EDWARD BARNUM, is well known as a prosperous merchant of Lakota, Nelson county, where he has been a resident for several years. He was born in Kent, Ontario, Canada, November 27. 1837.
The Barnum family in America originated with the arrival of three brothers in Colonial times, and they were patriots in the Revolution. The grand-fattier of our subject served in the war of 1812. The father of our subject, David W. Barnum, was of Welsh extraction, and the mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Snooks, was of German descent.
Mr. Barnum was the second in a family of four children, and was raised on the Canadian farm until 1853. when he removed with his parents to Stillwater. Minnesota, where the father operated a hotel. Our subject went to Hastings in 1856 and bought wheat, and in April, 1863, enlisted in 1856 and bought wheat, and in April, 1863, enlisted in Company L, First United States Veteran Volunteer Engineers. He was engaged at Mission Ridge, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, in October, 1865, and then returned to Hastings and engaged in the real estate, loans and insurance business, which he followed until the spring of 1886. He then went to Nelson county, North Dakota, and pre-empted land in section 6, in Wamduska township, and engaged in farming a half-section of land, and his home was on the banks of Stump Lake for ten years. He raised small grains, sheep and other stock, and in 1897 became manager, and also owned an interest in the Wamduska Land & Live Stock Company. He purchased the mercantile business which he now operates in Lakota in 1898. This was formerly owned by F. A. Rahders, and the stock is valued at ten thousand dollars. Mr. Barnum has prospered in his business and enjoys a liberal patronage.
Our subject was married, in 1853, to Miss Catherine McLaughlin, who died in 1865. Three children were born to this union, named in order of birth as follows: Caroline A., now Mrs. E. C. Clemmens, D. D.; Hannah L., now Mrs. P. S. Dimham, of Lakota; and George W., now residing in San Francisco, California. Mr. Barnum was married, in 1866, to Miss Mary J. Hodgson. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnum, named Lewis E., now deceased. Mr. Barnum is a member of G. K. Warren Post, No. 41, Grand Army of the Republic, and he also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican in political sentiment.
JOHN W. BLISS, one of the prominent citizens of Lakota, Nelson county, has for many years been identified with the farming interests of Osago township, and has made a success of his vocation, and now owns and operates more than twelve hundred acres of land on which he held his residence until recently. He has now settled his family in a comfortable home in Lakota and enjoys the fruit of many years of hard labor, which was shared equally by his faithful companion, Mrs. Bliss.
Mr. Bliss was born in Geauga county, Ohio, March 21, 1859, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to Olney and Mahala (McFarland) Bliss, both of whom now reside in Kansas. He was reared on the Ohio farm and attended several terms of college at Oberlin, Ohio, and taught school a short time in his native town, and then devoted his attention to agriculture and in the spring of 1882, with very little money in his pockets, but with a heart filled with pluck and determination, started out to make his fortune in the West. The place chosen for this was Dakota. He filed on a claim, and with an ox team began his career. The first winter spent in Dakota was, indeed, a tough one for tlie eastern boy, who, with another bachelor, spent the winter on the claim, going through about all the hardships known to a new country, seeing no one and living on scanty and frozen rations. The following season he worked for others, and during the summer, after putting in a small crop on his own claim, which crop was entirely hailed out, he became thoroughly discouraged and wrote to Miss Alice Cowles, a teacher in Geauga county, Ohio, to whom he was affianced, and urged a hasty marriage. She accordingly made arrangements, and together with her father and sister, came west. They were met at Grand
Forksby Mr. Bliss, also by Mr. Fairbanks, who was affianced to her sister. The party proceeded to Harrisburg, where they were married November 16, 1883, by Justice of the Peace Hennessy, after which they drove to their claim, where they partook of such a feast as we think very few wedding parties ever sit down to, viz:. Fried salt pork, water gravy and biscuits (such as only bachelors can make), and served upon dishes of every description-tin lard pail covers and jack knives playing an important part. And there, in their one-room, with a homemade pine bedstead and table, an old cook stove and three chairs, the bride and groom began housekeeping, and then began also the years of successes and failures which came to their lot. They have now a comfortable home and one which may well be the pride of our subject and wife, who have labored together with a will and cheerful hands and hearts. Land was purchased from time to time and they now own a tine estate in Nelson county. Three .children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, who bear the names of Jay W., Vera M. and Eva Gertrude. Mr. Bliss served continuously on the town and school board during his residence in Osage township and in 1895 was elected to the office of county commissioner of Nelson county, in which capacity he served three years. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and politically is a Republican.
LARS O. BUE, postmaster and general
merchant at Bue post office. Nelson county, is the
owner of one of the finest and most valuable homes
in Nelson county.
Mr. Bue was born in
Bergenstift,
Norway,
April 8, 1861. He was the youngest of five
children born to Ole and Christe (Davidson) Bue.
The father now lives in Winnishiek county,
Iowa, the mother
having died several years since. The father still
lives upon the farm where he located on first
coming to America
in 1866.
Lars O. Bue was reared to
farm labor and at the age of nineteen years he
began clerking in a store. In the spring of 1881
he went to Dakota, landing at Valley City, and then started
on foot for the "Big Bend" in the Cheyenne
river. After a walk of sixty miles he
located the farm he now occupies, built a 6x6 log
shanty and held the land as a squatter. During the
fall of 1881 he worked in the Red
river valley and the following autumn
in the Goose river valley. In the meantime he had
secured a yoke of oxen and in the spring of 1883,
filed a claim to his land and began farming
operations. In the month of May, 1882, the post
office was established and named Bue, in honor of
our subject, and he became the first postmaster
and has continued to hold that position since. In
1890 he invested in a stock of general merchandise
and ha done a In 1890 he invested in a stock of
general merchandise and ha done a prosperous
business in that line. He is the owner of two
hundred and forty acres of valuable land, well
improved and highly cultivated. He erected a fine
residence in 1898.
Mr. Bue was married, in 1883,
to Miss Olina Mikkelson, and this union has been
blessed by the birth of nine children: Clara,
Oscar, Gilbert, Albert, Nels, Clarence, Oliver and
Ludwig, twins, and Oliver. Clara, Clarence
and Oliver, one of the twin brothers, are now
deceased. Mr. Bue is a Republican and has taken an
active part in party affairs in his county. He was
one of the organizers of the township and was
elected township clerk. He was a delegate to the
first Republican convention in Nelson county and
has attended most of the county conventions of his
party and three state conventions. In 1888 he was
elected county commissioner from his district. He
is a member of the Lutheran church and a member of
the A. O. U. W. He is well known throughout the
county and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a
wide circle of friends and
acquaintances.
