Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 96

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 96

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THE PORTLAND STATE BANK was es- tablished in 1886 by George A. White, a sketch of whose life appears in this article. The following officers are now in charge: C. S. Edwards, presi- dent; C. L. Grandin, vice-president ; George A. White, cashier ; and P. M. Paulson, assistant cash- ier. Mr. White established the bank as a private institution, and it was operated thus until 1890, under the name of the Citizens' Bank, and was then incorporated as a state bank, and G. A. White was cashier, K. H. Brunsdale was president, and N. G. Nyhus was vice-president. The capital stock was ten thousand dollars, and the surplus six thousand dollars, and the bank conducts a general banking, real estate and insurance business, and is one of the solid financial institutions of the state.

GEORGE A. WHITE is a native of Michigan and was born May 23, 1857. He was the youngest of a large family of children born to Royal O. and Sarah (Wonsey) White. He was left an orphan at the age of seven years and his early boyhood was passed with his brothers and sisters, and at the age of twelve years he began working at farm labor during the summer months and attending school winters, and at the age of seventeen years began teaching school in Grundy and Butler counties, lowa. He entered the Iowa State Normal in 1874 and during four years taught and at- tended to his studies, and in 1879 went to Walipe- ton, Dakota, and there taught and worked at farm labor. He improved his spare hours at reading law, and during 1880-81 studied in the law office of Wilson & Ball, at Fargo, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1881. He went to Portland in the spring of the following year and established himself in the practice of his profession and de- voted himself exclusively to that until the found- ing of the bank above named, since which time he lias given no attention to his profession only as

occasion demanded. In partnership with C. Winslow, Mr. White has recently invested in twen- ty-four hundred acres of land in Canada, which they intend developing. His residence in Port- land is a handsome and commodious structure, and has every appointment of a modern home.

Mr. White was married, in 1887, to Miss Ella S. Powers, a native of Michigan. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White, as follows: Harold; Ronald; George, deceased; and Hollis. Mr. White was elected county superintendent of schools for Traill county in 1886 and assisted in establishing and perfecting the educational institu- tions of the county. He is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Fraternal Union, the Masonic fra- ternity, having passed the thirty-second and Shriner degrees in the last named. He is a Republican in political sentiment and is a leader of his party, and at present is 'chairman of the county central com- mittee and conducted the campaign of 1898. He is often a delegate to county and state conventions and takes an active part in public affairs.

WILLIAM HURLY, editor and proprietor of the "Sargent County Independent," is a gentleman of high standing in his community. He has varied financial interests in that locality, and is widely known as an able business man.

Mr. Hurly was born in Tralee, Ireland, June 12, 1854, and came to America when six years of age, in company with his · older brother. He re- sided in Barrie, Ontario, one year, and then moved to Kelvin, Brant county, Ontario, where he re- mained until April, 1866, when he went to St. Joseph, Michigan, and attended the public schools. He entered the printing office of the "St. Joseph Traveler" in 1871, and learned the printer's trade, remaining in the office for some time, a part of which time he was foreman of the shop. He worked at his trade in St. Joseph and Benton Har- bor till the fall of 1874, and was editor of the "St. Joseph Republican" for about one year. He went to Chicago in the fall of 1874, where, in company with one partner, he operated a job printing office till the fall of 1875, when he sold his interests and soon thereafter returned to Benton Harbor and established the "Benton Harbor Times," in com- pany with his brother, which they operated about one year. He was interested in the printing busi- ness and also dealt in real estate in St. Joseph, Benton Harbor and Berrien Springs till the spring of 1887. He went to Kentucky soon after estab- lishing the paper in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and was employed at Louisville and Owensboro, for a few months, when he returned to Chicago and was employed in different job offices for several months. He went to Forman in the spring of 1887, and took a tree claim and also a homestead claim to land in Rutland and Forman townships, Sargent county, North Dakota, and in June of the

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year following established the "Sargent County Independent," of which he has since been editor and proprietor. The paper is a Republican in politics, and is enjoying a wide circulation and increased popularity. Since about 1897 Mr. Hurly has acted as traveling agent for the North- western Land Companies, formerly the Graves & Vinton Company. He also deals in real estate and is engaged extensively in stock raising.

