W. W. BERGMAN, assistant cashier of the Mohall State Bank and one of the representative young business men of Mohall, North Dakota, was born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, on the 24th of July 1895, his parents being William and Minnie (Keson) Bergman. For many years his father has been prominently identified with the livestock business both in Wisconsin and Minnesota but is now practically living retired in St. James of the latter state.

Mr. Bergman of this review obtained his early education in the public and high schools of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and subsequently attended St. John�s University of Collegeville, Minnesota, where he completed a business course in the spring of 1914. During the following summer he went to Mohall, North Dakota, as teller of the Mohall State Bank and is now acting as assistant cashier of that institution, in which he purchased a fourth interest in 1916.  It is one of the most substantial banks of that part of the state and its deposits now amount to about a quarter of a million dollars. Mr. Bergman is also secretary of the Northern Investment Company, which has a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and holds a third interest in the Patalas subdivision of Mohall. Although only twenty-one years of age he has already attained an enviable position in business circles and undoubtedly greater success will be his in the future. He owns an equity in the farm land holdings of the Mohall State Bank and is a prosperous young business man, upright, honorable and farsighted.

PERRY BROWN, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Sherwood, has been a resident of North Dakota since 1901, at which time he took up his abode in Renville county and has since remained within its borders. He was born in Webster county, Iowa, July 31, 1879, and is a son of James M. Q. and Estella E. (Rowley) Brown, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Iowa. At an early age James M. Q. Brown became a resident of Webster county, Iowa, where he engaged in general merchandising. He also helped to build the Illinois Central Railroad into Fort Dodge and afterward carried on business there for many years. He died in April 1904, and for a brief period was survived by his wife, who passed away in January 1907.

The youthful days of Perry Brown were spent in his native county and his time was divided between the work of the schoolroom and the pleasures of the playground. Starting out in life for himself, he secured a position in coal mines and was thus employed for several years. In 1901 he arrived in Renville county and filed on land which he at once began to develop, adding thereto many substantial modern improvements. He continued to engage in the cultivation of that place until a recent date but now rents the land. He was appointed the second postmaster of Sherwood and occupied that position for five years.  He also engaged in the implement business for a time and in 1912 he entered the Farmers & Merchants State Bank as cashier, in which capacity he still continues, and he is also a stockholder and director in the bank.

On the 15th of November 1909, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Elizabeth Hall and they have become the parents of four children, James Falkner, Lois E., Elizabeth H. and Margaret. The parents loyally adhere to the teachings of the Methodist church, in which they hold membership, and fraternally Mr. Brown belongs to the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen, all of Sherwood. In his political views he is a republican. He does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and his well defined plans and unfaltering activities have brought him substantial success.

EDWARD STOKES FITZMAURICE, M. D., a physician and surgeon practicing at Mohall, was born at Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada, September 10, 1876, his parents being Edward and Frances (Stokes) Fitzmaurice, who were natives of southern Ireland. The father came to the United States with his parents when a lad of thirteen years and Mrs. Fitzmaurice accompanied her parents to Canada when seventeen years of age. The father became a Confederate soldier at the time of the Civil war and served throughout the entire period of hostilities. When his parents crossed the Atlantic the family home was established in Illinois, but during the Civil war the grandfather of our subject removed to Canada and after the war ended Edward Fitzmaurice went to that country, where he met and married Frances Stokes. There he took up the occupation of farming and later was engaged in the timber business. In 1879 he came to North Dakota, settling at Crystal, where he established his homestead, preemption and timber claim rights, and later he bought other land, owning nine quarter sections at the time of his death, which occurred in April 1914. He had become one of the prominent and representative farmers of his locality and his efforts were an element in the agricultural development and progress of that part of the state. His widow is still living and resides on the old home farm.

Dr. Fitzmaurice became a pupil in the North Dakota State University, where he won the Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation with the class of 1898, and with broad literary and scientific knowledge to serve as the foundation upon which, to rear the superstructure of professional learning ho became a student in Hush Medical College of Chicago and there won his M. D. degree as a member of the class of 1902. During his college days he won national prominence in athletic circles and he is the possessor of ten gold medals received for foot races. He also played for two years on the football team in the position of quarterback.

Immediately following his graduation Dr. Fitzmaurice removed to Mohall and in the intervening years has built up an extensive practice. It was in 1901 that he first came to what is now Renville county during a vacation period and filed on a homestead five miles north of Mohall. Four of his brothers and a sister also filed on homesteads in the same year.  One brother, Thomas, is still living in the county and is now engaged in the implement business in Mohall. He owns seven quarter sections of land, while Dr. Fitzmaurice is the owner of four quarter sections and both farm their holdings, the Doctor employing men to assist him in the work of cultivating and improving his farm.

