Benson County North Dakota Biographies

North Dakota Genealogy Trails

Benson County, North Dakota Biographies

PAUL EDMOND BECKWITH
Beckwith, Paul Edmond, anthropologist, author, was born Sept. 22, 1848, in St. Louis, Mo. He was educated in St. Louis and Germany. In 1875-76 he was United States Indian agent at Devil's Lake Indian agency of North Dakota; and in 1877-86 was engaged as civil and mining engineer in Colorado. In 1886-1905 he was assistant curator of the division of history in the United States national museum at Washington, D.C. He was an expert on coins, medals and arms. He was the author of The Beckwiths; The Creoles of St. Louis; Customs of the Sioux; and Iron Ore and the Blast Furnace. He died June 27, 1907, in Washington, D.C.
[Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States, by William Herringshaw, 1909 – Transcribed by Therman Kellar]

Note: The Devils Lake Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs was formed in 1871 and was located in North Dakota. It served the Sisseton, Wahpeton, and Cut Head (Pabaska) Sioux living on the Devils Lake Reservation in Dakota Territory. Beginning in 1884, it also served the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Indians. In 1906 it became known as the Fort Totten Agency.
Agents and Appointment Dates: William H. Forbes, January 23, 1871; Paul Beckwith, August 7, 1875, and James McLaughlin, June 8, 1876 (Source: family search.org)

THOMAS CASCADEN, the pioneer settler in Leeds township, and a prosperous and influential farmer, is one of the substantial citizens of Benson county who have done so much to put that county in the front rank in the matter of prosperity and rapid development. His home is on section 12, Leeds township. Mr. Cascaden was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, December 21,, 185O. He was the youngest of four children born to John and Isabella (Wigle) Cascaden, both of whom are now deceased. The grandfather on the father's side was of Scotch descent, and came from the north of Ireland. On the mother's side our subject inherits German blood, the Wigles locating in Canada three generations back. Thomas Cascaden was reared on a farm in Canada, and got such education as the public schools afforded. He remained at home until twenty-three years of age, and then rented lands and farmed for himself, finally taking charge of the home farm. In 1882 he sold his belongings and went to Manitoba and engaged in wheat raising. This venture proved a failure, and in 1885 he gathered together his resources and came to Benson county. He took up government land, and built a 12x18-foot shanty on the unbroken prairie in what is now Leeds township, his being the first house erected in the 979 township. Devils Lake, thirty miles distant, was the nearest market, and his next door neighbor was eight miles east of his farm. They realized all the hardships incident to pioneer life, both Mr. and Mrs. Cascaden being ill at the same time, with none to look after them and the four small children, while the stock and property went uncared for. They fought it through as best they could, and soon began to prosper. After one year the shanty was supplanted by a small frame house which was their home until 1898, when their present comfortable and commodious residence was erected. Mr. Cascaden's most profitable crop was in 1891, when his wheat yielded twenty-five bushels per acre, and sold for seventy to eighty cents per bushel.
Mr. Cascaden was married, in 1879, to Miss Adeline Truax. Their home has been blessed by the birth of the following children : Arthur W. Myrtle B., Thomas Roy, Albert, Cora G., John Bryson, Laura, Luella, Horatio Nelson, Lewis J. and Alice V. In political sentiment Mr. Cascaden has been a Republican since coming to the state. In the past he. has favored the free silver principles, and for a time acted with the Populist party movement. In 1892 he was elected county commissioner for the first district, and during the third year of his term was made chairman of the board. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has shown himself to be an able representative of the people in an official capacity, and his adherence to duty has won his the respect and confidence of all without regard to party lines.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Dena Whitesell

