Biographies

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

JOHN A. BECK, president of the First National Bank of McClusky and regarded as one of the most progressive business men of the town, was born in Germany in 1863, a son of Andrew and Catherina (Paul) Beck, who were also natives of that country. The father, who engaged in general farming, came to the United States in 1868, settling in Stearns county, Minnesota, where he spent his remaining days. He followed farming there for many years, but both he and his wife have now passed away.

John A. Beck was the sixth in order of birth in a family of nine children, eight of whom are yet living. He was educated in the Minnesota schools and remained with his father on the home farm until he attained his majority. He then took up general merchandising at Wendell, Minnesota, in which business he continued for thirteen years, selling out at that place in 1900. He then removed to McLean county, North Dakota, where he began dealing in cattle and horses, in which business he engaged for a period of four years. He then took up his abode in McClusky, where he established a real estate office in connection with F. J. Newman. In 1907 he was elected sheriff of McLean county and occupied the office for four years, being chosen to that position on the republican ticket. He remained in the real estate business for a period of three years and operated quite successfully in that field. After retiring from the position of county sheriff he returned to McClusky and being financially interested in the Farmers & Merchants Bank, he then became an active factor in its management. This bank was organized by E. B. Robertson and others in 1906 under the name of the Farmers &. Merchants State Bank. In 1913 Mr. Robertson withdrew and Mr. Beck took over the active management of the bank, which in 1907 was converted into the First National Bank of McClusky. The bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and has a surplus of twenty-five hundred dollars. Mr. Beck is also interested in farming, having property in Sheridan county to which he gives direct oversight, and he also owns land in other parts of the state. He has almost an entire section under cultivation in Sheridan county devoted to diversified farming, including the raising of cereals, cattle, horses and hogs. He is a very progressive agriculturist and is doing much to advance and improve farming conditions in his part of the state. He has indicated by his own success what can be accomplished with the North Dakota soil. He studies and utilizes scientific methods and his example is one well worthy of emulation. His interest perhaps centers more largely in scientific farming than in the banking business and he has won prizes on barley and other grains, which indicates that his work is of a most practical and resultant character.  He is also extensively engaged in raising cattle, horses and hogs and that branch of his business is proving very profitable.

On the 8th of January 1895, Mr. Beck was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Thelen, a native of Germany, who was reared, however, in the United States. Her parents, Servatius and Maria Thelen, have both passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Beck have been born three children, namely: Albert, whose birth occurred on the 4th of December 1901; Andrew, whose natal day was February 29, 1904; and Francis, born January 8, 1907.  Mr. Beck gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in the spring of 1916 he was the fortunate one of three candidates to receive his party’s nomination for the office of state senator. He holds membership with the Modern Woodmen camp of McClusky, of which he is now banker, and he is a member of the Catholic church. His life work is being attended with excellent results, bringing to him substantial success by reason of his keen discrimination and unabating diligence.

FRED BERG, a well known and successful general merchant of McClusky, Sheridan county, was born in South Russia on the 16th of September 1877, his parents being Christian and Maggie (Therur) Berg, natives of Wittenburg, Germany, who removed to South Russia. In 1881 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and took up their abode near Wittenberg, South Dakota, there remaining until they came to North Dakota, arriving in Harvey, this state, on the 19^th of March 1900. Christian Berg bought a ranch at Pony Gulch and turned his attention to the stock business, being thus engaged until 1911, since which time he has lived retired at McClusky. His wife was called to her final rest on the 22d of March 1915.  They became the parents of nine children, five daughters and four sons, all of whom reside in or near Sheridan county.