Our subject was born in Loudonville, Ohio, in July, 1887, to Miss Ella B. Murphy, a native of Berrien county, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Hurly have been the parents of nine children, eight of whom are now living, as follows: John, Robert, William, Edith, Affie, Leo, Gertrude and Mildred. One son, Thomas B., was accidentally shot when five years of age, causing his death.

WILLIAM W. SMITH, whose various finan- cial interests entitle him to special mention as one of the leading business men of Barnes county, makes his home in Valley City, in which place he has resided since the early days of the settle- ment of that locality. He is the owner of a fine farm in that county, and also carries on an ex- tensive insurance business, and is proprietor of a brickyard in that city.

Mr. Smith was born in Glasgow, Scotland, August 14, 1864, and was a son of James and Mar- garet (Mclntyre) Smith. His father was a grain merchant in Scotland, and came to America and located in Valley City, where his death occurred in 1884. The mother of our subject still survives and is now residing on the farm near that village.

When our subject was but a child his parents moved to Cathcart, Scotland, where he received his elementary education. He then entered the employ of J. & R. Smith, grain merchants, and remamed with them two years, after which he same to America, and after a short visit in New York and St. Paul, Minnesota, and went with his parents to Valley City, North Dakota. He and his father invested large sums of money in real estate, and were also engaged extensively in the meat business until the death of his father, after which our subject devoted much of his time to farming, and later entered the employ of Charles Hokanson, in the meat business, and after two years purchased the market. He soon afterward disposed of his in- terests, for the purpose of giving his time more fully to the improvement and cultivation of his land. He is at present secretary of the Barnes County Mutual Insurance Company, which was organized in May, 1895, and at the present time holds over six hundred policies, covering at least four hundred thousand dollars. He has been en- gaged in the manufacture of brick since locating in Dakota, and his yards are located in the west end of the town, and furnish an excellent quality of material.

Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic fra-

ternity and Royal Arcanum. He takes an active interest in the welfare of his town and county, and is a member of the city council.

CHARLES M. TAYLOR, one of the well-to- do farmers of Cass county, was an early settler of Maple River township, and is widely known and highly esteemed for his energetic character and strict integrity of word and deed.

Our subject was born in Loudonvile, Ohio, August 23, 1860, and is a son of Augustus A. and Priscilla P. ( Wade) Taylor. His parents were natives of Ohio, and the father was a miller by trade and owned several flour mills in Ohio, among them the old Manhattan Mills, of Toledo. His death occurred at Casselton, North Dakota, in 1886, while he was visiting in that city. The mother survives and makes her home at Casselton. The grandfather of our subject on the father's side was a native of Texas. Our subject has two brothers and five sisters, two of the sisters residing in North Dakota.

Mr. Taylor was reared in Ohio and attended the Denison University at Granville, and after completing his studies was given the management of the Mt. Vernon mill, owned by his father, in which work he continued three years. He went to North Dakota in 1883 and purchased the farm where he now resides in Maple River township, since which time he has devoted his attention en- tirely to farming. He is the owner of a half-sec- tion of choice land, and has placed modern im- provements on the same and enjoys a comfortable home. He also has large financial interests in the old mills in Ohio, and is a man of ability and sound financial standing.

Mr. Taylor is devoted to his work, and his estate bespeaks good management and painstaking care in its operation. He does not take an active part in pubile affairs and has never sought or filled public office, but lends his influence for the better interests of his community and is highly respected wherever he is known.

ELMER W. WESTON, proprietor of the "Oakes Independent," is a man of much business ability, and is well known in newspaper circles. He was born in Wyoming county, New York, May 10, 1860, and was a son of Edwin and Juliet (Durkee) Weston. His father was a commission merchant and successful as a business man.

