Trails to the Past

Ramsey County North Dakota Biographies

 

Compendium of History and Biography
of North Dakota

Published by George A. Ogle & CO. in 1900
 
 

 

JOHN F. SCHMIDT. Industry and natural ability are leading powers in the agricultural as well as the commercial world, and one of the agriculturists of Lake township, the subject of this review, stands among those who possess these characteristics in a marked degree. Mr. Schmidt has devoted his life to farming, in which occupation he has met with unbounded success and is now proprietor of one of the well-regulated farms of Ramsey county, and has a comfortable home in section 6, of Lake township.

Our subject was born on a farm in Lafayette county, Missouri, November 18. 1850. The parents removed to Allen county, Kansas, in the spring of 1857, and located on a farm, where our subject grew to manhood. He resided there until 1874, when he went to his native county in Missouri, and was there engaged in farm labor until 1883. In the fall of that year he went to Ramsey county. North Dakota, and at once made claim to land in Lake township, on which he located and has since been a resident. He has been fortunate in pursuing his calling and now owns and operates four hundred acres of choice land and on his home farm he has placed valuable improvements and made such arrangements as are to be found on a model farm. His buildings are substantial and modern in design and finish, and he enjoys the comforts of rural life.

Our subject was married, in Ramsey county, North Dakota, to Miss Viola Casady, who was born in Washington county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are the parents of three children, named as follows: Perley H., Grant J. and Florence S. Our subject is a gentleman of active public interest and has been a member of the school board and has also served as a member of the township board of supervisors. The family are members of the Presbyterian church and are widely known and most highly esteemed in the community in which they have resided for so many years.


OLE SERUMGARD. register in the United States land office at Devils Lake. North Dakota, is one of the public spirited and enterprising citizens of his locality, and enjoys the highest esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. He is engaged in the farm machinery business in Devils Lake in company with Mr. Prosser, and has met with success in his business and is one of the substantial men of Ramsey county.

Our subject was born in the Parish of Lesje Norway, December 22, 1856, and came to America with his parents in 1868. They settled on a farm in Watonwan county, Minnesota, where our subject grew to manhood and continued his residence there until 1881. His education was received in the common schools and at the State Normal at Mankato, where he graduated in 1879. He then engaged in teaching and farming in Watonwan county until 1881, when he went to North Dakota and taught school one year in Cass county, afterward going to Griggs county, where he took a homestead claim. He engaged in the land and loan business at Cooperstown and remained there till the spring of 1884, when he went to Devils Lake, following the same business there several years. He formed a partnership with Hon. F. H. Prosser in 1891, under the firm name of Prosser & Serumgard, and they have since engaged in the farm machinery business and have made a success of that line.

Mr. Serumgard was married at Mankato, Minnesota, to Miss Karen Throdahl, who was a native of Norway also. Mr. and Mrs. Serumgard are the parents of four children, named as follows: Pauline, Olga, Inez and Harold. Mr. Serumgard taught the first school in Griggs county, and is a gentleman of excellent mind and systematic nature. He was elected treasurer of Ramsey county in 1886, and served two terms. He was county in 1886, and served two terms. He was appointed a trustee of the State Normal School by Governor Andrew H. Burke, and resigned after serving one year. He has been a member of the city council of Devils Lake for several years, and in July, 1898, was appointed by President McKinley as register of the United States land office at Devils Lake , assuming the duties of that office in September of that year. At the time of his appointment he was serving as mayor of Devils Lake , to which office he was elected in the spring of 1898.


SIVER SERUMGARD, a prominent attorney of Devils Lake, is the senior partner of the well-known real estate firm of Serumgard & Moen, of Devils Lake. He was born in Lesje parish, Norway, December 11, 1859.