JAMES DUNCAN, of the twentieth legislative district, Oberon, Benson county, was born at Carnie, Aberdeen, Scotland, and is 54 years of age, is married and has four children. He came to North Dakota from Wabasha county. Minn., in 1881, and is a farmer. Was educated in the common schools. Has held school and township offices for the last fifteen years and was a member of the legislatures of 1905, 1907 and was re-elected to the house of 1909 and to the senate in 1910 as a republican.
[Source: North Dakota Blue Book, 1913 Legislative Manual, Published under the direction of Thomas Hall, Secretary of State, 1913. Submitted by Linda R.]
J.W. EEDE, M.D. As a physician this gentleman stands at the head of his profession, and as a citizen he is highly esteemed in the community in which he lives. He is a young man in whom the people repose confidence, is a gentleman of excellent education and strives to perfect himself in his work. He has become prominent in the social circles of the town and vicinity, and takes a hearty interest in all matters tending to promote the general welfare of the people.
Our subject was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1872. His father, J.L. Eede, was a native of Canada, and was of English descent. He followed farming throughout his life. The grandfather of our subject came from England about 1840 and was a dealer in real estate. The mother of our subject was of Dutch descent, and the family settled in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Eede was the fifth in a family of nine children and was raised on the farm until fourteen years of age, when he went to Detroit, Michigan, and at the age of eighteen years graduated from the Detroit high school, and then spent three years at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the scientific course. He began studying medicine, in 1893, in Detroit Medical College, and graduated in 1896 with the degree of M.D., and in the spring of the same year located at Oberon, North Dakota, where he practiced his profession about nine months, and in 1897 located at Harvey. He took a short post-graduate course in the college at Chicago, in 1900, and has built up a good practice and his future in North Dakota is assured. He is medical examiner for some nine or ten insurance companies and does a large insurance business, and he also deals some in real estate.
Mr. Eede is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, Modern Woodmen of America, the Red Cross, also of the A.F. & A.M., and is prominent in secret society circles. In political sentiment he is independent.
History Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by Kim Mohler

GOTFRED H. GUNHUS. Prominent among the early settlers and prosperous farmers of Benson county is the gentleman whose name introduces this article. His comfortable home is situated on section 35, Leeds township, where he is the owner of a half section of the most valuable lands in North Dakota.
Mr. Gunhus was born in Snorum Modums Prestegjeld, Norway, November 30, 1856. He was the second child in a family of six children born to Hans and Anne (Saastad) Asbjornhus, both parents being now deceased. At the age of fourteen years Mr. Gunhus was apprenticed to a tailor in Drammen and there he remained until he was twenty four years old. In the summer of 1881. having grown tired of his trade, Mr. Gunhus came to America. He went to Dane county, Wisconsin, and afterward to Eau Claire county, in the same state, working at anything he could get to do. In the summer of 1884 he started to go to the Pacific coast, but on his arrival at St. Paul, Minnesota, he joined an excursion to Devils Lake, and on reaching there he was so pleased with the country that he immediately filed a claim to land in what is now Lake Ibsen township, thus becoming one of the earliest residents of Benson .county. He brought with him about one hundred dollars and this was expended in building a shanty and getting his bachelor home fitted up. The next year he began breaking on his claim and in 1886 took up the homestead claim on which he now lives in Leeds township. In 1888 he practically lost his entire crop, barely getting the amount of his seed from the entire 'yield. Since that he has prospered, however, and has a valuable estate and his home is furnished with all the conveniences of modern farm life.
Mr. Gunhus was married, in 1889, to Miss Andrina Goldberg. She born at Mabel, Fillmore county, Minnesota, and to this union five children have been born, as follows : Selmer, deceased. Alma, Selma, deceased, Harry A. and Mabel S. Mr. Gunhus is a member of the Lutheran church and in political views is a Republican. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his township and county. He is a member of the board of supervisors and of the school board and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.

ANTON HANSON. An early settler and prominent farmer of Benson county, whose pleasant home is located on section 34 of Leeds township, is one of the thrifty sons of Norway who have aided so materially in the prosperity and growth of the great Northwest. Mr. Hanson was born in Snertingsdalen Birid Prestegjeld, Norway, August 26, 1800. He was the fourth child in a family of nine children born to Hans and Anna (Hendricksdatter) Hanson, both of whom are still living in Norway. In the spring of 1875 Hanson came to America to join his brother John, who had preceded him a few years, and who sent him passage money to bring him to the United States. He obtained employment as a farm hand in Iowa, and worked around in this way until 1880, when he came to Dakota, and found work on the Gould farm in Traill county. There he remained for five years, and two years of that time he acted in the capacity of manager of the farm. In the spring of 1885 he came to Benson County, and took up land in Lake Ibsen township, but the following year he "squatted" upon the land he now owns. He has been successful since coming to Benson county, and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable lands, most of which is under the plow. A sod house, 16x16, which served them as a home for several years, has given place to his present comfortable residence, which was completed in 1898.
Mr. Hanson was married, in 1885. to Miss Birget Tufte, and to this union seven children have been born, as follows: Anna, the first white child born in Leeds township ; Clara, Oscar, Howard, Estalles, Elmer and Laura. Mr. Hanson is a Republican in his political inclinations, and has taken an active part in local public affairs. He has rarely been absent from a county convention of his party, and has been appointed census enumerator for the northeastern portion of Benson county. Mr. Hanson is a consistent member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and is esteemed and respected throughout the county. He came to America at the age of fourteen years, worked his way among men foreign to his people and language, and by virtue of his energy, honest dealings and good management, has made himself a man of influence in his adopted land.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Dena Whitesell

