The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-10-05
VOL. XLVIII-NO. 43.
OBSTACLES Me-
NOTHING T0I ,Tos

When a man who has men,
Ger OF a legislature, states attorney,
and prominently interested in library
work for number Of years, will
cross the Atlantic Ocean in the steer
age Of a big vesse, to help secure the
election of a friend as governor OF
his state, it SHOWS remarkable in
terest in politics and the true bent OF
craftsmanship. That is what R. A.
Nestos did in the North Dakota cam
paign of 1920.
The story of this man, himself
present governor of North Dakota:
after being selected by unanimous
vote to make the race by the indepen-
dent voters of his state, is romance
of perseverance, which begins with
mis- arrival as boy from Norway at
Philadelphia, with assets totallng
eighty-fve cents in cash, a lunch OF
hardtack, and broken butter con-
tainer from which all his butter had
escaped.
Today Governor Nestos is making
a name for himself that touches far
beyond the bounds of his state by his
vigorous and clearsighted policies Of
administration and his whole-hearted
support of every measure which will
give North Dakota, already the gran
ary of the world, a still greater place
in the sun.
Ragnvald A. Nestos was born in
Voss, in the mountain regions of Nor
way, about seventy miles east of the
town of Bergen, on April 18th, 1877.
In the truly spiritual atmosphere of
this home, family devotions were held
twice daily. His father was farmer
and lay-preacher as we'll, and the
boy, one of the older of the ten child
ren, early began his duties on the
farm. His summers were spent tend
ing cattle in the mountains near
beautiful lake we'll stocked with trout,
and his duties, herding the cattle,
were relieved by frequent fishing and
berrying expeditions.
When he arrived in the United
States in 1898, he neither spoke nor
understood word of English.
With all the ambition of a boy OF
sixteen he made light Of the fact that
eighty-fve cents was all the money
he had in the world, and gloried in
the other fact that he had sufficient
hardtack to last him until his arrival
in Dakota. He soon got chance to
work in the hay fields for seventy-tlve
cents a day, and before long was har-
vesting and threshing at wages al
most twice as high. With what he
earned he paid back the money owed
for his ticket, bought some clothes:
and got ready for school.
In November he started in the first
grade at Buxton, doing chores during
the week, and working in his urcle's
harness shop on Saturdays. His pro-
gress was slow, indeed, until new
Superintendent, Professor Irving NC
Donald, took charge, and through his
interest and encouragement he made
rapid progress. 1t was this same
professor who, after Nestos had par
ticipated in his first debate, told him
some day he would do we'll as public
speaker.
For short time he worked in Wis.,
consin lumber camps, and later at
Minneapolis, and then returned to
Buxton, took the teachers examlna-
ten and taught term Of school near
by. He soon entered the normal
school, and, alternately teaching and
studying, graduated at Mayville in
1900.
Here he came in contact with Jo-
seph Carheart, the president, who
proved to be the greatest inspiration
al source in his life. Professor Car
heart, previously of DePauw Univer-
sity, had counted among his pupils
and admirers former Senator Bever-
idge, Attorney Wilkinson of Chicago:
who is Judge Lands successor as fed
e~al judge, Professor Moore of the
University of Chicago, and Senators
James Watson and New of Indiana.
Il was tough shedding, financially, for
Nestos during these years. With
three others he Joined in renting
rooms, and the four boys prepared
their own meals during the whole OF
the school year. The total cost to
Zach of their housekeeping activities
averaged So per week.
Then he entered the University OF
Wisconsin, after filing on home
stead in Pierce county, North Dakota
At Wisconsin his interest in debat'
ing grew, and he founded new liter
ary society. While he was still stu
non. bo ,uas offered tho anDOintment