USA > North Dakota > Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life > Part 81
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Mr. Boise was married, in 1886, to Miss Ella Curry. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boise, as follows: Katrina C., Spencer S., Charles G. and Gertrude. Mr. Boise is a gentleman of much activity in public affairs and in every public capacity has always been found efficient and an earnest worker for the welfare of his community.
AUGUST HOEFS. Among the gentlemen · who are engaged in agriculture in Brandenburg township, Richland county, none are more useful in sustaining and extending its farming interests than Mr. Hoefs. He is well versed in the best and most approved methods of operating a farm, and has pleasant surroundings on section 29, and is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land. He is one of the first settlers of that region and enjoys the respect of his associates.
Our subject was born in Germany, February 4. 1855. He remained in his native land until 1872, when he emigrated to America and settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, residing there two years. He went to Dakota in April, 1874, and was engaged in different occupations for two years, when he entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land as a homestead, on section 29, in Brandenburg township, where he has since resided. He now owns nine hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land. Ile has added useful and substantial improvements to his farm, and has made a success of general farm- ing, adding to his possessions until he is now the owner of six hundred and forty acres of tillable land.
Our subject was married in Brandenburg town- ship, Richland county, North Dakota, in November, 1877, to Miss Amelia Tews, a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Hoefs are the parents of the following children : Emma, Alvena, Robert, Albert, Minnie, Rudolph and Otilge. Mrs. Hoefs has been closely identified with the public interests of Richland county since the early settlement of that region, and lias held numerous important commissions in his township and county. He has been assessor and school treas- urer for the past eighteen years, and was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1800, and served two successive terms. He was re-elected in 1896 and again in 1898, and was a candidate on the Dem- ocratic ticket as a member of the state legislature in 1894. He is an efficient officer and has gained the confidence of the people of his community.
HELGE HELGESON, a progressive member of the farming community of Ransom county, has de- voted the greater part of his life to agriculture, in the pursuit of which he has been very fortunate, and is proprietor of a valuable estate in Moore township. his homestead being located there in section 28. Hc has acquired his property by persistent effort and careful management, and is one of the substantial and highly respected men of his community.
Our subject was born in Fillmore county, Min- nesota, July 30, 1859, and was the third in a family of eight children, born to Helge and Carrie (Olson ) Helgeson, both of whom are now residents of Fillmore county, Minnesota. Our subject was reared to farm work and received a common school education in English and Scandinavian. He went to Ransom county, North Dakota, in 1883, and en- tered claim to the land which he now owns, and began very limited improvements on the farm. He returned to his home for about one year, and se- cured four horses, and some farm machinery, and then went to Dakota for a permanent residence in 1885. He had no means, and erected his dwelling as it now stands, and a sod stable for his horses. He has added improvements to the place and is now in possession of a well improved farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, on which he conducts general farming. He winters about twenty-five head of stock, and is grading the short-horn Durham cattle,
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his stock raising forming one of the features of his farmı.
Our subject was married, in 1889, to Miss Bertha Johnson. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Helgeson, as follows: Henry, deceased ; Carl, Ricke M., Ole, John, deceased; Martin, and Henry. The last named two are twins. Mr. Helgeson is a member of the Lutheran church. He is a man of good education and has always taken an active part in local affairs. He assisted in the organization of the township, and has continuously served as town- ship clerk. Politically he is a Republican. He is well known in Ransom county as an early settler and leading citizen, and is deservedly held in high esteem by his associates.
OLE ANDERSON, a prosperous farmer of section 10, Hobart township, Barnes county, and a representative citizen, respected alike for his industry and integrity, may be properly placed in the list of self-made men who have done so much toward de- veloping the resources of North Dakota. He was born on a farm near the village of Valden, Norway, in 1855, and is a son of Arne Olsen, also a native of Norway, and now a resident of Wisconsin, having come to this country in 1872. Our subject was reared and educated in his native land and also emi- grated to America in 1872.
On landing in this country, Mr. Anderson pro- ceeded at once to Chicago, where he worked at lathing and broom making for the first six years. In the spring of 1878 he came to Barnes county, North Dakota, and filed a homestead where he still continues to reside. As his financial resources have increased, he has extended the boundaries .of his farm until he now owns nine hundred and sixty acres of very productive land which is well improved, his buildings being far ahead of the average usually found in a new country.
