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Nelson
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Nelson
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JOHN W. BLISS, one of the prominent citizens of Lakota, Nelson County, has for many years been identified with the farming interests of Osago Township, and has made a success of his vocation, and now owns and operates more than twelve hundred acres of land on which he held his residence until recently. He has now settled his family in a comfortable home in Lakota and enjoys the fruit of many years of hard labor, which was shared equally by his faithful companion, Mrs. Bliss.
Mr. Bliss was born in Geauga County, Ohio, March 21, 1859, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to Olney and Mahala (McFarland) Bliss, both of whom now reside in Kansas. He was reared on the Ohio farm and attended several terms of college at Oberlin, Ohio, and taught school a short time in his native town, and then devoted his attention to agriculture and in the spring of 1882, with very little money in his pockets, but with a heart filled with pluck and determination, started out to make his fortune in the West. The place chosen for this was Dakota. He filed on a claim, and with an ox team began his career. The first winter spent in Dakota was, indeed, a tough one for the eastern boy, who, with another bachelor, spent the winter on the claim, going through about all the hardships known to a new country, seeing no one and living on scanty and frozen rations. The following season he worked for others, and during the summer, after putting in a small crop on his own claim, which crop was entirely hailed out, he became thoroughly discouraged and wrote to Miss Alice Cowles, a teacher in Geauga County, Ohio, to whom he was affianced, and urged a hasty marriage. She accordingly made arrangements, and together with her father and sister, came west. They were met at Grand Forks by Mr. Bliss, also by Mr. Fairbanks, who was affianced to her sister. The party proceeded to Harrisburg, where they were married November 16, 1883, by Justice of the Peace Hennessy, after which they drove to their claim, where they partook of such a feast as we think very few wedding parties ever sit down to, via: fried salt pork, water gravy and biscuits (such as only bachelors can make), and served upon dishes of every description — tin lard pail covers and jack knives playing an important part. And there, in their one room, with a homemade pine bedstead and table, an old cook stove and three chairs, the bride and groom began housekeeping, and then began also the years of successes and failures which came to their lot. They have now a comfortable home and one which may well be the pride of our subject and wife, who have labored together with a will and cheerful hands and hearts. Land was purchased from time to time and they now own a tine estate in Nelson County. Three children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, who bear the names of Jay W., Vera M., and Eva Gertrude. Mr. Bliss served continuously on the town and school board during his residence in Osage Township and in 1S95 was elected to the office of county commissioner of Nelson County, in which capacity he served three years. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and politically is a Republican.
History Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by Laurel Durham
ROBERT J. GARDINER, of the seventeenth legislative district, was born in Lanark county, Ontario, 1867. He received his early education in Canada, and later took a course in the Lakota high school. He moved to North Dakota, July 6, 1888, filing on a homestead. He is married and has two daughters. He was elected representative in 1910 and re-elected 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.]
A. J. GRONNA, United States Senator, was born at Elkader, Iowa, December 10, 1858. He was educated in the public schools and in Caledonia, Minn., Academy. He came to Dakota in 1879 and located in Traill county in 1880, removing to Nelson county in 1887, being engaged in the mercantile business at Lakota. He is married and has live children. He has served as member of the territorial legislature, has held various local offices ,has been chairman of the Nelson county central committee and served three terms as a member of congress, to which he was elected 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.]
LEWIS S. HELGELAND. One of the farms of Norway township, Nelson county, best adapted to diversified farming is owned and operated by the subject of this review. It consists of three hundred and twenty acres, of which seventy acres is meadow land, forty acres in timber and the balance is prairie and well adapted to crops, and the entire place furnishes a model farm. Mr. Helgeland has a comfortable home in section 24, and was one of the early settlers of Nelson county.
Our subject was born in LaFayette county, Wisconsin, November 28, 1858, and was the second in a family of eleven children. His parents, Sever and Catherine Helgeland, were natives of Norway, and reside in Worth county, Iowa. Our subject remained on the Iowa farm from his third, to his twenty-first year, and worked for others one year, and in the spring of 1881 came by team to the Sheyenne valley, in what was then Grand Forks county. He settled on land on the banks of the river, and erected a small log house and passed the winter with neighbors, and in the spring of 1882 filed claim to the land, taking a memorable trip to Larimore for the purpose. It was in March, and the snows were heavy and there were no roads. Four days were consumed, and during two days on the trail blizzards raged. Our subject and his brother lived together and became proficient cooks. He erected a house on his homestead on the prairie and lived there from 1883 to 1888, when he moved to his present location, and until 1893 he worked much for others, but has since devoted himself to diversified farming on his own estate and has made a success of his work.
