Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 73

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 73

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Our subject was born on a farm in Portage county, Wisconsin, October 25, 1855, and was the fifth in a family of eight children born to John and Delilah (U'pthagrove) Newby. His father was an early settler of Wisconsin, and on his farm our sub- ject was reared, receiving a common school educa-

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tion. He remained in his native county until he went to North Dakota in the spring of 1879. when he entered a homestead claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 7, Fairmount town- ship. He has improved the property and is now the owner of one half-section of land, on which he has gathered about him all the comforts of modern farming.

Our subject was married in Portage county, Wisconsin, March 15, 1883, to Miss Hattie L. Rood, who was born in Portage, Wisconsin, March 29. 1862. Mrs. Newby was the second in a family of three children born to Harlow S. and Malinda (Cook) Rood. Mr. and Mrs. Newby are the par- ents of three children, as follows: Clay C., Ruby I. and Wesley H. The family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both Mr. and Mrs. Newby are members of the same, and take an active part in religious affairs. Our subject is prominent in matters of a public nature, and has served his township as treasurer, supervisor and constable. He has gained the confidence of the members of his community, and is well known throughout Richland county as a public spirited and energetic citizen.

SYLVAN E. BAYLEY belongs to that large class of intelligent and enterprising farmers whose work as a developer of the country is a credit to themselves and the community. His estate is lo- cated in Cornell township, Cass county, and he en- joys the comforts of a model country home.

Our subject was born in Dodge county, Wiscon- sin, September 23, 1847, and was a son of Benjamin and Hannah (Horr) Bayley, both of whom were natives of Vermont. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and later in life followed farming. He moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, about 1840, and the father died there in 1876, and the mother also passed away in that state. Seven sons and three daughters were born to them, our subject being the only one in North Dakota.

Mr. Bayley was reared in Wisconsin, and re- ceived his education there, and continued his resi- cence in Dodge county until he went to Cass county, North Dakota, locating his land there in 1879, and his residence thereon dates from the following spring. He entered claim to land in section 24 of Cornell township, as a homestead, and was the first settler in that part of the township. He now oper- ates about one section of land, and is among the substantial men of his township.

Our subject was married in Dodge county, Wis- consin, February 22, 1870, to Melissa A. Sanford, a native of that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Bayley have been born five children, named as follows: Frank W., Arthur L., Edith I., Cora S. and Ray E., all of whom are living. Mr. Bayley was active in the or- ganization of his township, and has served as as- sessor continuously since that time. Politically he is a Republican, and is a man who keeps pace with the times.

GEORGE F. SCHLOSSER, of whom a por- trait is shown in connection with this sketch, is one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Traill county. He was an early settler of North Dakota, and has resided near Mayville for the past ten years, during which time he has gained his com- mendable position as a man of excellent character and active public spirit. His farm is one of the most extensive in the state and is fully improved, and on account of its location, affording the quiet of country life and the educational and social advantages of the city, is one of the finest pieces of property to be found.

Our subject is a native of Brownsdale, Minne- sota, and was born December 19, 1858, and was the youngest of a family of four children born to Albert and Katherina ( Nies) Schlosser, both of whom were of German descent. The mother died when our subject was a child and the father is residing with his daughter in Iowa. The father married a sec- ond and a third time, and two children were born to these later unions, the family numbering in all six children. The family settled in Columbia coun- ty, Wisconsin, where our subject resided amid pleasant surroundings until he attained his major- ity. With twenty dollars cash, he started, in com- pany with his brother and Mr. P. Kegler, in a prai- rie schooner, in 1880, for Dakota and arrived in Grand Forks county. He at once sought work, and June 9 began on the Grandin farm, in Traill county, and there did his first wage earning. He soon saw the possibilities in Dakota, and took land as a pre-emption in Grand Forks county, and there built a shanty and purchased on time a yoke of oxen and began to turn the sod. Ninety acres was the result of his first season's work for himself and others, and he soon began the cultivation of his land. He secured an additional one hundred and sixty acres and pushed forward the improvements of his farm, and in 1889 sold advantageously and at once invested in three hundred and twenty acres on the Goose river, adjoining the city of Mayville, where he has since resided. This proved a good invest- ment, as it has since more than doubled in value. His farm comprises timber land, some of which has been sold to the city and has been converted into a beautiful island park, which in summer presents a lively scene of picnics, boating and swimming. Mr. Schlosser has recently donated to the city a location for the electric light plant. For the comfort and convenience of the family, he erected a handsome residence in 1898, which is fitted with modern heating and sewage systems, and is a model in every particular, while the furnishings evidence the good taste of its occupants. He has added to his orig- inal purchase of land, and now owns three thous- and one hundred and sixty acres of land in Traill and Steele counties, all of which he personally su- pervises.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Lizzie McMillin. Six children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Schlosser, as follows : George,

