Richland County North Dakota Biographies

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

OLE K. ULSAKER, The real estate dealers of any community are factors of no small importance in its upbuilding as they are instrumental in bringing in new residents and in securing improvements. Ole K. Ulsaker, who is the oldest real estate dealer in Wahpeton in point of years of connection with the business, has aided in many ways in the development of the city and has also gained financial independence. He was born in Norway on the 1st of December, 1850 a son of Knute K. and Margaret (Finseth) Ulsaker, likewise natives of that country, the former born in 1806 and the latter in 1811. The father was a son of Ingvald Ulsaker, a lifelong resident of the Land of the Midnight Sun and he also passed his entire life there.  He died in 1876 and was survived for a number of years by his wife, who died in January, 1901. Both were members of the Lutheran church, the teachings of which guided their lives. To them were born eight children, four of whom are still living, namely: Knute K..  a farmer of Richland county: Ole K.; Thrond K„ a fruit farmer in California: and Swen, a minister of the Lutheran church in Wahpeton.

Ole K. Ulsaker attended the public schools of Norway and after emigrating to this country continued his education in St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minnesota. Subsequently he attended Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, whence he came to North Dakota, settling first at Kindred. After remaining there for three years be took up his residence in Wahpeton in 1881 having been elected county treasurer in fall of 1880, which office he held for ten years, or five terms, his efficiency lending to his continued re-election. In 1891 he turned his attention to the real estate business, in which he has since engaged. He buys and sells land outright, and as he is always well informed as to what is on the market and is an excellent judge of realty values his transactions have been very profitable and he is now a man of independent means. He owns five excellent farms, all of which are well improved and from which he derives a gratifying addition to his income. He is likewise a director and vice president of the National Bank of Wahpeton and also owns considerable city property.

In 1885 Mr. Ulsaker was united in marriage to Miss Cecil Huss, a native of Nicollet county, Minnesota, by whom he has five children: Oscar, who is engaged in the practice of law at Moore, Montana; Althea, the wife of Oscar Erickson, superintendent of schools at Hatton, this state; Carl, a graduate of the high school and of the State School of Science and first lieutenant of Company I, North Dakota National Guard, now stationed at Mercedes, Texas; Walter, who is attending high school; and Lawrence, who is ten years of age.  Mr. Ulsaker is a republican in politics but has never been able to spare the time to take an active part in public affairs although he is not remiss in any of the duties of a good citizen. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, to which he belongs and the influence of which he seeks to extend. The success which he has gained is due solely to his own energy and ability as he began his career as a poor boy.

W. M. WAGNER, Among those men who have contributed in large measure to the commercial growth and expansion of Wahpeton is W. M. Wagner, president of the Wagner Candy Company.  He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 25th of August, 1856, a son of John and Amelia Wagner, both natives of Germany. They became residents of Milwaukee in 1854, and the father engaged in blacksmithing there for some time, subsequently removing to southern Minnesota, where his demise occurred, his wife passed away in North Dakota.  His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church, and his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, namely: John, a retired farmer living in Grand Meadow, Minnesota; Mrs. Krouse, whose husband is also a retired farmer of Grand Meadow, W. M. of this review; H. J., a confectioner of Arthur, this state; Frank, a resident of Grand Meadow, Minnesota; Mrs. Fox, who died in Marion, Wisconsin, in 1909; Albert, who is farming in Minnesota; and Mrs. Anna Jancy, the wife of a farmer of Nelson, Wisconsin. The paternal grandfather, John Wagner, was a lifelong resident of Germany.

W. M. Wagner received ins education in his native state and remained at home until 1879, when he went to Grand Meadow, Minnesota. He worked as a farm hand in that locality for two summers, after which he came to North Dakota, where he followed the carpenter’s trade for a time. Subsequently he went to Casselton, where be engaged in harness-making until 1882, when he went into business for himself at Arthur. In 1889, after remaining there for seven years, he removed to Wahpeton and established a furniture store, which he conducted for nearly eight years. At the end of that time he sold out and went into the retail confectionery business, in which he continued until 1910, when he organized the Wagner Candy Company, Inc., which is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars and which sells at wholesale candy, tobacco and cigars. The business is represented by two men on the road and its products have already gained an enviable reputation for purity and high quality.  In addition to his manufacturing interests Mr. Wagner owns valuable land in Canada and fruit land in Montana. He has prospered in all that he has undertaken and is justified in taking pride in his success as he has at all times depended solely upon his own efforts.

On the 7th of April 1891, occurred the marriage of Mr. Wagner and Miss Mary J.  McKinnon, who was born in Canada and by whom he has two children: Arthur J., who travels for the Wagner Candy Company; and Hattie May, a high school graduate. The son and daughter are both members of the Episcopal church, but the parents attend the Methodist church.

Mr. Wagner is identified with the Independent Older of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed through all of the chairs, and with the Yeomen. His political support is given the republican party, and he served acceptably as alderman of Wahpeton for four years, he is interested not only in the material advancement of his community, but also in its progress along other lines and is recognized as a man of marked public spirit. He is widely known and highly esteemed.

EINER WOLD, who is successfully engaged in merchandising in Galchutt, Richland county, was born in Norway on the 3d of August 1857. His parents, Ola and Anna (Eagen) Wold, who were likewise natives of that country, emigrated with their family to the United States in 1876. They at once came to North Dakota and settled on a homestead in Richland county.  The father had but seven hundred dollars when he came to this state but as the years passed his circumstances improved and he became one of the substantial citizens of his locality. He was a republican in politics, and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. To him and his wife were born three children, two of whom are living: Lars, who is farming in Richland county; and Einer.

The latter received the greater part of his education in Norway, but after his arrival in North Dakota attended school for three months in Richland county, thus perfecting himself in the English language. He became familiar with farm work as a boy and on beginning his independent career began farming on his own account, but after devoting ten years to that occupation he removed to Galchutt in 1892 and established a general store which he has since conducted. He carries goods of high quality and this fact combined with his liberal business policy and reasonable prices has enabled him to build up a gratifying trade. He also owns a farm.

In 1882 Mr. Wold was married to Miss Liv Reine, who was born in Norway and is a daughter of Knute Reine. She accompanied her father to the United States in her girlhood.  Mr. and Mrs. Wold have become the parents of eight children: Christina, the wife of Charles Johnson, a farmer residing near Charlesville, Minnesota; Olga, who works in her father’s store; Lillie, the wife of John Jacobson, a railroad man residing at Breckenridge, Minnesota; Lora, the wife of Ted Jacobson of Galchutt; Oscar, a dispatcher residing at Delworth, Minnesota; Clarence, who is farming; Sylvia, who is employed in the hotel at Galchutt; and Elnora.  Mr. Wold supports the republican party at the polls and for ten years held the office of justice of the peace. He is a communicant of the Lutheran church and in all of the relations of life measures up to high standards of manhood.

The information on Trails to the Past © Copyright    may be used in personal family history research, with source citation. The pages in entirety may not be duplicated for publication in any fashion without the permission of the owner. Commercial use of any material on this site is not permitted.  Please respect the wishes of those who have contributed their time and efforts to make this free site possible.~Thank you!