Our subject remained at home until he attained his majority, and in 1883 went to Dickey county with his mother and filed claim to land southwest of Oakes, on which he resided until 1886, at which time he went to Oakes and engaged in the news- paper work with R. H. Busteed. They published the "Oakes Herald" for one year, and then our sub- ject disposed of his interest and engaged in the in- surance business, and in 1891 he and W. H. Ellis

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established the "Independent," and two years later our subject purchased the entire plant, and has con- tinued the sole owner since. He has made a sue- cess of his work and displays marked business ability. He is also agent for the MeCormick Har- vester Machinery Company at Oakes. His brother, E. F. Weston, resides in Chicago, and is general agent for the McCormick Harvester Company, and is one of the trusted employes of that firm, having reached his prominent position by faithful service.

Our subject was married, near Oakes, in 1892, to Carrie M. Tyrrell. Mr. Weston is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is prominent in local public affairs. He has served as justice of the peace and as alderman of the city, and is a man who has the interests of his con- munity at heart. Politically he is a free-silver man and stands firmly for his convictions.

EDWARD S. BLY, editor of the "Oakes In- dependent," is a man of broad mind and one of the rising young men of Dickey county. He was born on a farm in Grundy county, Illinois, March 28, 1870, and was a son of Louis and Malinda (Carey) Bly.

The father of our subjeet was born in the Em- pire state and was a farmer by occupation. He died in 1899, aged sixty-eight years. The mother of our subject was also a native of New York, and is now living in Oakes. Four sons were born to them, our subject being the third in order of birth.

Mr. Bly assisted his father on the farm and at- tended school until he reached his manhood, and in 1893 entered the office of the "Oakes Independ- ent," and learned the printer's trade in that office, and in July, 1899, became editor of the paper. Mr. Bly is now recognized as one of the leading news- paper men of that region, and is a man of broad mind and excellent characteristics.

Our subject is sergeant major of the Salvation Army corps of Oakes, and is a representative citi- zen and faithful worker.

STEVENSON DUNLOP stands among the foremost agriculturists of Raymond township, Cass county, and is a pioneer settler of that county. He is actively interested in the welfare of his adopted county, and is a citizen who is highly es- teemed throughout his community. His pleasant home is on section 29, where he has resided many years, and has thoroughly improved his land and gathered about him the comforts of life.

Our subject was born in Symington, Ayreshire, Scotland, July 25, 1858. His father, John Dunlop, emigrated from Scotland to Ontario, Canada, in 1859, and settled at Woodstock, where he now re- sides. He went to Dakota in 1874, and was in- terested with two other parties in seventeen sections of land in the vicinity of Mapleton.

Mr. Dunlop was the seventh in a family of

eight children, and was one year of age when he went to Woodstock, Ontario, with his parents, where he was reared and educated. He also attended the Agricultural College at Guelph, Ontario, and was given a liberal education. He went to Dakota in the spring of 1876 and has been a resi- dent of Cass county since that date. He is the owner of two sections of land in Raymond town- ship, and has always followed agricultural pur- suits, and has been successful.

Mr. Dunlop was married, in Toronto, Ontario, June 16, 1877, to Miss Bertha MeDonald Playfair, who was born in that city. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop, as follows : Robert S. and Lois I. Mr. Dunlop was chairman of the first board of supervisors of Raymond town- ship and served two years, and was township as- sessor for several years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Presbyterian church of Mapleton, of which church he is trustee and elder. He takes an active interest in church work, and is a gentleman of exemplary character, who is highly esteemed by his fellow men.

JAMES D. BEATTIE, an energetic and suc- cessful agriculturist residing on section 112, Moore- ton township, Richland county, North Dakota, is a veteran of the Civil war, and bears an honorable record for brave service in the cause of freedom and union, and in the paths of peace he has also won an enviable reputation through the sterling qualities which go to the making of a good citizen.

Mr. Beattie was born in Pieton, Nova Scotia, December 13, 1845, but when six years old was taken to New York by his parents, Thomas and Jeanette (Holliday) Beattie, who settled in Cortland county, where both died, the former in 1891, at the ripe old age of eighty years, the latter in 1870, at the age of fifty-seven years. In their family were twelve children, of whom our subject is the seventh in order of birth.

