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Asa was born 5 August 1844 in Vermont and died 20 May 1935 in Vermont.
In the 1880 and 1890 Census reports he is in Traill County. In the 1900 Census he is in Caledonia.
Asa was influental and was the early postmaster for both Goose River and Caledonia.
From Peacham, Vermont at about age 18, Asa enlisted as a Private on 16 September 1862. He mustered into Company F, Vermont 15th Infantry Regiment on 22 October 1862. On 19 February 1863 he received a disability discharge. He started receiving his disability in October 1863; $4.00, loss of sight in one eye.
He is in Traill County in the 1880 Census and is in the 1890 Veterans Federal Census as living in Caledonia. The 1900 Census lists him and family in Caledonia.
Asa secured a land grant of 160 acres in Section 22, Township 146, Range 49. This townships map shows he had land in Sections 14, 15, 22, and 23
He married Amanda L. Houghton in Traill County on 1 December 1878.
He is buried in Danville Green Cemetery, Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont with headstone being provided by the government as a veteran.
More information can be found on Asa by inserting his name into this website's Search Box.
See Vermont in the Civil War for more information. Fred was born to Don and Ruth Dunlap Sayre on 22 November 1926 at Hillsboro. His siblings included Frank, Sylvia, Jean, and Kenneth.
He enlisted into the U. S. Army as a Private and served in the Korean War as a Private First Class in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry division as a Private Light Weapons Infantryman. He was taken as a Prisoner of War on 27 April 1951 in South Korea and died on 30 June 1951.
Memorial in the Korean War Project.
Name engraved on the National Korean Veterans Memorial.
Burial, Tombstone Photo, Family Links.
"GEORGE F. SCHLOSSER of whom a portrait is shown in connection with this sketch, is one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Traill county. He was an early settler of North Dakota, and has resided near Mayville for the past ten years, during which time he has gained his commendable position as a man of excellent character and active public spirit. His farm is one of the most extensive in the state and is fully improved, and on account of its location,  affording the quiet of country life and the educational and social advantages of the city, is one of the finest pieces of property to be found.
Our subject is a native of Brownsdale, Minnesota, and was born December 19, 1858, and was the youngest of a family of four children born to Albert and Katherina (Nies) Schlosser, both of whom were of German descent. The mother died when our subject was a child and the father is residing with his daughter in Iowa. The father married a second and a third time, and two children were born to these later unions, the family numbering in all six children. The family settled in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where our subject resided amid pleasant surroundings until he attained his majority. With twenty dollars cash, he started, in company with his brother and Mr. P. Kegler, in a prairie schooner, in 1880, for Dakota and arrived in Grand Forks county. He at once sought work, and June 9 began on the Grandin farm, in Traill county, and there did his first wage earning. He soon saw the possibilities in Dakota, and took land as a pre-emption in Grand Forks county, and there built a shanty and purchased on time a yoke of oxen and began to turn the sod. Ninety acres was the result of his first season's work for himself and
others, and he soon began the cultivation of his land. He secured an additional one hundred and sixty acres and pushed forward the improvements of his farm, and in 1889 sold advantageously and at once invested in three hundred and twenty acres on the Goose river, adjoining the city of Mayville, where he has since resided. This proved a good investment, as it has since more than doubled in value. His farm comprises timber land, some of which has been sold to the city and has been converted into a
beautiful island park, which in summer presents a lively scene of picnics, boating and swimming. Mr. Schlosser has recently donated to the city a location for the electric light plant. For the comfort and convenience of the family, he erected a handsome residence in 1898, which is fitted with modern heating and sewage systems, and is a model in every particular, while the furnishings evidence the good taste of its occupants. He has added to his original purchase of land, and now owns three thousand one hundred and sixty acres of land in Traill and Steele counties, all of which he personally supervises.