Mr. Serumgard came to America with his parents in 1868 and settled on a farm in Watonwan county, Minnesota, where he was reared to manhood and where he lived until 1882. He was educated in the high school in Mankato and at the State University at Minneapolis, where he graduated in the literary class of 1890 and from the law department the same year. He was admitted to the bar at Devils Lake in July, 1890. and began the practice of his profession at Cooperstown, North Dakota, where he remained one year and then located in Devils Lake in the spring of 1891. He has .since followed practice there and is largely interested in real estate in Ramsey county. He came to North Dakota in 1882 and taught school for some time in Fargo and also taught in Cooperstown until he was admitted to the bar. In August, 1892, in company with Mr. L. D. McGohen, he established the paper published in Devils Lake, known as "The Free Press." This was a Democratic paper and had a wide circulation.

Our subject was married, in Covington, Kentucky, February 12, 1894, to Miss Grace E. Kirker, a native of Manchester, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Serumgard are the parents of three children, named as follows: Arthur K.. Grace B. and Dorothy D.

Our subject was appointed by Governor Shortridge, in 1893, as regent of the North Dakota State University for four years. He has been city attorney for Devils Lake three terms and has also been alderman in the city and is one of the public-spirited men of that locality. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and in political sentiment is Democratic, with which party he has been identified since 1888. Mr. Serumgard formed a partnership with Egild T. Moen, October 1,1898, and this well-known firm conducts an extensive real estate, loan and collection business.


ANDREW SHERVEN, one of the members of the agricultural community who have made Grand Harbor a prosperous township and added to the wealth of Ramsey county, is a native of Norway, and, like so many of her hardy sons, has found a congenial home in the great Northwest.

Mr. Sherven was born in Norway, November 11, 1849, and was reared on a farm in his native land until he was about twenty years of age, when, in 1869, he came to the United States. He first went to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he was employed in farm labor for three years. He then went to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he remained about two years, and then went to the Red river valley, in North Dakota. Here he worked on the Northern Pacific Railroad one summer, when he returned to Goodhue county, Minnesota. He attended the Auxburg Seminary, at Minneapolis, for three years, and also took a business course in Curtiss Business College of that city.

In the spring of 1883 Mr. Sherven came to Ramsey county and took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he still makes his home. He has added many valuable improvements, and his property is one of the most desirable estates in Ramsey county. He is now the proprietor of three hundred and twenty acres of land, having added one hundred and sixty acres. He was engaged in the hotel business in Grafton for about a year and a half since coming to North Dakota.

Mr. Sherven was married in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Miss Mary Samuelson, who is also a native of Norway . They are the parents of four children, named in the order of their birth as follows: Andrew, Jr., Caroline, Matthew and Annetta. They have a comfortable home, supplied with all the conveniences of modern farm life. Mr. Sherven has taken an active part in the public affairs of his community and township, and has been entrusted with some of the more important offices of his township. Among others may be named that of supervisor, assessor, school director, etc. He has used his influence to advance the educational interests of his community, and has been a worker for the up building of the schools of the township. He is also a consistent member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.


PHIL H. SHORTT, editor and publisher of the "Devils Lake News." is a young man of marked ability and energetic character. He has been a resident of Devils Lake comparatively few years, but has gained a high station as a business man and citizen, and his public spirit and loyalty to the country commend him to the esteem of ail who know him.

Our subject was born in Mower county, Minnesota. July 23. 1869. He was reared in his native county and received a good education and remained at home until about seventeen years of age. He learned the printer's trade at Austin, Minnesota, and has followed that business continuously since that time. He came to Devils Lake and purchased the "News" in January, 1895. and has since conducted the paper with the exception of about one year, when he was in the United States service. He has met with unbounded success in his newspaper work and the circulation of the same steadily increases and the paper is fast taking a place among the metropolitan papers of the country. The "Devils Lake News" was established in May. 1883, under the name of the "Pioneer Press," and the name was soon afterward changed to the "Devils Lake News." and it has been under the present management since 1895, with the exception of about one year, the paper was leased in the absence of Mr. Shortt.

