JOSIAH HOLLIS GALE, banker and general business man, is an enterprising citizen of Hunter, Cass county, North Dakota, and for more than twenty years has done much to assist in the up building of the commercial, financial and agricultural interests of the county. He is well to do, and deserving of great credit for what he has accomplished since becoming a resident of the Red river valley.

Mr. Gale was born in Clinton county, New York, July 20, 1849, the son of Ebenezer R. and Charlotte (Flint) Gale, natives of New Hampshire and Vermont respectively. The family came to the United States from England at an early date and settled in the New England states. The father, Ebenezer R. Gale, was raised on a farm and made that business his life long occupation. He and his wife still reside in Essex county. New York. Our subject has one sister, now the wife of Charles Merrifield, living near her parents in the state of New York.

Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the public schools of his native state, and at the age of eighteen years left home and was employed as a clerk in a general store at Plattsburg, New York. He remained there a year and a half, and then went to Ausable Forks, and spent eight years there, clerking in a wholesale and retail store.

In 1880 Mr. Gale went to Minnesota, but remained there only a few weeks, when he came to Cass county, North Dakota, and having brought horses with him, he began breaking land for others. The following year (1882), in partnership with Mr. Peter Duffany, he opened a general store and lumber yard in Hunter, Cass county. He soon after secured the appointment of postmaster at that place, being appointed by President Arthur. This office he held continuously for six years. He then resigned that he might give more attention to his increasing business interests. He is now largely interested in stores and lumber yards at Hunter, Arthur. Amenia and Addison in Cass county, and at Banchard, in Traill county, North Dakota. He is president of the Hunter State Bank at Hunter, and vice-president of the Kindred State Bank of Kindred, and a director of both institutions. He also has large farming interests, and in partnership with Mr. Duffany, owns eight hundred acres of well cultivated land near Hunter. Most of his business interests are conducted under partnership firm of Gale & Duffany.

Mr. Gale was married July 14, 1885, to Jennie P. Simmons, of Woodstock, Vermont. Mrs. Gale's father was Captain Nathan Simmons, and her mother's maiden name was Julia Foster. Her father was captain of a whaling vessel and sailed from the New England coast, but later in life went to California, in 1849, and remained there in business until his death.

Mr. and Mrs. Gale are the parents of three children, named as follows, all of whom are living: Harry F., Ruth C. and Jennie P. Mr. Gale is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Mystic Shrine. Also a member of the Foresters, and' belongs to the Presbyterian church. In political views he is a Republican.

RUEL GALLUP. This gentleman, being one of the pioneer business men of Casselton, is well known throughout Cass County, and is held in high standing as a citizen. He conducts a coal and wood and livery business in Casselton. and enjoys a good patronage, and is a man of ability and good judgment.

Our subject is a native of Randolph. Cattaraugus County, New York, and was born October 1. 1833.  His parents, Chester and Phoebe (Scudder) Gallup, were natives of Monroe County, New York. His father was a farmer and followed. that calling in New York during his entire career, and died in that state.  The grandfather of our subject, James Gallup, was a native of New Hampshire, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, under General Scott. He passed away in the state of New York. Our subject had four brothers, three of whom are now living, and two reside in Cass County, North Dakota.

Mr. Gallup was reared and educated in the state of New York, and engaged in farming there until 1877, when he went to Casselton, North Dakota, He arrived there March 29, and assumed the position of superintendent for the Amenia and Sharon Land Company, and was associated with them two years. He also entered a homestead claim in Amenia, which he proved upon and later sold to Mr.  Chaffee. He was made superintendent of the Grandin grain farm in 1879 and was thus engaged three years, and then spent one year as superintendent of the Howe farm. He removed to Casselton, Cass County, in 1882, and engaged in the wood and coal business and later established the livery business. He has met with success and is among the substantial men of his community. 

Our subject was married December 24, 1862, to Addie M. Hathaway, a native of New York. Mr.  and Mrs. Gallup are the parents of one son, William, who is now engaged in the livery business in Casselton. Mr. Gallup was the first alderman of the city of Casselton, and has served as police judge for eight years. He affiliates with the A. F. & A.  M., and is one of the oldest members of the state.  In political sentiment he is a Democrat and is firm in his convictions.

EDWARD C. GEAREY, a worthy representative of the Fargo bar and the present efficient police judge of that city, was born in Hudson, Columbia county. New York, June 11, 1841; and is a son of Hamilton B. and Harriet E. (Macy) Gearey, also natives of New York. In early life the father was a seaman, but later engaged in business as a carpenter and builder. In 1849 he went to California and on his return east remained in New York until 1870, when he removed to Minnesota, where his death occurred in 1877. In his family were six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom one died in infancy.

