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CRIST S. RAMBERGET. one of the earliest settlers of township 149, range 67. in Eddy county, has gained a fine estate by dint of energetic efforts, and is among the well-known and highly esteemed citizens of that locality.
Our subject was born near Christiania, Norway, in 1855, and was a son of Simon and Girthy (Iver) Ramberget. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and followed the same throughout his career. Our subject was reared on a farm, and attended the country schools, and at the age of eighteen years left home and worked at farm labor six years, and then entered the Swedish army, where he remained two years, and later engaged in farming for a short time. He came to America in 1884. and settled in Steele county. North Dakota, where he spent one year and then resided in Cooperstown. North Dakota, one year. He went to Eddy county in 1886 and filed claim to land in section 3, in township 149, range 67, and erected a claim shanty thereon, 12x14 feet, and a sod barn, and with a team of oxen, one cow and a plow began farming. He remained on his pre-emption six years, and in 1892 removed to his homestead in section 10, and there has built a complete set of good farm buildings, including a fine residence and commodious granary and barns. He is now the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, and has about eighty acres of good pasture and good hay land, and about four hundred and forty acres under cultivation. He engages in wheat and flax raising, and during the threshing season operates a threshing machine, which he has followed since 1895 with success.
Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Johanna Bymoen, who was born and raised in Norway, and was a daughter of Andros Byomen, who came to America in 1884, and was one of the prosperous farmers of North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Ramberget have been the parents of eight children, as follows : Simon; Mary, deceased; George, Albert, Julia. Elmer, Mary; and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Ramberget takes an active in the well fare of his community, and is well known as a public-spirited citizen. He is a Republican in political sentiment and is strong in his convictions.
JAMES E. RENFREW, is successfully pursuing farming in township 149, range 67, in Eddy county, and is the owner of seven hundred and sixty acres of tillable land. He was born on a farm in Bremer county, Iowa, July 3, 1861.
The father of our subject. John Renfrew, was a farmer and later a miller, and is now engaged in farming in northern Minnesota. Our subject attended the country school, and when about seventeen years of age left home and worked at farm labor, and at the age of eighteen years went into the lumber woods of northern Minnesota, where he spent his winters until the spring of 1884. He then went to North Dakota, and after a stop at Grand Forks. thence to Fargo, and later to St. Paul, and then to Big Horn, Montana, where he worked at railroading a short time, and worked on a farm near Helena, Montana. He remained there until October, 1884, and then went to Portland. Oregon, and after a short stay went by boat to San Francisco, where he was employed on a grain farm one season and then returned to Park Rapids, Minnesota, via Los Angeles. He again went to Fargo. North Dakota, in the spring of 1885. and worked a short time on a farm, and went to Carrington. and from there walked to New Rockford, and filed claim to the southeast quarter of section 12. in township 149. range 67. and then went to Devil's Lake, and there spent the summer at farm work, and returned to the lumber woods for the winter months. He was engaged at farm work near Fargo during the summer of 1885. and in the spring of 1886 bought a team of horses and worked for others during the spring and then went to his tree claim in Eddy county, and broke seventy-three acres of his land and boarded with a neighbor. He did not build his residence until 1888, and followed farming with oxen from 1891-95. He engaged in wheat and flax raising, and has met with success. He has about six hundred acres under cultivation, and one hundred and sixty acres in grass and pasture land, and on his home farm has a complete set of substantial buildings, and all machinery for the conduct of the place, and his farm bears evidence of painstaking care in its operation.
Mr. Renfrew is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and in political faith is a Democrat, and is prominent in local affairs.
ALBERT J. RICHTER. As an agriculturist who is gaining a good support by tilling the soil of Eddy county, and incidentally laying aside a competence for future years, there is no better representative than the gentleman above named. He has been a resident of township 148, range 65. for many years, and has a host of friends who accord him words of commendation for his earnest efforts and honest industry.
Our subject was born in Oshkosh. Wisconsin, May I, 1864, and was a son of Gotlieb and Henrietta (Bernt) Richter, both of whom were natives of Germany. His father was left an orphan when eight years of age, and he came to America in 1860 and followed farming in Wisconsin, but was a brewer by trade.