Our subject was married, in 1888, to Miss Lizzie McMillin. Six children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Schlosser, as follows: George, Pearl, Anna May, Glenn, Gladys and Francis W. Mr. Schlosser was elected mayor of the city of Mayville in 1898, re-elected in 1890, and under his guidance many improvements have been established. A relentless war has been waged on gambling games and games of chance and liquor dealers, an
electric-light plant has been established and a waterworks system has been begun. A public library building will soon be opened, owing to the generous donation of J. L. and E. B. Grandin and the support of the citizens of Mayville."
Burial, Portraits, Family Links.
"ALVIN SCHMITT, who is ably conducting the editorship and management of the "Hillsboro Banner," was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, February 13, 1862, and was the fourth child born to William [sic] and Barbara (Metzj Schmitt. He passed the early years of his life in Dodge county and at the age of fourteen years entered a private school and completed an academic course. He entered the office of the "Wisconsin State Register," as an apprentice, at the age of sixteen years, and in 1882 went to Hillsboro, Traill county, North Dakota, where he was employed in "The Hillsboro Banner" office. He has rapidly risen to prominence in newspaper circles and the paper which he controls is successful financially and otherwise. He is a man of intelligence and true citizenship and highly esteemed throughout that region.
Mr. Schmitt was married, in 1898, to Miss Hattie Moll. One daughter has been born [Note: another daughter Barbara born after this publication] to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Marie Louise."
From the "Hillsboro. North Dakota The First Hundred Years," Page 177:
"........In 1892 Alvin Schmitt, who had served on the Banner staff since 1882, bought the paper from Bowers. The Banner Publishing Company was established in March, 1896 with Gunder Howard, F. L. Goodman, H. J. Nyhus and Schmitt as officers and Schmitt continuing as editor.
City fathers made the Hillsboro Banner the official paper of the city in 1894. It was also the official paper for Traill County, along with two papers from Mayville and Portland.
Circulation of the Banner in the late 1890's was 1200 issues. Schmitt bought from the Traill County Telephone Company the photograph gallery property on the corner of Caledonia Avenue and Sargeant Street in 1904.
Iver Fossum sold his interest in the Banner in 1909 and Schmitt died on Dec. 11, 1910 at the age of 48. L. E. George of Fertile, Minn., purchased the Banner from Schmitt's estate in 1911.........."
Alvin, Hattie, Marie, Barbara
Volume II The E. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1917 - Chicago Ivar Seim, who is part owner of and conducts the
Blanchard Mercantile Company at
Blanchard, Traill county, was born in Norway, on the 3d of March, 1870, a
son of Eric and
Elizabeth (Hamre) Seim, both natives of that country, where they still make
their home.
To them have been born twelve children, all of whom are living, four
residing in America
and eight in Norway.
Ivar Seim [link has information on his spouse] was reared in his native land and attended the public schools in
the acquirement of his education but in 1888, when a youth of eighteen years, emigrated
to America
and, making his way to North Dakota, located in Traill county. He worked as
a farm hand
for some time, but in 1896 came to Blanchard and established what is known
as the Blanchard Mercantile Company, of which he is part owner and which he manages. He
understands the business thoroughly and has built up a large and profitable
patronage. The
excellence of the goods carried and the reasonableness of his prices have
commended him to
the public and his business is one of the prosperous concerns of the town.
He also owns
two hundred acres of land on section 13, Blanchard township, which is well
improved and
which yields him a good return.
See Lars Isaacson Seim
Andrew was born about 1837 and died 6 February 1900 in Minnesota .
He enlisted as a Corporal in Company A, Massachusetts 27th Infantry Regiment on 9 November 1861 and mustered out on 13 April 1863 at New Berne, North Carolina. He again enlisted on 22 February 1864 and mustered out on 21 June 1865. During the second enlistment he was a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Georgia. He started receiving his pension 9 December 1890 in Minnesota.
He is in the 1890 Veterans Federal Census as living in Mayville.
He is buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis in the Grand Army of the Republic plot as a Veteran in Section A8 B 25.
