HISTORY
OF
Clay and Norman Counties
Minnesota
THEIR PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS
JOHN TURNER
AND
C K. SEMLING
Joint Editors
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRAl^ED
1918
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
Indianapolis, Indiana
CONTENTS.
VOLUME I.
CLAY COUNTY.
CHAPTER I— RELATED STATE HISTORY 33
A Review of the History of the State of Minnesota From the Days of
the Louisiana Purchase to the Present Day — Establishment of Ft. Snell-
ing — Indian Treaties — Establishment of Territorial Government — The Coun-
cil at Traverse des Sioux and Other Treaties Whereby the Indians Relin-
quished Their Claims to Lands Now Comprising the State of Minnesota —
Unrest Among the Indians — Townsite Speculation — Coming of the Rail-
roads— Sioux Uprising of 1862 — Period of Development Following the Civil
War — Agricultural Interests and Matters of a General Statistical Character
With Reference to the Resources of the State, Concluding With a
Chronological Epitome of the Chief Incidents Relating to the Develop-
ment of the State.
CHAPTER II— CLAY COUNTY, MINNESOTA 59
Boundaries, Area and Topography of the County, Together With a Word
of Introduction Concerning the Beginning of White Settlement Here and
the Gradual Development of the Resources of This Section of the Great
Red River Valley— First White Settlers— Failure of Ambitious Project to
Create a City, "Lafayette," at the Mouth of the Cheyenne, and the Coming
of R. M. Probstfield, the First Permanent Settler in the County— Some
"First" Events and Summary of Recent Statistical Survey.
CHAPTER III— GEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL FEATURES 63
Warren Upham's Geological Survey of This Region Made the Basis of
a Technical Description of the Land Formation Hereabout, Together With
Topographical Data and a Learned Description of the Great Glacial Lake
Agassiz, the Chapter Concluding With a Comprehensive and Illuminative
Soil Survey of the Red River Valley, by E. C. Sprague, Whose Paper on
Conditions in This Wonderful Valley of "the Nile of the North" Covers
Crop and Soil Conditions Most Entertainingly.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV— ORGANIZATION AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 74
Here Is Presented Briefly But Comprehensively a General Statement of
Official Procedure in This County From the Day of the County's Erection
in 1872 to the Present Day — Court House and Jail — Formation of Civil
Townships — Commissioners' Proceedings — Election Districts Defined —
Organization of School Districts — Building of Roads and Bridges — Finances,
Assessed Valuation by Towns and Villages, Real Estate Increase, Bonded
Indebtedness, Drainage and Other Details Relating to the Common Ac-
tivities of the Commonwealth of Clay.
CHAPTER V— COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION 92
This Chapter Carries a Complete Roster of Those Elective Officers Who
Have Served Clay County in an Official Public Capacity Since the Days
of the Creation of the County, Including Lists of Congressmen, State
Senators and Representatives, District Court Judges, County Auditors,
Registers of Deeds, Sheriffs, County Attorneys, Probate Judges, Coroners,
Surveyors, Clerks of Court, County Treasurers, County Commissioners, Su-
perintendents of Public Instruction and County Commissioners, Together
With a Roster of the Present County Officers, a Statement Regarding the
Salaries Received by the Same, and a Digest of the Presidential Election
Returns From This County Since 1884.
CHAPTER VI— TOWNSHIP HISTORY ^ 100
In This Chapter There Is Set Out Briefly the Details Regarding the
Organization of the Thirty Townships in Clay County, Together With
Many Interesting Facts Relating to the Conditions Existing in These
Townships in the Early Days of Settlement — List of Original Landowners
and Facts Regarding Towns and Villages — Review Presented in Alpha-
betical Order of the Townships of Alliance, Barnesville, Cromwell, Eglon,
Elkton, Elmwood, Felton, Flowing, Georgetown, Goose Prairie, Glyndon,
Hagen, Hawley, Highland Grove, Holy Cross, Humboldt, Keene, Kragnes,
Kurtz, Moland, Moorhead, Morken, Oakport, Parke. Riverton, Skree, Spring
Prairie, Tansem, Ulen and Viding.
