| Notes |
- From "A Family Called Wild", 1989:
Peter Wild was a pioneer farmer of Cavalier County, who was born in Ontario of German parents. He moved to Cavalier County with his older brother John in 1882, before the county was organized or surveyed. Grafton was the nearest railroad point at that time.
From a modest beginning of farming 160 acres and gifted with a good head for business management, Peter's farm grew to between 4000 and 5000 acres. For a number of years, he was recognized as the largest individual farmer in the northern part of North Dakota. He built a barn 66' x 80' x 36' high to hold a capacity of 125 head of stock. Shortly before his death, Peter had purchased a herd of registered shorthorn cattle. He also raised tammworth hogs and horses.
One of the problems of his day was transporting grain to market. In early years, grain was hauled by horse or oxen drawn wagons to Grafton, then St. Thomas, and eventually, Easby. Because of this, Peter had built his own farm elevator in 1902 on the homeplace. He was just completing a new elevator in Easby in 1906 at the time of his death. A rail grade had been completed from the farm to Easby, but no track was ever laid.
Peter passed away of peritonitis at age 49 after a brief illness.
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Information from Katherine Wild Sinner, 1964:
Peter Wild was born February 28, 1858 at Bayfield, Ontario. He came to North Dakota in March, 1880, and his brother John, came two years later.
He settled on land at Kelso, N.D., not far from Grandin, N.D. He farmed there for two or three years and was drowned out each year. He decided that he had to find land where that wouldn't happen, so he went north and west. He farmed south of Milton for a few years, then he went a few miles west where he settled permanently. John settled on the land near Milton.
While he was at Kelso, he met and married Catherine Fahnlander. They drove up to Milton in a lumber wagon with their first child. The rest were likely born in Osnabrock.
In the 24 years he lived in Cavalier County, coming as a homesteader, his acreage increased from 160 acres to somewhere near 5000 acres. For a number of years he had been recognized as the largest individual farmer in the northern part of the state. He started the Cavalier County Insurance Company and put in the phone line from his home to the Easby Exchange, approximately six miles.
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1861 Canadian Census
Household headed by Kasimir Wyld, Roman Catholic, from Germany, occupation farmer, 34 yo. Wife Catharine, Roman Catholic, from Germany, 34 yo. Daughter Ellen, 7 yo. Son John, 5 yo. Son Peter, 3 yo. House was a log cabin.
1871 Canadian Census, Stanley Township, South Huron, Ontario
(poor quality copy, some unreadable)
Household headed by Cassimire Wild, 44 yo, German, Roman Catholic, occupation farmer. Wife Catherine, 43(?) yo, German, Roman Catholic. Daughter Ellen, 17 yo. Son Peter, 14 yo. Daughter Ester(??), 10 yo. Daughter Ann, 7 yo. Son William(??), 6 yo. Daughter Catherine, 3 yo. Son Magin(??), 1 yo.
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Inventory of properties Peter Wild brought with him to North Dakota:
1 span of horses: $175
1 wagon: $20
1 box of bedding & clothing: $15
1 set of harness: $16
1 box of small trees: $2
2 bushel wheat/1 bushel barley: $2.75
Total: $230.75
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2 Apr 1879, court document
Peter Wild personally appeared before the subscriber, the Clerk of the District Court of Cass County, Dakota Territory, being a Court of Record, and made oath that he was born in Canada on or about the year eighteen hundred and fifty seven, that he emigrated to the United States, and landed at the port of Detroit, Michigan on or about the month of March in the year eighteen hundred and seventy nine, that it is bona fide his intention to become a Citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereighty whatever, and particularly to the Victoria Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, whereof he is a subject, and that he will support the Constitution and Government of the United States.
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Letter from Peter Wild to Catherine Fahnlander, May 2, 1880:
My Dear Katie
I will now make so bold and address a few lines to you hoping you will answer this without delay and not be offended at me for it might be possible that I am not doing right. However faint heart never won the fair lady. If the weather is nice, you will see me next Sunday. I will be going to Fargo and will go as far as your place on Sunday. So if your Father wishes to go along, I would be pleased of his company and will help him to do his business there.
