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

WILLIAM 0. BAIRD, senior member of the firm of Baird & Dresser, of New Rockford, dealers in real estate, loans and collections, is one of the wide-awake business men of Eddy County, and has been closely identified with the financial interests of that region for the past tell years. He owns extensive farm lands in that vicinity and conducts general farming and stock raising with eminent success.

Our subject was born in Bloomington. Illinois. December 3, 1861, and is a son of William F. and Alma M. (Offutt) Baird, both of whom were Americans by birth, and the mother was a native of Kentucky. Our subject was the eldest of the living children, and was raised on a funk His father was an extensive farmer and also conducted the real estate business. and his son was given the advantage of a liberal education. he attended the common schools and later spent two years at Helmuth College, in London, Ontario, and in 1879 began work with the Bloomington Nursery Company, and was employed in their offices:bout three years.

He began farming in Illinois in and engaged
in that pursuit five years, and in the spring of 1883 came to North Dakota. After two months spent at Devil's Lake he locates! at New Rockford and established a real estate and loan office, and also followed farming. William C. Dresser became his partner in January, 1896, and the firm is known as Baird & Dresser. The business has prospered, and they now conduct a general real-estate, collection and loan business. The firm owns and operates a large farm near the town, and Mr. Baird also owns seventeen hundred and sixty acres of land, divided into two farms, eleven hundred and twenty acres being two and a half miles front New Rockford, and the other six hundred and forty acres two miles further from the town. He engages in grain, cattle and horse raising, and general farming.

Our subject was married, in 1882, to Miss Mary _Johnston, who was born and raised in Danvers, Illinois. Mrs. Baird's father, Levi Johnson, was a traveling salesman. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baird: Charles E., born in Illinois; and William J., born in Dakota. Mr. Baird is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Masonic fraternity, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America and Yeomen. He is an earliest worker for the welfare of his community, and was elected clerk of courts in 1889 and served one terns. He is an independent voter ill political matters, and is a man who keeps abreast of the times and lends his influence for the best local -government.

THE UNION NATIONAL BANK, of Grand Forks, was organized during the summer of 1890, with Luthur B. Richardson, president; David H. Beecher, vice-president; and Sidney Clarke, cashier. Mr. Richardson continued as its president until 1894, when he removed from the state, and Mr. Beecher succeeded to that position, and Charles F. Sims became vice-president, Sidney Clarke remaining as cashier. The capital stock in 1890 was $5o,000, and in 1892 was increased to $loo,000. The institution does a general banking business in foreign and domestic exchange, and is one of the foremost financial institutions of the state.
DAVID H. BEECH ER, president of the Union National Bank, was born in Rushford, New York, March 15, 1852, and is a son of Norman and Lois (George) Beecher. both of whom were natives of New York. His father was a farmer and followed that calling in Allegany County, New York, where he died, in Tioga County, in 1878. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph A. Beecher, was a native of Connecticut, and a farmer and teacher by occupation. He was a man of good education and was superintendent of schools in his county. He removed from Connecticut to New York and (lied in Tioga County in 1868. Our subject's great-grandfather, Amos Beecher, was a clock-maker by trade, and made the first clock used in Yale College. Our subject has three brothers who live in Massachusetts and New York. Mr. Beecher was reared and his early education was received in Rush ford, New York, and at the age of eighteen removed to Binghamton, New York, where his educations was completed. In 1873, in company with his brother, H. H. Beecher, he purchased a wholesale supply house and conducted business until 1883, when inc disposed of his interest to his brother and came to Lrookston, Minnesota. He there engaged in the wholesale and retail drug business for four years, and in 1884 went to Park River, North Dakota, and in company with Sidney Clarke organized the Park River Bank, with a capital stock of $20,000. The following year that institution merged into the First National Bank of Park River, witls a capital stock of $so,000. The bank has prospered, now having a surplus equal to its capital, and during the panic of 1893-94 stood unshaken. The officers of the bank also own the bank at Milton, North Dakota, established in 1889 as the State Bank of Milton, also the Forest River State Bank, of Forest River, North Dakota, and Mr. Beecher is president of all of the banks. He is also treasurer of the Northwestern Fire & Marine Insurance Company, organized in 1899, with a capital stock of $100,000. He also handles a large amount of eastern capital and does a general investment business.

Mr. Beecher was married in 1878 to Effie Gifford, a native of New York. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beecher, Ethel Lois, who died at about one year of age. Mr. Beecher is a man of excellent business ability, having met with eminent success in all of the business enterprises in which he has embarked. He is a man of strict integrity, and has made many friends by his push and energy. In politics he is a Republican. A portrait of Mr. Beecher will be found on another page.

