Compendium of History and Biography
of North Dakota
Published by George A. Ogle & CO. in 1900

GEORGE SALISBURY. Among the first settlers of Gilby township none is more deserving of a place in the history of Grand Forks county than George Salisbury, who is a large land holder in that township, but who is at present engaged in the livery business in the city of Grand Forks.

Mr. Salisbury was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin. April 29, 1850. His parents were Samuel and Catherine (Barrett) Salisbury, the former a native of Saratoga Springs, New York, and the latter of Bandon, Ireland. The father was a farmer, and first moved to Wisconsin about the year 1837, and later located at High Forest. Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he died. Of this family there are four sons and two daughters living, three of the sons living in North Dakota, and the other children in Minnesota. . The mother died in North Dakota.

George Salisbury was reared and educated in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and farmed in the latter state three years. In 1880 he came to Grand Forks county. North Dakota, and settled on section 4, Gilby township, his land being the northeast quarter of that section. He filed his papers in June, and at once took up his residence upon his claim. He is now the owner of a full section of land, all improved, and yielding good returns. He resided upon his land until 1888, since which time he has been engaged in the livery and sale business in Grand Forks.

Mr. Salisbury was married in Minnesota , in 1874, to Miss Amelia Malone. Mrs. Salisbury was born in Malone. New York , and to this union three children have been born, namely, James, Bert and Maude. now living, and Jennie, deceased. In political sentiment Mr. Salisbury is a Democrat, and has taken an active interest in public matters since his arrival in the county. He has filled some of the local offices, and was the first treasurer of Gilby township. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is widely and favorably known throughout the county, and has proved himself a worthy citizen and valued member of the community in which he has made his home.

PHILLIP SAUMUR, deceased, one of the early settlers of Rye township, was born at St. Martin, Canada, September 26. 1850. His parents, John and Adelaide (Reneaud) Saumur, were natives of Canada and spent their lives there.

Mr. Saumur was reared and educated in Canada until 1867, when he came to the United States and settled in Massachusetts, where he was employed in a shoe factory. He removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1875, and followed his trade there two years and in 1878 went to Grand Forks county. North Dakota, and entered claim to land as a homestead in Rye township, where Mrs. Saumur now resides. He improved and added to the farm and possessed four hundred acres at the time of his demise.

Our subject was married, November 9, 1873, to Delia Langelier, a daughter of Henry Langelier, a sketch of whom appears above in this work. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Saumur, who are as follows: Dora A., now Mrs. A. Dubuque, of Grand Forks county ; Modest J.; Clara, deceased ; Corine M.; Phillip F. and George H. E. Mr. Saumur died January 24, 1892. He was mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends, as he was an exemplary citizen and well known.

FRANK W. SCHLABERG, county commissioner of Grand Forks county, and the pioneer druggist of the city of Grand Forks, was born in Waverly, Iowa, March 14, 1862. His parents, Charles F. and Anna (Turner) Schlaberg, were natives of Glasgow, Scotland, and Northumberland county, England, respectively. They came to the United States in 1847. and located in Iowa in the early 'fifties. The father is still a resident of Iowa, the mother having died some years ago.

Frank W. Schlaberg was reared and educated in Waverly, Iowa, attending the public schools and devoting his spare time to study at home. In 1880, when he was eighteen years of age, he came to Dakota, and found employment in the drug store of D. M. Holmes of Grand Forks. He continued as an employee in this store four years, and then became a partner in the business. In 1896 he succeeded to the ownership of the business, which he still conducts. He is a wide-awake, enterprising business man, and his store is one of the leading business houses of the city.

Mr. Schlaberg has never been a seeker of political favors, but has always taken an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and has done his duty as a citizen, in the interest of good government. Since his election to office of county commissioner he has performed the important duties devolving upon him with fidelity to the interests of the people of the county, and has proved a capable and efficient official.

In 1897 Mr. Schlaberg was married to Miss Amanda C. Liedman, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Schlaberg have one son, Warren. Mr. Schlaberg is very popular in social circles and is a member of the various organizations of the city, including the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, the Elks and the A. O. U. W. In politics he is a Democrat.

LOUIS SCHLOSSER, known all over Grand Forks county as a genial and prosperous farmer, was among the earliest settlers to take up their residence in Gilby, on section 35 of which his pleasant home is situated.