I got home that evening about dark. The road was very bad and I think your nice looks and winning ways kept me a little too long dont you think so. I have been busy sowing, making garden and planting my apple trees. I was pretty green at making garden. Dont you wish you could have been here to show or to give me a lesson? The press is doing very nicely, it seems a little lonesome like myself. I will now close my letter wishing you the compliments of this nice spring weather hoping to hear from you soon. I wish to remain as ever yours true. Peter Wild.
If time here on this leaf
My name inscribed you see
I kindly beg forget-me-not
And do remember me
Peter Wild
Address: Quincy, Traill County District
Goodbye and forget me not
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1880 Federal census -- Trail Territory, Dakota: Peter Wild, 23 year old farmer, born in Ontario, both parents born in Wurtemburg
1885 North Dakota census, Cavalier county
Peter Wild, 28 years old, farmer, born in Canada, both parents born in Germany. Wife Katie, 24 years old, born in Canada, both parents born in Germany. Son John, 4 years old. Son Frank, 2 years old. Son Willie, 4 months old. All children born in Dakotah, parents born in Canada. The next two names to appear in the census are John and Phillip Fahnlander, Katie's brothers, 27 and 22 years old, both of them farmers.
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20 Jan 1894
United States Tree Claim issued to Peter Wild, Timber Culture Certificate No. 208, Application 4265, S1/2 SW1/4, NE1/4 SW1/4 Section 34, Township 160, Range 59, 160 acres. Recorded 18 Jan 1900, Book M, page 178.
13 Jun, 1895, The Milton Globe
There was a big gopher hunt at Peter Wild's place in Osnabrock township last Thursday. About 1000 of the pesky flickertails were destroyed.
28 May 1896, The Saint Paul Globe
Silvery Democrats in Cavalier
Langdon, N.D., May 27 -- The Cavalier county Democratic convention met here this afternoon and elected delegates to the state convention. J.B. Boyd, F.W. McLean, M.H. Murphy, Peter Wild, Sam Egelson, Charles W. Plain, John McBride, J.D. Beauchamp, John McPhail, D. McLaughlin, R. McAllen, M. Dickson, A. McCully, James Hammen, A.I. Koensteadt and Martin Platskow. The resolutions declared for free silver, but the 16 to 1 ratio clause was stricken out.
from "Record: or North Dakota Illustrated, Volume 4" by Clement A. Lounsberry and Walter F. Cushing, 1898:
The Cavalier County Mutual Fire Insurance Company has been organized with Peter Wild, president; I.I. Otten, secretary and treasurer.
19 Feb 1898 Grand Forks Herald
The Langdon Courier-Democrat claims that Peter Wild of Osnabrock began sowing wheat on the 8th inst. It is presumed that he isn't seeding just now.
8 Jun 1899 The Milton Globe
Today is the date for the big gopher hunt out west. Supper will be served at the palatial home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wild after the slaughter and amusement will be provided for the evening.
9 Sep 1899 Grand Forks Herals
Osnabrock, Sept. 8 -- Threshing in this vicinity is a little late, but you can rest assured that when it does commence, we will not be at the rear end. Peter Wild has been hauling in some of this season's crop, which is turning out at the rate of 25 bushels per acre, and grades No. 1 northern.
24 Nov 1899
United States Patent issued to Peter Wild, Certificate No. 15540, SW1/4 SE1/4 Section 3, Township 159, Range 59. 40 acres. Recorded 18 Jan 1900 in Book O, page 104
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3 Jun 1900, District court document
In the matter of the application of Peter Wild to become a citizen of the United States, Francis Sim and Wm Caldwell being severely sworn do depose and say each for himself, that he is well acquainted with the above name Peter Wild, that he has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for five years last past, and for one year last past within the State of North Dakota; and that during the same period he has behaved himself as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.
I Peter Wild do swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America, and that I do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure forever, all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign power, prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatever; and particularly to the Queen of Great Gritain and Ireland whose subject I was. And further that I never have borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the degrees of nobility of the country whereof I have been a subject, and that I have resided in the United States for five years last past, and in this state for one year last past.
And now to-wit: At a term of said Court now being held in Langdon in and for the County of Cavalier in said State; upon the foregoing oath and affidavits, and upon further proof having been made by the production of a certificate that the said Peter Wild on April 2nd, 1879 did, before the Clerk of the District Court of Cass County, the same being a Court of Record, having a common law jurisdiction, make the requisite declaration of his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce all other allegiance as required by the law of the United States.