Mr. Richter was the third in a family of eight children, and was reared in the city and on the farm and attended the city schools in his native place, and at the age of sixteen years began work for himself. He spent nine winters in the lumber woods of Wisconsin, and also on the log drives, and learned the stone mason's trade, which he also followed. He went to North Dakota in 1887 and settled in Eddy county, on section 15, in township 148, range 65, and built a claim shanty 12x18 feet. He had but twenty-five cents when he arrived in New Rockford, and the first few years he hired a little farming done on his place. He has fought prairie fires many times, and in 1888 lost his household goods by this agency, and on another occasion saved himself by finding an alkali spot free from the fire. He followed grain and stock raising and also worked at his trade, and now has a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, one hundred of which is under cultivation, and he annually operates about six hundred and forty acres of land. He has a well-improved estate, and in consideration of the fact that he has gained his possessions with his own labors and no means with which to make a start aside from this, his success is remarkable.
Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Lona Starks, who was born and raised in Wisconsin. Mrs. Richter's father, Morgan Starks. was born in New York, and was a Yankee. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richter, as follows: Bessie, born July 1. 1889: Otto, born October 21, 1891; Etta, deceased; Guy, born October I, 1893: Ida. born September 20, 1894; Vivian, born February 10. 1897; and Pearl, born July 2, 1899. all of whom were born in Dakota. Mr. Richter served as assessor four years, and takes an active interest in public affairs of local importance. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Maccabees. Politically he is a Democrat.
CYRUS H. RULAND. Among the better class of agriculturists of township 149, range 64, Eddy county, whose homes are places of social comfort and refinement, and whose farms are well improved and evidence careful management and painstaking care, the gentleman above named is entitled to a foremost rank. He has gained his fortune single-handed and while so doing has gained an enviable reputation for his excellent character and indomitable will.
Our subject was born in Warren county, Pennsylvania, on a farm, March 6. 1856, and was a son of William and Lemira (Grover) Ruland, the former of Dutch descent and the latter from a New York family. His father was a farmer and carpenter and joiner by trade and followed bridge building most of his life. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Silas Ruland, was born on Long Island and was a lumberman and the owner of two or three lumber mills in Pennsylvania.
Our subject was the second in a family of four children and was raised on a farm in his native state and at the age of nine years removed to Iowa with his parents, where the father followed farming in Fayette county three years and in 1865 removed to New York state, locating in Jamestown, in Chautauqua county, where he followed his trade until his death in December, 1898. Our subject worked with his father at bridge building and began while a boy to assist himself and at the age of twelve years began earning his livelihood and as a consequence his educational advantages were limited. He worked in the oil business, saw-mills, lumber woods, etc., and in April, 1883, arrived at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and worked in the vicinity of Grand Forks and Larimore three years. He entered claim to government land near Tiffany and built a claim shanty, 8x12 feet, and in 1887 removed to his farm for permanent residence and lived alone there and followed farming seven years. He began farming with a team of horses, a wagon and an old drag and his first crop was eight acres of oats and a few potatoes, which he raised on the fire break around his shanty. He has met with failures and good crops in Dakota, each in turn, and has surmounted every loss and discouragement and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land, on which he has erected a complete set of good farm buildings and has an abundance of machinery, including a threshing machine, in which business he has engaged every season since locating there and has owned an outfit since 1897. He has plenty of small fruits on his home farm and has provided other luxuries and all the comforts of rural life and follows general farming.
Our subject was married, January 10, 1895. to Ardeha S. MaGee, who was born and raised in Illinois. Mrs. Ruland's father, Moses B. Hercy. was born in Maine and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a contractor and builder throughout his career. Mrs. Ruland had one son by a former marriage, Wentworth Magee, who was born in 1872, and is now engaged in farming in Dakota. Mr. Ruland is president of the Tiffany Literary and Debating Society and is a man of intelligence and active in social affairs. He has held numerous township offices and is a Republican in political sentiment and deservedly popular with the people.
 ALVA D. TOMLINSON, one of the wealthiest and most influential agriculturists of Eddy county, resides on his elegant farm in township 149, range 66. He stands in the front rank as a citizen of broad mind, exemplary character, and exceptional ability, and conducts an extensive farming and stock business. Every arrangement has been made on his place by which the soil can be more easily tilled, and the products more perfectly garnered and disposed of, while the buildings for the comfort of the family and stock are of the best and his entire farm evidences prosperity and much care in its operations.
Mr. Tomlinson was born in Howell, Livingston county, Michigan. May 16. 1844, and is a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Davis) Tomlinson. His father was a merchant in early life, and was later a farmer, and died when our subject was two years of age. He was born in Woodbury, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and was a man of wealth. He lost some fifteen thousand dollars on bonds for the state treasurer of Connecticut. The family originally came from England. The mother of our subject was of Dutch descent, and her people were farmers of New York.
