Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 82

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 82

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CLARENCE B. LITTLE. Prominent among the business men of Bismarck, North Dakota, is this gentleman, who for seventeen years has been closely identified with the history of the city, while his name is inseparably connected with its finan- cial records. The banking interests are well repre-

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sented by him, for he is to-day at the head of the First National Bank, the leading moneyed institu- tion of the place. He is a man of keen discrimina- tion and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the con- cern with which he is connected a high degree of success.

Mr. Little was born in Merrimack county, New Hampshire, November 18, 1857, a son of George P. and Elizabeth A. ( Knox) Little, who have been life-long residents of that state, where the father is still extensively engaged in farming. Reared in his native state, our subject completed his literary ed- ucation in Dartmouth College, and in 1879 entered the law department of Harvard University. In 1882 he came to Bismarck, North Dakota, and en- tered upon the practice of law, which he followed for four years.

In 1885 Mr. Little was elected a director of the Capital National Bank, and two years later was elected president, which position he held until the bank was consolidated with the First National Bank, in February, 1896. He has been connected with other business enterprises in the town and county, and owns a state bank at Braddock and an- other at Washburn, North Dakota, being president of both. He also conducts a lumber business at the latter place. The First National Bank of Bismarck, of which he is now president, was organized in Au- gust, 1879, with Walter Mann, of St. Paul, Minne- sota, as president, and George H. Fairchild as cash- ier. The capital stock at that time was fifty thou- sand dollars, but was afterward increased to one hundred thousand dollars. A year after its organi- zation, Mr. Mann retired and Mr. Fairchild was miade president, and W. A. Dillon, cashier. In 1888 Asa Fisher was elected president and Mr. Dillon re- tained as cashier. On the 6th of May, 1895, the present officers were elected: C. B. Little, presi- clent, and S. M. Pye, assistant cashier. Under their excellent management the bank has steadily pros- pered. It is one of the solid financial institutions of the state, and does a general banking business and also issues foreign exchange.

In 1885 Mr. Little was united in marriage with Caroline (Little) Little, of Boston, Massachu- setts, and to them have been born two chil- dren: Veroque M. and George M. Socially, our subject is a prominent member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and is past commander and was also deputy grand commander in territorial times. As a Republican he takes an active and influential part in political affairs, has been a member of the state central committee for years, and was chairman of the last Republican state convention. In 1884 he was elected judge of probate; was re-elected two years later, and the same year was also appointed inspector- general of territorial troops, in which capacity he served for three years. He was formerly president of the school board of Bismarck, and is one of the most popular and prominent members of the state senate, to which he was first elected in 1889 and has

been four times re-elected, being president pro tem. of that august body at the present time. He is a pleasant, genial and polished gentleman of high so- cial qualities and is very popular, having a most ex- tensive circle of friends and acquaintances through- out the state.

ELI GREEN, one of the pioneers of Cass coun- ty, is successfully pursuing farming on a pleasant estate in Harmony township, where he located in the early days. He is a man of good habits, and careful management, and has accumulated a fine property and enjoys a happy and comfortable home and the respect of his fellow men.

Our subject was born in Cass county, Michigan, July 28, 1834, and was a son of Jesse and Charity (Cook) Green, who were natives of Georgia and South Carolina, respectively. The father went to Ohio when a boy with his parents, and followed farming there until 1834, when he removed to Mich- igan, and died in that state in 1849. The mother died there in 1851. They were Quakers, and on that account removed to the northern state. Six sons and five daughters were born to this worthy couple, of whom four sons are now living, and our subject is the only one of the number in North Da- kota.

Mr. Green was reared and educated in Michigan and began farming there, and continued thus em- ployed until 1879, and in March, 1880, went to Cass county and rented land near Fargo, North Dakota. He removed to his present home in Harmony town- ship soon afterward, and now has a well-improved farm, and has brought the land to a high state of cultivation.

