DR. CHARLES H. MARTIN, engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery at Valley City, was born in Ottawa, Illinois, in December, 1869, a son of Phillip R. and Sarah (Berry) Martin, both of whom were natives of England. The father, who was born in Devonshire, died in 1912, when seventy years of age. The paternal grandfather came to America in the late '50s and after a period spent in Michigan removed to Illinois, where he followed farming.  In 1879 Phillip R. Martin removed from Illinois to North Dakota, establishing his home near Buffalo, Cass county, where he secured a homestead, preemption and tree claim. The remainder of his active business life was spent upon this farm and when he retired he removed to Powers Lake, where he continued to make his home until called to his final rest. He took great interest in local affairs and was a worthy citizen of the community.

Of a family of five children Charles H. Martin was the eldest and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools he attended the commercial college at Valparaiso, Indiana, and still later entered the Ontario (Canada) Veterinary College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1894. He then located for practice at Buffalo, Cass county, North Dakota, where he remained until 1903, when he came to Valley City, where he has since continued and in the intervening years he has won a good practice.

In 1896 Dr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Harriet S. Richie, a daughter of W. T. Richie, who came to this state in 1879. Mrs. Martin was born at Mapleton, North Dakota, and passed away at Valley City, in July 1914, leaving seven children: Zella, at home; Douglas, Phillip and Howard, all in school; Dorothy; Madge; and Mary.  Fraternally Dr. Martin is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Loyal Order of Moose and along professional lines his membership is in the North Dakota Veterinary Association, of which he served as secretary for several years. He has filled the office of district veterinarian and assistant state veterinarian for a number of years and holds high rank as one possessing marked skill in his chosen calling. For thirty-seven years Dr. Martin has been a resident of this state, having remained in Illinois only until ten years of age, and he has therefore been a witness of much of the growth and development of North Dakota.  At all times he has been interested in its progress and has borne his share in the work of public improvement, giving loyal support at all times to those measures and movements which he deems of practical value in promoting the best interests of the community.

GEORGE AUSTIN MCFARLAND, president of the State Normal School at Valley City, has throughout his career as an educator held to high ideals and utilized progressive methods.  Since 1884 he has been identified with educational interests in the Dakotas after having a short time previously graduated from Hiram College in Ohio, his native state. He was born at Chagrin Falls, April 8, 1858, a son of Johnson and Isabelle (Watson) McFarland, both of whom were natives of Ireland, as was the paternal grandfather, James McFarland, who in 1843 came to the new world, settling at Chagrin Falls, where he lived to the age of eighty-six years. His son, Johnson McFarland, followed farming in the vicinity of the town and there spent his entire life after coming to the new world. The McFarlands were originally Presbyterians but in this country became connected with the Disciples of Christ. Johnson McFarland was very active in local political circles, holding stanchly to democratic principles while living in a republican stronghold. He reached the age of seventy-one years.

Professor McFarland, an only son and with but one sister, was reared on the old homestead in Ohio and after attending the public schools and completing the high school course at Bedford, Ohio, attended Hiram College, where he won the Bachelor of Science degree in 1883, while in 1886 the Master of Arts degree was conferred upon him. In 1884 he secured the position of superintendent of schools in Scotland, Dakota, now South Dakota, where he remained for three years and afterward became secretary of the territorial board of education by appointment of the governor. After occupying that position for two and one-half years he was made professor of pedagogy and history at Madison, South Dakota, and was the first democratic candidate for state superintendent of education in that state, which was strongly republican. Although he failed of election, he polled a large vote indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him. In 1803 he became president of the Valley City Normal School, which he aided in organizing, and he also had supervision in part over the erection of the buildings. He has stood by the school through all of its vicissitudes, watching and directing its splendid development and making it an institution of which the state has every reason to be proud.

On the 17th of August 1884, Professor McFarland was married to Miss Duella Harris, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob Harris, a representative of one of the old colonial families connected with the famous Rittenhouse family of that time. The children of this marriage are: EIsie, now the wife of J. R. McLean, of Las Vegas, New Mexico; Genevieve, the wife of E. B. Cox, living in Courtenay, North Dakota; Eugene H., an architect of Valley City; R. Kenneth, a photographer of Valley City; Dorothy, who is teaching in the schools of Bismarck; and Pauline, who is yet in school. The children have all been provided with good educational privileges, for Professor McFarland has always felt, as Horace Mann has expressed it, that "education is capital to the poor man and interest to the rich man." After attending the public schools his children became students in the State Normal and passed on to advanced university work.

