Millard F. Washb urn, one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Griggs county, has resided in the township which bears his name for the past twenty years, and has been intimately connected with the history and development of that region. He has a fine farm in section 20, in which section he first settled, and is now enjoying the fruits of his labors in North Dakota.

Our subject was born on a farm in Lake county, Illinois. April 25, 1848, and was the youngest in a family of nine children, born to Seth and Ora (Warren) Washburn. His father was a native of Vermont, and settled in Illinois in the early 1840s.

Millard F. Washburn, at the age of seven years, went with his parents to Red Wing, Minnesota, where he finished his education and grew to manhood. He was engaged with the American Express Company five years, and with the Red Wing Milling Company three years, and in the spring of 1 88 1 went to Griggs county. North Dakota. He filed claim to land with the government surveyors, who were then working in the county, and he has lived on the original claim continuously since. He has met with success as a farmer and now enjoys a good income.

Our subject was married, near Cooperstown, in 1883, to Miss Maria Hussel, a native of St. Clair county, Michigan. Mrs. Washburn was born November 10, 1855, and was a daughter of Andrew and Maria (Klingler) Hussel, who followed farming in Michigan. Her father was a soldier in a Michigan regiment during the Civil war, and served two years. Mrs. Washburn was one of the seven children born to this worthy couple. Her father was a successful farmer, and is now living in retirement in St. Clair county, Michigan. Mr. Washburn is chairman of the board of supervisors of Washburn township, and has always taken an active part in local affairs, and the township of Washburn was named in honor of his services. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 296