NILS E.
DAHLEN.
The family to which this gentleman belongs is
known as the pioneer family of northeastern Nelson
county. The father, Elling Dahlen, and eight sons
are located near together on well-improved farms,
and the subject of this review is the eldest son
of the family. He is a gentleman of influence in
his community and as identified with the social
interests of Nelson county is widely and favorably
known. He is a resident of section 12 in Dahlen
township, which is named in honor of its pioneer
family.
Nils E. Dahlen was born in
Norde Aurdal, Walders, Norway, on the farm Dahlen,
a property which has been owned by the family for
many generations. The date of his birth is May 11,
1858. The family emigrated to America and settled
at Red Wing, Minnesota, in August, 1865, and there
conducted a farm in Goodhue county, and in the
spring of 1877 removed to Chippewa county. Three
of the sons had reached the age required for
entering claims in 1881 and they decided to try
Dakota and the father also went there to be near
his sons. The goods were shipped to Ojata and they
then started out to locate land, and followed an
old Indian trail toward what is now Forest river.
Reaching timber on the upper part of the river
they located claims in that vicinity, and built
one log house and all passed the winter therein
and in the spring small log houses were erected on
each of the claims chosen. They had no neighbors
for a year and even game was not to be found in
those early days. Each now has a fine farm, well
developed and improved and enjoys
prosperity.
Our subject was married, in
1885. to Miss Maret Vika. Six children were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Dahlen, named as follows: Minnie,
Emma, Elling O.. Agnes, Henry C. and Martin. Mrs.
Dahlen died January 22, 1900. She was a faithful
wife and mother, and an active worker in the
church and well known socially. In the development
of the farm and the establishment of their
beautiful home she devoted all her energies and
patiently endured the hardships of early life in
the new country, aiding and sympathizing in all
good work around her, and she is sadly missed by a
large circle of relatives and friends. Mr. Dahlen
is a member of the Lutheran church, and is active
in public affairs, having served as assessor of
his township six
years.
NELS H.
ELVICK.
This gentleman is well known both in farming and
mercantile circles in Nelson county. He is engaged
in general merchandise in Michigan City, and for
many years followed agricultural pursuits in that
region and met with success in his calling. He has
made his way single-handed and is a striking
example of a self-made man.
Our subject was born on the
farm Elvick, in Modalen. Bergen stift, Norway.
September 1, 1860. His father bore the name of
Hans Elvick, and the mother bore the maiden name
of Maria Nelson. The father died when our subject
was ten years of age and from that time young Nels
was dependent upon his own resources and he earned
but a scanty livelihood. When he was sixteen years
of age he received thirty-five dollars through an
uncle's death and with ten dollars borrowed money
set out for America. He went directly to Worth
county, Iowa, and there worked on a farm until
June, 1882, when he went to Grand Forks, North
Dakota, and with two hundred and fifty dollars
took land in Grand Forks county. He went to
Michigan township. Nelson county, in the spring of
1883 and bought improvements of another farm in
section 32. Much of the time until 18S6 he lived
in Grand Forks county and then lived two years
alone on the Nelson county farm and would not
allow debt to come upon him for anything. He now
owns nine hundred and fifty acres of land in one
tract and has a finely-developed farm with good
improvements and a comfortable residence, erected
in 1898. He purchased a stock of general
merchandise in company with Nels Orvik in 1899,
and they now conduct a good business in Michigan
City.
Our subject was married, in
1888, to Miss Rosa B. Wise, a native of Ohio. Mr.
and Mrs. Elvick have been the parents of five
children, named as follows: Bert M., deceased;
Mary C, deceased; Cora; Nels and Lillie. Mr.
Elvick is a member of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen and in political sentiment he is a
Populist. He is a man of broad ideas,
public-spirited and energetic and well merits his
success in North
Dakota.
ERIK O.
ENGESATHER,
county treasurer of Nelson county. North Dakota,
is a gentleman of foreign birth, but has become a
thorough American citizen, and is devoted to the
best interests of his adopted land. He was born in
Sogndal. in Sogn, North Bergenhus, Amt, Norway,
July 8, 1858.
Mr. Engesather and his twin
brother had three brothers and sisters older than
themselves in a family of eight children, who were
born to Ole S. and Johanna (Olson) Engesather. The
mother died July 18, 1873, and the father survives
and lives in the old country. Our subject
worked on a farm and attended the common schools,
and at sixteen years of age entered Sogndale
Folkeshoi College, where he completed a six-months
business course. He had subsequently clerked in a
general store three years, and in the spring of
1878 he decided to try his fortunes in the New
World, and accordingly emigrated to America,
landing at New York. he at once went to Red Wing,
Minnesota, and engaged at farm work two years near
Kenyon, Minnesota, and in the spring of 1880 went
to Grand Forks county. North Dakota, and entered a
homestead claim to land, and then returned to
Goodhue county. Minnesota, where he worked during
the spring of 1882. and then went to Larimore and
engaged in clerking and during the summer of that
year "squatted" on land in section 33, in Dahlen
township, and in April, 1883, filed claim to the
land and built a shanty thereon and went there to
reside. He bought a yoke of oxen and worked on the
farm summers and followed clerking in Larimore in
the winters until 1890, and then owned a well
developed farm of three hundred and twenty acres.
He is now the fortunate possessor of one section
of land in Dahlen township, upon which he has
placed valuable improvements. and the place is
entitled to rank among the finest farms of the
locality. He devoted himself to his farm work
until 1896, when he was elected county treasurer,
and in the tall of 1898 he was again elected to
the office, and is now ably discharging the duties
of his position.
Our subject was married, in
1885, to Miss Anna Barsness, a native of Norway.
One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Engesather, who was born September 22, 1886. and
bears the name of John. In 1896 Mr. and Mrs.
Engesather adopted Karen M. Heland. who was born
July 15. 1894, and is now known as Maria
Engesather. Our subject is a member of the United
Lutheran church of America, and politically he is
a Populist, with which party he has been
identified since its
organization.
JOHN O.
ENGESATHER,
one of the most remarkably successful
agriculturists of Nelson county, makes his home in
section 33, Dahlen township, in which his valuable
estate lies.
