Grand Forks

Biography of Hon. Charles Joseph Fisk of Grand Forks, North Dakota

Hon. Charles Joseph Fisk, a respected jurist, was born in Illinois in 1862. After a diligent education and a successful career in law, he was elected as a district judge and later elevated to the Supreme Court of North Dakota in 1906. Fisk’s integrity, legal expertise, and genial disposition earned him wide admiration, enabling him to excel in his high office. He married Miss Ida M. Myers, and they have two daughters, Helen Marion and Doris May, who bring much joy to their lives.

Biography of Henry C. Hansbrough of Devils Lake North Dakota

Ramsey

Henry C. Hansbrough, a prominent figure in North Dakota politics, made significant contributions to the state’s development. Initially a journalist, he founded newspapers in Grand Forks and Devils Lake. Hansbrough played a vital role in the movement for the division of Dakota Territory, leading to North Dakota’s statehood. He served as a congressman and later as a United States senator, advocating for his constituents and authoring important legislation.

Donald McDonald of Grand Forks North Dakota

Grand Forks

Donald McDonald, born in Canada in 1850 to Scottish parents, moved to Dubuque County, Iowa, where his family engaged in farming and milling. In 1878, he settled in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He purchased the Grand Forks “Plaindealer” newspaper shortly after his arrival, successfully running it for two years before selling it. In 1879, McDonald was appointed postmaster, overseeing the growth of the post office from fourth to second-class. He witnessed the evolution of mail transportation, from stagecoaches to railway service. After leaving the post office, McDonald ventured into various business endeavors, including undertaking and tent/awning manufacturing. In 1906, he was elected county treasurer, a position he currently holds.

Biography of Eugene Fretz, Jr. of Grand Forks, ND

Grand Forks

Eugene Fretz, Jr., a native of France, is the state agent of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in Grand Forks, North Dakota. With extensive education and experience in the insurance industry, Fretz has successfully grown the business and established it as one of the leading agencies in the Northwest. He is also a proud member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is happily married with one child.

Biography of Frank Wellington Wilder of Grand Forks ND

Grand Forks, Ransom

Frank Wellington Wilder, born in 1857, hailed from a long line of Massachusetts settlers. Although he pursued a legal education, he never practiced law and instead ventured westward. In 1887, he arrived in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he became involved in public affairs and played a crucial role in the establishment of the city’s public library. His efforts in securing funding from Mr. Carnegie and donations from citizens for the library building were instrumental. Mr. Wilder, a dedicated member of various clubs and societies, has been a steadfast presence in Grand Forks, actively contributing to the community’s growth and progress. He married Mary E. Booth in 1893, and they have a daughter named Marjorie.

Biography of Bardi G. Skulason of Grand Forks ND

Grand Forks, McLean

Bardi G. Skulason, born in Iceland in 1871, immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1876. After a challenging journey through Quebec and the Great Lakes, they settled in North Dakota. Despite financial difficulties, Skulason worked his way through the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1895. He embarked on a career in education and law, serving as a principal and studying law in his spare time. Admitted to the bar in 1897, he established a successful law practice in Grand Forks. Skulason played a significant role in the establishment of the Icelandic Library at the State University, and his public speaking skills have made him a well-known figure in the state.

Biography of Adison Irvin Hunter, of Grand Forks, ND

Grand Forks

Addison Irvin Hunter, a resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was born on July 29, 1860, in Freetown, Indiana. He is the son of Cyrus R. and Margaret M. Hunter, who have Scotch and Irish heritage. Addison attended high school in Southport, Indiana, and later pursued two years of study at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, from 1879 to 1880. In 1883, he moved to North Dakota and entered into a partnership with E. L. Emery, engaging in the real estate and loan business until 1887. Subsequently, he operated a livery business for ten years. In 1897, he ventured into …

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The Dinnie Brothers of Grand Forks, North Dakota

Grand Forks / History of the Red River Valley

The Dinnie Brothers are probably the largest contractors in the state of North Dakota. More cities and towns in the valley of the Red river are creations of that firm to a larger extent in the brick and stone building line than can be attributed to any other firm in this part of the Northwest. To particularize would be to require mention of almost hundreds of buildings, and in point of time cover a period extending over a quarter of a century. John and James Dinnie came to Grand Forks, March 20, 1881. They began as common brick-layers and, in …

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Biography of Joseph Bell DeRemer of Grand Forks, North Dakota

Grand Forks / History of the Red River Valley

Joseph Bell DeRemer, of Grand Forks, was born September 14, 1871, in Montana, Warren county, New Jersey. His father was James K. Polk DeRemer and his mother Nancy (Bell) DeRemer. He received his education in the common school at New Village, Warren county, New Jersey. Later he was a special student in architecture at Columbia University, New York city. He followed the occupation of a carpenter from March, 1886, to May 1, 1896, and made himself a master of the trade, also devoting himself to the study of the building art. He then entered Columbia University, taking a special course …

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Biography of E. C. Cooper of Grand Forks, North Dakota

Grand Forks / History of the Red River Valley

E. C. Cooper, commissioner of insurance, has been a resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota, since 1883. He was born in Antioch, Illinois, April 11, 1856, and moved to Iowa with his parents when six years of age, where he lived until his removal to Grand Forks, where he first took a position with a large lumbering concern, and remained with the same firm until he embarked in the insurance business on his own account, and has since been identified with only the oldest and most conservative insurance companies in existence, and the character of his work has especially fitted …

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