On the 26th of October 1904, occurred the marriage of Dr. Fitzmaurice and Miss Alice Bryant, of Chicago, a descendant of William Cullen Bryant, New England�s noted poet, and in the maternal line a descendant of the Marquis de La Fayette. To Dr. and Mrs. Fitzmaurice have been born two children, Frances L. and Edward A.  The parents are members of the Catholic church and Dr. Fitzmaurice belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to Minot Lodge, No. 1086, B. P. 0. E. In politics he is a republican.  He is now city health officer of Mohall and he has served as health officer of Renville county and as district game warden. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the Northwestern Medical Society, the North Dakota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and he is deeply interested in all the tenets and theories growing out of modern scientific investigation.

THOMAS FITZMAURICE, an agricultural implement dealer of Mohall, and a representative farmer and pioneer citizen of Renville county, was born in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada, on the 5th of January 1870, and is a son of Edward and Frances (Stokes) Fitzmaurice, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of their son, Dr. E. S. Fitzmaurice.

When a lad of ten years Thomas Fitzmaurice accompanied his parents on their removal from Canada to the United States, at which time a location was made in Pembina. On reaching manhood he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the old homestead but for some years thereafter continued to cooperate with his father in the development of his farming enterprises. In 1901 Thomas Fitzmaurice homesteaded in what is now Renville county, four miles north of Mohall, and upon the property which he thus secured he continued to reside until 1908. During the intervening period he bought more land, adding other tracts adjoining his original holdings until 1908, at which time he was the owner of six quarter sections in one body, or nine hundred and sixty acres. Since then he has added another quarter section to his holdings and is today one of the extensive landowners of his part of the stale. In the fall of 1908 he took up his abode in Mohall and established an agricultural implement business. In the intervening period of eight years he has built up an extensive trade and his patronage is now very large and gratifying, so that his annual sales reach a profitable figure. During a portion of this time he continued to operate his farm lands but has recently placed a tenant on his holdings.

In 1905 Mr. Fitzmaurice was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Clifford, of Mohall, who was born in Iowa, and they have one son, Thomas C. Mr. Fitzmaurice votes with the democratic party but has never been an aspirant for public office. He has membership with the Knights of Columbus and he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic faith. They are greatly esteemed by reason of their genuine warmth and Mr. Fitzmaurice has won a most creditable position in business circles, steadily working his way upward through ability and energy and winning that prosperity which is the merited reward of persistent and honorable labor.

ALFRED M. FRUH, president of the Tolley State Bank of Tolley, Renville county, and also president of the Security Land & Loan Company, which is doing an extensive business in handling farm property in that section of the state, was born at Marietta, Minnesota, July 1, 1883, his parents being Albert and Agatha (Martie) Fruh, who were natives of Switzerland.  They came to the United States in early life and making their way to Minnesota, the father purchased land near Marietta, where he carried on farming for many years, his persistent, earnest and unfaltering labors being attended with a substantial measure of success.  In 1916 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in June of that year. He is now living retired, making his home in Marietta.

At the usual age Alfred M. Fruh became a pupil in the public schools of Marietta and passed through consecutive grades to the high school. He remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty and then went to Madison, Minnesota, where he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the First National Bank, acting in that capacity until 1905, when he removed to Lansford, North Dakota, and became connected with the Farmers & Merchants Bank. He afterward spent eight months in a bank at Grano and in 1908 purchased the Tolley State Bank from E. C. Tolley and has since concentrated his energies upon the development and conduct of the business. He is president of the bank, with L. E. Shores as vice president and A. A. Swanson as cashier. The institution is capitalized for ten thousand dollars and something of its success is indicated in the fact that it has surplus and undivided profits amounting to ten thousand dollars, while its deposits amount to one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars. They have a model banking house, a two-story brick structure equipped for the purpose with large burglar proof vaults, safety deposit vaults and other accessories. Mr. Fruh in the conduct of the bank maintains an even balance between conservatism and progressiveness, doing everything in his power to accommodate its patrons to a point that will not endanger the interests of depositors. He is also extensively engaged in the real estate business, being president of the Security Land & Loan Company of Tolley, which is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. The business of this corporation is now extensive. In the year 1915 the company sold twenty-one thousand acres of land and up to September 1916, its sales had amounted to eighteen thousand acres. Mr. Fruh has been instrumental in getting one hundred and fifty-four families to locate in the vicinity of Tolley.

