BIOGRAPHIES OF TRAILL COUNTY
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AGNES KJORLIE GEELAN

Agnes Kjorlie Geelan


LARS HANSON GORDON

Lars did not use his surname in the civil war but used Lars Hanson which was also an alias for Lawrence Henson and Louis Hanson.
Lars was born 28 July 1847 in Norway and died 16 December 1923 in Minnesota.
Under the name of Lars Hanson, The U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 only indicates that he enlisted as a Private in Company B, 3rd Wisconsin Infantry and mustered out as a Private; there are no dates and it indicates he has an alias of Lawrence Henson. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles has Louis Hanson enlisting 20 August 1864 as a Private in Company B, Wisconsin 3rd Infantry Regiment and mustered out on 9 June 1865. American Civil War Soldiers has the same information but includes Louis Hanson's residence as Onalaska, Wisconsin. He started receiving his pension under alias Lars H. Gordon on 15 July 1890 in North Dakota and his wife Ane started receiving a widow's pension on 6 February 1924 in Minnesota.
Census reports: In 1880 Dakota Territory and the 1890 Veterans Federal he is in Traill County; in 1900 and 1910 he is in Hillsboro and in 1920 he is in Clearwater County, Minnesota.
Gordon, H. Lars and Gordon, Lars H. held several land patents in Section 26, Township 147, Range 49 (Caledonia area).
From Norwegians in the Civil War; Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum: "HANSON, Lars WI 3rd Inf Co B. Born in Norway. Civil War: Enrolled 20 Aug 1864 at age 17. Private. Discharged 9 Jun 1865. Post war: Came from Wisconsin to Caledonia, Traill County, North Dakota, in June 1871. Sources: (Traill County Veterans Index, 1885 Dakota Territorial Census, p138) (1890 Veterans and Widows Census, North Dakota, No.123, roll 59)."
He is buried in Moose Creek Cemetery, Minerva, Clearwater County, Minnesota.
Burial, Tombstone Picture.


CHARLES GRADY

North Dakota History and People - Outlines of American History
Volume II
The E. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1917 - Chicago

Charles Grady was for many years engaged in farming in Elm River township, Traill county, and at the time of his death was the owner of a large tract of valuable land there. He was born in England on the 10th of January, 1831, of the marriage of Charles and Mary Grady, both of whom passed their entire lives in that country. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five have passed away.
Charles Grady remained in England until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to Canada, where he continued to live until 1880. He was a farmer by occupation and, becoming convinced that better opportunities awaited the agriculturist in North Dakota, removed to Traill county, this state, and took up a homestead on section 22, Elm River township. He built a log cabin, which remained the family residence for a time, and the conditions of life were in general those of a frontier district. As the years passed, however, the county advanced in development, his land increased in value and he secured the comforts and conveniences of life. He continued to operate his farm until his demise, which occurred in 1907, and his well directed labor yielded him a good income.
Mr. Grady was married in Canada in 1870 to Miss Isabella Gemmell, a native of Scotland. She is one of a family of six children born to William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Gemmell, who passed their entire lives in the land of hills and heather. To Mr. and Mrs. Grady were born seven children: James, a resident of Valley City, North Dakota; Mary, the wife of Robert Robertson; W. J.; Albert, who is residing in Tower City; George H., who is farming the homestead; Frank L.; and Charles.
Mr. Grady was not remiss in any of the duties of a good citizen but did not take an active part in public affairs, his farm interests requiring his undivided attention. He held membership in the Presbyterian church, whose work he furthered and whose teachings are the guiding principle of his life. He was well known throughout the county, and his demise was recognized as a loss to his community. He was laid to rest in the Elm River cemetery. His wife still holds title to the homestead, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres of fine land and is well improved and from which she derives a gratifying financial return. She is also a member of the Presbyterian church, and her many excellent qualities of character have gained her the warm regard of those with whom she has come in contact.


CHARLES E. GRADY

North Dakota History and People - Outlines of American History
Volume II
The E. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1917 - Chicago

Charles E. Grady, a farmer living on section 15, Elm River township, Traill county, is numbered among those ambitious, enterprising men whose labors have made North Dakota a great agricultural state. He was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 1st of April, 1875, and spent his youthful days under the parental roof, acquiring a public school education, after which he pursued a business course in Fargo College. He has since been actively identified with agricultural interests and made his first purchase of land in 1897, when he became owner of one hundred and sixty acres in Elm River township, Traill county. He then began farming independently and the following year he purchased an adjoining tract of one hundred and sixty acres, so that he now owns three hundred and twenty acres, while his wife owns two hundred and nine acres. He is now operating his own land and eighty acres of that which belongs to Mrs. Grady. He is a most energetic agriculturist, studying closely modern methods of farming, and his persistency of purpose and diligence have resulted in the attainment of gratifying success.
On the 4th of December, 1911, Mr. Grady was united in marriage to Miss Anna Foster, of Elm River township, by whom he has a son, Merrill Charles. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as township treasurer for about twelve years, while for several years he has also acted as clerk of the school board. Fraternally Mr. Grady is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, to the teachings of which they loyally adhere.


