The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-12
PIONEER
= PASSED AWAY
RANDoLPH M. PRo5sTFIELD DIED
AT His. FARM HOME YEsTER-
DAY AFTERNooN-HE CAME TO
THE RED RIVER VALLEY IN 1859
--7e YEARS or AGE.

The passing away of Hon. Randolph
M. Probstfield, which has been looked
for during the past month, came yes
terday afternoon at the farm home Of
Mr.. Probstfield In OaIkport township
He was 10 years Of age. He had been
confined to his bed for a long time
and had suffered different attacks OF
paralysis, the first one in the lower
extremities,
Mr.. Probstfield was o widower and
Is survived by ten children, Mary A.,
Alexander p. Justus, Edmund H., Nell
lie j., Susan r., EmeIia M, Walter G.
Arthur C. and Josephine. In all he
has had twelve children, Randolph and
Dorothy c. Probstfield died some years
ago.
Randolph M ProbstfeId, born in
Germany, Nov 8, 1889, was educated
In the private schools of the father
land. Arriving In the United States in
1852, he became resident Of st. Paul,
Mimi. and with others he started by
team for the Red river valley, Oct.' 20.
1859, arriving at the mouth of the
Sheyenne river, Apr. /, that year. In
1860 the trading post of Georgetown
was established and he squatted on
land near there. That year he re-
turned to Europe and after a visit he
returned with three relatives. Later
he was Joined by his wife. In 1864 he
established a general store at George
town and for several years was agent
for the Hudson Bay Co. In 1850 he
settled In what is now Oakport town
ship, his estate comprising 460 acres,
alongside the river.
At heart he was socialist in poli-
tics and from 1891 to 1898 was elected
to the state senate as populist. He
was active in the passage of the
drainage BILL and the establishment Of
the normal at Moorhead. In the in
terest Of the latter he proved him
self very astute and by his tact he
held many Of his colleagues in the
upper house for the measure.
Mr.. Probstfield was married in 1851,
to Miss Catherine Goodman of St.
Josephs county, Ind. She passed
away in 1899 and there were twelve
children by the union.
He had some startling experiences
In the Indian outbreak of 1862, q
shortage of provisions was one OF
them. The supply of salt ran out
and what could be gathered from old
rusty salt barrels and old salt pork
barrels had to be resorted to. AT the
request of General Sibley Mr.. Probst-
field remained at Georgetown until
late in 1863, when under pain of arrest
he was ordered to Fort Abercrombie.
At the latter point he Joined a large
wagon train, under military escort
and for safety took his family to st.
Cloud, MINI. However, he was anx-
ious to return to his interests in the
Red river valley, where he predicted
great opportunities Undaunted by
perils and hardships he returned to
the Red river valley without escort,
settled at Georgetown and was short
ly afterwards appointed postmaster.
One of the bereaved sons, Justus
Probsthsld, who holds responsible
position in the Office Of the state
weighmaster came up FROM Mime
&polis this morning to attend the
funeral.
This afternoon, the family an
nounced that the funeral will be held
Thursday, but the hour and other pa
tfculars cannot be given until to-
morrow