It is ordererd by the court, that the said Peter Wild is hereby admitted to be a citizen of the United States.
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1900 US Census, Osnabrock, North Dakota
Household headed by Peter Wilds, born Feb 1857, 43 years old, married 20 years, 10 children, all children living, born in Canada Eng, both parents born in Germany, immigrated to US in 1878, in the US for 22 years, citizen, occupation farmer, able to read and write, able to speak English, own (not renting) home, no mortgage, farm (not house). Wife Catharine, born Nov 1860, 39 years old, married 20 years, born in Canada Eng, both parents born in Germany, immigrated to US in 1877, in the US for 23 years, able to read and write, able to speak English. Son John J, born Jun 1881, 19 years old, born in North Dakota, both parents born in Canada Eng, occupation farm laborer. Son Frank, born Jan 1883, 17 years old, born in North Dakota, at school. Son William, born Feb 1885, 15 years old, born in North Dakota, at school. Daughter Catherine A., born Nov 1886, 13 years old, born in North Dakota, at school. Son Peter L., born Dec 1888, 11 years old, born in North Dakota, at school. Son Joseph F., born Sep 1890, 9 years old, born in North Dakota, at school. Son Edward G., born Aug 1892, 7 years old, born in North Dakota, at school. Daughter Olivia M., born Feb 1894, 6 years old, born in North Dakota, at school. Son Ramond, born Feb 1896, 4 years old, born in North Dakota. Daughter Verna L., born Apr 1898, 2 years old, born in North Dakota. The household also included a woman servant and five farm laborers, all men. The woman was 20 years old, born in Austria, immigrated to the US in 1898. Three of the laborers had immigrated from Canada very recently -- in 1900. One laborer had immigrated from Canada in 1890. The fifth laborer was born in Wisconsin to Irish parents. Four of the laborers were in their mid 20's; one was 53 years old.
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16 Dec 1900 Grand Forks Herald
Peter Wild threshed 16,000 bushels of oats from a half section up at Milton, and the Globe in reporting it dropped the ciphers. Better that way than reversed.
13 Nov 1901
United States Patent issued to Peter Wild, Certificate No. 16070, SE1/4 SE1/4 Section 4, Township 159, Range 59. 40 acres. Recorded 27 Dec 1901 in Book O, page 295
17 Jul 1902 Grand Forks Herald
Peter Wild is building a 40,000 bushel elevator at Milton.
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16 Aug 1902, Bismarck Daily Tribune
Warrants paid from wolf bounty fund
Peter Wild $2
Institutions, Interest and Income Fund, State University
Peter Wild $7.80
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- Letter by Peter Wild, 6 September 1902
Dear Brother and Sister and Grandma
With sad heart I must tell you that Johny our oldest son fell into the fly wheel of the Engine today and was torn to pieces. Katie dont know it yet. I had to send him to Langdon right from the machine. He will be buried tomorrow. Katie has been sick for a few days. I must tell her tomorrow it was just an accident. Katie will write you.
Peter Wild
(ed. note: Katie was pregnant when their 21 year old son John Joseph Wild was accidentally killed on September 6, 1902. She gave birth to a son on September 29; he was named John Clarence Wild.)
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17 Sep 1902, The Minneapolis journal
Milton, N.D. - J. Wild, aged 22 years, son of Peter Wild, residing ten miles west, was killed to-day by falling against the fly wheel of a threshing engine while it was running.
17 Sep 1902 Grand Forks Herald
Horrible death of young John Wild, son of one of Cavalier County's most prominent farmers
Yesterday was a day of casualties in the northern part of the state...Yesterday morning John Wild, son of Peter Wild, who lives four miles south of Osnabrock, was instantly killed while working on the engine of his father's threshing outfit. The young man had charge of the engine, and on Monday night some repairs were needed. These were partially made, and yesterday morning the engine was in condition to work, but did not work perfectly. About 10 o'clock the young engineer was engaged in adjusting something about the dome while the engine was in motion. His foot slipped and he fell, his head striking the inner side of the fly wheel, which was rapidly revolving. The inner side of this wheel is toothed, to connect with the traction apparatus, and the head of the unfortunate youth was caught in this gearing and was literally smashed to pieces. All was over in an instant, and nothing could be done except to prepare the fragments of the body for interment. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon.
