Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 97

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 97

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Our subject was married, in Tidioute, Penn- sylvania, December 25, 1879, to Clara R. Porter- field, of that city. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Mr. Clark was city clerk two terms, and has also been justice of the peace. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and Modern Wood- men of America. He is a man of high standing and merits his success.

FRANK J. MERRITT, a prosperous farmer of township 143, range 63, is one of the well-known pioneer settlers of Stutsman county, North Dakota. He has gained many friends since taking up his residence there and has always been found standing on the side of right and justice and laboring for the better interests of his community and by the im- provement of his own estate has aided materially in giving that region its present standing as a thriv- ing agricultural district.

Mr. Merritt was born in La Porte, Indiana, in 1857. His father, Charles Merritt, was an Ameri- can by birth, of English descent, and was a farmer by occupation. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject was a farmer in Connecticut. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Mary L. Cook, was born and raised in Otsego county, New York, and was of German and English descent. She has a family history which dates back to Cromwell's time in England.

Our subject was the eldest in a family of three children and was raised on a farm in Fort Wayne county, Indiana. His father died when he was but about eight years of age and he was early put to work with neighborsand attended school in his native state. When about twenty-three years of age he began

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work in the saw-mill and tile-mill, of which he was part owner, and followed this employment two years, when he disposed of his interest and made a trip to the state of Washington, returning later to Dakota. He arrived in North Dakota in 1884 and the follow- ing spring entered claim to the southeast quarter of section 28, township 143, range 63, as a home- stead, on which he erected a 12x18-foot shanty and a sod barn. He and his brother, Charles, conducted farming in partnership the first six years in North Dakota and their first crop in 1885 was burned by prairie fire. Our subject steadily improved his property and now has a well-improved farm consist- ing of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he has excellent buildings and all necessary ma- chinery, horses and other stock. He engages prin- cipally in grain raising and has made a success in that line and finds flax a profitable product. In the early day he and his brother lost over one thou- sand dollars' worth of horses and they also found sheep raising unprofitable. Our subject has wit- nessed several blizzards in North Dakota and in 1892. lost about twelve head of cattle.

Mr. Merritt is a man of practical nature and every enterprise which he deems is for the better in- terests of his community has at all times been ably supported by him. Politically, he is a Democrat and stands firm for the principles of his party.

JOSEPH J. MCINTYRE, a prosperous and in- telligent member of the farming community of Cass county, has devoted the greater part of his career to agriculture, in the pursuit of which he has been very fortunate. He is now the owner of a fine farm in Mapleton township, Cass county, and has resided on section 8 many years and also owns one section of land in La Moure county, North Dakota. He has placed upon his farm such improvements and buildings as are found on a model farm and he con- ducts general farming in the most approved meth- ods.

Our subject was born in Welland county, On- tario, May 24, 1847, and was of Scotch parentage and was a son of Malcolm and Hulda ( Doane) Mc- Intyre. He was reared in his native county on his father's farm and received a common-school edtt- cation and resided there till 1876, in which year he went to North Dakota. He soon after purchased a half-section of land in Durbin township, but made his home in the village of Mapleton for some three years and then purchased a tract of land in Maple- ton township, Cass county, where he settled per- manently and has since resided. His farm consists of one and a half sections of land in Mapleton town- ship, Cass county, and one section in La Moure county. His buildings are commodious and sub- stantial structures and he is surrounded by all that goes to make farm life enjoyable and has met with unbounded success.

Our subject was married in Welland county, On- tario, January 21, 1878, to Miss Henrietta Sherk,

a native of that county. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre, upon whom they have be- stowed the name of William Francis. Mr. McIntyre is a potent factor in the prosperity enjoyed by Cass county and has been of great assistance in develop- ing and extending its agriculture. He casts his in- fluence for good in his community, with whose higher interests his name is associated and his pub- lic spirit has never been called in question. He has served as a member of the board of supervisors of Mapleton township for several years.