Our subject was the youngest in a family of six children, and was raised in Howell, and received a liberal education. He later began teaching and devoted eight years to that profession in Livingston, during which time he remained at home and assisted in the management of the farm. He assumed charge of his mother's farm in 1871, and followed farming thereon until 1880. He sold the farm in 1880 and moved to Bancroft, Michigan, where he entered into the mercantile business in company with his brother-in-law, Hiram Hemmanway. On account of failing health he disposed of his interests in Michigan in 1882, and went to Eddy county, North Dakota, and located on section 17, in township 149, range 66. and erected a claim shanty, 12x14 feet, and a sod barn. He filed claim to the land without seeing it and fortunately became possessed of some of the finest farming land in the state. He bought oxen and a wagon in Larimore, North Dakota, and paid seventy dollars per thousand for lumber, and hauled it seventy miles overland to his farm. The Sheyenne river was a raging stream, and he had to float his load across. His nearest neighbor was fourteen miles, and the first year he had to go to Fort Totten to get his blacksmithing done, and his nearest post office was Brainard, eighteen miles distant. His wife joined him in the spring of 1883. traveling in the first train run north from Jamestown, and Carrington was the terminus of the road at that time. Our subject started a small store on his farm, and the first store established in the county, and he also conducted a lumber yard, and was the postmaster. His farm was headquarters for the stage line. He has added to his acreage from time to time, and is now the possessor of one thousand six hundred and forty-six acres of land, all but two hundred acres of which is under cultivation, and he has a grove of four acres on his place. His residence is a commodious and comfortable structure, and is in keeping with the other buildings of the farm, including three barns, an elevator with capacity of thirty thousand bushels, a tool house with wings on three sides for machinery, and a second tool house, wind mills and other outbuildings, and he has five wells on the place, any one furnishing a sufficient supply of water for farm use. He has numerous buildings on different parts of his extensive farm, and annually operates about two thousand acres of land. He has made a marked success in Dakota, and his farm is the best equipped of any in the county. He engages principally in grain raising, but keeps some horses, cattle and hogs, and he has paid as high as one thousand dollars in a season for threshing alone. Our subject also loans money aside from his farming interests.
Mr. Tomlinson was married, in 1875, to Miss Lizzie Cole, who was born and raised at Pontiac, Michigan, and was of Yankee descent. Her father, Abraham Cole, was a farmer by occupation, and went from New York state to Michigan. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson, Alva N., who was born at Howell, Michigan, on the home farm where our subject was born. His birth is dated June 15, 1878. Mr. Tomlinson served as assessor of Eddy county from 1888-94, and was a nominee of the Republican party in 1898 for county treasurer. He has attended numerous conventions of the Republican party, whose principles he advocates. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity, Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias and Brotherhood of American Yeomen, and has been president of the Old Settlers' Organization for several years.
ROBERT WALDEN. A prominent position as a citizen and member of the farming community of township 148, range 66, in Eddy county, is held by the gentleman above named. He is gaining a good support from his farm and is the owner of six hundred and fifty acres of well improved land.
Our subject was born in Branbury, Oxfordshire, England, January 18, 1859. His father, Isaac Walden, was a mechanical engineer and machinist and followed the same throughout his career. He came to America in 1887 and died in 1889. The grandfather of our subject, James Walden, was a shepherd during his career, and his father before him; Robert Walden, was a farmer by occupation. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Betsey Newton, and her father, William Newton, was a descendant of Sir Isaac Newton.
Our subject was the fourth in a family of ten children, and was raised in the city of Banbury, and attended the city schools. At the age of fourteen years he began work in a foundry and there learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in his native land until he came to America. He left home at the age of seventeen years, and in August, 1885, came to America with his family and located in St. Louis, where he followed his trade and also worked in a nursery, and in 1886 he removed to North Dakota, and settled in Eddy county, taking land as a pre-emption, whereon he erected a claim shanty, sod barn and sod blacksmith shop. He had three dollars and a few blacksmith, tools when he took up his residence in Dakota, and he hired his land broke for the first two and a half years, before he had a team. He bought a team of oxen in 1888 and farmed with them till 1891, and has passed through the experiences of pioneer life. He has about five hundred acres under cultivation, four acres of forest trees, plenty of small fruits, and engages in wheat, cattle and sheep raising, and has met with good success in the last named culture. He now keeps about thirteen head of farm horses, and has all necessary machinery for the operation of a model farm. He has made a success of his vocation and is regarded as one of the substantial men of his community.