Mr. Shortt enlisted in Company D, First North Dakota Regiment, April 26, 1898. as a private, and was appointed first sergeant of his company May I, 1898. He served in the Philippines and participated in all the engagements of his company. He was discharged from the service at Manila, July 30, 1899, and returned to Devils Lake, North Dakota, and resumed charge of his paper in September of that year.

Mr. Shortt is intelligent and progressive, and at the request of Colonel Treumann and other officers of the First North Dakota Regiment he wrote a history of the regiment, which is prized by the members and friends of the regiment.


JOHN M. SOBY, a well-known business man of Ramsey county, conducts an extensive mercantile business in the village of Crary. He is one of the enterprising citizens who have helped to build up the business interests of the county and to bring it to the solid prosperity which it enjoys.

Mr. Soby was born in the kingdom of Norway, June 18, 1856. He was reared and educated in his native land and remained there until 1883, principally engaged in farming, but having also learned the blacksmith's trade in the meantime. In 1883 he came to the United States and proceeded at once to Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He engaged in farming in Ottertail county, Minnesota, remaining there about two years. He then went to Traill county, Dakota, where he worked at blacksmithing until 1886.

In 1886 Mr. Soby came to Ramsey county and selected the village of Crary as his permanent home. He opened a blacksmithing and general repair business and was successful in his undertaking, his work increasing each year and his profits keeping pace with the business. He continued in this line until 1893, when he opened up a mercantile business, in which he is still engaged. He is one of the solid business men of the community and his fair dealing and courteous treatment have won him a steadily increasing trade.

Mr. Soby was married at Mayville, North Dakota , to Miss Anna Emanuelson. Mrs. Soby is also a native of Norway and to her able assistance is due in a large degree the success which has attended their efforts to establish for themselves a comfortable home and competence for after years. To Mr. and Mrs. Soby six children have been born, named as follows: Martha, Alfred, Elida, Julia, Roy, Mabel. They compose a family of bright and intelligent children and their education is receiving due attention. Mr. Soby has many friends and is regarded as a model citizen and valued member of the community in which he lives.


RASMUS SORENSEN, residing on section 29, of Webster township, is proprietor of an elegant farm, which he has accumulated since taking up his residence in North Dakota. He is one of the early settlers of that region and has been thoroughly identified with its progress and development.

Our subject was born in Denmark, May 19, 1859. He was reared in his native land and continued his residence there until 1880, when he emigrated to America to seek his fortunes in the new world. He went to Meeker county, Minnesota, and resided there until 1882, in the spring of which year he became a resident of Ramsey county and located on a farm on which he has since been a resident. He has continued the improvement of his farm and now enjoys a comfortable, home, surrounded by good improvements and is the owner of one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land and is one of the substantial men of his township.

Our subject was married in Webster township, Ramsey county. North Dakota, to Miss Johanna Anderson, a native of Sweden . five children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen, upon whom they have bestowed the following names: Christian, Hilda, Alfred. Minnie and Agnes. Mr. Sorensen takes a hearty and intelligent interest in public affairs of his township and has held numerous offices of trust, including a member of the township board of supervisors.


JOHN H. SMITH, widely known as a prosperous merchant of Crary, Ramsey county, is one of the progressive and enlightened men of his community and has aided materially in the development of that region. He has varied financial interests in North Dakota and is one of the substantial citizens of the town of Crary.

Our subject was born in the county of Ontario, Canada. March 10, 1847. He was reared on a farm in his native place until he was eighteen years of age. when he engaged in the mercantile business and also operated a flouring-mill and saw-mill in Ontario county. He continued in business there for several years and also in Toronto for about four years in the mercantile and building business and went from Toronto to North Dakota in the spring of 1882. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land near Inkster, where he lived for several months and in the spring of 1893 went to Devils Lake and was engaged in contracting and building there about two years. He then located in Crary and has since engaged in the mercantile business in that city. He is also largely interested in real estate in that vicinity.