HON. LARS P. HAVREVOLD, whose pleasant and hospitable home is situated on a peninsula in Lake Ibsen, is one of the most influential citizens of Benson County, and throughout the state he has made his influence felt, not only in a material and financial way, but in the better and broader development of the moral and educational interests of its people.
Mr. Havrevold was born in Roldal, Bergenstift, Norway, September 10, 1852, being the fifth child in a family of twelve children born to Paul and Walborg (Colbenstvedt) Havrevold. The mother is still living on the old home farm in Norway, from which she has never been induced to depart. The father was the owner of the farm Tostad, near Stavanger, and was a man of some means. Young Lars lived much with an uncle, and received a good education. At the age of fifteen years he engaged as clerk in a store in Stavanger, and later clerked in his father's store up to 1871. In that year he came to America, and on July 4 took up his residence in Minnesota, where he worked at farm work, and during the winter months attended school to complete his knowledge of English. He later worked on a farm in Fillmore County, Minnesota, and also clerked in a store. In 1877 he returned to Norway, but after a year's sojourn there he longed for America again, and returned to Iowa. In 1880 he went to Fargo, North Dakota, and began clerking in a store. In 1883 he went to Ramsey County, where he took a squatter's claim. In June of the same year he started from Devil’s Lake, and at the end of the first day's journey reached what is now called Lake Ibsen. He found an abundance of fish in the lake, and wild geese nesting on its banks while in the grove that grew upon its shores were innumerable wild birds. He and his companions determined to set their stakes there at once, and Mr. Havrevold and Mr. Goldberg remained upon the claims while their two comrades returned to Devil’s Lake to send forward provisions and lumber. The two men thus left alone in the uninhabited wild were without any visible means of subsistence excepting two pounds of rice, a little salt and five cartridges. With their last cartridge they were fortunate enough to bring down a wild goose, and upon this they feasted and thus bridged over the lapse till the arrival of provisions.
Mr. Havrevold is a Republican in political faith, and has been for many years a party leader. He assisted to organize the party in the state, and in 1890 was elected to the state legislature. He introduced house bill No. 60, an act requiring that the Scandinavian language be taught in the State University at Grand Forks. This measure aroused much discussion throughout the state. During his term of service he was also chairman of the committee on manufactures and on committee on ways and means. At the next general election he was returned to the legislature, and again did efficient work. He introduced house bill No. 100, an act providing for the establishment of courts of conciliation. He also was made chairman of the committee on woman's suffrage. His services to the state have been valuable, and in shaping the policy of a new state he showed a breadth of wisdom and foresight that commanded the highest regard. His biography is intimately associated with the history of North Dakota and its institutions.
Mr. Havrevold was married, August 20, 1893, to Mrs. Julia Rasmussen nee Johnson, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Paul V. I., Giske O., Lars P. and Johannes. By her first marriage Mrs. Havrevold has three sons, namely: Robert, Albert and Augustinus, who are members of Mr. Havrevold's household.
History Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by Laurel Durham

REV. JEROME HUNT, O. S. B., pastor of the Catholic Indian Mission and religious teacher among the Sioux Indians for the past twenty three years, deserves a high place in the annals of North Dakota and the Northwest. He is located at Fort Totten in Benson county, and his influence is felt throughout all the region tributary to that center.
Father Jerome Hunt was born in Baden, Germany, in December, 1849. He is the youngest of two sons born to Anton and Francesca (Straub) Hunt. He began his studies at the age of eight years, and when eleven years of age entered Freiburg Lyceum. When he was seventeen years old he came to America, whither many of his relatives had preceded him. He entered St. Meinrad's College in Indiana, and completed his course in theology. with the late Bishop Marty. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching in the college, and in 1872 he was ordained, and engaged in local parish work and teaching, his specialty being languages.
In 1877 he began his work among the Sioux Indians at Fort Yates (Standing Rock Agency). From his own resources he built a brick church for the Indians, the first erected for them in North Dakota. He at once established a school for boys, and here in breech-clouts and blankets, with long, black hair, thirty boys gathered to be tutored. Father Hunt at once applied himself to a study of the Sioux language, which he soon mastered, notwithstanding its peculiar difficulties, and in 1897 he placed in his pupils' hands an illustrated history of the Bible in the Sioux language, and this was followed in 1899 by his book of Prayers, Instructions and Hymns. He is thoroughly a master of the various dialects of the language and a close student of the Sioux character. In 1882 he was sent temporarily to Fort Totten, his linguistic abilities being in demand. His success resulted in his taking permanent charge. He at once began teaching in the Industrial School, and his earnings were in part devoted to the building of St. Michael's church, six miles east, and in 1893 to the erection of St. Jerome's church. Up to 1890 he was in charge of the government industrial schools, since which time he has devoted himself wholly to parochial work. He is well known throughout the state, and has traveled much in the Northwest. He is one of the. very few priests that have ever been able to hold services in the Sioux language.
Father Hunt has also done much work in the cause of temperance. In 1884 he organized St. Joseph's Society for temperate male Indians and St. Mary's society for females. In 1894 he conceived the idea of publishing a paper in the Sioux tongue, and at St. Michael's a printing outfit was installed, and a paper is regularly issued, all the work being done by Indians. Contributions to its columns are received from all the agencies. His experiences in western life would fill a volume, and comparatively little is known by any, except the priest and his master, of the dangers resolutely faced and the obstacles patiently removed by the man who goes forth to set a light where darkness was before. An incident is related in connection with Father Hunt's arrival at Fort Yates. On the way they approached a crowd of Indians who seemed much excited. As they neared the group one of the Indians advanced and took from Father Hunt's head his new straw hat and walked away in triumph, while Father Hunt proceeded to Fort Yates and entered with uncovered head.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.