Mr. Engesather was born in
Sogndal Sogn, Norway, December 17, 1860. He was
the fifth child in a family of eight children born
to Ole S. and Johanna (Olsen) Engesather. He was
reared in his native land and had the advantages
of the high schools for two years, and then was
given a primary course in English. Two of his
brothers had already come to America, and in 1883
our subject crossed the ocean and proceeded
directly to Nelson county,. North Dakota, and in
April of the same year filed a pre-emption claim
and later a tree claim to the lands upon which his
present residence and buildings stand. When he
arrived in Nelson county he had fourteen dollars
in cash and was sixty dollars in debt. He erected
a small shanty, 7x7 feet, of boards purchased from
the neighbors, and he had no team. The roof was of
hay and sod. With his brother's ox-team he broke
land for himself and his brother, aggregating
seventy-five acres the first season. He raised a
crop in 1884, and the next spring purchased an
ox-team of his own, and he and his three brothers
lived upon his land and worked in common. He met
with success notwithstanding the loss of one or
two crops, and is now the owner of eight hundred
and eighty acres of valuable lands, and has it
well stocked and largely improved. He has a
comfortable residence and convenient farm
buildings for the shelter of his stock and the
storing of his crops. His barn, built in 1892, is
40x48 feet, and water is found in abundance at a
depth of twenty-four feet. In the summer of 1900
he built another barn, 64x52, with room for
thirty-two head of horses and ninety tons of hay.
Mr. Engesather was married,
in 1889, to Miss Salvei Vangen. They are the
parents of five children, named as follows: Odine
J., Henry E., Wilhelm G., John Arthur (deceased)
and Selma M. Mr. Engesather is a valued member of
the community and takes an active interest in the
public questions of the day. In political views he
is a Republican and favorable to prohibition. He
has attended most of the county conventions of his
party, and also the state conventions. He is at
present school treasurer of his district. He is a
consistent member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran
church.
WILLLAM C.
FAIRBANKS.
In the person above named Lakota finds one of her
most energetic and practical men, as well as one
of the influential citizens of Nelson county. He
at present holds the appointment of United States
commissioner, and also conducts a real estate and
loan business.
Our subject was born in
Geauga county. Ohio, July 11. 1857, and was the
only child born to John M. and Julia (Houghton)
Fairbanks, both of whom are deceased. The family
dates in America to 1636, when the first settler
of that name made a home in Dedham, Massachusetts,
and the old homestead near that place is still in
possession of the family. The father of our
subject was a farmer by occupation, and our
subject assisted with the work of the place until
sixteen years of age. when the father embarked in
the mercantile business, and our subject entered
the Grand River Institute and later attended
Spencer's Business College. When about twenty
years of age he began his career independent of
home aid and kept books one year for a wholesale
house in northern Pennsylvania, and then
established a grocery store in Youngstown, Ohio,
and in the fall of 1881 went to Fargo, North
Dakota, for his health. He passed the winter
there, and in the spring in company with J. W.
Bliss and J. C. LeBeau, secured land in Osago
township. Nelson county. He owned a half-interest
in a team of horses, and arrived at his farm with
fifteen dollars in cash, and each of the settlers
erected a small shanty and assisted each other in
a small shanty and assisted each other in every
possible manner. Our subject devoted himself to
agricultural pursuits until 1894, and gained a
pleasant home. He was elected county clerk of
courts in 1894. and held the position five years,
and established his family in a comfortable home
in Dakota. In August, 1899, he was appointed
United States commissioner and at once entered
upon the duties of his
office.
Our subject was married, in
1883, to Miss Eva M. Cowles, a native of Ohio. Two
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks,
who are named as follows: Ruth and Miles. Our
subject took an active part in the organization of
Osago township, and served as chairman of the
first township board. He was chosen chairman of
the Republican county central committee in 1890,
and is now serving in the same
capacity.
KNUD O.
FJELD,
one of the first settlers of Field township.
Nelson county, is one of the most successful
agriculturists of that region, and has a
comfortable home in section 26. The township was
named in honor of his family, who were the first
settlers of the locality and our subject has
always been wide awake to its needs and has
striven to develop its resources and further its
financial ang social interests.
Mr. Fjeld was born in Sondre
Aurdal Valders. Christian Amt, Norway,
October 3, 1856, and was the eldest in a family of
eight children born to Ole K. and Ingre (Malum)
Fjeld. The father owned the farm Fjeld and our
subject worked at home and the father died when
our subject was but seventeen years of age. He
continued on the home farm untiri878, when he was
married and with his wife sailed to America and
went to Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, where
relatives lived, and he there worked at farm work
until June, 1882, when he drove overland to Dakota
and stopped in Traill county a few days, where he
left his family and then went alone to Nelson
county in search of land. He located on the land
on which he now resides and built a small sod
house and his family joined him on the farm in the
fall of that year. He had a yoke of oxen and a few
cows and some money and worked in Traill county
during the harvest season and thus earned enough
to keep his family during the winter and he also
worked for others during the next season. He has
devoted his time to the development of his own
farm since 1884 and has met with good success. He
erected a frame and sod house on his homestead in
1885 and in 1896 this was supplanted by a
comfortable and commodious dwelling, which forms a
pleasant home.
Our subject was married, in
1878, to Miss Maria Gottenberg. Mr. and Mrs. Fjeld
are the parents of eleven children, named as
follows: Ole, engaged in farming in Field
township; Carrie, now Mrs. Martin Hulberg, living
in Scott county, Minnesota; Ingvold ; Sever,
deceased ; Selmer ; Olive ; Christian ; Martin ;
Albert: Christina, deceased, and Carl. Mr. Fjeld
is a member of the United Norwegian church. He is
a Republican politically and is prominent in party
affairs and is a member of the county central
committee. He is now township treasurer and school
clerk and is active in local
affairs.
SAMUEL
FOSTER.
In the farming and stock-raising interests of
Nelson county the gentleman above named takes a
leading part. He has been identified with the
progress of that locality from its earliest
settlement, and now has one of the best farms to
be found on the banks of Stump lake, and is one of
the best known and most highly esteemed men of
Wamduska township. His home is in section 10 and
is one of great comfort and even
luxury.
Our subject was born
inLondon,
England,
and was the second child and oldest son born to
Samuel and Martha (Hall) Foster, both of whom are
now deceased. The mother was a sister of Lady
Somerset, and the father was in the boot and shoe
trade, and thus the families became estranged. The
father died November 20, 1874, and in the winter
of 1879-80 the mother and children came to
America, and,
arriving at Grand Forks, North
Dakota, he remained there
until spring, when they located on Turtle river.
