Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 94

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 94

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Crabtree was born near the village of Cen- terville, in Rush River township, St. Croix county, Wisconsin, August 13. 1863. His father, Richard Crabtree, was born in Yorkshire, England, and was a weaver in his early life. He came to the United States in the late '40s and at once engaged in farm- ing, continuing in that line until his retirement from active pursuits. He is now vice-president of the State Bank of Ellendale, and resides in that city. He served in the Thirteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry about one year, at the end of which time he was taken sick and subsequently discharged. He was born January 12, 1827, and the mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Ramsden, was born January 9, of the same year. To this worthy couple four children were born, as follows : John W., now engaged in the hard- ware business at Herman, Minnesota ; Mrs. Christi- ana Newton, of Dickey county, North Dakota ; Mrs. C. A. Morrison, of Ellendale, and Benjamin R., our subject.

Benjamin R. Crabtree attended the district school and assisted his father on the farm until fourteen years of age, when, in May, 1883, he went to La Moure county, North Dakota, where the family set- tled on a farm. In the fall of 1884 he returned to Wisconsin and entered the River Falls State Normal, where he studied one year, after which he spent three years in Dakota at his home, later entering the Groton ( South Dakota) Institute. He then assisted his father two years and in the fall of 1887 lie hired out at threshing to obtain money with which to con- tinue his studies. He entered the high school at

Ellendale, acting as janitor of the school for two years and also keeping a set of books for the city. He graduated with high honors in 1889 and imme- diately accepted a position with C. A. Morrison, of Ellendale, as bookkeeper, and soon became deputy county treasurer under T. W. Millham, which po- sition he efficiently filled four and a half years. He studied shorthand in the meantime and after resigning the deputyship went to Minneapolis, Min- nesota, where he took a course in shorthand in Bower's Institute, preparatory to entering upon the duties of bookkeeper and assistant cashier of the State Bank of Ellendale. He was appointed cashier of the bank in 1894, since which time he has held that position.

Our subject was married, at Eaton Rapids, Michigan, in May, 1894, to Miss Anna M. Long, a daughter of Dr. D. H. Long. Mrs. Crabtree was born in Michigan, August 17, 1872, and had resided in North Dakota for a number of years, where her father was a man of much prominence. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree, as follows: Lillian L., born in Ellendale, North Dakota, October 14, 1895, and William H., born in Ellendale, North Dakota, May 19, 1897. Mr. Crabtree is one of the trustees of the State Industrial School of Ellendale, and has also been clerk of the city school board for five years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. and is a Scottish Rite Mason.

ALFRED COPPIN. An honorable position. among the farmers of Dwight township, Richland county, is willingly accorded to this gentleman by his associates. He occupies one of the well-devel- oped farms of the county and is greatly respected in the community where he has spent nearly twenty years.

Our subject was born in Cornwall, England, November 1, 1849, and was a son of Thomas and Mary (Spurr) Coppin, both of whom were natives of England. They came to America and made their home in Perth county, Ontario, where the father died. They were the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter, of whom our subject was the eldest.

Alfred Coppin, at the age of twelve years, came with his parents to Canada and grew to manhood in Perth county. He resided there until 1879, when he went to Richland county, North Dakota, and has been a continuous resident of that county since. He entered a homestead claim to land near Hankin- son and placed good improvements on the place, disposing of the property later. He settled on the farm which he now occupies in Dwight township, in March, 1882. His home is on section 24, and he is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of tillable land. He has placed such improvements on the place as are usually put on a model farm and his good management and careful work are evidenced by the general appearance of the entire estate.

610

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Our subject was married, in Richland county, North Dakota, March 17, 1882, to Miss Ella J. Gudger, daughter of David Gudger, who served nearly three years in the Civil war and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Mrs. Coppin was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, and is a lady of refine- ment and good education. She was one of the first teachers in Richland county and was engaged in that profession in Wahpeton. Two children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Coppin, named as follows: Archie T. and Mary E. Mr. Coppin is a man of prominence in his community. and has been called upon to serve in various official capacities. He has held important township offices, including school offices, and was a member of the board of supervisors. He is always found standing on the side of right and justice and his work for his community is willingly and faithfully performed.

