J austin regan, one of the pioneer business men of Fessenden, Wells County, is engaged in handling implements and machinery, and is snidely known as a man of ability, and true citizenship

Our subject is the father of five children, three by his first marriage and two by his second marriage. The elder children bear the following names: Ernest M. C., employed with the Deering Company at Hope; Leona M., now Mrs. J. T. Masters, of Steele County ; and Myrtie, now Mrs. George Swingle, of Chicago. Two younger children bear the names of Elsie and Gcorgie. Mrs. Luce bore the maiden name of Minnie 3,. Ellsbury. Mr. Luce is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternity, and has taken the thirty-second degree in the last named order. He is a Democrat in political faith and stands stanchly for party principles.
HERMAN G. SHIRLEY, register of deeds of Ransom County, is one of the most popular and efficient public officers of the county. He is a young man of much business capacity, and is interested in an extensive drug business in Enderlin, Ransom County, and is one of the substantial men of that region. He has gained his possessions and good name through his push and energy, having taken up his residence in Dakota without means and but little business experience. He makes his home in Lisbon, and is well known throughout the county.

Our subject was born in Goodhue County, Alinnesota, January 29, 1866, and was the third in a family of six children born to Nels H. and Astrid (Olson) Shirley, both of whom now live in Minnesota. His parents were of Norwegian birth and came to America when young, and were married in this country and located on a farm in Wisconsin, from whence they removed to Minnesota.

After attaining his majority our subject went to Dakota and applied himself for two years to farm labor, after which he took a commercial course at Red \ Ving Business College. He then purchased wheat in Sheldon and other towns, and in 1891 entered a drug store at Sheldon. With W. P. Hoff, he invested in a drug store at Enderlin, in 1898. This store is known as one of the best stocked and most handsomely furnished establishments of its kind in the state.

Mr. Shirley was elected register of deeds of Ransom County in 1894. and had the distinction of being the first candidate chosen from the east end of the county. His popularity is best evidenced by the fact that he is now serving his third term in the sane capacity. He is a prominent member of the Masonic lodge. and has taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter, Knight Templar, thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, Mystic Shrine, and is at present master of the Lodge of Perfection. He also holds membership in the Modern \Voodruen of America and Ancient Order of United \ Vorkmen. Politically he is a Republican.

MAXIME BELLEMARE, M. D. This gentleman is well known as a physician of practical skill and theoretical knowledge, and he occupies a prominent position among the people. He has followed farming and the practice of his profession in Cass County for many years, and makes his home in sections 27, hi Stanley Township.

Our subject was born in St, Mau rice County, Quebec, January 24, 1847, and was reared in his native place and attended the Nicolet College. When eighteen years of age he began the study of medicine, attending the University of Victoria, from which institution he graduated in 1871. He followed his profession in Canada until the spring of 1882, when he went to North Dakota and located in Stanley Township, Cass County, and has since engaged in farming, and also practiced medicine. He has built up a lucrative practice and is widely known. His farm consists of two hundred and forty acres of land, on which he has completed good improvements, and has gathered about Inns the comforts of a model country home.

Our subject was married in Canada to Miss Albertine Gerin Lajoie, a native of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Bellernare are the parents or ten children, as follows: Emma, Corrine, Anna, Marie, Caroline, Joseph, Aurora, Francis, Aurelie and Maxim. Dr. Bellemare has been active in public affairs since taking up his residence in North Dakota, and has held the office of township assessor four years, and clerk of the school district, and has been a member of the board of supervisors of Stanley Township. As a man and citizen he is highly respected and as a physician he has built up an extensive practice.
JOHN H. VAN METER, the leading, contractor and builder of Dickey County, resides on his homestead farm in Van !Meter Township. He is the possessor of one half-section of land in section 8, township t29, range 62, but his contracts take his attention so entirely that he rents his land annually and does not attempt farming. He is one of the early settlers and well known as a business:Ilan of much ability and a citizen of true worth in his community.