In the common schools of his native state, Edward C. Gearey obtained a good practical education. He manifested his patriotism and love of country during the Civil war by enlisting August 11, 1862, as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the battles of Winchester, Leesburg. Dumfries, and Chancellorsville, and after the last named engagement was taken ill. In 1863 he was transferred to the Thirty-second United States Colored Troops with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was in service with that regiment until 1865. He was wounded at Honeyhill, South Carolina, on which account he was honorably discharged.

Returning to his home in New York. Mr. Gearey remained there until November, 1865, when he removed to Wabasha county. Minnesota. During his residence there he engaged in farming and filled a number of important official positions, being a member of the lower house of the state legislature for three terms. In 1883 he came to Fargo as receiver in the United States land office, and held that position for four years, during which time he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1885. Before retiring from the land office he had succeeded in building up a good practice, and is today one of the most successful as well as able attorneys of the place. Here he has also been honored with public office and has served as police judge since 1897.

On the 25th of March, 1864, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gearey and Miss E. Amelia Wells, also a native of New York, and to them have been born five children who are still living, namely : Hamilton W., cashier of the Merchants State Bank of Fargo; Lucia A., wife of E. C. Griffith; Edward C, Jr., captain of Company B, First North Dakota Infantry, now with the brave boys at Manila; Frances M., wife of W. J. Heapes and John W., a private in the company of which his brother is captain.

The Republican party has always found in Mr. Gearey a stanch supporter of its principles, and he was the first chairman of the state central committee in North Dakota. He is now chairman of the Cass county committee and has been honored with many important political positions. He is past department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in this state, is president of the soldiers' home board, and is a member of the Minnesota Commandery of the Loyal Legion. He is also a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner, and is quite prominent in social, political and professional circles. As a citizen he meets every requirement and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the welfare of his adopted city or state.

DAVID G. GEDDESis engaged extensively in the pursuit of agriculture in section 15, of Kinyon township, Cass county, and has been a resident of that locality for the past ten years. He gives his business strict attention and by persistent industry has gathered about him all the comforts of rural life, and provided for his declining years. He is widely known and highly respected as a citizen of honest principles and faithful efforts.

Our subject was born in Huron county, Ontario, April 25, 1855, and was a son of David and Isabella (Wilson) Geddes, both of whom were natives of Scotland. They went to Ontario when young and there married and settled in Huron county, where they still reside.

David G. Geddes was the eldest in a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, and he was raised on his father's farm in Huron county, where he lived most of the time until 1881, when he went to Manitoba, and in June, 1882, went to North Dakota. He settled in Union township, Grand Forks county, where he lived till the fall of 1889, when he removed to Cass county and settled on the farm where he now lives. He is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land in Kinyon township, on which he has placed excellent improvements and his farm is entitled to rank among the fine pieces of property in the vicinity.

Mr. Geddes was married in Grandin, North Dakota, December 22, 1883, to Miss Agnes Thom, who was born in the county of Lanark, Ontario, July 22, 1860. Mrs. Geddes was the fourth in a family of ten children, three sons and seven daughters, born to James W. and Jane (McConnell) Thom. Her father was a native of Scotland and her mother of Ontario. They were married in Ontario and went to Cass county, North Dakota, in 1881, and settled in Grandin, where they still reside. A brief sketch of their lives will be found elsewhere in this volume. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Geddes, named as follows: Myrtle, Alfred, Isabelle, Hazel and Annie. Mr. Geddes is a man of active public spirit and has been a member of the township board of supervisors. He holds membership in the Brotherhood of American Yeomen.

ANDREW GILBERTSON. The incomes from the well regulated farms of Buffalo township form a large part of the wealth of Cass county, and one of these carefully cultivated tracts is owned and operated by the gentleman above named. He is a pioneer settler of that locality, and is successfully conducting general farming on section 32, and his estate bears evidence of good management and skillful operation.

Our subject was born in Norway, August 25, 1841, and was a son of Ole and Bertha (Jacobson) Gilbertson, both of whom were natives of Norway. The family came to America in 1852 and located in Green county, Wisconsin, where the parents remained until their deaths. The father died in 1855 and the mother in 1884.

Mr. Gilbertson was reared and educated in Wisconsin until 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-first Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and was in the siege of Atlanta and many of the battles of that campaign, but escaped wounds. After discharge from the service in 1865 he returned to Wisconsin, and remained there until 1872, when be removed to Minnesota. He went to Cass county. North Dakota, in 1879, and took a homestead on section 32, where he has since resided. He is now the fortunate possessor of one half-section of land, all of which is tillable and well improved, and he is among the substantial men of Buffalo township.

Our subject was married, in 1879, to Mrs. Pingrey, formerly Lucy Post, a native of Michigan . Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson, named as follows: Joel and Bertha. Mr. Gilbertson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is prominent in public affairs of his township, and has filled various township offices and labored earnestly for the general welfare of the community in which he has made his home for so many years. He is intelligent and well versed in his calling and deservedly held in high esteem.