HON. JAMES MICHELS, a prosperous farmer residing on Grahams Island, in Benson county. North Dakota, is one of the early settlers of that region and an old veteran soldier with an enviable record.
Mr. Michels was born in Canandaigua. New York, November 8, 1841. He and a sister were the only children born to the union of James and Elizabeth (Johnston) Michels, both natives of Ireland. The father was killed by accident when our subject was a baby and when he was nine years of age he went to live with an uncle. Later he was apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade.
In December, 1862, Mr. Michels enlisted, in Elmira, New York, in the volunteer service, becoming a member of Company D, Fifth New York Artillery. He was stationed at Forts McHenry and Marshall and took part, in 1864, in Hunter's raid. In 1864, his term of enlistment having expired, he re-enlisted in Company K, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was engaged at Petersburg, Sailors Creek and at the surrender of General Lee. He was discharged in 1865, but re-enlisted in Company C. Seventeenth United States Regulars, and up to 1869 was stationed in Texas. In 1870 lie was sent up to Fort Sully to deal with the Indians, who were making trouble, and he joined Stanley's expedition to the mouth of the Powder river, participating in skirmishes at Heart river and O'Fallon creek. In 1877 he was stationed at Fort Totten, thus becoming acquainted with the Devils Lake region. He served in the army until 1882, having been a member of the same company and regiment continuously since 1866. He was discharged as first sergeant and his military record is one that is rarely equaled and does honor to him as a soldier and a man.
Seeing that the land in the region of Devils Lake was rapidly being taken, he filed a claim to a tract in Graham's Island, named, so tradition states, in honor of the old hunter of that name, who is said to have buried some treasure in the lake and was finally killed by the Indians.
Mr. Michels is a Republican in political faith and has been an active worker in the interest of his party. He was elected at the first general election in 1894 as county commissioner from the second district and in 1886 was chairman of the Republican county central committee. In 1898 he was elected to the state legislature and is now serving in that capacity. It was through his efforts that house bill No. 8 became a law.
Mr. Michels was married, in 1870, to Miss Ellen Reilly, and to this union four children were born, named as follows : James, Edward, Molet and Charles. Mrs. Michels died January 9, 1900. Mr. Michels is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., the Knights of Rythias, the B. A. Y. and the G. A. R.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.

PAUL J. MOEN. Maddock, of the twentieth legislative district. was born in Black Hammer twp., Houston county. Minn., January 12, 1866. In 1887 he came to North Dakota, locating in Benson county, where he took up a homestead. He operates a mercantile business in connection with his farm. He is married and has one son and two daughters. He was elected as representative in 1908, 1910 and in 1912, as a republican.[Source: North Dakota Blue Book, 1913 Legislative Manual, Published under the direction of Thomas Hall, Secretary of State, 1913. Submitted by Linda R.]