GEORGE F. SCHLOSSER.

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Pearl, Anna May, Glenn, Gladys and Francis W. Mr. Schlosser was elected mayor of the city of Mayville in 1898, re-elected in 1890, and under his guidance many improvements have been established. A relentless war has been waged on gambling games and games of chance and liquor dealers, an electric-light plant has been established and a water- works system has been begun. A public library building will soon be opened, owing to the gener- ous donation of J. L. and E. B. Grandin and the support of the citizens of Mayville.

FRANK P. DEBOLT is successfully pursuing farming and stock raising on one of the pleasant farms of township 146, range 65, in Foster county, and makes his home in section 30. His skillful management of his affairs, and his practical nature have been potent factors in his success and in as- sisting to produce the present solid prosperity of that locality, and it is with pleasure that a review of his career is presented in this volume.

Our subject was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, January 27, 1855. His father, Mikel DeBolt, was a farmer and store keeper in Newtown, Ohio, east of Cincinnati, and was of German descent. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Martha Martin, and was of Welsh descent.

Mr. DeBolt is the youngest in a family of twelve children, and was raised in the village of Newtown, and attended the public schools there, after which he took a course in St. Averies College in Cincinnati, and then attended the normal school at Lebanon. His eyes failed as he began the study of the lan- guages, and he was forced to give up his studies after four years spent in college life. He began clerking in his father's store, and at the age of twenty-one left home and clerked a few years in In- dianapolis, Indiana, when he and two brothers es- tablished a grocery and feed business in that city. After eighteen months our subject disposed of his interest and went to Chicago, Illinois, and there clerked in a furniture store, then went to St. Joe, Michigan, and bought and sold fruit as a specula- tion. He returned later to Newtown, and then went again to Indianapolis in 1882, and was in the commission business in that city three years, han- dling vegetables, fruit and farm products. He came to Foster county, North Dakota, in 1885, and entered claim to the northeast quarter of section 34, in township 146, range 65, as a homestead, and erected a claim sod shanty 12x12 feet, and moved his family to the new home. He dug a well, but had no other improvements and no teams for farming the land, and the first summer only filled the re- quirements of the law as regards improvements. In the fall of that year he worked in the harvest field, the first farm labor he ever did. He had gone to Dakota from the city and an active business life, and the first summer in his new home was filled with pleasures of outdoor life. He engaged in clerking in Fargo during the winter of 1885-86, and the fol-

lowing spring bought a team, wagon and cow, and the first season cropped seven acres of oats which were never threshed. His team died and he then farmed with oxen two years, and in 1889 purchased three horses for $625. He removed to his tree claim in the northeast quarter of section 30, township 146, range 65, in 1894, and erected a set of substantial and commodious buildings thereon, and in 1896 sold his homestead farm and purchased land adjoining his tree claim. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, and engages in grain and stock raising, and the past few years has devoted the greater share of his attention to the raising of sheep and cattle. His farm is nicely located and one of the pleasant spots of the neighborhood in the summer months.

Our subject was married in Indianapolis, In- diana, in January, 1883, to Miss Nanie Roberts, who was born and raised in Virginia. Her parents were of Irish descent, and her father, James Rob- erts, was a plantation owner. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. DeBolt, as follows: Lo- rena, Mattie Pearl and Edna R. Mr. DeBolt holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, Ancient Or- der of United Workmen and the Maccabees. He takes an active part in affairs of a public nature, and has held numerous local offices of trust. Politically he is a Democrat.