Our subject was married in Michigan, in 1856, to Miss Esther Gard, a native of Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Green are the parents of one son, Walter D., who now resides at home. Mr. Green is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, which order he joined in Michigan, and is in good standing in the North Dakota lodge. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party, and is a man of firm convic- tions, and an earnest worker for party principles. He is intelligent and progressive, and well merits his success and high standing.

NORMAN NICOLSON. The maturer years of this gentleman have been devoted almost entirely to the labor pertaining to the calling of a farmer, and he has acquired a knowledge of his vocation which enables him to make the best of his opportu- nities and gather round him the comforts of life and a competence to tide him through his declining years. He owns and occupies a pleasant and remu- nerative tract of land in township 146, range 66, in Foster county, and is one of the pioneer settlers of that region. A portrait of Mr. Nicolson will be found in connection with this sketch.

Our subject was born in the Highlands of Scot-

NORMAN NICOLSON.

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

land, in 1851, and was a son of Donald and Annie ( McCloud) Nicholson, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The mother died when he was a child, and at the age of eleven years he came to America with his father and family, and the father engaged in farming in Ontario, Canada. Our subject was given a limited education and was reared on the farm in Canada, and soon after taking up his resi- dence there worked to gain his own livelihood. He began lumbering at the age of twenty-one years and followed that work and tie-making for the railroad for some time in Canada. He had fifteen hundred dollars when eighteen years of age, and lost his means in contract work for which he received no pay, and in 1872 came to the United States. He sailed on the great lakes, and followed railroading and lumbering in Minnesota, Michigan and Wis- consin, and in the meantime went to North Dakota and entered claim to land in Foster county, before the town of Carrington was begun. There was but one shanty in the county at the time, and he re- turned to the woods in Michigan, and again went to Dakota in 1882. He had previously erected a shanty on his claim, and he broke and cultivated twenty acres of land, and worked in the woods winters until 1892, when he gave his entire attention to his farin work. He now owns a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, and cultivates about four hundred acres and engages in general farming with much success. He has a good set of farm buildings, and contemplated erecting a new residence and other modern buildings, when, in 1896, he lost his com- plete crop by hail, amounting to about three thou- sand dollars' wortlı.

Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss Annie Ferguson, who was born and raised in Canada, and was a daughter of a farmer of Scotch descent. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nic- olson, as follows: Daniel, Mary, Norman and Sanı- uel. Mr. Nicolson is a member of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Democrat, and has at- tended numerous county conventions, and stands stanchly for the principles of the party. He is one of the oldest settlers of Foster county, and is highly respected and esteemed throughout that vicinity.

PETER A. FRISKOP. Good judgment, based on close observation, and industry are the essentials of success in the calling of a farmer as well as other pursuits, and one of the fine farms of Wyndmere township, Richland county, bears evidence of these characteristics in its owner. Mr. Friskop occupies a well-improved tract on section 18, and has been engaged in general farming in that section for over fifteen years, gaining a comfortable competence and laying aside for future years of the fruits of his labors.

Our subject was born in Norway, December 27, 1852. He remained in his native land until he enii- grated to America in 1876, and located in Winne- shiek county, Iowa, where he worked at farm labor

for about five years and then went to Cass county, North Dakota. After a few months' stay in Cass county, he entered claim to his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Richland county, on sec- tion 18, of Wyndmere township, in the fall of 1882. He has been a resident there since that time, and has added to his original farm, and is now the owner of three hundred and eighty-six acres of land.

Our subject was married in Richland county, North Dakota, to Miss Ingeborg Erikson, a native of Norway. One child has blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Friskop, a daughter who bears the name of Cora Anetta. Mr. Friskop has been actively iden- tified with the public interests of his community since taking up his residence in Richland county, and has served as school director, a member of the board of supervisors and township assessor. He is deservedly held in high esteem by his associates.