He was reared in much the usual manner of farmer lads, spending his boyhood and youth in Cortland county, New York, responding to his coun- try's call for aid during the trying days of the Re- bellion, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York Volun- teer Infantry, and was in active service for three years. At the battle of Gettysburg he was slightly wounded in the head. He was always found at his post of duty, valiantly defending the old flag and the cause it represented. When the war was over he returned to his home in Cortland county, New York, and afterward resided in Tompkins county, that state, for three years. On leaving there in 1880 he came to Dakota, and the following year located on the farm in Mooreton township, where he now resides. To the cultivation and improve- ment of his farm he has since devoted his attention with most gratifying results, and now has a half- section of land under a high state of cultivation.

JAMES D. BEATTIE AND WIFE.

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In Port Perry, Ontario, Canada, December 31, 1873, Mr. Beattie led to the marriage altar Miss Matilda A. Boynton, a native of that place. Fra- ternally Mr. Beattie is now a member of Sumner Post, No. 7, G. A. R. He is highly respected and esteemed and has a host of friends in his adopted county. A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Beattie is shown in connection with this sketch.

HERMAN HOYT. Industry .is one of the essentials of success, and labor together with judi- cious management reaches the highest point al- most without exception. The gentleman above named is one of the industrious and intelligent agri- culturists of Richland county, and his pleasant home on section 24, in Antelope township, bears evidence of the dominant traits of character he possesses.

Mr. Hoyt was born in Fond du Lac county, Wis- consin, March 24, 1857. He was reared and edu- cated in his native place and remained there until he attained his majority, when he went to Minne- sota and was employed in a saw-mill and at farm- ing until the spring of 1886, when he decided to try his fortunes in the new country which was then being developed into the fine agricultural district which is the pride of the West at the present day. He accordingly went to Richland county and located on land in Antelope township. He has made his home on section 24 since that date, and now oper- ates three quarter-sections of land, and is one of the substantial men of his calling in the vicinity.

Mr. Hoyt was married in Ottertail county, Minnesota, December 25, 1884, to Miss Kittie Bryan, who was born in Fayette county, Iowa, March 2, 1869. Mrs. Hoyt was the eldest in a family of three children, two sons and one daugh- ter, born to Henry and Mary (Grant) Bryan, na- tives respectively of England and New York. Mr. Hoyt's parents, Frank and Sarah (Williams) Hoyt were both natives of New York and were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom our subject was the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt are the parents of seven chil- dren, as follows: Frank, Charles, Nora, George, Ida, Fred and Royce. Mr. Hoyt is a prominent citizen of Antelope township, and has been called upon to serve in various offices of local importance. He has been township clerk for several years, and was also school director.

EVER GULLICKSEN, a resident of Ender- lin, whose farm adjoins the city, is a prosperous and enterprising member of the farming commu- nity of Liberty township. His land is of excellent quality, and the farm buildings and other appoint- ments of section 4 form a commanding sight, lo- cated on the hills above the city. Public schools are convenient, and altogether our subject has a most valttable estate.

Mr. Gullicksen was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin, November 27, 1849, and was an only child. His parents were Knute and Renvei (Gul- licksen) Gullicksen, and his father was drowned prior to the birth of our subject. The mother afterward re-married, and he was reared by his step-father, and when about six years of age the family moved to Mitchell county, Iowa, where our subject grew to manhood. He worked at farm work, and later took charge of his step-father's farm. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1879, arriving May 30, with three horses and a wagon, and about forty dollars in money. After pros- pecting north from Fargo to Grand Forks, he re- turned to Fargo, and then journeyed to Buffalo, Cass county, where in that county he took a pre- emption claim and resided six months, returning to lowa in December, 1879. The following spring he went to Cass county, and in the spring of 1881 went to Ransom county, and settled on his home- stead which he had located, on the banks of Maple river, in October, 1880, and where he still resides. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Eddy and Ransom counties, and usually crops about three hundred acres of land. His residence i11 1898 was included within the new limits of the city of Enderlin.

Our subject was married, February 26, 1881, to Miss Agnes Seeverts. Mr. and Mrs. Gullicksen have been the parents of six children, as follows: Edward R., Seevert, B., Bertha, Mabel, Knute and Otto. Mr. Gullicksen is a member of the Lu- theran church. He takes a prominent part in all public affairs, and assisted in the organization of the township, and served as a township officer con- tintously until 1898, when his residence was in- cluded in Enderlin, since which time he has been identified with the public movements of that thriv- ing city. He has always been a hearty supporter of all public enterprises which had for their object the upbuilding of the locality, and is well known as a public-spirited and worthy citizen. Politically he is a Republican, and is an attendant as a delegate to most of the conventions of the party in that county.

