A. H. Laughlin

A. H. Laughlin, pictured here, wrote a good deal of the early history of the county. The picture appeared in the January 11, 1895 edition of the BISMARCK WEEKLY TRIBUNE. An article found in THE SHELDON PROGRESS dated April 23, 1909 interested me a good deal, and I quote it here: “A. H. Laughlin and son Leigh, of Lisbon autoed up from the county capital on Tuesday, but before reaching town the machine began to buck and they had quite a time reaching their destination. After their arrival the machine was put under the care of auto doctor Geo. Severson, who finally got it in shape to resume its travels but not till the shades of night had fallen, so the return trip was postponed till the following day. Mr. Laughlin is accumulating material for a history of the early days of this portion of the state and is full of reminiscent stories of that period. THE PROGRESS man acknowledges a pleasant call and an addition to his stock of historical knowledge.”

Much more to come re Laughlin, but a question arises: what make of car was he driving? If memory serves, a brand of car make, Queen, was sold in Lisbon about 1907-08. The Queen was an American automobile manufactured between 1904 and 1907 in Detroit, Michigan. Built by the C.H. Blomstrom Motor Company, Queens were chain-driven, and were one-, two-, or four-cylinder cars. The 1906 Queen was available as a 14 hp and 18 hp twin or as a 26/28 hp four. Was it one of these?