WARREN E. HICKS, superintendent of schools of Dickey County, is a young man who has rapidly risen in educational work to a position of prominence. He is an efficient officer, and one with whoin all who come in contact are influenced for the up-building of the educational system of the state. He has devoted his life to the work, and his personality is pleasing, which together with the capacity and excellent training entitle him to Isis present positions. He was one of the promoters of the State Industrial Training School at Ellendale, and was appointed president of the institution, which office he is ably fining.

Our subject was born on a farm near River Junction, Jackson County, Michigan, October 8, 1867, and was the third in a family of four children, two sons and two clangliters, born to W. B. and Charlotte H. (Shaw) Hicks. The father was born in Ness' York in 1834, and was a farmer by occupation until the past year, when he engaged in the lams machinery business at Frederick, South Dakota. The mother of our subject was a native of New Hampshire.

'When but a child Mr. Hicks accompanied his parents to Cass County, AIissouri, where he attended school, and when ten years of age returned to Michigan with Isis parents and settled near .Mason, in Ingham County. At the age of seventeen years he began teaching in that county and taught two years, and then entered the Ypsilanti State Normal, front ^-which school inc graduated in the class of '80. He then went to Frederick, South Dakota, where he was appointed principal of the village school, and acted in that capacity six years, five years of which time Ise also edited and published the "Frederick Free Press." He became principal of the Ellendale, North Dakota, high school in 1892, and filled that positions until 1890, when Inc was appointed to serve an unexpired terns as county superintendent of schools, and in the fall of 1898 was elected to that office on the Republican ticket.

Our subject was married, at Frederick, South Dakota, in 1892, to Miss Jennie Schraudenbach. Mrs. Hicks was born in Wisconsin, in 1876, and is a daughter of Edward and Advina Schrauderbach. Her father seas formerly manager of the Frederick, South Dakota, ➢filling Company, and is now a flour broker, exporting that commodity to all parts of the world. Air. and Mrs. Hicks are the parents of two children, as follows: Clarence and Marian. Mr. Hicks is a tffirty-second-degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the auxiliaries of these orders. Politically he is a Republican and is a man of broad mind and keeps pace with matters of a public nature.

GUSTAV J. LOUBERGET. The farming community of Stanley Township. Cass County, has an able representative in the persons of Mr. Louberget. He is vet in the prime of vigorous manhood and has resided in North Dakota from his boyhood days, and has been identified intimately with its growth and development and is proprietor of an excellent fares, his home being located on section 3. He is a Marl of strict integrity and careful and methodical habits, and carries these characteristics into every detail of his life. He has made many friends by his push and energy and active public spirit.

Our subject was born in Norway, January 27. 1867, and came to America with his parents when he was but a few months old. The family settled in Rice County, Minnesota. and lived there till the spring of 187o, When they removed to Cass County, North Dakota, and settled in Barnes Township, where the parents have since resided. Our subject was reared to manhood in Cass County, and educated in the public schools, and assisted on the farm where he remained till the spring of r891, when Ise began farming for himself in Barnes Township, and lived there till the fall of 1897, and then settled on section 3, in Stanley Township, where he has since resided. He is now the owner of four hundred and fifty-nine acres of land, on which are good improvements, and he is enjoying the comforts of a pleasant country home. He has spent his entire career in the pursuit of agriculture, and is meeting with eminent success. He and his brother, Ole Louberget, own the farm in partnership, and are classed atnong the substantial farmers of Stanley Township.

Our subject was married in Barnes Township, Cass County, April t7, 189r, to Matilda Hanson, who was born in Norway, August 23, 5875. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Louberget: Carl, Maria, Jennie, Henry and Mildred. One daughter died in infancy. Mr. Louberget possesses a good capacity for well-directed labor, and is intelligent and progressive.. He keeps pace with the times in public affairs, and stands for right and justice.
CAPTAIN JOHN L. JOHNSON, county judge of Traill County, is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of that part of the state. He was born in Hademarken, Norway, February t2, 1839.

The parents of our subject, Rev. Larse and Agnetta (Johannson of the farm Skatum) Johnson, were natives of Norway, and the father came to America when our subject was eight years of age, and accepted the pastorate of Honges Synod church in Columbia County, Wisconsin. Our subject was the eldest in a family of four children, and is the only survivor of the family, and he grew to manhood in Wisconsin, and followed farm work there, and then entered Beloit College, and when about twenty years of age began handling insurance and farm machinery. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with the rank of second lieutenant. Union City, Tennessee, seas the first engagement, and then followed Island No. so, after which he was forced to resign his commission on account of sickness, and return home, where he partially regained his health and at the organization of Company H, Twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry. he was elected captain by popular ballot and started again for the south, but was compelled to resign again on account of his health. After the war he was commissioned captain of the East Claire State Militia. He went to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1865, where he engaged in the machine business and conducted one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the state. He returned to Eau Claire in 187o, and served there as justice of the peace, and in the spring of 1885 went to Hillsboro, North Dakota, and followed his trade, lathing,, and also served as deputy clerk of courts. He was elected to his present office as county judge of Traill County, in 1898, and is ably filling the position.