On the 10th of December 1914, Mr. Fruh was married to Miss Mabel Lindblom and they have become the parents of a son, Alfred M., Jr., born November 12, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Fruh are members of the German Lutheran church and he belongs also to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained high rank, being now a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership relations with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and for four terms he has served as mayor of his town, his long retention in that office by the vote of his fellow citizens being indicative of the splendid and businesslike administration which he has given to them, an administration in which he avoids needless retrenchment and useless expenditure, and which is characterized by a progressive effort to promote the best interests of the municipality. In business life his affairs have been carefully and wisely managed and his success is the direct and logical outcome of unfaltering industry and keen sagacity.

JOHN J. GILSETH, The rapid growth and development of some of the cities of the northwest deserve to be ranked with the wonders of the world. Mohall is one of the enterprising towns which have sprung up along the northern border of the state, entering upon a period of progress that seems almost magical. Its rapid and substantial development, however, is due to the enterprising efforts of its business men, which number includes John J. Gilseth, a lumber merchant, who since 1903 has been closely identified with the town and its interests. He was born in Norway, June 3, 1865, a son of John and Karri (Peterson) Gilseth. The father was a laboring man in his native country. In 1865 he crossed the Atlantic and settled in Redwing, Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he engaged in carpentering and contracting, there carrying on business until his life�s labors were ended in death in 1875. His wife passed away in June 1865.

John J. Gilseth was but eight days old when his mother died. He was reared and educated in Norway to the age of fifteen years and then came to the United States, establishing his home in Todd county, Minnesota, where he was employed at farm labor for several years. Later he began farming on his own account and purchased land in that county which he developed and improved for four years. At the end of that time he went to South Dakota and bought land in Roberts county, where he carried on farming for four years.  In 1901 he came to Bottineau county, where he secured a homestead which he developed and improved, carrying on farming for about three years. After selling that place he took up his abode in Mohall, where he opened a lumberyard in 1903, and through the intervening period he has conducted the business with growing success, his patronage being now extensive, so that the business returns to him substantial profits. He also owns an interest in three quarter sections of land in Bottineau county, and extending his efforts in connection with the lumber trade, he is now conducting yards at Loraine, Sherwood and Greene, all in Renville county. Well defined plans, carefully executed, have constituted the basis of his growing success and made him one of the leading and prosperous merchants of his part of the state.  He is also president of the Mohall Telephone Company.

In March 1893, Mr. Gilseth was married to Miss Nettie C. Hole and they have become the parents of ten children: Mabel L., Myrtle J., Alice, Pauli, Fred 0., Mina and Viola, all yet living; Carl, who died when a year old; Matilda, who died at the age of ten days; and Theodore, who was thirteen months old when he passed away.

In politics Mr. Gilseth follows an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment and the exigencies of the case. He served on the school board in Bottineau county and for one term, 1913 and 1914, was mayor of Mohall but is not ambitious in the way of office holding, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and is loyal to the teachings of the craft. In commercial circles he has constantly extended his efforts and his enterprise has brought excellent results.

GEORGE L. GOULD, North Dakota has been signally favored in the class of men who have promoted her banking interests and someone has aptly said that: �Banking interests are the heart of the commercial body, indicating the healthfulness of trade.� Active in this field is George L. Gould, who is now cashier of the Glenburn State Bank at Glenburn, Renville county. He was born in Byron, Illinois, January 1, 1860, a son of John W. and Maria (Smith) Gould, natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. They were married in Illinois, to which state Mr. Gould had removed in young manhood, while his wife had gone thither with her parents when a young lady. He devoted his time and energies to farming throughout his entire business career and passed away in 1884. His widow survived him for thirty years, dying in 1914.

George L. Gould acquired his education in the public schools of Chatfield, Minnesota, and after his textbooks were put aside secured a clerkship in the mercantile establishment there. Nine years later, feeling that his practical experience as well as his capital justified him in embarking in business on his own account, he opened a store in Chatfield and remained for eighteen years a leading, influential, progressive and successful merchant of that city and it was with deep regret that his fellow townsmen learned of his intention to remove elsewhere. In June 1904, he became a resident of Glenburn, North Dakota, which town had but recently been laid out, and since that period he has been identified with its banking interests. In connection with A. L. Ober, of Chatfield, Minnesota, he established the Glenburn State Bank and on the 24th of September 1904, it opened its door for business with Mr. Gould as the cashier and directing head of the institution. He has presided over the financial policy of the bank since its organization and its continued growth and success are attributable to his sound business judgment, keen sagacity and unfaltering energy. He is a man of resource and ability and in 1913 he extended his efforts by entering the grain trade in partnership with Mrs. Lanige, establishing the Gould & Lanige elevator, with which he was connected for three years. From time to time he has bought and sold farm lands and in that way has added not a little to his prosperity.