In Valley City, Barnes county, in 1884, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Anderson and Miss Anna Anderson, also a native of Norway, who was born in 1859 and came to Valley Center in 1881. Five children grace this union, two sons and three daughters, namely: John A., Anne S., Minnie A., Agnes and Albert C.
Although Mr. Anderson came to this state with but little means, he has by strict attention to business, careful management and untiring per- severance become the possessor of a handsome property, and by his upright, honorable life has gained the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
WALTER C. TAYLOR, of the firm of Warren & Taylor, publishers of the "La Moure County Chronicle," is a man of mitch ability as a business man and a highly esteemed citizen. He was born on a farm near Alexandria, Minnesota, February 18, 1870.
The father of our subject, Cyrus L. Taylor, was a native of Kentucky and was a merchant by occupa- tion. He died at Devil's Lake, North Dakota, in 1888, aged sixty-eight years. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Lydia A. E. Bratton, was a native of Indiana. She is now living at Devl's Lake. Eight children were born to this worthy couple, two sons and six daughters, our sub- ject being the sixth in order to birth.
When still a child our subject moved with his parents to Alexandria, Minnesota, and he resided there until seventeen years of age, and after com- pleting his education entered the office of the "Alex- andria Post," where he learned the printer's trade, and remained there until 1886. He then went to Devil's lake, North Dakota, where he became fore- man of the "Devil's Lake News," edited by Jas. V. Brooke, and later was manager thereof. He re- moved to Towner, North Dakota, in January, 1891, and purchased the "Independent," which he pub- lished about three years, and then disposed of the paper to George W. Wilson, of Minot, and returned to Devil's Lake, where he remained until the fall of 1894, and then went to LaMoure and accepted the position of foreman of the "Chronicle," which po- sition he held until April 1, 1897, when he bought a half interest in the plant with E. M. Warren, since which he has conducted the paper with Mr. Warren under the firm as before stated. The "Chronicle" is a Republican paper and is the official organ of the county.
Our subject was married in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1892, to Miss Ora M. Hunt. Mrs. Tay- lor died in LaMoure. North Dakota, in 1897, aged twenty-three years. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Knights of the Mac- cabees.
OLE CHRISTIANSON, one of the most suc- cessful farmers and stock raisers of Ransom county, resides on section 30, of Liberty township, and is surrounded by all that goes to make country life pleasant. He made his start in Dakota with limited means, and is now the owner of a fine estate, and has also gained a high reputation among those in his locality.
Our subject was born near Kongsvinger, Nor- way, January 20, 1848. He remained in his native land until 1870, when he came to America, and set- tled in Mitchell county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1881 went to Ransom county, Dakota. He purchased a half section of land and the following spring moved onto the place for permanent residence. He had ten head of cattle, and six horses, butt did not have enough money to pay in full for his land. He be- gan raising wheat, and soon engaged extensively in stock raising. the latter industry proving a success to a remarkable degree. He has now sixteen hun- dred acres of land, on which he conducts stock raising, and is one of the substantial men of that region. He crops about fourteen hundred acres of
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OLE CHRISTIANSON AND WIFE.
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land annually, and on his home farm has added val- uable improvements, including a comfortable resi- dence, and a barn 60x72 feet. With Mr. Fausett he owns a threshing outfit, and that is a source of in- come annually.
Our subject was married, in 1878, to Miss Belle Thorsen, who died in 1884, leaving three children, as follows: Charles, Bertha and Josie. Mr. Chris- tianson married Miss Christina Gulberg, and three children have been born to this union, as follows : Alfred, Willie and Clarence. Mr. Christianson is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and Inde- pendent Order of Foresters, and is a communicant of the Lutheran church. He is chairman of the board of supervisors, and works earnestly for the better interests of his community. In political sen- timent he is a Populist and Prohibitionist. A por- trait of Mr. and Mrs. Christianson will be found in connection with this sketch.
