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HERBERT J. MASTIN, one of the energetic farmers of Stutsman county, is carefully tilling the soil on section 8, in township 139, range 64, and the improvements on his estate evidence his prosperity. He went to Dakota without means, but his indomitable will and energetic efforts have placed him among the substantial men of his community.
Mr. Mastin was born on a farm in Kent county, Michigan, March 12, 1859, and was the fifth in a family of ten children, nine of whom are now living. His father, Joseph Mastin, was partly of Irish descent and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Martha Hart, was of German descent and was born in New York.
Our subject was raised on a farm in his native state and at the age of fourteen years left home and worked at farm labor for about four years, after which he went into the lumber woods of northern Michigan and was later lumber inspector and worked with the firm of Cummer & Son for five years and was regarded by them as one of their most efficient men. He went to North Dakota in the spring of 1882 and entered a pre-emption claim to land which he sold later. He began farming on the land which he now owns and on which he was farm foreman for about six years, after which he purchased an interest in the place and was in partnership in the operation of the same for six years. The partnership was then dissolved and our subject moved to Jamestown and operated a dairy one year and in 1895 purchased the old farm on which he had begun his farming in Dakota. He entered Dakota with about nine dollars and is now the possessor of one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land and annually cultivates over five hundred acres. He has a complete set of farm buildings and all machinery for the economical conduct of the place and for the past sixteen years has owned and operated a threshing machine and now has a steam rig. He has made a success of his vocation and has provided for his declining years.
Our subject was married, in 1897, to Miss Lilie Anderson, a native of Indiana, who was raised in Michigan. Mrs. Mastin's parents came from Sweden while young and her father, Erick Anderson, was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Mastin is a member of the Presbyterian church and our subject holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
ALFRED C. MAYFIELD. One of the best located farms in Stutsman County is owned and operated by this gentleman. He has resided thereon for the past ten years, and has thoroughly improved the estate, and is one of the well-to-do men of township 144, range 64. He is one of the early settlers of North Dakota and has become widely and favorably known throughout Stutsman County.
Mr. Mayfield was born in Sauk County, Wisconsin, December 15, 1840. His father, James Mayfield, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and was a farmer and stock raiser in Wisconsin. He was one of the early settlers of that state and fought Indians in the West. Our subject removed to Richland County, Wisconsin, with his parents when a child, and was there raised on a farm and attended the common schools. He enlisted. May 3, 1861, in Company H, Fifth Wisconsin Volunteers, and the regiment was mustered into service July 13, 1861. After going to Washington he was sent south, and when he reached Baltimore was taken sick with measles, and joined the regiment near Washington nearly two months later, after a very severe illness.
He spent the winter of 1861-62 close to Arlington Heights, and engaged in a few skirmishes, and in April, 1862, was sent to Fortress Monroe, thence to Hampton Roads, and then participated in the battle at Williamsburg, Virginia, after which followed the battle of Fair Oaks. He was through the Peninsula campaign and was engaged at Fair Oaks, Savage Station, White Oak Swamps and Malvern Hill, and was with the troops that covered the retreat down the peninsula. He then assisted in defending Washington, and was at the engagement at South Mountain, and then Antietam, after which he came to Fredericksburg. He was badly injured while making roads in Virginia, and on account of disability, was discharged in 1862. He returned home and attended school two years, part of the time being spent in the college at Fayette, Iowa. He re-enlisted in 1864, as commissary sergeant of the Forty-fourth Wisconsin Volunteers, and was with them to the close of the war, and was mustered out in August, 1865,.after having given three years of active service in defense of the union. In the last named company he participated in the battles of Nashville and Paducah, Kentucky. After the close of the war he returned to his home in Richland Center, Wisconsin. In 1866 he went to Nebraska and for about two years was engaged in trading with the Indians near Columbus, Nebraska. Then he went to Clarksville, Nebraska, where he engaged in the harness business. He was the first postmaster at Silver Glenn, Nebraska, and in 1869 went to San Francisco, California, and soon afterward established the harness business at Kingsburg, that state, where he was postmaster, and where he remained ten or twelve years. He came to North Dakota in 1883 in ill health and settled in Foster County, where he purchased land and began operating a farm. He worked at the harness trade during the winter of 1883-84, and during the first year engaged in the buffalo bone business, at which he made from eight to ten dollars per day. He engaged in farming in Foster County eight years and owned three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he sold in 1890 and removed to his present location in Stutsman County. He took the northwest quarter of section 6, township 144, range 64, as a homestead, and has since engaged extensively in grain and stock raising. His farm comprises three hundred and twenty acres and runs to the James river, and he cultivates about two hundred acres, and devotes the balance of his farm to pasture and meadow. Discouragements have fallen to his lot from time to time, but taken as a whole he has met with eminent success and is enjoying every comfort in his pleasant home. He has reached the age where he needs rest from active labors and intends soon to retire from farm life.