Professor McFarland is a Knights Templar Mason and in the Odd Fellows lodge passed through all the chairs. He is an active worker in the Congregational church, in which he has served as a deacon for a number of years, but naturally his efforts have been concentrated most largely upon education and his labors have been most splendidly resultant. In 1887 he became the founder and editor of the Dakota Educator and continued its publication for five years, during which time the circulation rapidly increased as the value of the paper became recognized. It is still published in South Dakota and is the oldest educational publication of the Dakotas. While editor of the paper Professor McFarland was on the territorial board of education. Since 1887 he has been continuously a member of the National Educational Association, has been a member of the State Teachers Association since 1892 and has served as its president and is a member of the state board of education.  In 1902 he founded the State Summer School at the Valley City Normal and his plan has since been adopted all over the state. The report which the educational board made in 1889 was the inspiration of the school laws in both North and South Dakota. This report covered teachers institutes, organization of school districts and most, if not all, of the advanced school laws now in use. It was Professor McFarland who suggested to the Commercial Club of Valley City the feasibility of a Chautauqua and, acting on his suggestion, it was organized and has become a great and beneficial institution. From the beginning he has served on its board and done much to bring to its sessions men and women of high reputation in their especial fields, making the programs both educational and entertaining.  Professor McFarland is continually reaching out along broadening lines, actuated by a spirit of progress, and the worth of his work is evidenced in the high scholarship of the school and in the splendid endorsement given to it by his colleagues and contemporaries.

JOHN McINTYRE, who is farming near Cuba, Barnes county, was born in Rochester, Minnesota, August 29, 1876, a son of Thomas Archibald and Mary (Luscomb) Mclntyre, the former a native of Adrian, Michigan, and the latter of London, England. About 1873 the father removed with his family to Rochester, Minnesota, where he remained until 1880, when with team and wagon he started overland to Barnes county, North Dakota, arriving at Valley City on the 2d of June. He took up a homestead eight miles south of the county seat and added to it by purchase, continuing to engage in farming there throughout his remaining days. He at first put up a small shed house reinforced by sod and later erected the residence now found upon the place. He was a progressive agriculturist, nor did he neglect his duties of citizenship, but bore his part in promoting the community interests. He passed away in 1909 at the age of fifty-six years and his widow is now living in Los Angeles, California. Their family numbered five children.  of whom John is the eldest. One son, Thomas A. Mclntyre, Jr., after attending the high school and the State Normal School at Valley City began a course of medicine at Des Moines, Iowa, and later was graduated from a medical college at Los Angeles, where he is now making his home. A daughter, Melissa, has become the wife of S. P. Southwick, also a resident of Los Angeles. The other two children of the family have passed away.

When a little lad of six years John Mclntyre became a pupil in the district schools near his father's home and in due time was graduated from the high school at Valley City.  He has since that time devoted his attention to the conduct and operation of a farm and is now the owner of eleven hundred and twenty acres of rich, valuable and productive land. He raises the small grains, wheat, oats and barley, in large quantities, and in addition is well known as a successful stock raiser, having usually a herd of seventy-five or more cattle, largely Holsteins, breeding from registered high grade stock. He also has about thirty-five or forty head of Chester White hogs, breeding with registered sires. His business interests are most carefully and wisely conducted and his unremitting diligence has been the source of his success.

Mr. Mclntyre keeps in touch with the latest questions and issues of the day, politically and otherwise, as manifest in the trend of the times. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Pythias and the Moose. His friends, and they are many, know him as a modest man of genuine worth, reliable and enterprising in business and loyal in matters of citizenship.

INGRAM J. MOE, mayor of Valley City, popular as an official and recognized as a man of notable energy and ability, was born in Faribault, Minnesota, September 1, 1872, a son of Ole J. and Johanna (Sussag) Moe, both of whom were natives of Norway, the former born in Romsdal and the latter at Steinjar. The maternal grandfather, Johan H. Sussag, was a talented musician and in the summer months was leader of one of the king's army bands and had the personal friendship of the reigning monarch. During the winter months he gave his attention to training young men for band work. Paying a visit to the northwest, he remained for a few years but ultimately returned to his native country, where he passed away at the age of seventy-six years. His wife survived him for two decades and died at the notable old age of ninety-six, while her mother lived to be one hundred and two years of age. The paternal grandfather and grandmother of Mr. Moe each lived to be about ninety years of age and thus the family is noted for longevity. Some of the father's brothers followed a seafaring life.