IVER I. SEIM, a resident of section 30, in Ber- gen township, Steel county, is the owner of twelve hundred and eighty acres of land and has acquired his fortune single-handed. He is one of the pioneers of that region and has been eminently successful in diversified farming, his land, located in the eastern part of the Sheyenne river valley, being admirably adapted to that work. His farm evidences pains- taking care in its operation and modern methods and improvements make it a home of more than usual comforts.

Our subject was born in Hadanger, Bergen (stift), Norway, March 7, 1857, and was the young- est in a family of five children. His father, Iver Seim, died prior to the birth of our subject and the mother, whose maiden name was Betsey Lillegraven, of necessity had the care of the family after the father's death. Our subject was put to work at herding when eleven years of age and when fifteen years of age he and his mother and brother came to America and joined two of the children who had preceded them to this country. Our subject was then able to earn his own livelihood and at once en- gaged in farm work in Winneshiek, Iowa. He se- cured one winter's schooling in the English speak- ing schools after his arrival in this country and in May, 1880, went by team to Dakota. His objective point was the Sheyenne river, in what was then Traill county, North Dakota. He had about one hundred dollars in cash and a team of horses and after prospecting along the river for a distance of twenty miles selected his present location and estab- lished a "squatter's claim" thereto. His family was soon established in a log house 14x16 feet, built on the banks of the river and this house has since been moved about a quarter of a mile from the river, to where the more modern house stands, the main part of which was built in 1883. Our subject has devoted himself to diversified farming from the first of his labors in Dakota and has been successful in his calling and enjoys a comfortable home. He raises Clydesdale horses and Short Horn cattle and his stock raising has contributed largely to his profits and his farm is one of the best located in the country for that purpose.

Mr. Seim was married, in 1877, to Miss Jennie Spilde, a native of Norway. Seven children have been born to this union as follows: Bessie, Paul, Jens, Adolph, Ida, deceased, Ida. deceased, and

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Melvin. Mr. Seim is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a Populist and was early identified with the move- ments of that party and took an active part in the organization of the same. He has attended county conventions and served on the Populist central com- mittees and is prominent in local affairs and is de- servedly popular with the people among whom he has resided since the early settlement of that region.

JOHN MCDOUGALL. As a man who has been instrumental in promoting the growth of that section of the state of Dakota in which lies Richland countv. the subject of this interview is entitled to prominent mention. He is a well-to-do and progressive mem- ber of the farming community of Antelope township, in which he has a fine estate and makes section 22 his base of operations.

Mr. McDougall was born in Scotland, June 17, 1836. He came to America and located in Canada, at the age of twenty years and engaged in farming in Bruce county, until 1879. In that year he went to North Dakota and settled on the farm in Antelope township which has since been his home. He has erected substantial and commodious farm buildings and is well supplied with necessary machinery. He is the possessor of one half-section of land and he has gained a knowledge of his calling and is one of the substantial men of his conimunity.

Our subject was married in Huron county, On- tario, Canada, November 26, 1857, to Isabella Mc- Kinnon, who was also a native of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. McDougall have been the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Mary, Christina, Dugald, Kittie, Peter, Maggie and John. One son, John, died in infancy. The family are members of the presbyterian church. Mr. Mc- Dougall takes a hearty interest in all matters tend- ing to promote the general welfare and to develop the financial or social interests of his adopted coun- try and has aided materially in various ways in the upbuilding and strengthening of good local govern- ment. He has served as school treasurer of his district, justice of the peace several years, township treasurer and chairman of the board of super- visors for several years. He is a man of the highest integrity of character and his name stands for justice and equity.

SWAN OVERLEE is classed among the most energetic and capable farmers of Mapleton town- ship, Cass county. His career has been marked throughout with persistent efforts and honest in- dustry and he has been rewarded by the acquisition of a good property and a high reputation. He is in- telligent and progressive and is widely and favorably known as a citizen devoted to the best interests of his adopted country. He makes his home on section 34 and is passing his life amid pleasant surround- ings.

