Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 74

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 74

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Our subject was married, in 1881, to Miss Christie Myhre. Mr. and Mrs. Hofos are the par- ents of the following children : Inga; Oscar ; Carl, deceased : Charlotte ; Gertie: Ovidie, deceased ; Ida ; Gilbert ; Grace and Otto. Mr. and Mrs. Hofos have adopted one son, Carl Myhre. Mr. Hofos is a member of the Lutheran church. He has been called upon to serve his township as school director, and has been township clerk since the organization of the township. Politically he is a Populist, and stands stanchly for the principles of his party. He is a man of enlightened views, and keeps pace with current events and advocates reform movements. He is now a member of the Populist county central committee, and has attended as a delegate numer- ous county and state conventions. He is deserv- edly held in high esteem by his associates, and labors earnestly for the better interests of his com- munity.

RANDOLPH HOLDING, the efficient and popular postmaster of Ransom, North Dakota, has been a resident of Sargent county since the early days of the settlement of that region, and is inti- mately connected with its early history. He is a man of loyal purpose, and in the great struggle of 1861-65 defended his country's preservation, and can review his long and brave service with justi- fiable pride.

Mr. Holding was born in Coral, McHenry county, Illinois, July 27, 1844. When he was ten years of age he moved with his parents to Mont- calm county, Michigan, and settled on a farm and lived there until 1861, when he went to St. Cloud, Minnesota. He enlisted, August 14, 1862, in Com- pany E, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. At the close of the war he re- turned to Stearns county, Minnesota, where he was engaged in farming for several years, and then en- gaged in the mercantile business in Holding's Ford, .where he remained in business until 1882. He then went to Sargent county, North Dakota, in April of that year, and engaged in the mercantile business in Ransom, in which he continued until 1894, when he disposed of the business to his son. He is in- terested in a tract of land of four hundred and eighty acres in Ransom township. He has held the office of postmaster of Ransom since taking up his residence in Sargent county, with the ex- ception of eight years, and enjoys the confidence of the people.

Our subject was married, in Morrison county, Minnesota, to Lavina Trask, a native of Maine. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holding, as follows: Albert C., William R. and Adelbert E. Mr. Holding has been justice of the peace for several years, and served as county com- missioner for two years. He is a member of the G. A. R. and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

OLAUS W. WILLIAMS, one of the well- known pioneers of Steele county, is the present county treasurer, and is an efficient and popular officer. He has followed farming during his entire career in that locality, but spent two years in Dakota, in Traill county, before locating on his present home- stead in 1883. He is now the owner of one-half section of land, on which he has placed modern improvements, and his farm buildings on section 22, in Golden Lake township, furnishes the conven- iences and comforts of a model farm. Mr. Williams resides in Sherbrooke at present.

Our subject was born near Christiania, Norway, April 24, 1850, and was the eldest in a family of six children born to William and Karen (Erickson) Williams, both of whom are now residing in Filmore county, Minnesota. The family came to America in 1866, and the father with his two eldest sons in- vested in farm land in Alamakee county, Iowa, where they remained until the spring of 1875, when they removed to Filmore county, Minnesota, and

OLAUS W. WILLIAMS AND FAMILY.

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purchased the farm on which the parents still re- side.

Our subject remained at home until the spring of 1881, when he went to Red River Valley and to- cated at Mayville, Traill county, Dakota, and his wife joined him there in the fall of that year. He worked two years in a blacksmith shop and livery barn, and in the meantime prospected for land, and in August, 1882, filed claim to the land on which he now resides, and is his homestead farm. He moved to his farm the following spring, and soon began wheat cultivation. He now has a well- equipped farm, and is among the substantial men of his community.

Mr. Williams was married in June, 1880, to Miss Johannah Gorder. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, as follows : Julia Valdine, Cora, Emnia and Otilia. A family group portrait appears on another page. Mr. Williams was elected county commissioner for the fourth district in 1891, and served two terms, when he was elected to a third term, but resigned after one year's service, to accept the office of county treasurer. He is strong in his convictions for right and is an advocate of reforni principles, and was an organizer and supporter of the Populist party, with which he is now identified.