Our subject was married, in 1894, to Miss Hannah Tenold. Mr. and Mrs.. Helgeland are the parents of three children, Simon A., Emma C. and George D. Mr. Helgeland was the leading spirit in the organization of Norway township, and he was elected county commissioner for district No. I and served six years. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and politically is affiliated with the Republican party, and has attended many county conventions, and is now a member of the county central committee.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.
L. S. HELGELAND. (Aneta), of the seventeenth legislative district, was born November 28, 1858, at Wiota, LaFayette county, Wis., and moved with his parents at the age of four years to Iowa, coming to North Dakota in June, 1881. Received his education in the public schools of Northwood and attended the Augsburg Seminary for one year. Has held the position of county commissioner for two terms. Was elected to his present position as a republican in 1912. He is married and has six children, five sons and one daughter. He has been engaged in the business of farming for the past thirty years.
[Source: North Dakota Blue Book, 1913 Legislative Manual, Published under the direction of Thomas Hall, Secretary of State, 1913. Submitted by Linda R.]
A. J. HUSO, Aneta, of the sixteenth legislative district, was born in Lyon county, Minn., August 16, 1880. Received his education in the common schools and at business colleges. Came to North Dakota with his parents in 1883. He is engaged in the business of farming Has held various school and township offices. He is married. 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.]
HON. SEVERT M. LEE. one of the most successful farmers and popular citizens of Nelson county, resides upon his valuable farm in Ora township, and is the owner of one and one-half sections of land.
Mr. Lee was born in Borsen, Prebjeld, Throndhjem, Norway, September 14, 1847. He was the eldest of the three surviving children of Mons and Marrit (Larsdatter) Lee. The father was the owner of the farm Leaklivt, where our subject lived until he was twenty-four years of age Then, in 1871, he came to America, with the intention of remaining three years, becoming better acquainted with the world, earning some money, and then it was his intention to return to Norway. He went to Michigan and was there employed for ten seasons in the lumber districts. He then converted all his personal property into ready money and started for Dakota. He reached Fargo in July, 1881, and began a search for desirable land. In 1882 he went to Portland. Traill county, and opened a hotel, the Lee House, the first hotel in Portland. In February, 1887, he came to Nelson county and located on land to which he had filed claim in 1883. The first three years were most discouraging : he lost money each year and he was on the point of abandoning the attempt when, in 1891. he was rewarded by a fine crop and determined to remain. From two hundred acres he harvested seven thousand bushels of wheat. He has since added to his holdings by purchase until his tillable lands aggregate about nine hundred acres and he is today the most extensive farmer in Ora township. He erected a suitable residence in 1887 and also a fine barn and other outbuildings, and has his farm fitted up with all modern conveniences for the conduct of the business of agriculture.
Mr. Lee was married, in 1876, to Miss Ingeborg Solberg, and to them six children have been born, named as follows: Martine, a graduate of the Grand Forks Business College; Ole, a student in the same institution : Gertina, Maria. Louis and Clara. Mr. Lee is a Populist in political views and has been active in local political matters. He served two years as deputy sheriff of Traill county and has taken a leading part in party affairs in Nelson county. In 1892 he was elected on the fusion ticket to the state legislature and served on some of the most important house committees during his term of service, including the committees on public printing, railroads, schools and school lands, warehouse commission and forestry. He favors woman's suffrage and is an ardent supporter of the reform movement. He is a member of the Populist county central committee and has attended all state conventions of his party. He is one of the most popular and successful men of the county and has won his way into the confidence of all who know him.
[Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Friends for Free Genealogy]
FREDRICK W. McDOUGALL, is one of Dakota's pioneer farmers and merchants. He is well known as the leading spirit in the establishment of the town of McNille, which might be called the Hub of Nelson County's garden of gardens. Tributary to the town is a country beautifully level and fertile: and what is important to that country, water is abundant and superior in quality and obtained at a depth of fifteen to thirty feet. Mr. McDougall is the senior member of the firm of McDougall Brothers, who carry the most extensive stock of general merchandise of all the country stores of Nelson County. Aside from this they handle a full line of farming implements, buggies, bicycles, etc., and deal in livestock and all kinds of farm produce. Mr. McDougall also owns a section of land, about four hundred and eighty acres of which is under cultivation.
Our subject was born in Quebec, Canada, May 15, 1861, and was the sixth in a family of nine children, born to Dixon and Harriet (Gove) McDougall. Of the parents the father alone survives, and makes his home in Norway Township, Nelson County.
When our subject was six years of age he removed with his parents to LaFayette County, Minnesota, and there he was reared on a farm, and in the spring of 1882 he went to Nelson County and took land in what is now Norway Township. He and his brother and Mr. Thomas lived much together the first three seasons and worked in common, and in 1885 McNille post office was established and our subject was the first postmaster and served until 1889, when the office was discontinued. The present partnership was formed in 1892 and the firm conducted business in the old town of McVille, which was a half mile north of their present location, business was prosperous until September 5, 1899, when fire destroyed the residence, furniture, store and stock, entailing a loss of $10,000. Mr. McDougall at once set about to rebuild the business and the present commodious store and warehouses were at once constructed, the work beginning the following morning, and goods which were in the freight house were taken to the barn and sold from there. A machine hall and other buildings are now a part of the business block and all is progressing well.
Our subject was married, in 1896, to Miss Madge McMillan. Mrs. McDougall is a lady of rare attainments and a social and genial nature, and has produced an enlivening influence on the social affairs of McNille and vicinity. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McDougall, named as follows: James A. and Searl Dixon. Our subject is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is non-partisan in politics.
History Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by Laurel Durham
C. I. MORKRID, Petersburg, of the seventeenth legislative district. Was born at Sogn, Norway, July 22, 1859, and came to the United States. June 1, 1881. Received his education at the Soldiers School, Berifen, Norway. In 1882 he came to North Dakota and has engaged in farming for the past twenty-five years. Has held the position of county commissioner for four years and several minor local offices. He is married and has six children.
[Source: North Dakota Blue Book, 1913 Legislative Manual, Published under the direction of Thomas Hall, Secretary of State, 1913. Submitted by Linda R.]
HARRIS A. OAKLAND occupies a prominent place as a well-to-do and progressive member of the farming community of Nelson county, in Norway Township of which he has an excellent farm of four hundred and eighty acres. He resides on section 28 and has a thoroughly improved estate and a home of great comfort.
Our subject was born in Jackson county, Wisconsin, May 29, 1858. He was the eldest in a family of seven children born to Aanen and Karrie (Halverson) Oakland, both of whom were natives of Bergen Stift, Norway. His parents were married in this country and now reside in Jackson county, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty years our subject entered Galesville University and remained two years, preparing for the profession of teaching, which he followed from 1880 to 1885. In the spring of the last named year he went to North Dakota with his team, a wagon and a limited amount of money, and looked over Cavalier, Foster. Eddy, Walsh and Pembina counties, and finally chose his present location, filing claim to the land as a homestead, and he thereon erected a 12x16-foot house and began breaking the land in the summer of 1885. He taught school several winters and developed the farm as rapidly as possible, but did not begin farming for himself until 1890. He now has a good farm, well improved, and has made a success of his calling in Nelson county.
Our subject was married, in 1890, to Miss Jennie Loe, a native of Blue Earth county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Oakland are the parents of four children, named as follows: Albert. Ida Julia, Lydia and Clara. Mr. Oakland joined the Populist party early in their existence and was one of the active organizers of the reform party and was prominent in party affairs in southern Nelson county. He was a candidate on the first ticket [placed in the field and made a close run for the office. He attended the state convention in 1892, and numerous county conventions. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Our subject is a gentleman of true public spirit and is deservedly held in high esteem by his associates.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.
SAMUEL SAMSON, a well-to-do farmer, living on section 9, Norway township, is entitled to distinction as being not only an old soldier with an enviable war record, but also is one of the oldest settlers of Nelson county.