Burial.
Volume II The E. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1917 - Chicago Joseph Sim, who holds title to seventeen hundred
and sixty acres of valuable land in
Kelso township and is president of the Farmers Elevator at Grandin, is one
of the leaders
in business and agricultural circles of Traill county. He was born in Oxford
county,
Ontario province, Canada, on the 2d of May, 1853, of the marriage of Francis
and Elizabeth
(Cousins) Sim, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of England.
Both removed
to Canada in their youth and there the mother passed away. The father died
in Traill
county, Xorth Dakota, while visiting his son. Ten of their fourteen children
are still
living.
Joseph Sim was reared under the parental roof and received his education in
the
public schools of Canada, where he remained until 1878. In that year he came
to North
Dakota, having heard much concerning the advantages offered the
agriculturist here, and
located on section 26, Kelso township, Traill county. He has erected
excellent buildings upon
his farm, where he still resides, and has purchased additional land from
time to time until
he now holds title to seventeen hundred and sixty acres, all of which is in
a high state of
cultivation. He raises an immense amount of grain each year, but has not
confined his
attention exclusively to grain farming as he recognizes the value of
stock-raising, and he
derives a gratifying addition to his income from that branch of his
business. He is also
a large stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Grandin, of which he is the
president.
Mr. Sim was married in 1884 to Miss Maria Lockhart, also a native of the
Dominion, where her parents, James and Margaret Lockhart, both passed away. To Mr.
and Mrs.
Sim have been born six children: Blanche; Gertrude; Lida; Gordon, deceased;
Milton, who
is attending the Fargo College, and Frances.
Mr. Sim has given his political allegiance to the republican party since
becoming a
naturalized citizen of the United States, and for thirty years has been a
member of the
board of county supervisors and chairman for over twenty years, a record
which indicates
the high esteem in which he is held. He has also served on the school board
for a long
period of time. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and is also identified
with the Foresters. He has given strict attention to the management of his afTairs, and
his energy,
foresight and good judgment have been richly rewarded, as he is now one of
the well-to-do
men of his section. He has also found time to cooperate with others in the
promotion of
the interests of his community, and has always had the greatest faith in the
future of the
county and state. He is widely known and his ability and integrity are
universally
acknowledged.
John was born about 1844.
He enlisted as a Private in 1862 into Company A, Missouri 8th Infantry Regiment, a Confederate Regiment.
In the 1890 Veterans Federal Census he is living in Caledonia.
Albert is the oldest son of Louis Mathias [see below] and remained in Traill County when the Louis family moved to McHenry County.
Albert married Julia Henrietta Johnson with family records indicating on 18 March 1901. At least eight children were of that marriage: Lawrence (1902), Gladys, Siguard, Jeanette, Howard, Ardis, Willis, and Vernal.
Albert Burial, Tombstone Photo, Links to Some Family Members.
Julia Burial, Tombstone Photo, Links to Some Family Members.
Vernal Martin was born on 3 April 1920 in Mayville. He was a fallen veteran of World War II. He was a National Guard Sargeant and enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps on 11 April 1942 at Fort Snelling. He was serving in the 478th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) at the time of his death. The squadron was flying the Martin B-26 Marauder. He died on 28 October 1942 when he was in a non-combat plane crash that killed all seven of the crew. He earned the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, and Army Good Conduct Medal. 1st Newspaper Notice, and 2nd Newspaper Notice.
Louis also used the alias of Mattes Matteason, sometimes Matteson, Matteasen.
From the Norwegians in the Civil War; Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum: "MO 40th Inf Co A. Born 24 Sep 1840 in Tonsberg, Norway. Came to America to New York in 1860. Civil War: Enlisted in 1863. Private. Served at St. Louis, Missouri. Re-enlisted in Jun 1864. He served at New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama; and Spanish Fort. He was in a hospital at Jackson, Mississippi. Mustered out at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, on 14 Aug 1865. Post war: He married, in 1872, Cora Christian (1845-1917). Eight children. Came to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1878 and to Mayville, North Dakota, in 1882. In 1901, he lived in Velva, [McHenry County] North Dakota. Joined the GAR. His occupation was painter. Died 16 Jul 1936."
