WALLACE B. DOUGLAS In 1875 the subject of this sketch graduated from the Ann Arbor law school, and in 1883 he came to Minnesota, locating in Moorhead, Clay county, where he has since resided. He applied himself industriously to the practice of his profession, and in a few years came to be regarded as one of the leading attorneys of the Red River valley.  He has had no ambition save that which has had his profession as a center, and his occasional incursions into the field of politics have been entirely incidental to the chief purpose of his life. 

During the quiet years of his life in Clay county, Mr. Douglas came to be city attorney of Moorhead, which position he held for four years, and county attorney of Clay county, to which last named office he was elected three times. For almost a dozen years he was a member of the Moorhead public school board. In 1894 and again in 1896 he was elected to the legislature as a Republican, and before the Republican state convention of 1896 he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the office of attorney general, developing a strength in that canvass which was highly gratifying to friends and himself. Mr. Douglas political sun has risen very quickly and in an unclouded day. At the present time he stands with perhaps half a dozen men from various sections of the state as one of the acknowledged leaders of the younger and more progressive element in the Republican party, and the temptation to make politics his principal business is a strong one. But as already stated, he prefers to be best known as an attorney, and will permit nothing to interfere with the career which is opening up so propitiously before him at the bar.

Sir William Douglas, who emigrated to America from Scotland in 1660, is the direct ancestor of Mr. Douglas, who through this Baron of the days of the Stuart kings traces his ancestry back to the red and black Douglas’s, whom played so conspicuous a part in earlier Scotch history. It is believed that Mr.  Douglas is Scotch by both of these first American parents; at any rate, Scotch given names have predominated in the American branch of the family, as witness his own name, Wallace.

In matters of recreation Mr. Douglas is known as an enthusiastic sportsman, and an expert with the rifle and shot gun. He belongs to that class who believe good habits and good fellowship can go hand in hand. He was born in Leyden, Lewis County, New York, September 21, 1852. His father was A. M. Douglas, a farmer, and his mother, Alma E.  Miller. He received a common school education, and attended the law department of Michigan State University, graduating there, as already related, in 1875. It was on a dairy farm, milking cows, that he earned his first dollar. Mr. Douglas’ Republicanism is inherited, and he never has belonged to any other party. As a political speaker he takes high rank, and during the last few campaigns he was in constant demand in the northern sections of the state. Three secret societies claim him as an active member, the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.  In 1881, May 19, Mr. Douglas was married to Ella M. Smith, and the union has been blessed with two children. Harold H. and Lulu L.

CARROLL ANDERSON NYE The subject of this sketch is a brother of the lamented humorist, Edgar Wilson Nye, better known to fame as “Bill Nye,” who died at his home in North Carolina, February 22, 1896; also of Frank M. Nye, county attorney of Hennepin County, Minnesota. The Nye family is of French and English descent on the mother’s side, and French and Welsh on the father’s. The father, Franklin Nye, was a farmer in rather poor circumstances. The mother’s maiden name was Eliza M. Loring. Both parents were originally from the state of Maine, moving from that state to Wisconsin in 1852, and following farming in St. Croix County until 1885.

Carroll Anderson Nye was born in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, February 3, 1861. He attended the common school during the winters, and, as usual in the case of farmers’ boys, worked on the farm during the summer, until he was seventeen years of age. He then attended, for several terms, the state normal school at River Falls, Wisconsin, in the meantime also teaching school several terms. The first money Mr. Nye ever earned was by working by the month on a farm in his home state. After leaving school he commenced the study of law with his brother, Frank M. Nye, who at that time was located in Wisconsin. He entered the State University of Wisconsin later, graduating from the law department in the class of 1886. In January, 1887, he came to Minnesota, locating at Moorhead, and commenced the practice of law. When Mr. Nye commenced the practice of his profession at Moorhead he had no money and was in debt, having earned the money by his own efforts with which to pursue his studies. He is now in comfortable circumstances and enjoys an extensive practice. He has held the office of city attorney of Moorhead for four terms, and is now serving his second term as county attorney of Clay County.

In politics Mr. Nye is independent. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  His church affiliations are with the Congregational body, and he is a regular attendant and supporter of the First Congregational church of Moorhead, though not a member of any church organization. He was married December 30, 1886, to Miss Mary Gordon, of Madison, Wisconsin.  They have one child. James Gordon, aged five.

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