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PETER H. NARUM. For over twenty years the farming interests of Cass county have been ably represented by the gentleman whose name here appears. He has resided in Noble township since 1879 and has been a potent factor in the development of that region and his fine farm in section 35 is evidence of thorough and practical work.
Our subject was born in Norway, February 14, 1857, and was about eight years of age when he came to America with his parents, who settled in Houston county, Minnesota. Here our subject was reared to manhood in Spring Grove township, and received a common-school education. He remained in that county till the spring of 1879, when he went to North Dakota and settled in Noble township, Cass county. He entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land as a homestead and has since increased his acreage to seven hundred and twenty. He has devoted himself to his calling and on his home farm has erected a complete set of excellent buildings and provided all comforts for the inhabitants of the place. He engages in general farming and is successful in his vocation.
Our subject was married in Noble township, Cass county, North Dakota, December 10, 1883, to Miss Martha Wold. Mrs. Narum was born in Houston county, Minnesota, May 13, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Narum are the parents of the following children: Hannah, Henry, Emma, Carl Martin, Bertie and Selma. One daughter, Tilda, died at the age of seven years. Mr. Narum takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the civil government and has served as one of the supervisors of Noble township for many years and is president of the school board. His active public spirit and integrity have never been called in question and he is enjoying well-earned success. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
JAMES NEEDHAM, one of the earliest settlers of Empire township, Cass county, has accumulated a fine property by dint of his own efforts and is widely and favorably known. He is thoroughly versed in the most approved methods of operating a farm and good management and painstaking care are evident on the place.
Our subject was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1838, and was a son of George and Mary (Tanner) Needham, both of whom were natives of county Longford, Ireland. His father was a farmer by occupation and emigrated to Canada about 1823, and took up land there, where he passed the rest of his career. Six sons and two daughters constituted the family of children, of whom our subject was a member, and all are now living, with the exception of the daughters. Mr. Needham was reared in Canada and there received his education and later learned the trade of a carriage maker, which he followed in Canada twenty years, most of the time engaged in manufacturing. He went to Cass county. North Dakota, in 1879, and entered claim to land in Empire township, as a homestead, on which he immediately began improvements. His dwelling was the only one for miles around and he experienced the hardships of pioneer life. He has followed farming there continuously since and now owns a section and a quarter-section of choice land, all of which is improved.
Our subject was married, in 1868, in Canada, to Frances Moore, a native of Canada. Mrs. Needham's parents came to America from Ireland. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Needham, as follows: George W., Robert H., John W., James T., Samuel, Mary A., now Mrs. Nixon, Adam W., Pearl, Fred M. and Ina F. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Needham has filled numerous offices in his township and is an earnest worker for the better interests of his community. Politically, he is a Republican and is earnest in his convictions.
JOHN E. NESSE. A good proportion of the industrious and energetic men of Cass county are natives of the lands beyond the sea, and many have won honorable stations as citizens, farmers and business men, winning their way under discouraging circumstances and the disadvantages attending a stranger in a strange land. The subject of this review is classed among the prosperous farmers of Stanley township, and has gained his station in life by faithful efforts, and honest industry. He has a fine farm, and makes his home in section 7.
Mr. Nesse was born in Norway, November 17, 1852, and was reared in his native country. He left for the new world in 1872, and landed at New York in June of that year, and at once went to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he worked at farm labor seven years. He went to North Dakota in October, 1877, and in the spring of 1880 took one hundred and sixty acres of land in Richland county, north of Christine, where he settled and made his home for ten years. He then sold his farm there and purchased two hundred and seventy-two acres of land in Stanley township, Cass county, where he' has since resided. His farm is well improved and he enjoys a good annual income.
Our subject was married in Cass county. North Dakota, to Minnie E. Palmer, a native of Norway. Mrs. Nesse died in Stanley township, Cass county, in 1889. Three children were born to this union, as follows: Eddie A. G., Adolph M. and Susan. The youngest child died in infancy. Mr. Nesse was married to Miss Julia Anderson, in Stanley township, Cass county, in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Nesse are the parents of three children, as follows: Ole A., Clara L. and Anna M. One daughter, Ada, died in infancy. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and are highly esteemed in their community. Mr. Nesse was a member of the board of supervisors of Eagle township. while a resident of Richland county, and is a gentleman who keeps pace with the times and casts his influence for good local government.