ADDISON LEECH, deceased. In the death of the late Addison Leech of Fargo, North Dakota; the farming community of Warren township lost a most worthy citizen and prominent man. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Warren township, and was at one time the most extensive farmer of the state, and prior to his demise disposed of his lands, and was one of the wealthy and influential citizens of that locality.
. Our subject was a native of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and was born February 20, 1824. His parents, David and Plebe (Finley) Leech, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were among the pio- neers of the western part of the state. Three sons and one daughter were born to them, all of whom are now deceased.
Mr. Leech was reared and educated in Pennsyl- vania and graduated in Allegheny College of Mead- ville, Pennsylvania. He followed farming and mill- ing and was also interested in the canal trade, and remained in Pennsylvania until 1880, when he went to Cass county, and purchased seven thousand three hundred acres of land in Warren township, and later bought forty thousand acres in western Cass and Barnes counties. A portion of the land has been partially improved, but he at once opened up an ex- tensive farm and operated the land for many years and then sold most of the estate. He was a large stockholder of the "Anchor Line," or Erie & West- ern Transportation Company, of Erie, Pennsylvania, and was manager of Erie ports for ten years.
Mr. Leech was married at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1852, to Mary I. Watson, a native of Pennsyl- vania. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Leech: John W., Mary R., William F., Isadora, now Mrs. Chester W. Bliss, of Springfield, Massachusetts ; Addison, Isbelle, now Mrs. W. A. Luce of Erie, Pennsylvania ; Ella and Louise. Mr. Leech died April 10, 1899, and was survived by a wife and eight children. He was a member of the Constitutional convention of 1889, and was a man of
excellent character and deeply mourned by all who knew him. He was a Republican politically, but never sought public preferment or filled office, and was a man of strict integrity, and attended to his business affairs in all details and made a success of his career.
OSCAR BARRETT, county register of deeds of Steele county, North Dakota, is one of the lead- ing residents of Sherbrooke. He is an old soldier who can review with justifiable pride a well spent career as a loyal citizen, and is widely and favorably known in Steele county.
Our subject was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, August 5, 1842, and was the older of two children, born to Francis W. and Lucy (Amadon ) Barrett. When he was still a child the family settled in Fond du Lac and later in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, and our subject resided on the farm until the breaking out of the Civil war. He enlisted in Company D, First Wisconsin Cavalry, September 1, 1861, and participated in the battle of Chickamauga, and numerous skirmishes in the valley and in eastern Tennessee, and joined in Wil- son's raid. He was promoted to first sergeant, and after an engagement at West Point, Georgia, re- ceived his commission as second lieutenant, and was mustered out of the service as such in August, 1865.
After his return from the war our subject fol- lowed farming and mercantile pursuits, and re- moved from Iowa to Wisconsin, and from thence to Cas county, North Dakota, in the spring of 1878, and there engaged successfully in farming until 1885. He then became a resident of West- field township, in Steele county, and in 1896 was elected to his present office.
Mr. Barrett was married, in 1865, to Miss Emel- ine R. Willis. Two children were born to this union, as follows: Mary A. and Lucina. Mr. Barrett was married to Miss Isabel Olin, in 1871. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, as follows: Frances W., Halbert O., Al- mond D., Jennie I., Niva I., Fred O., Sarah E., and Benjamin H. Mr. Barrett is a gentleman of active public spirit, and is one of the leading men of his community. He is a stanch Republican, and has served as a delegate to state and national conven- tions of his party, and lends his influence for good local government. He was the first county officer elected from Westfield township, and is popular and efficient as an officer.
AUGUST G. ROSENKRANZ, deceased. This gentleman was well known during the early days in Traill county, North Dakota, and at the time of his demise was a resident of Davenport township, Cass county, wherein he was a large land owner. He went to Dakota with no resources other than the tools with which nature endowed
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him and after facing the discouragements and losses incident to life in a new country amassed a fortune and enjoyed remarkable success as an agri- culturist.
