Albert E. North Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 399-401

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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ALBERT E. NORTH, the pioneer farmer of Belmont township, and for years 
one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Spink county, was 
born in Lansing, Michigan, in May, 1843. His parents removed to 
Michigan from the Empire state, where the father owned a large farm and 
also worked at the mason's trade. 

The family was one of the first to locate in the vicinity of Lansing, 
and the grandfather had the honor of naming the city. The father of our 
subject died in 1885, and his wife, surviving him five years, passed 
away in 1890. 

Reared on the old homestead, A. E. North remained with his parents 
until he had attained his majority, when, in 1864, he enlisted in the 
Seventh Michigan Cavalry Brigade. He was sent to Washington to 
participate in the grand review there, and then, with his command, was 
hurried to the western frontier, where the brigade was scattered over a 
wide extent of territory. Mr. North was sent out with a detachment as 
stage convoy, and in October, 1865, they were ordered to Fort Collins, 
Colorado, where the detachment was dismounted and then ordered to Fort 
Leavenworth. "Uncle Sam" forgetting to send money for railroad 
expenses, the boys were forced to pay this from their private accounts. 
After doing duty at Fort Leavenworth for a time, Mr. North returned to 
Jackson, Michigan, December 24. 1865, and was enabled to spend 
Christ~nas day with his family. 

He at once resumed work on the farm, and continued the management and 
active operation of the old homestead until 1882, when he determined to 
come to the west. In the spring of 1883 he arrived in South Dakota, 
bringing with him a capital of eight hundred dollars and two cars, one 
filled with hardwood lumber, which he had cut and prepared in Michigan, 
the other loaded with household goods, stock and farming machinery. He 
entered from the government the northeast quarter of section thirty-
four, Belmont township, Spink county, and paid six hundred dollars for 
the adjoining quarter-section on the north, which was a tree claim. He 
now has a very valuable farm, operating about three hundred and 
seventy-five acres of land, with the help of one of his sons. Each 
winter he feeds about sixteen head of Durham cattle, and has about 
twelve head of Percheron and Clyde horses. Ample feeding grounds are 
furnished for his stock in the summer in a pasture of one hundred and 
seventy-five acres, which is enclosed with fence. All the accessories 
and improvements of the model farm are found upon his place, and its 
neat and thrifty appearance well indicates the careful supervision of a 
practical and progressive owner. Mr. North has prospered during his 
residence in this county, yet has met with some reverses. On the 27th 
of June, 1894, the house which he had erected with his Michigan lumber 
was completely destroyed in a cyclone, which lifted the building from 
over the heads of the family as they stood in a corner of the cellar, 
whither they had fortunately retreated. In 1 898 he also had his entire 
crop destroyed by hail, yet more success than disaster has fallen to 
his lot, and he is numbered among the substantial farmers of the 
community, having won prosperity through determined purpose, 
persevering effort and capable management. 

Mr. North was married in 1866 to Miss Marian J. Fassett, of Jackson, 
Michigan. Eight children have been born to them: Mrs. Amy L. Wright, 
who is now living in southwestern Louisiana, near the Gulf of Mexico; 
Bert, who follows farming near his father; Ella L. Fassett, who is 
married and resides nine miles east of Ashton, South Dakota; Stanley 
H., a school teacher and machine agent, who is living with his parents; 
John Henry, who resides two miles west of his father's farm; Mabel C., 
who died in 1889; Morris H., who was killed by the kick of a horse, May 
3, 1893; and Sterling E., who assists his father in the operation of 
the home farm. During the great blizzard of 1888 Mr. North attempted to 
reach the schoolhouse with three of his children, but within a short 
distance of the building, in the blinding storm, they, however, came to 
a neighbor's house where they remained overnight, being unable to make 
their way to the house until morning. 

In his political views Mr. North was formerly a Republican, but not 
liking the management of the party, in 1888 he joined the first 
farmers' party ever organized— in fact was the recording secretary of 
the Altoona Farmers Club, and still has in his possession the books of 
the organization. Since that time he has been identified with the 
Grange movement and Farmers Alliance, and now votes with the Populist 
party. He was the first assessor of his township and has been assessor 
or clerk since that time, with the exception of the year 1890 when he 
took the census. In that year he was also candidate for county auditor 
and was defeated by only ten votes. Socially he is connected with the 
Grand Army of the Republic and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He 
also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, favors equal suffrage 
and is a warm friend of the temperance cause, which he advocates both 
by precept and example. His career is that of an honorable and upright 
man, true to his duties to his country, his neighbor and his family, 
and no resident of Spink county is held in higher regard than this 
honored pioneer of Belmont township.