With the use of alias it is difficult to determine but records indicate he enlisted in 1860 and that he also served in Company I 8th Eng Missouri Military. He started receiving his pension on 21 August 1890.
There are two biographies of him on this web site located at Page 67 in the Mayville Diamond Jubliee 1881-1956 and at page 128 in the A Saga of Two Cities [Mayville-Portland]. Both biographies include pictures.
Except for Albert, the Skarisons left Traill County for McHenry County. There is more extensive information on them located here, including burial, obituaries, and links to some family members.
1853-1934
Jacob
L. Skrivseth was born December 26, 1853 in Nördmore, Norway.He came with his parents to America in 1869. They
first settled in Freeborn County, Minnesota.
Jacob
Skrivseth was educated in Norway and Minnesota. He learned the photography trade in Albert Lea, Minnesota. From there he moved to Fairbault, Minnesota, then to Fargo around 1878 or 1879. Although F. Jay Haynes was the first photographer to operate in the Fargo-Moorhead area, Skrivseth was the first to open a studio in the Fargo city limits on March 6, 1879. The exact location of his studio is unknown, it was located somewhere on Broadway. In the fall of 1879, Skrivseth became a partner
of O. E. Flaten in Moorhead, Minnesota. The two men apparently built a traveling wagon with a built-in
dark room. Flaten stayed in Moorhead
and Skrivseth traveled throughout the Red River Valley shooting town and
farm scenes. Flaten
and Skrivseth also were the official photographers for the St.
Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad (Later to become the Great Northern), according to an article in the
February 1881 Moorhead Weekly Argonaut.
Mr. Skrivseth
was married to Bertha Christenson on June 10, 1880 in Fargo, and they
had three children, Henning, Margaret, and Jay.
In
1881 he dissolved his partnership with Flaten and moved to Buxton, North
Dakota. He then moved to Hillsboro,
North Dakota in 1882 where he opened a studio. While in Hillsboro he rose to prominence and served as the community’s mayor.
Around October 1896, Mr. Skrivseth returned to Fargo and bought the studio of Reis Larson, but after several weeks he sold this studio to C. L. Judd and left town.
By 1898 he opened a
studio in Mayville, North Dakota and then one in Crookston, Minnesota. By 1905 he had moved to Minot, North Dakota
and erected the Skrivseth Block. He
went to Seattle during the year of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
and worked there as a photographer. After
the Exposition he returned to Minot and continued his business. In 1925 he moved to Williston with his wife and son Jay.
He died
February 23, 1934 in Williston, North Dakota.
County Coordinator Note: In October 2004 while I was visiting Moorhead, Minnesota we were walking through the main Moorhead Downtown Shopping Mall. In one hallway was posted a blown up (probably eight by five feet) picture of downtown Moorhead. The sign on the side of a building which stood out the most was: FLATEN & SKRIVSETH PHOTOGRAPHERS It was taken by O.E. Flaten Photos in 1879. The view was from Main and 3rd Street corner looking east. The picture was provided by the Clay County Historical Society. Adapted and Transcribed From North Dakota State University, Institute of Regional Studies and Traill County History, Volume One by Mike Peterson. John was born in Hatton on 17 May 1888 to Erik and Clara Falk Smestad. His siblings included Edwin, Anna, Mansville/Mensel, Selma and Carl. Prior to entering the service his family was renting and working a farm near Garfield.