The mother dying in the fall caused the family to
become separated, Samuel Foster coming west to
Stump lake. Nelson county, where he arrived in the
winter of 1880-81, and the remainder of the family
residing at Grand Forks.
He
at once erected a settler's shanty of boards and
tar paper, and there passed a very severe winter.
The nearest neighbor was C. T. Harris, and our
subject was one of the first three settlers on the
east bank of Stump lake, and is at present the
oldest resident settler of that bank of the lake.
He invested in a yoke of cattle and broke fifty
acres of land, and in 1882 rented plots of land in
that vicinity which had been vacated by pioneers,
and cropped about three hundred acres of land, and
he farmed with profit until 1888, when frost and
drought caused a failure of crops for three
successive years and the township became almost
depopulated.
Our subject now owns one
thousand acres of fine farming land and keeps
about four hundred head of sheep and sixty head of
cattle, and has an abundance of excellent water
which cannot be equaled in the county. Mr. Foster
appreciated this by erecting a sixty-five-foot
tower and fourteen-horse-power windmill with which
the pumping, grinding feed, churning, etc., is
done, and he also has large barns, outbuildings,
granaries, etc., and is just completing a
comfortable and commodious
residence.
Mr. Foster was married, in
1887, to Miss Frances D. Englesbee. One son has
been born to this union who bears the name of
Lionel E. Mr. Foster is a genial, social gentleman
and has a host of friends in Nelson county, and is
a leading man in his township. He is a Republican
in political sentiment, and is a gentleman of firm
convictions and honest industry, and his success
is well merited.
JUDGE ANDREW L.
FREEGORD,
one of the most popular and influential citizens
of Nelson county, has held the office of county
judge for many years, and is a gentleman of broad
mind, intelligent and progressive and thoroughly
awake to the needs of his community.
He
was born on the farm Klevan, Stordalen, north
Trondhjems Amt, Norway. June 24, 1856. He was the
only child born to Lars and Ingeborg (or Emily)
Frigord. The father died when our subject was two
years of age, on the passage to America, and his
resting place was in the waters of the St.
Lawrence gulf. The mother and son went direct to
Red Wing, Minnesota, and the mother was left
without support in a destitute condition, worked
hard to earn a livelihood for herself and boy. She
later married Mr. Lindstrom, and they made a home
in Goodhue county, Minnesota, and there our
subject was reared to farm labor. When he was
eighteen years of age he entered the St. Anskarius
Academy at Carver, Minnesota, and at the age of
twenty years began teaching and entered St.
Gustavus Adolphus College, at St. Peter, and then
taught school until 1882, when he went to Larimore
and engaged in clerking in a store and also took
land in section 17, in Lee township, in what is
now Nelson county, and in the fall of 1882, at a
cost of twenty-six dollars per load for hauling of
lumber, built a small frame house, and he was the
first settler of Lee township on the prairie. The
following spring he was appointed notary public,
and also located settlers and made loans for
Eastern parties and then entered final proofs and
contests. The same spring he made final proofs on
his own farm, and in the fall of 1883 began the
development of the place.
He
served as notary public eight years and county
justice six years, and assisted in the
organization of the township for both civil and
school purposes. He was elected county judge in
1892 and re-elected in 1894, 1896 and 1898. He now
owns five hundred and twenty acres of land in
Nelson county, most of which he operates by hired
help.
Our subject was married, in
the summer of 1882, to Miss Sigri Kristoferson,
who was born in the same locality as Mr. Freegord.
Seven children have been born to bless their home,
named as follows : Lorenze; Soren ; Joel, deceased
: Philip E.; Joel W.; Genevieve E.; and Manilla V.
Mr. Freegord is a member of the Lutheran church
and politically is a Populist. He is one of the
best known and most highly esteemed men of Nelson
county, and well merits his high standing and
success.
CARL N.
FRICH,
one of the young men of North Dakota who has
succeeded in winning for himself a high place as a
citizen and attorney, is now serving in the
capacity of state's attorney for Nelson county and
enjoys a good practice in the city of Lakota. He
is a native of Wisconsin, and was born in LaCrosse
August 4, 1867.
Our subject is the second in
a family of five children born to Professor John
B. and' Caroline (Nelson) Frich, who are now
residents of Hamlin, Minnesota. His parents were
natives of Norway, although the family name is
German. The father was president of the Norwegian
Lutheran Seminary at Hamlin. Our subject attended
the high school at La Crosse and also attended
Norwood St. Olafs College, and spent two years at
the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa. He was then
a reporter on the "Republican Leader" at La
Crosse, Wisconsin, and was thus engaged about two
years. He entered the State University at
Minneapolis and was graduated from the law
department with the class of 1896, and in July of
that year established a law office at Lakota,
North Dakota. He has succeeded in building up a
good practice and has fast become one of the
prominent men of his profession and is one of the
rising young men of the state. He was elected
without opposition in 1898 to the office of
state's attorney for Nelson county, and is
faithfully performing his duties in that
capacity.
Our subject was married, in
1891, to Miss Mary Hurley. Mr. Frich is a member
of the Norwegian Lutheran church and is an
exemplary citizen and an earnest worker for the
better interests of the community in which he
makes his home. Politically he affiliates with the
Republican party and is a man of broad ideas and
firm in his convictions of
right.
ROBERT J.
GARDINER.
Among the gentlemen who are engaged in agriculture
in Cleveland township, Nelson county, none are
more useful in sustaining and extending its
farming interests than Mr. Gardiner. He is one of
the substantial and successful agriculturists and
has a pleasant home on section 14.
Our subject was born in
Lanark county, Ontario, Canada, January 13, 1867,
and was the fourth in a family of eight children
born to William L. and Jeane (Cuthbertson)
Gardiner, both of whom live in Canada. The family
settled in Lambton county when our subject was two
and a half years of age, and the earliest
recollection he has of farm life is stump
grubbing. When of age Mr. Gardiner went to North
Dakota, and he had but a few dollars, and in July,
1888, he filed a homestead claim and tree claim to
land in sections 14 and 15 and the following
spring went on homestead for permanent residence.
He built a small shanty and a year later a small
frame house, and for ten years he did his own
cooking and claims he is the prize cook of the
locality. He took his stock to Dakota for winter
shelter and during two winters attended school and
during the summer months he did all his farm work
alone, with the exception of harvesting his grain.