Our subject was a native of Germany, and was born July 30, 1854. His parents, August and Mary Rosenkranz, were natives of Germany, and emigrated to America in 1873 and settled near Ap- pleton, Minnesota, where they now reside. Four sons and two daughters were born to this worthy couple, all of whom now reside in Minnesota. Mr. Rosenkranz remained in Minnesota until 1882 and then went to Fargo, North Dakota, and resided there one year and then moved to Kelso, Traill county, North Dakota, and purchased wheat and resided there for ten years. He then bought land in Davenport township, Cass county, and resided thereon during the rest of his life. He improved his farm and made a comfortable home there and was one of the substantial men of the township.
Mr. Rosenkranz was married, in 1882, to Min- nie Schwarz, a daughter of August and Mary Schwarz, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rosenkranz, named Herbert A. and Minnie F. Mr. Rosenkranz died in North Dakota, July 4. 1893. He was a gentleman of exemplary character and was a consistent member of the Evangelical Association. He served as chairman of the town- ship board for ten years at Kelso, and was prom- inent in local affairs, wherever he had his home. He held membership in the Ancient Order of United Workman. He was mourned by a loving wife, and a large circle of friends.
CHARLES WOIWODE. Among the foreign- born residents of Richland county, who are thor- oughly identified with American civilization and progress, may be noted the gentleman to whom thi life history is devoted. He is a prosperous far- mer of Belford township, and his home on section 18 furnishes all the comforts of a rural home. He is one of the early settlers of that locality and is closely in touch with needs of his community, and is ready to support any public enterprise which tends to the advancement of his township and county.
Our subject was born in Germany, February 12, 1857. He remained in his native land until 1870 when he came to America and located in Chicago where he spent three months, and then moved to Scott county, Minnesota, where he lived until 1878. He went to Dakota in that year and in 1881 entered a homestead claim to land in Bel- ford township, where he has since resided. His improvements are above the average of farm im- provements, and he is now the fortunate possessor of five hundred acres of tillable land.
Our subject was married in Wabasha county, Minnesota, to Mary Riester, a native of that place. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Woi- wode, who bear the following names: Clemintina,
Elsie, Lucy, Alfred, Olivia and Alice. Mr. Woi- wode was elected county commissioner in Richland county, and served one term, and he has also held the office of township clerk and justice of the peace. His services have been given with a oneness of purpose which has gained him the confidence of his entire community. He is active in promoting the better interests of his adopted country and is a man of liberal thought and education.
ROBERT A. WALKER, whose well-improved estate in Corinne township, Stutsman county, bears evidence of careful management and prosperity, may well be classed among the enterprising men of that region. His property has been acquired by hard labor and after meeting with many dis- couragements, and he is now the fortunate owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, on which le conducs general farming and stock raising.
Our subject was born in England, in 1864, and was the sixth in a family of ten children. He was raised in the village and received a common school education, and at the age of thirteen years started to earn his own livelihood. He spent seven years as an apprentice at the blacksmith's trade, and at the age of twenty years started for himself, and fol- lowed that calling until 1894, and also conducted farming more or less. He worked at his trade in different parts of England, until 1885, when he went to Stutsman county, North Dakota. He entered a homestead claim to the southwest quarter of sec- tion 8, in township 144, range 62, but he had no means whatever with which to improve his land or begin his farming and he worked at his trade on the "Spiritwood Farm" in Stutsman county, and soon was able to erect a 10x12-shanty on his home- stead. The building was stolen off the place. He worked at his trade in Melville, North Dakota, in 1886, and the following year bought a team of horses, and borrowed a plow, wagon, and other machinery and began farming. His family came from England in 1886 and removed to the farm and lived in the shanty, and many times during the early days burned hay and straw for fuel, and before spring came the first year their supply of flour was exhausted, and they were forced to go twelve miles to a neighbor's for a supply, which our subject took home on his back when the snow was two feet deep. Mr. Walker now has a farm of six hundred and forty acres, about all of which is tillable, and he has a comfortable residence, large barn, and five granaries in different places on the farm with a capacity of six thousand bushels. He has all necessary machinery and has made a suc- cess of his vocation.
Our subject was married in England, to Miss Eliza Banks, who was born and raised in Yorkshire. Mrs. Walker's father, James Banks, was a laboring man, and some of her relatives are officers in the British army. Mr. Walker is actively interested in the welfare of his community, and is one of the
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pioneer settlers of North Dakota who has earnestly labored for the advancement of that region. He is a Republican in political faith.
