Trails to the Past
Wells County North Dakota Biographies
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Compendium of History and Biography
FRED H. MARTIN. One of the well regulated farms of township 148, range 68, in Wells county, is owned and operated by the subject of this review. Mr. Martin is an early settler of that locality and has experienced pioneer life, and from his earnest work has accumulated a fine property and a comfortable home, while he enjoys an enviable reputation as a citizen. Our subject was born in Ontario, Canada, October 3, 1864. His father, John Martin, was born in Canada and is a carpenter and also follows farming in North Dakota, holding ten adjoining quarter-sections of land in Wells county, and has been successful in agricultural pursuits. The grandfather of our subject, John Martin, was born in England and came to Canada when a young man. Our subject's mother bore the maiden name of Margaret Hume. She was born and raised in Canada and was of Scotch descent. Her father, William Hume, was born in Scotland and came to America when a child. Mr. Martin was the fourth in a family of six children, and was raised in Eden Mills, Canada, and attended the village school. He left home at the age of fifteen years and went to work in a saw mill and from then earned his own livelihood. In the spring of 1882 he went to Grandin, Cass county, North Dakota, and worked for others until he attained his majority, and in 1885 went to Wells county and entered claim to land in township 148, range 68, upon which he erected a shanty and lived there alone the first four years. He farmed with oxen two years and then used oxen and horses and his first crop in 1886 consisted of fourteen acres of wheat, which mostly eaten by gophers. He lost his shanty and three hundred bushels of wheat in the stack in 1888 and in 1899 lost fully half of his crop by hail. His farm now covers five hundred acres, three hundred and seventy-five acres of which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. He has a fine house, barn, granary and other buildings, and a fine grove surrounds the home, and plenty of small fruits, including raspberries, currants, gooseberries, etc. Mr. Martin engages principally in wheat and flax raising, but keeps some stock, and now has eleven head of horses and some cattle. Our subject was married, March 20, 1890. to Miss Maggie Workman. Mrs. Martin was born and raised in Canada and came to the United States at the age of ten years. Her father. James Workman, was a farmer in Traill county. North Dakota. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, as follows: George, born June 10. 1891 ; Ruth, born May 16. 1893: Walter, born May 27, 1896; and Harold, born June 16, 1898. Mr. Martin has served as school clerk for the past six years and as constable four years and takes an active part in affairs of a public nature. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Modern Woodmen of America, and in political sentiment is a Republican. Mr. Martin and his father and a younger brother, Charles Martin, began farming together and continued thus until 1891. Charles died January 16, 1898, and the father still resides in Wells county. and he and our subject have excellent farms and are well to do. WILLIAM ROBERT McGLENN, president and manager of the Harvey Roller Mill Company, is a man of good judgment and executive ability and has prospered in the business in which he is engaged. He is well known throughout Wells county for his push and energy and his faithful efforts to advance the interests of his community, as well as his personal interests, have been rewarded by the acquisition of a good property and a high reputation. Our subject was born on a farm in Michigan, June 23, 1860. His father, George W. McGlenn, was a ship joiner in his early life and later followed farming. He was a native of Otsego county. New York, and served in the Civil war in the Twenty-fourth Michigan. The family have served in all the wars of the United States and the paternal grandfather was a native of Scotland. The mother of our subject was of French descent, but her family have been in America many generations. Mr. McGlenn was the oldest in a family of five children and was raised on a farm until he attained his majority and attended the country schools. He left home at the age of twenty-one years and engaged in the saw-mill business for himself and built a mill in Monroe county, Michigan, which he operated two years. He disposed of the property in 1884 and went to South Dakota and located near Bowdle on a farm. He hauled supplies from Ipswich, forty-five miles, and spent many nights under his wagon during these trips and experienced claim-shanty life. He followed farming until the fall of 1890, when he sold his farming interests and erected a flouring-mill at Bowdle, which was the first mill in the town. He began operating the same in the fall and October 27, 1897, the mill was burned, the loss amounting to thirteen thousand dollars. Mr. McGlenn began the construction of the Harvey Roller Mill at Harvey, Wells county, in April, 1898, and began running the same October 13, of the same year, and has continued operations night and day since. It is the only mill in Wells county and has a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five barrels per day. The boiler and engine room is 36x40 feet and is fitted with a Corliss engine of one hundred and twenty-five horse power. It is operated by an incorporated company with the following officers: William R. McGlenn, president and manager; E. J. McGlenn, vice-president. MATH. MILLER, whose valuable farm lies in township 149, range 72, Wells county, is one of tlie pioneer farmers of the county, locating on his land when all supplies had to be hauled from New Rockford or Sykeston, the latter thirty-two miles distant, and containing but three houses. Mr. Miller was born in Luxemburg, Germany, August 24, 1867, the youngest of eight children of John Miller, a farmer in Germany. Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the country schools, and at the age of twenty years came, to America, landing in New York on March 3. 1887. He first went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence to Wabasha county, Minnesota. There he followed farming two years, and in the spring of 1889 came to North Dakota and took up a pre-emption and tree-claim in Wells county. He put up a claim shanty, and afterward converted his pre-emption into a homestead claim. In order to get a start he worked out for others three years, and then, in 1891, began farming for himself, having secured a team of oxen, wagon, plow and other utensils. He and his brother, Henry Miller, farmed together about three years. He made many improvements and added to it from time to time, and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, all being under annual cultivation except forty acres, which is hay land. He has a complete set of good farm buildings, plenty of stock, and an abundance of modern farm machinery, and the entire estate bears evidence of the thorough agriculturist. Mr. Miller was married, in June, 1894. to Miss Lena Hart. Mrs. Miller is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, and a daughter of Peter Hart, a farmer now residing in Minnesota. The family came to America in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of three children, namely, Henry, Lizzie and Peter. The family are members of the Catholic church, and in politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat. He is well known throughout Wells county, and esteemed for his honesty and uprightness of character. JOHN MONTGOMERY. As an all around prominent man of Harvey, Wells county, there is probably no one of its citizens who more justly deserves the title than Mr. Montgomery. he is one of the leading business men of the town and is well and favorably known for his active public spirit and good citizenship. Our subject was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1863. His father, William Montgomery, came to America with his family in 1867 and settled on a farm in Ontario, Canada, and resided there seventeen years. Our subject was the second in a family of seven children and was raised on the home farm in Canada and attended the common schools. He left home at the age of sixteen years and worked at farm labor and stock raising in Ontario and in 1885 went to Melville, North Dakota, and there worked a farm on shares. He and his brother, sister, and father went to Wells county in 1886 and entered claim to land three miles east of Harvey. Their nearest neighbor at the time and for one year thereafter was eleven miles away. They built a frame house and a sod barn and began farming and our subject continued on the farm until 1894 and met with good success. He established the first meat business in Harvey in 1894 and in 1898 sold his farm near the town, and now conducts the meat business exclusively. He started in a building 12x26 feet and had limited means, and now occupies a main building 34x32 feet, with sausage room and boiler room 16x24 feet, and ice house 16x32 feet, storage house 14x16 feet, and a slaughter house and smoke house, and enjoys a good business. He was one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Harvey and his shanty was the only one within eleven miles. He has watched the growth of the country and taken part in its development and advancement. Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss A. G. Mackie, a native of Canada, who was of Scotch descent. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, named Lillah. Mr. Montgomery was elected county commissioner in 1894 and served one term and has been chairman of the township board one year. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of the Maccabees. Politically he is a Republican. JOSEPHYNE M. PAULSEN. Among the prominent educational workers of the Northwest, the subject of this review is entitled to a foremost place. Miss Paulsen is identified with the schools of Wells county in the capacity of county superintendent and has accomplished much in that line and gained a high standing as an educator and promoter of the best methods of instruction. She is thorough, systematic and heartily interested in her work and is efficient and well educated and a lady of refinement and culture. Our subject was born in Brown county, Minnesota, on a farm and her father, Edwin Paulsen, was a native of Norway. He came to America when a boy of four years of age and was in his later years a public officer of Minnesota. Miss Paulsen was reared on a farm and attended the country schools for a while and then attended the graded schools and graduated from the Mankato Normal School in May, 1895. She at once began teaching in Minnesota, and in August, 1896, went to North Dakota, where she accepted a position as principal of the Harvey school. She spent one year in that position and then was principal of the Fessenden high school a year and a half. She was elected county superintendent of schools of Wells county in 1898 on the Republican ticket and is now serving in that capacity. Miss Paulsen is a leader in her profession and labors to raise the standard of educational excellence. She is popular with the people