Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 69

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 69

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Our subject was born near Stavanger, Norway, February 14, 1853, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to Rasmus and Inger ( Hel- geson) Berland. The family came to America in 1857 and made their home in Houston county, Min- nesota, where our subject was reared, engaged in farm work. He went to Ransom county ,North Dakota, in the fall of 1879, and located his claims, returning to Minnesota, and the following spring drove overland to Dakota with his family, house- hold effects and stock. He is now the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of land, about forty acres of which is in timber, furnishing plenty of fuel. The river runs through his land and the water supply is abundant, making an ideal farm for stock raising, which industry he is becoming inter- ested in.

Our subject was married, in 1875, to Miss Anna Abrahamson. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Berland, as follows : Inger, Lottie, Minnie, Clara, Olaf, Bertie, Alfred, deceased, Alma, Emma, Stella and Ella. Mr. Berland has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his county and township and has served as county commissioner and ownship treasurer. He has many friends in Ransom county who attest to his praiseworthy labors in behalf of his community. Politically, he is a

Republican and stands firmly for the principles of his party. He keeps pace with the times and lends his influence for good government, local and na- tional.

TRUMAN J. ATWOOD, the efficient post- master and prosperous general merchant of Courte- nay, is one of the pioneers of Stutsman county and is a young man in whom the people repose every con- fidence. He owns valuable farming lands near the village and is a man of financial strength and ex- cellent characteristics.

Our subject was born in Hartford, Connecti- cut, July 30, 1860, and was a son of Truman W. and Mary R. (Blue) Atwood. The family have been in America many generations and his father is a Yankee. He was a general merchant during the greater part of his career, but has spent the past sev- enteen years in farming in Richland county, Wis- consin.

Mr. Atwood was the fifth in a family of seven children and was reared in his native place and when fourteen years of age went with his parents to Ghent, New York, and when seventeen years of age the family located in Richland county, Wis- consin, where the father purchased a farm. After attaining his majority our subject accepted a po- sition as, agent and operator on the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad and was with that company three years in Wisconsin, after which he spent nine years as operator and agent on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, in Minnesota. He was the first agent at Courtenay, North Dakota, for the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault St. Marie Railroad and held the office from 1892 until 1896, resigning to attend to his mercantile business, which he had established in 1895. He served as assistant postmaster at Courtenay as soon as the office was established in 1892 and was appointed postmaster in December, 1897. He took land as a homestead one mile from the village of Courtenay, in August, 1895, which property he now owns.

Our subject was married, in 1886, to Ella J. Cornell, of Mapleton, Minnesota. Mr. Atwood is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Politically, he is a Republican and is prominent in public af- fairs. He has served his party as a member of the county central committee and is president of the Re- publican League.

STEPHEN B. BARTLETT, one of the leading attorneys of Casselton, Cass county, is widely known for his intelligence and integrity. He is well versed in his profession and is one of the promi- nent men in legal circles of North Dakota, while his active public spirit and character are irreproach- able. He has resided in Casselton nearly twenty years and counts a host of friends.

Our subject was born at Warsaw, Wyoming county, New York, April 1, 1849, and was one of

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eight children, six sons and two daughters, who grew to maturity, born to William K. and Elmina ( McLaughlin) Bartlett. His father was a native of New Hampshire and his mother of Vermont. The father was a farmer by occupation and passed his life in New York.

Stephen B. Bartlett received his education in the common and high schools of New York state and on leaving the latter at once began the study of law in 1867 at Warsaw, New York, and was admitted to practice by the supreme court of that state at Syracuse, in 1873. He began the practice of his profession at Warsaw and continued there until 1880, when he removed to Lake City, Minnesota, and practiced there two years. He removed to Cas- selton in the spring of 1882 and has followed the practice of his profession in that city continuously since that date. He formed a partnership in 1888 with V .R. Lovill, which was dissolved in 1898. Mr. Bartlett is also extensively interested in farm- ing and operates an extensive traet in Traverse county, Minnesota.