In 1869 Ole J. Moe came with his wife and two children to the United States, making his way to Faribault, Minnesota, where he engaged in coopering. Later he built a factory of his own and employed a large number of men, his product supplying the flour mills with barrels. When the mills changed their methods by putting the flour up in sacks he closed out his business in 1878 and bought land a half mile east of Sanborn. In the spring of 1880 he removed to Barnes county and took up a homestead, a preemption and a tree claim adjoining his original tract and he also purchased his father-in-law's preemption, becoming the owner of twelve hundred and eighty acres. Thereon he engaged in farming and stock raising but afterward leased his land until 1886, when he again took up farming. As his family reached mature years and his children left home he at length sold section 13 and afterward another half section. His wife died in 1880 and later the father married again and his widow and the family now reside on the half section of land which he retained.

Of a family of four sons and four daughters Ingram J. Moe was the third. His school days were spent at Faribault, Minnesota, at Sanborn, where he attended both the public and high schools, and at Valley City, North Dakota, where he was for a year a student in the State Normal School. From the spring of 1892 until 1893 he was employed by the firm of Booth & Belden at Sanborn, North Dakota, and on the 9th of May, 1893, he entered the employ of General A. P. Peake in the real estate and collection business, so continuing until the fall of 1894. He then entered into partnership with General Peake and opened a branch office at Fingal, North Dakota, which partnership was continued until May 1896. Their business relations were discontinued and Mr. Moe opened a real estate office on his own account in Valley City.

In 1894 he was called to public office, being elected justice of the peace in Fingal, and in the fall of 1896 he was elected county justice of the peace, which office he has filled continuously to the present time. During the legislative session of 1899 he was assistant chief enrolling and engrossing clerk in the general assembly and during the legislative sessions of 1901 and 1903 he was assistant secretary of the senate. Mr. Moe received high commendation from the clerks who served under him in the legislature and from all who knew out of his service in those connections. In 1914 and 1915 he was elected and served as police magistrate of Valley City and in April 1916, he was elected mayor and is thus the present chief executive, giving the city a businesslike and progressive administration. He is a man of pronounced ability and in his present office is thoroughly studying questions of municipal government, seeking in every way to advance the interests of Valley City. While filling the office of justice of the peace he pursued a correspondence course with the Lincoln -Jefferson University at Hammond, Indiana, and after four years study received his LL. B. degree from that institution, his knowledge of law proving of marked value to him in the discharge of his official duties.

On the 3d of June 1893, Mr. Moe was married to Miss Maud H. Meloy, of Sanborn, North Dakota, a daughter of James R. Meloy. After graduating from the high school at Sanborn she pursued a course in Tabor College at Tabor, Iowa, and prior to her marriage was a successful teacher in the Gray Green, Island Lake and Soea districts. Mayor and Mrs. Moe have become the parents of seven children but have lost their two firstborn Myrtle and Opal.  The others are: Gladys, who is a graduate of the Valley City high school and who studied for a year in the Valley City State Normal School, while at present she is serving as assistant auditor in the city hall; Glenn, a high school student; and Grace, Gordon and Clayton, all in school.

Fraternally Mr. Moe is connected with the Odd Fellows and is a trustee of the North Dakota Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He has long been prominent in that order, having for three years been chancellor commander of Valley City Lodge, No. 26, K. P., and captain of Reid Company, No. 2, Uniform Rank, K. P. He is secretary of the Barnes County Pioneer Club and is also secretary of the Valley City Commercial Club. He has an honorable discharge as second sergeant after seven years service in Company G, First Infantry, of the North Dakota National Guard. It will thus be seen that he has again and again given his time, thought and energies to public service and he stands with those progressive men who are taking advanced steps in connection with the promotion of municipal and commonwealth interests. Strong in purpose, strong in his ability to accomplish and perform, he has become a leader of public thought and action in Valley City and his friends predict further advancement, knowing that he is well qualified for still higher positions.