 HON. SETH NEWMAN, a prominent and successful attorney of Fargo, North Dakota, and a member of the well-known law firm of Newman, Spalding & Stambaugh, was born in Herkimer county, New York, December 7, 1836, a son of Peter and Betsy (Burwell) Newman, who spent their entire lives in that state, where the father followed the occupation of farming.
Our subject is indebted to the public schools of his native state for his early educational advantages, and later he attended the Fairfield Academy. The following four years were spent in travel, and at the end of that time he commenced the study of law in Buffalo, New York, under Governor Boies, of Iowa. For two years he was also a student in the law office of Sarwin & Lockwood, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar in Buffalo. For a short time he was engaged in practice with Governor Boies in Erie county, New York, but in 1861 went to Iowa on account of his health. He located first at Waterloo, and later made his home in Independence, spending some years in that state. He resumed the practice of law in Independence in 1870.
In 1882 Mr. Newman came to Fargo, North Dakota, and formed a law partnership with V.S. Stone which existed until 1891, and during the following two years he was connected with William C. Rosser in practice. In 1893 he joined Spalding & Phelps. Mr. Phelps retired in 1896, after which the firm became Newman & Spalding, and continued until 1898, when Mr. Stambaugh became a member of the firm, business being now conducted under the name of Newman, Spalding & Stambaugh. Constant study and close application to the details of his profession have enabled Mr. Newman to become one of the foremost lawyers of the state. He is engaged in general practice, and has met with excellent success financially as well as professionally. He is interested in the Fargo Gas & Electric Company, of which he is now president, and is also a stockholder and director of the First National Bank.
In 1866, Mr. Newman married Miss Laura F. Newell, a native of New York, and they have two daughters: Sarah F., now the wife of G.D. Dial, of Chicago; and Elizabeth, wife of J.A. Power, son of the proprietor of the Helendale stock farm at Power, North Dakota. Religiously Mr. Newman and his family are members of the Episcopal church, and he has for some years been chancellor of the jurisdiction of North Dakota, and socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. A prominent and influential citizen of Fargo, he was called upon to serve as mayor of the city in 1888 and 1889, and in 1893 represented his district in the lower house of the state legislature. In September, 1899, the State Bar Association was formed in the state of North Dakota, with Hon. Seth Newman as president, a position he now occupies. Upright, reliable and honorable, his strict adherence to principle commands the respect of all, and he has made a host of warm friends throughout his adopted state.
GEORGE W. NEWTON, senior member of the firm of Newton & Smith, has gained a most enviable reputation as a lawyer and enjoys a successful and lucrative practice at the bar of Cass county. A man of sound judgment, he manages his cases with masterly skill and tact and is regarded as one of the best jury advocates in Fargo. He is a logical thinker and has a ready command of English.
Mr. Newton was born in Franklin county, Vermont, February 12, 1838, a son of Silas W. and Charlotte (Smith) Newton, also natives of Vermont, in which state the family was founded in colonial days, being among its pioneers. There the father of our subject passed his entire life as a farmer and millwright. His maternal great-grandfather, John Austin, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and his paternal grandfather, Alvin Newton, a native of Massachusetts, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his father was an officer in the Revolutionary war.
Our subject had six brothers and three sisters, but is the only one of the family residing in North Dakota. His boyhood and youth were spent in the Green Mountain state and his literary education was completed in the Thetford Academy, of Orange county, Vermont, from which he was graduated in 1860. For some time he followed the profession of teaching and then commenced the study of law under the direction of Hon. Dana R. Bailey, then of Highgate, Vermont, but now of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After his admission to the bar, in September term of Franklin county court. Vermont, in 1862, he immediately engaged in practice at Highgate until 1875 and was elected state's attorney for Franklin county in 1874, serving in that capacity for two years, having removed to St. Albans, Vermont, in the spring of 1875 and resided there for eight years. The year 1883 witnessed his arrival in North Dakota and for some time he was engaged in practice at Bismarck, but since August, 1897, he has made his home in Fargo, forming at that time the partnership which still exists.