Mr. Mayfield is an active member of the G. A. R. and Knights of Pythias. He is a strong Republican in political faith and has always been an earnest campaign worker. He has served in various official positions and while in California was appointed by President Garfield as postmaster at Kingsburg. He is also interested in educational matters, and is an intelligent and earnest worker for good local government. He has been twice married and has six children.
GEORGE B. McKENZIE, one of the most extensive farmers in Stutsman county, and owner of the largest farm in township 144, range 45, is one of the typical pioneers of the Northwest. He was born in Ingham county, Michigan, July 25, 1858. Mr. McKenzie is the youngest child in a family of fourteen children born to Duncan and Elizabeth (Bert) McKenzie, the former a native of New York, of Scotch descent, and the latter born in Scotland. The father was a wagon maker by trade, and went from New York to Canada, and later to Michigan. Both parents died in 1880.
George B. McKenzie was reared on the farm in New York to about the age of six years when he accompanied his parents to Canada, where he spent the following nineteen years. He then came to North Dakota, and in 1883 filed a claim to the northwest quarter of section 16, township 144, range 64, in Stutsman county. He owned a team of mules and a yoke of cattle, and with these he farmed for five years, and hauled all supplies from Jamestown, thirty miles distant. He developed his farm and added to it from time to time until he is now the owner of eight hundred acres of valuable land, six hundred and fifty of which are under cultivation, and the balance in pasture. He has a complete set of good farm buildings, including a large barn, houses for cattle and hogs, feed-mill and an elevator with a capacity of ten thousand bushels. He has an abundance of modern farm machinery, and his land is well watered, and its value enhanced by an orchard of fruit trees.
Mr. McKenzie was married, in 1893, to Miss Annie Powers. Mrs. McKenzie was born and raised in Canada, and is of Irish descent. To Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie one child has been born. namely, Sherman McKenzie. Mr. McKenzie is a Republican and takes an active interest in public affairs. He has held a number of local offices, and attends all county conventions of his party. He is well-known throughout the county and is held in highest esteem.
CHARLES MERRITT, who is making a success of the pursuit of agriculture in Durham township, is one of the pioneer settlers of Stutsman county, and has placed himself in a prominent position among his fellow men by the exercise of persistent efforts and honest dealings. He has a thorough knowledge of his calling, and is one of the few men who have made a success of the raising of grain, and from practical experience he finds flax the paying product of his farm. He makes his home in township 143, range 63, and has a pleasant and well-improved estate.
Our subject was born on a farm in Allen county, Indiana, in 1863, and was the younger of three sons in the family. His father died when our subject was but six months of age, and the support of the family was thrown upon the mother. Of necessity young Charles was placed at work at the early age of seven or eight years, and attended the schools of his native place but little after that age. He assisted with the farm labor until twenty-two years of age, and in the spring of 1885 went to North Dakota and began farming for himself. He worked out for others part of the time, and also rented land on which he followed farming until 1893. He and his brother, Frank, lived together for the first six years after landing in Dakota, and were in partnership. Their first crop was destroyed by fire, and they lost about five or six hundred dollars. Our subject entered claim to government land in 1892, on which he erected a shanty, and the following year he and his wife took up their residence there. He has prospered, and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land, and all necessary machinery and buildings, and engages in grain raising.
Our subject was married in the spring of 1890 to Miss Jessie Gorrell, who was born and raised in Allen county, Indiana. Mrs. Merritt is a lady of rare accomplishments, and was a teacher in the Fort Wayne schools for five years prior to her marriage. Her father was a physician and served in the Civil war, and went south during the yellow fever epidemic, and was stricken and died of the disease.