REV. LAURENCE G. MOULTRIE, a clergyman of the Episcopal church, now acting as rector at Valley City, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1860, a son of the Rev. Gerard Moultrie and a grandson of John Moultrie, both natives of ''the metric isle." The last named was at one time head master at Rugby, which position established him as an eminent educator, and he was also widely known through his poetic writings. His son, Gerard Moultrie, became a minister of the Episcopal church and spent his entire life in England, where he passed away in 1885. He married Elizabeth Anstey, also a native of that country, and they became parents of five sons and four daughters, of whom Laurence G. was the seventh in order of birth.

After pursuing his classical course at St. Edwards school Oxford. Rev. Laurence G. Moultrie became a student in the theological seminary at Faribault, Minnesota, he came to the United States in 1887 with the intention of farming, which occupation he followed for four years, but in that time he became convinced that he would find a broader field of usefulness in the ministry and entered upon preparation thereof. He was ordained in 1895 and afterward spent three years in pastoral work at Detroit, Minnesota, while later he was located for a time in Kansas City. In 1899 he was appointed to All Saints church at Valley City, North Dakota, where for seventeen years he has now remained, doing splendid work for the upbuilding of the church and the extension of its influence. He is an earnest, convincing speaker and a broad-minded, public-spirited man. thoroughly interested in the questions that affect the sociological, economic and political conditions of the country.

On the 23d of October, 1895, Rev. Moultrie was married to Miss Caroline Isabelle Dane, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of Brewster and Lavina Dane, who were pioneer settlers of Minnesota. Mrs. Moultrie, who always took a deep interest in church work and greatly aided her husband in his pastoral duties, died in December 1913. leaving a son, Gerard Earle, who was graduated from the Shattack Military Academy at Faribault, Minnesota, in 1916.

Rev. Moultrie gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now serving as alderman of his city, he is very prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, council, commandery, Scottish Rite and Mystic Shrine, he is grand orator of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota, grand high priest of the Grand Chapter and grand chaplain of the Grand Council, while of the Grand Commandery he is a grand prelate. For a number of years he has served as secretary of both the lodge and chapter at Valley City. He is also chaplain of the First North Dakota Infantry now serving at Mercedes, Texas. He is much interested in local affairs, serving as superintendent of the cemetery, as a director of the Chautauqua at Valley City and as editor of the North Dakota Sheaf, the district church paper. His influence is always on the side of advancement and improvement and progress has ever been his watchword.

ELLEF KNUDSON MYHRE, One of the leading mercantile enterprises of Valley City is the property of Ellef Knudson Myhre, a self-made man whose well-directed energies have enabled him to advance steadily toward the goal of success. A native of Norway, he was born at Hallingdal in October 1856.  His father, Knute Storlie, also a native of that place, had various business connections and held several local offices, serving for some time in a position similar to that of judge of the probate court.

His son, Ellef Knudson Myhre, the third in a family of nine children, spent his school days in Norway and in 1873 came to America, being then a youth of seventeen years. He was the second of the family to cross the Atlantic, having been preceded by his brother, Ole K.  Myhre, who settled in Minnesota in 1872 and is now living at Nome, Barnes county, North Dakota. On coming to the new world E. K. Myhre made his way direct to Minnesota, where he devoted a year to farming and then began work at the painter's trade, which he had previously learned in his native land. He was thus employed until March 1879, when he removed to Fargo and in July of the same year came to Valley City, where he again followed his trade until 1885. in which year he opened a store that he conducted until 1894. He then turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business, which he followed until 1900, when he was appointed postmaster and after four years' service was reappointed, so that he occupied the position until 1908. He then again entered the real estate and insurance field and was so engaged until July 1911, when he organized the Farmers Mercantile Company, Incorporated, of which he became secretary, treasurer and general manager. This is a general store and the business has steadily increased, a liberal patronage being now accorded. In 1908 Mr. Myhre erected the building which is now utilized by the Farmers Mercantile Company, a two story and basement structure, twenty-five by one hundred feet, at the corner of Main street and Third avenue.

In March 1884, Mr. Myhre was married to Miss Ogot Mortrude, of Norway, whose parents were Wisconsin pioneers. Their children are: Alma Malvena, the wife of Vern Gale, connected with the post office at Valley City; Carl Albert, city engineer of Valley City; Clara B., wife of Roger E. Lloyd; Ernest Oliver, who is car clerk with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company; Ruth Alvera, a teacher of domestic science in St. Cloud, Minnesota; and Walter Howard, who is with his father in the store. The family is one of prominence in the community, enjoying the high regard and friendship of many with whom they have come in contact.