Mr. Schlosser was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, October 28, 1852. His parents, Albert and Catherine (Nuss) Schlosser, were natives of Germany, the father having been born in Wurtemburg, and the mother in Alsace. They came to America in 1842, first settling in Wisconsin, and afterwards going to Goodhue county, Minnesota, in 1859, and the father latterly lived in Mason City, Iowa, and died August 12, 1900. The mother died in Rice county, Minnesota.  Louis Schlosser is one of a family of four sons and one daughter, all living, one of the brothers being also a resident of North Dakota.

Mr. Schlosser was reared in Wisconsin and Minnesota, worked on the farm and obtained his education in the public schools. In 1879 he left Minnesota and came to Grand Forks county and filed a pre-emption claim to land in section 35. of Gilby township, where he has since made his home. In the following spring he was joined by his family, being one of the first permanent settlers of Gilby township. He has been an energetic worker and a successful manager, and is now the owner of two sections of as valuable land as can be found in North Dakota, and has the best of improvements and conveniences.

Mr. Schlosser was married, in 1889, to Annie Bratland, a native of Norway, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Sherman L., Walter H., Arthur G. and Lloyd R., all of whom are living. Mr. Schlosser has never taken an active part in partisan politics, but has been selected by the people to serve as a member of the township board and as school treasurer. He is highly respected and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.  Above is a portrait of Mr. Schlosser and his wife.

HON. JOHN. W. SCOTT, auditor of Grand Forks county, has served in that capacity many years and is one of the best known and most highly esteemed officials of the county. He is efficient, faithful and possessed of true Americanism and his high standing and enviable reputation is well merited. For some years he has been identified with the agricultural interests of Grand Forks county, and still owns a large and well-improved estate in this county. He owns nine hundred acres in the township of Gilby.

Our subject was born in Ontario, Canada, October 21, 1849, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Noyes) Scott. His father was a native of Ireland and came to America about 1875 and his death occurred in Canada. Four sons constituted the children of this family, of which our subject and one brother are the only ones of the family in North Dakota.

Mr. Scott was reared and educated in Wisconsin and began his business career as a farmer and followed the same in Wisconsin until 1880. He came to North Dakota in 1879 and entered a homestead claim to land in Grand Forks county, on which he resided until 1892, when he was elected to his present office. He thoroughly improved the place and it is one of the pleasant farms of the locality. Mr. Scott was elected auditor of Grand Forks county in 1892 and began to serve in that capacity in 1893 and was again elected to that office in 1896, evidencing his efficient work and popularity. He was elected county commissioner in 1881 and was the first commissioner from the fifth district. He was elected as a member of the state legislature in 1884 and served one term.

Our subject was married, in 1875, to Miss Ella Harshman. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott, five of whom are now living and bear the following names: Roy, Charles, George, Ruth and Harry. Mrs. Scott died in 1891. Mr. Scott was afterward married to Miss Hannah Varner. Three children have been born to this union, named Hannah, Leona and Ada. Mr. Scott is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a stanch and lifelong Republican and has served on the county central committee of his party.

MILO WAKELY SCOTT, M. D., who is to be found on section 3, Chester township, Grand Forks county, enjoys a wide reputation as an accomplished physician, a business man of more than the ordinary ability, and a man of personal integrity. As a practitioner of the Healing art be has commanded a wide patronage and achieved a great success. As a citizen he was quickly called to responsible positions and his voice was potent in determining the development of the new state.

The parents of our subject were Horace and Maria (Smith) Scott, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of New York. The paternal ancestors were of Scotch and English descent. Daniel Scott, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Massachusetts, and emigrated to New York at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Dr. Scott comes of a long-lived family. The grandfather died at the age of eighty-five, the father at the age of eighty-two. Daniel Scott had five sons and one daughter-Horace, Merrick, Asa, Walter, Jay and Lina. Horace Scott's family were: Daniel, Horace, Alonzo, Horton and Milo, Laura Ann, Lorinda, Cynthia, Helen and Mary. Dr. Scott is the only member of the family who is a resident of North Dakota.

Dr. Scott was born on a farm in Smyrna, Chenango county, New York, February 21, 1840, and was reared to manhood on the parental homestead. His early education was broad and deep, beginning in the public schools, continuing through the academy at Norwich and the State Normal School at Albany. Following his graduation from this school he immediately took up the study of medicine, and received a diploma from Rush Medical College in 1877. He also attended lectures at the University of Michigan, and at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. With a professional and general education far beyond the average he began the practice of medicine at Marshalltown, Iowa. In that city he remained about a year; he spent another year in Illinois. He was still not sure that he had found a suitable location, and he removed to LeSueur county, Minnesota. He did not make a prolonged stay in that region, and about 1879 entered North Dakota, and at once established himself at Grand Forks. He was in the city following his profession closely for some ten years, and then located where he is now living.  He has been in continuous practice, and has greatly prospered in all his undertakings. He owns fourteen hundred and forty acres of land, on which he has made all the needed improvements, and possesses a farm worthy to be classed among the model places of the Red river valley.