In 1890 Mr. Gould was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Nichols, of Chatfield, Minnesota, and they have become the parents of three daughters: Gertrude, who is attending Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio; Evelyn, at home; and Mildred, a pupil in the Chatfield high school.

Mr. Gould gives his political allegiance to the republican party but is not an aspirant for office. Fraternally he is connected with Glenburn Lodge, No. 79, A. F. & A. M., with North Star Chapter, No. 10, R. A. M. of Chatfield, Minnesota, De Molay Commandery, K. T. of Minot, and Kem Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., of Grand Forks. He is a valued representative of the craft, loyal to its teachings concerning the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby incurred. His business career has been characterized by unfaltering activity and actuated by laudable ambition. His judgment is sound and his discrimination keen and in his vocabulary, there is no such word as fail.

ED S. HEALY, cashier of the Lincoln State Bank at Glenburn, was born in Grapeland, Minnesota, July 19, 1864, a son of 0. C. and Belle (Shaw) Healy, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Ireland. The father was a machinist by trade and in 1856 went to Minnesota, settling in Faribault county, where he took up a preemption, which he improved and operated, continuing there to engage in farming throughout his remaining days. He passed away in March 1913, having for more than two decades survived his wife, who died in September 1892.

Ed S. Healy spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Minnesota and after attending the high school at Winnebago began learning the blacksmith�s trade, which he followed for twenty years. In 1882 he removed to South Dakota, settling at Milbank, Grant county, where he conducted a smithy until 1890, when he was elected county auditor, which position he filled for four years. He afterward conducted a blacksmith and machine shop until 1903, when he removed to Glenburn and took up a homestead in Renville county.  This he developed and cultivated for two years, since which time he has rented the property.  His attention during the past thirteen years has been mainly given to the establishment, development and conduct of the Lincoln State Bank at Glenburn. Throughout this period he has been its cashier, with Mrs. Ellie C. Healy, his wife, as vice president and O. W.  Healy as president. The bank is capitalized for ten thousand dollars and its deposits amount to over two hundred thousand dollars. It has had a profitable existence from the beginning and the business policy of the institution is one which will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. In addition to his other interests Mr. Healy is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and his landed possessions comprise sixteen hundred acres, which he rents.

On the 14th of July 1886, Mr. Healy wedded Miss EIlie Cornell, a daughter of James and Augusta (McCoy) Cornell, who moved from Indiana to Mapleton, Minnesota, in 1856. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Healy have become the parents of two children: Annis B., the wife of B. W. Laughlin, who is bookkeeper in the Lincoln State Bank; and Florence E., who passed away in 1898. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and Mr. Healy also has membership in the Modern Woodmen of America and in the Masonic order and is a past master of Glenburn Lodge, No. 79. Politically he is a republican and for eight years has served as mayor of Glenburn, a fact which indicates his marked capability and fidelity in office. He has wisely administered the affairs of the city, avoiding both useless retrenchment and needless expenditure, and the acceptability of his administration is indicated by his long retention in office.

NELS IVERSON, Among the progressive and representative business men of Mohall, Nels Iverson, cashier of the Mohall Security Bank, is numbered. He was born at River Falls, Wisconsin, in March 1871, and is a son of H. J. and Anna Iverson, who were natives of Norway and who came to America in 1854. Making his way to Wisconsin, H. J. Iverson there secured a government claim and at once began the arduous task of transforming the wild land into productive fields. He continued the further cultivation and improvement of his farm until 1910, when he retired from active business life and now lives at Renville, Minnesota. Before starting out in business for himself he attended school in St. Paul in order to gain a knowledge of the English language and further promote his preparation for life�s practical and responsible duties. He also worked in a hotel for three years. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country�s call for troops and for three years was engaged in active duty at the front with the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. In 1898 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in May of that year.

Nels Iverson, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, attended the public schools of River Falls, Wisconsin, and after attaining his majority devoted ten years to mercantile pursuits in Wisconsin and Renville, Minnesota. In 1903 he arrived in Mohall, North Dakota, and embarked in the banking business, buying out the interest of M. 0. Hall, for whom the town was named. It was in 1905 that he became proprietor of the Mohall Bank, which has a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, while its deposits amount to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The officers of the bank are: H. J. Dale, president; Mrs. S. Mason, vice president; Nels Iverson, cashier; and P. H. Lambert, assistant cashier.  In addition to his banking interests Mr. Iverson is the president of the Renville County Land & Loan Company, which is conducting an extensive business in the purchase and sale of lands and in placing loans. His discrimination is keen and his sound business judgment, supplementing his unfaltering enterprise, has brought to him gratifying success.