Our subject was married, in the province of Ontario, Ontario county, Canada, to Rebecca A. Marr, a native of Middlesex county, Ontario . Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one child living, named Eva V. M., and one son is now deceased, Oscar, who died at the age of four years. Mr. Smith held the office of postmaster at Crary eleven years, serving under the administration of both political parties, and he was an efficient and popular officer. He has served as justice of the peace and notary public and is prominent in school affairs, having held some school office for several years past. He is a trustee of the Congregational church and is active in church work of that denomination. In political faith Mr. Smith is a Republican and is a member of the Republican county central committee. He is a citizen of true worth and well merits his success and high standing.


ALFRED STEVENS. Among the honored residents of Stevens township, Ramsey county, North Dakota, may be mentioned Alfred Stevens. He is a gentleman of enlightened views, and wide experience, and has labored for the up building and advancement of that region, and has gained an assured position among the agriculturists of his community.

Our subject was born in Oswego county. New York, December 23, 1831, and was reared to manhood on a farm, and in 1864 began farming for himself in Oswego county, where he continued about two years, and in 1866 went to Wisconsin. He settled on a farm in Jackson county, that state, and continued his residence there until 1878, and then removed to Humbird, Clark county, Wisconsin, where be embarked in mercantile pursuits, and followed the same there about four years. He removed to North Dakota with his family in 1886, but had located land in Grand Forks county, near Larimore. in 1881. He has been a resident of North Dakota since 1881, and in 1882 located land three miles northeast of Devils Lake, which claim he afterward lost, and in 1883 located the claim in Stevens township on which he now makes his home. He has placed valuable improvements thereon, and has provided every arrangement for the economical conduct of the place, and has a fine farm of two hundred acres, most of which is tillable.

Mr. Stevens was married in Oswego county. New York. May 24, 1864. to Miss Frances L. Wilder. who was born in Oswego, New York, May 24, 1844. Three children, two of whom are living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, as follows: Loring D. and Fred R,  A son, William A., died at the age of two years. Loring D. Stevens was born at Oswego, New York , August 13. 1865. He went to North Dakota , in the spring of 1883, where he has since been a resident. Fred R. Stevens was born in Jackson county, Wisconsin , July 9, 1869.


HORACE  E. STEVENS, residing on section 34, in Stevens township, is one of the substantial men of Ramsey county. He was born inBerlin, Wisconsin, March 8, 1858. At the age of seven years he removed with his parents to Laporte county, Indiana, and then removed to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, and settled on a farm eight miles from Mason City, where he grew to manhood and resided until March, 1882. He then went to Ramsey county. North Dakota, and in June of that year settled on the farm where that year settled on the farm where he now resides. He was in the employ of the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Company in Minnesota about four years. He now owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres.

Mr. Stevens was married, in Cerro Gordo county, Iowa , to Miss Mary J. Holden, who was born in Green county, Wisconsin , February 12, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are the parents of five children, named as follows: Jessie M., Thomas G., Harvey H., Arthur J. and Roscoe L. Mr. Stevens was a member of the first board of overseers of Stevens township, and chairman of the board for several years. Stevens township was named in his honor. He has also served as assessor and township clerk and school director, and for a short time was deputy county treasurer of Ramsey county.


JOHN STOESER. Many sons of the German empire have been called to America by the stories of the wonderful resources of the New World and the opportunities afforded honest industry to gain a standing in business and society and many are devoted to agricultural pursuits, opening up unsettled regions and bringing the farm lands into a high state of cultivation. Ramsey county is not without her share of these men, to one of whom this review is devoted. Mr. Stoeser has a pleasant and remunerative tract in Grand Harbor township and resides in a comfortable home in section 16.

