Richland County North Dakota Biographies

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

W. I. IRVINE, is successfully engaged in the practice of law in Lidgerwood, Richland county, and is also the owner and editor of the Monitor, an excellent and well patronized weekly newspaper. He was born in Danville, Illinois, on the 21st of April 1862, and his parents, James and Mary (Paddock) Irvine, were born respectively in Pennsylvania in 1832 and in Massachusetts in 1841. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Irvine, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in merchandising, selling goods to the laborers and railroad men that built the Erie canal. He passed away in the Keystone state. The parents of our subject were married in western Pennsylvania in October 1860, and not long afterward removed to Danville, Illinois, where the father farmed, although he had been a contractor and builder in the east. At length he returned to Pennsylvania and after remaining there for a number of years became a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, where he passed away in 1893. He was a democrat in politics and took an active interest in all public affairs. He was a man of good education and was well informed on all questions and issues of the day. He and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church. She is still living and makes her home in Lincoln, Nebraska.

W. I. Irvine, who is the eldest in a family of seven children, received his education in the common schools of Pennsylvania and in an academy at White Bluff, Tennessee. On beginning his business career he became connected with the Daily News of Youngstown, Ohio, in 1881, but subsequently removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he took up the study of law. In 1887 he was admitted to the bar at St. Paul and continued to reside in Minneapolis for a year but in 1888 became a resident of Lidgerwood, North Dakota. He has since engaged in the practice of law; trying cases not only in this state but also in South Dakota, and on a number of occasions appearing before the federal court. He under-stands the underlying principles of jurisprudence, is well versed in statute law and precedent and this knowledge, combined with his analytical mind and habit of careful preparation of his cases, enables him to win a favorable verdict in most instances. In 1900 be purchased the Monitor and has since conducted that paper in addition to practicing law. The Monitor has a circulation of seven hundred and is well patronized by the local business men as an advertising medium, he also does a good job printing business, for which his plant is well equipped.

In 1887 Mr. Irvine was united in marriage, in Brown county, Wisconsin, to Miss Ida Dolbear, who was born in Vermont. They have four children: Perry, who assists his father with the publication of the Monitor; Jessie and Inez, who are teaching; and Helen, who graduated from the high school with the class of 1915 and is now attending the Valley City Normal School.

Mr. Irvine is a stalwart democrat and both in his capacity as editor and as a private citizen does all in his power to secure the victory of that party at the polls. Fraternally be belongs to Harmony Lodge, No. 53, A. F. & A. M. in which he has served as master for years; to the Royal Arch Chapter, in which he was high priest for six years and in which he is again filling that office; and to the Mystic Shrine. His wife is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church and both support heartily all efforts to further the moral advancement of their community. Mr. Irvine is entitled to the honor that Americans pay to self-made men as he began without capital or the aid of influential friends and through his own efforts has gained a position of honor in his community and a gratifying measure of financial success.

GILBERT J. JOHNSON, one of the extensive real estate dealers of Wahpeton, Richland county, was born in Bristol, England, on the 8th of July 1875, a son of David and Caroline E.  (Brain) Johnson, both likewise natives of that city, the former born in 1841 and the latter in 1843. They were married there and continued to reside in England until 1881, when with their family, they came to the United States. The father, who was a decorator, followed his trade for many years and for ten years resided in Wahpeton. He is now living retired in St. Louis. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is now a member of the Episcopal church, although while living in England he was for some time a preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist church.

Gilbert J. Johnson received his education in Birmingham, Alabama, and in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and after leaving school engaged in farming for some time, taking up a homestead in Richland county, he was later engaged in the hardware business at Christine and Wahpeton, continuing along that line until 1905, when he turned his attention to the real estate business, in which line he is still active, he buys and sells outright and has handled a great deal of valuable farm land. He owns large tracts of land in Richland county and also holds title to several thousand acres of Minnesota land. In addition to his real estate operations he is a director in the National Bank of Wahpeton and is interested financially in several other banks and in other business enterprises. Since completing his education he has been dependent upon his own resources and the enviable measure of success which he has gained is proof of his aggressiveness and his sound judgment.

On the 6th of April 1904, occurred the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Emma E.  Clemmons of Barron, Wisconsin, and a daughter of A. N. Clemmons, an early veterinarian of that town. Three children have been born to this union: Donald, Fred and Arthur, aged respectively ten, eight, and three years.

Mr. Johnson is an adherent of the republican party and takes the interest of a good citizen in public affairs, although not an office seeker. He is well known fraternally, belonging to the Masonic blue lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter, the Knights Templar Commandery and the Shrine. He is recognized as an able and reliable business man and his personal qualities are such that he has won the warm regard of many.