LOUIS SCHNEIDER, one of the pioneers of Addison township, Cass county, has successfully pur- sued agriculture in that locality and now owns and operates over eight hundred acres of choice land. He has built recently a fine house on his farm and has other improvements in keeping with the resi- dence and every appointment of the place evidences thrift and good taste. Mr. Schneider is also in- terested in the hardware business in Davenport and is a man of good management and business ability and enjoys prosperity and the highest regard of his associates.

Our subject was born in Dodge county, Wiscon- sin, December 6, 1847. His parents, Christ and Mary ( Horn) Schneider, were natives of Germany and came to America about 1842 and settled in Dodge county and were among the first settlers of that county. The father engaged in farming and died in Wisconsin in 1864. The mother died when our subject was but two years of age. Our subject had one brother and one sister and the brother is now deceased.

Mr. Schneider was reared and educated in Wis- consin and followed farming and also conducted a store there until 1880, when he went to Cass county, North Dakota, and purchased a homestead, on which he now resides. He has improved the land and is now the owner of eight hundred and forty acres, and on his home farm has erected a set of fine farm buildings. He has been successful as a farmer and merchant and is among the well-to-do men of the state.

Our subject was married, in Wisconsin, in 1868, to Miss Joanna Wolf, a native of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are the parents of eight chil- dren, as follows : William, Lizzie, Lillie, Ida, Benja- min, Arthur, Irvin and Claude. The family are members of the Evangelical Association and are highly respected in the community in which they make their home. Mr. Schneider holds member- ship in the Knights of Pythias and Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He has served in various local

offices and takes an active interest in the affairs of his township and county. Politically, he is a Re- publican.

"THE SHELDON PROGRESS," issued under the management and editorship of Michael B. De la Bere, is a bright, newsy, Republican paper. It was established in May, 1897, by W. C. B. Harrison and is now the sole property of Mr. De la Bere. From the organization of the paper he was employed in the office, and although entirely new to the work, he was given much of the business management within a few months and in October, 1897, pur- chased the plant. The paper is not radical on po- litical issues, but works for the general advance- ment of the locality and is peculiarly charming in its newsy local columns.

Michael De la Bere was born in Gloucestershire, England, October 17, 1874, and was educated at Brighton College. He left England when eighteen years of age and came to America, locating in North Dakota, changing from the college life to that of a western plainsman. He at once began work at farming and passed one winter in Fargo and then accepted a position as clerk of the Sheldon State Bank. From there he entered upon his present work and is rapidly winning recognition among the newspaper men of North Dakota. He is a young man of exceptional ability and works earnestly for progression. While a resident of that locality com- paratively few years he has already placed himself among the upright and trusty citizens and is well known as a man of active public spirit, ever ready to further any enterprise which tends to the upbuild- ing of his community. His future is assured in North Dakota and his success is well merited.

THORKEL A. THORKELSON has the dis- tinction of having won the proud American title of a self-made man. Many of the leading enterprises and business interests of Fingal, Barnes county, bear the impress of his individuality and owe not a little of their success to his ability and capable powers of management. His great determination and energy have enabled him to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to prosperity.

Mr. Thorkelson was born in Norway, October 8, 1860, a son of Arnfin and Ambjorg ( Wangen) Thorkelson, in whose family were two children, our subject being the younger. The father was a school teacher and followed that profession in Norway for forty years. Until twelve years of age our subject was one of his pupils. He was then sent to Chris- tiania, where he entered the high school and later took a course at the Agricultural College, where he completed his education in the fall of 1880.