Our subject was born in Baden, Germany, November 22, 1821. He went to Canada in 1831 and resided there until the spring of 1883, when he removed to North Dakota. He at once settled on the farm on which he now resides and has held continuous residence thereon. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land and has met with unbounded success in his farming operations and is now one of the substantial men of his township.

Mr. Stoeser was married in Canada , to Catherine Wagner, a native of Prussia . Mr. and Mrs. Stoeser are the parents of twelve living children, named in order of birth as follows: William, Louis, Clara, Joseph, John, Peter, Charles, Barbara, Eugene, Agnes, Pius and Anna. One son died when thirteen years of age and two sons died in infancy. Mr. Stoeser has become well known in his community and enjoys the respect and highest esteem of all.


FRANK VANDERLINDEN. The wealth of Ramsey county is formed in a good part by the incomes of the well-regulated farms of Grand Harbor township, and one of these carefully cultivated tracts is owned and operated by Mr. Vanderlinden, who resides in section 36. He is a pioneer settler of that region, and is one of the worthy citizens of his community, and one in whose coming to the country has aided in its development to a remarkable degree. He is a man of good character, energetic and intelligent, and has made a success of his labors in the Northwest.

Our subject was born in Belgium, in 1855, and resided in his native place until 1871, when he came to the United States with his parents. The family settled in Brown county, Wisconsin. where our subject remained until 1882. In March of that year he came to North Dakota, and entered claim to land in section 36, of Grand Harbor township. He at once began the improvement of his farm and has resided thereon since that date. The farm has good buildings and every arrangement for its economical conduct. Mr. Vanderlinden owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, and has met with good success, and his farm yields abundantly and furnishes a comfortable competence.

Mr. Vanderlinden was married, in Devils Lake, North Dakota , to Miss DeClark. who was also born in Belgium . Mr. and Mrs. Vanderlinden are the parents of one son, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Joseph. Our subject takes an active interest in the general welfare of his community, and casts his influence for good local government.


JOHN A. VAN LIEW. A prominent position as a citizen and member of the farming community of Lake township, Ramsey county, is held by the gentleman above named. He resides in section 18, where he located over seventeen years ago, and he has accumulated a good property and enjoys the confidence of his fellow men.

Our subject was born on a farm in Livingston county, New York, January 10, 1853, and was a son of Martin and Clara (Spicer) Van Liew. The father entered the Union army during the Civil war, and the mother and family removed to Michigan in 1864 and settled in Kent county, and they have resided there most of the time since that date.

Our subject was educated in the common-schools and his early life was spent on a farm, and he later engaged in a flour-mill, and followed that occupation in Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas for seventeen years. He went to North Dakota in the spring of 1883, and entered claim to land in Lake township, Ramsey county, and settled thereon and began farming operations, giving up the business at which he had been engaged for so many years. He has since been a resident of Lake township, and has accumulated four hundred and eighty acres of land, on which he has placed good improvements in the way of buildings, fences, etc., and has successfully followed general farming

 

Our subject was married in Rochester. Minnesota, to Miss Ellen M. Farrell, a native of St. Lawrence county. New York. Mr. and Mrs. Van Liew are the parents of three living children, named as follows: Harry W., Dawn E. and Mary. Horace died July 4, 1898, at the age of fifteen years, and one son died- in infancy. Mr. Van Liew is very active in public affairs of local importance, and has served as county commissioner two terms in Ramsey county and has held various offices in Lake township. He is intelligent and enterprising, and well merits his success and high station.


HON. ROBERT J. WALKER, residing on section 5, Irvine township, Ramsey county, is one of the influential and prominent citizens of that region. He has always been found standing for right and justice and manifesting the true spirit of American progress in his financial and social life.

