THOMAS NIELSON, coming to the United States at the age of fifteen years, is practically a self-educated as well as a self-made man. Today he is well informed on all topics of general interest and, moreover, he holds an important position of trust as the manager of the yards of the Imperial Lumber Company at Newburg, his life record therefore demonstrating, what may be accomplished when energy, ambition and determination lead the way.  He was born in Denmark, October 10, 1890, a son of Eskild and Maren (Martinusdatter) Nielson. His father died in Denmark in 1908, while the mother is still living in that country.

At the usual age Thomas Nielson began his education in the schools of Denmark and after coming to America when a youth of fifteen years continued his education in the high school of Westhope, North Dakota, being the first pupil to enter the new building when it was opened for school purposes. He arrived in the United States in March 1905, and made his way at once to Westhope. He worked on a farm through the summer months, while attending school in the winter seasons, and he continued to engage in farm labor until the spring of 1911. when he took up his abode in Westhope and accepted the position of second man in the lumberyard of the Imperial Lumber Company. In the spring of 1913 he was advanced to the position of manager of the Imperial Lumber Company at Newburg, and has since acted in that capacity, making an excellent record through his capability, resourcefulness, diligence and trustworthiness.

In the spring of 1912 Mr. Nielson was united in marriage to Miss Edna Hams, of Souris, North Dakota, by whom he has two sons, Walter E. and Owen T. Fraternally he is identified with the Danish Brotherhood lodge of Westhope and Russell Lodge, No. 89, A. F.  & A. M. In his political views Mr. Nielson is a republican but not an office seeker. While never remiss in the duties of citizenship and cooperating in many movements for the public good in a private capacity, he prefers to concentrate his energies upon business affairs rather than hold office, and in the work in which he is now engaged is proving most capable, while his advancement to his present position of responsibility is due entirely to his own efforts.

FRANK C. NYE, owner and editor of the Lansford Journal, published at Lansford, Bottineau county, is a representative of the spirit of modern journalism which has made the weekly paper of the northwest a rival in content and interest of many of the city dailies. Minnesota claims Mr. Nye as a native son, his birth having occurred at Wells, September 4, 1878.  His parents, Joseph M. and Esther (Roberts) Nye, were both natives of Quebec, Canada, and when a youth of sixteen years the former crossed the border into the United States and during the period of the Civil war served for two years as a military telegraph operator.  He afterward worked as telegraph operator at the Stock Exchange in New York for three years and in the meantime was married and about 1873 removed to Minnesota, settling at Wells, where he became train dispatcher for the Southern Minnesota Railroad, now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system. He occupied that position for several years and then engaged in the banking business, but failure overtook him in that connection and he afterward established a drug store. Eventually he was elected county superintendent of schools at Faribault, Minnesota, and occupied that position for eight years, the school system being greatly improved under his direction. In 1901 he removed to Inkster, North Dakota, where he lived retired until his death in February 1903. His widow still survives and now makes her home in Park River.

Frank C. Nye was largely reared and educated in Wells, Minnesota, and he too, turned to the profession of teaching in early manhood, devoting five years to that work. He afterward learned the printer's trade, at which he was employed in Wells until 1903, when he became a resident of Inkster, Grand Forks county, North Dakota. He then purchased a printing plant and engaged in business along that line until 1913, when he went to Grand Forks and spent a year in connection with the Herald. On the expiration of that period he removed to Lansford, Bottineau county, and purchased the Lansford Journal, which he has since owned and published. He has a well equipped newspaper office, supplied with modern presses and all equipment for doing excellent job work as well as newspaper publication.  On the 1st of November 1905, Mr. Nye was married to Miss Myrtle Pritehard and to them have been born two children: Chester F., born March 10, 1911; and William M., born May 3, 1913.

