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Webster Township

Early Settlers

William Webster, who has devoted hit later years to agricultural pursuits, has a fine farm in the township which bears his name, and is one of the extensive land owners of Ramsey county. He was born about eight miles from Dundee. Scotland, August 9, 1838, and his present home is in section 31 of Webster township, Ramsey county. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation ( and Mr. Webster was reared on the home farm and assisted with the farm work until he was fifteen years of age.   He began to learn the mill wrights' trade when a boy of thirteen years, and after about two years left home and went to Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where he completed his trade, and was employed in a foundry and machine shop. He continued working there at his trade until 1860, when he went to Hast St. Louis, Illinois, and continued the same kind of work until 1866. He then returned to Canada and for several years was employed in the saw-mill business until 1883. In the early summer of that year he came to Ramsey county, North Dakota, and located on the farm on which he now resides. He has erected good buildings, made valuable improvements and otherwise provided a comfortable home, and is now the fortunate possessor of thirteen hundred and twenty acres of land. He was one of the pioneers of Webster county, and in appreciation of his services in its early development the township was named in his   honor.
Our subject was married, in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, to Miss Esther Nay, a native of Canada, where she was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have been the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom are now living, named as follows: David, Robert, William J., Margaret. Mary, George, Anna, Sarah, Edith, Ida, Pearl and Daniel M. Samuel died in Canada at the age of two and a half years. Mr. Webster has served as school treasurer for several years and also as justice of the peace. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an elder in that denomination. [Source: "Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota", Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Dena Whitesell]

John Kain,, one of the most influential farmers of Webster township, Ramsey county, has devoted his career to farming and has a pleasant home in section 30. He is well versed in his vocation, systematic and industrious, and is possessed of a character of the highest integrity, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his associates. Our subject was born in Germany, June 17, 1853. He came to America with his parents when three years of age and resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, four years and then removed to Waukesha. Wisconsin. The family made their home there some three years and then located permanently in White River. Michigan, where our subject grew to manhood and continued his residence until 1883. In November of that year he entered North Dakota, and located on the farm where he has since been a resident and has prospered there as an agriculturist. The building of the place include a comfortable residence, commodious barns, etc., and every appointment of the place evidences painstaking care in its operation. Mr. Kain owns and operates eight hundred acres of land, and is one of the solid men of his township. Our subject was married in Decatur, Michigan, to Samantha Chapman, a native of the state of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Kain are the parents of four children, who are as follows : Edith O., now the wife of Oliver Twist: Dora, John H. and Leland W. In affairs pertaining to local government Mr. Kain has taken a most hearty interest, and he has been called upon to serve his community in various offices of trust, including member of the township board of supervisors, and justice of the peace, and as an educational worker he has served as school director and president of the school board. [Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.]

Rasmus Sorensen, residing on section 29, of Webster township, is proprietor of an elegant farm, which he has accumulated since taking up his residence in North Dakota. He is one of the early settlers of that region and has been thoroughly identified with its progress and development.
Our subject was born in Denmark, May 19, 1859. He was reared in his native land and continued his residence there until 1880, when he emigrated to America to seek his fortunes in the new world. He went to Meeker county, Minnesota, and resided there until 1882, in the spring of which year he became a resident of Ramsey county and located on a farm on which he has since been a resident. He has continued the improvement of his farm and now enjoys a comfortable, home, surrounded by good improvements and is the owner of one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land and is one of the substantial men of his township.
Our subject was married in Webster township, Ramsey county. North Dakota, to Miss Johanna Anderson, a native of Sweden. Five children have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen, upon whom they have bestowed the following names: Christian, Hilda, Alfred. Minnie and Agnes. Mr. Sorensen takes a hearty and intelligent interest in public affairs of his township and has held numerous offices of trust, including a member of the township board of supervisors.[Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.]

 

Schools

Webster school The Webster school is privately owned and being restored.

Churches and Cemeteries


Webster Cemetery
St Peter & Paul's Catholic Church

 

Looking for Information on this townships

If you wish to submit data for this township, please contact Colleen Goltz Ramsey County Coordinator since 19 April 2013.