Richland County North Dakota Biographies

North Dakota History and People
S. J. Clarke Publishing Company Chicago, Ill. 1917

WILLIAM F. ECKES, cashier of the National Bank of Wahpeton is a native of that city and has there spent the greater part of his life. He was born on the 7th of June 1886, a son of W. F. and Mary K. (Braun) Eckes, natives of Germany and Stearns county, Minnesota. They were married in Stearns county but subsequently removed to Wisconsin, where they remained for a short time, after which they came to North Dakota, being among the pioneer settlers of the state. Although the father was a poor man when he came to this state, he gained financial independence and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest men of his county, he engaged in merchandising and also owned a large amount of valuable farm land and in addition was the proprietor of a mill. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he was quite active in public affairs. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church. He passed away in 1896 at the comparatively early age of forty-two years, as he was born in 1854. His wife survives and makes her home at Wahpeton. To them were born four children, three of whom are still living: William F.; Alvina, who teaches music in a conservatory at St. Paul; and Amalia, who is taking voice culture in Chicago.

William F. Eckes was educated in the St. Francis School at St. Francis, Wisconsin, and in a business college at Wahpeton. When but seventeen years of age he became book-keeper of the Merchants State Bank at Breckenridge, where he remained until he accepted a similar position in the National Bank of Wahpeton. He filled that office until 1912; when he was made cashier. The bank is capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, has a surplus of ten thousand dollars and average deposits of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which indicates the place it holds in the confidence of the general public. Mr. Eckes is at once prudent and aggressive and so directs the policy of the bank as to promote the legitimate business expansion of the community and at the same time amply safeguard the interests of the stockholders and depositors.

In 1908 occurred the marriage of Mr. Eckes and Miss Magdaline Pahl, a native of Minnesota, by whom he has the following children: Kenneth. Lester, Magdaline and Marguerite.  Mr. Eckes is a democrat in polities and has served as a member of the city council and as school treasurer and city treasurer. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally he is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus. He is a director of the Wahpeton Conservatory of Music and of the Commercial Club and can always he depended upon to give of his time and energy to the promotion of projects for the community advancement. Although he is a young man and has depended solely upon his own resources, he has gained a measure of success which many of his seniors might well envy.

DR. FRANK H. FARMER, who is successfully engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery in Wahpeton, is also serving as assistant state veterinarian. A native of Ireland, his birth occurred on the 4th of October 1864, and he is a son of William and Alice (Soughan) Farmer, both natives of the Emerald isle. In 1871 they came with their family to the United States and settled in Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, where they remained for eight or ten years. They then went to Ontario, Canada, where the father passed away in 1912 at the age of seventy-nine years, as he was born in 1833. He was a carpenter and con-tractor by occupation. In his early manhood he served in the Crimean war and he remained in the army until his emigration to the new world. For a number of years he held the office of paymaster and at all times he was faithful and efficient in the performance of his duty.  While at the front he was twice wounded. His religious faith was that of the Episcopal church, to the support of which he contributed. The mother, who was born in 1840, is still living. To them were born three children: John, a musician who lives near Niagara Falls; Frank H.; and Mrs. R. H. Sawdon, of Spencerville, Ontario, whose husband is a farmer.

The paternal grandfather, Frank Farmer, passed his entire life in County Cork, Ireland.  Frank H. Farmer attended the common schools in Ontario and the United States, then acquiring a good education. In 1885, when a young man of twenty-one years, he came to North Dakota and settled in Grand Forks county, where he worked at anything that he could find to do. In 1889, however, he entered a veterinary school in Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1898. The following year he located in Wahpeton for the practice of his profession. Almost from the start he has been well patronized and he has gained an enviable reputation for the successful treatment of the diseases of animals. Tie devotes his entire time to his practice and to the discharge of his duties as assistant state veterinarian under the livestock board. He has also served as a member of the state board of examiners, having been elected to that position in 1895 and again in 1910, holding that office until 1913, and he is well known and highly esteemed in professional circles throughout the state.  Mr. Farmer is a republican in politics but, although he loyally supports that party at the polls, he has never had time to take an active part in public affairs, as his large practice has demanded his undivided time and attention, he has not only gained a gratifying measure of success professionally, but has also won the personal goodwill and regard of those with whom he has been brought into contact.