CHAPTER VII— AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS OF CLAY COUNTY 154
In the History of Any County Situated in an Almost Purely Agricultural
Region, As Is This, the Chapter Relating to Farming and Farming Methods
Ought to Be the Most Interesting One of the Series, and This Chapter Is
No Exception; for Here Are Set Out in Interesting Fashion Such Details
as Are Particularly Informative With Relation to the Agricultural Interests
of Clay County — Farmers' Clubs and Young People's Farm Contests — Soil
Tests — Farmers' Bureau and Agricultural Societies — Amazing Development
of Potato Culture — "Father of the Potato Industry" — Dairying and the
Creamery Industry — Silos — Stock Raising — Official Record of Farm Names —
Urban Conveniences on the Farm — Crop Summary and General Farm Sta-
tistics, the Chapter Closing With Fitting Reference to Many of the Individual
Farmers of the County Whose Operations Have Met With Distinctive
Success.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII— EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF CLAY COUNTY 175
Former County Superintendent John Turner Has in This Chapter Given
a Most Comprehensive and Entertaining Review of the Development of
the Public Schools of Clay County, Beginning With the Days When Indian
Youngsters Were in the Majority Among the Pupils of the Pioneer Schools
— "The School of Nature" — First School in County— Early Rural Schools
Roster of Superintendents of Public Instruction — Statistics Relating to the
Growth of the Schools — Consolidated Schools — Comparative School Tax
School Funds and Apportionment — School Officers and Teachers— State
State School System — Hope Academy — Bishop Whipple School— Concordia
College and the State Normal School at Moorhcad.
CHAPTER IX— CHURCHES OF CLAY COUNTY 197
Herein Is Found a Review of the Various Church Organizations of Clay
County From the Earliest Years of Settlement, Including the Names of
the Charter Members of Most of These Organizations and a List of the
Pastors Who Have Served the Same, All the Leading Religious Denomi-
nations Being Thus Represented, Including the Congregational, Presby-
terian, German Evangelical, English Evangelical, Methodist Episcopal, Nor-
wegian Lutheran, Swedish Lutheran, Scandinavian Lutheran, Catholic, Ger-
man Lutheran, United Lutheran, Episcopal and Baptist.
CHAPTER X— NEWSPAPERS OF CLAY COUNTY 212
It Was Not Many Months After the Beginning of a Social Order Hereabout
I'ntil the "Red River Star" Appeared to Shed Light on the Situation and
Ever Since Then This Region Has Been Well and Ably Represented
in the Domain of the_ Fourth Estate, the County Scat and the Various
Villages of the County Having Newspapers That Intelligently and Com-
petently Cover Their Respective Fields, and a List of Which, Together
With Details Concerning the Founding of These Several Newspapers, Is
Set Out in the Chapter Plere Indicated.
CHAPTER XI— PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS IN CLAY COUNTY 217
From the Time in 1871 When Dr. John Kurtz Appeared on This Then
Frontier of Western Civilization to Act as Physician in the Construc-
tion Camps of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to the Present
Day, Clay County Has Had Able Representation Among the Disciples of
^sculapius and in This Chapter There Is Set Out a List of the Physicians
Who Have Thus Served This Community, Together With Brief Biographies
of Many of Them, as Well as a Roster of the Present Members of the
Medical Profession in This County and a History of the Several Hospitals
That Are Serving Their Beneficent Purpose in the Community.
CHAPTER XII— BENCH AND BAR OF CLAY COUNTY 223
Courts and Lawyers Have Ever Played an Important Part in the Work
of Development Marking the Progress of Communities and the Part
Thus Taken by These Agents of Society in the Development of This
Community Has Been Both Honorable and Conspicuous— History of the
CONTENTS.
District Court, With Brief Biographies of the Judges Who Have Occupied
Positions on the Bench Thereof — History of the Bar of Clay County. Carrying
a Roster of tlic Attorneys Who Flave Been Connected Therewith, as Well
as a Bit of Interesting Biographical Mention of Many of Them.
CH.APTER XIII— BANKS OF CLAY COUNTY 230
Nineteen Banks in Clay County Carry Deposits of Three Millions of
Dollars — More Than Seventy Farmers in the County are Stockholders in
Some One or More of the Banks of the County — Strong and Admirably
Managed Financial Institutions Maintain a High Standard of Credit for the
Community — List of the Banks Now Doing Business in the County, To-
gether With Brief Histories of Their Respective Organizations, a List
of Officers and Current Statements of Condition.