Our subject was born in Newark, Kendall County, Illinois, January 7, t838. His father, Miles H. Van Meter, was born in Grayson County, Kentucky, March 6, 181o, and died in Hudson, Wisconsin, May 31, 1898. He was a pilot on the Ohio river when a young man, and went to Illinois in 1836, where he lived on a farm for some tine, and in later years he followed the joiner's trade in Wisconsin. He was captain in the Illinois militia, and

JOHN H. VAN METER. MRS. JOHN H. VAN METER.

had command of a company that was sent to Ottawa, Illinois, to quell the riot there during the construction of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Litsey, and was a native of Grayson, Kentucky. She died in Hudson, Wisconsin, in the late 'seventies, and was the mother of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, our subject being the fifth child. Of the other children two daughters and one son are at the old home in Hudson ; two of the elder sons, D. K. and M. L., are living in Illinois. and are contractors and builders; one S011, E. W., resides at Aberdeen, South Dakota; Henry was killed at the battle of Chickamauga; and Abe C. died in the early part of 1899. He was the founder, the editor and proprietor of the

"St. Croix (Wisconsin) Republican." -

Our subject at the age of fourteen years, went to Hudson, Wisconsin, with his parents, where he at once secured work on the river, and at nineteen years of age was a first-class pilot, plying between St. Paul and St. Louis. He continued to work on the river during the summers and in the lumber woods during, the winters until 1861, when, in May of that year, he answered his country's cab and enlisted in the City Guards, of Hudson, Wisconsin, later known as Company G, Fourth Wisconsin Infantry, and in 1863 the regiment was merged into the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry. In 1861 he was in Maryland and Newport News, and left the lower James the day before the Merrimac came out. They were then ordered to Ship Island, Gulf of Mexico, and from thence to the Mississippi river, and were there during the bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, under Farragut. Our subject was a member of one of the four companies sent to the rear of Fort Phillips to cot off the retreat of the garrison at that place, and after capturing the garrison were put into gunboat No. 3 and sent to New Orleans, and our subject landed in that city April 29, among the first, and on the night of May 8, 1862, he was pin into the pilot house of a Mississippi river steamer to pilot an expedition to Vicksburg, a distance of over four hundred miles, over an up-familiar course, rendering the task a difficult one. He remained on the river until July, and in the latter part of that month left the canal which he was helping to construct opposite Vicksburg. He was in the hospital at Baton Rouge for a few days, and then participated in the battle of that place, after which they evacuated the city and fell back to New Orleans, and his company was then detached from the regiment and put into the artillery, where he served until the spring of t863. He was with General Banks on his western Louisiana expedition to Red river, crossing the Mississippi at Bayou Sara, and then went to the rear of Port Hudson to besiege it, and was in the assault May 28, 1863. They were sent to Clinton, Louisiana, June 3, to break up the rebel camp, after which hotly contested engagement they went into the rifle pits at Port Hudson, and there remained until June t4, when the grand assault occurred, when his regitnnt lost one hundred and sixty men in fifteen minutes'. They were compelled to retreat, and July 9 renewed the attack, when the enemy surrendered they then went to Baton Rouge and spent the fall and winter of t863-64 scouting as cavalry, and in February, 1864, about four hundred men re-enlisted after the expiration of their term of service, and were recruited as a full cavalry regiment. Our subject visited his home on a thirty-days' furlough at this time, and during the summer of 1864, and until March, 1865. they were at Highland Stockade and at Baton Rouge, and from the latter place went to New Orleans, and were at the capture of Ports Spanish, Blakesley and Mobile, and were then put in the cavalry service under General Greerson, when they started to join Sherman, who was on his march to the sea. They crossed Alabama and the south end of Florida, and after crossing the Chattahoochee river at Einfala, they met some of General Johnston's men, who informed them that he had surrendered to General Sherman, and they then went into camp, and after receiving orders returned to Montgomery, Alabama, where they were divided, and that portion of the brigade to which his regiment belonged sent to Columbus, Mississippi, through the Yazoo country to Vicksburg, and thence to Shreveport, Louisiana, by transport. where they were joined by the Third Michigan and Twelfth New York, and were ordered to San Antonio, Texas, leaving Shreveport July 9. 1865. After their arrival they made two expeditions into the mountains against the Indians, after which the brigade was divided ; the regiment to which our subject belonged, the Fourth Wisconsin, semi across the lower plains of western Texas, striking^- the Rio Grande at Fort 'McIntosh. They were the only cavalry regiment stationed on the river, and their work covered a river frontage of two hundred and fifty miles. Our subject assisted in taking prisoners to Brownsville, and he witnessed much of the warfare between General:Maximilian and General Corteno at Matamoras, Mexico. He served his country five years, one month and a half, as a brave and loyal soldier, and was mustered out at Brownsville, Texas, May 19, t866, and June 4 left for his home, where he arrived June 22.