JOSEPH G. FORBES, of Wahpeton, has built up a large and remunerative private practice but is now devoting the greater part of his time and attention to the discharge of his duties as states attorney of Richland county. His birth occurred in Huron county, Ontario, on the 19th of March 1868, and he is a son of Alexander and Margaret (Dundas) Forbes, both natives of Ireland. The maternal grandfather, Andrew Dundas, who was a weaver by occupation, emigrated to Huron county, Ontario, Canada, where his demise occurred.  The parents of our subject were married in the province of Quebec, to which they had removed as young man and young woman. The father followed the profession of teaching there for thirty-five years, a record of honorable service to the community that is not often equaled.  The value of his work was recognized and during his later years he received a pension from the Canadian government. He was a member of the conservative party and in religion was affiliated with the English church. To him and his wife were born thirteen children, of whom our subject is the twelfth in order of birth and of whom nine are still living.

Joseph G. Forbes supplemented his common school education by attending the high school in Minneapolis and following his graduation there took a year’s course of study in Hamline University. Having determined upon the practice of law as a life work, he then entered a law office, where he pursued his legal studies. In 1893 he passed the required examination and was admitted to the Minnesota bar, but the following year taught school at Morton, that state. During that time he engaged in practice to a small extent and in 1894 he opened an office in Lake Benton, Minnesota, where he practiced for five years. He next located at Wahpeton, becoming associated with Senator P. J. McCumber, under the firm name of McCumber, Robert & Forbes. This connection was maintained until 1912, when Mr. Forbes became a member of the firm of Forbes & Thorps, which is now Forbes & Lounsberry.  They are recognized among the most able members of the Richland county bar and have a large and representative general practice. Mr. Forbes not only has a thorough knowledge of the underlying principles of jurisprudence and of statute and precedent, but also has the faculty of going unerringly to the most essential point in a matter and of presenting his cause in a convincing manner. His ability has been recognized by his fellow citizens and he has served in several offices in the line of his profession. While living at Lake Benton, Minnesota, he served as county attorney of Lincoln county and since arriving in Wahpeton has been city attorney and assistant states attorney, and in 1915 was elected states attorney, which office he is now ably filling. He is zealous in safeguarding the public interests and is aggressive in prosecuting wrongdoers.

On the 25th of October 1893, Mr. Forbes was united in marriage to Miss Mary C.  Watson, who was born in Marshall, Minnesota, and is a daughter of J. P. Watson, a hardware merchant of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes have three children: Arnold C, Stanley W.  and Vernon D., all at home.

Mr. Forbes casts his ballot in support of the republican party and keeps well informed on all questions and issues of the day, taking a keen interest in civic conditions and problems. He is now serving as president of the board of education and is constantly seeking to make the schools more efficient. His fraternal relations are with the Masons and he holds his church membership in the First Congregational church. His record is proof of the fact that in order to succeed it is not necessary to have capital or influential friends in starting out in life, as he was compelled to meet the expenses of his education himself and throughout his career has depended solely upon his own merit and ability for advancement.

LOUIS FLIGELMAN, the popular and able mayor of Wahpeton and also a well known dealer in farm lands, was born in Berlad, Roumania, on the 10th of May 1869. His parents, Joseph and Theresa (Epstien) Fligelman, were lifelong residents of that country. The father, who was engaged in the leather business, was very successful, gaining financial independence. He was a member of the Jewish Synagogue. There were seven children in the family, namely: John, a merchant of Minneapolis; Herman, who is engaged in the dry goods business in Helena, Montana; Jacob, also a merchant of Helena; Fred A., a merchant of Great Falls, Montana; Louis; Jessie, the wife of David Fichman, a traveling man of New York city; and Dora, who married S. S. Singer, a merchant of Great Falls, Montana.