In October, of that year, Mr. Thorkelson came to the United States and after stopping for a short time in Fayette county, Iowa, he went to Minnesota,

611

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

where he worked on a farm for some time. In the spring of 1881 he accepted a position with F. A. Theopold, of Faribault, Minnesota, in whose em- ploy he remained until the following spring, which witnessed his arrival in Valley City, Barnes county, North Dakota. His first position in this state was upon a farm and subsequently he was employed as clerk by Parkhouse & Sales, general merchants at Valley City, for some time. On leaving that firm he clerked in the store of O. Paulson for three years and at the end of that time secured a position in the county treasurer's office, where he worked for three years. Later he was again engaged in mercantile business until the fall of 1891, when he came to Fingal with a three-thousand-dollar stock of goods, which he first displayed in a tent until his store building was completed. He finally sold out to Peterson & Ramsett and engaged in the hotel and livery business. For a season he also sold farm machinery with C. W. Paulson. On the Ist of Jan- uary, 1898, he purchased the stock of goods of H. J. Peterson and has since admitted Mr. Pollock to a partnership in the business, which is now con- ducted under the firm name of Thorkelson & Pol- lock. They carry a large and well-selected stock of general merchandise and by fair and honorable deal- ing have built up an excellent trade.

In Valley City, Mr. Thorkelson was married, in 1886, to Miss Bertha Olson, who was born in Wis- consin, October 6, 1861, and they now have a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely Arnfin C., Bjarne O., Harold R., Jessie E., Birdie and Thelma E. Mr. Thorkelson is a man of good address and commanding presence and is one of the representative citizens of Barnes county. He is a Republican in politics, has filled minor town- ship offices and was the first postmaster of Fingal.

OLE PAULSON, an intelligent and enterpris- ing member of the farming community of Steele county, has devoted the greater part of his life to agriculture. He has been very fortunate in this pursuit and is the proprietor of as fine a farm as can be found within the limits of Primrose town- ship, his homestead being located there on section 35. Our subject was born in Stange, Heldemarker, Norway, April 11, 1859, and was a son of Christian P. and Oline (Olson) Arstad. He was the second child and oldest son in a family of nine children and when he was eight years of age the family came to America and located in Goodhue county, Minne- sota, and after a short time settled near Northfield, in Minnesota. Our subject went to Cass county, Dakota, in the spring of 1881 and worked at farm work and odd jobs in Fargo and led an unsettled life until 1888, working summers in Dakota and winters in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jan- uary, 1888, and at once began the improvement and cultivation of his land. He has since known but one failure of crops and that was due to hail in

1898, the other years each averaging about twenty bushels per acre. He has a handsome residence, erected in 1895, 16x26 feet, with kitchen, a cellar stoned up and having a cement floor, and this to- gether with a stone cistern with capacity of one hun- dred and fifteen thousand gallons, make a country place unexcelled by any in that vicinity. The house furnishings are exceedingly fine and evidence the good taste of the occupants of the home.

Mr. Paulson was married, in 1889. to Miss Sella Eide. Mrs. Paulson died in 1898 and was the mother of four children, as follows: Oscar, Clara, Selmer O. and Albert, deceased. Mr. Paulson was married to Bertha R. Anderson, December 19, 1898. Mrs. Paulson was a native of Norway and came to America in 1883, joining her sister in Walsh county, Dakota. She there became a teacher at the age of twenty years and was employed thus in Walsh, Steele and Traill counties until her marriage. Twins have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Paulson, who bear the names of Albert C. and Alvin M. Mr. Paulson is a member of the Lutheran church. He is chair- man of the township board and for several years has served on the school board. Politically, he is a Republican and is well known at county conven- tions of his party. He is held in the highest esteem by his many friends and well merits his success.

HAOKEN HAAGENSON. Among the "Val- ley" farmers of Cass county the gentleman above named is entitled to a foremost place. He has a fine farm in Norman township and his home on section 2 is one of pleasant surroundings and furnishes every comfort of life and many of the luxuries. Mr. Haagenson went to North Dakota as a pioneer set- tler, driving to his new location with an ox-team, and he had but limited means, but is to-day one of the well-to-do and highly esteemed men of his com- munity.

Our subject was born near Christiania, Norway, November 19, 1842. His parents, Hagan and Car- rie Haagenson, were also natives of Norway and passed the most of their lives in that country. The father died there and the mother emigrated to America and passed her last days in this country. they were the parents of two children, our subject and one daughter, both of whom reside in North Dakota.

