Trails to the Past

Ward County North Dakota Biographies

Compendium of History and Biography
of North Dakota
Published by George A. Ogle & CO. in 1900

ROBERT W. DAVIDSON, one of the extensive ranchmen of North Dakota, conducts this line of agriculture on a pleasant estate in Ward county, his home being located about ten miles southeast of Minot.

Our subject was born in Thompsonville. Connecticut, in 1841. His father. William Davidson, was a manufacturer of silks and woolen goods, and was born in Scotland and came to America at the age of eighteen years. The ancestors have been soldiers in the British army for generations, and the grandfather of our subject, William Davidson, was a soldier in the British army sixteen years. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Stevens, and was of Scotch descent.

Our subject was the fourth in a family of six children, and when he was eight years of age removed with his parents to Iowa, where he resided four years and then, in 1853. went to Winona county. Minnesota. There the father followed farming five miles from St. Charles, and our subject grew to manhood there and attended the schools of that district. He began for himself at the age of nineteen years, and in 1862 enlisted in Company D, Seventh Minnesota Volunteers, under Colonel Marshal. They were sent to quell the Indian disturbance in Minnesota, and in 1863 were ordered to the south, and became a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps. He was in the campaigns along the Mississippi, in Tennessee and Alabama, and was in several engagements and skirmishes. He was discharged September 8. 1865, and returned to his home in Minnesota and began farming there. In 1877 he went to Steele county, Minnesota, and after four years there went to Pipestone county, Minnesota. He took government land and began farming thereon, and in 1883 went to the Mouse river district in North Dakota. He began stock raising and farming, and locating on his present ranch about ten miles southeast of Minot. He built a log house and engaged in sheep and cattle raising, and from time to time added to the farm, and now owns and conducts a ranch of about one thousand acres, on which he follows cattle and horse raising. He has a good home with pleasant surroundings, and has made a remarkable start in North Dakota.

Our subject was married, in 1870, to Miss Helen Jones, a native of New York. Mrs. Davidson's father, Charlie Jones, was a miller, and is now engaged in farming in North Dakota. One son and three daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Davidson, who are named as follows: Ernest, Florence, Lillian and Edna. Our subject has always taken an active part in local public affairs, and has served as county commissioner and county surveyor. He is a Republican politically, and is a member of the state central committee, and is serving his third term as such.

L. M. DAVIS, the present incumbent of the office of county surveyor of Ward county, has exerted great influence in the development and prosperity of that section of the state. He is a leading coal mine operator of North Dakota, and is well known in business circles throughout the northern part of the state.

Mr. Davis was born in the city of New Bedford,  Massachusetts, August 31, 1855. His parents were L. D. and Susan P. (Potter) Davis, the former a tailor by occupation, both natives of Massachusetts. The father's family came to Massachusetts from England in 1627. Our subject was reared in the city of New Bedford, and received his education in the common and high schools, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1877 as a civil engineer.. In 1879 and went to Utah and spent two years as civil engineer on the Rio Grande Railroad, and in 1881 was similarly employed on the Canadian Pacific, assisting in locating their route through the Rocky mountains. He spent three years with the Canadian Pacific Company. He spent the next two years on various engineering jobs in Indiana and Chicago. In the spring of 1886 he went to Minneapolis and was employed by the Soo line in locating its route through Minnesota, and was with that line until 1893. the greater part of that time being in charge of the engineering work between Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and Portal, North Dakota, as assistant chief engineer.

In 1894 Mr. Davis opened the Davis coal mines, six miles west of Minot, and has since operated those mines with success. In connection with the mines at Davis he has also opened a lumber yard and brick yard and a mercantile business. Although engaged in these various lines, he has found time to prosecute several mining and engineering enterprises in North Dakota and Arkansas.

In 1896 he was elected on the Republican ticket as county surveyor, and was re-elected in 1898, and is now serving his second term. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has always encouraged every legitimate enterprise that has been brought to his notice. He was one of the pioneers of Ward county, and has a host of friends whose esteem he has won by his integrity and courtesy.