In June 1905, Mr. Iverson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Benson and they have become the parents of four children, David M., Neal J., Elizabeth and Virginia. The family attend the Methodist church, of which the parents are members, and Mr. Iverson is a loyal adherent of the Masonic order. Politically he is a republican and has served in several local offices, to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen. He was for a number of year�s a member of the town council and in 1903 was chosen school treasurer, which office he is still filling. His aid and cooperation can be counted upon to further all measures and plans for the public good and he loyally supports every project that is a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.

FRANK O. JOHNSON, proprietor of a hardware store at Tolley, has been identified with commercial interests in that town since 1905. He was born in Chisago City, Minnesota, April 3, 1872, a son of Magnus and Johanna Johnson, who were natives of Sweden but in 1869 came to the new world, establishing their home in Minnesota. The father secured a government claim there and at once began to develop and improve the property, continuously cultivating that tract of land until 1898. He then retired and removed to the town of Chisago City, where he spent his remaining days, covering a period of eleven years, his death occurring in 1909. His widow survives at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

The youthful days of Frank 0. Johnson were spent under the parental roof in Minnesota to the age of seventeen years, when he began providing for his own support by working in a hardware store. He spent ten years in connection with the hardware trade and for four years was on the road selling farm machinery. In 1902 he removed to McKinney, North Dakota, and filed on a homestead which he occupied for three years, carefully and persistently improving and developing the place during that period. He was also interested in a hardware store in McKinney and continued his connection with the same until 1905, when he removed to the newly founded town of Tolley. There he opened a hardware store which he has since successfully conducted, carrying a mammoth stock of goods for a town of that size, drawing his patronage from a wide territory. His sales are now very extensive and the business has become a profitable feature in the commercial circles of Renville county.  He also owns another store building besides that which he occupies in Tolley and he is the owner of twelve hundred and forty acres of farm land from which he derives a gratifying annual rental. He is likewise a stockholder in the Provident Life Insurance Company of Bismarck.

In December 1904, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mabel Brown, by whom he has eight children, namely: Vern and Vera, twins; Lyle; Evelyn; Marjorie; Neva; and twins not yet named. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are identified with the Lutheran church. He has attained high rank in Masonic circles, being now a member of the Mystic Shrine, and he is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the United Commercial Travelers. He votes with the republican party and since locating in Tolley has served as town treasurer and as a member of the school board, acting as president of the board for six years. He is ever deeply interested in the cause of education and does everything in his power to promote the interests of the schools, recognizing in them one of the bulwarks of the nation.

DR. K. O. KNUDSON, physician and surgeon and one of the pioneers of Glenburn, established his home in that town two months in advance of the building of the railroad and throughout the intervening period has been closely associated with its interests along the lines of material, political and social development. He was born in Benson, Minnesota, on the 7th of May 1879, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Thorson) Knudson, the former a native of Norway, while the latter was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and in her child hood journeyed with her parents in a prairie schooner drawn by a team of oxen to Benson, Minnesota. The father left the land of the midnight sun when a young man and came to the United States, also establishing his home in Benson, where for several years he was engaged in merchandising. Subsequently he entered politics and served as county treasurer and as sheriff of the county and was very prominent and influential in political circles there for eighteen years. He died in 1910 and is still survived by his widow, who yet makes her home in Benson.

Dr. Knudson completed his more specifically literary education by graduation from the Benson high school with the class of 1896. In the fall of that year he entered the medical department of the University of Minnesota but in the following year became a student in the Keokuk Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1903, his professional degree being at that time conferred upon him. Immediately afterward he opened an office in Glenburn, where he has been successfully engaged in practice for the past thirteen years. Experience and further study have added to his knowledge and efficiency and he has won the reputation of being most careful in the diagnosis of his cases and conscientious in the performance of his professional duties.  In 1910 Dr. Knudson was married to Miss Marie Asplund, of Lake City, Minnesota.  She is a member of the Lutheran church and during the period of her residence in Glenburn has won many friends.

In politics Dr. Knudson is a stalwart democrat and is now serving as coroner of Renville county. Fraternally he is connected with Glenburn Lodge, No. 153, I. 0. 0. F., while along strictly professional lines he has membership in the Northwestern Medical Society and the North Dakota State Medical Society and is a fellow of the American Medical Association, through the proceedings of which he keeps in close touch with the advanced thought and professional interests of the day, and anything which tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life is of deep interest to him.

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