The young man was about 21 years of age, and was the eldest son in the family. His father is one of the largest farmers in Cavalier county, and operates over 2000 acres of land. A sad feature is the fact that the unfortunate young man's mother is in such delicate health that it was not considered safe to inform her of the accident, and she is still in ignorance of the fact that anything unusual has happened.
18 Sept 1902 The Princeton union, Princeton, Minnesota
Beheaded by a Thresher
Horrible Death of a Young Man in North Dakota
Grand Forks, N.D., Sept. 17 -- Four miles south of Osnabrock, on the big farm of Peter Wild, John Wild, aged twenty-one, eldest son of the proprietor, was instantly killed in a most horrible manner. He was acting as engineer on his father's threshing machine and was making repairs about the top of the engine. His foot slipped and he fell into the whirling fly wheel and his head was torn off by the cogs of the traction gear. Before the engine could be stopped nothing was left of the young man but a headless corpse.
8 Jun 1903
United States Patent issued to Peter Wild (assigned by Louis Kempff), Homestead Certificate No. 6575, Application 19462, SW1/4 NW1/4 Section 4, Township 159, Range 59. 40 acres. Recorded 3 Aug 1905 in Book 3, Page 379.
1904 Biennial report of the State Treasurer of North Dakota:
Peter Wild, wolf bounty $2.50
20 May 1904, The Minneapolis Journal
Wanted - A good cook on farm; Japanese or Chinaman preferred, for six months; things convenient. Address Peter Wild, Osnabrock, N.D.
5 Sep 1905 Grand Forks Herald
Peter Wild has thirteen binders going constantly cutting his large crop. The cutting will be all done in a few days.
21 Jan 1906 Grand Forks Herald
Peter Wild, who was here from Osnabrock during the week, is one of the successful farmers of Cavalier county. Mr. Wild located there back in the early eighties with no capital, and took up a claim. Within a very few years he was able to add to his original claim an adjoining farm by purchase, and has been adding others ever since, until he now owns about thirty quarter sections of as fine land as there is in the state, and is able to take life easy. He is one of the progressive kind of farmers.
12 Apr 1906 Grand Forks Herald
R.L. Smith has returned from Osnabrock. He is making plans for a 35,000 bushel elevator for Peter Wild at that point.
19 Apr 1906 Grand Forks Herald
Easby, April 17 -- Peter Wild, our big farmer has secured at site from the Great Northern Railway company and will build a new modern grain elevator in Easby. He also intends to build a new dwelling house in our town.
26 Apr 1906 Grand Forks Herald
Architect R.L. Smith is at work on plans for remodeling the farm house of Peter Wild, a prominent farmer of Osnabrock. The improvements will cost about $7500 and will give Mr. Wild a seventeen-room house, modern in every detail. He will also have additional quarters for his farm help outside.
4 May 1906 Grand Forks Herald
Peter Wild will erect a thirty thousand bushel elevator at Easby and also a modern residence costing $4000.
20 Jun 1906 Grand Forks Herald
Easby, N.D., June 19 -- Peter Wild has commenced operations on his new elevator at this station. He is building a modern house of thirty thousand bushels capacity.
10 Jul 1906 Grand Forks Herald
Edward Tierney and Charles Furman have gone to Easby, where they will construct a large elevator on the farm of Peter Wild. It will have a capacity of 45,000 bushels.
6 Aug 1906 Grand Forks Herald
Easby, Aug 6. -- Peter Wild has the frame of his new elevator up and will have it completed before the crop moves.
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18 Aug 1906 Grand Forks Herald
DEATH OF PETER WILD
Occurred at the family home in Osnabrock without any intimation of the unexpected visitor
A telephone message received late yesterday afternoon by relatives in this city conveyed the news of the sudden death of Peter Wild, Osnabrock, one of the first settlers and best known residents of Cavalier county. The news came as a shocking surprise, as nothing was known here of Mr. Wild's illness, and his sudden demise being due to an attack of peritonitis.
Mr. Wild located in the Red river valley in 1876, on a quarter section of land near the Elm river, in Traill county. In 1880 he was married to Miss Katie Fahnlender, sister of J.P. Fahnlender of this city, and a few years later removed to Cavalier county, where he has since resided and accumulated a comfortable fortune. He was about 50 years of age and leaves besides his mourning wife and eleven children, his brother, John Wild, of Milton, Mrs. Geo. Wier of Milton, and several brothers and sisters in Bayfield, Huron county, Ontario, his birthplace.