During the summer after his return from the war, Mr. Van Meter resumed his profession as pilot On the river, and in the spring of 186; began to learn the builder's art under Alexander Gamble, of Hudson, Wisconsin. for whom he worked five years. He has followed the work continuously since, and has constructed many mills and elevators in North Dakota. He resides on his farm, about two miles from the city of Ellendale, and rents his land. He came to Dickey County, North Dakota, April 15, 1882, and entered claim to his land, and returned to Wisconsin for a full set of tools with which to commence his work, and May 12, 1882, he took up the quarter-section where he now resides.

Our subject was married in Hudson, Wisconsin, May 29, 1867, to Mary Kennedy, a native of Ireland. Mrs. Van Meter died in Dickey County, North Dakota, .April 26, t886, leaving two children, as follows: Warren W., now a conductor on the Mexican Central Railroad, out of the City of Mexico; and Kate Mabel, now Mrs. P. J. Cruikshanks, of Bozeman, Montana. Mr. Van Meter married Mrs. May J. Sweezey Chapman, in Ellen-dale, North Dakota, October 20, t887. Mrs. Van Meter is a native of New York City, and was born July 5, 1836. Her father was a captain in the American merchant marine service, and died in Jackson, Michigan, where also her mother, who bore the maiden name of Marian Hoar, passed away. Mrs. Van Meter is the mother of three children by her marriage to Mr. Chapman, as follows: William L., a farmer of Kent County, Michigan; Frank D., a passenger conductor on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad; and Rose L., who died aged eight years. The family arc attendants of the Baptist church, of which denomination Mrs. Van Meter is a member. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Van Meter appear on another page. Our subject is commander of John A. Spellman Post, No. t3. G. A. It., Department of North Dakota, and is a prominent citizens. He has held numerous township offices and labors for the better interests of his community. In political sentiment he is a Republican.
HANS J. KINDE. Every community has its public-spirited and progressive members, and a prominent place among those of Richland County is accorded Mr. Kinde. He is an early settler of that region and has become thoroughly identified man of good education and practical knowledge of with its development and advancement. A gentle-Ins calling, he has aided in transformingthat country into a thriving agricultural district, and is the pro-proprietor of as tine a farm as is found in Eagle Township, wherein he makes his home on sections 13.

Our subject was born in Norway. November 24, 1858. He came to America with his parents in 1866, and the family settled in Houston County, Minnesota, where our subject remained until 1873, and then went to Richland County. North Dakota. and settled in. Eagle Township, where he has since been a resident. He was educated in the common school and at Curtis's Business College, at Minneapolis.:Minnesota. He has engaged in farming and stock raising during his entire career. and has been remarkably successful. He owns six hundred acres of land. and on his home farm has added improvements of a substantial nature, and completed every arrangement for the comforts of rural life.