THOMAS PUNTON. This gentleman is one of the best known and most highly respected citi- zens of Cass county, and has successfully followed farming for many years and is now proprietor of an excellent farm of one section in Ayr township. He is possessed of a thorough knowledge of his calling, which made him an invaluable aid in the development of the agricultural resources of that region, and he was manager of the Park farm for many years and conducted the same with marked success.

Our subject was born near Edinburgh, Scot- land, September 29, 1856. His parents, Thomas and Agnes (Turnbull) Punton, were natives of the same shire, Haddingtonshire, in Scotland, and passed their lives in their native land. The father was a farmer by occupation.

Mr. Punton was the only son, and was reared and educated in Scotland and there learned the trade of an engineer. He emigrated to America in 1883 and entered the employ of Thomas Park as engineer of steam plows and operated the same two years, breaking a total of six thousand acres of land. The plows were then sold and shipped to California. Mr. Punton continued as foreman of the Park farm for ten years and successfully oper- ated the same, and then purchased two thousand acres of land, which he later sold, and bought a section of land which he now operates. He has a well-improved estate and enjoys rural life.

Our subject was married, in 1880, to Elizabeth WV. Bell, a native of Scotland. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Punton, named as fol- lows: Elizabeth, Thomas, William, George, Agnes,

Robert, Charles, Ellen and Alexander, all of whom are living. Mr. Punton is a Republican in politics, but never sought or filled public office. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Work- men, Modern Woodmen of America and Order of Foresters.

HENRY P. PATTEN. In that large class of intelligent and enterprising farmers whose homesare the places of social and mental refreshment, and whose work for the development of the country is a credit to themselves and to the community, the gentleman above named is entitled to prominent mention. He is one of the pioneers of Steele coun- ty, and his farm in section 4 of Lincoln township is well improved and his entire estate is conducted by the most approved methods.

Our subject was born in Hancock county, Maine, April 27, 1850. His parents were Bernard and Johann (Hooper) Patten, and his ancestry in America dates prior to the Revolution. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was the fourth in a family of ten children. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, assisting on his father's farm, and then took charge of his grandmother Patten's farm. He went to Minneapolis in 1874 and worked in the woods of Minnesota and later followed con- tracting. In the summer of 1880 he went to Fargo, North Dakota, and purchased teams, contracting for breaking in Ransom county, North Dakota, and for four years he spent the summers in Dakota and worked in the woods of Minnesota winters. Hc located land in section 4 of Lincoln township, in the spring of 1881, and the following year removed to land which his wife had homesteaded in the same section and township, and their 12x16-foot pioneer house constitutes a part of their present home. He is now the owner of one and a quarter sections of land, eight hundred acres, and of this tract about seven hundred and twenty are under the plow. He engages in diversified farming, and is devoting at- tention to the purifying of the Durham Shorthorn cattle. He winters about fifty head of cattle and raises corn and millet for this purpose, and he is contemplating engaging extensively in raising stock and establishing a ranch farther west.

Our subject was married, in 1882, to Miss Abbie L. Ray. Mrs. Patten is a lady of rare musical tal- ent, and was a student of the New England Con- servatory of Music and also studied in Boston, and during the winter months, when our subject was working in the woods of Minnesota, Mrs. Patten was engaged in teaching music in Casselton. She passed through pioneer experiences with her hus- band, and to her is due much credit for the share she has taken in the good management which has resulted in their comfortable circumstances at the present time. Four children were born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Patten, as follows: Mil- dred, Jean P., Arthur and Angusta. Mr. Patten has held membership in the Masonic fraternity since

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1874, and also affiliates with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Politically he is a Populist, and is a man of intelligence and true worth and a close student of the public questions of the day. He is chairman of the township board, and other- wise serves his community and labors for its wel- fare.

HON. HEZEKIA J. ROWE, one of the pioneer physicians and surgeons of North Dakota, has his ofhce at Casselton, Cass county, and enjoys an ex- tensive and remunerative practice. He is thor- oughly versed in the practice of medicine, and the people among whom he has labored many years place entire confidence in his skill and training, and accord him a prominent place as a citizen and prac- titioner.