Mr. and Mrs. Merritt are the parents of two children, as follows: Mabel and Donald. Mr. Merritt takes an active interest in public affairs in his community, and lends his influence for the best government. He keeps pace with the times, and stands firmly for his convictions. Politically he is a Democrat.
FRANK J. MERRITT, a prosperous farmer of township 143, range 63. is one of the well-known pioneer settlers of Stutsman county, North Dakota. He has gained many friends since taking up his residence there and has always been found standing on the side of right and justice and laboring for the better interests of his community and by the improvement of his own estate has aided materially in giving that region its present standing as a thriving agricultural district.
Mr. Merritt was born in La Porte, Indiana, in 1857. His father, Charles Merritt, was an American by birth, of English descent, and was a farmer by occupation. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a farmer in Connecticut. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Mary L. Cook, was born and raised in Otsego county. New York, and was of German and English descent. She has a family history which dates back to Cromwell's time in England.
Our subject was the eldest in a family of three children and was raised on a farm in Fort Wayne county, Indiana. His father died when he was but about eight years of age and he was early put to work with neighbors and attended school in his native state. When about twenty-three years of age he began work in the saw-mill and tile-mill, of which he was part owner, and followed this employment two years, when he disposed of his interest and made a trip to the state of Washington, returning later to Dakota. He arrived in North Dakota in 1884 and the following spring entered claim to the southeast quarter of section 28, township 143, range 63, as a homestead, on which he erected a 12x18-foot shanty and a sod barn. He and his brother, Charles, conducted farming in partnership the first six years in North Dakota and their first crop in 1885 was burned by prairie fire. Our subject steadily improved his property and now has a well-improved farm consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he has excellent buildings and all necessary machinery, horses and other stock. He engages principally in grain raising and has made a success in that line and finds flax a profitable product. In the early day he and his brother lost over one thousand dollars worth of horses and they also found sheep raising unprofitable. Our subject has witnessed several blizzards in North Dakota and in 1892 lost about twelve head of cattle.
Mr. Merritt is a man of practical nature and every enterprise which he deems is for the better interests of his community has at all times been ably supported by him. Politically, he is a Democrat and stands firm for the principles of his party.
JOHN MINEAR, one of the prosperous and energetic farmers of Stutsman county, resides on section 4, in township 140, range 63. He was one of the early settlers of that region, and has a well-improved estate, which he has acquired by persistent efforts.
Our subject was born in the county of Cornwall, England, in 1845, and was a son of Henry Minear, who was a carpenter by trade, and was in turn the son of Henry James Minear. The family for many generations have been well known as worthy citizens and active in the affairs of the community in which they lived. Our subject was raised on a farm in his native land, and at the age of twenty-one years he started for himself, tin mining, in Cornwall, England. He followed that line of work in England until 1871, when he came to America and settled in Houghton county, Michigan, the family joining him in 1873. He followed copper mining in Michigan until 1881, and then went to North Dakota and located on section 4, in township 140, range 63, and erected a 12x16-foot frame shanty and barn and lived on the farm alone during 1881 and 1882, when he proved his claim and in 1883 returned to Michigan, and in the spring of that year went to New Mexico and took charge of a silver mine, which he operated three years as manager, and was efficient in the work. He returned to his homestead in North Dakota in 1887, as his health would not permit him to remain any longer in New Mexico, and he then began farming on, his place. His crop the first year was taken by grasshoppers and the crop of 1888 was bountiful and the proceeds from the same placed him on the road to prosperity. He is now the owner of six hundred and fifty acres of land, and cultivates about five hundred acres annually, and has a complete set of substantial farm buildings, all necessary farm machinery, twenty head of horses, and a steam threshing outfit, and aside from engaging in grain raising he is interested to some extent in the raising of cattle and now has about twenty-five head. For some years he followed sheep raising with success.
