AARON FAUST, a representative farmer of Barnes county, is a resident of section 4 in Hobert township, and is the owner of an extensive farm. He has acquired a comfortable income and a high reputation by his earnest efforts and strict attention to. business.

Mr. Faust was born on a farm in Sweden, July 14, 1851, and was a son of Tora and Enger (Anderson) Faust. His father was a farmer and carpenter by occupation, and died in his native land in 1858. The mother emigrated to America and settled in North Dakota late in life and died in Barnes county at an advanced age.

Our subject attended school and worked on his father's farm until 1871, when, in company with his brother Jacob, he came to America and located in Pennsylvania. He remained in Warren county, that state, three years, and then went to Stockton, California, where he worked at farming until 1880, and in the spring of that year went to Barnes county, North Dakota, then a territory. He filed on land as a homestead claim, and is now the owner of eleven hundred acres of land. He has met with unbounded success in the pursuit of agriculture, and has a well-improved estate.

Mr. Faust was married, in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1883. to Anna Holmquist, a native of Sweden. Mrs. Faust was born April 27, 1861, and came to America in 1873. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Faust, six of whom are now living. Our subject is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a communicant of the Lutheran church, and is a man of excellent character, and enjoys the esteem of his fellow men.

JACOB FAUST. This well-known resident of Barnes county is one of our leading Swedish-American citizens, and in his successful business career he has shown the characteristic thrift and enterprise of his race. Beginning with no capital except that acquired by his own industry he has become the owner of a valuable farm of thirteen hundred and twenty acres in Hobart township, his home being on section 2, and he is today one of the most prosperous citizens of his community.

Mr. Faust was born October 18, 1844, on what was known as the Ansorba farm near Falkenberg, Sweden, and is a son of Tora and Enger (Anderson) Faust, also natives of Sweden. The father, who was a farmer and carpenter by occupation, died in that country in 1858, but the mother survived him for many years and came to America to spend her declining days with her children. Her death occurred in Barnes county. North Dakota, in 1888.

Our subject attended school in his native land until he attained his fourteenth year, and during the succeeding thirteen years worked on different farms near his boyhood home. In 1871 he decided to try his fortune in the new world where he believed better opportunities were afforded ambitious and enterprising young men. and accordingly he came to the United States in that year. He first located in Warren, Pennsylvania, where he worked in sawmills for nine years, during which time he erected in North Warren an elegant residence at a cost of $1,700. In the spring of 1880 he came to Barnes county. North Dakota, and filed a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section 2, Hobart township, where he has since made his home. Here he has steadily prospered, being one of the most industrious, progressive and energetic agriculturists of the township, and it is doubtful whether there is a better farm in Barnes county than the Jacob Faust place, which is now under a high state of cultivation, while the buildings are all that money and mechanical skill can produce. Mr. Faust has five brothers, viz.: Charles J., Aaron, John, Otto and Peter, all living in Barnes county, and all farmers excepting Charles.

During his residence in Warren, Pennsylvania, Mr. Faust led to the marriage altar, in 1874, Miss Anna C. Petersen, who was born in Flalmstad, Sweden, October 20, 1854, and to them have been born six children, as follows: Amanda J., Tilda V., Carl J., John A., Walter D. and Fred V. The three first named were all born in Pennsylvania, the others in Barnes county, North Dakota, and all are still living with the exception of Walter D.. who died in infancy.

Socially, the family is one of prominence in the community where they reside, and their hospitable home is always open for the reception of their many friends. In 1894 Mr. Faust, with his wife and youngest son, Fred V. took a trip to Sweden, visiting old friends, and stayed at the home of Mrs. Faust's parents for three months, stopping on their return trip at New York and in Pennsylvania. The trip each way was made on a Cunard boat-the Lucania and Campania. While Mr. Faust does not give much of his time to politics, he is unwavering in his support of the Republican party, and has served as a member of the school board. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and, religiously, is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. His uprightness, integrity and public-spiritedness have won him the confidence and esteem of his neighbors, and he is classed among the most respected representative citizens of Barnes County.