From the North Dakota Roster of the Men and Women Who Served in the Army or Naval Service: "SMESTAD, JOHN A., Army number 4,034,164: registrant, Traill county; born, Hatton, D. T., May 17, 1888, of (nationality of parents not given); occupation, farmer; inducted at Hillsboro on July 22, 1918; sent to Camp Custer, Michigan; served in 43rd Company, 11th Battalion, 160th Depot Brigade, to Aug. 18, 1918; Battery D, 40th Field Artillery, to death. Died of
pneumonia on Oct. 17, 1918.
John died in the Base Hospital at Camp Custer, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Burial, Tombstone Photos.
Volume II The E. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1917 - Chicago Carl L. Smette, a merchant at Upham, McHenry
county, was born in Traill county.
North Dakota, December 3, 1878, a son of H. C. [Halvor C.] and R. (Finneseth) Smette,
the former
a native of Norway and the latter of Minnesota. It was in 1866 that H. C.
Smette came to
the United States and established his home in Fillmore county, Minnesota,
where he was
employed at farm labor and also taught school for a time. He afterward
engaged in
merchandising for two years and in 1878 he removed to Traill county, North
Dakota,
where he secured a preemption claim, upon which he has since engaged in
general farming,
being numbered among the representative agriculturists of that district.
While spending his youthful days under the parental roof Carl L. Smette
acquired his education in the schools of Traill county and in periods of vacation worked in
the fields, so that he
early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of
the agriculturist.
Thinking to find other pursuits more congenial, he began clerking in stores,
spending four
years in that employment. He next secured a homestead in McHenry county and
spent four
years in developing and improving the property, since which time he has
rented it. In 1905
he was joined by his brother, Louis C. Smette, and they embarked in general
merchandising
at Upham. For eleven years they have now conducted their store and
throughout the entire
period have enjoyed a large and growing trade. They erected a fine two story
double store
building and carry an extensive stock, their interests being conducted under
the name of
the Upham Mercantile Company. The brothers are also proprietors of a general
store at
Newburg and were the owners of a store at Bantry until 1916, when they sold
out at that place. Carl L. Smette is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company
of Upham.
In November, 1904, Mr. Smette was united in marriage to Miss Lina Lund and
they
have become the parents of four children, George, Robert, Lillian and
Adeline. Mr. and Mrs.
Smette hold membership in the Lutheran church and his membership relations
also extend
to the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Sons of Norway. His study of
the
political questions and issues of the day has led to his support of the
republican party.
His chief interest, however, is his business and along the lines of steady
progression he
has developed his commercial activities, which are now important, while the
capable management of his business aflairs has brought to him a well deserved and
constantly growing
measure of success.
Jesse was born 2 January 1846 in Ohio and died in Grand Forks County (County of Residence was Traill) on 17 February 1924.
He enlisted as a Private in Company I, Ohio 195th Infantry Regiment on 18 March 1865 and mustered out on 18 December 1865 at Columbus, Ohio. He started receiving his pension in North Dakota on 6 January 1908.
Jesse secured a 160 acre land grant in Section 26 [Note: the Township map shows he has 320 acres] in Township 147, Range 51..
In the 1880 and 1890 Federal Census he is living in Traill County. In the 1900 Census he is living in Logan and in the 1920 Census he is in Fargo.
He is buried in Hillsboro #1 Cemetery.
Burial, Tombstone.
Helmer was the son of Christian and Mathilda Solee. His siblings included Rudole (Rudolph), Jessie, Tressie, Melford, and Bertho.
From the Roster of the Men and Women Who Served in the Army or Naval Service: "SOLEE, HELMER OSCAR. Army number 3,775,763; registrant, Traill county; born, Buxton, N. Dak., Dec. 31, 1889, of Norwegian parents; occupation, farmer; inducted at Hillsboro on Aug. 8, 1918; sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo.: served in Company K, 9th Infantry Replacement and Training Battalion, Camp MacArthur, Texas, to death. Died of pneumonia on Nov. 9, 1918, at Camp MacArthur, Texas; buried, Buxton, N. Dak."
