The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-23
FARGO, ON THE RED, IT'S RISE
Story of the Biggest City the United States

of which bore a different color, red,
white and blue. He also built the first
| opera house, but his monument is
| found in a row of stately trees, which
for two miles lines Broadway, the prin-
/ cipal street Of the city. A. 3. Boyesei1,
| now of ST. Paul, practfced law in Fargo
for several years, while P. p. Smith,
prominent elevator man Of Minneapo-
lis, was for ten years resident Of the
North Dakota metropolis. The Yerxa
/ Brothers, well known in the grocery
| trade of the Northwest, originally be-
/ gan business in Fargo. Olaf Kringen,
leader of the Socia1ist-Democratic
| party in Norway, was at one time
resident of Cass county, and taught
school in Walsh and Benson counties.
Returning to Norway, he became iden-
titled with the press of Christfania,
edits one of the daily papers, and de-
votes his spare time to lectures and
writing for various American papers.
Among the widely known citizens of
Fargo is ]. A. Johnson. four times
mayor of the city, and a thorough
student of municipal problems, to the
| benefit of the city. He is native of
! Sweden, but came with his father to
! Washington county, Minnesota, in 1854,
served on military railway duty, was
three times sheriff of his county, be-
ing twice elected without opposition.
| He has lived nearly twenty-five years
in Fargo, and is engaged in the real
estate business. His son, Chester, a
practicing attorney. is associated with
him.
John Haggarr came at the beginning
of Fargo, in 1871, and was the towns
| first marshal. He then served the
county for seven terms as sheriff. then
! went to the state senate, and continued
until his appointment as United States
| marshal. His original farm of 100
acres has grown to be a splendid es
tate of 2,400 acres, in which he finds
| much pleasure as well as profit. He Is
busy man, but never forgets that he
has family.
Another timer is James Holes,
one of the first farmers Of the county,
over whose fertile acres city lots are
spreading. Mr.. Holes is well known
for his experiments In culture of pota-
| toes and other products.
S. c. Roberts, a native Of Maine,
| brought to Minneapolis after the war
scars from three wounds received in
different battles. He studied law and
| In 1872 came to Fargo, where he has
~ince been honored with many posi-
lions Of trust by the national govern
ment, the state and the city. He was
the master of the first Masonic lodge
and commander of the first G. A. r.
post, and has also been department
commander. Roberts county, South
Dakota, is named in his honor. He is
still an active attorney.
M. A. Hagen began the jewelry bust
ness in 1878, and now carries stock Of
diamonds and cut glass equal to any
stock found in the Twin Cities. He is
| writ n rryHnr fC nj 0o tn
deal.
It has already been said that Fargo
was a banking center, with resources
In excess of s3,000,000. The First Ma
tional, differed by ]. w. Smith, presi
dent; L. B. Hanna, vice president, and
S. S. Lyon, cashier. Is in the hands Of
men whose interests enter into many
| of the state senator's from Cass. The
Red River National is also an old and
reliable concern, and differed by r. S.
Lewis, president; John S. Watson, vice
president. and j. w. Won Media, cash.
Ter. Mr.. Lewis is also a state senator
The Merchants State bank is the
clearing house. Its officers are N. A.
Lewis, president; o. G. Barnes, vice
president, and H w. Gearey, cashier.
| The latter is a native of Wabasha
| county, Minnesota, and was a page in
the state senate when the capitol at st.
Paul burned, in 1881, and narrowly
escaped with his life. The Fargo Ma
tional was established in 1896, and has
Martin Hector for president; O. j. de
Lendrecie vice president and William
G.. Macfadden, cashier The Northern
Trust company, as savings bank with
100000 capital, was organized last
year, and has Congressman T. f. Mar
shall for president: Ed Pierce. vice
president, and G. H. HOLSTER, secre-
tary and treasurer. and board of di-
rectors including men of much fnan.
cial responsibility. The Northwestern
Mutual Savings and Loan association
has paid up capital and earnings of
$4,000. William C. Macfadden is
president; G. B. Runner, vice president,
and Herbert L. LOOMS, secretary and
treasurer It's operations now include
over sixty towns in the state, and as
It's plans become better known 1t keeps
growing
Ferdinand Luger was a furniture
manufacturer in Wabasha, Mimi, until
1878, when he opened furniture store
in Fargo, now owned by his two sons
and daughter, Peter, F. F. and Julia D.,
under whose management 1t has taken
spacious form, filling four floors in a
building 50x126, to which an addition
Of forty feet is to be made. The stock
includes, furniture, carpets and crock
cry, and equals anything in the Twin
Cities.
William D. Sweet, the present mayor,
is a member Of the firm of Bristol &
Sweet exclusive jobbers and manufac-
turers Of harness. Mr. Sweet was for
merly chief clerk in the general pas
senger Office of the Chicago & North.
Western railway Office in Chicago. His
firm here employs thirty men in It's
factory and keeps three men on the
road.
The Fargo Bridge and Iron company.
Of which F. E. Dibley is president and