Our subject was born in Norway, July 31, 1838, and was reared in his native country, where he lived till he came to America in 1874. He located in Minnesota, in August of that year, and worked at carpenter work and remained in that state until 1877, when he removed to Cass county. For three years he worked at his trade in Fargo and then entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 34, in Mapleton township, Cass county, as a homestead. He took up his residence on his farm in 1878, since which time he has lived thereon. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of land and on his home farm has added modern and convenient buildings and other improvements and is supplied with all machinery for the operating of a model farm.

Our subject was married, at Fargo, North Da- kota, to Karine Dorseth, also a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Overlee have two adopted children, Otto and Minnie, brother and sister. Mr. Overlee is prominent in local affairs of a public nature and has served as clerk of Mapleton township for several years, justice of the peace several terms and takes an active part in educational matters and is a meni- ber of the school board. He is a gentleman of ex- emplary character and is a member of the Norwe- gian Lutheran church.

DANIEL A. McLAREN, widely known as a public-spirited citizen, and a progressive member of the farming community of Raymond township, Cass county, is a young man of ability, and is rapidly gaining an assured position in North Dakota. He has a fine farm of five quarter-sections of land, and makes his home in section 32. On another page will be found a portrait of Mr. McLaren.

Mr. McLaren was born in the village of Lanark, Lanark county, Ontario, Canada, June 30, 1865, and was a son of Duncan and Susan (Rice) McLaren. His mother died in Canada. The father of our subject was born near Perth, Scotland, in Novem- ber, 1832, and resided in Lanark county, Ontario, till the spring of 1883, when he removed to Cass county, North Dakota, and purchased land in sec- tion 32, in Raymond township, where he resided most of the time until his death He was elected sheriff of Cass county in the fall of 1890, and as- sumed the duties of that office the following Jan- uary, and served one term. He was one of the county commissioners of Cass county for six years, and was a prominent citizen. His death occurred February 19, 1894, at the age of sixty-two years, in DeLand, Florida, whither he had gone on account of ill-health. Three children were born to this worthy couple, as follows: Elizabeth, Jeanette and Daniel A.

Daniel A. McLaren was reared in his native place, and went to Cass county, North Dakota, with his parents. He received a common school educa- tion, and also attended the National Business Col- lege at Ottawa, Ontario. He has followed farming

DANIEL A. MCLAREN.

THE INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY 440 South Dearborn Street CHICAGO ILL.

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throughout his career, and has a well-improved es- tate comprising one and a quarter-sections of land. He operates one thousand eight hundred acres an- nually, and has met wih unbounded success in his calling.

Our subject was married, February 1, 1897, in Moorehead, Minnesota, to Miss Emily Jane Rice, a daughter of the late William Rice, of Ontario. Mrs. McLaren is a native of Lanark, Lanark county, Ontario. One child has been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. McLaren, upon whom they have be- stowed the name of Daniel Duncan. Mr. McLaren has hield various local offices of trust, including township treasurer, member of the township board of supervisors, and justice of the peace, and has labored to promote the general welfare of the people among whom he lias resided. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken the thirty- second degree, and the degrees of the Order of the Mystic Shrine, at Fargo. It is to such men as he that the community owes a debt. of gratitude.

BENEDICT B. GRINLEY, of the firm of Han- gom & Grinley, the sole hardware merchants of Portland, is a gentleman of excellent characteristics and has won his way to a goodly competence and prominence as a citizen by persistent and faithful efforts. He is a young man of good education and business ability and his success in North Dakota is assured.

Our subject was born in Bergen Stift, Norway, December 11, 1867, and was the younger of two sons born to Bottolf and Olena ( Bredlie) Gron- lee. Six children were born of his mother's sec- ond marriage. The family came to America when our subject was two years of age, and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, and when he was six years of age the father died, and the mother afterward remarried and a home was made in Vernon county, Wisconsin. Our subject left home at the age of fourteen years, and worked at farm labor during the summer months, and attended school winters, and thus earned his own living. He worked three years as assistant engineer in a sash and door fac- tory in Merrill, and then attended school about one year in Freeborn county. He went to Dakota in 1886 and worked on a farm and also operated a transfer line in Portland, and then returned East for a time, and in 1892 took up his residence in Da- kota. He entered the Buflat Academy in 1893, and took a business course, and was then employed in the hardware store of M. J. Akins for two years. The firm of Hangom & Grinley was formed in 1895. and purchased the business of Mr. Akins, and is now the only firm of the kind in Portland. They have a liberal patronage and are prosperous merchants.