Our subject was married, in 1862, to Miss Jane Jesme, of Norway. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, named as follows:Matthias I.,deceased,and Anetta J.,deceased. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Lutheran Synod church, and also holds membership in the Modern \Voodmen of America and Grand Army of the Republic. He was assistant sergeant-at-arms at the fifth session of the state legislature, and has also served as justice of the peace and one term as alderman of Hillsboro. Politically, he is a Republican, and is a delegate to many county conventions of his party. He is keenly awake to the interests of his con^-Inutility, and has probably taken a more active part in public affairs than any other citizen of that locality and is deservedly popular with the people.
REV. ANDERS WALD, pastor of Richland Norwegian Lutheran church, Immanuel church at Abercrombie, and the Lutheran church at Christine, is a gentleman of nitwit culture, and earnest, practical nature, and is very popular with his people. He has accomplished much since taking up his present work in that vicinity, and is deserving of much praise. He resides in Eagle Township, Richland County, and is one of the honored citizens of his community.

Our subject was born in Norway, July 28, 1851. He was educated in his native land and resided there until about twenty-nine years of age. He graduated from the seminary at Hamar, Norway, and later studied different langnages under private tutors, at the sane time attending the high school at Fredrikstad. He came to America in September, 1880, and was engaged in religious work in Rock comity. Wisconsin, two years, and then entered the Theological Seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota. where he remained one year, and was also a teacher in the college. He studied theology in the Theological Seminary at Madison, kVisconsin, and in the fall of 1884 was ordained to the ministry at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he remained six and a half years. He teas called to his present pastorate in 1891.

Mr. Wald was married in Norway, October 28, 1878, to bliss Constance Amanda Anderson, who was also a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Wald are the parents of the following, children: Aasta; Harold, Thore, Einar, Sigurd, Thorfin F. and Borghild. One other child, a doughtier, died when about two years of age.

Our subject is president of the Fargo district of the United Norwegian Lutheran church. The district comprises sixteen pastorates.

EDWARD BLACK \VELL, manager of the Gull River Lumber Company, at Cooperstown, North Dakota, is a man of much business ability. He was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin„thgust 25, 1863.

Our subject's father, Charles Blackwell, was a native of New York, and was one of the pioneers of southern Wisconsin. He was a soldier in the Civil

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND

BIOGRAPHY.

277

war, and died in a hospital at Memphis, Tennessee. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Jane Moon.

Edward Blackwell was the voung,est of four children, two sons and two daughters, and he was reared and educated in his native city, and at the age of sixteen years went to Topeka, Kansas, where he accepted a position with the Kansas Lumber Company, remaining in their employ three years. He then returned to Wisconsin for a short time, and then went to Fergus Falls. Minnesota, where he was employed with the John McCullough Lumber Company about one year, and then went to Sanborn, North Dakota, and from thence to LaMoure. He soon afterward traveled as lumber salesman through Nebraska, and in the spring of 1885 located at Cooperstown, accepting the position of manager for the Gull River Lumber Company, with which firm he has been connected continuously since. He has successfully conducted the business in that city, and is known as a man of good business principles.

Our subject was married in St. Clair County, Michigan, in 1887, to Miss Mary Davis, a daughter of William H. Davis, a farmer of that county. Two children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell, named Lillian and Ruth. Mr. Blackwell is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and Ancient Order of United Workmen. In political sentiment he is a Republican.

MARTIN E. JOHNSON, one of the well-to-do and leading citizens of Stanley Township, Cass County, is engaged in the pursuit of agriculture in section 31. His life affords a striking example of what can be accomplished by persistent efforts and honest industry. He is a young, man and has spent the greater part of his career in North Dakota, and since attaining his majority has gained many friends by his push and energy.

Our subject was born in Norway, February 22, 1860, and in the summer of 1867 he came to America with his parents. and a home was made in Houston County, Minnesota. After four years spent there the family removed to Cass County, North Dakota, and settled in Norman Township. Here they lived a short time, and then censored to Stanley Township, where our subject grew to manhood and where he has since lived. He received a good education and has followed farming throughout his career. He has met with success, and is now the fortunate possessor of three hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he conducts general fanning. His place is well improved and hears evidence of careful management and painstaking care in its operation.

Our subject was married in Norman Township, Cass County, in 1885, to Miss Jennie R. Anderson, who was born in Norway. December 6, 1858. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson as follows: Lena K., Alfred, Mabel J., Ella R., Cora and Hilda M. In all matters tending to promote the general welfare and to develop the financial and social interests of his community, Mr. Johnson has taken a hearty interest and has aided in the upbuilding and strengthening of good local government, and he is highly: respected as a man and citizen. He has served his township as treasurer, and is also prominent in school affairs.