Burial, Tombstone Photo, Links to Family Members
1900-1995
Katherine Sorlie was born on May 25, 1900 in Buxton, North Dakota. Her father was Oscar James Sorlie and her mother was Blanche (Esterley) Sorlie. After graduating from Buxton High School, she attended the University of North Dakota from where she graduated in 1921. The next years she taught high school English in several towns in North Dakota. In 1927 she married E. B. McLeod in Buxton. The couple lived in Jamestown, North Dakota; Hibbing, Minnesota; Atlantic, Iowa; Cherokee, Oklahoma; Pond Creek, Oklahoma; and Enderlin, North Dakota, before they settled in Lisbon, North Dakota. E. B. McLeod worked as superintendent of schools in Lisbon and Katherine McLeod worked as a substitute teacher. The couple had three children, Donald Bartlett McLeod, Katherine Mary (Kay) McLeod and Alexander Oscar McLeod. Katherine McLeod's father O. J. Sorlie and her brother O. J. Sorlie II both served for a time in the North Dakota Legislature.E. B. McLeod died in 1976. Katherine McLeod died on July 10, 1995.
Adapted and Transcribed From North Dakota State University, Institute of Regional Studies by Mike Peterson.
From the Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota (1900), Page 295:
"JACOB A. SORUM, county sheriff of Traill
county, is extensively interested in farming in that
county, and is one of the substantial and public spirited
citizens of the state. He has acquired his
property and high reputation by his earnest efforts,
and is a man of much energy and a capacity for
well-directed labor. He has resided in Hillsboro
but a short time, but has become well known and
is highly respected by all. His farm consists of
four hundred and sixty acres of choice land, upon
which he has placed modern buildings, and it is a
home of luxury and the farm yields abundantly
and furnishes a comfortable competence.
Our subject was born in Allamakee county,
Iowa, April 13, 1858, and was the eldest in a family
of twelve children, born to Andrew and Bertha
(Torgerson) Sorum, both of whom are living and
make their home in Eldorado township, Trail county,
North Dakota.
Our subject, with his father and sister, went to
Dakota from the home farm in Iowa in the fall of
1879, and both father and son entered claim to
land in Traill county, each in section 30. A log
house was erected on each farm, and the following
spring the remaining members of the family joined
them in the new home. They broke the land and
engaged in wheat raising during the first season,
and hauled their grain to Fargo, forty miles distant,
the nearest railroad point. Mr. Sorum had
but forty dollars on his arrival in Dakota, and the
strictest economy and hard work were necessary to
get a start on the pioneer farm. He put a small
addition to the small log house and this was his
home until 1896, when it was supplanted by a fine
frame residence, and a 40x60-foot barn was
erected in 1890, giving the place an appearance of
thrift and care in its development. Our subject
has added to his real estate as circumstances permitted,
and now owns four hundred and sixty acres
of land, which forms one of the best farms in the
conuty. An artesian well furnishes an abundance
of water, and also gives a supply of natural gas,
which as yet can not be utilized.
Our subject was married, in 1881, to Aliss Rindena
Ekdahl, a native of Norway. Six children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sorum, as follows:
Bertha, now Mrs. A. Dahl; John, now attending
Agricultural College at Fargo; Turine; Julius; Carl and Albert. The family reside in the
county jail building, which is one of the most substantial
and imposing structures of the county,
built of stone to a height of about twelve feet and
the upper part of pressed brick. Mr. Sorum was
elected county sheriff in 1898, and during the summer
of 1899 removed to Hillsboro. He served on
the township board in his townshio three years,
and during two of the time was chairman of that
body. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America and also the United Lutheran church.
Politically he is a Republican, and is a firm supporter
of party principles, but does not seek public
preferment."
In one census listed as Charles and surname has been spelled Spiering, Speiring, and Speering in records.
Carl was born 14 June 1828 in Germany and died in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on 1 December 1903.