Mr. Nye is a stalwart advocate of the republican party and publishes his paper in its support. He served as justice of the peace in Grand Forks county for six years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial but he has never been an aspirant for public office, being content to do his duties in citizenship in a private capacity. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge and the Rebecca degree and he also has membership with the Yeomen and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife belong to the Episcopal church and their influence is always on the side of right, truth, progress and improvement.

G. S. OGREN, cashier of the State Bank of Souris and vice president of the State Bank of Roth, was born in Sweden in June 1864, his parents being John and Johanna Ogren.  The mother died in Sweden when her son was eighteen years of age and the father came to the United States in 1888. This was five years subsequent to the arrival of his son, G. S. Ogren. He afterward made his home with his son Emil in New London, Minnesota, there passing away in April 1901.

G. S. Ogren was educated in the common schools of Sweden and at the Willmar (Minn.) high school. He came to the United States in 1881, settling first at New London, Minnesota, and during the first two years he spent the summer months in work as a farm hand, while through the winter seasons he attended school. Later he was employed for three years in a lumberyard in New London and then removed to Blue Earth, Minnesota, where he engaged in the lumber business on his own account, having carefully and persistently saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to embark in business for himself. He was afterward prominently identified with the business interests of the town until 1892. He then returned to New London to close up some mercantile interests, which had become financially involved. This required about a year and while thus engaged in this business adjustment he drifted into the collection business as a result of the reputation which he had won in his prior connection. In January 1893, he removed to Willmar, Minnesota, where he was associated with one of the mercantile houses in the capacity of collector and bookkeeper from 1893 until 1899. In the latter year he removed to Glenwood, Minnesota, where he purchased a lumberyard which he operated until the spring of 1901. He then sold that business and removed to Bottineau, at which time the Great Northern Railroad Company was extending its line to Souris. Accordingly Mr.  Ogren took up his abode in that town in advance of the railroad, believing that with the building of the line it would enter upon a period of growth and progress. He purchased a corner lot and erected his present modern brick bank building, after which be organized the State Bank of Souris. The doors of the new institution were opened for business on the 2d of December 1901, with Mr. Ogren as cashier of the bank, and he has been the manager of its financial policy from that time to the present, in which connection he has built up a business that now shows deposits amounting to one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. He is also the vice president of the State Bank of Roth and in all his affairs he shows marked discrimination and unfaltering enterprise. It was in 1907 that he organized the Roth institution, which is also a profitable and growing concern.  He owns three finely improved farms of three hundred and twenty acres each situated near Roth, besides other land, and he has under his management twelve other farm properties of nonresident owners.

In 1903 Mr. Ogren was united in marriage to Miss Randine Soland, of Norway Lake, Minnesota, by whom he has two daughters, Ruth Juliette and Stella Lucille.  In politics Mr. Ogren is a republican but has never been an office seeker. He has served, however, as school treasurer for several years and at this writing, in 1916, is one of the city aldermen, in which connection he is exercising his official prerogatives in support of many well defined plans and measures for the general good. He recognizes that his town and state have before them splendid opportunities and he is putting forth every effort to bring about a substantial growth and improvement.

J. L. PAGE, The life record of J. L. Page constitutes an interesting chapter in the financial history of North Dakota, for his career has been actuated by a spirit of enterprise, combined with a ready recognition and utilization of opportunities that has brought him into close and prominent connection with banking interests. He is now cashier of the Bank of Westhope, president of the Citizens State Bank of Antler and president of the Farmers Bank of Newburg, North Dakota. He was born in Girard, Macoupin county, Illinois, April 5, 1875, a son of Elisha W. and Anna M. (Williams) Page, the former a native of North Stoughton, Massachusetts, and the latter of Greene county, Illinois, where their marriage was celebrated, the father having removed to the latter state in early manhood. Following his marriage he lived for a short time in Greene county and then removed to Macoupin county, where he became prominently identified with agricultural interests, being numbered among the representative farmers of that locality for forty years.