Our subject was born near Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1840. He left there when an infant and went to Center county, Pennsylvania, where he lived until fifteen years old, and then went to Ohio. He lived in Miami and Clark counties until 1862, being engaged in the milling business. He enlisted in Company A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and served three years. After the close of the war he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he engaged in the milling business six months, after which he removed to Virdin, Illinois. He was engaged in the milling and grain business there and at Girard. Illinois, until 1883, and in April of that year went to North Dakota and located in what is now Ramsey county. He selected land in Irvine township, where he has since made his home. He has erected good buildings and made valuable improvements and now owns eighteen hundred acres of choice land, located in Ramsey, Towner and Benson counties.

Our subject was married, in Macoupin county. Illinois , to Lucy Williams, a native of that county. Mrs. Walker died in Minneapolis, Minnesota , August 7, 1897. Five children were born to this union, who were as follows: Oliver, Wilbur, Theo, Eva, now Mrs. Edward Danley; and Gussie, now Mrs. William Wirtz. Mr. Walker was married to Miss Laura Vose in October, 1898. Mrs. Walker is a native of Maine . Mr. Walker is a supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has taken the degrees of the Knights Templar and Mystic Shrine. He was elected to the legislature on the Republican ticket in 1896 and served one term, and for two terms he was president of the Enforcement League of North Dakota. He takes a hearty interest in public affairs and is deservedly popular and successful.


WILLIAM WEBSTER. who has devoted his later years to agricultural pursuits, has a fine farm in the township which bears his name, and is one of the extensive land owners of Ramsey county. He was born about eight miles from Dundee. Scotland, August 9. 1838, and his present home is in section 31 of Webster township, Ramsey county.

The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and Mr. Webster was reared on the home farm and assisted with the farm work until he was fifteen years of age. He began to learn the mill Wright's trade when a boy of thirteen years, and after about two years left home and went to Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where he completed his trade, and was employed in a foundry and machine shop. He continued working there at his trade until 1860, when he went to East St. Louis, Illinois, and continued the same kind of work until 1866. He then returned to Canada and for several years was employed in the saw-mill business until 1883. In the early summer of that year he came to Ramsey county, North Dakota, 'and located on the farm on which he now resides. He has erected good buildings, made valuable improvements and otherwise provided a comfortable home, and is now the fortunate possessor of thirteen hundred and twenty acres of land. He was one of the pioneers of Webster county, and in appreciation of his services in its early development the township was named in his honor.

Our subject was married, in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, to Miss Esther Nay, a native of Canada , where she was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have been the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom are now living, named as follows: David, Robert, William J. Margaret, Mary, George, Anna, Sarah, Edith, Ida, Pearl and Daniel M. Samuel died in Canada at the age of two and a half years. Mr. Webster has served as school treasurer for several years and also as justice of the peace. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an elder in that denomination.


WILLIAM A. WILSON occupies a prominent and influential position as a member of the farming community of Ramsey county, in Grand Harbor township, of which he owns a pleasant home. He has resided in section 13 continuously since the early settlement of that region and his efforts have met with unbounded success.

Our subject was born in Lock Haven, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1854. He lived at his native place until he was sixteen years of age, when he left Pennsylvania and lived in different states and followed various occupations until 1880, when he located in North Dakota. In the early summer of that year he went to East Grand Forks, where he remained two years and was employed grading on the Great Northern Railroad. He settled on his present farm in June, 1882. and has devoted his attention to farming since that date, with the exception of about two years, when he was engaged in freighting from Larimore to Grand Harbor and he also followed farming. He has made good improvements on his home place and now owns and operates five hundred and twenty acres of choice land and ranks among the foremost men of his calling in the county.

Our subject was married, in Olmstead county, Minnesota, to Miss Dora Conner, a native of McGregor, Iowa . Mrs. Wilson was reared in Olmstead county, Minnesota . Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, who are named as follows : Pearl R., Mary L., William H. and Elsie F. Mr. Wilson has served as a member of the township board of supervisors and chairman of the board and also as chairman of the school board, and is a man who keeps abreast of the times and lends his influence for the up building of the business and social interests of his adopted state.

 

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