On the 9th of May, 1866, Mr. Newton wedded Miss Mary L. Skeels, also a native of Vermont, and to them have been born three sons, who are still living, namely: William S.. George G. and J. Henry. Mr. Newton is a Republican in politics and has been an active worker in his party's interests. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order. During his residence in this state he has taken quite a prominent part in public affairs and has been honored with a number of important positions. He was appointed one of the trustees of the penitentiary of North Dakota at Bismarck by Governor Miller and served as president of the board for some time; was a member of the revision commission which revised the codes of the state in 1895 ; was a commissioner of public property of the state of North Dakota for some years, and also served as city attorney of Bismarck for some time. It is needless to say that the duties of these positions he discharged in a most satisfactory manner, as he has always been found true to every trust reposed in him whether public or private.
ALPHEUS F. NEYHART, one of the pioneer settlers of Cass County, living in retirement in Casselton, is well known and highly esteemed by all. He has various financial interests, including mining property in Idaho, and at the time this sketch was written he. with two of his sons, Frank and Ralph, are at Cape Nome prospecting for gold. He also owns a farm in Seneca County, New York. He is an ex-soldier and can review a brave and loyal service in defense of the Union, and his entire career has been well spent and he now enjoys a comfortable competence.
He was born in Tompkins County, New York, October 19, 1840, and was a son of Henry and Anna C. (Snyder) Neyhart. His father was a native of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and his mother was born in the state of New York. The father was a carpenter by trade and passed most of his life in New York State, where his death occurred. He had one brother and two sisters and one half-brother.
Mr. Neyhart was reared and educated in New York and enlisted in 1864 in Company F, One Hundred and eighty-eight New York Regiment, and served until the close of the war. His service was mostly before Richmond and he participated in the battle of Hatches Run and some minor engagements. After his discharge from the service he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and remained there thirteen years engaged in the oil business. He went to California in 1874 and spent two years mining in the southern part of that state and then returned to Pennsylvania. He went to Cass County, North Dakota, in 1878 and purchased land adjoining the town of Casselton, and in about one year his family joined him there. He was interested in the hardware trade there for some years and also followed farming.
He was married in New York, in 1869, to Mary E. Eager, a native of New York City. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Neyhart, as follows: Charles H.; Arthur R., who served with the Thirteenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry in the Philippines as sergeant; Frank A., who is also a member of the Thirteenth Minnesota, in Company L, as quartermaster-sergeant; Ralph, Edith M. and Stanley. Mr. Neyhart is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in political sentiment is a Republican, but does not take an interest in political matters. He is a man of practical ideas, keeps pace with the times, and has made a success of his calling and merits his high standing
HON. GEORGE E. NICHOLS, one of the prominent and representative citizens of Fargo, North Dakota, and president of the Cass County Abstract & Guaranty Company, has shown in his successful career that he has the ability to plan wisely and execute with energy, a combination which, when possessed by men in any walk of life, never fails to effect notable results. He was born in Windham County. Vermont, March 25, 1856, a son of William E. and Jane E. (Prouty) Nichols, natives of Connecticut and Vermont, respectively. They passed their entire lives in New England, the father being employed as a mechanic.
In the schools of his native state our subject acquired his literary education. On leaving home at the age of fifteen years he went to Marshall. Michigan, where he remained for ten years, coming to Fargo in the spring of 1878. Here he was in the employ of N. K. Hubbard, proprietor of the Headquarters Hotel, until 1885, and was then employed as deputy county treasurer under H. H. Burke in which position he served for six years. In the fall of 1890 he was elected treasurer and filled that office for two terms of two years each. At the end of that time, in 1894, he was elected state treasurer, and was re-elected in 1896. serving in all four years with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In 1892 he organized the Cass County Abstract & Guaranty Company, of which he has since been president, and was also one of the organizers of the Fargo National Bank, of which he is now a director. He is a business man of more than ordinary ability, is farsighted and energetic, and the success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own well-directed efforts, for he commenced life for himself empty-handed. Socially he is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and politically, he is a pronounced Republican.