He now owns a section of land and crops about four
hundred acres, and in 1896 he erected a stone
basement barn and has good improvements on the
place.
Our subject was married, in
1898, to Miss Isabel Campbell, who went to Dakota
with her parents in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
are the parents of one daughter, yet unnamed. Mr.
Gardiner is a member of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen. He is now serving as township
clerk and is actively interested in the general
welfare of his community. He is a member of the
Republican party and is prominent in party
affairs, and since 1894 has served as a member of
the Republican county central committee, and is a
leader of his party in the northwestern part of
Nelson county. Mr. Gardiner is honest and
industrious and well merits his success as a
farmer and high standing as a
citizen.
JULIUS G.
GORDON,
county auditor of Nelson county and a resident of
Lakota, is one of the most popular officials of
the county and has to his credit thirteen years of
public service in county affairs. He is a
gentleman of unassuming character, is conservative
and is possessed of a strong mind and good sense
of humor. In social life he is popular with all
who know him.
Our subject was born in
Huntington county, Quebec, Canada, December 17,
1850, and was the eldest in a family of seven
children born to Charles and Ann B. (Edwards)
Gordon. The father was a native of Canada and the
mother was born in Scotland. The paternal
great-grandfather of our subject, Thomas Gordon,
was a soldier of the American Revolution and the
grandfather, Daniel Gordon, was a soldier of the
war of 1812, and later he settled in Canada. The
Gordon family have now all drifted back into the
United States. The father was a carpenter and
railroad contractor, Mr. Gordon was reared on a
dairy farm until eighteen years of age and then he
was employed a year in clerking and then followed
railroad work six months and then entered Bryant
& Stratton's Business College at Montreal,
from which institution he received a diploma and
he was then employed as timekeeper and paymaster
with a construction gang and also contracted some
until 1880. In the spring of that year he went to
Grand Forks, North Dakota, and entered land on the
Minnesota side of the Red river in Polk county,
and in 1883 worked on the Canadian Pacific
Railroad and was thus engaged two years. He went
to Michigan City in the spring of 1885 and entered
claim to land as a tree claim and homestead in
Michigan township, and followed farming there
until 1890. He was then elected county
commissioner for district No. 5 in 1887 and served
nine successive years, during six years acting as
chairman. From 1890 to 1899 Gordon Brothers
operated a store in Michigan City and our subject
was engaged as manager and the business was a
success. Mr. Gordon was elected county auditor in
1897 and is ably filling that office. He is
interested in twenty-four hundred acres of land,
known as the Gordon Grain and Stock Farm, which is
one of the most extensive farms of the
county.
Our subject was married, in
1877, to Miss Eliza Richardson, a native of
Canada. Mr. Gordon is a member of the
Congregational church and he holds membership in
the Ancient Order of Unit membership in the
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is
non-partisan in politics, but has been identified
with many of the movements of the Populist party
and favors reform
principles.
GEORGE W.
GROVES.
The agricultural interests of Illinois township.
Nelson county, find an excellent representative in
the person of George W. Groves. He resides in
section 23 and his farm consists of four hundred
and eighty acres, a good share of which is under
cultivation. He was one of the earliest settlers
of his township, and is widely known as a man of
active public spirit and good
citizenship.
Our subject was born in the
town of Hastings, Sussex county, England, in
April, 1863, and was the eldest in a family of
eight children, born to William and Charlotte M.
(Barnes) Graves, both of whom are deceased. The
father was mason by trade and a contractor and
builder, and with a desire to gain land for his
family he emigrated to Canada in the spring of
1879 and remained in Ontario one year, and in the
spring of 1880 went to Grand Forks and worked at
this trade and took a homestead in Walsh county.
In the spring of 1882 our subject and his father
went to Nelson county and the father entered a
pre-emption and tree claim on section 25, and the
parents resided there until their death. In the
spring of 1884 Mr. Groves located on the land
where he now resides. He has made a success of his
calling and enjoys a comfortable
competence.
Our subject was married, in
1892, to Miss Emma M. Raebel, a native of
Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are the parents of
four children, named as follows: Edward W., Ruth,
deceased; Mildred and Grace. Our subject has been
prominent in county affairs since taking up his
residence in North Dakota, and has held the office
of county surveyor two terms, and is now township
clerk, in which capacity he has served for eleven
years. He is an old-time Democrat in politics. He
holds time Democrat in politics. He holds
membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
He is the oldest settler now living in Illinois
township, his father's shanty being the first
here, the lumber for the home being hauled from
Grand
Forks.
MICHAEL
GUTTING,
possessor of one of the fine farms of Wanduska
township, Nelson county, is one of the earliest
settlers of the so-called Peninsula of Lake
township, and with Mr. Wishert was the first to
settle in that locality. He has a comfortable home
in section 18. and has made a success of
diversified farming.
Our subject was born in
Baden, Germany, August 8, 1842. He was the eldest
of a family of seven children, born to Ferdinand
and Magdalena (Vogal) Gutting. He remained at home
until he was twenty-four years of age, and engaged
in farming and oil manufacturing, and in 1866,
with two hundred dollars, he started for America.
He arrived at Castle Garden, New York, and went
direct to Newark, New Jersey, and worked at odd
jobs, and in 1871 returned to his native land.
After a few months he again came to America, and a
year later was joined by his brother, Joseph. He
went to Minneapolis in 1876. and worked there
until 1881. when he invested in a team and prairie
schooner, and with his wife and two children drove
overland to Grand Forks. He there heard of Stump
Lake, and May 21 arrived on the farm which he now
occupies. The timber of the place attracted him as
a settler of that locality, and with the aid of
the one settler who lived on the peninsula he
constructed a small log house with thatched roof,
and then hauled his household goods from Grand
Forks and lumber for a floor. The country was wild
at that time, and our subject was one of about six
settlers in the county, but in 1882 it fast became
settled. A frame house was later built for the
comfort of the family, but traces of the log house
are yet to be seen. Mr. Gutting now owns a section
of land and is classed among the most successful
farmers of the locality. He built a fine barn in
1896, which has since been re-modeled and
enlarged.
Our subject was married, in
1873. to Miss Christina Engel. Six children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gutting, who bear the
following names: George, deceased; Charles, now at
home; Christina, Fritz, Lena and Rosa. Mr. Gutting
is now serving as school treasurer, and is
actively interested in the development and growth
of his locality socially as well as financially.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and is non-partisan in
politics.
