Trails to the Past
Wells County North Dakota Biographies
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Compendium of History and Biography
JOHN F. GOSS, postmaster of Kiner, North Dakota, is one of the successful grain raisers of Wells county, and has a fine farm eight hundred acres in extent. His home is on township 149, range 69, where he was one of the first settlers of Wells county, and has been identified with the advancement and development of the great agricultural interests of the locality. Our subject was born in Grundy county, Illinois, April 9, 1863. His father. Perry Goss, was born in Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation. The great-great-grandfather of our subject was born in Boston barracks, Massachusetts, prior to Revolutionary times. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary F. Spillman, was born in Kentucky, and her people were of Scotch-Irish descent. Her grandfather, William Spillman, was a farmer in Kentucky. Mr. Goss was the sixth in a family of nine children, and was raised on the farm in Illinois, and attended school a short time at the Normal School in Morris, Illinois, and then attended one winter in the Business School at Oberlin, Ohio, spending his summers in the meantime at farm work. At the age of twenty years he began teaching, and continued thus three winters, working on the farm summers and during this time made a trip to North Dakota and entered a tree claim and pre-emption in 1885. He proved his pre-emption claim during the same year, and lived in a shanty, 7x9 feet, with a sod addition seven feet. He filed on the tree claim in 1885, and this was the first claim filed in township 149, range 69. He now has six hundred and seventy-five acres of his farm under plow and the balance of the eight hundred acres is in pasture. He has a commodious and substantial residence, good barn, granary, machine shed, and all necessary machinery for extensive farming, and his entire estate is well improved and, conducted on a prosperous basis. Our subject was married, in the spring of 1888, to Vina K. Kiner. Mrs. Goss was born and raised in LaSalle county, Illinois, and was a daughter of Jacob P. Kiner, a farmer by occupation and a carpenter by trade. Her parents were born in Pennsylvania and were of Dutch descent, and her grandfather was a preacher, and worked at the cooper's trade. Three children, all of whom were born in North Dakota, have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Goss, as follows: Pearl I., born October 26, 1889; Loyle K., born May 29, 1891 ; and Perry J., born October 22, 1899. The post office of Kiner was named in honor of Mrs. Goss, her maiden name being given to the office, and Mr. Goss was appointed postmaster in 1890, and has held the office since that date. He was the first treasurer of his township, and has served as school treasurer six years and was again re-elected in 1900. He takes an active part in public affairs of his township and county. In politics he is a Republican. OTTO H. GRAUPMANN, one of the earliest settlers of Wells county, is proprietor of as fine a farm as can be found within the limits of the county and his home is in township 147, range 72. He conducts general farming extensively and in company with his father owns one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of land, of which he now has charge, his father having retired from active pursuits. Our subject was born on a farm near Fond du Lac, in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, December 18, 1864. His father, Frederick Graupmann, was born in the southern part of Germany and came to America in 1854 and was married in this country. He was an early settler of Wisconsin, and also became in after years an early settler of North Dakota. He served one year in Company A, Forty-fifth Wisconsin, till the close of the war and followed farming in Wisconsin until taking up his residence in North Dakota. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Storm, was born in Germany and came to America in 1856. Mr. Graupmann was raised on the Wisconsin farm and attended school in a log cabin and received the greater .part of his schooling there. He left home at the age of eighteen years and went to Wells county, North Dakota, in 1884, and worked at teaming and freighting from Sykeston to Pony Gulch for two years, and during the summer nights camped on the road and in winter lived in a tar-papered shanty at the head of the Jim river and hunted and trapped the wolf, fox, mink, antelope and deer. In 1886 he took government land in township 147. range 72, in section 24. and built a claim shanty, and he and his father who had previously gone to Wells county, started in partnership in farming. In 1885 he raised a crop on sod ground and the following season cropped his own land, but the crop was eaten by gophers. He hauled supplies from Carrington, thirty-five miles, or Jamestown, sixty miles, and experienced pioneer life during these trips. About half of their farm is under cultivation and one hundred and sixty acres is devoted to pasture. The house is commodious and substantial and the barn is one of the largest in the township. All other buildings on the farm are in proportion and the entire farm is well improved and carefully managed. The father retired from active labors in 1890, since which time our subject has had full control of the place and has made a success of his work. Mr. Graupmann was assessor in 1891 and justice of the peace in 1889, and is actively interested in the welfare of his community. He is a Republican in political sentiment and an earnest worker for party principles, and has served as delegate to county and state conventions. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias. He enjoys the distinction of being the first settler of township 147, range 72, and was among the earliest in the county. He traveled over the prairies from the Missouri river to the Red river in the early days, when settlers throughout that region were one hundred miles apart, and he has aided materially in the growth and advancement of Wells county, North Dakota, and is deservedly held in high esteem by his fellowmen. AMBROSE H. HARDY, of the firm of Hardy Brothers, general merchants, of Cathay, is a man of good business qualifications, and enjoys prosperity. He is the present efficient and popular postmaster of Our subject was born on a farm in Pike county, Illinois, in 1862. His father, J. P. Hardy, was of American descent many generations back, and was a farmer throughout his career. He became an early settler of Mr. Hardy is the second in a, family of seven children, and was raised on the farm and attended the country schools, and after attaining his majority he left home and began for himself. His father went to North Dakota in 1S82, and the family joined him there in 1884, and our subject and his father followed farming together for about two years. Our subject continued on the farm after his father's death until 1898, and engaged principally in stock raising. He established a general store in Mr. Hardy is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and in political sentiment is a Republican. He is wide-awake and energetic, and his success and popularity are well merited.