JOSEPH L. KERR, one of the pioneer settlers of Stutsman county, is among the few men who braved the dangers and discouragements of early settlement in North Dakota, and have remained to become prosperous and substantial citizens. Al- though he labored many years, crops were destroyed repeatedly, and it was not until after many others had given up the struggle that success came to Mr. Kerr. He is now the owner of a fine estate, and enjoys the comforts of rural life. He resides near the village of Corrinne, and his farm is well equip- ped and nicely located. He also possesses property in Illinois.

Our subject was born in Sharron township, Richland county, Ohio, July 20, 1844. His father, William Kerr, was born in Ohio, where his parents located in 1810, and where the grandfather of our subject built the first flouring mill, during the pio- neer days of the state. The family originally were from the Highlands of Scotland. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Louisa Funk, was born in America and was of Holland-Dutchi descent. Her grandfather was one of the first German Lutheran preachers in Pennsylvania.

Our subject was the second in a family of three children, and was raised on a farm near Shelby, Ohio. He enlisted in the Union army in Septem- ber, 1861, and became a member of Company I. Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, and joined the Army of the Cumberland, and participated in all the battles with that army. He was at Shiloh, Stone River, where he was taken prisoner and confined in Libby

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prison three months, and then exchanged, after which came Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Frank- lin and Nashville. He was also in Sherman's cam- paign around Atlanta, and after the surrender of Lee he was sent to Texas, and was mustered out of the service in November, 1805, after four years and four months of brave and active service. Re- turning from the war, he attended Oberlin College one year, and later went to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming hve years, and in 1871 moved to Milford and established a hardware store, in which business he was engaged two years. He spent four years at Watseka, Illinois, shipping corn and other produce, and in the spring of 1883 went to Stutsman county, North Dakota. He en- tered claim to the southeast quarter of section 32, in township 144, range 62, and erected a IOX12 shanty, and resided there eight or ten years. The first year he bought a team of ponies on time and broke land for others, and his first crop in 1884 was from but five acres of land. The following year hail destroyed his crops and the next four or five years drouth caused a total failure of crops. He raised twenty-five hundred bushels of wheat in 1891, since which time he has prospered in grain rais- ing. He now has four hundred and eighty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation, and he has a well-improved estate, including a complete set of substantial and commodious farm buildings, all necessary machinery, windmill and plenty of stock.

Our subject was married, November 27, 1866, to Candas Roberts, who was born and raised in Shelby, Ohio. Mrs. Kerr's parents came from Hartford, Connecticut, and she and our subject attended the same school in Ohio, and Mrs. Kerr later taught school in that state. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, as follows: Frank, an electrician at Butte, Montana ; and Etta, who is attending school at Oberlin, Ohio. Mr. Kerr is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a Republican, and has cast his vote for the principles of that party since his majority.

ALFRED VIETS. The maturer years of this gentleman have been devoted almost entirely to the toil and labor pertaining to the calling of a farmer, and he has acquired a practical knowledge of his vocation. He is proprietor of a pleasant farm on section 9, in Fairmount township, Richland county, and is enjoying the comforts of rural life.

Our subject was born in East Granby, Con- necticut, September 30, 1850, and was the sixth in a family of seven children born to George W. and Delia E. (King) Viets, who were natives of Con- necticut. When eighteen years of age he went to Nebraska, and spent over ten years steamboating on the Missouri river. From Nebraska he went to North Dakota, in June, 1879, and entered a homestead claim to one hundred and sixty acres of

land in section 9, of Fairmount township, Rich- land county, which land he has improved and fully equipped with modern buildings and machinery. He has given his attention chiefly to farming since taking up his residence in Dakota and has met with sticcess.