EZRA C. GRAHAM

Ezra was born in 1847 and died 1913 in Michigan.
On 13 May he enlisted as a Private and on 16 June 1864 he mustered into Company D, Illinois 141st infantry Regiment. He mustered out on 10 October 1864 in Chicago, Illinois. He started receiving his pension on 20 April 1896 in North Dakota and his wife, Evelyn, started receiving a widow's pension on 25 June 1913 in Michigan.
Census reports: In 1885 Dakota Territory and the 1890 Veterans Federal he is in Traill County. In 1910 he is in Michigan.
Ezra had a 160 acre land patent in Section 14, Township 147, Range 51 (Logan Township).
He is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, Michigan.
Burial, Tombstone Picture.


CARL M. GRIMSTAD

Memoirs Of Carl M. Grimstad
From The Norwegian-American Historical Association


HENRY GRONKE

From Compendium of History and Biography (1900) - Page 453:
"HENRY GRONKE, living in Hillsboro, retired from active labors, went to the Goose river country in Dakota, in 1871, settling on a farm there June 2, and in company with Charles [sic] [Carl] Mergenthal, became the earliest pioneer of the county. Mr. Mergenthal had been through the country the previous year with a surveying party and he and our subject are known as the founders of the German settlement of Eldorado township, Traill county. Mr. Gronke experienced many hardships in his pioneer home, but is now enjoying the reward of his industry and persistent efforts and has a comfortable home in Hillsboro.
Our subject was born in Hanover, Germany, June 4, 1846, and was the second child and only son of a family of three children born to Henry and Catherine (Bausa) Gronke. He came to America in 1857 with his parents and joined his sister in Illinois and as he was a tailor by trade followed that line. His father soon afterward left Illinois for Yankton, Dakota territory, and there he died in 1870 and the following spring our subject joined his mother at Yankton, but was not pleased with the prospects presented in that part of the state and as his brother-in-law, Mr. Mergenthal, had recently returned from a trip hrough the Red River valley and reported favorably regarding the country, five families started on May 24 for the Goose river country. They all drove ox-teams and arrived at their destination June 2 and our subject took a preemption claim in section 34, in township 46, range 50, and Mr. Mergenthal settled near by, but the others of the party after a few days left for Minnesota. The little group of log buildings erected by our subject and his party were the only marks of civilization for miles around and all was undisturbed throughout the valley. Thirty years have passed since then and the most vivid imagination could not picture the advancement of that wilderness. They were undecided which to pursue, the raising of wheat or cattle, the tall grass and luxurious feed pointing to the latter industry, while the excellence of the soil and the severe winters decided for the former and they bent their efforts to wheat raising, which was very unsatisfactory until 1874 on account of grasshoppers. The potato crop was to be depended on and the establishment of a store on the Red River by the Hudson's Bay Company made a ready market for their produce. The crop of 1874 was a success and to the present advancement has been sure and rapid. Our subject now owns seven hundred and sixty acres of land and on his home farm has a large barn and comfortable residence, in which his only son now resides and rents the farm. Mr. Gronke has made his home in Hillsboro since 1898.
Our subject was married, in 1872, to Miss Amelia (Emilie) Housemann. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gronke, as follows: Ida, now Mrs. D. Engle; William, residing on the home farm, and Minnie, who resides with her parents. Mr. Gronke is a member of the German Lutheran church and in political sentiment is a Republican."
Henry's Burial, Tombstone Picture. Amelia's Burial, Tombstone Picture


WALTER HERMAN GRUEBBELING

Some records have him from Minnesota but he was born on 22 December 1914 in Blanchard, Traill County, North Dakota, the son of Walter and Amanda. His siblings included Lillian, Evelyn, and Gladys. He married Norma Pauck in Hillsboro, Jefferson County, Missouri on 19 November 1941. They had one child, Harold.
Walter was a veteran of World War II.
At the time of his entry into the Korean he was living in Blanchard. While in Korea, as a Sergeant First Class and member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, he was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea on December 3, 1950 and was presumed dead on December 31, 1953. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Honolulu Hawaii Memorial and Photo, Korean War Veterans Memorial and Photo. Actual burial location is unknown.


PER GULBRANSON

See Peter Gulbranson Lundberg