Our subject was first married to Grace Cock in April, 1866, in England. They became the parents of two children, Thomas and John. He was again married, in 1873,his second wife being Amelia Williams. They were the parents of the following children: Lillian, now Mrs. Phil. Sheridan; Lizzie, now Mrs. Albert Ross; William, Frank, Allie, Bert, Chester, Ethel, Belle and Clyde. Mr. Minear was married to his third and present wife, Mary (Williams) Minear, March 26, 1894. Mr. Minear is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is prominent in public affairs in his township, and has served on the school board two years. He is a Republican in political sentiment and has attended as delegate most of the state and county conventions of his party.
CHARLES M. MITCHELL, the popular and efficient postmaster of Jamestown, was one of the early settlers of Stutsman county, and for over thirteen years was connected with the business interests of the city of Jamestown. He is active in public matters and enjoys an enviable reputation as an able business man and worthy citizen.
Mr. Mitchell was born on a farm in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in 1858. His father, S. F. Mitchell, was a native of Ohio, and was reared in Pennsylvania, and was of English descent. The great-grandfather of our subject, Charles Mitchell. emigrated from England and settled in Ohio. He served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary Bates, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was of German descent, her mother having emigrated from Germany. Both of our subject s parents had been previously married, and our subject was the eldest in the second family of children.
After attaining the age of eighteen years Mr. Mitchell left the farm where he had been raised and worked in a general store in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and in 1883 he graduated from Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg, and in the spring of 1884 went to Stutsman county. North Dakota. He located at Jamestown and worked for George Hebert in his barber shop, and in 1885 established a tonsorial parlor in that city, in which business he engaged for thirteen years. He was appointed postmaster at Jamestown by President McKinley, in August, 1898, and assumed the duties of that office August 5, of that year, in which capacity he is now employed.
Our subject was married, in 1884, to Miss Jennie Hysong, a native of Pennsylvania, who was raised in that state. Her father, Benjamin Hysong, was a farmer by occupation, and Mrs. Mitchell is probably of German descent. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, Chloe, who was born in 1885. Mr. Mitchell was elected alderman in Jamestown in 1894, and served two terms, the last two years acting as president of the council. He is prominent in public affairs and in 1896 was chairman of the Republican county committee. He is widely known in secret society circles, and holds membership in the following orders: Ancient Order of United Workmen, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Maccabees, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Labor, Sons of Veterans and Patriotic Sons of America.
GEORGE W. ORANGE, one of the prosperous farmers of Stutsman county, is a pioneer settler of that region, and his farm of eight hundred and twenty acres has been acquired by careful management and persistent efforts. He resides in Spiritwood, and is one of the active and well-known citizens of his community.
Our subject was born in McLean county, Illinois, in 1847. His father, William Orange, was born in Ohio and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He emigrated to Illinois, when seventeen years of age, where he followed teaming and farming. When Chicago was but a small village he teamed from there to Bloomington. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, where his family joined him nine years later, but returned again to Illinois in 1870. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, and was a blacksmith and farmer. The mother of our subject, who bore the name of Catherin Arbogast, was born in Ohio, was of German descent, and was the daughter of Henry Arbogast.
Mr. Orange was married, at the age of twenty-five, to Miss Mary Morain, who was born and reared in McLean county, Illinois. Mrs. Orange died April 11, 1881, leaving three children: Albert L., Robert L. and Guy D. Mr. Orange was again married, in 1883, to Miss Eva McMullen. Mrs. Orange was born in Pennsylvania, but was at the time teaching in Illinois. Mr. Orange has one child, Nellie, by his second wife. Mr. Orange went to Dakota in 1882 and purchased a quarter-section of railroad land. He began farming in the spring of 1883, and the following year took up a homestead. He now has over six hundred acres of his land under cultivation. In 1893 he purchased a steam threshing-machine, with which he has threshed each fall. The engine of the outfit exploded September 17, 1897. instantly killing the engineer, Robert L. Orange, the fireman, Fred Sisson, and the tankman, David H. Orange, the only brother of G. W. Orange. During the blizzard of 1888, our subject, wife and son Guy were exposed to the storm twenty hours, and were kept alive only by the greatest efforts. Mr. Orange is a Republican in political faith, and is well known as a public-spirited citizen and energetic man.
GEORGE PORTER, a prosperous and influential farmer of township 137, range 65, is one of the earliest settlers of Stutsman county and has followed farming: almost continuously since taking up his residence in Dakota. He is practical and industrious and is held in the highest esteem by those among whom he has resided for so many years.