Our subject was born in LaFayette county, Wisconsin, October 10, 1865. His father, James Johns, was born in Dr. Johns is the fourth in a family of eight children and was raised on the farm. He attended the country school and the State Normal at Platteville, Wisconsin, and in 1886 took a course in the Physicians & Surgeons School in Chicago, and the following year went to South Dakota and settled at Ashton, Spink county, where he purchased grain for the D. R. Putnum Elevator Company two years and in 1888 went to Eureka and erected an elevator and bought grain two years. He went to North Dakota in 1890 and became associated with the James Johns Elevator Company. They owned a line of elevators on the Northern Pacific Railroad and the same year our subject went to Sykeston and operated the elevator there for the company. He filed claim to land near Fessenden in 1892 and also built an elevator at Fessenden and unloaded the first car load of lumber in the town. He also built the first livery barn in Fessenden and in 1895 disposed of the barn and also his interest in the elevator and went to Our subject was married, June 28, 1892, to Miss Estella Karr. Mrs. Johns was born and raised in Ripon, Wisconsin. Her father, James Karr, is of Canadian-Irish descent and is a carriage maker by trade and an inventor of distinction in the line of carriage manufacture. Her mother, Elizabeth (Rowbotham) Karr, was of English descent. Mrs. Johns' grandfather, Rev. William Rowbotham, was born in England. Has been a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than a half-century and is now superannuated from the east JOHN JORGENSON, who, in partnership with J. Sorenson, conducts one of the leading places of business in Harvey, Wells county, is a man of sound financial standing and is possessed of excellent business ability. He has varied business interests in and near Harvey, and has become well known as one of the active men of his community. Our subject was born in Vernon county, Wisconsin, on a farm, in 1865. His father, Andrew Jorgenson, was a native of Norway, and came to America in 1857 and settled in Wisconsin and followed farming throughout his career. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Oline Hovland, was born in Norway. Mr. Jorgenson was the third in a family of eight children, and was reared on the Wisconsin farm and assisted with the work. He attended the country schools and three months in the grammar school, and, at the age of seventeen years, began for himself at farm work. He established in the creamery business when twenty-one years of age, but this did not prove successful after two years' work, and in 1890 he went to Nelson county. North Dakota, and clerked in a hardware store at Lakota three months, when his employer sold the business, and he then began clerking for Kent & Brown, general merchants of Lakota. He remained with them three and a half years, during which time he purchased an interest in a general store at Mapes, Nelson county, consisting of a two-thousand-dollar stock, and in the spring of 1894 he moved the store to Harvey, North Dakota, and the business was conducted in company with O. L. Jensen, under the firm name of O. L. Jensen & Company until September I, 1896, when the firm sold the business to Herr, Herr & Company, and Mr. Jensen embarked in the machine business. Our subject then formed a partnership with Mr. Sorenson, in general merchandising, the business having been established by Mr. Sorenson in 1893, and was the first store in Harvey, and is the leading store of the town at the present time. They have added to the building to meet the needs, and now occupy a main building 40x78 feet, and have three commodious warehouses, their business being located in a desirable business part. They carry a stock of seventeen to eighteen thousand dollars, and have met with unbounded success. The firm own and operate four hundred and eighty acres of choice land near the town, and two thousand dollars stock in the First Bank of Harvey, of which Mr. Sorenson is vice-president. Mr. Jorgenson has a comfortable and well-furnished residence, and enjoys prosperity and business success. Our subject was married, in the fall of 1894. to Miss Mary Johnson, a native of Coon Prairie, Wisconsin. Mrs. Jorgenson's parents were natives of Norway and Sweden, and emigrated to America from Norway, and her father, P. M. Johnson, is a farmer by occupation. Mr. Jorgenson was one of the pioneer business men of Harvey, and has witnessed the growth of that thriving town and aided in its up building and advancement, and is favorably known as a business man and citizen. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and in political sentiment is a Republican. ADOLF R. JOSUND. As a representative citizen and a member of the farming community of township 148, range 68, in Wells county, the gentleman above named is entitled to a foremost place. He has made a success of his vocation and has a well-improved farm and has gained his possessions by the exercise of honest industry and good judgment. He went to Dakota as a pioneer without means, and has worked his way steadily to the front and is now surrounded by all that goes to make country life pleasant, and is highly esteemed in his community. Our subject was born at Stavanger, Norway, December 20, 1863, and was a son of Rasmus Jasund and Karen (Stokke) Josund, both of whom were natives of Norway. The paternal grandfather, Asburnam Muglebust, was a farmer in Norway, as was also the maternal grandfather, Tolaf Stokke. Our subject's father is now a prosperous farmer of Wells county, where he located during pioneer days. Mr. Josund was the second in a family of eleven children, and was raised on a farm in his native land. He emigrated to America in 1882, landing at Boston, March 3, and the family at once went to Becker county, Minnesota, and settled on forty acres of school land. The parents conducted the farm there until 1887, and our subject worked at farming and railroading and other work, and in tlie spring of 1886 went to Sykeston, North Dakota, and worked at farm labor during the summer and also filed a tree claim and pre-emption to land in Wells county, in township 148, range 68. His father came and filed on a tree-claim and preemption at the same time. The following spring the father removed to Becker county, where he worked a farm together with his father, mother and brother Rasmus for some three years. They also had with them the young sister, Clara. The father had a shanty 10 x 10 feet, and our subject built an 8x8-foot shanty and they were later made into one house. Later in the summer our subject built a shanty, half dugout, and lived therein several winters. It was of sod and had but one small window and the roof had a few fence posts. He had a team of oxen, three cows, some young stock, a wagon and a plow, and after paying his way to North Dakota had no money left, and purchased overall clothing with a sack of oats and the first night slept on hay in the shanty. He and his father were caught away from home in one of the worst blizzards ever experienced in North Dakota, but escaped injury. Mr. Josund began farming for himself in 1890 and he now has six hundred and forty acres of good land, while his father has three quarter-sections. He has a complete set of good farm buildings, including a substantial house, barn, granary, machine shed, blacksmith shop, and other buildings, and has all machinery necessary for the economical conduct of the place. Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Anna Jakobene Stokke, who was born and raised in the same place in Norway as our subject. Her father died in Norway. Her mother and Mrs. Gablel Gedrose came over from Norway to Cathay, North Dakota, in 1888 with her family and live close neighbors. Mr. Gedrose has six hundred and forty acres of good land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Josund, as follows: Camilla, born July 23, 1890; Julius, born January 12, 1892, died May 18, 1898; Marshall, born June 18, 1895; Alfred, born May 31, 1897; and Alma, born October 12, 1899, all of whom were born in Dakota. Mr. Josund has held various school offices and is active in public affairs of local importance. He is a Republican in political faith and a delegate to all county conventions for many years. He and family are members of the Lutheran church, in which he is a leader, and is highly respected throughout the community in which he makes his home. CHARLES L. KING, president and general manager of the North Dakota Telephone Electrical Company, is a gentleman of good business qualifications and has become thoroughly identified with the advancement and progress of the Northwest. He resides in Harvey, Wells county, and is well and favorably known throughout that region. Our subject was born in Jackson, Michigan, April 21, 1862. His father, James H. King, was born in the same place, his parents having settled in Michigan in an early day, removing there from New York. They were of Dutch descent and the grandfather of our subject, Finner King, was a farmer and went to Michigan in 1836 and took government land on which the city of Jackson is now built. On the maternal side, the grandfather, Anthony Burwell, was a farmer and raiser of fancy horses and the mother's family were from Vermont. Our subject was the eldest in a family consisting of two sons and one daughter and was raised on a farm. He also resided at times in Parma, Homer, Tecumseh and Jackson, as his father was engaged in the hotel business at different times. Our subject attended the city schools and also the Adventist College at Battle Creek. Michigan, four years, and in 1882 went to South Dakota and located at Mil-bank, purchasing land there. He also bought wheat at Milbank and in that vicinity three years for St. Anthony & Dakota Elevator Company and also for himself, and in the spring of 1892 he sold his land, comprising three hundred and twenty acres, for twenty-five dollars per acre, and moved to Minneapolis, where he engaged in the commission business one year. He went to North Dakota in the spring of 1893 and was employed during the summer as civil engineer on the "Soo" Line, then being built to Portal. North Dakota, after which he was employed at Harvey as clerk and cashier at the railroad station and in the summer of 1894 erected the hotel known as "King's Place," and conducted the business until November. 