Our subject was married in England. January 24. 1879, to Miss Mary Herbert. Mrs. Walden's father. Daniel Herbert, was a weaver by trade, and was also sheriff. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walden, as follows: Katie, born November 12, 1879; Henry, born April 24, 1882; Isaac N.. born August 10, 1885; Ellen May, born August 24, 1887; Etta, born June 24, 1889; Maggie, born November 12, 1891 ; Edward, born July 31, 1894: Mabel, born October 5, 1896 and Daniel, born March 29, 1898. Mr. Walden has served as a member of the school board for six years and is a man who lends his influence for the up building of his community. He is an independent voter, and keeps pace with current events.
MARTIN WALSH, who, in company with his brother, Edward Walsh, conducts one of the finest farms of township 149, range 64, in Eddy county, is one of the pioneer settlers of that section, and has gained his acquisitions by dint of earnest efforts, incidentally gaining an enviable reputation as a citizen of true worth.
Our subject was born in Quebec, Canada, on a farm, in September, 1863. His father, Edward Walsh, was born in Kilkenny county. Ireland, and came to America at the age of twelve years. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Bridget Delaney. was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and came to America at the age of eight years. Our subject was next to the youngest in a family of ten children and was raised on a farm in Canada and assisted with the work and at the age of twenty-one years left home. He had worked, since reaching the age of fifteen years, in the lumber woods of Ontario during the winter seasons and on the farm during the summer months, and in 1886 left home and went to North Dakota, locating in Eddy county. He worked for others at farm labor the first summer and in 1887 entered claim to government land on the southwest quarter of section 9. in township 149, range 64. and built a 14x18 shanty. His brother, Edward, went to Dakota with teams, etc., in the spring of 1887 and they first rented land and farmed thus and lived alone and after several months began farming on their present place and their father, mother and sister joined them during that year and made their home with them. The brothers have continued in partnership since and are engaged in mixed farming, raising grain and cattle and keep from twenty-five to forty head of stock. They have a farm of five hundred and twenty acres, including four acres of timber land, and they have four hundred and fifty acres cultivated. They have a complete set of good buildings, including a comfortable residence, and one of the best barns in the vicinity, with hay fork attached, and have other buildings and all machinery, including a steam threshing outfit. Their farm is fully improved and is a valuable estate.
Martin Walsh was married, November 6, 1894, to Miss Mary Hogan, a daughter of Andrew Hogan. Mrs. Walsh was left an orphan at the age of nine years and was raised by strangers and came to America from Ireland in 1882. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, as follows: Florence, born February 24, 1897, and Fergus, born March 27, 1899. Both children were born in Dakota on the farm.
Edward Walsh was married, January 17, 1893, to Miss Lizzie Hogan, a sister of Mrs. Martin Walsh. Mrs. Walsh was born in England and came to America with her sister, Mary. Three children have been born to this union, as follows : Ethel, born December 5, 1893; Joseph, born August 11, 1895, and Edith, born June 3, 1899. The brothers and their families live together on their homestead farm and are all members of the Catholic church. Martin Walsh served as assessor from 1894-1896 and takes an active part in public affairs of local importance. Both brothers cast their influence for good local government and in political sentiment are Democratic.
JOSEPH WALTON, one of the prominent and progressive farmers of Eddy county, has developed a fine farm and established a comfortable home in township 150, range 66.
Mr. Walton was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1842. He was the second child in a family of thirteen children born to George and Mary (Jeweson) Walton, both natives of England. The father was a railroad builder and contractor, and worked in various parts of the United Kingdom on various kinds of public works, and finally came to America in 1880 and settled at Old Superior, Minnesota.
Joseph Walton was reared in England, spending his boyhood in various places, accompanying his father on his work. He thus became familiar with many parts of England. Wales, Scotland and Ireland. At the age of twelve years he went into the English navy and served eight years and nineteen days. He then returned to Yorkshire and worked on public works. In 1870 he came to America, arriving in Pennsylvania with three hundred and eighty-four pounds sterling, English money. He traveled through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri, and then returned to England, having been absent one year, lacking seven days, and he arrived in London with but four dollars in money. He then returned to his trade, working on public works, and also worked in the iron mines.
In 1876 he was married to Miss Margarette Hills, who was born in Kent. Her father was William Hills, who was accidentally killed in a tunnel while working in the mines. In 1879 Mr. Walton came to Canada, accompanied by his wife. He worked a short time on the Canadian Pacific railroad, and then went to the copper mines of Lake Superior, in Michigan. He spent two years there, and then went to the coal fields of Illinois, and after several years returned to Michigan and worked in the iron mines.