Our subject was married, in 1896, to Miss Olene Skarprud. One daughter has been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grinley, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Lillian O. Mr. Grinley is actively interested in local affairs and

has served on the city council. He is a Republican in political sentiment and a leader in local move- ments of his party.

HON. AMENZO M. COOK. A prominent place as a citizen and extensive stock raiser and general farmer is accorded this gentleman. He has resided in North Dakota for the past fifteen years, and is well known and highly esteemed. He makes his home in Bowen township, Sargent county, and his residence on section 19 is fitted with all the conveniences and comforts of a country home.

Mr. Cook was born in Tompkins, Jackson county, Michigan, January 5, 1845. His father, Jolın N. Cook, was a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, and died in Jackson county, Michigan, in 1865, aged forty-three years. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Melvina Dixon, was born in Indiana. They were the par- ents of five children, all sons, of whom our subject was the eldest. He was reared on his father's farm in Jackson county, Michigan, where he resided until 1882, with the exception of two years spent in Eaton county, that state. He was engaged in farming, and in April, 1882, removed to North Dakota, and the following June settled on the farm where he now resides. He has erected substantial farm buildings and has added other improvements to the place, and engages chiefly in stock raising. He is now the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, and has made a success of his vocation.

Our subject was married, in Jackson county, Michigan, October 21, 1866, to Miss Jennie Cock- burn, who was born in Ingham county, Michigan, January 17, 1847. Mrs. Cook was reared in Jack- son county, Michigan, and was a daughter of Will- iam and Mary Jane ( McHan) Cockburn. Her father was a native of Scotland, and was of Scotch- English parentage, and died in Jackson, Michigan, at the age of forty years .. Mrs. Cook's mother was a native of Quebec. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, as follows : John N., Charles V., Mabel C., Borben D. and Marion A. Mr. Cook was elected to the territorial legislature in the fall of 1887, and served one term. He was one of the first county commissioners of Sargent county elected to that office, and held the position three years, when he resigned. He was chairman of the board of county commissioners during his entire service. During the Civil war he served about three months in the Twentieth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was detailed for hospital service. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. which order he has been identified with since 1867. He is an upright, earnest man, and well deserves his success.

EDWARD E. REDMON, who is conducting farming in Mapleton township, Cass county, on an extensive scale, is one of the progressive and influ- ential citizens of his locality. His home farm is in

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section 18, and he is widely and favorably known for his energetic spirit and honest dealings. He has made his home in Cass county many years, and his property is the result of well directed labor.

Our subject was born in Davenport, Iowa, Janu- ary I, 1856, and was a son of Elijah N. and Sarah A. (Knapp) Redmon, both of whom died in Pres- cott, Wisconsin.

Our subject was the second in a family of four children, and when he was a young boy removed to Prescott, Wisconsin, with his parents, where he was reared and educated in the city schools of Pres- cott. He continued to live there and assisted his father in the grain business till 1877, when he went to North Dakota, and entered claim to land in Ev- erest township, Cass county, and he has been a res- ident of Cass county since that date. He now owns three and a half sections of land and operates four sections annually. He has placed upon his farm such improvements as entitle it to rank among the finest pieces of property in Cass county, and is possessed of a thorough knowledge of his calling.

Mr. Redmon has interested himself heartily in the building up of his community, and has taken a most prominent place in general matters. He has been chairman of the town board of supervisors for many years, and is a member of the drainage board of Cass county. He is a man of strong convictions, and in political faith is a Republican. He is a man of the highest honor, and is esteemed by all with whom he has to do.