Mr. Kinde was married, in Richland County, North Dakota. November 13, 1883, to Miss Nikoline Christianson, a native of Norway. Three children have blessed the union, and are named as follows: Oscar, Clara and John. Mr. Kinde takes an active part in local affairs, and has held the office of township clerk and school treasurer, and has been. a member of the board of supervisors. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Politically he is a Republican, and is strong in his convictions.
J. D. HENNING, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Fargo, North Dakota, was born January 9, 185o, near the city of Pittsburg, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Dodds) Henning, who were of Scotch-Irish descent, spent their entire lives in Pennsylvania, the father following the occupation of farming.

The Doctor attended the academy at Wilkins-bury, Pennsylvania, and after leaving that institution he 'commenced the study of medicine. In .March, 1876, he entered the Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated two years later. During the following three years he engaged in practice at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and from there removed to Cedarville, Ohio, where he remained for two years. In 1883 he came to North Dakota. and after eight years spent in practice at Sheldon became a resident of Fargo, where he has since made his home. He is now at the head of a large and growing general practice, and as county physician has charge of the Cass County hospital. He has met with eminent success in his chosen calling, and is justly ranked among the ablest physicians and surgeons of this section of the state.

In 1877 Dr. Henning Was united in marriage with Miss Mary Sterrett, also a native of the Keystone state, and they are the parents of two children, Carl S. and Helen. Politically the Doctor is an ardent Republican and takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. Ile is a member of the State Medical Society, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Foresters. He is examining surgeon of all these secret organizations and others. and is quite a popular and prominent citizen of Fargo.
CHRISTIAN 0. BRINK, the popular and efficient postmaster at Horace, Cass County, owns and operates a fine farm in Stanley Township, and resides on section 18. His loran is seed improved, and he is well known as an agriculturist who is doing an extensive business. His career affords a striking example of what can be accomplished by persistent efforts and honest industry. He is a foreign-born citizen who came to America when a young man and had no means on which to depend aside from those traits of character inherited from thrifty and industrious ancestors. He is now in possession of a fine estate and enjoys a comfortable competence and is highly respected by his fellowmen.

One subject was born in Norway, Judy 10. 1845, and lived in Christiana till 1867, when he emigrated to America and located in Houston County, Minnesota, where he worked at farm labor five years, and in the summer of 1872 went to Cass County, North Dakota, where he entered claim to eighty acres of land in Stanley Township, which constitutes part of his present farm. The buildings upon his farm are modern structures of neat design and finish, and furnish commodious accommodations for the family, stock and products, and modern methods are used in the work of carrying on the place.

Our subject was married in Norway, June 18, 1867, to Miss Carrie Hanson, a native of Norway. Four children have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Brink, as follows: Caroline, Ole, John and Mary. Mr. Brink was appointed postmaster at Horace, North Dakota, in January, 1898, by Postmaster-General Gary. He has served as chairman of the board of supervisors for the past twelve years, and takes an active and leading part in all matters pertaining to the local government, and is known as public-spirited citizen. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
GEORGE M. SMITH. This gentleman may be truly classed as one of the leading farmers of township 143, range 65. He was one of the first settlers of Stotsman County, and in prosecuting his farm work has ever been industrious, progressive in his ideas and ready to take advantage of every turn of the tide to improve his circumstances.

Mr. Smith was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 15, 1845. His father, John M. Smith, was a native of Germany and came to America in 1843, and followed farming throughout his career. He was a soldier in the German army. The mother of our subject, Adaline Smith, was born in Germany, and was left all orphan at an early age.