Our subject was married, in Fairmount town- ship, Richland county, October 26, 1885, to Miss Lillie G. Gardner, a native of Mottville, New York. Mrs. Viets was the fifth in a family of six children born to Sylvester and Malinda (Johnson) Gard- ner, who were natives of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Viets are the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Delia M., Elwyn, Ena M., Floyd G., Her- mia and Genevieve. Our subject is a prominent citizen of Fairmount township, and has been called upon to serve in various local offices. He is pro- gressive, a man of industrious habits, and com- mands respect wherever known.

DRAPER A. LINDSEY, attorney-at-law, with residence at Fargo, North Dakota, is well known throughout the state, not only as a well-versed law- yer, but also a man of public spirit and moral in- fluence. His name has been associated with the history of that region for many years, and he has a host of friends.

Mr. Lindsey was born at Fairfax, Monroe county, Indiana, June 1, 1848, and was a son of William H. and Zerelda (Long) Lindsey, both of whom were natives of Indiana. The grandfather of our subject, William Lindsey, was a soldier under William H. Harrison, in Indiana and the Northwest, and the father of our subject was a vet- eran of the Civil war. He was mustered out as captain of Company MI, Fifth Kansas Cavalry, and was an early settler of Kansas. He saw service in the border warfare in 1858, and his death occurred in Kansas in 1885. The mother still resides in that state. Of the family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, our subject is the only one residing in North Dakota.

Draper A. Lindsey was accorded a liberal edu- cation, attending the Baker University, of Kansas, after which he entered the Northwestern Univer- sity of Illinois, from which institution he graduated in June. 1873. He went to Plainview, Minnesota, the same year, where he served as superintendent of schools for seven years. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1880, and filled the office of super- intendent of schools there for two years, and began the study of law in January, 1883, under Stone & Newman. He was admitted to the bar in 1885, and remained with the firm under whose guidance he had completed his course, until January, 1887, when he established his practice, and has continued thuis engaged since that time. He has given his entire attention to his practice and has built up an extensive and lucrative business. He served as city attorney two years.

Our subject was married, in 1877, to Carrie A.

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Stone, a native of Minnesota. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, named as fol- lows: Ralph A., Maude M. and Gladys. Mr. Lindsey is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having passed the thirty-second degree of that order, and has been elected to the thirty- third and Mystic Shrine. He is master of the local lodge, and has filled some of the offices of the Grand Lodge. Politically he is a Republican, and on various occasions has canvassed the state for the principles of his party.

GEORGE DUNN, a well-known farmer of Barnes county, North Dakota, residing on section 22, township 142, range 58 west, has the reputa- tion of being a strictly first-class business man, reliable and energetic, and is a citizen of whom any community might be justly proud. He was born on a farm in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1861, and is a son of Charles Dunn, also a native of the Emer- ald Isle and a farmer by occupation. The father is now deceased. The mother was in her maiden- hood Miss Isabel Sampson, a native of Ireland and an aunt of Admiral Sampson, now one of the most distinguished officers in our navy.

In 1881 Mr. Dunn bade good-by to friends and native land and sailed for America, locating first at Palmyra, New York. Near that place he worked on a farm for about a year, and in the spring of 1882 came to Barnes county, North Dakota, where he filed a homestead. Here he has since resided, his time and attention being devoted to general farming, and by industry, perseverance and good management he has succeeded in accumulating a handsome property, now being the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of fine farm land. He has erected good and substantial buildings thereon and made many other improvements upon the place which add greatly to its value and attractive ap- pearance. Politically he is independent, preferring to vote for the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices, regardless of party affiliations.

THOMAS LOVELL, one of the most exten- sive stock raisers of North Dakota, is an early set- tler of Dickey county, and makes his home in Lud- den. He has been identified with the advancement and development of that region, and is a man of honest purpose and business tact.

Mr. Lovell was born on a farm in Courtland county, New York, February 7, 1839, and was one of a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, born to Adamson and Hepsey (Leech) Lovell, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. The father was a farmer by occupation and a worthy citizen, and the township of Lovell, Dickey county, was named in his honor.