Mr. Porter was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1831. He was raised on a farm and received but three months schooling a year until seventeen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. He served thus three years and in November, 1851, began a journey, which took him to California, via Nicaragua. While there he "roughed it"' for about three years and engaged in gold mining and on one occasion paid fifty dollars in gold for forty-nine pounds of flour. He started to cross the mountains prospecting and during that time had many thrilling experiences and the high waters of Carson creek turned him back and he eventually returned, via the Isthmus of Panama. He returned to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and followed carpenter work until August 24, 1861, when he enlisted, among the first to answer the call for three-years volunteers, and became a member of Company F, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. He received his equipments at Washington and went from thence to Fort Monroe and was in the department of the James river under Major-General Wool and also Dicks, Butler and Grant. He was at Suffolk, Virginia, when Grant commenced the battles of the Wilderness and then went on the raid into North Carolina and destroyed the railway bridge under a fort guarded by two thousand rebels. He was a sergeant and carried dispatches and also engaged in three raids, one of which lasted twelve days with a loss of twenty-one guns and some prisoners and ambulance corps. Our subject was dismounted forty miles within the rebel lines. He threw away his saber and after four days without food, crawling through woods and wading streams, he managed to reach the Union lines. After three years of brave and loyal service he was mustered out August 28, 1864, and returned to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He worked at his trade there for many years and in the spring of 1882 went to North Dakota and resided in Jamestown from April of that year till July, 1885. Soon after locating in Dakota he filed on land in township 137, range 65, as a homestead pre-emption, on which he erected a small shanty and a sod barn with a straw roof and he sowed his first crop in the spring of 1883. He now has a fine farm, well improved with a complete set of farm buildings and all necessary machinery and engages principally in grain raising. His three sons farm in the neighborhood and own three hundred and twenty acres of land, and our subject also owns the same number of acres and all are comfortably situated.
Our subject was married, in July, 1856, to Miss Abbey Cobb, who survived but three years and left one daughter, Adella, who is now Mrs. F. A. Clemens. Mr. Porter married Miss Adaline Harris, January 3. 1868. Mrs. Porter was born and raised in North Bridgewater, now the city of Brockton, Massachusetts. She is of English descent and her ancestors came to America in the Mayflower and her father died when she was in her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been the parents of eight children, the two eldest of whom are deceased. The other children are as follows: John H., Lyman K., Albert H., Abbey May, Lucia, deceased, and Isaac H. Mr. Porter is school treasurer in his township and is a man of active public spirit. He keeps abreast of the times in all matters of importance and in political sentiment is a Republican.
 GEORGE W. POSEY, one of the first men to settle in Corinne township, is a prosperous and enterprising farmer, and is well known throughout Stutsman county as a man of the highest character.
Our subject was born in Wayne county, Illinois, June 29. 1843. His father, James Posey, was a native of Tennessee, and was a farmer by occupation. The grandfather of our subject. William Posey, was a farmer and slave holder in Tennessee, and settled in Wayne county. Illinois, many years before the Civil war. Our subject's maternal grandfather came to America from England and settled in Wayne county. Illinois, in the early days of the state. The grandparents on both sides were wealthy and influential men in Illinois. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Jalucia Farris, was born and raised in Virginia. and her father. G. W. Farris, was a farmer and slave holder. The parents of our subject were married in Illinois, and of the nine children born to them our subject was the fourth in order of birth. The family moved to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, when he was but two years of age, where the father worked in the lead mines. There our subject was reared and attended the village schools, and in 1854 the family again changed their residence, settling in Crawford county, Wisconsin, where the father spent the balance of his life in the pursuit of farming.