and her success as an instructor is well merited. R. L. PRICE. One of the best equipped newspaper plants of Wells county is that owned and operated by the gentleman above named, who is editor and proprietor of the "Harvey Herald." He is well known in newspaper circles as a gentleman of ability and good education, and his paper enjoys a wide circulation, in fact is the most widely circulated strictly English newspaper of the county. Mr. Price was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1872. His father, T. J. Price, was a newspaper man throughout his career, and the family are Americans for many generations, as is also the family on the mother's side. Our subject was the second in a family of three children, and was raised in Chicago until about thirteen years of age when the family removed to Minnesota and our subject grew to manhood in that state. He began to learn the printer's trade when about fourteen years of age in St. Paul, and followed his trade there until 1895, when he went to Welcome, Minnesota, and established the "Welcome Times." He conducted this sheet about ten months, and in the spring of 1896 went to Harvey, North Dakota, and established the "Harvey Herald." The first issue of the paper was April 28, 1896, and in the fall of that year the entire plant was destroyed by fire and was a loss. He immediately rebuilt, and did not miss an issue of the paper, the sheet being printed in Fessenden for two weeks. The circulation of the paper has steadily increased, and prosperity has attended Mr. Price in his business. The plant is well fitted with presses and other equipment for job printing, and this work forms no small part of the work. Our subject was married, in November, 1898, to Miss Mary Lucey. Mrs. Price was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was reared in North Dakota. She is of Yankee descent. Mr. Price was among the early settlers of the town of Harvey, and has become identified with the financial and social growth of the town, and is one of the highly esteemed citizens of his community. In politics he is a Republican, and is strong in his convictions. WILLIAM F. PRICE. Among the prosperous and prominent young men of Fessenden and Wells county, may well be named this gentleman. He went to Dakota without means, but possessed of in bounded energy and enterprise and has arrived at his present high standing by the exercise of earnest industry and strict honesty. He is now proprietor of the most extensive livery barn and business in that thriving town, and for many years was a prosperous farmer of that vicinity. Our subject was born in Winnebago, Wisconsin, August 28, 1867, and was the second in a family of eight children born to Daniel and Mary (Jones) Price. His father was a native of Wales and came to America in 1866 and settled in Wisconsin, following farming and still makes his home there. Mr. Price was raised to farm work and received his education at the country schools in his native state and at the age of fourteen years left home and worked by the month and when sixteen years of age went to Randolph. \\'isconsin, and followed farm work. He went to Wells county. North Dakota, in 1887 and took land as a tree claim and preemption in township 148. range 70, and built a shanty 8.x 14 feet, and the following year bought a team of horses and built a sod barn 24x40 feet. His first crop was fifteen acres of oats and the next season he broke sixty acres more of land. He followed grain and cattle raising and remained on the farm till 1897. when he removed to Fessenden and established a livery barn, the second livery business established in the town. He now has four large lots and a barn 20x80 feet, with a "lean-to" 28x80 feet, and addition 30x50 feet. He keeps twenty-five head of livery horses and his stable is equipped with valuable harness, buggies and other rigs and he enjoys an ever-increasing patronage. He sold one quarter-section of his land in 1894 and another quarter-section in 1896, but took land as a homestead in 1897. which land he still holds. He borrowed money with which to get to Dakota and he is now among the substantial men of his community. He has expended various large sums in sinking a well, but has met with only partial success thus far. Mr. Price is a member of the Knights of Pvthias and Knights of the Maccabees. He has been called upon to serve his community in various local offices of trust and has served as school treasurer and school clerk and is favorably known throughout Wells county. In political sentiment he is a Republican and is firm for the principles of his party. Our subject was born on a farm near. London, Ontario, Canada, November 3, 1870. His father, Patrick Regan, was born in Canada, and was a farmer by occupation. He removed his family to Unionville, Missouri, in 1870, where he followed the mercantile business. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Coughlin, was born and raised in Canada, and was of Irish descent. Mr. Regan is the second in a family of nine children, and was raised in Unionville, Missouri, and after attaining his majority started for himself. He went to Carrington, North Dakota, in 1891, and was employed by Thomas Doughty in the machine business, and in June, 1893, he came to Fessenden and established the same business, in partnership with Mr. Doughty. They continued to conduct the business together till January 1,1897, when Mr. Doughty sold his interests to our subject, who became sole proprietor, since which time he has conducted the same alone. This was the first machine firm in the town, and their building was the third or fourth erected in Fessenden. Mr. Regan lost his store buildings by fire, December 27, 1899. His store was 24x100 feet, with an addition 24x60 feet, and was two stories high. Several other places of business were also burned, and the fire was the largest and most destructive of any that ever occurred in Fessenden. Mr. Regan and Mr. W. W. Lyness have been in partnership in the elevator business since 1897, and carry on an extensive business in that line. Our subject was married January 19. 