Our subject went to Kane county, Illinois, with his parents, when he was sixteen years of age, and they located in Kanesville, where he completed his

education, and then began work on a farm in that vicinity. He went to Fairfax Court House, Vir- ginia, in the spring of 1865, to enlist in a regiment raised in Kane county, Illinois, and became a mem- ber of Company 1, Eighth Illinois Cavalry. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Ben- ton Barracks, Missouri, July 4, 1865, after which he returned to his home and worked on a farm two years. He then went to Jackson county, Missouri, and engaged in the livery business in Summit, that state, for three and a half years, going from there to Kansas City, where he engaged in the transfer and bus business in the firm of Short & Company. He remained in Kansas City one year, and then returned to his Illinois home and engaged in farm- ing until 1885, when, in May, he went to Dickey county, Dakota. He at once entered a claim to land ın Lovell township, and continued to cultivate his farm until 1894, when he engaged in the cattle business, giving his entire attention to the breeding of the Hereford strain. His herd is now among the best in the state, and he has twenty registered and one hundred graded head, together with hundreds of others. He has gained a comfortable competence and is among the leading stock raisers of the state.

Our subject was married, in Aurora, Illinois, in 1865, to Rachel Cornwell, who died in Ludden. Dickey county, April 8, 1894. Mr. Lovell married Mrs. Jennie VanMetor, October 12, 1897. Mr. Lovell is a member of the G. A. R., and is promi- nent in public affairs. He has been called upon to serve his community in various township offices and labors earnestly for the better interests of his fel- low men.

WILLIAM H. TAYLOR, one of the leading and most enterprising farmers of Fairmount town- ship. Richland county, is one of the early settlers of that township, and has been identified with its interests since its organization. His residence is located on section 5, in Fairmount township, and he is the owner of one section of land in Fairmount and Lawrence townships.

Our subject was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 8, 1858. His father was the late Jason P. Taylor, and his mother bore the maiden name of Armina Vose. They went from Decatur, Michi- gan, to Richland county, North Dakota. in the spring of 1879. and settled on section 5 of Fair- mount township, where they resided until 1891, when they removed to the village of Fairmount, where the father died June 4. 1897. Seven chil- dren were born to this worthy couple, as follows: Clarinda ; William H., our subject; Wallace J .; Herbert B., a sketch of whose life appears else- where in this volume; Minnie; James, who was frozen in a blizzard, at the age of fifteen years, February 18. 1884; and George W.

William H. Taylor was reared in Michigan and went to Dakota in the spring of 1879. locating on section 5 of Fairmount township. He has im-

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proved the property, and his farm now comprises one section of land.

Our subject was married, in Fairmount, North Dakota, February 22, 1888, to Miss Ida MI. John- son, a native of Michigan, and a daughter of Perry Johnson, of Fairmount. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of four children, as follows: Myrtle A., Jason P., Minnie M. and Clara E. Mr. Taylor is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is noble grand of the local lodge. He takes an active interest in public affairs and has served in numerous official positions, in- cluding county constable two years, township as- sessor two years, chairman of the board of super- visors eight years, and minor offices of trust. He has gained the confidence of the people and is an influential citizen of Fairmount township.

GUSTAF C. HOFOS, a leading farmer of Bear Creek township, Ransom county, is the owner of three hundred and seventy-five acres of prairie land, on which he conducts general farming. He has made a comfortable home, by earnest and per- sistent effort, and is well known in his community for his industrious habits and practical ideas. His home is located on section 33, his original home- stead farm, and he is enabled to enjoy the comforts which he well merits.

Our subject was born in Solor, near Kongs Vin- ger, Norway, September 27, 1848, and was the tenth in a family of twelve children born to Ole and Inger ( Noer) Hofos. When about seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the cabinet- makers' trade. After attaining his majority he came to America and worked at his trade in De- coral, Iowa, nine years. He went to Fargo, Da- kota, in the fall of 1880, and after working at his trade there three years took a homestead farm, and the following year went with his family to reside thereon. He has added to his possessions by pur- chase, and his estate is one of the well-improved farms of Bear Creek township.

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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 73

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