Our subject was the second in a family of five children and was reared on a farm and received very little country schooling, it being necessary for him to assist in the support of the family. He was early put to work, and at the age of twenty years learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in southern Wisconsin fourteen years. He later lived in Rio, Wisconsin, and in 1879 went to Stutsman County, North Dakota, and entered claim to land in section 26, township 141, range 64, upon which he erected a 14x2o-feet shanty and a board barn. He improved the farm and worked at his trade in Jamestown, and in 1882 moved to section 28. township 143, range 6$. He erected buildings on the place and otherwise improved the farm and also worked at his trade more or less for some thne after locating there. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land and cultivates about two hundred and forty acres, aside from land which he ^-leases, controlling in all about five to six hundred acres annually. He engages in grans raising, and is interested to some extent in the cattle raising industry, and keeps about sixteen to eighteen head. His farm is admirably adapted to stock raising, and has about two and a half acres of fine forest trees. He has erected a complete set of substantial farm buildings, and is supplied with all modern and necessary machinery and other conveniences for lessening the labor incident to farm life. His land yielded thirty bushels of wheat per acre in 1891, and Ise has made a success of grain raising.

Our subject was married, in 1871, to Miss Helen Van Kleek, who was born in Wisconsin state and reared in Dane County, Wisconsin. Mrs. Smith Taught school in Wisconsin five or six years, and is a lady of rare attainments. The Van Kleek family have been in America many generations, and her father, James Van Kleek, was formerly a farmer in New York and later settled in Dane County, Wisconsin, Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as follows: Georgiana, Carl Hiram, Ernest Walter, Mintie Belle and Will James. The four older children were born in Wisconsin and the last named in North Dakota. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is a man of true worth and is highly esteemed throughout his township. He takes an active part in local affairs and has held numerous school offices. Politically he is a Republican and has been identified with that party since 1862, and stands firmly for the principles of the same.

Three of the oldest children have made a success of teaching, and have obtained a good education in the new country, Georgiana holding a first-grade certificate for a number of years. Carl H. is a natural machinist, a great reader and close reasoner. Mimic B. has taught continually for over six years without scarcely any vacation exceeding a couple of weeks between terms. Ernest W. is engaged its the harness trade for the past four years. Will is on the farm and takes great pride in fine horses and turning over a good cleats furrow.
GEORGE I. FOSTER, the first clerk of the court of Cass County, North Dakota, and an honored pioneer of this state, who is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Fargo, was born in Hillsdale, Columbia County, Ness York, December 29, 1837, a son of Albert and Clarissa M. (Maxson) Foster, natives of Connecticut. Both died in New York. By occupation the father was a farmer.

Our subject was reared in the Empire state, and after attending its common schools for sonse time became a student in Holster Academy. On leaving there in August, 1861, he joined the boys in blue to assist in crushing the rebellion, enlisting in Company D, Seventy-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run, and the engagements at Gainesville, South Mountain and Antietam, but was never wounded. On account of disability, however. he was mustered out in December, 1862, as second lieutenant of his company.

Mr. Foster remained in New York until 1864, when he came to Yankton, South Dakota, and took up land. For sonic time he was employed in the office of the surveyor-general at that place and also served as deputy United States marshal and was clerk of the territorial legislature from 1864 until 1874. He continued his residence in Yankton until 1871, when he went to Pembina, Pembina County, North Dakota, as clerk of the third district court, having been appointed to that office at Yankton in 1869. Subsequently Ile returned to New York, but in February, 1872, again Caine to this state, and this time took up Isis residence in Fargo, where he has since continued to make his home. He served as clerk of the court until 1883. thirteen years in all, and has taken a very prominent and active part in the development and uffimilding of Cass County. He is'as appointed clerk of the supreme court ill 1870 and served in that capacity for five years, and has also filled several city offices of honor and trust. In 1876 he became interested in the insurance business and since his retirement front office tins given his entire attentions to that and the real estate business, meeting with good success in both branches.

In Illinois, Mr. Foster was married, in 1873, to Miss Phila. Smith, a native of Ohio, and to them have been born two children. The older, Charles S., is now second lieuenant in the Ninth United States Infantry, and is with the army in the Philippine Islands, having participated in all of the important battles of the Spanish-American war. Clara is the only daughter. Mr. Foster is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and as a member of the county central committee has done nntch to advance its interests. Since 1863 he has been a Mason and is also an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is widely known and highly respected, and on the roll of North Dakota's honored pioneers his name should be among the foremost.