ELMER FRANCIS, one of Ward county's most prominent farmers, and a pioneer whose experiences have seldom been equaled in western frontier life, is a resident of township 153, range 81, his pleasant home being located on section 4 of that township.

Mr. Francis was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, on a farm. May 27, 1852. He was the second child in a family of eight children born to Cyrus and Elmira (Hatfield) Francis, farming people of New England. The family removed to Minnesota when our subject was a child, and he was reared in the western part of that state, on a farm, and received a limited common school education. His home was about fifty miles from the scene of the Mankato massacre. At the age of twenty-four years our subject began farming for himself, and in June, 1882, came to Dakota, locating in the Mouse river country, fifteen miles from the site of the present city of Minot. He drove overland from Minnesota by ox teams, the trip requiring six weeks. He arrived in August and put up a log shanty 18x22 feet and began farming. He had good success from the start, and he continued for eight years to use oxen for farm work. He has since made many valuable improvements upon his land, and has devoted much time of late years to, stock raising, with great success. He recounts many trying experiences with blizzards and prairie fires. On one occasion he had gone to Larimore for household goods, and one of his horses choked to death and he had to trade the wagon for a sleigh, and finally had to abandon it and walk home. The first year he was in the county he shot and badly crippled one hand and arm and has had trouble with it ever since. .

Mr. Francis was married, in 1875. to Miss Lydia Robins, a native of Wisconsin, and daughter of J. L. Robins. To Mr. and Mrs. Francis nine children have been born, as follows: Mark, Amy, Earl and Gertrude, born in Minnesota, and Ralph, Harry, Nellie, Frank and Lucy, born in Dakota. Mr. Francis is a Democrat and has been active in local public affairs. He has been school director for many years and has served as assessor, and has been active in party affairs, attending numerous conventions of his party. He is well known in the county, being a pioneer of that section of the state.

MARTIN JACOBSON, is a prominent merchant and successful farmer of Minot, Ward county. He is one of the pioneers of that county and has influenced the business development of his county and city to a very great degree.

Mr. Jacobson was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, October 17, 1863. His father, Jacob Knutson, was born in Norway and came to America about the year 1835 and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa. He was the sixth in a family of seven children and was reared to farm work. He obtained his education in the public schools and at the age of eighteen years left home and went to North Dakota. He worked one year in Richland county for ex-Governor Miller and then returned to Iowa, where he remained three years. He then returned to North Dakota, in 1886, with five horses, a wagon and farm implements, taking them by rail to Buxton in Traill county, and thence drove overland to Ward county, a distance of two hundred and twenty-five miles, and made a location at a joint eight miles from Minot. He erected a shanty and began farming. He made a success of it from the start. He continued to conduct farming for eleven years and then, in 1897, while still continuing his stock raising and dealing business, he opened a hardware store at the corner of First and Main streets, in Minot, and though starting in a small way, he now has the largest hardware business west of Grand Forks. He carries a stock valued at fifteen thousand dollars and his business amounts to between forty and seventy-five thousand dollars a year. In 1897 he removed his family to Minot, where they now reside. Mr. Jacobson still conducts farming, and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land and a limitless range for his stock. He owns four hundred and fifty head of stock and these yield him a handsome profit.

Mr. Jacobson was married, January 11, 1887, to Miss Anny Kettleson. Mrs. Jacobson was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, three-fourths of a mile from the birthplace of Mr. Jacobson, and it is said they were born the same day and hour. They grew up together, attended the same school and were communicants of the same church, and have resolved to continue companions through life. They are the parents of six children, as follows: Earl H., Chester J., Elletta C, Mildred A., Alton T. and Vernon M., all born in North Dakota and one in the city of Minot. Mr. Jacobson is a Republican in political belief and has been active in public affairs. He was appointed county commissioner in 1887 and was elected to the same position in 1888 and re-elected in 1891, serving three terms. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is well and favorably known throughout the county, having a personal acquaintance at one time with every resident within its limits, and is deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all. For many years he has taken a leading and active part in politics; was a delegate to the state Republican convention of 1900, held at Grand Forks and at this time (August 6, 1900) is a prominent candidate for the state senate for the twenty-ninth senatorial district.  Above is a photo of Mr. Jacobsons Hardware Store.

