The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-02
MOSES IS GIANT Of
DEMOCRATIC TICKET
Candidate for Attorney General
Came to U. s. From Nor
way at Age Of 20

Physically the giant Of the North
Dakota Democratic ticket, for he
stands feet 4 inches tall, and NOM
irated for perhaps the most import
ant post. is John Moses of Hazen in
Mercer county. the candidate for at
torney general.
Moses was born In Strand. Norway.
June II. 1885. the sen of Henrik
Bauer Moses and Isabella F. D.
Moses. His father was minister
Ii: the Norwegian State church, which
Is Of the Lutheran denomination.
While Mr.. Moses parents and his
immediate forbears wei: Norwegians.
the family and its name originated
in Scotland. His great-great-g
great grandfather, John Moses. in
company with two other Scotchmen.
John Ramsey and John Ord. came to
Christiansund, Norway in 1742. They
probably were shippers OF vessels en-
gagged in fishing and the buying and
selling of fish. They established
themselves in business in Christian
sund.
Moses great grandfather was mer-
chant In Christiansund. He repre-
sented his city at the first Norwegian
parliament which declared the indie
pendence Of Norway and adopted a
constitution May II, 1914.
Came to Z. S. at 20
The western North Dakota man re-
ceived his early education. including
Jrnior college, in Oslo, Norway. He
came to the United States as a
youth Of 90 His first work in his
adopted land was as section laborer
for the Great Northern Railway at
Benson, Mimi, where he worked sew
eral months. He also worked on a
Swift county farm several months
before going to st. Paul where he
obtained employment in the claim
department Of the Great Northern.
There he worked as an investigator
for five years.
In 1911 he first came to North
Dakota to reside. as secretary OF the
Valley City State Teachers COL
lege. Later he entered the University
Of North Dakota where he graduated
from the college Of Liberal Arts with
a B. A. degree in 1914.
Not content with the extent Of his
schooling, for he now had firmly de-
termined on making the law his
life work, he continued at the univer-
sity In the college Of law. Because Of
his high standing in his legal studies,
he was graduated in 1915 with the
degree OF 1uris Doctor. Moses had
worked his way by keeping books in
= Grand Forks hotel.
Active In student affairs while at
the university. he was manager Of the
track team, member of the athletics
board of control business manager
OF the Dakota Student, university
newspaper; member Of Sigma MI,
social fraternity and Phi Alpha
Delta. honorary legal fraternity.
Admitted to the bar in June, 1915,
he p-acticed for short time at Hope
eEd Hebron before establishing his
residence at Hazen in 1917, where he
has lived and rracticed since.
Attorney for Mercer County
During the World War. Moses twice
tried to enlist but each time was re-
fused because Of poor vision.
Five times Moses was elected states
attorney Of Mercer county, serving
from 1919 to 1923 and being elected
to office again in 1927 and serving to
1888. For number Of years he
served as member and president Of
the school board at Hazen. as presi-
dent Of the Mercer County Water
Conservation association. is director
and president of the Union State
rsnl- Of Hazen. He is a director of
the North Dakota Historical Society
ord active in numerous other civic
and community affairs.
Married. Mr.. Moses Is the father
OF four children. Mrs Moses was
Ethel Lillian Joslyn, the daughter Of
James Knox Jcslyn and Clara Rugg
Joslyn. both Of Massachusetts Rev.
dictionary War stock Mrs. Moses
father was pioneer Of Steele county,
homesteading there in 1885. and dying
there In 1919. Their children are
John Is: James Joslyn II; Mary Jean
10: Robert Henrik 6. The Moses at
tend the English Lutheran church.
Moses has been prominent in North
Dakota Masonic activities. He is an
officer OF the Grand Lodge. A. F. &
A. NJ. q Knights Templar, a menu
her Of the Scottish Rite ana the
Shrine.