Mr. Haagenson was reared and educated in Nor- way and emigrated to the United States in 1869 and soon afterward located in Mitchell county, Iowa, and remained there six years. He went to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1875, and entered a home- stead claim to eighty acres of land in section 2, of Norman township, where he still resides. He erected a small log house, in which he lived for fifteen years, and then built his present fine resi- dence, which is substantial and furnished in good taste and comfort. The other buildings of the place evidence thrift and skillful management and Mr. Haagenson now owns three hundred and sixty acres

612

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

of good land and is one of the substantial men of Norman township.

Our subject was married, in 1869, in his native country, to Carrie Olson. Mr. and Mrs. Haagen- son are the parents of nine children, named as fol- lows : Caroline, Else, Annie, Isabella, Knute, Hilda, Christina. Carl O. and Henry O., all of whom are living. The family are members of the Lutheran church and are highly respected in the community in which they reside. Mr. Haagenson assisted in the organization of his township and has served in various local offices. Politically, he is a Republi- can and is firm in his convictions.

PETER O. PETERSON, a prosperous and highly esteemed agriculturist of Casey township, Ransom county, has acquired an extensive knowl- edge of his calling and his success is due alone to his own efforts. He has a home of more than usual comforts on section 10 and is truly a self-made man.

Our subject was born near Christiania, Norway, January 10, 1850, and was the oldest son and second child born to Ole and Gunda (Olson) Peterson. At the age of twenty years he came to America and located in Mitchell county, Iowa, where he worked at farm labor and on the railroad. He rented land in 1873, on which he farmed until 1877 and then began stave making, at which trade he had worked from his boyhood. He went to Moore county, Minne- sota, and in August, 1888, went to Dakota and worked out, securing land in 1890. When he en- tered the state he owed fifteen dollars, had no clothes or effects aside from those he wore, and had a large family dependent on him for support. He was a successful grain raiser and although discourage- ments came he met them with persistent efforts and now enjoys a comfortable competence. He erected a two-story residence in 1898 and has otherwise im- proved the property, making it a fit habitation.

Our subject was married, in 1874, to Miss Carrie Culbertson. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been the parents of thirteen children, as follows: Charles ; Martin, deceased ; Olaf; George; Martin ; Clarence ; Norman ; Clara, deceased ; Mabel ; Annie ; Eleanor : Lloyd and Arthur. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Lutheran church and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a Republican and has served as delegate to numerous county con- ventions. He is a man of practical nature and earnest efforts and well merits his standing in his community.

OLE A. RIGSTAD. The good judgment and industrious efforts of this gentleman are manifest in his surroundings. He is proprietor of one of the fine farms of Richland county, North Dakota, and makes his home on section 36, in Ibsen township, and is the fortunate possessor of nine hundred acres of land. He has been a resident of that vicinity since its early settlement and has experienced the

discomforts of pioneer life and surmounted the diffi- culties which beset the man who undertakes to make a home in a new country.

Mr. Rigstad was born in Norway, April 24. 1854. He accompanied his parents to America in 1867 and the family located in Dane county, Wiscon- sin. Our subject remained there until 1879, when he went to North Dakota and in May of that year took a homestead in what is now Ibsen township, then known as Dwight township. Richland county. He has held continuous residence there since that time and has added improvements and made his farm one of the best in the township. He has set out trees and in other ways beautified the place and the visitor is at once pleased with the landscape presented. His buildings are commodious and sub- stantial and he makes use of modern methods and machinery in the work on the estate.

Our subject was married in Cass county, North Dakota, in July, 1882, to Susan Anderson, a native of Norway. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rigstad. as follows: Andrew, Marv, Martha, Oscar and John. They are an intelligent group of children and complete a pleasant family circle. Mr. Rigstad is a member of the Lutheran church. He is a gentleman who is much interested in the affairs of a public nature and is at present treasurer of his township. During the many years which he has made Richland county his home he has always been in favor of every enterprise which would in any way tend to benefit his follow men and is re- spected by all who know him for his public spirit, honesty and energy. It is to the pioneers of a country that the people owe their gratitude for its advancement and the subject of this review is en- titled to a prominent place among the carly set- tlers of that region.