Our subject was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1848, and was the younger of two children, one son and one daughter, born to Hezekia and Lucy (Holtzer) Rowe, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a cooper and farmer by occupation and still resides in Pennsylvania, where the mother died when our subject was an infant.

Our subject was reared and educated in Penn- sylvania and attended the Vermillion Institute at Hayesville, Ohio, now the Wooster University. He enlisted, in 1865, in Company D, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served to the close of the war, and participated in the battle at Petersburg, Virginia, and Fort Steadman. He was discharged from the service July 27, 1865, and re- turned to Pennsylvania, where he attended school and later engaged in teaching in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He was superintendent of schools at Lou- donsville, Ohio, three and a half years, and one year at Blairsville, Pennsylvania. During his teaching he had devoted some time and attention to the read- ing of medicine, and in 1874 entered the Louisville Medical College, at Louisville, Kentucky, attending one term. He attended the Jefferson Medical Col- lege, of Philadelphia, in 1875-76, graduating from that institution in 1876. He began the practice of his profession at Loudonsville, Ohio, the same year, and remained there until June, 1879, when he went to North Dakota and located at Casselton, Cass coun- ty. He has since followed a general practice in the vicinity, and has steadily built up an extensive practice.

Our subject was married, in October, 1880, in Ohio, to HIelen I. Taylor, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe are the parents of two sons, Arthur T. and Paul H. Mr. Rowe is a member of the Cass County Medical Association, is president of the State Medical Society, and a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association. He is a member of the state medical examining board, and is also a mem- ber and president of the United States pension ex- amining board. He is prominent in secret society circles and holds membership in the Independent

Order of Odd Fellows, Masonic fraternity and G. A. R. He was grand master of the I. O. O. F. of Dakota in 1885, and represented the state and terri- tory nine years in the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States He has been representative of the G. A. R. from North Dakota for many years. In church work he takes an active interest and is a member of the Presbyterian denomination, is superintendent of the Sunday school and an elder in the church He was elected to the state senate and served in 1889-90. He introduced the prohibition law in North Dakota, and did very efficient work while a member of the senate. His public spirit and excellence of character have never been called in question, and he is deservedly popular with the people.

BURKE CORBET, attorney-at-law, in Grand Forks, is one of the leaders of his profession in North Dakota. He has acted in many prominent positions and has gained an extensive practice and an honorable name. He was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1855, and was a son of William W. and Elizabeth ( McCrea) Corbet.

The parents of our subject were natives of Penn- sylvania, and the father was a lumberman, and still resides in Jefferson county, near the place where he was born. The grandfather of our subject, James Corbet, was a son of William Corbet, of Baltimore, and he in turn was a son of William Corbet, a na- tive of England and a sea-faring man, who settled in Maryland. The family were mostly mechanics or lumbermen. Our subject had two brothers, one of whom resides in Pennsylvania and the other in Washington.

Burke Corbet was reared and educated in the public schools of his native state, and began the study of law at the age of eighteen years, and was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania, December 12, 1876. He remained 'in the office where he studied two years, after which, in 1878, he removed to Ore- gon and located at Portland. He engaged as freight clerk on a Columbia river steamboat for some time, and for a short time was private secretary to Gov- ernor W. W. Thayer. He remained in the boat business four years, and in 1882 went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he established himself in his profession, and has since resided continu- ously.

Our subject was married in Oregon, in 1880, to Miss Sadie E. Ingram, a native of Ohio. Five chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Corbet, as fol- lows: Mary, Sadie, Helen, Edward B. and Charles. Mr. Corbet is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken the thirty-second degree. He was chosen probate judge in 1883. and served to January 1, 1885, and was appointed by Governor Shortridge, in 1893, as one of three committeemen to re-compile the laws of the state, and he served with Hon. Charles F. Amidan and George W. New-

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ton. He was twice nominated for attorney-general on the Democratic ticket, and was chairman of the state central committee in 1895-96. Aside from his law practice he is also a director of the First Na- tional Bank, and has been successful as a lawyer and as a business man, and has many friends.