Mr. Myhre is identified with the Sons of Norway, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth and ability, have several times called him to public office. He served for two terms as a member of the city council and three times was elected county commissioner but at length resigned that position to accept the postmaster ship. He has ever regarded a public office as a public trust-and it is well known that no trust reposed in E. K. Myhre is ever betrayed. He is always loyal to the cause which he espouses, reliable in business, loyal in citizenship and straightforward in every relation of life.

SVEN P. NOKKEN, a merchant of Roger, was born at Sogn, Norway, March 29, 1861, and was a little lad of but nine years when brought to America by his father, Peter Nokken, who settled with his family south of Moorhead, Minnesota, securing a homestead on the river.  Throughout the intervening years he has remained upon his farm there and he is still enjoying good health at the age of ninety-two years. He is a man of splendid physique and notable vigor and has led a life of intense activity.

Sven P. Nokken was the youngest of a family of three sons and two daughters and was reared amid pioneer conditions upon the old homestead farm, sharing in all of the hardships and privations of frontier life. There were no towns within many miles and over the old trail between St. Paul, Breckenridge and Fort Garry the emigrants passed sometimes in wagon trains of one hundred or more, going to the west and north. The father had some money at the time of his arrival and was able to purchase a few cows and sheep, which were brought along from southern Minnesota and rendered the life of the family somewhat free from the privations which many settlers endured, for they were able to have milk and occasionally a beef or sheep was slaughtered, furnishing them with meat. Game birds and fish were also plentiful. On making the trip to their destination they started from Goodhue county, Minnesota, with ox teams and two other families came about the same time, while still others followed. It was a considerable period, however, before the district became thickly settled and took on all of the advantages known to the older east.  Sven P. Nokken early became familiar with the arduous task of developing new land and fighting grasshoppers in summer and blizzards in winter. When a young man he made up his mind to go back east to get an education and after saving some money attended school, completing his education at Northfield, Minnesota, and Minneapolis, for he realized the value of intellectual training as a stepping-stone toward business success. His brother Peter had been elected county treasurer of Cass county, North Dakota, and Sven P. Nokken then entered his office, in which he remained for three years. At the end of that time he established with his brother a hardware and machinery business in Cass county which was later sold. After spending some time upon the road as a commercial traveler he opened the first hardware store in Litchville, North Dakota, which he conducted for several years but which he sold when he moved to Valley City to give his children better school facilities.  In 1912 he removed to Roger and he now conducts a hardware and harness store, having a well appointed establishment, in which he carries an extensive and well selected line of goods. He is enjoying a large patronage, for the public recognizes the integrity of his business methods, his enterprise and his earnest desire to please his patrons.

In December 1888, Mr. Nokken was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Hummell, of Fargo, in which city her father, J. F. Hummell, settled with his family in 1878. The children of this marriage are Alvin Percy, now deceased; and Roy and Leonard, both of whom are residing in Roger.

Mr. Nokken has never sought nor desired public office and has never served in any political position save that of deputy county treasurer of Cass county. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the United Commercial Travelers and other organizations. He is genial, courteous and obliging, ever ready to extend a helping hand or do a favor for a friend or neighbor, and those who have been associated with him speak of him in high terms. There is no phase of western pioneer life with which he is not familiar, for since 1871 he has made his home in the northwest, covering all of the period of its development.  He rejoices in what has been accomplished and he has borne his full part in the work of general improvement.

MARTIN N. OLSON, a druggist of Fingal, was born in Waupun, Wisconsin, in January 1858, a son of Ole Olson, a native of Norway, who soon after his marriage came to the United States, establishing the family home in Waupun, where he lived for two years. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and spent his remaining days upon the home farm, passing away at the age of sixty-five years. To him and his wife were born eight children, of whom Martin N. is the third in order of birth.

After acquiring his education in the schools of Waupun Martin N. Olson devoted considerable time to assisting in the work of the home farm. At the age of eighteen years he began clerking and was employed in that capacity until 1889, when he came to North Dakota and established a drug store at Buffalo, where he continued in business for four years. In 1893 he removed to Fingal and opened the first drug store in the town, since which time he has continued in the business, having now a modern establishment, while the line of goods which he carries represents the best that the market affords in his line.