J. S. JOHNSON, president of the Christine State Bank and a well known dealer in lumber and farm implements, has not only been connected with the business development of Christine but has also been active in public affairs, having held a number of offices, including that of state representative. He was born in Norway on the 6th of June, 1851, a son of Lars and Carrie (Thompson) Johnson, both likewise natives of that country, the former born in 1824 and the latter in 1827, The mother passed away in her native country in 1868 but in 1881 the father emigrated to the United States and purchased a farm in Minnesota, he was also a landowner in Norway and engaged in farming throughout his entire active life his demise occurred  in 1911, when he had reached the advanced age of 87 years. His political allegiance was given to the republican party after becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States and his religions faith was that of the Lutheran church. To him and his wife were born three children: H. A., who is farming in Meeker county, Minnesota, and who is a machinist by trade; J. S.; and Isabelle, the wife of John Holt, a farmer of Wilkins county, Minnesota, and chairman of the board of county commissioners. The paternal grandfather reached the advanced age of one hundred and two years and passed his entire life in Norway, as did the maternal grandfather who was a farmer by occupation.

J. S. Johnson received his education in his native country and remained there for several years after attaining his majority. In 1880 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and made his way to Minnesota, where he engaged in carpentering and farming for three years, after which he removed to Christine, North Dakota. In 1888 he took a commercial course in the Curtiss Business College at Minneapolis. In 1886 he established a lumber business, which he has since successfully conducted and to which he has added a line of farm implements. As the years have passed his trade has grown and he is now one of the leading business men of his town. He also has other interests, being president of the Christine State bank, which he established in 1889 and which has the confidence of the community as it has always been managed in accordance with principles of sound finance.  He also owns considerable land in western North Dakota and he formerly had an interest in the Christine Mercantile Company, which he recently sold.

In 1883 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Olson, a native of Norway, who passed away three years after her marriage. In 1902 he was again married, Miss Albertina R. Lukason, likewise a native of Norway, becoming his wife. Two children have been born to this union, Agnes R. and James A.

Mr. Johnson is a republican and has considerable influence in political circles in his part of the state. Since attaining his majority he has taken part in public affairs and has served as town treasurer and as school treasurer and in 1890 and again in 1898 was honored by election to the state legislature, proving a public-spirited and able law maker. His religious faith is indicated by the fact that he holds membership in the Lutheran church and fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Woodmen, he is one of the substantial men of his community and can always be depended upon to aid in promoting the general welfare.

JOHN R. JONES, The life record of John R. Jones, of Hankinson, Richland county, should serve to spur the ambition of those who are beginning their independent career, for from a poor boy he has worked his way upward until he is now one of the leading capitalists of this section of North Dakota. He is the largest land owner in Richland county, is president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Hankinson, of the First State Bank of Rutland, the First National Bank of Wyndmere, and of the Security State Bank of Mclntosh, South Dakota, and is a stockholder in many other banks in North and South Dakota, and also has many other important business interests. Although the greater part of his time has been given to his business affairs, he has not failed to cooperate with movements seeking the advancement of his community along lines of moral and civic progress, and he is recognized as one of the foremost citizens of his county.

Mr. Jones was born in Winnebago, Wisconsin, on the 12th of August 1856, a son of Evan and Margaret (Roberts) Jones. The father was born in Wales, but came to the United States in his young manhood, locating in Wisconsin, where he was married to Miss Roberts, also a native of Wales. He purchased land from the government as the section where he settled was then largely undeveloped, and he devoted the remainder of his life to operating his homestead. He was a republican in politics, and for years served as marshal of Neenah, Wisconsin, making an excellent record in that office. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. To him and his wife were born eleven children, of whom our subject is the eldest and of whom ten survive.

John R. Jones received excellent educational opportunities and was graduated from Ripen College, at Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1882. For some time he worked in lumber yards and was subsequently superintendent of various mills in northern Wisconsin, but in 1886 he removed to Hankinson, North Dakota, where he was connected with a corporation engaged in the lumber and machinery business. At length he bought out the concern and has since continued independently in those lines of business. He has succeeded beyond his greatest expectations, and his annual business has reached a large figure, and in addition to his business at Hankinson he has lumber yards at Rutland, North Dakota, and at New Effington and Hammer, South Dakota.

