The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-20
KNAUF AND DIE JUDGEsHlP.
Sketch Of the Republican Nominee for
Supreme Judge. Hard Worker
Since q Boy.

Sketcn OF the hepuDIlcan Nominee lOr
Supreme Judge. Hard Worker
Since . Boy.
jamestown. Alert: The nomination
of Attorney John Knauf of this city, by
the republican state convention to sue
coed Judge Young, for four year
term on the supreme bench has crea-
ted considerable discussion which was
precipitated by Judge Engerud, of the
supreme court stating, or purporting
to have stated, in the Fargo Forum
that he would decline to serve with MIR.
knauf and in case of his election would
resign from the bench. The democrat
tic papers and several of the insurg-
ent press have taken the matter up and
attempted to create dissatisfaction
with the nomination. A dispatch to the
Minneapolis Journal reprinted in the
Forum and other state papers, says
that Mr.. knauf is not disturbed by the
discussion of his candidacy in such I'M
favorable terms, that the supposed rea-
son for Judge Engerud's opposition is
doubtless Of a personal nature. relat-
ing to the collection of an account by
Knauf from the judge several years
ago; that the reported bar association
meeting at Fargo. which protested
against the nomination, was not regu-
larly called and was not representa-
tive bar meeting but was composed of
democrats who favored Judge Fisk. a
democrat of Grand Forks. The Journ-
al dispatch adds that Mr.. Knauf was
not candidate for the judgeship till
three or four days before the conven-
ton. He only entered to head off the
selection of democrat. He wanted
to withdraw from the state ticket after
he had landed. but some of his friends
would not stand for 1t. fearing that it
would mean the nomination of Tracy
Bangs democrat"
The republican nominee for the SUI
preme bench while comparatively
young man is we'll known in the CEN
trail and western part of the state, and
especially in the Fifth Judicial district
where he has practiced his profession
since admission to the bar. and as was
stated of him during the convention,
has appeared on one side or the other
of most of the leading cases tried in
the district. He is hard worker,
gives close attention to the interests
of his clients, and is a selfmade man,
y
success with them in whatever position
this connection a sketch of the nomi-
throughout the state.
John w. Knauf was born in Water
loo, Michigan. and is now past 50
years of age. His mother died while
he was child and his father passed
away leaving large family of child
rem with but a small estate for their
aid. In 1883 the younger members OF
the family moved to Stutsman county
where they located on farm and lived
till fall, when the younger three were
taken with fever and of a necessity
moved to jamestown, where those able
attend the public school. Owing
to continued sickness the savings of
their first Dakota crop soon disap-
peared.
Then began the tug for ways and
means. and old timers remember see
ing John with snow shovel or saw
seeking the hardest and coolest work
at which to earn the necessities of life
for himself and orphan brothers and
sisters and to attain a common school
education. Then came the hard
times" of the sos when the brothers
and sisters left. John remained in
school under Professors Clemmer Den
ny, Weight and their assistants, after
wards attended the Presbyterian col
lege at jamestown and then took a
course at St. Johns University at Col
legeville. MINI. In 1890 he went to
Ann Arbor, Mich, where he entered
the law school of the University of
Michigan and graduated in the Col
umbia" law class of '92, having worked
his own way through the district and
public schools of North Dakota, a few
college terms and the course at Ann
Arbor without means other than his
own earnings. He read law in an Of
flee from July '92 till October '94 when
he acquired small library and opened
an Office in jamestown where he has
since practiced
Born of German parentage he was
imbued with those instincts that knew
no defeat. Strong will and persever-
ance have been the ever apparent sign
of his success.
He did not attend school as long as
the sons of rich men, but he fully d.
gested the knowledge he did attain.
At the Office building at the State Hos
pital old timers recall the hard work
young Knauf used to perform there,
and the water fountain in the little
city park is part of his handiwork.
AS an attorney his practice has not
greatly extended outside of the Fifth
judicial district, but since 1894 he has
been on one side of nearly every i'm
pOrtant case in Stutsman county and
has practiced successfully against
some of the best railroad, insurance,
and criminal lawyers in the country.
He has acquired law library of
some 200 volumes, has over twelve
years had Office rooms in the James
River National bank, has acquired a
nice home, owns few thousand dol
lars worth of lands and personal prop
erty.
The younger attorneys of his district
all regard him with friendliness and
many recall story of his readiness to
aid them financially, and otherwise, in
the early struggles of their legal prac-
tice. AS a trial lawyer he is always on
the alert for the success of his clients,
who realize that his first though is
how much can make for or save for
my client?" Many times he says sim
ply you may fix my fee" and his eli
ents generally come back.
In habits Mr.. Knauf stands among
the best, he uses no tobacco, liquor or
opiates; he is generally found after Of
flee hours at home with his wife and
little children. Never much of a So
ciety man, he naturally is Indifferent
to social functions, but among the peo-
pie whose labor develops the country,
there is naught hut goOd wnrdc for
him.