically he is a Republican and stands firmly for the principles of his party. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Work- men.

DONALD NIVEN, one of the leading business men and general farmers of Eddy county, North Dakota, is a resident of New Rockford. He is an old settler of North Dakota and has prospered and is widely and favorably known. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1857.

The father of our subject, Donald Niven, was a merchant in Scotland and died in his native land. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Margaret McPhee, came to America after the death of the father and settled in Canada with her family in 1864. Our subject was early thrown upon his own resources, and at the age of ten years began working out and had very limited opportunities for obtaining an education. He came to the United States from Ontario at the age of twenty-two years and located at Duluth, Minnesota. He worked in a butcher shop there two years and learned the business and in 1882 went to Jamestown, North Dakota. He took charge of the market of Archie McKechnie, and was then sheriff of Stutsman county, and he was thus employed one year, when he was made deputy sheriff and served two years in that capacity, and about 1885, in company with Greagor Schmidt, he moved to Minnewaukon, North Dakota, and they started the first meat market in the town. Our subject and partner erected one of the first buildings of the town, and the lumber they hauled over ice twenty-five miles from Devil's Lake. After getting the business established there our subject drove a stage from Devil's Lake to Bot- tineau, nearly ninety miles, and made daily trips. He carried the United States mail one year and was once caught in a blizzard. The business in Minnewaukon prospered and in 1887 they estab- lished a branch market at New Rockford, the first established market in the town. The partnership was dissolved in 1888 and our subject took the New Rockford market, since which time he has

conducted the business in that town and has met with success while others have attempted and failed. He took land as a homestead near New Rockford in 1892 and has since followed farming extensively. He is now the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of land and follows general farming and the buying and selling of cattle.

Mr. Niven is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Brother- hood of American Yoemen. He takes an active part in social affairs and in political sentiment is a Re- publican.

ASLE ENGEBRETSON, residing in section 18, in Eldorado township, operates a farm of seven hundred and twenty acres and is one of the sub- stantial and highly esteemed early settlers of that region. He follows diversified farming and is well versed in his calling and has met with unbounded success. His portrait is presented on another page.

Our subject was born in Nore, Prestegjeld Nummedal, Norway, June 25, 1857, and was the youngest of a family of nine children, only three of whom are now living. His parents, Ingebret and Ligeri Asleson, became early settlers of Dakota, and passed away at the home of our subject. the father February 26, 1889, and the mother May 14, 1896.

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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 64

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