Our subject was married, August 5, 1875, to Miss Cora I. Chamberlin, a native of Wyoming county, New York. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett, as follows: William K., now attending the medical department of the State University of Minnesota ; Elizabeth and Lawrence M. Mr. Bartlett is a Mason of long standing and for five years occupied the position of worshipful master of the local lodge of Casselton. He served as district attorney in 1888 and 1889 and ably dis- charged the duties of that office. He was nominated by the Democratie party for attorney-general of the state, but refused to accept and has also refused to have his name used for other important offices in the county and state. While a resident of New York he entered the field as a public speaker for General Hancock in his home county and has been associated with the Democratic party throughout his career and is an active worker for party prin- ciples and a recognized leader.

FRANK P. WRIGHT. The rapid develop- ment and almost marvelous growth of North Da- kota has, to a great extent, enriched many men by the increase in value of their lands, assisted by their own industry and efforts in farming. Among this elass is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. His nome is on section 8, township 140, range 58 west, Barnes county. He is not only one of the most prosperous agriculturists of his com- munity, but is also one of its most highly esteemed citizens and an honored pioneer of the county.

Mr. Wright was born on a farm in Genesee county, New York, November 3, 1849, and is a son of Harry and Mary Ann ( Pierson) Wright, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of Connecti- cut. His father became a resident of New York at the age of nine years and there followed farming throughout his active business life. He was born

in Rutland, Vermont, January 22, 1806, and died in 1887. The mother was born at Lyme, Conneeti- cut, October 18, 1814, and died May 6, 1891. William E. Wright, a brother of our subject, was a soldier of the Civil war and came very nearly . being taken as a prisoner to Andersonville, but suc- ceeding in making his escape, thus avoiding what might otherwise have proved a living death. Amzi Wright, grandfather of our subject, aided in the defense of the country in the war of 1812.

The early life of Frank P. Wright was passed in an uneventful manner upon the home farm until eighteen years of age, attending the district schools of the neighborhood. He then entered Wyoming College, where he was a student for three winters. In 1872 he went to Toronto, Canada, and was fore- man of one of the large lumber yards of that city for one year, after which he returned to the old home in the Empire state, remaining there until coming to this state in March, 1874.

Mr. Wright arrived in Barnes county during that month, he found only two shanties and a water tank occupying the present site of Valley City and at that time . the Northern Pacific trains only ran as far as Bismarek, while during the winter they stopped altogether. It was not until the winter of 1876- 1877 that regular trains were put on the road. Game, such as deer and antelope, was found in abundance and at any time the hunter had ample opportunity of indulging his love in the chase. Mr. Wright's early neighbors were half-breed In- dians, many of whom lived along the river at that time. He filed a claim on the northeast quarter of section 8, township 140, range 58 west, in 1874, and from the unbroken prairie has developed the fine farm on which he now resides. His entire hold- ings in Barnes county now amount to thirteen hun- dred acres of land, as he has steadily prospered in his new home, being enterprising, energetic and in- dustrious. His home is beautifully located in the Sheyenne river, is well supplied with all modern improvements in the way of buildings and ma- chinery and is undoubtedly one of the most de- sirable pieces of farm property in the county. Being a man of refined taste and a lover of the bean- tiful wherever found, Mr. Wright justly appre- ciates his place.

On the 26th of December, 1879. in Valley City, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Coe, who was born in Waupun, Wisconsin, April 3, 1859. Her father, Dr. S. P. Coe, published the "Valley City Times," which was the first paper printed in Barnes county, and which is now known as the "Times Record." Our subjeet and his wife had two chil- dren : May, who was born in 1881 and died in 1883, and Harry G., who was born in 1884 and died in 1897. He has acted as president of the state nor- mal school board for four years. He was also a member of the first board of county commissioners of what is now Barnes county, but before the county was organized, being appointed to that position by Governor John L. Pennington in 1874. He has

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always been found true to every trust reposed in him, either in public or private life and is ranked among the best citizens of his community.