In 1882 Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Lena Hanson, a native of Iowa. They were married, however, in Minnesota, where Mr. Olson spent a few years before coming to North Dakota. Mrs. Olson passed away in 1885, leaving two sons, Oscar and Clarence. The latter is now a farmer of Barnes county, while the former is engaged in the drug business in Minnewaukan, having learned the business under the direction of his father. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Olson was married in June 1893, to Miss Ada E. Miller, a native of Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of Edward and Helen (McCleave) Miller. They were natives of Ontario, but came to the United States about 1886, locating at Buffalo, North Dakota. Mr.  Miller passed away in 1891 and the mother now resides at Balfour, North Dakota. There were seven children born to their union all of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Olson has been born a daughter, Alma, who is now a student in the University of North Dakota.

Mr. Olson has always avoided public office, yet has served as clerk of the school board for ten years and is a stalwart champion of the cause of education. His wife was appointed postmistress of Fingal in 1901, succeeding her husband, who had held the position for four years and who resigned in her favor, so that she has now filled the position for fifteen years.  Mr. Olson is a Royal Arch Mason and also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Yeomen. Realizing that a new country offers opportunities to the man who is quick to recognize and utilize advantages, Martin N. Olson came to North Dakota and found here the business chances which he sought. He has steadily worked his way upward and Fingal counts him as one of its progressive business men.

DARBY O'MALLEY, The success which crowns persistent, honorable effort and judicious investment has come to Darby O'Malley, now numbered among the capitalists of Valley City and since 1881 a resident of Barnes county. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in June 1852, a son of James and Catherine (McNamara) O'Malley who were also natives of that county and spent their entire lives on the Emerald isle.

Darby O'Malley was a youth of eighteen years when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for America, becoming a resident of Chicago immediately after the big fire of October 1871. There he remained until 1879 and for two years was a resident of St. Paul, after which he came to Valley City in 1881. He purchased land on Getchell Prairie and is still the owner of farm land in that locality. Throughout much of the period of his residence in Barnes county, however, he has made his home in Valley City, where he has engaged in the real estate and insurance business and through the careful conduct of his interests he has won a substantial measure of success, negotiating many important realty transfers. He is also identified with financial affairs as vice president and one of the directors of the First National Bank and has banking interests in Montana. He was one of the organizers and promoters of the Middle West Fire Insurance Company, which has won a substantial measure of success during its existence, and he is interested in the Northwestern Nursery Company and the Western Realty Company, of Fargo, of which he is a director and second vice president. Moreover he owns fifteen hundred acres of land in North Dakota and Canada.

In 1881 Mr. O'Malley was married to Miss Annie Stevens, a native of Ireland, who settled in Barnes county in pioneer times. They have a daughter, Ruth. Mr. O'Malley gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been somewhat prominent in public affairs, serving for several terms as alderman of his city and for one term as mayor. He was also county commissioner for seven years and from 1896 until 1900 was postmaster. His interest in the cause of education has been shown though his active service as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Catholic church, to the Knights of Columbus and is a charter member of the Elks lodge at Valley City and the United Workmen lodge. He was a delegate to the national convention of Elks at Los Angeles in 1912 and at Atlantic City two years later. He and his wife usually travel during the winter and have toured both Europe and America. He intends to visit the South American countries soon. He has proven himself a citizen of substantial worth to his community in instituting and promoting successful business enterprises which have advanced the material development and also by his loyalty and allegiance in public office, where he has stood for high standards of citizenship while faithfully performing his official duties.

PERRY A. PICKETT, cashier of the Bank of Leal in Leal, Barnes county, has spent his entire life in the Dakotas, his birth having occurred at Grandview, South Dakota, May 20, 1883, his parents being Henry E. and Amelia (Milligan) Pickett, natives of New York and Wisconsin respectively. The father had gone to Green Lake, Wisconsin, in early manhood and while there was married. He afterward spent a few years in Sioux City, Iowa, and later removed to South Dakota, settling at Grandview. He acquired three quarters of a section of land, on which he remained for a few years and then sold the farm. He subsequently returned to Wisconsin and established his home at Kingston, Green Lake county, where he engaged in business until 1903. In that year he returned to North Dakota and now makes his home at Rogers. His family numbered four children, of whom Perry A. is the second in order of birth.

