Towner County ND Biographies ALEXANDER CURRIE. The name of this gentleman will be readily recognized as that of a leading agricultural implement dealer of Cando, and an extensive general farmer of Towner County. He has one of the finest residences in the state of North Dakota, handsomely finished and furnished with modern improvements and every appointment of the place bespeaks the culture and refinement of its occupants. Our subject is a native of the Province of Ontario, Canada, and was born September 19, 1859. He was the fourth in a family of eight children born to Laughlin and Nancy (McPherson) Currie. The father was a native of the highlands of Scotland and the mother was also of Scotch extraction, but a native of Canada. Both parents are now deceased. Mr. Currie was reared on a farm and picked rocks and grubbed stumps as an early training. The mother died when he was twelve years of age and at the age of fourteen years he left home and hired out at farm labor. He went to the lumbering districts of Minnesota in the fall of 1880 and in the spring drove logs, and the following fall went to the Red River Valley for harvest, his brother being in business in Grafton. Our subject then located on land in Walsh County, but had no means with which to begin the cultivation of his land and in the spring of 1884 went to Towner County and entered claim to land in section 34, in township 158, range 65, and with about three hundred dollars began operations on his place. He erected a small shanty and during about seven seasons lived alone on his little claim, spending the winters near Park River. He confined himself to farming one half-section until 1889, when he increased his acreage and now owns and operates one thousand six hundred acres, of which one thousand five hundred acres is under plow, and he has of late years devoted attention to stock raising. He has a finely improved estate and has prospered in a marked degree. He embarked in the implement business in Canada in 1896 and now enjoys a liberal patronage. Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss Mabel Noyes. Mr. and Mrs. Currie are the parents of two children, named Ruth M. and John McP. Mr. Currie is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Modern Woodmen of America. He was elected sheriff in 1895 and served two terms, and is held in the highest esteem by all. History Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by Laurel Durham ALBERT S. GIBBENS, of the twenty-second legislative district. Cando, Towner county, was born at Barrie, Pike county. Ill., on September 18, 1858, and is married and has six children. He came to North Dakota from Illinois in 1882 and is a farmer and stock raiser. Was educated in the common schools and Missouri State Normal at Kirkville, Mo. Was elected a member of the house in 1905, 1907 and 1909, and was elected 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.] NELS W. HAWKINSON, of the twenty-second legislative district, was born in Sweden, September 25, 1869, and came to Litchfield, Minn., with his parents in 1870. He secured his education in the common schools of Litchfield. He moved to North Dakota in 1890, locating successfully at Munich, Devils Lake and Rock Lake, the last named being his present home. He is married. 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.] N. O. JOHNSON, of the twenty-second legislative district, was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, November 19, 1853. He received his education in the public schools of Iowa and at Luther college, Decorah, Ia., after which he studied pharmacy, receiving his certificate as a registered pharmacist in 1889. In the same year he moved to North Dakota, opening the first drug store in the city of Cando, where he now resides. He is married and has three children. 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.] LEVI B. PENDROY, prominent among the business men of Towner and McHenry county, has been a resident of the county since its early settlement and has been successful in business and in all his undertakings. Mr. Pendroy is a native of Iowa, and the date of his birth is July 12, 1861. He is the third child in a family of six children born to J. M. and Sarah (Haldwin) Pendroy, the former a native of Indiana and the latter born in Ohio. The two families trace their ancestors back for many generations in America. Levi B. Pendroy was reared on a farm in his native state, and took such advantages as the school system of Iowa afforded at that time. At the age of twenty-two years, accompanying the family, he located in the Mouse river country of North Dakota, twenty-five miles from the site of the city of Towner. The trip from Iowa was made wholly by team and occupied several weeks in the journey. They made a location in 1882, in the fall of the year, and erected a log shanty 16X16 feet, and at once set about the work of farming and stock raising. In 1883 they raised little except garden stuff, but the next year they had an immense crop, the yield of wheat being forty bushels to the acre and oats one hundred and ten. He continued to farm for seven or eight years, and then, in 1892, moved to the city of Towner and for two years did contracting and job work. He then opened a meat market in 1894, and since its opening, July 9, of that year, he has done a prosperous and increasing business. His start was a modest one, having about fifty dollars invested; but in 1897 he had not only enlarged his business in that line but had added a line of general merchandise. He now occupies a building 40x60 feet, with storage warehouse in the rear, and does an immense business in all lines he handles. Mr. Pendroy was married, in 1884, in Iowa, to Miss Jessie Robinson. Mrs. Pendroy was born in Illinois, the daughter of J. L. Robinson, who is also an old settler of North Dakota. Mr. and Airs. Pendroy have four children, named as follows: George, Lulu, Mattie and Myrtle, all born in North Dakota Mr. Pendroy is a Republican in political faith, and has taken an active part in political matters in the county. He has attended numerous conventions as a delegate, and has many friends throughout the county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Modern Woodmen of America, and has been venerable consul of the latter since the local lodge was organized. Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z. WILLIAM E. PEW, of the firm of Thompson & Pew, real estate dealers of Cando, North Dakota, is one of the most extensive land owners of Towner county, and has a wide reputation as a gentleman of excellent business capacity and true citizenship. Our subject was born in Pike county, Missouri, August 4, 1857, and was the eldest in a family of four children. His father, Ruben C. Pew, was a native of Kentucky, and still lives. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Alexander, was a native of Missouri. Our subject was raised at farming and stock raising, although residing in the town of Louisiana. He attended college in his native place and took a complete business course at Quincy, Illinois. He remained at home until 1883 and in the early spring of that year went to Larimore, North Dakota, and rented land north of that place. He then returned to Missouri for stock and implements and cropped the rented land and as soon as the work was finished started west in search of land. He drove overland about two weeks, and then arrived at Coulee Valley, and there decided to locate, and then traveled night and day on his return to his rented farm. He then made his way to his claim and erected a barn with lumber which he took, and became a permanent settler. He now owns fourteen hundred acres of land in township 157 range 66, in the garden spot of Towner County, and is one of the substantial men of that region. Our subject has been identified with the public movements of Towner county, since the early days. The county was organized in January, 1884, and Mr. Pew was appointed register 01 deeds and served in that capacity seven years, and following his term of office he was chosen chairman of the Democratic county central committee, and has conducted several successful campaigns. The county seat was established at Cando, January 24, 1884,. and a small frame building was erected as a court house, and there our subject was a well-known officer. The partnership now existing between Mr. Pew and Mrs. Thompson, under the firm name of Thompson & Pew, was formed in 1896. They conduct an extensive real estate business and are widely known in their line. Mr. Pew is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Master Mason. Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Dena Whitesell Copyright © Genealogy Trails