In 1886 Mr. Jones was married, in northern Michigan, to Miss Victoria Hamilton, and to this union was born a daughter, who is now a missionary in Canton, China. The wife and mother died on the 18th of March 1887. Mr. Jones was later married to Mary E. Stilwell, of Ripon, Wisconsin, and to them have been born five children: John S. and Harold M., both attending college; and Edith Belle; Daniel L. and Mary Carol, all at home.

Mr. Jones easts his ballot in support of the measures and candidates of the republican party, but has never taken an active part in politics. He and his family are all devout members of the Congregational church at Hankinson, in which Mr. Jones is very much interested, being an active church member and very liberal in his contributions toward the support of the church. He is widely known throughout the state and all who have been brought in contact with him hold him in high esteem, and he has many warm personal friends among his business associates and neighbors.

C. J. KACHELHOFFER, the aggressive and efficient city attorney of Wahpeton, Richland county, was born in Freeport, Illinois, on the 29th of March 1878. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Abel) Kachelhoffer, were both born in Buffalo, Erie county, New York, the father on the 29^th of November 1846, and the mother on the 3d of June 1851. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Kachelhoffer, was born in Alsace-Lorraine but many years ago came to the United States and his death occurred at Freeport, Illinois. He was a man of good business ability and became financially independent. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Abel, was born in Luxemburg and on emigrating to the United States in early manhood located at Buffalo, New York, where he engaged in railroad contracting. The parents of our subject were married at Freeport, Illinois, where the father had been taken as a child by his parents. He devoted his active life to agricultural pursuits but about eighteen years ago retired and is now living at Cherokee, Iowa. He is a democrat in politics and has held a number of township offices. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic, His wife passed away in 1892, her demise being sincerely mourned by her family and her many friends. To Joseph and Mary Kachelhoffer were born seven children: John, an attorney, who, however, is now engaged in merchandising in Kansas City, Emma, the wife of B. E. Adams, who is farming near Pierre, South Dakota; C. J.; Edward L., who is employed by the Standard Oil Company at St. Louis; Carrie, the wife of E. L. Aldrich, a railroad man of Cherokee, Iowa; Agnes, who married F. A. Lynch, a farmer of Luverne, Minnesota; and Frank, of Rapid City, South Dakota, who is in the employ of the Nebraska Telephone Company.

C. J. Kachelhoffer attended the common schools of Illinois in his boyhood and youth and subsequently took a year’s course in the Mankato (Minn.) Commercial College, after which he began his preparation for the legal profession, studying law in the office of Gustav Schuler, of Wahpeton. In December 1909, he was admitted to the bar but did not begin practice until 1912, remaining in Mr. Schuler’s office during the intervening years. He has since built up a good practice and is well liked by his fellow attorneys. A number of years ago he served for three years as city attorney, after which he was states attorney for two years, and in 1914 he was elected city attorney, in which office he is now serving.

On the 1st of January 1912, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kachelhoffer and Miss Mabel Schuler, a daughter of Gustav Schuler, one of the pioneer attorneys of Wahpeton, where he has practiced for about twenty-five years. Mr. Kachelhoffer is a democrat in politics and supports that party loyally at the polls. He is well known fraternally, being connected with the Masonic blue lodge; the Royal Arch Chapter; the Knights Templar Commandery; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Fergus Falls Lodge, No. 1073, B. P. O. E.; the Modern Samaritans; and the Order of the Eastern Star, to which his wife also belongs. He has served as junior deacon and junior warden in the blue lodge of Masons and is now filling the office of senior warden. He is public-spirited to a marked degree and is always willing to give his time and thought to the advancement of the interests of Wahpeton, and as secretary of the Commercial Club has been a factor in the development of the city along business and civic lines.

RICHARD N. LEE, the editor of the Walcott Reporter of Walcott, Richland county, is well known in his section of the state and his paper is recognized as an excellent weekly. He was born in Grant county, Minnesota, on the 14th of August, 1879, the oldest child of Ole and Carrie (Hanger) Lee, both natives of Norway, the former born in 1845 and the latter in 1855. They came to the United States with their respective parents, grew to manhood and womanhood in this country, and were married in Red Wing, Minnesota. The father farmed during the greater part of his active life, but was for a time a hotel keeper in Red Wing and also served on the police force there. Subsequently he took up a claim in Grant county, Minnesota, and still later removed to the vicinity of McIntosh, where he purchased land. The town was platted on his land and in addition to farming he conducted a butcher shop in McIntosh for some time. In 1900 he removed to North Dakota and settled on a farm in Viking township, Richland county, which he operated until he retired. At that time he sold his farm and he has since resided in Walcott, where he owns a good residence. He is a democrat and while living in Grant county, Minnesota, served as supervisor of Gorton township.  He and his wife are both identified with the Norwegian Lutheran church, in the work of which they have always taken a deep interest. Six of their eight children survive.