Fred Berg, who was a little lad of but four years when the family home was established in South Dakota, spent his early life in assisting his father in the operation of the home farm.  He supplemented his preliminary education by a course of study in a business college at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and subsequently, returning to Harvey, North Dakota, spent a year in the service of the Andrew Schatz Grain Company as a grain buyer. He then took up a homestead claim six miles north of McClusky and also worked for the Jenson & Swanson implement Company of Harvey. He lived on his farm a year after proving up on the property and in 1905 removed to Denhoff, where he opened an implement store in partnership with J. M. Weberg, this association being maintained for two years, when they sold out. During the latter year of this partnership Mr. Berg purchased a half interest in a general mercantile establishment with August Hetzler, of McClusky, conducting the enterprise for a year. In 1907 he disposed of all his business interests and erected a frame building on Main street which he opened as a general store on the 12th of June of that year under the name of the McClusky Furniture Company. On the 3d of January 1912, this was destroyed by fire and the entire stock was lost. With undaunted energy, however, he erected another structure fifty by eighty feet, the building being of cement with a brick front and one story and basement in height. It is perhaps the most attractive building in McClusky. Mr. Berg carries an extensive line of furniture, hardware, groceries, shoes, dry goods, wall paper, draperies, rugs, etc., and also conducts an undertaking department, having built up a large and profitable patronage through honorable methods and courteous treatment of customers. He is likewise identified with agricultural interests in Burleigh and Sheridan counties, personally cultivating his land in the latter county.

In 1905 Mr. Berg was united in marriage to Miss Louise Schindler, of Bowdon, North Dakota, by whom he has five children, namely: Alfred, Arlington, Herbert, Edna and Helena.  He is a republican in his political views and is widely recognized as a progressive, enterprising citizen whose efforts are unstintingly put forth to promote the improvement and upbuilding of his community. He has served as school treasurer for a number of terms and has held numerous city offices. He was one of the leading spirits in the erection of the courthouse and raised much of the necessary fund. Both as a merchant and citizen he has gained the high esteem and respect of his fellow citizens, who accord him recognition among the prominent men of Sheridan county.

ELICK O. KLEVE, who is now serving for the second term as superintendent of schools in Sheridan county, has always been identified with educational endeavor and is a successful worker in this field. He makes his home in the town of McClusky and also gives personal supervision to the operation of a farm three and one-half miles east of Mercer.  His birth occurred in Willmar, Minnesota, on the 22d of January 1887, his parents being Lars and Guro (Balo) Kleve, both of whom are natives of Norway, whence they emigrated to the United States. They still reside at Willmar, Minnesota.

Elick O. Kleve obtained his early education in a district school near Willmar, Minnesota, and continued his studies at the State Normal School at St. Cloud, that state, completing the elementary course in 1906 and an advanced course by graduation in 1908. He is continuing his studies at Jamestown College, North Dakota, and is at present a member of the senior class of that institution, being listed for graduation in June 1917. He took up the profession of teaching, spending a year each in the town schools of Deerwood and Alpha, Minnesota. He then made his way to Balfour, North Dakota, where he acted as principal of the city schools for two years and on the expiration of that period filed on a homestead in Sheridan county, this state, three and one-half miles east of Mercer. While proving up on his claim he also taught and acted as school principal at Mercer. In 1913 he was elected superintendent of schools in Sheridan county and made such an excellent record in this connection that he won the re-election in 1914 and also in 1916, so that he is now serving in that important capacity. He proved up on his land in 1914 and still cultivates the farm, which returns to him a gratifying annual income.

In August 1916, Mr. Kleve was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy R. Ployhar, a native of Wahpeton, North Dakota, who was for several years a teacher in the public schools and is now deputy county superintendent of schools of Sheridan county. Her parents, Martin and Kathrine Ployhar were both born in Iowa and came to Sheridan county, North Dakota, in pioneer times. Mr. Kleve gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with the Masons, joining the blue lodge at Balfour, North Dakota, and demitting to become a member of the organization at McClusky. His life has been upright and honorable in every relation and he enjoys the confidence, high regard and goodwill of all who know him.

TRYGGVE D. MONSEN, publisher of the Sheridan Post at McClusky, was born in Norway in 1884, a son of Ludvig Monsen, who is also a native of Norway. He became a printer in the town of Hamar, where for the past forty years he has published the town paper, a work in which he is still actively engaged. He married Josephine Dehn, also of Norwegian birth, and they became the parents of fifteen children, all of whom are yet living with the exception of two.