CHAPTER XIV— RAILROAD AND RIVER TRANSPORTATION 242
From the Days of the Lumbering Red River Carts That Served as Mediums
of Transportation for the Important Traffic of the Hudson Bay Company
to the Present Day of the Steel Vcstibulcd Transcontinental Railroad
"Flyers" That Go Thundering Along the Ways Followed by the Old Trails
Is Not a Long Time Measured in Years, But Vast Have Been the Changes
Effected in Methods— Steamboating on the Red River Back in the 70s^
Great Land Grants for Purposes of Encouraging Railroad Construction —
Northern Pacific Railroad — Great Northern System — Some Interesting Side-
lights on Earlier Methods of Transportation.
CHAPTER XV— MILITARY HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY 246
During the Days of the Civil War There Was No Such a Civic Entity as
Clay County, Hence This County Had No Part in the Great Struggle
Between the States; But in the Spanish-American War and in the American
Participation in the Great War Following the Declaration of War Against
Germany in the Spring of 1917. .Admirable Response Was Made to the Call
to .'\rms — Something Relating to the Local Organization of the Grand
.Army of the Republic.
CHAPTER XVI— FRATERNAL ORDERS IN CLAY COUNTY 250
Responding to That Noble Instinct Which Recognizes the Common Brother-
hood of Man, the Early Settlers of Clay County Lost Little Time in
Organizing Local Benevolent and Fraternal Organizations After Orderly
Settlements Began to Be Formed Here and There Have Come to Be
Organized in the County Numerous Lodges of Secret Societies Which
Are Quietly and Effectively Doing the Work for Which They Were Organ-
ized and a List of Which Is Set Out in the Chapter Here Indicated.
CHAPTER XVII— CITY OF MOORHEAD, THE COUNTY SEAT 259
"Key City of Minnesota," as It Was Styled in the Old Frontier Days,
Was Founded in 1871 and When Clay County Was Formally Organized
as a Civic Entity in the Following Year Was Made the County Seat, Which
Position of Eminence It Ever Since Has Occupied, Moorhead Gradually
CONTENTS.
Developing Until It has Long Been Recognized as the Chief City of This
Section of Minnesota — Interesting Events in the Early Days of the City
Review, of Conditions in 1874 — Disastrous Fires— Industrial Development-
Municipal History— Postoffice, Public Library and a Business Directory
for 1917.
CHAPTER XVIII— EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OF EASTERN CLAY
COUNTY 279
Reminiscences of Alvide Anderson Covering Recollections Dating Back to
1880 Presented in a Fashion to Awaken Memories of Other Days in the
Minds of Old Settlers and to Prove of Informative Interest to Those of
the Present Generation to Whom This Whole Volume Ought to Be a
Veritable Mine of Information Concerning Incidents of Other Days — Early
Modes of Travel — Woman's Part in the Settlement — School Reminiscences
— Grasshoppers — Mail and Marketing — Prairie Fires — Prices in Early Times
and an Illuminating Comparison Between Conditions Then and Now.
CHAPTER XIX— MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS 1 .288
Here Will Be Found a Series of Brief Historical Narratives Covering
Points That Could Not Conveniently Be Covered in Preceding Chapters.
Such as Matters Relating to Postoffices in Clay County, Local Fire Insur-
ance Companies. Population Statistics, Original Village Plats, Market Quo-
tations, Early Weather Reports, Temperature and Precipitation, Telephone
Service, How Holy Cross Township Got Its Name and. Finally, and Quite
Fittingly, a Poem, "Clay County," by John Turner, and a Statement Con-
cerning the Naming of That County.
NORMAN COUNTY.
CHAPTER I— GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES 299
Generally Level Trend of the Surface of Norman County, the Highest
Point in the County Being "Frenchman's Bluff," in Flom Township— Nat-
ural Drainage by Way of the Basin of the Wild Rice River— Artifi-
cial Drainage Provided by Hundreds of Miles of Ditches— Artesian Wells
— Timber — Grasses and Fruits.