1899. to Miss Grace Christie, who was born and raised in Minnesota, and is a daughter of Captain A. E. Christie. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Regan, Arthur C. Mr. Regan was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland, in November, 1893, and has held the office continuously the past seven years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was elected chairman of the Republican County central committee in Wells County, in 1898, and is an earnest worker for party principles. TORSTEIN ROBLE, is one of the leading farmers of Wells county and is well known as an agriculturist who is doing a good business. His farm is well improved and furnishes a home of more than usual comforts, all of which he has accumulated by his own efforts. He resides on section nineteen in township 149, range 71, and follows grain raising with successful results. Our subject was born on a farm in Valders, Norway, October 2, 1859. His father, Ole Roble, was a farmer and also teacher for thirty-seven years, and passed his life in Norway, where the mother of our subject still lives. Mr. Roble was the second in a family of eight children, and was reared on the home farm and at the age of sixteen years entered the high school and later took a course in the seminary at Hamar, graduating with a first-grade certificate. At the age of twenty years he began teaching, which he continued five years. He emigrated to America in 1886, landed at New York, and at once went to Minnesota. He taught in a Norwegian parish school six years in Goodhue county and was under the noted minister. Rev. B. J. Muus. Our subject was also musical director for the church and a singing society there. He went to North Dakota in 1890 and took a pre-emption and tree claim, one in Foster county and one in Eddy county, and erected a claim shanty. He purchased horses with which to begin his farm work, and his nearest railroad station was Cooperstown and New Rockford, thirty miles distant. He remained there until 1893 and then removed to Wells county, hauling buildings, machinery and personal effects to his homestead on which he now resides. Grain has grown abundantly and is of good quality and success has attended him in his present location. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land two hundred acres of which is under cultivation. His residence is a commodious and comfortable structure, and with good barns, granary and other outbuildings, furnishes a good home. Our subject was married, in 1884, to Miss G. Skogstad, who was born and raised in Norway, and was a daughter of Andrew Skogstad, a farmer and hotel-keeper. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roble, but only five are alive now, as follows: Olaf, born November 17, 1886; Mary, born February 8, 1889; Gina, born September 24, 1892; Andrew, born June 30, 1897, and Malvin, born May 30, 1899. Mr. Roble is a member of the United Lutheran church and takes an active part in church affairs. THORSTEIN K. ROGNE, the efficient and well known postmaster of Manfred, Wells county, was identified with the business interests of that thriving town from the early days of its existence. He is a man of good business qualifications, and has met with success in every enterprise in which he lias embarked, and has built up an enviable reputation for integrity of character, and is highly esteemed as an exemplary citizen. Our subject was born in Valders, Norway, in 1859. His father, Christ Rogne, was a native of Norway, and died in his native land. Our subject was the fourth in a family of six children, and was raised on a farm, and graduated from a military school in Christiania in 1880. He emigrated to America in 1881, and spent one year in Wisconsin at farm work, and then lived five years at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He worked on a Scandinavian newspaper during the winter months, and spent the summers with a surveying party. He visited his native land four months in 1888, and then went to North Dakota and took government land in Foster county, and farmed with oxen the first two years. He went to Wells county in 1892 and located near Manfred, where he has followed farming since. In company with Lewis Burkham he established the first general store in Manfred in 1894. He disposed of his interests in 1898 and established a furniture and hardware business and erected a building 52x52 feet, the largest in the town, and after conducting the business a year and a half sold the same to J. L. Berg. He has held the office of postmaster for five years, and was the first officer appointed at Manfred. Our subject was married, in 1888, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mary Forstraa, a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Rogne are the parents of six children. Mr. Rogne takes an active part in local affairs, and has served as county surveyor four years and clerk of the school board for several years. He has watched the growth of the town, and has aided materially in its advancement. Politically, he is a Populist, and stands for reform principles under any name.
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