He was born in Branch County, Michigan, October 7. 1840, and is a son of B. D. Gray, a native of Hinesbury, Vermont, who came west in the early thirties, and in 1849 made the trip overland to California. For some time he was engaged in contracting and building in San Francisco, and many of the important buildings of that city were constructed by him. Our subject attended school at Constantine and Coldwater, Michigan, and at the age of fourteen began his business career as a clerk in the general store of Miles & Cult, with whom he remained for three years.   He then accepted a position with John W. Shivery, for whom he worked for the succeeding twelve years. After resigning that position he entered the employ of Morris, Demming & Company, of New York, as a traveling salesman, selling hats, caps and furs throughout southern Michigan and northern Indiana for five years. In 1879 he left Michigan and came to Valley City, North Dakota, on the first five-car emigrant train which came into the state over the Northern Pacific Railroad. He at once entered land near the city, upon which he lived for one year, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and then took up his residence in Valley City, where he was interested in the farm machinery business until 1885. In that year he took the agency for the Gull River Lumber Company and has acted as such continuously since. On the 10th of April, 1899, the Valley City State Bank was organized and he was elected vice-president of the same, which office he is now filling with great tact and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is the only man in Valley City who has been continuously engaged in business since his arrival in the state, and is now connected with various business enterprises. He is energetic, progressive and persevering and generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. 

In 1879 Mr. Gray married Miss Mary M. Barnes, of Goshen, Indiana, a daughter of James and Mary Barnes, now deceased. The father was one of the early settlers of Goshen, always took an active part in the affairs of the city generally, and was engaged in the banking business there for years. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have two children, a son and daughter, namely: Henry B. and Amy M. The family occupy one of the most modern and beautiful dwellings in Valley City, it being located in the northwest portion of the place, and its hospitable doors are ever open for the reception of their many friends. Mr. Gray has taken quite a prominent and influential part in public affairs, and has served as mayor of the city three years and president of the school board for the same length of time.

PEER HANSEN is an energetic and successful farmer residing on section 20, township 139, range 58. Barnes county, who from an humble beginning in life has accumulated a fine property. He not only commenced without means, but was oblige<l to battle with the elements of a foreign soil and the customs of a strange country, as he is of foreign birth and parentage. He was born on the Island of Fyen, Denmark, September 14. 1859, and is a son of Hans and Anna Olson, who are still living in that country. Throughout his active business life the father engaged in farming, but is now living retired.

Our subject attended school near his boyhood home and remained with his parents until fourteen years of age, when he started out to make his own way in the world, his first employment being on one of the neighboring farms. He continued to work as a farm hand in that vicinity until he attained his majority, when he was enrolled as a soldier of the regular Danish army and served for seven months, after which he returned to farm work. In 1883 he emigrated to America and on the 19th of June, that year, landed in Valley City, Barnes county. North Dakota. After working on different farms in the vicinity of Valley City for a period of six years, he purchased his present place and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account with marked success, becoming the owner of an excellent farm of four hundred and forty acres.

In Valley City, Mr. Hansen was married, in 1889, to Miss Katie Peterson, who was born in Denmark, in 1871, and they have become the parents of four children, namely: Henry, Thomas, Arthur and Anna. Socially Mr. Hansen is a member of the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is not identified with any political party but votes for the man he believes best qualified to fill the office. For the success that he has achieved in life he deserves great credit, for it is due entirely to his own well-directed efforts.

JAMES H. HIGH, one of the most energetic and successful agriculturists of Barnes county, North Dakota, is the owner of an excellent farm of eight hundred acres on section 35, township 142, range 59, and the northeast quarter of section 2, township 141, range 59. His methods of farm management show deep scientific knowledge, combined with sound practical judgment, and the results show that "high class" farming as an occupation can be made profitable as well as pleasant.

Mr. High was born on a farm in Allen township, Hillsdale county, Michigan, April 16, 1844, and is a son of Hiram and Rebecca P. (Kellogg) High, the former born in New York state, in 1813, and the latter at Sharon, Connecticut, in 1820. Both spent their last days at the home of our subject in Barnes county, where the father died in May, 1886, and the mother in May, 1897. Throughout his active business life the father engaged in farming.

When two years old James H. High was taken by his parents to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where he grew to manhood on the' home farm, which he assisted his father in operating during the summer months, while he attended the district school through the winter season. Leaving home in 1868, he went to Cass county, Missouri, where he resided for a number of years, and also spent some time in Kansas, being engaged in agricultural pursuits in both states. In 1881 he and his wife made a trip to California and Oregon, remaining on the Pacific slope for some time, and in March, 1884. came to Barnes county. North Dakota, and purchased land of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Here he has since made his home, and in his farming operations has met with far more than ordinary success.

Mr. High has been twice married. In Michigan. in 1857. he wedded Miss Phebe Peck, a native of that state, who died in Cass county, Missouri, at the age of twenty-five years. leaving one daughter now Mrs. Phebe Walker, of Omaha. Nebraska.  He was married again in Missouri , in 1871, to Miss Lizzie Cook, who was born in Cass county, that state, in 1847. Politically Mr. High is a "silver" Republican, and socially is a member of the Masonic order. He is widely and favorably known and has a most extensive circle of friends who esteem him highly for his genuine worth.