HON. JAMES JOHNSON, a prominent and influential citizen of Minot, Ward county, is a pioneer settler of North Dakota, and has gained for himself a remunerative business and an enviable reputation. He is actively engaged in various pursuits, and is one of the extensive agriculturists of the county, owning the most extensive farm, and conducts cattle raising on a large scale. He is one of leading attorneys of his locality, and has long been at the head of the Ward county bar.

Our subject was born on a farm in Denmark, May I, 1850, and was the fourth in a family of eight children. He attended the country and high schools and at the age of fourteen years went to sea. At the age of eighteen he was drafted into the Danish navy and served eighteen months. He came to America in 1872, landing at New York, and went at once to Ottertail county. Minnesota, where he became a pioneer and engaged in farming and lumbering there until 1882, conducting an estate of four hundred acres. He settled at Lisbon, Ransom county, North Dakota, during the winter of 1882-83 and in the spring located at Burlington, Ward county, and was the first settler of that locality. He hauled lumber from Bismarck, the nearest railroad station, one hundred and fifty miles distant. He continued his farming there and in 1885 Burlington was made the county seat. Mr. Johnson and his father-in-law, Joseph L. Colton, were active in the organization of the county, and they owned the town site of Burlington and were active owned the town site of Burlington and were active in building the town. Our subject was admitted to the bar in 1889 and established his office in Minot in 1888 when the county seat was located there. He was appointed clerk of the district courts in the spring of 1886 and in 1889 was elected county judge and served one term. He was elected to the state senate in 1890 and served in that capacity one term and proved himself a faithful and efficient member of that body. He was appointed state's attorney in 1892 and has been re-elected three times since that date, serving eight years in that office. He has built up a good practice in his profession and has a good farm at the junction of the river Des Lacs and Mouse river and extends two miles along the river, covering over one thousand acres of meadow, timber and valley land.

Our subject was married, in 1879, to Miss Ida J. Colton, a native of St. Lawrence county. New York. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Joseph L. Colton, whose ancestors came to America in the Mayflower in 1620. They were of English descent and took part in the Revolutionary war and also the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of seven children, named in order of birth as follows: Arthur, Carrie, Effie, Harvey, Rolla, George and Grace. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is active in public affairs in Ward county, and being one of the earliest pioneers of that region has gained a good degree of popularity as a developer of the country. In 1878 he assisted in the erection of the first shack on the present town site of Lisbon, North Dakota.

ROBERT F. JOHNSON, who lives in Minot and is register of deeds of Ward county, is entitled to the distinction of having been a pioneer of what at present constitutes two states-first of South Dakota and later of North Dakota.

Mr. Johnson was born in Gratiot county, Michigan, December 2, 1856. His father, H. B. Johnson, was a native of the state of New York and was a farmer by occupation. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Martha A. Francis, was also a native of New York state, and her marriage to H. B. Johnson occurred in that state. They were early settlers in Michigan, being among the pioneers of that state.

Our subject was reared on a farm and received preliminary education in the public schools and learned the virtue of hard work. At the age of twenty-one years he went to what is now South Dakota and settled near Elkton, in Brookings county, in 1877. He put up a claim shanty on land to which he had tiled a claim and farmed there four years, doing all his farm work with oxen. In 1883, having sold his Brookings county farm, he came to the Mouse river country in what is now Ward county. North Dakota, and took a claim fourteen miles southeast of the present site of the city of Minot. The land was un-surveyed, but he staked out a quarter-section and started farming. His father and a brother-in-law settled in the locality at the same time. Mr. Johnson had at that time two hundred dollars, with a portion of which he purchased a yoke of oxen to do his farm work. In 1887 he lost his hay, grain, stable and everything except his claim shanty by a destructive prairie fire, which destroyed many farm buildings in the locality and about one hundred acres of fine timber. However, he soon began to prosper again, and his farm was placed in a fine state of cultivation. He conducted his farm until 1892, when he became so crippled with rheumatism that he was forced to abandon farm work. He then took charge of a section house on the "Soo Line," which he ran for one year, and then for a short time ran a similar house on the Great Northern road. In 1894 he was elected register of deeds of Ward county on the Republican ticket, and has since served in that capacity, having been twice reelected.