Louis Fligelman received his education in the schools of his native land but in 1885 came to Minneapolis with his brothers and sisters when they emigrated to the United States. In 1889 he removed to Wahpeton, North Dakota, and engaged in the land business, along which line he has gained enviable prosperity. He buys and sells land outright and has handled many valuable tracts, owning at the present time a large amount of land in Rich-land county. He also deals in loans and his natural business acumen and good judgment, combined with his thorough knowledge of business conditions, has made him one of the successful men of his city.

In 1895 occurred the marriage of Mr. Fligelman and Miss Helena Bessie, a daughter of Adolph Bessie and a native of New York city. Mr. and Mrs. Fligelman have become the parents of three daughters, Rosa, Henrietta and Jessica, all of whom are now attending school.

Mr. Fligelman is an adherent of the democratic party where national issues are at stake but at local elections is independent. In 1913 he was elected mayor as the choice of the people rather than as the candidate of any particular party and he has since held the office of chief executive of Wahpeton. He gives the same careful study and thought to the solution of the problems that come up in connection with the administration of the city’s business that he gives to the management of his private affairs and his course in office has won the commendation of his fellow citizens. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, the beneficent principles of which guide his life. He is held in the highest esteem and his personal friends are many.

WILLIAM C. FORMAN, JR., of Hankinson, Richland county, is well known in his section of the state as the editor of the Hankinson News. A native of Michigan, he was born in Lake county on the 2d of August, 1875, and is a son of William C. and Debbie H. (Hurly) Forman. The paternal grandfather, James Forman, was born in Canada, whither the family had removed from the United States. They were Tories during the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather was born in Ireland, where he passed away, but his widow removed with her children to Canada. The father of our subject was born in Ontario in 1839, and the mother was born in Ireland in 1847. They were married in St. Joseph, Michigan, whence they came to North Dakota in 1884, settling in Sargent county. The town of Forman was named for a brother of William C. Forman, Sr., and the latter still lives there. For a number of years he resided on his farm which he homesteaded. He is a carpenter by trade and followed that occupation in Michigan. Many years ago he made the long trip to California by way of the lsthmus of Panama and tells many interesting stories of his experiences on that occasion. For about twelve years he was in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad, he is a stalwart democrat in politics and served efficiently as postmaster of Forman during President Cleveland’s second administration. He is now filling the office of deputy clerk of the courts. The mother of our subject died in 1902 in the faith of the Episcopal church, her demise being deeply regretted by her many friends. She was the mother of two children, a son and a daughter, the sister of our subject being Mrs. R. B. Lowry, a resident of Baker, Montana.

William C. Forman, Jr., received his education in the common schools and when but eight years of age began work in a printing office, so that during practically his entire life he as been connected with the printing business. For four years, however, he was employed in a bank. In 1899 he arrived in Hankinson, Richland county, and purchased the Hankinson News, which he has successfully conducted during the intervening sixteen years. The paper has a circulation of twelve hundred and is well patronized as an advertising medium.  He also does a good job printing business, as he has an up-to-date plant and is straight forward in his business methods, he understands all phases of the printing business and is recognized as an efficient and progressive newspaper man. In April 1912, he was appointed postmaster of Hankinson and discharged the duties of his office with accuracy and in a systematic manner, serving until 1910, when he was succeeded by F. 0. Hunger.

On the 11th of August, 1897 occurred the marriage of Mr. Forman and Miss Carrie J. Tisdel, who was born in northern Iowa and by whom he has three sons: William C., George H. and Marshall L. Mrs. Forman is a devout member of the Lutheran church and the high principles which govern the conduct of Mr. Forman are indicated by the fact that he holds membership in the Masonic blue lodge and chapter. He has served as worshipful master of his lodge. In politics he is a republican and no matter of public concern fails to secure his careful attention, he has become widely known and has made his paper a factor in community advancement.

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