Dr. Scott has been the recipient of many honorable appointments and public honors since his advent in Dakota. While he was in Grand Forks he was United States examining surgeon on the pension board, and this position he held until his removal from the city compelled his resignation. He was a member of the capital committee, which was appointed by the governor and legislature for the purpose of locating and building the capital of Dakota Territory, which is now the capital of North Dakota at Bismarck, and was one of the commission in charge of the building, and was treasurer of the commission. He has been coroner of Grand Forks county and county physician, and his duties in these positions were discharged with marked ability.

Dr. Scott was first married to Miss Jenette Smith. She died in Cazenovia, New York . His second wife was Miss Lizzie Osterhout. She died in Morristown, Minnesota , leaving one son. Horace F. His third wife was Miss Delia E. York. She left one daughter, Delia Grace. He was married to his present wife, Mrs. E. A. Gould. She was the widow of W alter Gould, a prominent attorney of Moorehead, Minnesota , and is a lady of much tact and ability. Dr. Scott is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Independent Order of Foresters. He is a genial and companionable man, and has many warm friends throughout the valley.

THOMAS SHANAHAN, deceased. For over sixteen years prior to his demise this gentleman followed agricultural pursuits in Grand Forks township and was one of the first settlers of Grand Forks county. He met with success in his calling and had a comfortable home and enjoyed an enviable reputation and in his death the community lost a most worthy citizen.

Our subject was born in county Tipperary, Ireland, January 22, 1831. His parents, Barney and Mary (Ride) Shanahan, were natives of Ireland. The father died in his native country and the mother came to America in 1845 with the family, which consisted of four sons and one daughter, all of whom are now deceased.

Mr. Shanahan was reared and educated in Canada and engaged in farming there until 1878, when he went to Grand Forks county. North Dakota, and entered a homestead claim to the northwest quarter of section 72 in Grand Forks township, and was among the very earliest settlers there. He erected a small house and at once began to break his prairie farm and he resided thereon during the remainder of his life and made valuable improvements and gained a good income.

Our subject was married, about 1854, to Jane Mears, a native of Canada. Mr., and Mrs. Shanahan were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are now living and are as follows: Annie; Barney: Eliza H., now Mrs. Haley; Mary, now Mrs. Murphy; John; Dennis; Maggie, now Mrs. White; Alexander and Patrick. Dennis Shanahan, was born March 15. 1868, in Canada, and went with his parents to North Dakota in 1878. He was married, November 24, 1897, to Lilly Huggins, a native also of Canada. One child has been born to this union, named Jane E. Dennis now resides on the pioneer homestead of his father. The other children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shanahan reside in Grand Forks and Butte, Montana.

Thomas Shanahan died in Grand Forks county. North Dakota , in January, 1894, and the mother died January 14, 1898. They were members of the Catholic church and were highly esteemed in the community in which they spent the declining years of their lives.

HON. JOHN A. SORLEY, attorney-at-law, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, is prominent in legal circles throughout the state. He has been in practice in that city over ten years and has become well known, not only as a gentleman well versed in law, but of fine education, mentally gifted and courteous. and who has been a potent factor in the political and legal life and welfare of Grand Forks County.

Our subject was born in Allamakee County. Iowa, June 13. 1859. and was the son of Andrew Jacobson and Julia (Oppen) Jacobson, both natives of Norway. His parents came to the United States about 1849 and settled in Dane County, Wisconsin, and from there moved to Iowa and the father engaged in farming. They were the parents of eight sons, three of whom now live in North Dakota.

Our subject was reared and educated in Iowa and graduated from the Decorah Institute in 1881. He then read law with Cooley Akers, of Decorah, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in that state in 1883. He began his practice in Madison, Minnesota, in 1884, and continued there until 1889, when lie came to Grand Forks, since which time he has followed his profession in this city.

Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Kate Schouweiler, a native of Minnesota. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sorley, named as follows: Blanche A. and Monica. Mr. Sorley was elected to the state senate in 1893 and did very efficient work for the advancement of his people. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he associates with the Republican party, and is an ardent worker for the principles of that organization. He is a forcible speaker and his arguments are convincing and on several occasions he has "stumped" the county and state in the interests of the Republican party.