Mr. Johnson was married, in 1887, to Miss Mary H. Strong. Mrs. Johnson was born in Iowa , the daughter of George W. Strong, a farmer of that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson three children have been born, as follows: Grace, born May 31, 1888; Carrie, born April 1, 1890; Ethel, born December 31, 1892. Mr. Johnson has always been active in public affairs and has done much toward the development of the material resources of the county. He has two brothers and four sisters in North Dakota , all of whom were among the pioneers of the state. The Johnson family has been prominent in all matters tending to the better interests and the upward growth of the county since its organization.

MARSHAL McCLURE, a pioneer newspaper man of prominence, is proprietor and editor of the "Minot Optic." He has for years been identified with the up building of journalistic enterprises in North Dakota, and has devoted his career to newspaper work.

Our subject was born in the Ozark mountains, in Missouri, and moved with his parents to Michigan when he was four years of age. His father, Milton McClure, was a Methodist Episcopal minister, and was also a writer for the St. Louis Theological Journal, and was the author of the phonetic system. He is of Scotch descent. The mother's people were from New York, near Elmira, and the maternal grandfather settled in Michigan. The father of our subject died in Missouri.

Our subject is the second in a family of five children and was raised in Michigan and lived on a far Michigan and lived on a farm near St. Johns, Clinton county. He attended the country schools there and at the age of fifteen years walked to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he secured work on the "Review and Herald." and lived with Elder James White, the organizer of the Seventh Day Adventist church. He remained with him about two years and then worked on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad as newsboy and was thus engaged six years, during which time he learned telegraphy and was then given a position at Manton, Michigan, at the age of twenty-four years. He established the "Manton Tribune" in 1877, which is still published. He sold the paper in 1878 and went to Fargo and engaged as a reporter with E. B. Chambers, editor and proprietor of the "Fargo Times." He soon afterward founded the "Wadena Farmer" at Wadena, Minnesota, with Edward Hall, and in 1879 he sold his interests and went to Jamestown. He purchased the "Jamestown Alert," a struggling paper, in 1979, and made a prosperous paper of the same, and started it as a daily in 1882. It was a morning paper, with associated press dispatches, and was the second daily paper established in the state of North Dakota. Mr. McClure disposed of the plant about 1888 and went to Minot, where he established the "Minot Rustler," the first paper of the town, and the first publication was in April of that year. He conducted it as a weekly and later as a daily and weekly, and in 1890 sold to Charles E. Gregory, and soon afterward went to Sprague, Washington, and purchased the "Sprague Advertiser." He operated the paper there until 1895 and then removed the plant to La junta, Colorado, and there sold the plant and founded the "Gillett Forum," in 1894, and the first publication was in April. He left the paper in charge of a partner in 1898 and came to Minot, North Dakota, and established the "Minot Optic," which he now edits and publishes. The first publication of the paper was December 22, 1898, and he has made a first-class paper of the same. Mr. McClure is an able editor and excellent business man and has met with remarkable success in newspaper work.

Our subject was married, July 3. 1881, to Ella Powell. Mr. and Mrs. McClure are the parents of one child, a son, who was born in December, 1884, and bears the name of Marshal. Mr. McClure is a Republican in political faith and is very prominent in affairs of his party, and is a regular attendant at the state legislature and all county and state conventions. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity.

ERIC R. RAMSTAD, one of the well-known old settlers of Ward county, has a fine farm in the vicinity of Minot, and is engaged extensively in stock raising. He was born on a farm in Norway, January 17, 1860.

