Biography - A. G. Divet

A. G. Divet, who is a member of the firm of Purcell & Divet, the leading law firm of Wahpeton, is one of the well known residents of that city. In addition to law practice he is serving as a member of the state legislature. A native of Minnesota, he was born in Byron, Olmsted county, on the 10th of January, 1870, a son of Daniel and Harriet L. (Sykes) Divet. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1835 and is still living, but the mother, whose birth occurred in Canada in 1845, died in 1906. The paternal grandfather was Michael Divet, a native of Ireland, who on emigrating to the United States settled first in Pennsylvania and later in Wisconsin. He was a pioneer of the latter state and there engaged in farming for many years. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church. The maternal grandfather, Victor Sykes, was born in Canada but in the early history of Wisconsin became a resident of that state and there he passed the remainder of his life. The parents of our subject were married in Minnesota, the father having moved there from Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1860. In 1879 he and his family came to North Dakota, settling in Richland county. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and met with gratifying success in his chosen occupation. In early manhood he went to California and later to Colorado, where he mined for gold, but later he concentrated his efforts upon farming. On removing to this state he took up a homestead and tree claim and later he traded for other land in this state, becoming in time the owner of two thousand acres of excellent land. He now resides with a daughter in Morton county at an advanced age, but is still alert and interested in the happenings of the day. He is unusually well read and during his active life was a power in his community. In politics he is a stalwart republican. To him and his wife were born seven children, five of whom are still living, namely: A. G.; Eunice, the widow of Joseph Glyn, of Morton county, who was a successful farmer; Lorena, who resides upon the homestead in Morton county; Sykes, who is farming near Hutchinson, Minnesota; and Walter, of Lisbon, who is court stenographer for his district.

A. G. Divet received his early education in the common schools of Minnesota and North Dakota and later attended the academy at Madison, Wisconsin, for about two years, after which he studied law in connection with the discharge of his duties as court reporter, which office he held for six years. After being admitted to the bar he located at Forman, this state, for practice, but two years later returned to Wahpeton and become associated in practice with Senator William E. Purcell. As time has passed they have gained prominence at the bar of the state and the firm of Purcell & Divet is recognized as the leading one in the city of Wahpeton and the second one in the state. They engage in general practice, have not only a large but also an important clientage and are known in adjoining states as well as throughout North Dakota. They are also heavily interested in farming, owning a large ranch near Wahpeton, and it is characteristic of their enterprise and progressiveness that they were the first successful alfalfa growers in the state. They carry on diversified farming, raising corn, oats, wheat, cattle and hogs. They have all the latest equipment for scientific farming and in their methods utilize the discoveries of investigators along various phases of farming. In the seven years that they have owned the farm they have expended thirty-five thousand dollars in improving it, and it is now one of the show places of Richland county. They manage the farm well and derive a handsome income therefrom.

Mr. Divet was married in 1895 to Miss Nora Russell, who was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, a daughter of Elijah Russell, a successful merchant. Mr. and Mrs. Divet have two children; Donovan, who has completed two years of the academic course in the State University of Minneosta and is now a freshman in the school of law; and Rushby, who is sixteen years of age and is in high school.

Mr. and Mrs. Divet belong to the Congregational church, in the work of which they take an active part. Mr. Divet has been chairman of the board of trustees for many years and at times has filled pulpits in this section of the state. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Knights of Pythias, and in the latter organization has passed through all the chairs. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is recognized as a leader in public affairs. He is now serving his second term as a member of the state legislature and is making a creditable record in that capacity, proving not only public-spirited but also discriminating in his support of or opposition to various measures. He is not only respected for his ability and esteemed because of his unquestioned integrity but he is also held in warm personal regard by those who have been intimately associated with him.

Extracted 12 Nov 2019 by Norma Hass from North Dakota History and People, published in 1917, volume 2, pages 41-42.