1896, when he disposed of his interests, and in June, 1898, organized the North Dakota Telephone & Electrical Company, with the following officers: Charles L. King, president and general manager; Otto Grethen, secretary, and Anton Erne, treasurer. The company owns lines from Harvey to Fessenden, thence to New Rockford and Carrington and branches to Cathey and Sykeston and has local exchanges in Harvey, Fessenden and Carrington. Mr. King was married, in the spring of 1892, to Miss Louisa Newhouse. Mrs. King was born in Iowa and is of Scandinavian descent. Her father, Ole Newhouse, is a farmer by occupation. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. King, as follows: Florence, George and Fred. The two younger children were born in Dakota. Mr. King was elected county commissioner by the Republican party in 1897 and is now chairman of the board. He has served as justice of the peace at Harvey for the past seven years and takes an active interest in public matters. He has been a delegate to numerous county conventions and is identified with the Republican party. He holds membership in the Woodmen of the World. HENRY KLINDWORTH, one of the prominent men of township 149, range 69, conducts an extensive farming and stock business and is one of the wide-awake and wealthy citizens of Wells county. He started for himself with nothing except the tools which nature gave him and from his first employment at a small salary has steadily risen by his own efforts to a position of comfort and plenty. Our subject was born in Hanover. Germany, October 11, 1844. His father. Henry Klindworth, was an orphan boy and during his career was a farmer and wood dealer. He served in the German army several years. Our subject was reared on the farm in Germany and attended the country schools and at the age of fourteen years began working out in the city. He entered the army at twenty years of age and served sixteen months and participated in one battle. In 1867 he emigrated to America, landing at New York in February, and worked there in a hotel six months. He then went to Pittsburg and worked on a farm and also in a hotel and then went to Chicago, where he worked three years in the gardening business. He was in southern Illinois at the time of the great Chicago fire, but returned soon afterward and worked at teaming or whatever he could find to do for about three years and then traveled in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois, spending his winters in the South and his summers in the North. He finally settled near Red Wing, Minnesota, and established in the gardening business and remained in Minnesota until 1887, in the spring of that year going to North Dakota. He entered a pre-emption tree claim in Wells county and built a shanty and barn and he had six horses, a wagon and a little machinery. His first crop in North Dakota was off rented land near New Rockford and in 1888 he farmed his own land, but lost the crop by frost and in June, of the same year, prairie fire destroyed his barn, horses, oats and harness, causing a loss of fifteen hundred dollars. He had a struggle to get through the winter of 1888-1889 and in the following year he raised a good crop. Fire again visited his farm in September, 1891. and burned his cattle barn, horse barn, one hundred tons of hay and some grain standing in the field, a total loss of two thousand dollars. He now has a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, all of which is under cultivation, and on his place he has a complete set of substantial and commodious farm buildings and keeps twenty-one horses and about twenty-five head of cattle. He has all machinery necessary for operating a good farm and has made a success of his vocation and has one of the best-equipped farms of the neighborhood. Our subject was married, in Minnesota. April 22, 1877, to Mary Pepper. Mrs. Klindworth is a native of Germany and came to America at the age of thirteen years. Her father, George Pepper, died soon after coming to America. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Klindworth : Katie, born April 13, 1879: John, born November 25, 1882: Henry, born August 4. 1884; Willie, born March 1, 1885; Charlie, born November 4, 1887: Annie, born September 16, 1888; Herman, born November 17, 1891 : Mary, born July 2, 1893; Walter, born June 18, 1896, and Bertha, born in 1890 and died in 1895. Mr. Klindworth and family are members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Klindworth is independent in politics. He was among the earliest settlers of Hamberg township and aided in its up building. JAMES L. LEE, LL. D. The professions are well represented in Wells County, and a prominent place among this number is held by the gentleman above named. He is a practicing attorney of Fessenden, and has attained his high position as an attorney and citizen by faithful service and earnest study, and is a gentleman of excellent education and refinement. Our subject was born in Toledo, Ohio, in August. 