Mr. Samson was born in Bergenstift, Norway, October 19, 1833, on the farm Njos. He was reared on a farm, and when twenty-eight years of age came to America, arriving here in 1861. He had been a farmer, and also engaged in fishing and sailing in the old country. Soon after his arrival he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, October 2, 1861. In Norway he was known as Samson S. Njos, but through some error he was enlisted as Samuel Samson, and has gone by that name since. He served three years and some months, having received his honorable discharge January 6, 1865. Among the engagements in which he took part may be named Murfreesboro, Union City, Island No. 10. Chickamauga, and in all upwards of twenty battles and skirmishes. At Chickamauga he received a severe wound below the left knee, and fell into the hands of the Confederates. He was saved from a prison only by the severity of his wound, which was so neglected that it became dangerous to his life. He was without medical attention and confined in a room that resembled a slaughter-house, without sufficient food, and it was only by dint of his strong constitution that he lived through it. He refused absolutely to have his leg amputated, and finally, after two years on crutches, recovered the use of it sufficiently to begin to walk unsupported. He went to Freeborn county. Minnesota, in 1866, and lived there many years. In 1880 he came to Nelson county. Dakota, and "squatted" on the land he now makes his home. His was the only occupied farm for many miles around, and became a favorite stopping place for home-seekers m those early days, tie returned to Moorhead and worked at railroading near Moorhead during the winter, his wife having had an attack of typhoid fever, compelled him to remain there and using up his surplus means. He returned to his farm in Nelson county in 1881, almost destitute. He worked at breaking land and made improvements on his own place. He lived in a dug-out, lined with logs and covered with earth and bark. However, he endured all these hardships and soon began to prosper. He is now well fixed financially, and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable lands, well cultivated and enhanced by many conveniences for farming and stock raising.
Mr. Samson was married, in 1865, to Miss Berret Amfinson. Ten children were born to this union, named as follows: Mary Ann, deceased; Andrew, deceased; Sophia A., deceased; Bernhart, deceased ; John, deceased ; Sophia ; Bertina ; Theodore and Andrew Gilbert, and one dying in infancy. Mr. Samson is a Republican in political views and takes an intelligent interest in the local public affairs and has proved himself a most exemplary citizen and member of the community in which he has resided for so many years. He is esteemed and respected by all who know him and he enjoys the confidence and friendship of all the community.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.
JOHN P. SUNDQVIST, one of the men who have made Nelson county famous for its agriculture and stock raising, resides upon his valuable farm in section 23, Ora township, where he owns a section of land.
Mr. Sundqvist was born near Storvik, Gefle Borgstan, Sweden, May 30, 1862. He was the second child in a family of five children born to Cart and Johanna ( Wiren ) Sundqvist, both of whom are still living in Sweden. The father was a railroad man, and our subject followed railroading until he was fifteen years of age, when he entered the repair shops to learn the trade of machinist. Two years later he became engineer on a coasting steamer, and in May, 1882, he came to America. He first worked in Chicago, and then proceeded to Moorhead, Minnesota, where he worked in a planing mill, and later in a foundry. He worked a short time at Fargo in the same line, and also in the Northern Pacific Railroad shops. In the spring of 1886 he came to Nelson county, and the next year filed claim to one hundred and twenty acres of government land. He was without means, but he worked hard and managed wisely, and has built up for himself one of the finest estates in the county. For some years he devoted his attention to sheep raising and was very successful, but as the range became limited he abandoned this line of business, and he is now giving his attention to general stock farming. He has improved his farm with many of the conveniences of farm life, and his outbuildings afford shelter for stock and abundant storage for his crops.
Mr. Sundqvist was married in 1884 to Miss Caroline Teien, and to this union eight children have been born, named as follows : Johanna C, Aggie A., Oscar E., Arthur R., Arnold G., Ida, Hjalmar E. and Emma. In political sentiment Mr. Sundqvist is an Independent. He was greatly dissatisfied with management of public affairs in the country and state, and welcomed the reform movement, and was one of the organizers of the party in Nelson county.
He has been active in local political affairs, and has been a school officer for many years. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran' church, and a member of good standing of the 1. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. organizations.
[Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Friends for Free Genealogy]
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