Richard N. Lee was educated in the country schools and in the high school at McIntosh, Minnesota. In his youth he learned the printer’s trade and in 1902 entered the employ of George Van Arman the proprietor of the Walcott Reporter. Five years later Mr. Lee purchased the paper, which he has since successfully conducted. It has a circulation of six hundred and is well patronized by the local merchants as an advertising medium. He also has a well-equipped job printing plant and does considerable work of that character. He owns the fine cement block building in which his plant is located and also holds title to his comfortable residence. He is recognized as an able newspaper man and has also gained a gratifying financial success.

In March 1906, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Van Arman, a daughter of George and Nettie (Heath) Van Arman, and they have become parents of three children, two of whom are living, Ramona and Grace. He is independent in politics and fraternally is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. His wife is a consistent member of the Congregational church and takes an active interest in its work.  Mr. Lee devotes his entire time to his business, which is one secret of his success. He has made the Reporter not only an up-to-date and reliable disseminator of news, but also an important factor in the formation of public opinion and in the promotion of projects for the general good.

MATHEW LYNCH, of Lidgerwood, has played an important part in the business and agricultural development of Richland county and has also been a leader in political affairs, having represented his district in the state legislature, he is president of the Farmers National Bank and is the owner of a great deal of valuable farm land. A native of Wisconsin, he was born near Berlin on the 20th of November 1857, and is a son of James and Adeline (Perkins) Lynch. The father, who was born in Ireland, came to the United States in early manhood and after his removal to Wisconsin followed farming, although he had been a wagon maker in Ireland. He purchased government land, which he developed and improved and which he still owned at the time of his death, he was a democrat in politics and was a communicant of the Roman Catholic church. The mother of our subject, who was born in Germany, came to the United States in girlhood and her marriage occurred in New England. She became the mother of seven children, of whom six are living and of whom our subject is the fifth in order of birth.

Mathew Lynch received his education in the common schools of Wisconsin, but left home when still a boy as his mother had died. In 1879 he became a resident of Richland county, North Dakota, and took up a homestead and tree claim, proving up on both. While living in Wisconsin he had worked as a farm hand and had thus gained valuable knowledge concerning agricultural work which enabled, him to operate his own farms successfully. After cultivating his land in Liberty Grove township for a number of years he removed to Wyndmere in the spring of 1886 and there engaged in general merchandising in partnership with W. H. Morgan. The firm subsequently started a branch store in Lidgerwood and successfully conducted both enterprises. In 1888 Mr. Lynch bought out the interest of Mr. Morgan and he and Mr. Rickert continued as partners until 1892, when our subject purchased Mr.  Rickert’s interest and continued the business until 1908, when be sold out, but again purchased the business, January 1, 1913, and still conducts the same. He organized the Lidgerwood State Bank, which was later known as the Lidgerwood National Bank and which subsequently bought out the Farmers Bank, and it is now conducted under the name of Farmers National Bank. He is president of the institution, which is capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, has a surplus of ten thousand dollars, and average deposits of three hundred and nine thousand dollars. The bank holds the confidence of the public and its business has grown steadily. Mr. Lynch keeps in close touch with all of the departments of the bank and the success of the institution is in no small measure due to his excellent judgment and knowledge of business conditions. He owns seven quarter sections of land in Richland and adjoining counties, from which he derives a handsome income. He is now a man of independent means, but he had no property save his team and prairie schooner when he drove here from Berlin, Wisconsin.

On the 30th of August 1888, at Sibley, Iowa, Mr. Lynch was married to Miss Mary Maher, a native of Wisconsin. They have four children Francis Leo is living on a claim in Canada and is engaged in the machinery and land business. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. James William is also living on a claim in Canada. Mathew Hoyt, who graduated from St. Thomas College of St. Paul and who devoted one year to the study of law, is now employed in the Farmers National Bank at Lidgerwood. He is likewise a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mary Irene is still in school.

Mr. Lynch is a republican and easts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of that party, he has taken an active part in politics, and was appointed postmaster of Lidgerwood, February 1, 1890, serving four years. He was elected to the state legislature in November 1898, and after serving one term was appointed postmaster by President McKinley, February 1, 1900. After serving four years he was reappointed by President Roosevelt in 1901 and again in 1908; and by President Taft in 1912, serving until May 15, 1916.  He is a consistent member of the Catholic church and is also identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters. All who know him respect him for his fine qualities of manhood, and his personal friends are many.

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