In 1882 Mr. Nichols married Miss Elizabeth I. Crane, who was born in Connecticut, and they have become the parents of four children: William C, Arthur A.. Tannisse and Imogene.
HARRY F. NUTTING. The business interests of Erie, Cass county, have a worthy representative in the person above named. Mr. Nutting is a member of the firm of Mosher & Nutting, and the firm conducts general merchandising in Erie and enjoys a liberal patronage. Mr. Nutting was a pioneer settler of Erie township, and was engaged in farming for many years there.
Our subject is a native of Bremer county, Iowa, and was born November 31, 1865. His parents, Anson and Abagail (Sherwin) Nutting, were natives of New York and Vermont, and his father was a farmer, and moved to Iowa in an early day, and passed his life there. Our subject has one sister who now resides in North Dakota.
Mr. Nutting was reared and educated in Iowa, and followed farming there until 1880. and then went with his mother to Cass county, North Dakota, and located at Wheatland, and in 1887 took a homestead in Erie township, Cass county. He remained there until May. 1899, when the firm of Mosher & Nutting was established, and he has since followed mercantile pursuits.
Our subject was married, in 1886, to Miss Luella Mosher, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. Nutting served three years as assessor of Erie township, and is active in local affairs, but takes no part in political matters, and has never sought public office. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He is well and favorably known and enjoys well-merited success in his business.
WALLACE NYE, owner of one of the carefully cultivated tracts of land in Kinyon township. Cass county, is a man of industrious habits and integrity. He has made many friends throughout his locality and is enjoying country life on his fine farm in section 30.
Mr. Nye was born in Geauga county, Ohio, on a farm, June 26, 1849. He was reared in that and Lake counties, Ohio, and received a common-school education, and was engaged in farming and cheese and butter making from 1878 to 1882 in Summit. Ohio, until the spring of 1882, when he removed to North Dakota. He entered claim to land as a homestead in Grand Forks county, on which he resided till the following fall, and then removed to Cass county and settled on the farm which he occupies in Kinyon township. His land comprises three hundred and sixty-six acres, and he has added the usual farm improvements, and made arrangements for enjoying the comforts of rural life. He follows general farming, and is thoroughly versed in his calling.
Our subject was married in Geauga county, Ohio, July 25, 1869, to Miss Surrilla A. Payne, who was born in Geauga county, Ohio, October 24, 1848. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nye, as follows: Carl E. and Charles A. The elder son died in Geauga county, Ohio, at the age of six years. Mr. Nye is highly respected in his community, and is a man who keeps pace with the times, and is strong in his convictions of right, and well merits his success.
O. J. OLSON, one of the worthy citizens that Norway has furnished the new world, is now an honored resident of Fargo, North Dakota, and is efficiently serving as auditor of Cass County. He was born near the village of Krageroe, Norway, August 12, 1851, and during his early life remained in his native land, where his education was acquired. On leaving school in 1869 he came to the United States and first located in Amherst, Portage County, Wisconsin. He made his home in that state for some years and for five years engaged in clerking for Hon. James J. Nelson. In 1876 he removed to Minnesota and during his residence there was interested in the pump and windmill business.
In November, 1878, Mr. Olson came to Fargo, North Dakota, and for some time was employed as clerk in the office of P. P. Nokken, then County treasurer. Later he was engaged in various occupations until 1880, when he started a store at Norman. Subsequently he removed to Kindred and conducted a store and hotel at that place until 1884, when he was elected assessor of Cass County and served in that capacity for two years. In 1887 he was appointed city assessor of Fargo, under Major A. W. Edwards, mayor of the city, and in 1889 was made clerk of the probate and County courts, which position he most creditably filled for seven years. In 1896 he was selected by the Republican central committee, five days before the election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John C. Miller, nominee for County auditor, and was elected to that office. He was re-elected in 1898 and is now filling that position in a most capable and satisfactory manner.
