William Budge, the efficient postmaster of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is a pioneer settler of that region. He was born in the north of Scotland, October 11, 1852.
The parents of our subject, John and Jean (Budge) Budge, were natives of Scotland, and the father was a farmer and died in Scotland and the mother afterward emigrated to America, and died in this country.
Our subject remained in his native place until he was sixteen years of age, and in 1869 cattle to Northwest Territory, with the Hudson's Bay Company, and was employed by that company one year in the Northwest Territory. He went to Pembina, North Dakota, in 1870, and began work for W. C. Nash, in the brick yard and after the summer went to Turtle river, and there brunt a station for the stage company with George Winship, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. They operated the place three seasons, and in 1874 he went to Grand Forks, and has since made his home in that city. He went to the Black Hills in 1876, and was engaged in freighting from Bismarck and was thus engaged two years. He started a store at Kelly's Point, and conducted the same for some time, and then returned to Grand Forks and engaged in the real estate business. He was chairman of the county board in 1875, and in 1880 was appointed sheriff and resigned after six months service in that capacity. He has served as a member of the board of trustees of the State University, and was appointed postmaster at Grand Forks in July, 1898. He also conducts a grain and commission business in Grand Forks and is well-to-do. He was one of the directors of the Citizens National Bank, and was president of the same for some time. He was also once interested in the First National Bank.
Our subject was married in 1890 to Miss Minnie Grow, a native of New York. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Budge, who bear the names of Alexander and Jean. He was a member of the constitutional convention, and holds membership in the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias and Elks. He is a stanch Republican politically.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 173