EDWIN ALLEN SMITH, son of Allen and Ruth Smith, was born at Chatfield, Minnesota, Octo- ber 5. 1857. In 1873 he entered the office of the "Chatfield Democrat," and served an apprenticeship of five years. Came to Dakota in 1879, and settled at Flandrau. In 1882 he came to Dickey county, set- tling at Ellendale, where he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business for four years. He was married, in 1883, to Katie M. Clark at Ellendale, and has six children. In 1887 he moved to St. Paul, where he was employed on the "Pioneer Press" for about four years. In 1891 he returned to Ellendale and purchased a half interest in the "Dickey County Leader," and in partnership with F. S. Goddard published that paper for four years. In 1898 he purchased the "Oakes Republican," and moved to the latter place with his family.

CHARLES MERRITT, who is making a suc- cess of the pursuit of agriculture in Durham town- ship, is one of the pioneer settlers of Stutsman county, and has placed himself in a prominent posi- tion among his fellow men by the exercise of per- sistent efforts and honest dealings. He has a thor- ough knowledge of his calling, and is one of the few men who have made a success of the raising of grain. and from practical experience he finds flax the paying product of his farm. He makes his

home in township 143, range 63, and has a pleasant and well-improved estate.

Our subject was born on a farm in Allen county, Indiana, in 1863, and was the younger of three sons in the family. His father died when our subject was but six months of age, and the support of the family was thrown upon the mother. Of necessity young Charles was placed at work at the early age of seven or eight years, and attended the schools of his native place but little after that age. He as- sisted with the farm labor until twenty-two years of age, and in the spring of 1885 went to North Da- kota and began farming for himself. He worked out for others part of the time, and also rented land on which he followed farming until 1893. He and his brother, Frank, lived together for the first six years after landing in Dakota, and were in partner- ship. Their first crop was destroyed by fire, and they lost about five or six hundred dollars. Our subject entered claim to government land in 1892, on which he erected a shanty, and the following year he and his wife took up their residence there. He has prospered, and is now the owner of four hun- dred and eighty acres of land, and all necessary machinery and buildings, and engages in grain raising.

Our subject was married in the spring of 1890 to Miss Jessie Gorrell, who was born and raised in Allen county, Indiana. Mrs. Merritt is a lady of rare accomplishments, and was a teacher in the Fort . Wayne schools for five years prior to her marriage. Her father was a physician and served in the Civil war, and went south during the yellow fever epi- demic, and was stricken and died of the disease.

Mr. and Mrs. Merritt are the parents of two children, as follows: Mabel and Donald. Mr. Merritt takes an active interest in public affairs in his community, and lends his influence for the best government. He keeps pace with the times, and stands firmly for his convictions. Politically he is a Democrat.

DONALD McKINNON, who enjoys the dis- tinction of being the first white man to settle in An- telope township, Richland county, has held continu- ous residence there since, and is one of the prosper- ous farmers of that vicinity. He makes his home on section 26, and is passing his declining years amid the comforts of a quiet country life ..

Our subject was born in Argylshire, Scotland, in 1839, and resided in his native land until he was twelve years of age, when he came to America with his parents and the family settled in Ontario. He lived with the family in Bruce county several years, and after his marriage settled on a farm and began farming for himself. He made a success of the vo- cation, and continued residence there until March, 1877, when he went to Dakota, and for the first three years lived on a farm in Cass county, North Dakota. In September, 1880, he moved to Rich- land county, and located on the farm where he now

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resides. He has erected a complete set of substan- tial farm buildings, and his farm covers one hun- dred and sixty acres. His life has been devoted principally to the pursuit of agriculture, and he is versed in all the better methods of the work, and the result is a well-improved estate, and a comfort- able competence.

Mr. Mckinnon was married in Bruce county, Ontario, in 1864, to Miss Euphemia Mckinnon, who was born in Scotland in 1839. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon, as follows : Mary, Peter, John, Christina, Alexander, Duncan and Kenneth. Mr. Mckinnon and family are men- bers of the Congregational church of Antelope town- ship. Our subject is a man whose character is above reproach, and he is ever interested in the well- being of his fellow men. He is an active educa- tional worker, and for many years has served as school director. He does not seek public office, preferring to serve his community otherwise, and he is held in high regard by his associates.

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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 97

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