JOHN C. WARNER. The subject of this life history, was one of the first settlers of township 145, range 66, in Foster county, and he can recount ac- curately many exciting experiences amid frontier surroundings. He has labored earnestly to make his farm one of the best in the county, and it is now known as the "Garden Farm of Foster County." Misfortunes have fallen to his lot, but nothing ever turned him from his fixed purpose, and he has sur- mounted every obstacle and is now accounted among the substantial men of his locality. A portrait of Mr. Warner is shown on another page.

Mr. Warner was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1854. and was a son of Erastus and Mary ( McFad- (en) Warner, the former of German and the latter of Irish descent. His grandfather was a farmer, and was one of the "Green Mountain boys," and participated in the war of the Revolution. The mother of our subject came to America when twelve years of age, and the grandfather of our sub- ject, James McFadden, was an Irish lord.

Our subject was the tenth in a family of thirteen children, and was raised on a farm in Canada, and

JOHN C. WARNER AND WIFE.

615

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

received a limited schooling. At the age of fourteen years he left home and worked out four years, when, in 1872, he went to Saginaw, Michigan, and worked in the lumber district in northern Michigan eight years, and also followed rafting. He went to Illinois in 1880,, and after one summer went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the following winter went to Mon- tana and worked on the Northern Pacific Railroad between Mile City and Helena, Montana. He came to Jamestown, North Dakota, in the spring of 1882. and entered a claim to the southeast quarter of sec- tion 12, township 145, range 66, in Foster county, and was the farthest farmer north in the county. He erected a shanty of sod and boards and in 1886 began farming for himself. He worked for others and kept hotel at Melville until that year, and also worked at carpenter work. He built the first build- ing in Carrington for Mr. Holsey, and also erected many other buildings in the town. He moved into his shanty and built a board barn in 1886 and be- gan farming with three horses. His first crop was a failure, but the following season he hired the crop sowed and the wheat was a profitable crop. That was in 1886, and he at once moved to the farm and gave up outside work. His horses were not able to do the breaking, and in the exchange he did not get any better, so necessarily lost his season's work in 1886, and was forced to borrow under mortgage. He had a contest over his land in 1886, and 1887, and this together with his other misfortunes kept him behind. He has raised several excellent crops since those early days, and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation, and he has a complete set of good farm buildings, and one of the best blizzard barns in the state, 40x50 feet, with the first twelve feet built of stone. He has all modern machinery, and engages successfully in grain raising principally. but is interested to a limited extent in the raising of stock.

Our subject was married, in 1884, to Miss Rose MacElroy, who was born and raised in Illinois. Mrs. Warner was a daughter of John MacElroy. who was a native of Ireland. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Warner, as follows: Mary, Edith, James, Bernice, Alice and Dewey. Mr. Warner was the first sheriff of Foster county, and at the time he served the Jamestown Northern Railroad was in course of construction, and made the country infested with many rough characters. Our subject is a member of the Maccabees lodge, and in political faith is a Republican.

THOMAS ERICKSON, a prosperous farmer residing on section 15. in Dwight township, Rich- land county, has been a resident of North Dakota, for over a quarter of a century and is well known as a man of much force of character and industrious habits. He has one of the well-improved farms of that locality and it is to his own efforts that his suc- cess in his vocation is due.

Mr. Erickson was born in Norway, April 14, 1853, and was a son of Erick and Ingborg (Tasten- son) Anfenson. His parents came to Dakota terri- tory early in the 'zos and the father died in Dwight township at the age of sixty-seven years. The fol- lowing children were born to them': Thomas, Mary, Carrie, Edward and a daughter who died during her girlhood.

Thomas Erickson remained in his native land until he was nineteen years of age, when he came to America and located in Mower county, Minne- sota. He worked there at farm labor and also in Stearns county, Minnesota, and in the spring of 1873 went to Dakota, then a territory. For five years after taking up his residence in Richland county, he di- vided his time between farming and working on the Red river on flat boats, but since that time he has engaged in farming as his sole occupation and has met with marked success. He owns five hundred and sixty acres of land in Dwight township and has added the usual farm improvements.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 94

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