In 1881 Mr. Olson was united in marriage with Christine Thorson, a native of Iowa, and to them have been born four children, who are still living, namely: Bessie L., Alice G., Charles N. and Ethel L. Since becoming an American citizen Mr. Olson has affiliated with the Republican party and he has served as secretary of the County central committee. Socially he is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine; is past master of Fargo Lodge, A. O. U. W., and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is well known and highly respected and has proved a very popular and efficient officer.
HON. GEORGE E. OSGOOD, a prominent and influential business man and farmer of Cass county, residing at Fargo, is one of the pioneer settlers of that locality, and has accumulated a fortune by honest and earnest efforts. He is deserving of special mention for his thorough appreciation of the needs of his community and his efforts to meet the same, and his active public spirit is commendable.
Our subject was born in Conway. New Hampshire, October 25. 1846, and was a son of William and Mariah (Emerson) Osgood, who were natives of New Hampshire and Maine, respectively. The family is one of the oldest in the state of New Hampshire. One brother and one sister of our subject are now living. The father died at the age of seventy-five years and the mother lived to the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Mr. Osgood was reared and educated in New Hampshire in the public schools, and began farming in that state and remained there until 1863, when he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and was then sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the employ of the government. He went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1865, and was in that state two years, and learned the trade of a machinist and followed it in St. Paul and in the West for seven years. He was in the employ of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company as locomotive engineer for six years, and altogether spent thirteen years at railroad work, and went to Fargo in 1878, selling horses. He was a member of the firm of Hanson & Osgood for nine years, and also followed farming in that connection and at one time farmed over four thousand acres of land. He has prospered in his business ventures, and is now well-to-do and highly esteemed.
Our subject was married, in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1877, to Miss Ida M. Hanson, a native of that state. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Osgood, named as follows: Susan M., Thomas W. and Genette B. Mr. Osgood served in the second state legislature and did very efficient work while a member of that body. He has served as alderman of the city and is the present candidate for county sheriff. He is active in educational affairs and has been a director of the Agricultural College for two terms. Politically he is a Republican and an earnest worker for his party. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity and has taken the degrees of the Mystic Shrine in that order.
RUDOLPH E. OTTO, an early settler of Arthur township, is one of the influential and widely known citizens of Cass county. He is possessed of untiring energy, and the strictest integrity, and his career has been that of an honorable citizen. His farm is well improved, and covers a half-section in section 28, where he has resided since taking up his residence in Cass county over twenty years ago.
Our subject was born in Germany, June 11, 1857, and was a son of Gotleib and Julia (Heine) Otto, who were natives of Germany. The father followed farming, and both parents passed their lives in their native land. Five sons and seven daughters were born to them, and four sons and all the daughters are now residing in the United States, three residing in North Dakota.
Our subject was reared and educated in Germany, and in 1872 came to America in company with his brother and sister, and they made their home in Green Lake county, Wisconsin. They removed to Iowa in 1877, and spent two years there, and in 1880 our subject went to Cass county. North Dakota, and took a pre-emption on section 28, in Arthur township. He was among the first settlers of the township, and began at once to break a farm. He has followed agriculture continuously since that date, and now has a half-section of well-improved land, and has made a success of his vocation.
Our subject was married, in 1885, to Minnie Wolf, also a native of Germany. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Otto, as follows: Oscar A., Amanda E., William C. and Elsie A. The family are members of the German Lutheran church of Arthur, and are highly respected throughout Cass county. Mr. Otto is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and politically is an ardent Republican. He is active in public affairs, and has served as chairman of the town board of supervisors, and also assessor of the township, and enjoys the confidence of the people among whom he resides.
SWAN OVERLEE is classed among the most energetic and capable farmers of Mapleton township, Cass county. His career has been marked throughout with persistent efforts and honest industry and he has been rewarded by the acquisition of a good property and a high reputation. He is intelligent 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 surroundings.
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 Dakota, 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 member of the school board. He is a gentleman of exemplary character and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
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