J. L. Page completed his public school education by graduation from the Girard high school with the class of 1893 and later he had the benefit of a course in the State Normal University at Normal, Illinois, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. The following year he spent one term at Shurtleff College in Upper Alton, Illinois, where he pursued a complete commercial course and then seeking the opportunities offered in the growing northwest, he came to North Dakota in 1897 and for a brief period worked for his brother on a farm. Subsequently he became identified with the grain business and for three years bought grain at Niles. In the summer of 1900 he filed on a homestead in Pierce county and proved up on that property in 1901. It was while living upon his farm that he met his future wife, who had homesteaded in his vicinity, and in 1902 he wedded Miss Anna Heidenreich.

It was on the 1st of July 1901, that Mr. Page entered banking circles in North Dakota as cashier of the Bank of Leeds which at that time was owned by his brother, E. B.  Page. On the event of his marriage he visited his old Illinois home on his wedding trip and persuaded his father to sell out and come to North Dakota to engage in the banking business. Upon the father's arrival the two took a team and drove west to Towner and thence to Carpio and to Donnybrook, from which point they proceeded to Mohall and on to old Renville and from there to Richburg. At the last named place they decided to locate and bought a business lot, after which they at once began the construction of a bank building, founding the Bank of Richburg, which was the first bank established in Bottineau county west of Souris. At that time Richburg was twenty miles from a railroad, and when in 1903 the railroad was built into Westhope, the Bank of Richburg was moved to the new town. The building was taken to Westhope and on the 5th of September the name of the institution was changed to the Bank of Westhope. In 1908 in conjunction with the Trimble State Bank and the First National Bank, the International Bank was absorbed and in December 1910, the Bank of Westhope bought the building, fixtures and business of the First National Bank, which then became merged into the Bank of Westhope, business being continued in the building erected by the First National.  J. L. Page has remained cashier of the bank since its organization in Richburg, with his father as president of the institution, and extending his efforts in the field of banking, he is now president of the Citizens State Bank of Antler and president of the Farmers Bank of Newburg. He is a man of sound and discriminating judgment and in the conduct of his interests has displayed marked energy combined with a thorough knowledge of the banking business. His investments in farm lands in Bottineau county are extensive and he is today the owner of fourteen hundred and eighty acres, with an equity in still other tracts.

To Mr. and Mrs. Page have been born six children, five of whom are yet living, namely: Margaret Louise, Joseph Frederick, Ralph Wightman, Anna Marie and Rosalie Elizabeth. John Lewis has passed away. The parents attend the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Page belongs to Westhope Lodge, No. 74, A. F. & A. M.; Phoenicia Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M., of Bottineau; and Loraine Commandery, No. 13, K. T., of Bottineau.  Politically he is a stalwart democrat and twice has served as mayor of Westhope, while for five or six years he was a member of the city council. He has ever recognized the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship and has put forth earnest and effective effort to promote the public good. His sterling traits of character are many, while his business ability is pronounced.

PARELIUS B. PETERSON, cashier of the First International Bank of Landa, North Dakota, is interested in a number of different enterprises and is regarded as one of the leading business men of Bottineau county. He was born in Bodo, Norway, on the 27th of February, 1884, and is a son of Waldemar and Anna (Arntson) Peterson, who are still living in that country, of which they are also natives. The father is a merchant and is conducting a store in Bodo.

In his native land Parelius B. Peterson grew to manhood and was given good educational advantages. In 1903 he bade goodbye to parents and friends and sailed for the new world, believing that better opportunities were here afforded ambitious young men not afraid to work. He spent two years in Minneota, Minnesota, where he clerked in a store, and thus acquired an excellent knowledge of business methods. In 1905 he removed to Landa, Bottineau county, North Dakota, and for a time worked at anything he could find to do, but in the summer of 1900 accepted the position of assistant cashier in the First International Bank, with which he has since been identified. In 1911 he was made cashier, the other officers being George Sundberg, president; and H. J. Dale, vice president. The bank was organized in 1904 and has a capital of ten thousand dollars and a surplus of five thousand dollars, while its deposits now amount to one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. It is in a most flourishing condition, due to the capable management of its officials, and it ranks among the most substantial financial institutions of Bottineau county. Mr. Peterson is also secretary-treasurer of the Sundberg- Peterson Mortgage Company of Landa and treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Company of the same place. He owns three hundred and sixty acres of land four miles north of Landa, which is improved and under cultivation, and at one time owned a farm in northern Minnesota, having homesteaded there in 1904. He is a very progressive and energetic business man, who generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