1856. His foster father, Hiram Lee. was a farmer by occupation in Ohio, and was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Kansas in 1897. The great-grandfather of our subject was born in New England, and the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Porter, was born in France and emigrated to America. Our subject was reared by foster parents, of the name of Lee, who were New York people. He was reared in Illinois on a farm and assisted with the work of the place and did not attend school regularly until nineteen years of age, when he attended the country school winters and later attended an academy. Between 1873-76 he attended the law school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated in 1887 with the degree of LL. D. He established himself in the practice of his profession in Clear Lake, Iowa, in the spring of 1878 and continued there twelve years, during which time he built up an extensive general practice, and in 1889 went to Topeka, Kansas, where he practiced two years, and then spent some mouths traveling through the western states to the Pacific coast. He assumed charge of the collection department of the machine firm of D. M. Osborne & Company, of Chicago, and was thus engaged five years. He located in Fessenden, North Dakota, August 15, 1896, where he established his office and has since followed his practice. Our subject was married in Fessenden, North Dakota. March 21, 1897, to Miss Hattie Jones. Mrs. Lee was born in Vexio, Sweden, and came to America in 1886, at the age of fourteen years. Her father, who was of English descent, died when she was five years of age. Mr. Lee is the father of the following children by a former marriage: Fred L., owner and operator of a silver mine in Idaho, residing at Wallace; Stella; and James N., attending Central High School at Minneapolis. Mr. Lee is active in public affairs and is a Republican in politics. JOHN M. LLOYD, one of the most extensive farmers of township 147, range 70, in Wells county, is one of the pioneers of that region, and is a man of good judgment and well versed in his vocation. He is successfully pursuing general farming in Wells county, and in partnership with R. J. Lyness has stock ranch in Our subject was born on a farm in Mr. Lloyd was one of a family of fourteen children and was reared on his father's farm and attended the country school, and at the age of twenty-four years left home and began farming in Wisconsin on rented land, which he operated two years, and in the spring of 1883 went to Wells county and "squatted" on land in township 147, range 70. He built a shanty, 32x32 feet, with a partition through the center, and used the building for both dwelling and stable. He had three horses, a wagon and a breaking plow and lived alone the first two years, and in the spring of 1885 built a small house on the place. Prairie fire leaped a fire break three rods in width and went between the house and barn, and he had many exciting experiences with prairie fires during the early days. He now has a farm of eight hundred acres, most of which is under cultivation, and he has nine acres of forest trees thereon and some small fruits. His residence is a substantial and convenient structure, and with other buildings on the farm, including a barn with lean-to and a basement, granary, with basement for horse barn, and another granary, chicken house and carriage shed, he has all the improvements usual to farm life. Machinery is of late pattern, and he has all necessary for the economical conduct of the place. He was engaged in the threshing business from 1884 to 1697, and in company with Our subject was married, in the spring of 1885, to Miss Ida Lyness. Mrs. Lloyd was born and raised in PETER LYALL, well known as an early settler of township 150, range 72. in Wells county, is successfully pursuing agriculture, and is proprietor of a well-improved and remunerative tract of land. He is a young man of good business tact, and has acquired his possessions by his honest and earnest efforts, and is held in high esteem by his associates. Our subject was born in Scotland, April 27, 1874. His father, James Lyall, was a farm manager, and operated seven hundred acres of land. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary Thompson, was of Scotch birth and parentage. She died in Minneapolis, Minnesota. in 1897. Mr. Lyall was raised in Scotland, and attended the country schools, and at the age of eighteen years came to .America with the family in 1892. Three of his brothers went to Cass county. North Dakota, in 1884, and settled in Wells county in 1889. Our subject was the youngest of a family of eight children, and began farming with his father and brothers in Wells county. North Dakota. His father erected a house, hauling the lumber from Sykeston, and supplies from there or New Rockford, forty miles distant. For several years they farmed together, and passed through many discouragements, including heavy loss of crops by prairie fire or hail. His father now owns a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, two hundred and sixty-five of which is under cultivation, and the balance in pasture and hay land, and our subject has a quarter-section of land on which he resides and has improved with excellent buildings and enjoys prosperity. He has a good supply of machinery, including a half interest in a threshing outfit, and is one of the progressive farmers and well known throughout Wells county. Our subject was married, in July, 1898, to Miss Mary Reid, who was born and raised in