Home< Dry Lake

Dry Lake Township

Early Settlers

Carl Dahlstrom. North Dakota has many foreign-born citizens who have become thoroughly identified with her financial and social interests and who have gained for themselves a high place in their respective communities. Ramsey County is not without her share of these men and among them a high station is accorded the gentleman above named. He has a comfortable home and pleasant estate in section 27, of Dry Lake Township, and has accumulated his possessions since taking up his residence in North Dakota.
Our subject was born in Sweden, November 21, 1862. He came to America early in the '80s and located in Minnesota, but after a short stay there came to Cass County, North Dakota, and remained in Fargo and vicinity until 1863. In June of that year he went to Ramsey County, and soon afterward entered claim to the land on which he now resides in Dry Lake Township. He has resided thereon continuously since that date and has made a success of general farming, and is now the fortunate possessor of two hundred acres of land. He uses modern methods in operating the same and realizes a good income from the place.
Our subject was married in Dry Lake Township, Ramsey County, North Dakota, to Miss Mary Erickson. Mrs. Dahlstrom was born in Norway and came to America with her parents in 1879 when about ten years of age. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dahlstrom, upon whom they have bestowed the name of Eddie E. Our subject was a man of active public spirit and has served as a member of the township board of supervisors and in other ways aided in bettering the condition of his community.
["History Biography of North Dakota". Transcribed by Laurel Durham]

James A Home. In the list of well-regulated farms of Dry Lake Township, Ramsey County, stands that owned and operated by James A. Home and sons. It is supplied with modern improvements and machinery for its operation and the success which has fallen to the lot of the proprietor is well earned. Our subject has devoted his career to this line of work since residing in North Dakota, and is well-versed and applies himself intelligently to the same, and is one of the fortunate men of the community. His home is in section 16.
Mr. Home was born near Birford, Canada, December 7, 1843, and was a son of William and Charlotte Matthews (Eaton) Home, a sketch of whom appears under the title of William Home. The mother died in Canada, July 9, 1858. In June 13, 1859, the father married Miss Jeanette Falcomer and the father, step-mother and two children, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Charlotte M. later settled in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Our subject remained at home until after attaining his majority and then engaged in the milling business in Cedar Falls, Iowa, until the spring of 1870, when he removed to Hampton, Franklin County, and engaged in the same business there until 1876. He then went to Litchfield, Minnesota, and followed milling there two years, and then spent six years in St. Paul and vicinity. He went to Grand Forks County, North Dakota, in the spring of 1882, and remained there one year and then located in Ramsey County and settled on the farm on which he has since resided. He has placed excellent improvements on his home farm and with his sons owns and operates one thousand three hundred and forty acres of land. This furnishes a good income and Mr. Home is one of the solid men of his county.
Our subject was married in Black Hawk County, Iowa, to Margaret I. Falconer, who was born in London, Canada, May 10, 1844. Mrs. Home died at Afton, Minnesota, January 7, 1880. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Home, of whom three are still living: Hugh, Albert D. and William George. Two died in infancy. Mr. Home was married to Emma E. Reynolds, in Ramsey County, North Dakota, December 28, 1886. Mrs. Home is a native of Canada, but was reared in the United States. Eight children have been born to this union, who are as follows: John L., James A., Jr., Gertrude E., Victor A., Mary J., Charlotte I., Sarah M. and Emma O. Mr. Home has served as school treasurer and township clerk and is actively interested in public affairs. He is a Royal Arch Mason.
["History Biography of North Dakota". Transcribed by Laurel Durham]

William Horne. An honorable position among the farmers of Dry Lake Township, Ramsey County, is willingly accorded this gentleman by his associates. He occupies one of the well-developed farms of the county, and is greatly respected in the community where he has spent the past seventeen years of his life, and where he is passing his declining years surrounded by peace and plenty. His comfortable residence is in section 21.
Our subject was born in Portsmouth, England, March 13, 1817, and while he was still young he came to America with his parents and settled near Toronto, Canada, where he was reared and educated. He remained there until after he attained his majority, and then emigrated to the United States with his family and settled in Black Hawk County, Iowa. He continued his residence in that state until March, 1883, when he removed to North Dakota, and at once settled on the land on which he has since resided in section 29 of Dry Lake Township, and is one of the solid men of Ramsey County. He is well versed in the most approved methods of operating a farm, and has met with success in his calling, and has remained to see his family nicely located, and now enjoys a review of a life well spent.
Our subject was married in Canada to Miss Jessie Falconer, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 10, 1836. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Home, seven of whom are now living and are as follows: Annie J., now Mrs. George Copeland; William C. E.; Jessie, now Mrs. Charles Bessire; Margaret I., now Mrs. Charles B. Richards; Arthur E., a well-to-do resident of that county; Emily C, now Mrs. Wilson E. Lowell; and Robert E., who owns nearly one thousand acres of land in Dry Lake Township, and one hundred and sixty acres in Cavalier County, North Dakota.
["History Biography of North Dakota". Transcribed by Laurel Durham]