CLARKSON A.
HALL,
county superintendent of schools of Nelson county,
is one of the efficient educational workers of
North Dakota. He is a native of Wyoming county,
New York.
Mr. Hall was raised on a farm
and educated in the common schools, at Pike
Seminary, Cazenovia and Alexander. He began
teaching at rather an early age. but continued
attending school five or six year later. He
enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth
New York Volunteers, and did his best for the flag
that he had been teaching his former pupils to
love and defend. Returning from the front, being
unable to perform manual labor, he resumed
teaching, his experience in this work being in
Michigan, Iowa and New York. In the last named
state he held the office of county commissioner of
schools, which corresponds to county
superintendent of schools in North Dakota, for
nine years, removing with his family at the close
of his term of office, to Nelson county. North
Dakota.
Since settling in North
Dakota his life has been a busy one. Landing in
Lakota in March, 1888, he seeded one hundred and
thirty-five acres. The great frost harvested the
field in a night. He hired a man and had every
acre plowed back, just as he had agreed to do by
the terms of the lease, but himself taught the
Bartlett school from October, 1888, until June,
1889. The Lakota school was offered to him and
together with his daughter, Jennie, he taught here
three years, when he was elected to the office of
county superintendent of schools, which office he
now fills.
The records of the state
association and of the county associations show
that Superintendent Hall has been active in school
affairs. His institutes are always provided, not
only with a leading conductor, but also an
instructor in primary work, he believing that the
little ones should be started right. The
superintendent gives his whole time and attention
to his school work. He believes in North Dakota
people. North Dakota soil and North Dakota
opportunities ; has secured control of a
half-section and delights to plant a tree or shrub
or willow cutting, to enhance or shrub or willow
cutting, to enhance the beauty of the prairie
farms in the years that are coming. He delights in
beautiful tree, a bird's song, a flower, a good
horse, a promising boy or girl and cares more to
be useful than to be
rich.
LEWIS S.
HELGELAND.
One of the farms of Norway
township, Nelson county, best adapted to
diversified farming is owned and operated by the
subject of this review. It consists of three
hundred and twenty acres, of which seventy acres
is meadow land, forty acres in timber and the
balance is prairie and well adapted to crops, and
the entire place furnishes a model farm. Mr.
Helgeland has a comfortable home in section 24,
and was one of the early settlers of Nelson
county.
Our subject was born in
LaFayette county, Wisconsin,
November 28, 1858, and was the second-in a family
of eleven children. His parents, Sever and
Catherine Helgeland, were natives of
Norway, and reside
in Worth county, Iowa.
Our subject remained on the
Iowa
farm from his third, to his twenty-first year, and
worked for others one year, and in the spring of
1881 came by team to the Sheyenne valley, in what
was then Grand Forks
county. He settled on land on the banks of the
river, and erected a small log house and passed
the winter with neighbors, and in the spring of
1882 filed claim to the land, taking a memorable
trip to Larimore for the purpose. It was in March,
and the snows were heavy and there were no roads.
Four days were consumed, and during two days on
the trail blizzards raged. Our subject and his
brother lived together and became proficient
cooks. He erected a house on his homestead on the
prairie and lived there from 1883 to 1888, when he
moved to his present location, and until 1893 he
worked much for others, but has since devoted
himself to diversified farming on his own estate
and has made a success of his work.
Our subject was married, in
1894, to Miss Hannah Tenold. Mr. and Mrs.
Helgeland are the parents of three children, Simon
A., Emma C. and George D. Mr. Helgeland was the
leading spirit in the organization of
Norway
township, and he was elected
county commissioner for district No. I and served
six years. He is a member of the Lutheran church,
and politically is affiliated with the Republican
party, and has attended many county conventions,
and is now a member of the county central
committee.
JAMES D.
HOVEY.
Among the pioneers of Dayton township, Nelson
county, may well be mentioned Mr. Hovey. He has a
pleasant home in section 9 and has been identified
with the development of that locality and the
extensive agricultural interests of the county
since the early days and is well known and most
highly respected.
Our subject was born in the
state of New York, January 16, 1852. He was the
third in a family of eight children born to Andrew
J. an third in a family of eight children born to
Andrew J. and Lydia (Lines) Hovey. He is of
Scotch-Irish extraction, although the ancestors
for many generations have been in America on the
father's side. The parents and family moved to Du
Page county, Illinois, in 1855 and after two years
there removed to Butler county, Iowa, where our
subject was reared on a farm and secured a
common-school education. He worked at home until
nineteen years of age, and then rented land and
engaged in farming in Butler county, and in the
spring of 1877. after the death of his father, he
assumed charge of the home farm until the spring
of 1882, when he hired to T. S. Edison, and with
his wife went to Larimore, North Dakota, where he
remained several months. In the fall of 1882 he
purchased a yoke of bob-tailed oxen and an open
wagon and with his personal effects within the
wagon and two cows tied behind he started in the
midst of a snow storm for his claim, which he had
located in October. A shanty had been erected,
which was the first building on the prairie in
Dayton township, and the land had for some time
been supposed to belong to the reservation. Our
subject was known in those days as "the man with
the bob-tailed cattle." He borrowed fifty dollars
with which to. establish himself on the farm, and
they lived on scanty rations and he worked at
anything he could find to do, but met with poor
success and after failure of crops a few years
gave up the place and homesteaded land adjoining
in 1893 and began building up a new home. He
raises Short Horn Durham cattle and has succeeded
well in stock raising, an abundance of water being
secured at a depth of twelve
feet.
Our subject was married, in
1877, to Miss Helen Barker. Three children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hovey, named as follows:
Arthur R., Herbert E., deceased, and Edna M. Mr. Hovey is
chairman of the township board and politically is
a
Republican.
JAMES M.
HOWSER,
residing on section 14 in Illinois township,
Nelson county, is one of the pioneer farmers of
that locality, and with his three sons conducts a
farm of one section of land.