He enlisted as a Corporal 8 February 1865 in Company D, Wisconsin 45th Infntry Regiment and mustered out on 17 July 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee. In civil war records he is described as 5 feet, 3 inches, blue eyes and light brown hair. He started receiving his pension in North Dakota on 23 July 1890 and his wife Mathilde started receiving her widow's pension on 11 November 1904 in Wisconsin.
Carl secured a 160 acre land grant in Section 10 [Note: the Township map shows his land in Section 11], Township 145, Range 51.
In the 1880 Federal Census he is living in Traill County. In the 1890 Veterans Federal Census he is in Blanchard. In the 1900 Census he is in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Burial, Tombstone Picture.
Thomas was born in 1845 in Baltimore, Maryland. He enlisted, in Baltimore, in the U. S. Navy on 10 February 1864 for a one year enlistment as a Landsman (Seaman with less than a year experience). He served on the Victoria, Commodore Perry, and St. Lawrence. In 1890 he was living in Grandin, Cass/Traill County. A record of his death and burial could not be found.
Anulf Steenson, one of the prominent and wide-awake early settlers of Eldorado township, Traill county, is now engaged in diversified farming on his pioneer farm and has accumulated a fine property. He is held in the highest esteem by his associates and enjoys the confidence of those among whom he has resided since the early days of the settlement of that region.
Our subject was born in Kummedal, Norway, May 19, 1856, and was the youngest in a family of four children born to Steen and Isabella [Ingeborg] (Anulfdatter)
Knudson. The family came to America in 1860 and settled in Mitchell county, Iowa, where a new farm was opened up, and there our subject received a common-school education and later attended
the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, Iowa, and fitted himself for a teacher. He taught school for about three years, and in the spring of 1878 went to North Dakota and traveled through that
state and Minnesota by team with a companion. During the summer of that year he filed a claim to the southwest quarter of section 6 in Eldorado township, where his buildings now stand [1900]. He became a permanent settler in the spring of 1879 and lived alone in a 10x12 board shanty till 1881. He borrowed money with which to get to Dakota, and is now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he has erected a fine residence 28x30 feet, and in 1888 built a fine barn 40x52 feet. He has an artesian well, and from this gets a good supply of water, making his farm one admirably adapted to diversified farming. He taught the first school opened in Eldorado township, which was in October, 1879, and about twelve pupils completed the enrollment. He received twenty dollars per month and board for his recompense, and the pupils occupied a i4xi6-foot tar-papered shanty.
Our subject was married, in January. 1882 [5 January 1882, Mitchell County, Iowa], to Miss Gunel Pederson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steenson, as follows : Stephen,
Tilda", Thomas and Carl. [Note: Another child, George, died in infancy in 1899.]
Mr. Steenson was township clerk from the organization of the township in 1881 to 1894, anu was also elected county commissioner for the second district in 1890 and served three years. He was elected county treasurer in 1894 and proved an efficient and popular officer, being returned for a second term. He is a Republican in political faith and has attended county and state conventions of his party. In religious belief he is a Lutheran and a member of that denomination.
Gunhild's Burial, Tombstone Photo, Family Photo
Dwight was born 29 December 1849 in New York and died 20 July 1900 in Chico, California.
From Beaver Dam, Wisconsin he enlisted 18 May 1864 as a Private in Company K, Wisconsin 39th Infantry Regiment. He mustered out on 22 September 1864 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In Traill County, North Dakota records he married Elizabeth C. Colby on 19 November 1894. He is in the 1890 Veterans Federal Census living in Blanchard.
He is buried in Chico Cemetery, Chico, Butte County, California.
Burial.
Source in part from: Compendium of History and Biography Containing A History of North Dakota, Chicago, Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1900 [Editor note: The Compendium has his surname spelled wrong].
"GEORGE O. STROMNER, cashier of the Clifford State Bank, of Clifford, Traill County, North Dakota, is a gentleman of excellent business
qualifications and ably conducts the affairs of the institution with which he is connected. He is one of the foreign born citizens who have been won to this country by the wonderful stories of advantages and freedom, and has beccome thoroughly identified with American progress and advancement. He has acquired a comfortable competence by his own efforts, and well merits his high standing as a citizen and business man.