CLARENCE S. DUNBAR, a prosperous agri- culturist of township 135, range 56, Ransom county, stands among the foremost men of his calling in that locality. He is the owner of one and a half sec- tions of land on which he engages in diversified farming, and is one of the early settlers of Dakota. He attends strictly to his farm duties, is intelligent and well educated, and as a citizen and farmer is- highly esteemed and respected.

Our subject was born in Lake county, Ohio, June 14, 1852, and was the second child and only son in a family of three children born to Sceva and Lu- cina (McUen) Dunbar. His parents were of Scotch extraction, and the father died December 30, 1857, aged thirty-two years. The mother sur- vives him and makes her home with our subject. After the father's death, the care of the family de- volved upon the mother, and they were quietly reared in a country home. Our subject was given a common-school education, and spent one year in Willoughby Methodist Episcopal College. At the age of sixteen years he began clerking in a grocery store, and when about nineteen years of age secured a position as brakeman on the Lake Shore Railroad, working thus three years, at the end of which time he returned to the old home in Ohio. He engaged in farming there, and in 1877 engaged in the gro- cery business, and the following year went to Wa- seca county, Minnesota, where lic engaged in farmi- ing until 1882, when he removed to Dakota. He took land under his pre-emption and tree-claim rights south of Lisbon, and began the raising of wheat, and soon was farming one thousand acres, investing all his capital in that line. In the spring of 1888 he purchased the farm on which he now re- sides, in section 6, township 135, range 56, and changed his method of farming somewhat. He in- vested in cattle, and is now breeding the Galloway strain. His farm is well improved, and admirably adapted to general farming, and he is making a suc- cess of his work.

Our subject was married, in 1878, to Miss Mina

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Hopkins, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar are the parents of five children, named as follows : Danie, Marion, Mabel, Merton and Ella. Mr. Dun- bar is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is a Populist and Prohibitionist, and stands firm for his convictions. He has attended numerous county conventions, but does not take an active part in political affairs nor seek public favor. preferring to serve his community by other methods.

E. W. BARTON, a resident of section 10, of Vivian township, is one of the early settlers of Sar- gent county. He has followed the pursuit of agri- culture with marked success, and is now the owner of a fine farm consisting of six hundred and forty acres of land, on which he has placed modern im- provements.

Our subject was born in Buffalo, New York, April 15, 1843. He was reared in his native place and remained there until he enlisted in Company C, Forty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, in Sep- tember, 1862. He was wounded in the left leg at the battle of Gettysburg. He served three years, or until the close of the war, and was a brave and loyal soldier.

After the close of hostilities Mr. Barton returned to Buffalo, and after a short stay there went to Min- nesota and engaged in farming near Winona, where he remained some ten years, and then removed to Lyon county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming there three years. He then returned to Winona and remained four years, and in the spring of 1882 went to Sargent county, North Dakota, then known as Ransom county, Dakota. He settled in Vivian township, where he has since resided. He is now the possesor of six hundred and forty acres of land, and is one of the substantial men of his com- munity.

Our subject was married in Winona, Minnesota, to Miss Emma Smith, a native of Vermont. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barton, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Alta. Mr. Barton is a member of the G. A. R. and the Royal Arcanum. He is an interested worker for the ad- vancement of his county and township, and has served two terms as county commissioner of Sargent county. He is held in the highest esteem by his associates, and is deserving of success.

"THE BUFFALO EXPRESS," of Buffalo, Cass county, North Dakota, was founded in 1888 by B. S. Griffith, and was conducted by this gentle- man for some years as a Democratic paper. It is now independent in political sentiment, and enjoys a wide circulation. Mr. Griffith was succeeded by W. H. Ilassing, who conducted the sheet until 1897, when George L. Townes, its present manager and owner, came into possession.