Scotland, and came to America in July, 1898. Mrs. Lyall's father, Benjamin Reid, was a manager and timekeeper of a coal mine in Scotland. One child was born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lyall, upon whom they have bestowed the name of James. He was born in North Dakota, May 14, 1899. Mr. Lyall and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Lyall holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America. ROBERT LYALL, residing on one of the well-improved tracts of township 150. range 72. in Wells county, has made a success of his calling, and is proprietor of one of the best farms of his locality. He is an early settler of North Dakota, and has witnessed its advancement and development and added materially in the same, and enjoys the esteem of his fellow's. Our subject was born on a farm in Scotland, in 1864, and was the second child and eldest son in a family of seven children . He began farm work at an early age and attended school during the winter months', and at the age of nineteen years emigrated to America, and at once went to North Dakota, locating in Cass county. He remained there at work on the Park farm during the summer of 1884, and in the fall of that year visited the exposition at New Orleans and then went to Liverpool, working his passage to save his money. He remained there seven months and in August, 1885, started from Scotland with a car load of sheep, which he took to Miles City. Montana, for the Montana Sheep & Cattle Company, for whom he worked nearly two years. He returned to Cass county in July, 1887, and the following spring rented land and began farming in Eddy county, and after two years there he went to Wells county, in 1889, and entered a tree claim and pre-emption in township 150, range 72. On his farm he built a 10 x12-foot shanty and a sod barn and began his farming, but was in debt when he began. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of good land, and he has placed the usual improvements on the place and provided a home of more than usual comforts. He follows mixed farming, but devotes more attention to grain raising, in which he has met with good success. Our subject was married, in December, 1896, to Mrs. Nelson. Mrs. Lyall was born and raised in Denmark, and was a daughter of Jense Matson. She came to America in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Lyall are the parents of two children, as follows: Mary and James. Mr. Lyall has always taken an active interest in local affairs of a public nature, and served as a member of the first school board of Wells township, and has also filled other township offices. He is independent in political faith. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Lyall is a Royal Neighbor. WILLIAM W. LYNESS, one of the leading business men of Fessenden, conducts in company with J. A. Regan an extensive grain business, and he is also proprietor of one of the large farms of that vicinity, whereon he engages in grain raising. Our subject was born on a farm in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, June 30, 1870, and was the youngest child of five born to William and Sarah (Gillespie) Lyness. His father was born in Ireland, and was accidentally killed in the pineries when our subject was but eight months of age. The mother of our subject was born in America, and was of Scotch descent, but the family has been in America many generations. Mr. Lyness was raised on a farm and attended the country schools, and also attended Oshkosh Business College, from which institution he graduated in 1890. He was early given farm work to do, and after completing his education he assumed the management of the home farm, where he continued till the spring of 1892. He then went to Wells county. North Dakota, and worked for Lloyd & Brown at Sykeston, in the machine business, and in the fall of that year operated a threshing machine. He assumed charge of the elevator for the Royal Elevator Company at Fessenden, in 1893, and was with them two years, and in 1895 entered into partnership with Mr. J. .A. Regan in the grain business, which business the firm still conducts. They have erected a twenty-five-thousand-bushel capacity elevator, one of the largest in the vicinity, and have an extensive trade. Mr. Lyness entered claim to land in township 148, range 70, in Wells county, as a homestead, in 1892, and has added to his possessions from time to time, and is now the owner of eight hundred acres of land, about six hundred acres of which is cultivated. He has made a success of his business, both in the town and on his farm, and is among the substantial men of his community. Our subject was married December 9. 1897, to Miss Alma Link, a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Mrs. Lyness was of German parentage, and her father, August Link, was a farmer in Wisconsin. Mr. Lyness holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen. In political faith he is a Republican, and is a man who keeps pace with the times in public affairs. He was one of the pioneer business men of Fessenden, and had watched the growth of that region and aided materially in its development and well merits his success.
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