WALTER D. HUFFMAN, the popular pro- prietor of the Commercial Hotel and one of the leading liverymen of Ludden, is a young man of excellent business tact and has made a place for himself as a worthy citizen among his associates.

Our subject was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, February 25, 1869, and was a son of Daniel W. and Josephine (Hathaway) Huffman. His father was captain of the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry and was a member of Company C, serving four years in the Civil war. He was severely wounded in the leg and was a prisoner at Mobile for nine months. Our subject had the sword which his father carried through many of the hotly con- tested battles. The mother of our subject died in Ohio in 1893 and the father is now a resident of L'pper Sandusky, that state. His mother was a (lescendant of the Mayflower pilgrims.

In a family of four children, three sons and one daughter, our subject was the third in order of birth. He removed with his parents to Martin, Ohio, when he was one year of age, residing there until he was fourteen years of age, and there re- ceived his early schooling. The family then moved to Dickey county, North Dakota, where our subject worked on his father's farm until 1892, in which year he went to Ludden, Dickey county, since which time he has conducted the hotel and livery business. He has met with success, and his patronage is stead- ily increasing.

Our subject was married in Ludden, Dickey county, North Dakota, March 15, 1892, to Miss Agnes B. Bennett, a native of Erie county, New York. Mrs. Huffman was born April 27, 1867, and was a daughter of Hiram and Esther Bennett. She went to Iona county, Michigan, when a child, and there grew to womanhood. Her mother died in Ludden, and her father survives and makes his home in the village. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are the parents of two children, named as follows: Joseph and Emery B. Mr. Huffman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He is prominent in public affairs of his township and has held various offices of trust.

ADAM GEBHART. Among the younger members of the farming community of Summit township, Richland county, the gentleman above named is entitled to prominent mention. He is a man of excellent characteristics, and although a for- eign-born citizen, has resided in this country from childhood, and at all times works for his adopted country's best interests.

Mr. Gebhart was born in Austria April 11, 1869, and is a son of Wenzel and Catherine (Sidler) Geb-

hart, who now reside with our subject. When he was five years of age the family emigrated to Amer- ica, and located in Calumet county, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood, and resided until he went to Richland county, North Dakota, in the spring of 1888. He purchased three hundred and twenty- four acres of land on section 21, in Summit town- ship, which he still owns, and has added such im- provements as are found on a model farm.

Our subject was married in Summit township, Richland county, November 6, 1894, to Miss Mary Schreiber, a daughter of Albert Schreiber, of Summit township, a sketch of whose life will appear else- where in this volume. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gebhart, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Alma. Mr. Gebhart and family are members of St. John's Catholic church. Our subject takes an active interest in local affairs, and is a member of the board of supervisors of Summit township and road overseer. He is one of the enterprising young men of that locality, and is highly esteemed by his associates.

JAMES ELTON, treasurer of Grand Forks county, is one of the prominent and influential men of North Dakota. He is a wide-awake and ener- getic citizen of true public spirit and is worthy the confidence reposed in him by the people among whom he resides. His portrait will be found on an- other page.

Our subject was born in Kent, England, Sep- tember 30, 1846, and is a son of Robert and Eliza (Turner) Elton, both of whom were natives of England and the family was one of the old families of that country.

Mr. Elton was reared and educated in England and attended college at Cheltemham and after com- pleting his studies spent four years there in farming. He came to Americo in 1870 and entered the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company as clerk and spent one year at Winnipeg. He went to Georgetown, Minne- sota, in 1871, and the following year came to Grand Forks and remained in their employ five years. He then engaged in boating for Kittson & Hill, running on the Red river between Grand Forks and Win- nipeg as boat clerk and followed that calling until 1880, when he engaged as clerk in the United States land office and filled' that position at Grand Forks and at Devil's Lake until 1886 and was then ap- pointed deputy treasurer of Grand Forks county and acted as such three years and received the prac- tical training which fitted him for his present offi- cial position. He was then appointed register of the land office by President Harrison in 1889 and served four years in that capacity, and then engaged in the real estate business. He followed the same until 1898, when he was elected county treasurer and is now ably discharging the duties of that office. He has served as alderman of the city for some years and was also a member of the school board for many years. He was appointed register of deeds on the

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organization of the county and served a short time. He was one of the original stockholders of the First National Bank and later was interested in the Mer- chants' National Bank.