OLE J. HESTDALEN is a striking example of a self-made man. He has acquired wealth single-handed, and had nothing on which to depend upon for a start aside from his own efforts, but by constant and systematic labor has become one of the substantial men of Richland County, North Dakota. He is the owner of a fine estate in Eagle Township, comprising one thousand two hundred acres of well-improved land. and his home farm is in section 24.

Mr. Hestdalen was born in Norway, May 13, 1846. He was reared on a farm and remained in his native county until 1870. He left for America in April of that year, and landed at Quebec in May, and from thence went to Wisconsin. For the greater part of eight years he was employed at farm labor and in the pineries, and in May, 1878, went to Richland County, North Dakota, and entered a claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 24 of Eagle Township where he still resides. He has improved his property with a complete set of farm buildings, and uses modern machinery and methods in his farm work, and is supplied with all the adjuncts of a model country home.

Our subject was marriedin Trenmeleau County, Wisconsin, to Miss Martha Lawson, a native of Norway. Mrs. Hestdalen died in Eagle Township, September 12, 1897. She was the mother of eight children, three of whom died in infancy. The surviving children are named as follows: Lars, Eda, Guast, George and Helen. Mr. Hestdalen married Eda Olson Vik, in Eagle Township, in July, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Hestdalen are the parents of one child, who bears the name of Rudolph. Mr. Hestdalen takes an active part in local affairs and has been a member of the board of supervisors and school director.
GILBERT LA DU, register of deeds of Ransom County, is one of the early settlers of North Dakota. He has been interested in various business enterprises and is a gentleman of marked business ability and well qualified for the important commission which he is at present filling. He is well known as a worthy citizen and faithful officer.

Mr. LaDu was born in New York, June 26, 1847, and was the fifth in a family of eight children born to Brinckerhoff and Susan (Lamerson) LaDu, the former of French-German extraction and the latter of French-English. Our subject engaged in farming until 1871. during which time he completed his education by a „year's work at Fairfield Seminary, and also taught school two years. He took land in Lac-qui Parle County, ^-Minnesota, in 1871, and soon afterwards established in the drug business with a partner. After one year he became sole proprietor and conducted the business for about three years. He began railroad work in 1876 and is an expert accountant. He went to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1881, as ticket agent for the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad Company, and in t883 went to Lisbon, Ransom County, in the capacity of bookkeeper for a real estate firer, with whom he was associated until 1886, when he formed a partnership with Edward S. Ellis and dealt in real estate and loan business. He withdrew from the partnership in 1888 and the following year was elected clerk of district courts and served three years, since which time he has been deputy register of deeds of Ransom County.

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss Flora A. Squier. Mr, and Mrs. LaDu are the parents of three children, named as follows: Edith G., Elva A. and Viola S. Mr. LaDu, aside from the offices above mentioned, has served as treasurer and county auditor, having been associated with county affairs for the past ten' years, and has served the public longer than any man in the court house at present. He has also been city treasurer and a member of the local school board. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has passed the degrees of the Knights Templar and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite. Politically he is a Republican.
CHARLES W. PORTER. This gentleman stands in a foremost place among the public officials of La .Moure County, North Dakota. He has twice been called upon to serve as county treasurer, and is a man of practical business ability, and enjoys the confidence of the people among whom he has chosen to reside since the early days of the settlement of North Dakota.

Mr. Porter was born on a farm in McHenry County, Illinois, March 4, 1858, and was the second in a family of six children, three sons and two daughters, five of whom are now living. His father, Thomas W. Porter, was born in England, and was one of the early settlers of McHenry County, Illinois, where he was married to Miss Julia Roper, who was also a native of England.

Our subject was educated in the district school near his home and assisted on his father's farm until 188o, in which year he went to North Dakota, then a territory, and soon afterward returned to Illinois. He again went to Dakota in 1881 and settled in La Moore County and filed claim to the southeast quarter of section 18. township 136, range 63, since which time he has followed fanning, and has met with eminent success. He is now the possessor of one and a half sections of land and he has added valuable improvements to his property.

Mr. Porter returned to his home in Illinois in 1883, and while there he was married to Miss Mary Tanner, a native of Illinois, who was born in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been the parents of three children, as follows: Emma, Grace and Harvey. Mr. Porter was elected county treasurer in 1884, and served two years, and in September, 1898, he was appointed to the same position to fill an unexpired term, and in November of that year he was elected to that office, which he at present holds. He is an efficient officer and commands the respect and esteem of the people. During territorial times he was appointed by Governor Ordway as a member of the first board of county commissioners. Politically he is a Republican and is a titan who keeps pace with the times. He holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. He and family attend the Presbyterian church.