Tryggve D. Monsen, who was the sixth of the family, was educated in the schools of Norway and when nineteen years of age came to the United States, settling in Wisconsin, where he was employed as a farm hand for three years. On leaving that state the came to North Dakota, establishing his home at McClusky in 1907. For two months he was employed in the office of the McClusky Gazette. He had previously worked in his father’s printing office in Norway and had thus learned the trade. After two months spent in McClusky he purchased the Gazette from J. S. Arneson, its previous editor and owner, who is now a prominent figure in Minnesota politics. For two years Mr. Monsen continued to edit and publish the Gazette and then in 1909 took up a homestead located five miles northeast of McClusky. For two years he devoted his time and energies to the development of the farm and secured his title to the property.

It was also in 1909 that Mr. Monsen was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Boutwell, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Teter and Anna Boutwell, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Monsen have become the parents of three children: Teddy, born in May 1910; Blanche, born in August, 1911; and Alda B., born in May, 1913.  After leaving the homestead Mr. Monsen and his family removed to McClusky and in 1913 he purchased the State Press from F. J. Kehrer, at which time he changed the name of the paper to the Sheridan Post. This is an independent sheet, well edited and carefully managed, and it has a circulation of five hundred and fifty. The Post is today the most widely circulated and best known paper in Sheridan county. It is a bright, readable journal devoted to the dissemination of local and general news, and the business of the office is constantly increasing owing to the enterprising and thoroughly reliable business methods of the proprietor. In addition to his paper Mr. Monsen has become the owner of town property.

Mr. Monsen is an independent voter, but while he does not ally himself closely with any political party, he stands at all times for those interests which have most to do with the development, growth and prosperity of the community. For a period of two years he was city assessor of McCusky and is the present deputy clerk of the district court, which office he has filled for four years. He was also at one time a candidate for the state senate. He holds to the Lutheran faith in his church relations, while fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen camp, all of McClusky, and in the Odd Fellows lodge he has passed the chairs, while in the Woodmen camp he is now consul. Since coming to the United States a young man of nineteen years he has steadily worked his way upward, wisely utilizing his time, talents and opportunities, and today he occupies a creditable position among the citizens of Sheridan county, while in his professional capacity his influence is of no restricted order.

FRANK I. TEMPLE, who has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of law at McClusky for the past ten years, was elected to the office of states attorney in the fall of 1916. He was born at Owatonna, Minnesota, April 1, 1881, his parents being Seth H.  and Sarah A. Temple. His father died in Minnesota during the year 1890, but his mother still lives and makes her home with him at McClusky, North Dakota.

Frank I. Temple acquired his early education in a country school and subsequently attended high school and Pillsbury Academy at Owatonna and the Breck School at Wilder, Minnesota. Having determined upon a professional career as a life work, he entered the law department of the University of North Dakota and was graduated therefrom in 1907.  In 1902 he filed on a government homestead which now adjoins the city of McClusky, and still continues to farm the property. Here he has followed his profession continuously during the past ten years and has been alone in practice save for a short period spent as associate of D. P. Bates. In no instance has his reading ever been confined to the limitations of the question at issue; it has gone beyond and compassed every contingency and provided not alone for the expected, but for the unexpected, which happens in the courts quite as frequently as out of them.

The high regard pertained for his professional ability is indicated in the fact that in the fall of 1916 he was elected states attorney of Sheridan county, North Dakota, by a flattering majority, carrying all hut two precincts. For the past nine years he has served as United States Commissioner for the district of North Dakota, and in the affairs of his home community he has ever taken a prominent and leading part, being instrumental in securing the separation of Sheridan county from McLean county, and also in establishing the county seat at McClusky. He incorporated the village of McClusky and became its first clerk, acting in that capacity for many years. His record is an integral part of the history of the community and his efforts have been a potent factor in its upbuilding.

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