Title: Mosher Family
Dates: 1880-1970s
Collection Number: MSS 11183
Quantity: 3.5 feet + oversized
Abstract: Consists of materials from the Mosher family, including correspondence, schoolwork from Erie High School, outline of books read, reference letter for Manetta Mosher, autograph book of Libby Mosher, diaries and account books of Alfred Mosher and family photographs and negatives.
Alfred Mosher was born in New York ca. 1833. He made his way to Watertown (MI) and then enlisted in Company G, Wisconsin 32nd Infantry Regiment on November 19, 1863. He mustered out on July 12, 1865 at Louisville (KY). After the war, he continued living in Watertown, and by 1880 was living in Manitowoc Rapids (WI) and was married to Persia Parker. Sometime in the late 1880s the Mosher family moved to Erie (Cass County (ND). Alfred worked as a carpenter until his death in Minneapolis (MN) on November 10, 1920.
Harry Walker Mosher was the son of Alfred and Persia (Parker) Baker. He was born September 28, 1876 in Manitowoc Rapids (WI). By 1900, he married Emma Mosher and resided in Cass County (ND), where he was a dealer in General Merchandise. Harry Mosher died August 27, 1950 in Los Angeles.
Manetta Persis (Mosher) Torguson was a daughter of Harry and Emma Mosher. She was born in Cass County (ND) on January 21, 1902. She was educated in Cass County (ND) schools and married Edwin C. Torguson. By 1930, they resided in Los Angeles (CA). Manetta Torguson passed away in Jackson, Oregon on June 17, 1990.
Provenance: The collection was donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by Eleanor Torguson on July 12, 2013.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: One photograph was transferred to the Wisconsin Historical Society and two artifacts were offered to the Museum Division of the State Historical Society of North Dakota in September 2013.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Correspondence (Mostly to Mannetta Mosher, also to Arthur and Alfred Mosher), 1902-1928
2 Manetta Mosher schoolwork (Erie High School), outline of books read, reference letter, ca. 1914-1923
3 Libby Mosher (Harry’s sister) autograph book, 1880-1881
4 Alfred Mosher diaries and account books, 1881-1903
Wage record and account book, Alfred Mosher, October 1882-December 1882
Diary and account book, Alfred Mosher, May 1881-February 1883
Account book, Alfred Mosher, 1888-1890
Diary, Alfred Mosher, May 1901-December 1902
Diary, Alfred Mosher, December 1902-December 1903
5 Photographs and negatives (11183-02 – 11183-16) (see inventory below)
Box 2: Certificates, Manetta Mosher - attendance, district 52 Cass County (ND), 1912-1914; national letter writing contest, school children of America certificate of merit, excellence in composition, 1913
Oversize (map case drawer): 11183-01
Photographs Inventory
11183-01 Bird’s eye view, Erie (ND), 1905
11183-02 Black’s annual picnic, group in front of electric streetcar, Fargo (ND), ca. 1910
11183-03 View of Red river and trees along bank, in or near Fargo (ND), ca. 1910
11183-04 Plowing, Harvesting and Threshing scenes at Erie (ND) postcard, ca. 1905 (published by Mosher & Nutting)
11183-05 Aerial view of NDSU campus, ca. 1970s
11183-06 Red River Mall, Fargo (ND)/Moorhead (MN) postcard, ca. 1970s
11183-07 Aerial view of Fargo (ND) postcard, ca. 1970s
11183-08 Missouri River ferry Marion at Mandan (ND), August 1923
11183-09 – 11183-16 Harry and Emma Mosher golden anniversary photographs, ca. November 1949
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