GEORGE W. SPENGLER, a leading stockman and farmer of Grand Forks county, resides on his estate on section 3, Inkster township, and is the owner of two thousand four hundred acres of land, one thousand six hundred of which is under the plow, five hundred in timber and well watered and adapted for the raising of stock.

Mr. Spengler was born in Readfield, Wisconsin, July 2, 1800. He was the eldest in a family of six children born to Theodore and Lavina (Leiby) Spengler, who both now reside in Wisconsin, in 1879 Mr. Spengler decided to come to Dakota, and on reaching Fargo he engaged in farm work for a time near Hillsboro, in Traill county. In 1881 he filed a claim to land in Grand Forks county, and the following year took up his residence thereon. He set about improving his land and for six years lived alone on his farm. He succeeded in developing a farm of seven hundred and forty acres, but, not pleased with the location, he disposed of it and purchased land on Forest river and began to turn his attention more and more to stock, recently he has succeeded in consolidating his holdings entirely in Inkster township, and is now establishing his home on the farm on Forest river.

Mr. Spengler was married, in 1888, to Miss Rachel Bagley, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Nellie, Walter D. and Pearl. Mr. Spengler adheres to the principles of the Republican party and is active in the cause of good government in his county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Masonic fraternity.

ELLING K. SPOONHEIM, County superintendent of schools of Grand Forks County, is one of the leading educators of the state of North Dakota.  He is a gentleman of excellent education, intelligent and possessed of excellent characteristics, and well merits his success and high standing as a public officer and citizen.

Our subject was born in Norway, May 19, 1874, and is a son of Knudt and Margaret (Hakestead) Spoonheim. His parents were natives of Norway and came to America in 1881 and settled in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, and the father still lives in that County. The mother died in July, 1899. Two sons and one daughter were born to this worthy couple, all of whom reside in North Dakota.

Mr. Spoonheim was reared in North Dakota and received his early education here. He spent one year at Bruflat Academy at Portland, North Dakota, and three years at Arvilla Academy, and then followed teaching several years and completed his education with a three years' course at Valparaiso, Indiana, taking the degree from that institution of Bachelor of Science and Arts. Immediately following his graduation he returned to North Dakota and accepted the principal ship of the city schools of Haton, Traill County, and later engaged with the schools of Grand Forks. He was elected County superintendent of schools in 1898 and is now discharging the duties of that office faithfully and well. He is also interested in farming to some extent in the vicinity of Grand Forks, and has a pleasant farm, well improved and cultivated.

Mr. Spoonheim is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Knights of Malta and Modern Woodmen of America. He is well known throughout the state in educational circles and is an efficient and highly esteemed officer. Politically he is a Populist, and is a gentleman of broad mind and keeps abreast of the times and favors reform principles.

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, of Larimore, is one of the oldest religious organizations of the city. The earliest meetings and the pioneer organization under Father Cahill date back to 1882. Father Flanagan was placed in charge of the work in 1884, and immediately erected a building for the use of a parish consisting of some twenty-five families. His field covered a radius of about forty miles, and in it he proved himself an indefatigable worker. Father Connolly assumed pastoral charge in 1887 and remained two years. From 1889 there was a period in which several rectors succeeded each other to the manifest disadvantage of the new movement.

Father James F. Simpson was sent to the struggling parish, and under his wise administration it soon took on a hopeful aspect. He is still in charge and every year since his coming has been marked by distinct improvement. He has over fifty families under his spiritual supervision, and they are earnestly and enthusiastically aiding and helping the church onward. He is still a young man, and was born in Brooklyn, New York, January 27, 1864. He was the third in a family of seven children in the family of Thomas and Roseanna (Gorman) Simpson, both natives of Ireland. From his early boyhood our subject was deeply interested in religious matters, and in 1879 he entered St. Charles College at Ellicott City, Maryland, and later became a student at Niagara University, New York, graduating with the class of 1885. He took the theological course at St. Bonaventura Seminary, New York, and was ordained to the priesthood January 25, 1889. He was appointed an assistant rector at St. Patrick's Cathedral, at Harrisburg. In 1891 he removed to Centralia, Pennsylvania. He did not remain there long, but in 1894 came to Larimore to the very great advantage of the church in this city. Under his care at the present time are two distinctively mission movements, both of which are prosperous. One is St. Mark's church at Conway, and the other is St. Veronica's at Park River. At Conway he has thirty families and at Park River fifteen: both congregations are flourishing and out of debt.