George W Kline. The mature years of this gentleman have been devoted exclusively to the toil and labor pertaining to the calling of a farmer, and he has acquired a knowledge of his vocation which makes him a source of information to others less favored by experience or less observing. He owns and occupies a pleasant and remunerative tract of land in Dry Lake Township, Ramsey County, and enjoys the comforts of a happy home in section 20.
Our subject was born on a farm in LaSalle County, Illinois, September 5, 1858, where he was reared and educated. He remained in his native county until the spring of 1886, when he went to North Dakota and settled in Dry Lake Township, and has since been a resident there. He owns eight hundred acres of land, which he has gained from time to time, and has thoroughly improved the farm and ranks among the foremost men of his calling in his community.
Mr. Kline was married, in LaSalle County, Illinois, May 30, 1880, to Miss Salina D. Schoonover, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kline are the parents of two children, named as follows: William L. and Ernest L. Mr. Kline has held the office of township treasurer and school clerk and is a gentleman of true merit, whose public spirit has never been called in question, and is an influence for good in the community with whose higher interests his name is associated. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Modern Woodmen of America.
["History Biography of North Dakota". Transcribed by Laurel Durham]

Henry Lake. The fine farms of Ramsey county place it among the thriving agricultural districts of North Dakota. One of these well regulated tracts is owned and operated by Henry Lake, who resides in section 24 of Dry Lake township, and is known as a progressive and intelligent member of his community. He has beautified his home farm, and has added to its value as well by planting fourteen acres of trees around his residence, and the landscape in that vicinity is thereby enhanced in beauty. Other valuable improvements have been added from time to time, and the family enjoys a pleasant and comfortable home.
Our subject was born on a farm in York county. Ontario, Canada, June 11, 1856. He was reared and educated in his native county, and remained in Ontario until the spring of 1882, when he came to Ramsey county. North Dakota. He was engaged in teaching six years in Canada, and after taking up his residence in North Dakota devoted his entire attention to the development of his farm. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of choice land, and follows general farming with good results and is well-to-do.
Our subject was married in Ontario county, Ontario, Canada, to Miss Mary Jane Scott, a native of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Lake are the parents of five living children, named as follows: Leila L., Ruddy C, Elmer L, Olive and Charlotte AL Arksey, the second child of the family, was drowned in a tub of water at the age of twenty months. Mr. Lake is a man of active public spirit, and was the first township clerk of Dry Lake township. He has also been township treasurer and a member of the township board of supervisors, and has held the office of assessor for several years. He and wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and are active in church affairs of that denomination, having been members since 1888. Mr. Lake is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
[Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.]

John Buchanan Stewart. John was born February 1, 1844 in Canada. He married Elizabeth Gibb born 1850 in England. In 1881 after the birth of their son William Glover, the family  moved from Iowa to Dry Lake Township. Their 160 acre homestead was located in the corners of section 9 and section 17. The were the parents of Robert Percy born in Iowa, William Glover born 1881, Arthur Edward, John Lanham born November 4, 1885. Elizabeth died on October 1890 due to complications giving birth to her eight child and only daughter, Louise Elizabeth (Lou). Elizabeth is buried in the G.A.R. Cemetery in Devils Lake. The George Cline family that lived about a mile away became foster parent of baby Lou. John raised his four sons by himself. Besides farming their own land, he and the boys did custom sod breaking with walking plows and oxen, and later horses. They all learned to cook, especially the youngest, John Lanham, who was relegated to the kitchen quite often while the others were doing the field work. By 1902 the Stewart men needed more acreage so they sold the Dry Lake property and bought land several miles east in Cato township. They purchased and farmed eight quarters (1280 acres) including the NW 1/4 of section 16, east 1/2 of section 17, SE 1/4 of section 19, and all of section 20. Their home was on the northwest corner of section 20.