GEORGE H. SHAVER, residing on section 17 of Mapleton township, in Cass county, is one of the early settlers of that vicinity, and has been identified with the agricultural interests of North Dakota many years. His land during the early days bore no semblance to the highly-cultivated fields of the present day, and he is now the proprietor of as fine a farm as can be found in his township. His build- ings on his home farm include those which will add to the comfort and convenience of those car- rying on the work, and he is well versed in the best and most approved methods of operating a farm.

Our subject was born in Matilda, Dundas county, Ontario, April 6, 1850, and was reared in that county till he was fifteen years of age, when he-

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went to Rochester, New York, and remained one year, and then spent a few months in Detroit, Mich- igan, and in the spring of 1869 went to Duluth, Minnesota, where he followed railroading till 1878, in different capacities. He assisted in grading the road between Duluth and Mandan, and in 1878 bought section 11, in Durbin township, Cass county, wherehe lived about three years, and then purchased sections 17 and 20, in Mapleton township, in 1886. He located thereon and has since resided in section 17. He has followed farming since 1878 and is now the owner of one thousand six hundred acres of fine land in Mapleton township. On his home farm he has built a complete set of buildings, and enjoys the comforts of rural life.

Mr. Shaver was married, in Brainard, Minne- sota, September 6, 1878, to Miss Meriem D. Cong- don, a native of Elmira, New York. Mr. Shaver is a member of the Congregational church, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has served as county commissioner one term, and is interested in the affairs of local importance, and is an earnest supporter of every enterprise looking to the good of his community. He is energetic and wide- awake, and is deservedly held in high esteem and respect by his associates.

DAVID W. CLARK, editor of the People's Advocate," is one of the early settlers of Valley City, North Dakota. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, May 9, 1854.

The father of our subject was a native of Ox- ford, Connecticut, and when a young man went to Birmingham, Connecticut, where he learned the machinist's trade, and then moved to Bridgeport, where he started an iron and copper foundry. He invented the Clark sewing machine, and made the first Howe boot machine. He afterward engaged in the gents' furnishing goods business, and when the Pennsylvania oil excitement was running, he sold his business and moved to Tidioute, Pennsylvania, and invested in oil lands, in which business he met with success. His death occurred in 1890, and the mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Louisa Curtis, died December 27, 1899, in Penn- sylvania. She was a native of Bridgeport, Con- necticut.

Our subject was one of a family of eleven chil- dren, and was given good educational advantages. When four years of age he moved with his parents to the suburbs of his native city, but attended the city schools, and was given an academic education in his native state. The family moved to Tid- ioute, Pennsylvania, in 1867, and there he attended school two years, and in 1869 entered the "Tid- ioute Journal" office and remained there two years learning the printer's trade. He then took a year's preparatory study, and then entered Cornell Uni- sity. He secured a position on the "Bridgeport Standard" in 1873, and was thus employed two years, and then spent the fall and winter of 1876 in

the office of the "Warren Ledger" as foreman, and in the book and job printing house of Tuttle, Moorehouse & Taylor, of New Haven, Connecti- cut. In the fall of 1877 he succeeded C. C. Thomp- son in the insurance business in Tidioute, and in the spring of 1881 disposed of his business interests and went to Valley City, North Dakota, where he at once engaged in the insurance business. He built an extensive business and represented eighteen companies. He was appointed postmaster of Val- ly City in August, 1885, and held the office five years, after which he became associated with Joseph Barclay in the real estate and loan business. He disposed of his business interests in 1893, and joined a dramatic company in New York, and spent one season with them in a leading role, a business with which he has been identified more or less through- out his career. He returned to Dakota and took charge of the "Valley City Alliance" one year, and then worked on the state code at Bismarck for some time, and in the fall of 1895 became a partner with W. N. Campbell in the collection business. He took up his present work in January, 1896, and published the first issue of the "People's Advocate," January 8, 1896.

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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 96

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