Our subject was married, in 1877, to Miss Han- nalı E. Bird, a native of Canada. Five sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Elton, as follows: Harold, Theodore, James, George and Wilmar, all of whom are living. Mr. Elton assisted in the or- ganization of the Republican party in North Da- kota and is prominent in party affairs and interests of that political body. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and one of the oldest created Masons of the territory and state; member of Grand Forks Commandery,No. 3, and a noble of El Zagel Temple, of Fargo.

ALBERT SCHREIBER, one of the pioneer settlers of Richland county, has acquired a fine es- tate on section 34, in Summit township. He is a native of Prussia, and was born March 5. 1845. He came to America in 1872, and resided six years in Winona, Minnesota. He went from thence to Richland county, North Dakota, in May, 1878, and entered a homestead claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 34, in Summit township, which is his present home farm. He has added to his acreage from time to time, and is now the fortu- nate possessor of three quarter-sections of land, and is engaged in general farming. A part of his pos- sessions are in Wilkin county, Minnesota.

Our subject was married in Prussia to Katie Gerhasky. Mr. and Mrs. Schreiber are the parents of seven children, as follows: Michael, August, Adolph, Mary (now Mrs. Adam Gebhart, of Sum- mit township), Vena, Matilda and Gertrude. Mr. Schreiber is well known in Richland county as a man of true worth and energetic spirit.

HON. LARS H. LARSON. This gentleman needs no introduction to the people of Traill county. He is well known as a pioneer settler, who is en- gaged extensively in farming and stock raising, and has acquired a fortune by those characteristics which place him in a foremost rank as a citizen and busi- ness man. He resides in Bloomfield township, and his land, comprising one thousand four hundred and forty acres, is within that township.

Our subject was born near Christiania, Norway, May 7, 1853, and was a son of Lars and Christe Her- brandson. He is next to the yongest of five surviv- ing children, in a family consisting of twelve chil- dren, and in 1854 came to America with his parents. The family landed at New York and settled on land in Fillmore county, Minnesota. The father died when our subject was ten years of age, and the mother succeeded in keeping the family together and operated the farm for two years, when she, too, was called to her rest, and the family became sepa- rated. Our subject lived one year with his married

sister, and then entered a general store at Newburgh, Minnesota, working one year and also attending school. He then went to Spring Grove, Houston county, and for three years worked summers and at- . tended school winters, the determination to obtain a good education being instilled in him by his father. He then hired out for three years at farm labor, and in 1873 rented a farm and followed farming near Houston until 1879. He met with severe reverses during the last year there, and then packed his house- hold effects, and with about twenty head of cattle and horses started for Fargo, South Dakota. He went to the Elm river country and settled near the north branch of the Elm river, and secured a pre- emption claim and later purchased a homestead right. A frame building was erected at a cost of about $180, and he began to open up a wheat farm, and was thus engaged exclusively until 1890, and then under the firm name of Larson & Johnson es- tablished in the machine business in Hillsboro, and also dealt in horses. After six years he sold his in- terests and devoted his attention to farming and stock raising. He now has a herd of about twenty-five registered Shorthorn and Durham cattle, and will devote much attention to raising stock of this class. He has accumulated his fine estate by purchase, and on his farm has a private elevator of twenty thousand bushels capacity. The Hillsboro Banking Company was formed in 1890, and our subject was president and operated the business four years. He owns an interest in the Hans Johnson Mercantile Company, and also owns a drug store in Schelley, Minnesota. He assisted in organizing the Traill County Tele- phone Company.