After pursuing a high school course in Wisconsin Perry A. Pickett completed his education in the Valley City State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1904. On the 30th of May 1900, he arrived in Valley City and there worked his way through school.  He engaged in teaching in a country school south of Leal in 1900 and 1901 and also worked at farm labor in that locality. Subsequently he taught in the schools of Leal and later spent another year in the Valley City State Normal, after which he became a teacher in Fingal, North Dakota. His identification with banking interests began when he secured a position in the First National Bank of Fingal and later he became one of the promoters of the Bank of Leal, which was organized in 1905 with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars.  Something of the success of the bank is indicated in the fact that its capital has been increased to twenty thousand dollars and it has a surplus of four thousand dollars. Mr.  Pickett took the position of cashier when the bank was opened and has since served in that office, the success of the institution being attributable in no small measure to his efforts, enterprise and safe conservative policy. The other officers are Howard Willson, president, and C. Christ, vice president, with F. Lannon, H. A. Hilborn, J. W. Widdifield, J. L. Savage and Burl Carr on the board of directors. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Pickett was associated with the late Dr. J. L. Savage, of Fargo, in handling farm lands and did an extensive business in that connection, but owing to the Doctor's ill health Mr. Pickett disposed of almost all the land previous to the Doctor's death.

On the 20th of June 1906, Mr. Pickett was married to Miss Grayce V. Keep, of Buffalo, North Dakota, where her father, John M. Keep, settled in pioneer times. Their children are Dorothy, Richard M., Roger Allen and Frances.

Mr. Pickett is an exemplary Mason, belonging to the lodge at Leal and to the chapter and Eastern Star at Valley City, his wife being also connected with the ladies' auxiliary.  He was formerly secretary of the Masonic lodge and is now treasurer. He has likewise taken an active part in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a man of keen judgment, genial, capable and alert. He is president of the Leal school board and the town has one of the best four room schools in the state. This school has been recognized as a leader in North Dakota, taking an advanced stand in many progressive movements, especially for agriculture and stock competition among the school children. Mr. Pickett has been actively identified with the county organization of school officers. For three years he was on the committee for agricultural development and education of the North Dakota Bankers Association and as chairman, he was its representative at the second annual conference of the committee of some thirty states on August 7 and 8, 1913, at Minneapolis and St. Paul.  On that occasion Mr. Pickett took a prominent part. A silver pitcher was open to competition to the various states for the most effective work done. Mr. Pickett thoroughly prepared his reports and the result was that he won the trophy for North Dakota. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and he is an upright man, as honorable as he is progressive, as reliable as he is enterprising. His work along various lines has been of immense value to the community in which he lives.

DR. EDGAR ALLEN PRAY, physician and surgeon of Valley City, was born in Afton, Washington county, Minnesota, February 20, 1868, a son of Russell N. and Lydia P. (Van Slyke) Pray, the former a native of Essex and the latter of Herkimer county, New York. The paternal grandfather, Arba Pray, was also a native of the Empire state and was descended from English ancestors who came to America in colonial days. In the maternal line the Van Slykes are of the original Dutch stock that settled in Herkimer county, New York. Russell N. Pray removed westward to Minnesota in 1855 and there followed the trade of carpenter and builder. He offered his services to the government at the time of the Civil war, but his health was such that he was rejected. After some years' residence in Minnesota he removed to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1877 and there remained until 1883, when he became a resident of Barnes county, settling on a farm in the outskirts of Valley City, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1904, when he was seventy-two years of age.  His widow is still a resident of Valley City.

Dr. Pray was the eldest of their four children and his public school training was supplemented by a course in Carleton College at Northfield, Minnesota, after which be matriculated in the University of Pennsylvania and was graduated on the completion of the medical course with the class of 1894, winning his professional degree. After a year spent in St.  Luke's Hospital at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, during which he gained the benefit of that broad and diversified practice which hospital experience brings he returned to North Dakota and has since been engaged in active and successful practice in Valley City. He has taken the degrees of Scottish Rite masonry, is a member of the Mystic Shrine and is also identified with the Knights of Pythias.

In June, 1895, Dr. Pray was married to Miss Frances A. Peake, of Faribault, Minnesota, a daughter of the Rev. E. S. Peake, a pioneer missionary of the Episcopal church in the northwest, and a sister of General A. P. Peake. The children of this marriage are: Ralph E., a graduate of the Shattuck Military Academy; Russell H.; Frances E.; Lawrence G.; Margaret; and Dorothy E.

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