On the 30th of November 1911, Mr. Peterson married Miss Rhoda M. Hanson, by whom he has one son, Ingolv D. A., born July 5, 1913. He casts his ballot with the republican party and is now serving as of the school board. In religious faith he is a Lutheran.  Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, he occupies an enviable position in the community in which he lives.

OTTO PAULSON, manager at Antler for the International Elevator Company and thus closely associated with the grain trade in the northern part of the state, was born in Sweden on the 21st of April 1881. After attaining a common school education there he came to the United States in 1900, settling first at Osnabrock, North Dakota, where he worked for three years as a farm hand. In 1903 he began buying grain as manager of the elevator at Argyle, Minnesota, for the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Company, which he there represented for two years. He next came to North Dakota and for a year bought grain for the National Elevator Company at Roth. He afterward went to Maxbass, where he was manager of the National Elevator for two years and of the Farmers Elevator for five years. In 1913 he arrived in Antler as manager of the elevator belonging to the International Elevator Company, in which capacity he is now serving. Long experience in connection with the grain trade has well qualified him for the duties and responsibilities that now devolve upon him and he is making the business at this point a source of profit to the corporation which he represents.

In 1914 Mr. Paulson was united in marriage to Miss Evelyn Habich, of Maxbass, North Dakota. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while fraternally he is identified with the following organizations: Antler Lodge, No. 80, A. F. & A. M.; Phoenicia Chapter, No. 17, E. A. M.; and Antler Lodge. I. O. O. F. While his residence in Antler covers but three years, his enterprise and his notably progressive spirit have made him one of the foremost citizens of the town and a leading factor in the upbuilding of its trade connections.

GEORGE F. PETERSON, cashier of the First State Bank of Russell, is a native of the neighboring state of Minnesota, his birth having occurred in Kandiyohi county on the 28th of February 1885. His parents, Charles A. and Ellen (Johnson) Peterson, are natives of Sweden and in boyhood and girlhood day's came with their respective parents to the United States, being reared in Minnesota, where they were married Soon afterward they established their home upon a farm in Kandiyohi county, where they still reside.

Reared under the parental roof, George F. Peterson attended the public schools of Atwater, Minnesota, and later matriculated in the Willmar Seminary, in which he pursued the commercial course. Following the completion of his studies he went to Twin Valley, Minnesota, and entered upon his business career as an employee of the First National Bank.  He started as bookkeeper and subsequently was made assistant cashier of that institution and his fidelity, capability and loyalty are indicated in the fact that he remained with the bank for eight years. Ambitious to make advancement in the business world, he went to Russell, North Dakota, in February 1910, to accept the position of cashier of the First State Bank of that place and has since acted in that capacity. His loyalty to the institution and his broad experience have made him a valuable official and his efforts have contributed in substantial measure to its success.

In 1911 Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Rae Balin, of Russell. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with Russell Lodge, No. 89, A. F. & A. M., of which he served as secretary for one year. The nature and breadth of his interests make him one of the representative citizens of his town and one whose efforts have been a contributing factor to public progress and improvement.

J. HENRY PITTMAN, editor of the Russell Sentinel, has been identified with newspaper work since reaching man's estate and has met with success in his chosen calling. He was born in Bloomington, Indiana, August 25, 1889, his parents being Sethiel and Dorothy E.  (Badgley) Pittman, also natives of the Hoosier state. There the father followed farming until his removal to North Dakota in 1904. He first located in McHenry county, where he took up a homestead and engaged in its operation for six years. At the end of that time he removed to Bottineau county and purchased a farm near Bottineau, to the cultivation and improvement of which he has since devoted his energies. His wife is also living and they are highly esteemed citizens of the community.