George L. Townes was born in Huntsville, Ala-

bama, August 2, 1865, and was reared and educated in Illinois. He began in the newspaper business in February, 1882, as editor of "The New South," of Huntsville, Alabama, the only Republican paper published in the state, and he conducted the same two years, and published a paper at Athens, Ala- bama, two years. He went to Fargo, North Da- kota, in 1886, and became manager of the wood and coal business at that place for Morton & Company, where he continued for seven years. He became associated with "The Argus" as city editor in 1893, and acted in that capacity until 1895, when he pur- chased a half interest in "The Record," and contin- ned with that paper until 1896. During the sum- mer of that year he published "The Sunday Inde- pendent," and in 1896 purchased "The Daily Com- monwealth," publishing the same until 1897. He then went to Buffalo, North Dakota, and has since been interested in the "Buffalo Express," and has met with success as an editor and able newspaper mman.

SAMUEL FLETCHER, a progressive and enterprising farmer, residing on section 10, town- ship 141, range 59 west, is numbered among the self-made men of Barnes county, his accumulations being the result of his own industry, obtained by self-denial and economy, and the exercise of a naturally good judgment, both in regard to agri- cultural pursuits and business matters. He came to this country in 1882, and since that time this has been the fields of his operations, and the center of his interests and hopes.

Mr. Fletcher was born in Wellington county, Ontario, Canada, May 23, 7846, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Coleman) Fletcher. The' father was born in England and emigrated to Can- ada in 1841. By occupation he was a farmer. Both parents lived to an advanced age. Our subject received his education in the district schools and at one of the leading academies of Ontario. At the age of twenty-four he accepted a position as travel- ing salesman for a nursery and also wrote insurance for a time, after which he embarked in the nursery business on his own account near the village of Fergus, Ontario, and his continued his connection with the same until coming to Barnes county, North Dakota, in 1882. That year he secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres where he now resides and to it has added from time to time until he now has one thousand eight hundred and forty acres, which is one of the largest holdings in the county. While he makes farming his chief occupation, he is also engaged in merchandising upon his place and is postmaster of Matteson which is located there.

In Ontario, Canada, in 1872, Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage with Miss Emilia McKee, who died in 1876, at the age of twenty-six years and seven months. She left two children, John R. and Rebecca J., both born in Canada. There Mr. Fletcher was again married, in 1878, his second union being with

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Miss Maria Norton, who was born in Massachu- setts, in 1852, and when a child went to Canada. Seven children were the result of this marriage, namely: Maria, Joseph H. and William J., born in Canada ; and Katie M., Rosa E., Laura and Eva May, born in Barnes county, North Dakota.

in his pontical views Mr. Fletcher is a Populist, but he has never sought nor desired political honors, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his extensive landed interests. His career seems almost phenomenal as he came to the county with but few of the necessaries needed to transform the wild land into a productive farm and good home, yet his success is by no means the result of fortunate circumstances. It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles. He now has a model farm, well improved with good buildings and supplied with all mod- ern accessories. Socially Mr. Fletcher is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, both of Valley City.

TRUMAN H. THATCHER, residing on sec- tion 31, township 130, range 60, in Hudson town- ship, is one of the successful pioneer farmers of Dickey county. He entered that region when it was a wild country, and has aided in transforming it into one of the thriving agricultural districts of the state. His farm bespeaks careful management and persistent efforts and strict attention to business, and he enjoys a liberal reward, surrounded by the comforts of a model rural home.

Our subject was born in Sharon, Vermont, January 28, 1851. His father, Norman Thatcher, was a native of Vermont, and was a soldier in the Civil war. He enlisted in Company C, Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, and was captain of his company. He was wounded in action, and died in Menasha, Wisconsin, from disease contracted in the army. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Robinson, was a native of Ver- mont, and is now living in Menasha. Four chil- dren were born to this worthy couple, two sons and two daughters, our subject being the third child and first son.

Truman H. Thatcher resided in his native town until six years of age, when his parents removed to Menasha, Wisconsin, in 1857, and there he attended school and grew to manhood. He then secured a team and was engaged in the transfer business until 1883, in which year he went to Dickey county, North Dakota, and entered a pre-emption claim to one quarter-section of land, upon which the village of Guelph is now located. He subsequently sold this property, and has at present four hundred acres of choice land, which is well improved and fully ·stocked.