HERBERT B. TAYLOR. Among the men who are gaining a good support by tilling the soil of Fairmount township, Richland county, and inciden- tally laying aside a competence for future years, this gentleman is an able representative. He has re- sided in Richland county since his boyhood days, and is well known as an industrious and honest citi- zen, who always has the welfare of his community at heart.

Mr. Taylor was born in Van Buren county, Mich- igan, on a farm, August 2, 1862, and was the fourth in a family of seven children born to Jason P. and Armina (Vose) Taylor, notice of whom appears in the history of William H. Taylor, the brother of our subject.

Herbert B. Taylor went to Dakota with his par- ents in the spring of 1879. He was reared on his father's farm and received a common school educa- tion, and has pursued the life of an agriculturist. He resided with his parents until 1886, when he began farming for himself, and is now the owner of one half-section of land on section 5, in Fairmount town- ship. He is successful as a farmer and has a well- improved estate.

Mr. Taylor was married March 31, 1886, to Miss Luella M. Stewart, a daughter of the late La- throp and Emeline ( Allen) Stewart, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Taylor's par- ents went from Dane county, Wisconsin, to Richand county, North Dakota, in the spring of 1879, and settled in Center township, where the mother died in March, 1887. The father survived her many years and made his home with our subject until his death, in December, 1898. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom grew to maturity. Mrs. Taylor was the youngest daughter and was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, August 27, 1864. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tay- lor, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving children bear the following names: Armina E., El- sie N., Achsah F. and Hubert H. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a young man of energetic spirit and honest dealings and is widely and favorably known.

OLIVER S. HANSON. As an all around prominent man of Traill county, there is probably no one of its citizens who more justly deserves the title than Mr. Hanson. He is the leading spirit in the financial and social growth of Buxton and its surrounding country, and is enjoying the result of a well-spent career. He resides on his pleasantly sit- uated farm near that city, and his home is one of

elegance and comfort, being fitted with all modern improvements, heated by turnace and finished in hard wood. He is president of the State Bank of Buxton, and is also extensively interested in farming.

Our subject was born in lowa, June 3, 1862, and was the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children, born to Hans and Moren ( Simonson ) Han- son, both of whom were natives of Norway. His parents emigrated to America in 1851, and became early settlers of Allamakee county, lowa, where their marriage occurred, and where the father now re- sides.

Our subject went to Hillsboro in November, 1881, and spent three years in the position of book- keeper for the Hillsboro National Bank. He went to Buxton in January, 1884, at the age of twenty- one years, and established the bank of Buxton and became cashier. He purchased the business within a few months and conducted it as a private bank, and in 1890 re-organized as the State Bank of Bux- ton, and has since been president of the institution. The bank conducts a general banking business, and occupies a quaint structure in design, built of native stone. Mr. Hanson has a valuable farmi about one mile north of Buxton, where he has erected his hand- some residence and makes his home.

Our subject was married, in 1884, to Miss Anna Scully, who died in 1889. Mr. Hanson married Miss Louise Sorlie, in 1892. Three children have been born to this union, as follows : Harley, Merwyn and Verdine. Mr. Hanson is a supporter of the Republican party, and is well known as a temper- ance worker. He is a member of the Republican state central committee and has been absent from few state conventions. He served as a delegate to the St. Louis convention, and has been thoroughly identified with the movements of his party, but has not allowed his name to be brought forward as a candidate for office. He devotes most of his time to the duties of his position and business affairs, and his success is well merited.

JOHN Y. EASTERBROOK, one of the pio- neer settlers of Stutsman county, has made a suc- cess of the pursuit of agriculture, and is now one of the substantial men of his locality, and the owner of a well-improved tract of eight hundred acres. He is possessed of excellent ability and business tact, and despite many discouragments which he has en- countered, he has steadily progressed in his work, and now enjoys a comfortable home and the highest esteem of his associates.