J. Henry Pittman spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native state and then accompanied his parents on their removal to North Dakota. He attended school in both states and after laying aside his textbooks began learning the printer's trade in 1906, to which occupation he has since devoted his energies. He edited the Souris Messenger for two years, then the Maxbass Monitor for two months, and then removed to Russell, Bottineau county, where he purchased the Russell Sentinel of R. T. Wood and has since engaged in its publication, making it one of the best country papers in that part of the state.

On the 4th of October 1911, Mr. Pittman married Miss Thankful N. Deming, by whom he has three children, namely: Edward H., born August 5, 1913; David L., born March 13, 1914: and Nettie A., born February 12, 1916. The parents are earnest and consistent members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Pittman is a republican in politics. He is now serving as school clerk and he does everything within his power to promote the moral and educational welfare of his community. He is a public-spirited citizen whose labors have been effective for public good.

JOSEPH QUAMME, a resident of Bottineau, filling the office of register of deeds in Bottineau county, was born in Steele county, Minnesota, January 3, 1878, a son of John and Emma (Skartum) Quamme, who were natives of Norway and in the '60s came to the United States, following the close of the Civil war. They established their home in Steele county, Minnesota, where John Quamme worked for others until 1881. In that year he removed to Traill county, North Dakota, and later became a resident of Steele county, settling near Hope, where he filed on land which he developed and improved, continuing to cultivate his farm for ten years. He then retired and removed to Hillsboro, North Dakota, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in March 1893. His widow still survives and is now living at Hillsboro.

After acquiring his education in the public schools of Hillsboro, North Dakota, Joseph Quamme learned the printing trade in the office of the Traill County Times and also worked on the Hillsboro Herald. He followed that pursuit for sixteen years, and during the last eight years of the period was with the Hillsboro Banner. He then went to Fargo and for a short time was connected with the Western Newspaper Union, after which he took charge of the Traill County Times, continuing with the paper until 1903, when the plant was destroyed by fire. He was next appointed deputy register of deeds in Traill county, occupying the office until the spring of 1904. In that year he arrived in Bottineau and was employed on the Bottineau Courant for three and a half years. In the fall of 1907 he was appointed deputy register of deeds in Bottineau county and acted in that capacity until elected to his present position in 1912. In 1914 he was reelected, so that he is now serving for the second term as county register of deeds, making a creditable record in office by the methodical, prompt and faithful manner in which he discharges his duties, having thoroughly systematized the work of the office.

In January 1903, Mr. Quamme was married to Miss Minnie Anderson and they have become the parents of five children, Milton, Roy, Thelma, Leonard and Francis. Mr. and Mrs.  Quamme hold membership in the Lutheran church, and he is in hearty sympathy with the purposes of the various fraternal orders with which he is associated, including the Masons, the United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and upon its ticket he was elected to his present office, while at all times he has been an active and earnest supporter of its principles because of his firm belief in their effectiveness as factors in good government.

FRANK A. RINKEL, cashier of the State Bank of Antler, Bottineau county, has throughout his business career displayed the spirit of western enterprise which has been manifest in a quick recognition and utilization of business opportunities, leading to the rapid development of the northwest. He was born in St. Peter, Minnesota, March 27, 1882, a son of Christian and Henrietta Rinkel, both of whom are natives of Germany. They came to America after reaching adult age and were married in New York city about 1860. Immediately afterward they removed westward to Minnesota, establishing their home in St. Peter, where the father engaged in contracting and building, with which work he was prominently identified for forty-five years, contributing much to the upbuilding and improvement of that city and the surrounding country. He is now eighty-two years of age and for the past decade has lived retired in St. Peter, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His wife also survives and is now seventy-nine years of age.