ELISHA B. PAGE. Benson County can boast some of the most beautiful as well as the most valuable estates in North Dakota, and among these none is more deserving of mention than that of the gentleman of whom this article is written. Mr. Page has one of the most pleasantly situated homes in Benson county, his residence being located on section II. of Leeds township.
Elisha B. Page was born in Greene county, Illinois, September 22, 1866. He was the eldest of seven children born to Elisha W. and Anna Williams Page, both residents of Girard, Illinois, where the early boyhood of our subject was spent and where he worked on the farm and attended the country schools until he was sixteen years of age. He then spent one year in the Hibbard, Bryant & Stratton Commercial School and then was employed two years in a commission house in St. Louis, where he had charge of the shipping department. He spent the winter of 1878 in Alabama and in the spring of 1888 he came to Dakota, arriving at Church's Ferry April 4, with a party of about fifteen members. A heavy snow lay on the ground and as there was no shelter for the stock Mr. Page was compelled to tramp seven miles and shovel out an old barn to pass the night in. At that time he was the owner of two mules, one horse, an old binder, a wagon and seventy-five dollars in money. He located a pre-emption claim on section 1 and a school mate, William S. Fox, settled on land near by. Mr. Page built a shanty, 12x16 feet, and for over three years served himself as cook and housekeeper. In 1890 he moved his shanty on his homestead to the site of his present residence. His first three seasons were disastrous and the winter of 1890-91 found him without money. Having taken up engineering in his early days, he now went to Minot, where he soon found employment, and having saved a little money he returned to his farm in the spring of 1891, determined to make a final effort. He put in two hundred acres of wheat and from this harvested six thousand bushels, which he sold at seventy-two cents per bushel. During the fall he followed threshing and this, with his crop, put him on his feet again financially. He has followed threshing each fall in Benson county and has found it profitable. He has from time to time added to his land holdings and now is the owner of eleven hundred and twenty acres, one thousand of which is cultivated annually. His bar, 42x100 feet, with stone basement, affords shelter for his stock and storage for two hundred and forty tons of hay and is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the county. He has an elevator on his farm, erected in 1898, with a capacity of fifteen thousand bushels, equipped with modern machinery, gasoline engine, dump and loading bin, feed and cleaning mill, etc. His residence is protected by one of the finest groves in the northwest, upon which he has bestowed much care.
Mr. Page was married, in 1891, to Miss Birdie Atkins, and to this union three children have been born, namely.-Laura W., Elisha H. and Walter St. C. In politics Mr. Page is a Democrat. He has taken an active interest in public matters and wielded an influence in local affairs, although the Democrats are in the minority in Benson county. Mr. Page is a member of the Presbyterian church and a Master Mason.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Dena Whitesell

GUNDER TORGESON has been a resident of Benson County since its early settlement and has aided in the development of its natural resources by his perseverance, industry and good management and by his honesty and good citizenship. His pleasant home is on section 10, township 155, range 68.
Mr. Torgeson was born in Satersdalen, Christiansandstift, Norway, October 22, 1842. He was the fourth of six children born to the union of George and Torbor Halvorson, also natives of Norway. The family came to America in 1861 and settled in Winneshiek County, Iowa, where our subject engaged in farming. He acquired a small farm in that county and made his home there until 1883. Two years prior to that time he had made a visit to North Dakota in the spring of 1881, passing through part of Minnesota and going as far out as Fort Totten. In 1883 he sold his farm in Iowa and came to Benton County to take up government land. He first filed a pre-emption claim to a tract of land south of Church’s Ferry and lived there about one year and then took up a homestead claim on the shore of Lake Ibsen, where he now resides. He thus became one of the earliest settlers of the township and has assisted and witnessed the wonderful growth and development of Benson County within the past few years. His present residence is a substantial and convenient structure and his barn is one of the best in the county. He has improved his lands and is now the owner of a valuable property.
Mr. Torgeson was married, in 1865, to Miss Gunild Salveson, and to this union nine children have been born, namely: Torges, deceased; Salve, deceased; Sigur; Tilda, deceased; Ole, Annie, Salve, Louise and Thomas. The family are members of the Lutheran Church and Mr. Torgeson supports the principles of the Republican party. He has gained his present valuable property by honest industry and good management and has a host of warm friends throughout the county.
History Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by Laurel Durham

VICTOR WARDROPE, Leeds, of the twentieth legislative district, was born at Grand Valley, Ont., Canada, July 23, 1876, and received his education at the University of North Dakota, being a graduate of the law department. He came to North Dakota in April, 1886, and engaged in the practice of his profession since his graduation, seven years ago. He is married and has three children. Has held the position of states attorney for Benson county, and trustee of the University of North Dakota for four years. He was elected representative as a progressive republican.
[Source: North Dakota Blue Book, 1913 Legislative Manual, Published under the direction of Thomas Hall, Secretary of State, 1913. Submitted by Linda R

Back to Benson County Home Page