Our subject was born on a farm in Ontario, Can- ada, in 1854. and was the fourth in a family of sev- enteen children, and was a son of George Easter- brook. His father was born in Devonshire. Eng- land, and was a tailor by trade, and came to America with his parents when a boy, and the family settled in Halton county, Ontario, Canada. The grand- father of our subject, Elias Easterbook, was a farmer by occupation. The mother of our subject

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was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to Amer- ica with her parents when a girl, and her father was a farmer by occupation.

Our subject was raised on his father's farm in Ontario, and received a country school education. After attaining his majority he rented one of his father's farms and engaged in farming there four years, and in the spring of 1881 went to Nebraska and bought railroad land. He did not meet with success there and in March, 1882, went to North Da- kota, and settled near Jamestown. He rented and purchased land and engaged in farming in several localities in Stutsman county, and in 1893 located on the "Greene farm," on section 19, township 140, range 64, where he now resides. He and his brother- in-law, George Fletcher, farmed together ten years, and also operated a threshing machine, which our subject still operates and has an outfit now of his own, and for the past fifteen years has followed that line of work each season. He is now the owner of eight hundred acres of land, and has five hundred and ten acres under cultivation. Part of his ma- chinery, hay, feed and so forth, with the exception of his shanty and household goods, were destroyed by prairie fire in 1882, and his separator, valued at two hundred dollars, was lost by fire in 1896. He now has a well-improved and well-stocked farm, and has made a success of his calling.

At the age of twenty-three years our subject was married to Miss Mary Fletcher, who was born and raised in the same county as himself. Her father was a native of England, and came to Amer- ica, where he engaged in farming. Mr. Easter- brook and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and our subject is class leader and choir leader, assistant Sunday school superintendent and instructor of the Bible class, and takes an active part in the social affairs of that denomination. Mr. Esterbrook is an independent national voter, and favors the Prohibition principles.

JOSEPH BAYLISS, widely known as the first settler of Clifton, township, Cass county, is passing his declining years amid pleasant surroundings, and enjoys a comfortable competence as the result of a well spent career. He has devoted his maturer years to farming, and has met with unbounded success, and is now proprietor of a fine farm the improve- ments of which he has placed thereon by his own efforts, and has gained the highest esteem of those among whom he labors.

Our subject is a native of Staffordshire, England, and was born July 22, 1837. His parents, John and Jane (Bond) Bayliss, were natives of the same shire and spent their lives in their native place. His father was an iron worker. Our subject has one sister living.

Mr. Bayliss was reared and educated in Eng- land, and there learned the trade of puddler and steel maker, and followed it there until 1869, when he emigrated to America and located in Cleveland, and

from there removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and later to Youngstown, Ohio. He resided in the last named place until 1879, and then went to Cass county, North Dakota, and entered a claim as a homestead to land in section 10 of Clifton township and has resided there since that date. He now has four hundred acres of good land, and is one of the substantial men of his locality.

Our subject was married, in 1859, to Miss Sarah Bowen, a native of the same shire in England as Mr. Bayliss. Eight children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bayliss, as follows : William B., Mattie, now Mrs. George Phillips, of Chicago; Benjamin C., James H., Annie A., now Mrs. E. Lloyd, of East Chicago; Minnie M., George A. and Edith F. The family were members of the Presby- terian church, and are highly respected in the com- munity in which they reside. Mr. Bayliss takes an active interest in the welfare of his community, and has served in various local offices, including justice of the peace, school offices and member of the township board. He is independent in political sentiment and is a man well versed on the topics of the day and wields an influence for good in his lo- cality. He went to North Dakota without means and is now one of the prosperous men of Clifton township, and well merits his success.

J. H. PLATH, SR., one of the earliest settlers of Davenport township, Cass county, successfully pursued farming in that locality for many years and acquired a comfortable home and an enviable reputa- tion. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born June 14, 1821. He now resides in Galena, Illinois, with his aged wife, and is retired from active pursuits, and enjoys the result of a well-spent career. A portrait of Mr. Plath is shown on another page.

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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 74

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