ENGEBRIT FINGARSON, one of the suc- cessful grain farmers of Traill county, resides in section 30 of Caledonia township, and is a wide- awake and energetic citizen. He conducts a farm of three hundred and twenty acres and has acquired a wide knowledge of his calling, which enables him to make the best of his land and he has accumulated his property single-handed and is highly esteemed for his intelligence and push.
Our subject was born in Hallingdal, Christiana stift, Norway, October 14, 1848. He was the eld- est in a family of four children born to Fingar and Christe (Thoison) Engebretson. He worked at farm labor and also learned the shoemaker's trade, and when twenty-two years of age, in 1870, came to America, his uncle sending him a ticket. He worked in Iowa at farm work, and soon afterward went to Clayton county, Iowa, where he worked at farm labor five years, and then purchased eighty acres of land in Worth county, Iowa. He did not meet with success there and after five years of use- Jess work he started overland for Dakota by ox team. He was then $300 in debt and his posses- sions amounted to an ox team, wagon and about eight head of young stock, and June 14, 1880, he arrived on the homestead, which he had secured on a visit in 1879. Living in his wagon he began the erection of a rough board shanty sodded on the outside, and he cropped wheat on the three acres which had been broken the year before, and from that small acreage obtained enough for flour and by working for his neighbors he provided for the winter. He has never had a crop failure while there, his farm yielding no lower than twelve bushels per acre, as high as twenty-five bush- els. He erected a residence in 1890 and in 1896 remodeled the same and now has a home of more than usual comforts. He erected a good' barn in 1890, and the buildings on the place are substantial and convenient.
Our subject was married, in 1875,to Gunel Erick- son. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fingarson, as follows: Christiana, Matilda, a teacher in Traill county ; Fred and George. Mr. Fingarson is a member of the township board, and in political sentiment is a Republican and Prohi- bitionist.
GEORGE BLAKE, a well-to-do and energetic farmer of Wyndmere township, Richland county, has been a resident of North Dakota for nearly twenty years, and his home on section 28 is evidence of the thrift of that locality.
Mr. Blake was born in Huron county, Ontario, April 30, 1858. He was reared on his father's farm and remained in his native country until he
went to Dakota in the spring of 1881. He took land in Wyndmere township, on section 28, and has met with success in general farm.ng. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well- improved land, and on his home farm has added such improvements as are found on a model tarm.
Our subject was married in Wahpeton, North Dakota, November 18, 1884, to Miss Mary Ruddy, a native of Lanark county, Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. Blake are the parents of one daughter, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Maggie.
Mr. Blake is a potent factor in the prosperity enjoyed by Richland county, and has been of great assistance in developing and extending its agricul- ture. He is an influence for good in his community, with whose higher interests his name is associated. He is popular with the people and his public-spirit- ed nature has never been questioned. He has served his community as supervisor and chairman of the board, president of the school board and township clerk.
JOHN D. FARRAND, a prominent member of the legal fraternity of Cass county, is a man of excellent education and business training, and ha's gained an assured position as a professional and business man. He is attorney and secretary for the Fargo Loan Agency of Fargo, and has been a resident of that city for the past fourteen years.
Mr. Farrand was born at Phillipsburg, Warren county, New Jersey, and was educated in the public schools of that state and afterward entered the Lawrence high school, where he took a preparatory course for Princeton College. He aban- doned the college course to take up the study of law in the office of J. N. Voorhis, of Flemington, Hun- terdon county, New Jersey, and studied with Mr. Voorhis four years, and was admitted to practice by the supreme court at the February term in 1882. He remained with his preceptor until the fall of 1883, when he went to North Dakota, then a ter- ritory, for a trip, expecting to return in a few weeks, but he was so favorably impressed with the new country that he decided to remain, and was admitted to the bar of the territory and located at Sanborn, Barnes county, in the practice of his pro- fession. He met with good success and remained there until June, 1886, when he went to Fargo, and became associated with the Fargo Loan Agency of that place, with which company he has since been identified as secretary and attorney, and is one of the well and favorably known men of the city.
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