WILLIAM HENRY STANDISH. ex-attorney general of North Dakota, is one of the leading lawyers of Grand Forks, and is widely known as a gentleman of ability and thorough knowledge of his profession.

Our subject is a native of Ontario county, New York, and was born near Bristol Springs, March 15. 1842. His parents, George T. and Hannah (Hall) Standish, were natives of New York, and the father was a farmer and school teacher, and both are buried in Ontario county. New York. The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Standish, was a direct descendent of Miles Standish of the Mayflower, and the family have engaged in agricultural pursuits through several generations. Our subject had four brothers, one of whom is now residing in Casselton, North Dakota.

Mr. Standish was reared and educated in New York, and attended the Canandaigua .Academy four terms and roomed in the room occupied by Stephen A. Douglas while attending that college. He had devoted some time to the study of law and in 1863 moved to Batavia, Clermont county, Ohio, and finished reading under Julius A. Penn. He enlisted in May, 1864, in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-third Volunteer Infantry, as sergeant and served four and a half months until the expiration of his term of enlistment and was then discharged from the service. He participated in the battle of Sir John's Run in Morgan county, Virginia, and after his discharge returned to Ohio, and was soon afterward admitted to the bar and practiced his profession in Ohio until 1867 in company with Mr. Penn, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained there until 1874, during which time, in 1872, he was nominated for probate judge and received a good vote, but the ticket was defeated. He went to Chicago in 1874 and to Polk county, Minnesota, in 1879, and in 1883 to Bartlett. North Dakota, and remained in that city until 1886. and then to Lakota. He remained there until 1892 and was then nominated on the fusion ticket for attorney general and was elected by a majority of two thousand five hundred and sixty-six, and served two years in that capacity, and was an efficient and popular officer. Since the expiration of his term of office he has followed the practice of his profession, and is one of the leaders of legal circles in Grand Forks.

Our subject was married, to Annie W. Harper, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1868. Mrs. Standish died in February, 1885. Three children were born to this union, one of whom is now living, named William B. Mr. Standish was married. August 17, 1886, to Ada M. Seward in New York. Mrs. Standish's father is a cousin of William H. Seward. Our subject was a Republican politically until 1892. when he became identified with the movements of the Populist party and is still identified with the reform principles of that party, and is an ardent worker in the same. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has been commander of the local post. He has built up a good practice and is one of the best known and most highly esteemed men of North Dakota.

He is well known as a writer upon the principle of the free coinage of silver, at the ratio of sixteen to one, and his letters have been published in almost every state of the union and circulated in Europe. He is the author of the letter of July 25, 1893, in answer to the Windoni theory that the free coinage of silver would force us to accept the silver money of Europe at a great loss, and in which argument he used a certificate from the director of the United States mint that the silver money of Europe could not be secured at any discount and any attempt to place the silver money of Europe on us, for re-coinage, would be done at a loss to the parties who attempted it. Since then the Windom argument has been dead.

VINCENT L. STONE, deceased. This gentleman passed many years in Grand Forks, North Dakota, as an attorney, and became one of the leaders of his profession, and his demise was deeply mourned by the people as that of a personal friend and most worthy citizen. He was born at Mexico, Oswego county. New York, June 26, 1854.

The father of our subject, Samuel H. Stone, died in 1887, and the mother died in 1892.

Mr. Stone's early education was received at Mexico Academy; from there, in 1870, he entered Hamilton College, at Clinton, Oneida county. New York, graduating with honor in 1874. He ranked high in the rhetorical department of college work; was especially strong as a debater, winning the first prize in the extemporaneous prize debate of his class held in its commencement week. He began the practice of law at his home, was early connected with important cases, and soon became favorably known by the bar of central New York. In 1881, with success in his profession already assured at home, he was so strongly attracted by the enterprise, vigor and life of the Northwest, that at the opening of the next year he went to Fargo, North Dakota, and identified his life interests with that center of what he considered a most promising field of growth and development.

Mr. Stone was married, October 11, 1883, to Fanny B. Sage, of Racine, Wisconsin . One child was born to this union, who lived but five months. Mr. Stone died at Los Angeles, California , December 20, 1891. At a meeting of the bar at the time of his death, his record was reviewed by various speakers, and all were high in their praise of his life work and excellence of character.

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