Our subject was married in Wisconsin, June 25. 1872, to Miss Phœbe Ann Smith, who was born in

New York, November 12, 1850. Mrs. Thatcher went to Wisconsin when a child with her parents and lived on a farm near Neenah. Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher are the parents of one daughter, Maud, now Mrs. J. D. Root, of Enderlin, North Dakota. Mr. Root is in the railway mail service, running between Enderlin and Portal. Mr. Thatcher is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 187, of Menasha, Wisconsin, and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Thatcher is a mem- ber of the Eastern Star. Our subject is the present chairman of the township board, and is a member of the board of school directors. He is an ardent worker for the better interests of his community, and he merits his high standing in his community. Politically he is a Republican.

EMIL A. MOVIUS. Attention, method and industry are the stepping stones which have brought success to this gentleman. These, together with the strictest honesty, have made him one of the honored and representative men of Lidgerwood, Richland county, North Dakota. He is identified with vast business interests in that region, and is well known as an able business man and worthy citizen. He is one of the firm of Movius Brothers, which firm con- ducts an extensive machinery and furniture busi- ness in the town, and owns large tracts of land in that locality.

Our subject was born in Golnow, Germany, May 5, 1858. When he was but nine years of age he came to America with his parents, and lived near Glenwood, Minnesota, three years, moving from thence to the foot of Big Stone lake, where the fam- ily located on a farm, and our subject assisted with the farm work until about nineteen years of age. He had received a common-school education, and went to Washington territory at the age of nineteen years and worked at farm labor for others for one year, returning to his home in Dakota on account of the death of his father. He followed farming and staging for about three years, and then engaged in the livery business at Big Stone City, Dakota, for one year, when he disposed of the business and engaged in the farm machine business in that city three years. He was in company with his brother. John H., and they moved their business to Lidgerwood in the spring of 1887, where they have since continued under the firm name of Movius Brothers, and carry farm machinery and furniture. They also conduct the real-estate business, and are the owners of two thousand acres of land in Richland county. In com- pany with Ernst F., they carry on the lumber busi- ness and operate the flour-mill, and our subject, John H., and William R. Movius, operate the elevator. The Movins State Bank was organized in April, 1896, by Emil A., John H., William R. and Mary O. Movius, and the institution conducts a general banking business.

Our subject was married at Big Stone City, South Dakota, September 5, 1881, to Miss Addie

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H. Waring, a native of Iowa. Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Movius, named as fol- lows: Leonard B., John W. and George. Mr. Mo- vins is prominent in public affairs, and has held nu- merous city offices in Lidgerwood. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America.

"THE CASSELTON REPORTER," one of the leading newspapers of North Dakota, and a Re- publican organ of Cass county, was founded in 1880 by E. F. Kilbourne. Mr. Kilbourne conducted the paper twelve years, and then sold his interests to C. E. and H. H. Stone, who conducted the business until 1895, and the paper was then consolidated with the "Casseltonian." the name of "Reporter" being retained. Mr. Franklin Potter then became interested as editor and part owner, and in March, 1898, purchased Mr. Stone's interest and is now edi- tor and proprietor. The paper is widely known and enjoys an extensive circulation.

Franklin Potter is a native of Utica, New York, and was born October 8, 1852. He was reared and educated in his native state, and also attended the State University of lowa, graduating from there in 1875. He entered the office of the "Davenport Gazette," of Davenport, Iowa, as a reporter and as- sistant editor, and later became connected with the "Clinton ( lowa ) Herald," with which paper he was associated six years. He went to North Dakota in 1881 and was engaged in various pursuits four years, and in the spring of 1885 became owner and editor of the "LaMoure County Chronicle," of La- Moure. He edited and published that paper until May, 1894, and then went to Casselton and purchased the "North Dakota Republican," in company with his father, Waldo M. Potter, and renamed the paper "The Casseltonian." His father was at that time register of the land office at Fargo.

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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 82

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