Our subject was born in Norway, October 25, 1859, and has been a resident of the United States since 1866. He received his education in Wisconsin, and in 1881 settled at Mayville, North Dakota, where he engaged in the real estate, loan and collection business. He has considerable valuable property in the town of Mayville, including a comfortable home, and resided there until the spring of 1899, when he removed to Clifford to accept the cashiership of the State Bank of Clifford.
Our subject was married, in 1888, to Mary Julson, of Big Springs, Wisconsin. Mr. Stromner has always taken an active interest in local affairs wherever he has resided, and while a resident of Mayville he served as alderman from 1885-88 and again in 1894. He was city treasurer from 1888-94, and in the fall of 1894 was elected county auditor and served in that capacity four years, and was an especially efficient officer and gained the confidence of the people of Traill county."
There were no children.
Mary's Burial
Some records have his surname as Starkson. He was born 16 June 1832 and died 20 March 1886.
From Norwegians in the Civil War; Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum: "WI 42nd Inf Co C. Residence: Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin. Enlistment credited to Darien, Walworth County. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 31. Unmarried. Blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5’8”. Enlisted for one year on 1 Sep 1864 at Lodi. Mustered 6 Sep 1864 at Madison, Wisconsin. Bounty $100. Private. Post war: Moved from Iowa to Steele County, Dakota Territory, in June 1877. Lived at Traill County, North Dakota. Dead (before 1907). Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 176-4; red book vol 47) (1885 Census, Dakota Territory) (Ulvestad p330)."
His service records indicates he enlisted 9 January 1864 and reported on 1 September 1864 and mustered out on 20 June 1865 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A minor, Caroline M. Benerd started receiving his pension on 20 August 1890 in Minnesota [Note: Incorrectly recorded as a Minor. Caroline M. is John's widow who married Mathias P. Benrud 28 October 1887 in Traill County].
John is buried at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Hatton. Burial, Tombstone Picture.
Volume II The E. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1917 - Chicago Among the prominent citizens of Hillsboro, North
Dakota, is Peter G. Swenson. who
has been engaged in the practice of law there since 1893 and served as
state's attorney
of Traill county for four years. His birth occurred at Trondhjem, Norway, on
the 23d of
December, 1866, but he was brought to this country by his parents in
boyhood and received his education in the Decorah Institute at Decorah, Iowa, and in the law
departmcnt of the
University of Minnesota, from which he was graduated with his professional
degree in 1892.
The following year Mr. Swenson located for the practice of his profession
in Hillsboro,
North Dakota, where he has since remained and during the intervening period
of twenty-
three years has built up a large and representative clientage. He studies
his cases carefully,
taking into account every point that might possibly have a bearing upon the
outcome of
the trial. In his arguments before the court he is lucid and convincing,
and the records
show that he has won a large portion of the cases in which he has appeared
as counsel. In
1894 he was elected to the office of states attorney of Traill county and
filled that position
for four years, making a highly creditable record. He is a director of the
Hillsboro National
Bank.
In 1895 Mr. Swenson was united in marriage to Miss Sofie Olson, and they
have four
children, a son and three daughters. He takes the interest of a good citizen
in political
affairs, but has held no important office outside of the strict path of his
profession,
preferring to concentrate his energies upon the practice of law. He has,
however, served
as a member of the board of education. He not only occupies a high position
at the bar of
Traill county but is also popular personally. Fraternally Mr. Swenson
belongs to Hillsboro Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M; Fargo Consistory; and El Zagal Temple
of the Mystic
Shrine. He is also a member of Hillsboro Lodge, No. 30, K. P.
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![he has 320 acres]](mapstownshipswold.jpg){kind=link}
![his land in Section 11]](mapstownshipsbloomfield.jpg){kind=link}