Passing through consecutive grades in the public schools, Frank A. Kinkel was graduated from the high school of St. Peter with the class of 1900, and later he pursued a course in stenography at Faribault, Minnesota. In 1901 he made his initial step in the business world as a banker. Removing to Bottineau county, he entered the Merchants Bank of Bottineau, now the First National Bank, as bookkeeper and stenographer and after two years, in company with John T. Neville, who had been assistant cashier of the Merchants Bank, he went to Richburg, now Westhope, and organized the First International Bank of that place, of which he became the vice president. In 1905, upon the founding of the town of Antler, he allied his interests with the new municipality and associated himself with the town site company, operating under the name of the Tallman Investment Company. In this connection he became one of the organizers of the State Bank of Antler and was placed in charge of the financial policy of the institution as its cashier, at the same time retaining his stock in the First International Bank at Westhope until 1907, when that bank was sold. The State Bank of Antler was incorporated with a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars and in March 1914, the First National Bank of Antler was purchased and the two banks were merged under the name of the State Bank of Antler with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars and a surplus of five thousand dollars, Mr. Rinkel remaining as cashier and chief executive officer of the newly organized institution. The bank deposits now amount to two hundred thousand dollars and a general banking business is being successfully conducted, Mr.  Rinkel being thoroughly familiar with every branch of the business, which he carefully, wisely and successfully directs. As he has seen opportunity for judicious investment he has become the purchaser of farm lands until his holdings are now extensive, embracing eight hundred acres in Bottineau county.

In 1903 Mr. Rinkel was united in marriage to Miss Frances R. Nelson, of Bottineau, by whom he has a son and two daughters, namely: Ralph C, Grace and Blanch H. While not an active worker in the political field. Mr. Rinkel is a loyal republican at the polls. He has served as treasurer of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He has attained high rank in Masonry, belonging to Antler Lodge, No. 80, A. F.  & A. M.; Phoenicia Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M., of Bottineau; Lorraine Commandery, No. 13, K. T., of Bottineau; and Kem Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., of Grand Forks. Possessing a purposeful spirit, strong and resourceful in action, Mr. Rinkel has made steady advance since putting forth his initial effort in the business world and is now one of the representative financiers of his section of the state.

DR. OLAF H. RYSTAD, a prominent citizen of Landa, where he is successfully engaged in the practice of medicine, was born in Norway, September 13, 1876, his parents being Halvard and Inger (Rystad) Rystad, also natives of that country. The father, who was a jeweler and watch maker by trade, brought his family to America in 1888 and located in Fisher, Minnesota, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying there in June 1915. The mother is still living.

Dr. Rystad began his education in the schools of Norway, being twelve years of age at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world. He attended the public schools of Minnesota and subsequently taught in that state and in North Dakota for six years. He had charge of a school in Minneapolis for one year. In 1904 he was graduated from the State University of North Dakota and later entered the medical department of that institution, from which he received the degree of M. D. on his graduation in 1913.  It will thus be seen that he is thoroughly fitted by education and training for the profession which he has chosen as a life work. He commenced the practice of medicine at Reynolds, North Dakota, and after spending one year at that place took a post graduate course in a Chicago medical college. In December 1915, he removed to Landa, Bottineau county, and although he has resided there but a short time he has already built up a good practice which is constantly increasing as his skill and efficiency become more widely known.

In January, 1914, Dr. Rystad married Miss Clara H. Olson, a daughter of Lars and Martha Olson, who were born in Norway but came to America in early life. Mr. Olson took up a homestead in Traill county, North Dakota, where he followed farming until called from this life in 1907. His widow is still living. Dr. Rystad is affiliated with the Masonic order and is a member of the Lutheran church. His political support is given the men and measures of the republican party and he takes a commendable interest in public affairs, supporting every enterprise which he believes will prove of benefit to the community in which he lives, as well as to his state and nation.