The father of our subject, Ryer Peterson, was a farmer by occupation. Our subject was the second in a family of six children, and was raised on a farm and attended the country schools. He left home at the age of nine years and hired out at farm work, and at the age of twenty-one came to America, setting in Freeborn county, Minnesota. He went to Ward county. North Dakota, in 1883, and settled on the present town site of Minot. He built a log house and followed breaking with cattle, and his first crop was in 1884 from land north of where the Leland House now stands. He gave the Great Northern Railroad Company the land where the town is now located. He has followed farming and cattle raising extensively and conducts a ranch near Minot. In 1884 he met with severe loss of grain and hay by prairie fire. He drove overland with oxen to his new home and began operations on the raw prairie, and has remained to develop a good farm and is now well to do.

Our subject was married, in 1883. to Lena R. Oleson. Mrs. Ramstad was born in Wisconsin, on a farm, and was a daughter of Ole Gulson, a native of Norway . Mr. Ramstad assisted in the organization of Ward county and was active in getting the county seat located at Minot . He has held various city offices since residing in Minot , and has taken an active part in all local affairs of township and county. Politically he is a Republican and firm in his convictions and is an earnest worker for party principles. He has devoted his attention to farming and stock raising and is well versed in his vocation, and has met with well-merited success. He enjoys the esteem of his fellow men and is widely known.

GEORGE W. WILSON, editor and proprietor of the "Ward County Reporter," is one of the pioneer settlers of northernNorth Dakota, as well as a pioneer newspaper of the great Northwest.

Mr. Wilson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 28, 1858. He is the eldest of a family of six children born to Samuel E. and Martha (Davis) Wilson, both natives of Maryland. His father was of Scotch-English descent, and his mother of English parentage. His boyhood days were spent in the states of Maryland. Kentucky and Indiana at various employments, but principally farming. He was given a high school education and a short course at an academy in Ohio. In 1880 he came to Dakota, and in the spring of 1884 took a claim near Winona. In 1887 he came to Minot and secured employment on the Great Northern Railroad. In the fall of that year, in partnership with L. D. McGahan, he started the 'Williston Beacon." and conducted that paper until April, 1889. He then returned to Minot and established the "Minot Journal." the first issue of which was April 27, 1889. In 1893 he sold this paper and purchased the "Towner Independent," of which he continued as proprietor three years, one and a half years of that time being its editor. In July, 1895, he again came to Minot and established the "Minot Mirror." its first issue appearing July 5, 1895. He conducted this paper one and a half years, and in January, 1897, he purchased the "Burlington Reporter," now the "Ward County Reporter." This paper was established at Burlington by J. L. Colton, in June, 1886. Colton sold it to C. A. Johnson, of whom Mr. Wilson purchased it. Colton removed the paper to Minot and changed the name to "The Ward County Reporter," in 1892. Two years later the entire plant was destroyed by fire, being a total loss. The proprietor, C. A. Johnson, purchased the "Minot Journal" plant, and continued the paper under the name of "The Ward County Reporter Journal." In 1896 the name was changed to "The Ward County Reporter." This paper is the oldest in the county, and has the largest circulation. It also has in connection a complete job plant, where first class job work is done. Mr. Wilson has made a success of newspaper work. He also established the "Williston Tribune" in October, 1892, and his career in the newspaper field has been a remarkable one. He was a pioneer of that portion of the state, and exercised the powers of governor in the organization of Williams county, and had much to do with the directing of the policy and development of the county.

Mr. Wilson was married, in 1888, to Miss Clara J. Corbett, daughter of J. C. Corbett, an employee of the Great Northern Railway. Mrs. Wilson taught school in Williston. and is an accomplished and educated lady. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson two children have been born, namely, Florence M. and Edna H., both born in Minot . In political faith Mr. Wilson is a Republican, and has taken a very active part in public affairs. He was appointed city auditor of Minot in 1890, and was elected justice of the peace of McHenry county in 1894. In 1898 he carried Ward county as candidate for secretary of state, and also has the endorsement of the county for the same office this year (1900). He is chairman of the Republican county central committee, and an active party worker. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. and of the Woodmen of the World. He has represented the local lodge of the Knights, of Pythias in the grand lodge of the state, as also the independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1899 and 1900. He is prominent in fraternal matters, and a popular and genial gentleman. He is well known throughout the county, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all.

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