Our subject was married, in 1873, to Miss Inge- bert Halvorsen. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have been the parents of twelve children, as follows: Henry, de- ceased ; Elmer O .; Julius, who is married and rents a part of his father's farm; Emma, deceased, Ed- ward: Leonard, deceased; Emma; Leonard, dc- ceased ; Ida, Maltida, Lena and Henry. Mr. Lar- son was elected to the state legislature as a rep- resentative in the fall of 1892, and took a seat in the third session of that body. He was active in the county-seat fight in Traill county, and did efficient work toward securing the same at Hillsboro. He successfully put three bills through the legislature that are now important laws. He is a regular at- tendant at county and state conventions, and is iden- tified with the republican party. He is a member of the United Lutheran church and the Modern Wood- men of America.

AMBROSE H. HARDY, of the firm of Hardy Brothers, general merchants, of Cathay, is a nian of good business qualifications, and enjoys prosperity. He is the present efficient and popular postmaster of Cathay, and is well known as an early settler of Wells county, wherein he followed farming for many years on an extensive scale.

Our subject was born on a farm in Pike county,

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Illinois, in 1862. His father, J. P. Hardy, was of American descent many generations back, and was a farmer throughout his career. He became an early settlers of North Dakota, and followed farming there until 1891, when he, in company with Edward Spokesfield, was lost in a blizzard and perished in the storm. The mother of our subject was of Hol- land descent, but the family have been in America several generations. Four brothers of our subject served in the Civil war.

Mr. Hardy is the second in a family of seven children, and was raised on the farm and attended the country schools, and after attaining his majority he left home and began for himself. His father went to North Dakota in 1882, and the family joined him there in 1884, and our subject and his father followed farming together for about two years. Our subject continued on the farm after his father's death until 1898, and engaged principally in stock raising. He established a general store in Cathay in 1898, in company with Thomas Burris, in the building which he had erected in 1894, and in January, 1900, he purchased his partner's interest, and the firm is now Hardy Brothers. They handle a general line of merchandise, and are successful in their business. Mr. Hardy was appointed post- master of Cathay in 1897 by President Mckinley. He had about six hundred acres of his farm under tion at the time he left the place, and had erected a complete set of good farm buildings and made a made a success of agricultural pursuits. At the time of his settlement in Wells county in 1883 his nearest neighbor was five miles distant, and Carring- ton was the nearest railroad station.

Mr. Hardy is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and in political sentiment is a Repub- lican. He is wide-awake and energetic, and his success and popularity are well merited.

JOHN J. JORDAN, editor and proprietor of the Morning Call, of Fargo, North Dakota, is known in newspaper circles as an editor of much strength of mind, and moral influence. His paper is one of the newsy sheets of the state, and his edito- rials are widely quoted. He has devoted his career to the work, and is thoroughly conversant with the handling of intricate questions.

Mr. Jordan was born in Canada, March 18, 1848, and was one of two sons born to Phillip and Susan ( Hammond) Jordan, both of whom were natives of Canada. The family moved to Minneapolis, Min- nesota, in 1853, and the father was a blacksmith by trade. He died at Minneapolis and the mother at Morris, Minnesota, and our subject is now the only surviving member of the family, with the excep- tion of one sister, a resident of South Dakota.

John J. Jordan was reared and educated in Min- neapolis, and then entered the office of the old "Min- neapolis Atlas," which later was merged into the "Minneapolis Tribune." He remained in that office twenty-one years in the mechanical department, and

was foreman of the "Tribune" for fourteen years. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1883, and pur- chased the "Fargo Daily Republican," which he con- ducted until 1895, when he sold the paper to Major Edwards, and after one year accepted the position of managing editor of the "Argus," continuing thus until August, 1898. He then founded the "Morn- ing Call, 'and the paper has gained in circulation and strength continuously, and is entitled to prom- inent mention among thie papers of the state.

Mr. Jordan was married, in 1898, to Marion G. Lewis, a native of Vermont. Mr. Jordan is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and enjoys the respect of his associates. He is a Republican in political sentiment, and stands firmly for the principles of the party which he represents. He is active in his labors for the welfare of his city, and is ever willing to support by his means or his pen any feasible plan to the upbuilding of his community.

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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 69

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