He
is a native of Spencer county, Kentucky, and was
born February 22, 1834, and was the third child
and oldest son, born to Joshua and Rebecca
(Miller) Howser, both of whom are deceased. The
father died in September, 1896, at the advanced
age of ninety-one years. The Howser family were
originally settlers in Pennsylvania, and were of
Dutch descent. When Mr. Howser was but one year of
age the father removed to Logan county, Illinois,
and there our subject was raised to agricultural
pursuits and received a common school education
and at the age of twenty-one years settled on one
hundred and sixty acres of land in Logan county,
and remained there until 1883, in the fall of
which year he visited Dakota, with the idea of
establishing his sons on farms for themselves. He
moved to Dakota in the spring of 1883 and in the
fall of that year, when the land was placed on the
market filed a pre-emption where he established
his home. The eldest son broke about sixty acres
of land in 1882, and this was cropped to wheat in
the spring of 1883, and was the first wheat crop
in Illinois township, and yielded fourteen bushels
per acre, and was sold as seed wheat. Tlie sons
held the land, but remained at home most of the
time, the work of the farms being conducted in
common. They began sheep culture in 1890, which
proved unsuccessful, since which time they have
followed diversified farming and have met with
good results.
Mr. Howser was married, in
1855, to Miss Matilda Moyer, a native of Ohio.
Mrs. Howser died in 1869. Four children were born
to this union, who are as follows; Hortense,
deceased; Joshua, teaching at Lincoln, Illinois,
one of the oldest settlers of Illinois township;
Mary, deceased; and Edgar, clerk of courts of
Nelson county. Our subject was married to Miss
Maggie A. Patterson, in 1870, and again in 1878 he
was called upon to lose his life companion, Mrs.
Howser passing away in that year. Three children
were born to this marriage, as follows: Frank, now
at home; John C., at home; and Maggie A., living
in the state of Illinois. Mr. Howser was married,
in 1882, to Miss Mary Scarth. One daughter has
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Howser, who bears the
name of Emma, and is now attending high-school at
Lakota. Our subject is a present member of the
township board, and is prominent in affairs of
local importance. He is a lifelong Republican and
firm in his
convictions.
"THE LAKOTA
HERALD."
under the editorial management of Charles E. Cox,
is the leading paper of Nelson county, and is well
known throughout the state for its bright and
newsy style and the thoroughness of its editorial
work.
"The Herald" was established
in 1894, by St. John & Lovett, as the "Nelson
County Herald," but in 1895 it passed into the
hands of the Herald Publishing Company, with E. H.
Kent as managing editor, and the paper assumed the
name of the "Lakota Herald." and has since that
time espoused the cause of the Republican party.
On May 1. 1899, Charles E. Cox took charge of the
publication as managing editor. "The Herald" is
now a six-column quarto sheet, and has a
circulation of upward of twelve hundred copies.
The office is one of the best equipped in the
state, being fitted out with a Potter book and job
press, a three-horse-power gasoline engine and
turns out a high grade of job work. The
circulation of "The Herald" is steadily
increasing, and is growing in popularity, and
wields a great influence in general political
matters, as well as in public affairs of a local
nature. It is the official paper of Nelson
county.
Charles E. Cox, managing
editor of the "Lakota Herald," is a young man of
varied and extended experience in the rigid school
of life, and is well fitted and mentally equipped
for the work he has undertaken. He was born in
Ellenville, New York, June 24. 1874. He is the
youngest of six children born to Jacob and Emeline
(Eastgate) Cox. In 1881 our subject accompanied
his parents to Grand Forks county, North Dakota,
where the father took up lands and followed
farming.
At
the age of thirteen years Charles E. Cox left home
and entered a printing office at Northwood, North
Dakota. For several years he worked at various
places in the state, being employed a few years on
the "Larimore Pioneer," and also on the ""Grafton
News and Times." As stated in another place, he
took editorial charge of the "Lakota Herald" May
I, 1899. Mr. Cox is thoroughly informed on general
affairs, and in touch with the conditions in North
Dakota to a degree that entitles him to t to a
degree that entitles him to the confidence and
respect of the reading
public.
CHARLES K.
LASKI,
a prosperous farmer of Enterprise
township, whose pleasant home is situated on
section 10, has contributed his share to the
general prosperity of Nelson county.
Mr. Laski was born at Iso
Kyro, division of
Waasa,
Finland,
September 16, 1870. He was the second of three
sons born to John and Mary Luhtaupaa. The parents
reside in Enterprise
township Nelson county. North
Dakota. The father, since
coming to America,
has taken the name of Laski.
Our subject was nine years of
age when he came to .America. The family located
in Calumet,
Michigan, where
the father was employed in the copper mines. When
Charles was fourteen years of age he was also
employed about the mines and continued there for
two years. In the spring of 1885 the family
removed to Dakota, locating in Enterprise
township. Nelson county, and taking land in
section 3, of that township. In 1893 our subject
filed a homestead claim to the tract of land where
he now makes his home and in 1895 began farming on
his own account. He is the owner of a team and
built upon his land a small dwelling and a sod
barn. Since that time he has steadily prospered
and is now the owner of an additional three
hundred and twenty acres of land. In 1898 he
erected a large and commodious barn for the
housing of his stock and the storing of his farm
products. He is a thrifty farmer and turns his
means to the best uses. He operates a threshing
machine each season and has made this a profitable
business for the past eleven years.
Mr. Laski was married, in
1895, to Miss Lizzie Erickson Ruff, who was born
in Calumet,
Michigan . To
Mr. and Mrs. Laski four children have been born,
named in the order of their birth as follows :
Bernhardt, deceased, Lilia, John Werner, deceased,
and Bessie. Mr. Laski has proved himself a good
citizen and useful member of the community. He is
a Republican in political sentiment and a member
of the central committee of that party in the
county, and is regarded as one of the party
leaders in Enterprise
township. He is school
treasurer and has been a member of the township
board. In 1897 Pelto post office was established
and Mr. Laski received the appointment of
postmaster. He is a member of the Lutheran church
and of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen.
CAPT. PETER
LATOURETTE,
is now living in retirement in the village of
Lakota, and in one of the well known and honored
residents of Nelson county. He was engaged in
farming near Petersburg, Nelson county, many
years, and but recently disposed of his interests
in land there, and now enjoys a well earned rest
from active pursuits.
Our subject was born in
Orange county, New York. June 8, 1834, and was the
fourth in a family of seven children, born to
Jacob and Caty (Tremper) La Tourette. The families
of both parents have been in America since
colonial times, and the father's family came to
America in 1685, from France after the edict of
Nantes. Our subject's mother was of the family of
Ten Eyck, who were known as the first Holland
family to settle in New York. The LaTourette
family are blacksmiths for many generations, and
our subject and his son followed in the footsteps
of the forefathers, making seven generations of
workers of
iron.