In the spring of 1890 Mr. Walton came to Eddy county. North Dakota, and took a position with the Northern Pacific railroad as section boss, and was thus engaged for three years. During this time he g engaged for three years. During this time he got hold of some land, and in 1893 began farming on section 7, township 150, range 66. His stock at that time consisted of one ox, one cow and two chickens. He worked courageously, however, and added to his holding from time to time, and is now the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, three hundred and thirty being under cultivation, and has a grove of ten acres of forest trees. .In 1899 he produced forty-five hundred bushels of grain. His farm is fully equipped with all modern machinery, and is amply stocked. Mr. Walton is a Republican in politics, and has taken a commendable interest in public matters. He is held in high esteem in and industry, and in his community for his honesty genial and kindly nature.
HON. DAVID B. WELLMAN, one of the most prominent early settlers of Eddy county, has made a success of farming in township 150, range 66, and has aided materially in giving to that region its present name as a thriving agricultural district, while his career as a public-spirited citizen is commendable to a marked degree.
Our subject was born on a farm near Farmington, Maine, May 5, 1850. His father. Joseph F. Wellman, was a Methodist Episcopal minister, and also conducted a small farm. The grandfather of our subject bore the name of James Wellman, and the great-grandfather of our subject came to .America from England. Three generations of the family have been born near Farmington, Maine. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Fanny Brown, was of Irish-English descent, and her father, David Brown, was a farmer by occupation.
Our subject was the fourth in a family of six children, and was raised on a farm near i-arming-ton, and at the age of nineteen years left home and was employed at farm work. He later went to Iowa, and worked out at farming and then spent eight years in Illinois. He went to North Dakota in 1883, arriving at Grand Forks March 5, and in April of that year went to Eddy county and took government land on the northeast quarter of section 35, in township 150, range 66. He set up a tent, wherein he lived two months, and then built a shanty 14x10 feet. His first crop was thirty acres of oats, barley and wheat, and the average yield was the largest ever raised on the land. He had a small sum saved from his wages, and with this began farming, and has added to his possessions from time to time, and is now the fortunate owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, four hundred and eighty acres of which are under cultivation. He has erected a complete set of farm buildings on his place, and has supplied all necessary machinery and otherwise provided for the economical conduct of the place. He has been successful as an agriculturist, and enjoys a pleasant and comfortable home.
Mr. Wellman was elected to the last territorial legislature in 1888, and to the first state legislature in 1889, and was chosen speaker of the house at that session. He is a man who is strong in his convictions, and is always found on the side of right and justice, and wields an influence equal to any citizen of that region. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Republican, and is a stanch advocate of the party principles.
JOHN A. WREN. This gentleman is the fortunate owner of one of the fine estates of township 148, range 66, in Eddy county, and is well known as an agriculturist who is doing an extensive business. He engages principally in grain raising and in this line has met with marked success and his present comfortable circumstances have been arrived at by persistent efforts and honest industry.
Our subject was born on a farm near London, Ontario, Canada, October 29, 1865. His father, William Wren, was born in Scotland and settled in Canada and was a farmer by occupation, and the grandfather of our subject, Thomas Wren, was of English lineage. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Jane Dick, was born in Scotland and died in November, 1893, in Ontario, Canada.
Mr. Wren was the eighth born in a family of ten children, and was reared on a farm. He attended the common school and assisted with the farm work. He worked at farm labor in Canada and with his savings, about two hundred dollars, went to Eddy county, North Dakota, when about twenty-eight years of age. He rented land near New Rockford and started farming, continuing on the rented land about three years, and in June, 1895, entered claim to the southwest quarter of section 24, in township 148, range 66, whereon he erected a small granary, 14x16 feet. His present comfortable and commodious residence he erected in 1897, and he has also built a large, substantial barn on the place and his farm presents a pleasing- appearance. He is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land and operates about six hundred and sixty-five acres and has all machinery for the work of the place. He keeps about fifteen head of horses, fifteen head of cattle and some other stock, but devotes his attention almost exclusively to grain raising. He lost about one hundred acres of wheat in 1898, which was the finest stand of grain ever raised on the place, but despite much discouragements he has prospered.
Our subject was married, in April, 1890, to Miss Jessie Stewart, who was a schoolmate of Mr. Wren. Mrs. Wren's father, Duncan Stewart, was a farmer by occupation, and both her parents were natives of Scotland. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wren, as follows: Stella, born in Canada, Maggie, Herold, Laura, Willie and Florence. .Mr. Wren is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a Republican and stands firm for his convictions. He is energetic and devotes himself intelligently and closely to his work and well merits his success.
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