Our subject grew to manhood in Wisconsin. and at the age of nineteen years enlisted in Company .A, Twentieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was sent immediately to the south, and was in the Department of the Gulf. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove (Arkansas), Vicksburg. and was on the Red river expedition, then sent to the Rio Grande river, then to the capture of Mobile, thence to Galveston, Texas, where he remained until he was mustered out. He was in active service and served three years, lacking nine days, as a brave defender of the Union. Returning from the war he purchased a farm in Crawford county, Wisconsin, and began farming, and followed that calling in Wisconsin from 1867 to 1883, when he went to North
Dakota. While in Wisconsin he owned two farms, and also run as rafts man on the river, and also dealt in live stock to a large extent. He located in Stutsman county. North Dakota, in 1882, and the following year was joined by his family, and filed claim to the southeast quarter of section 2, in township 144, range 62, as a tree claim, and the northeast quarter of section 2, in township 144, range 62, as a pre-emption, and later took the southwest quarter of section 2, same township and range, as a homestead claim. He had but limited means, and erected a 12x12 shanty, in which he lived one summer. He lost a large amount of hay and his barn by prairie fire in 1883, and the following year one of the most extensive prairie fires recorded in the county destroyed from one thousand four hundred to one thousand eight hundred dollars' worth of his wheat located near Jamestown. He and his brother, David Posey, were the first settlers of Corinne township, and the nearest house at that time was fifteen miles distant. He is now the owner of eight hundred acres of land, on which he has placed modern and convenient arrangements and a complete set of farm buildings, and taken altogether has one of the best equipped farms in the township.
Our subject was married when twenty-three years of age to Miss Abra Kielley, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio , February 18, 1845. Mrs. Posey's father was a lawyer and school teacher, and also owned farms in Wisconsin . He located in Dane county, that state, in 1854, and was county superintendent of schools in Dane and Crawford counties at different times, and was also sheriff of Crawford county. He was born in New Hampshire and was of Irish descent. Mrs. Posey is a lady of excellent education, and taught in the schools of Crawford county, Wisconsin , several years. Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Posey, as follows: George W., deceased; Sarah J., now married ; Clara M., also married : Mary E.: Thomas E.: Isaac W., deceased; Virgil D.; James E., deceased; Nellie J.; Forrest B.: Pearl and Bessie: Mr. Posey is a man who keeps abreast of the times in all matters of a public nature, and is identified with the reform principles of the Populist party, and was active in its organization in 1892, and has attended numerous county conventions, and has also served on the central committee. A family group portrait is above.
JAMES REID. As a representative citizen and farmer of Courtenay township, no man more justly deserves the title than Mr. Reid. He was one of the earliest settlers of that locality and he has labored for its advancement and development with a determination and public spirit which makes him one of the highly respected citizens of Stutsman county. He is proprietor of one of the finest estates in his township and from a limited start has gained a comfortable competence.
Our subject was born in the northern part of Ireland in 1854. His father, John Reid, was a farmer in Ireland and in 1887 came to America and located in North
Dakota, taking up government land. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Eliza Hutchinson, was of Irish birth, and some of her relatives were Irish landlords. She died in North
Dakota in the spring of 1897 and the father of our subject died in 1898. Three brothers of our subject are now farming in Dakota and two sisters are married and living on Dakota farms. Mr. Reid's brother, John, came to America in 1885, at the solicitation of our subject and located in North Dakota and the family joined them there one year later, our subject being instrumental also in their emigration to this country and their locating in North
Dakota.
James Reid was the eldest in a family of nine children and was raised on a farm and attended the public schools. He left home at the age of nineteen years and came to America and after working in Philadelphia as a laborer for about five years he returned to his native land to oversee matters pertaining to property there. He again came to Philadelphia in 1882 and spent one year in that city, going .thence to Stutsman county. North
Dakota. He took I as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 4, township 143, range 62, and as a tree claim the northwest quarter of section 14, township 144, range I 63. He lived alone in his shanty one summer and his first crop was not a good yield and was a total loss on account of hail. He had a team of mules, which was his first team and he still owns them and , can work them on his farm yet. He resides on his place alone and has every convenience of modern farming, including a commodious barn, granary, chicken houses, windmill for pumping and grinding and all necessary machinery. He has three hundred and twenty acres of land, sixty acres of which is pasture and the balance is under cultivation. A wind storm destroyed a 30x6o-foot barn on his place in 1892 and fourteen head of cattle were lost. Mr. Reid has a thorough knowledge of his vocation and during 1895-1896 operated an experimental farm for the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault St. Marie Railroad.
Mr. Reid is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is widely and favorably known throughout that locality. Politically, he is a Republican and is a man who stands firm for the principles of his party.
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