The funeral will be held from his residence near Osnabrock next Sunday morning, and the remains will be taken to their last resting place in the gamily lot in the Catholic cemetery at Langdon.
Relatives and a number of friends from this city will attend the funeral services.
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21 Aug 1906 Grand Forks Herald
The funeral of the late Peter Wild was held from the family home near Osnabrock Sunday morning to the Langdon Catholic church. It was largely attended and the high esteem in which Mr. Wild was held in the community was shown by the large number who paid the last sad rites, following the remains to their final resting place in the Langdon cemetery.
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From the front page of "The Cavalier County Republican", 23 Aug 1906
PETER WILD DIED SUDDENLY
The community was very much surprised to hear Friday noon that Peter Wild had died that morning at his home in Osnabrock township from an acute attack of peritonitis, which disease appeared so suddenly, and terminated fatally so quickly, that his neighbors scarcely knew that he was sick. All medical aid that could be summoned was procured, but nothing could be done to stay the progress of the fatal ailment.
But two days previous to his death, Mr. Wild was around seemingly as well as ever, but Wednesday night, when he left Easby, where he was supervising the building of his grain elevator, he remarked that he was not feeling well. Little did his friends suspect that he would be dead inside of 36 hours.
The remains were brought to Langdon for internment, and the funeral service was held in the Catholic Church Sunday afternoon, in the presence of a very large number of old friends. The procession to the cemetery was one of the largest ever witnessed here and included 80 teams.
Mr. Wild was one of the early pioneers in Cavalier County. He settled here in 1884 and during all these years continued to live on the land which he originally secured, to which he had since added to, until he was the owner of the largest farm in the county and which included over 3000 acres all of which were under his personal management. He was a great hustler, and had the faculty of instilling the same spirit into everybody around him, which accounts in a great measure for the accumulation of the large estate which he leaves.
He leaves a widow and eleven children, besides a brother and sister in this county and several others in Huron county, Ontario, the old home.
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Obituary:
DEATH OF PETER WILD
A Pioneer Cavalier County Resident and Successful Farmer Has Passed Away
IS MOURNED BY MANY FRIENDS
Fatal End of Illness After Few Days Sickness Peritonitis the Dread Disease -- A Busy and Useful Career Cut Short in Prime of Life -- Big Funeral Sunday Afternoon
Peter Wild, one of Cavalier county's early pioneer and best known residents died Friday afternoon at his home near Osnabrock after a short struggle of but two days with that dreaded disease, peritonitis. Mr. Wild had been unwell for some days, but it was not until Wednesday afternoon that he took to his bed. During the past few weeks many homes in and around Langdon have been stricken by the hand of death, but in this instance the blow falls on both the family and many friends of the deceased with a more crushing weight than is usual. The shock caused by news of his unexpected death came with a suddenness that made it almost impossible to believe by those who had seen him on the streets of Langdon only a few days previous. He was in the prime of manhood having only reached his forty-ninth year last February. He had about reached the realization of his life's ambition as a successful farmer and was ready to enjoy the fruits of the years of hard work. It was twenty-four years ago that Mr. Wild first came to Cavalier county, having previously resided in Trail county four years since coming to North Dakota in the spring of 1878. When Mr. Wild first arrived in Cavalier county in 1882 with the early settlers, his beginning was small, farming a 160 farm, which with his capacity for business management has grown into an estate estimated as consisting of anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 acres. He has for a number of years been recognized as the largest individual farmer in the northern part of the state. All his friends and neighbors recognized him as being a fine type of self made men of this Northwestern country and the sudden termination of his active and exemplary career brings a loss not alone to the bereaved family but to neighbors and friends for miles around.
Deceased was born in Bayfield, Ontario on the 28th day of February, 1857, and besides a wife and eleven sons and daughters is mourned by several brothers and sisters. Among the later are Mrs. George Weir of Milton, Mr. John Wild of Milton, Mrs. George Campbell, of Blake, Ont., and Miss Maggie Wild who still resides on the old family homestead at Bayfield, Ont.
The funeral was held Sunday from the residence near Osnabrock, the services occurring at St. Alphonsus church. The attendant procession of mourners accompanying the remains being one of the largest known for a number of years past.
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1857 - 1906 (49 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