Mr. LaTourette was reared on
a farm and followed the blacksmith's trade, and he
was captain of Company G, Nineteenth New York
Militia, and in ;May, 1862, was mustered into the
service, and served till the fall of that year
when he returned home and met with an accident
which crushed his limb, and he was then unable to
rejoin his regiment, which was re-organized as the
One Hundred and Sixty-eighth New York. His father
died in 1879, and our subject then conducted the
farm about one year and then removed to New York
city and worked at his trade until failing health
decided him in trying the northwest. He went to
Polk county, Minnesota, in 1882, and assumed
management of a well stocked farm, and operated
the same until 1884. He took land in 1882 in
section 27, in Nash township, Nelson county, and
built a small shanty thereon, which he completed
in time to shelter himself, three companions and a
team of mules from a severe storm during that
fall. He took up his residence in Nash township
permanently in 1884, and at once developed a grain
stock farm and lived entirely different from most
farmers of the early days in Dakota, planting
trees, vegetables, and kept plenty of chickens and
stock, and during the severe winters which
followed found themselves amply provided for from
their own place, and they were one of two families
in Nash township who remained in the country. He
recently disposed of this farm in Nelson county,
and makes his home at
Lakota.
Our subject was married, in
1835, to Miss Hannah Newkirk, a native of New
York. five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
LaTourette, who are named as follows: Mary, now
Mrs. George Dickson, of Grand Forks; Peter, farmer
in Nash township: Hamlet, mechanical engineer;
Margaret and Ten Eyck, farming in Nash township.
The daughter, Margaret, has been thoroughly
identified with the educational interests of
Nelson county. She filed claim to land in Nelson
county, whereon she built a shanty, and in 1888
began teaching at which profession she has been
engaged until the year 1900. She taught in
Petersburg and taught the first school in Nash
township, the school room being her father's claim
shanty, and tar paper served as a blackboard. Miss
LaTourette has been in the Lakota school two and a
half years, and with her retirement from the
school room Nelson county loses from her list of
educators one of the pioneer teachers of the
locality. Mr. LaTourette is a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and politically is a
Republican.
HON. SEVERT M.
LEE. one of the most successful
farmers and popular citizens of Nelson county,
resides upon his valuable farm in Ora township,
and is the owner of one and one-half sections of
land.
Mr. Lee was born in Borsen,
Prebjeld, Throndhjem,
Norway,
September 14, 1847. He was the eldest of the three
surviving children of Mons and Marrit
(Larsdatter) Lee. The father was the owner of the
farm Leaklivt. where our subject lived until he
was twenty-four years of age Then, in 1871, he
came to America, with the
intention of remaining three years, becoming
better acquainted with the world, earning some
money, and then it was his intention to return to
Norway.
He went to Michigan and was
there employed for ten seasons in the lumber
districts. He then converted all his personal
property into ready money and started for Dakota.
He reached Fargo in July,
1881, and began a search for desirable land. In
1882 he went to Portland. Traill
county, and opened a hotel, the Lee House, the
first hotel in Portland. In
February, 1887, he came to Nelson county and
located on land to which he had filed claim in
1883. The first three years were most
discouraging: he lost money each year and he was
on the point of abandoning the attempt when, in
1891. he was rewarded by a fine crop and
determined to remain. From two hundred acres he
harvested seven thousand bushels of wheat. He has
since added to his holdings by purchase until his
tillable lands aggregate about nine hundred acres
and he is today the most extensive farmer in Ora
township. He erected a suitable residence in 1887
and also a fine barn and other outbuildings, and
has his farm fitted up with all modern
conveniences for the conduct of the business of
agriculture.
Mr. Lee was married, in 1876,
to Miss Ingeborg Solberg, and to them six children
have been born, named as follows: Martine, a
graduate of the Grand Forks Business College; Ole,
a student in the same institution: Gertina, Maria.
Louis and Clara. Mr. Lee is a Populist in
political views and has been active in local
political matters. He served two years as deputy
sheriff of Traill county and has taken a leading
part in party affairs in Nelson county. In 1892 he
was elected on the fusion ticket to the state
legislature and served on some of the most
important house committees during his term of
service, including the committees on public
printing, railroads, schools and school lands,
warehouse commission and forestry. He favors
woman's suffrage and is an ardent supporter of the
reform movement. He is a member of the Populist
county central committee and has attended all
state conventions of his party. He is one of the
most popular and successful men of the county and
has won his way into the confidence of all who
know him.
HALVOR K.
LOILAND.
This gentleman ranks among the intelligent and
progressive farmers of Nelson county, and has a
fine estate in section 2 of Lee township. His farm
comprises three hundred and twenty acres of
valuable land, and his residence is on the
homestead in which he located in 1885, and is a
modern structure recently erected to take the
place of the pioneer sod house in which he lived
for fifteen years.
Our subject was born on the
farm in Loiland, in Satersdalen,
Cristiansand
Stift, Norway.
August 22, 1862. He was the sixth in a family of
nine children born to Knute and Joraand (Roisland)
Loiland, and the father was one of the extensive
farmers of that locality and our subject was
reared to farm work. He entered the seminary at
the age of seventeen years and took a two years'
course and prepared himself for teaching and
engaged in that profession about one year in his
native land. In the spring of 1882 he crossed the
ocean and landed at Quebec,
and went direct to Grand Forks
county. North Dakota, and worked a season there,
and in the spring of 1883 took land in Osage
township, Nelson county, but was employed on a
farm in Grand Forks county, and taught Norwegian
school until 1885, when he took the farm on which
he now makes his home. He began permanent
residence thereon in 1886, investing in a team and
cow, and developed his farm and added to his
income by teaching. He experienced pioneer life as
a bachelor and engaged in farming with success. He
erected a fine barn in 1896. and in 1900 a fine
two-story house, 42x16, with addition 16x16, and
his place now bears substantial improvements, he
enjoying a good competence.
Our subject was married, in
1892. to Miss Anna Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Loiland
are the parents of four children, who are named as
follows: Knute: Carl G.: Peder O.. deceased: and
Josephine J. Mr. Loiland has mixed freely in
affairs of Lee township and the public life of
Nelson county. He was elected chairman of the
township board in 1887 and has held the office
successively to date with the exception of one
year. He is a member of the Lutheran church and is
a Republican in political sentiment and is a
member of the county central committee from his
township.
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