Haile Chisholm, the son of William H. and Eunice Diana (Fillmore) Chisholm, was born October 22, 1851 at Chazy, New York.  At the age of 10 he began learning the blacksmith trade from his father and at the age of 14 went to work for a smithy.  In 1869 Mr. Chisholm secured a position with the Central Vermont Railway Company at St. Albans, Vermont in the locomotive shops.  Due to a recession he was terminated. He then moved to North Fairfax, Vermont where he eventually established his own blacksmith shop.  On July 30, 1877 he married Mary Cordelia Butler of St. Albans, the daughter of Wilder Pierce and Rebecca (Royce) Butler.  They had two children; Anna, and Mary.  Mr. Chisholm returned to work at Central Vermont Railway Company but with no possibility of advancement he went west, settling in Edmunds County, South Dakota in 1885.  But the venture proved unsuccessful and in October, 1888 he began work in the Fargo shop of the Northern Pacific Railway.  He moved his family to Fargo and worked for Northern Pacific until 1902 when the shops moved to Dilworth.  That fall he became Instructor in Forging and Metal Works at the North Dakota Agricultural College where he remained until retiring in1937 at the age of 85.  Mr. Chisholm gained wide fame as a metal design craftsman.  He created the main gates at the College, the Roosevelt memorial gate, as well as other works at the College and North Dakota towns.  In recognition of his artistry and work he received, on February 24, 1931, the honorary degree of Master of Artisans from the North Dakota Agricultural College as well as honors from the North Dakota Legislature, State Supreme Court, and State Board of Higher Education.

Mr. Chisholm continued to reside in Fargo after retirement with his daughter, Anna.  Mrs. Chisholm died November 1, 1931.  He was a member of the Quarter Century Club at NDAC, and very active in the First Methodist Church.  On March 28, 1951, Mr. Chisholm died and was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. 
 

Haile Chisholm Papers  |  Personal and Family Papers