CHAPTER II— COUNTY ORGANIZATION ■"'-
Statement Regarding the Legislative Act of February. 1881, by Which Nor-
man County Was Set Off From Polk County, and of the Later Transfer
of the Sixteen Congressional Townships Now Comprised Within Mahno-
men County in 1906— First Official Proceedings of the County-Location
of County Seat— Erection of Present Court House— County Finances.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III— COUNTY AND STATE OFFICIALS 3.12
In This Chapter There Is Set Out a Complete Roster of All Who Have
Served Norman County In an Official Capacity From the Days of Its Organ-
ization to the Present, Including a List of State Senators and Representatives,
County Auditors, Treasurers, Sheriffs, Registers of Deeds, Judges of Probate,
County Attorneys, Surveyors, Coroners, Clerks of the District Court, School
Superintendents, Court Commissioners, County Commissioners, and County
Physicians, Together With a Review of Local Political Conditions and a
Digest of the Presidential Vote Since 1884.
CHAPTER IV— COUNTY GOVERNMENT 318
Here is Presented a Review of Conditions That Confronted the Commission-
ers Upon Taking Up the Work of Organization In the New County of Nor-
man— Notes From the Minutes of the Board — First Plat Made for the County
— Settlement With Polk County — Bonds Authorized — Farmers Alliance
Organization Urged — Various Acts of the Commissioners and a Word Con-
cerning Drainage. Roads and Bridges and County Finances, Closing With
Some Statistical Figures and a Roster of the Present County Officers.
CHAPTER V— RAILROADS AND TRANSPORTATION 331
Coming of the Railroad Into Norman County During the Middle '70s
Opened a New Era for This Region — Reference to Other Roads that Never
Got Beyond the "Paper" Stage — Railroad Lands and the Prices at Which
the Same Were Advertised for Sale in 1883 — Great Northern Railway Strike
— Pioneer "Fast Mail."
CHAPTER VI— AGRICULTURE AND KINDRED INDUSTRIES 336
It Is But Proper to State That as an Agricultural County Norman Ranks
Well with Any in the Commonwealth of Minnesota, a Conclusion Borne
Out by a Perusal of the Statistical Information Carried in the Chapter
Here Called to the Attention of the Reader — Wheat Acreage — Crop Aver-
ages— Markets of Another Day — Diversified Farming — Potato Culture
— Creameries — Orchard and Nursery Interest — Agricultural Societies — F'irst
Hog In County — Registered Farm Names.
CHAPTER VII— THE BENCH AND BAR 349
Though Norman County Has Never Been Much Given to Litigation There
Is Still a Field for the Lawyer Here and for the Orderly Processes of the
Courts, and In This Chapter There Is Set Out a List of the .'\ttorneys Who
Have Practiced Their Profession In This County From the Days of the Be-
ginning of a County Organization, Together With a Roster of the Present
Members of the Bar and a List of Those Who Have Served as Judges of
Probate and as County Attorneys.
CHAPTER VIII— THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 35.S
From the Days of the "Roots and Yarbs" Doctors This County Has Been
Well Represented In the Medical Profession and This Chapter Carries a
List of All Who Have Practiced Here From the Beginning, With Brief
Biographical References to Many of Them, Together With a Narrative
Relating to a Tragedy of the Middle '80s Involving a Physician and a Drug-
gist.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX— CHURCHES OF NORMAN COUNTY 360
Evidences of Respectful Worship Among the Members of a Community
Afford One of the Most Significant Indices to the General Character of the
People of that Community and in this Respect Norman County Measures up
Highly, As the Reader Will Note By a Perusal of the Chapter Here In-
dicated and Which Sets Out In Brief a History of the Numerous Church
Organizations That Have Been Active and Potent Factors In the Develop-
ment of the Social and Moral Life of the Community Since the Days of the
Beginning of Settlement Here.
CHAPTER X— BANKS OF NORMAN COUNTY 383
The Twenty Banking Houses In Norman County Afford an Admirable Inde.x
to the General Prosperity and Financial Standing of the Community — List
of the Early Banks In the County — Present Banks Doing Business In the
County and Brief Statements Relating to the Organization of Eacli.
CHAPTER XI— FRATERNAL AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES 393
Norman County Is Well Represented In the Matter of Fraternal Societies
and In This Chapter the Reader Will Find a Brief Statement Relating to the
Organization of Each of the -Several Organizations of That Character That
Have Been Effected Here, This List Carrying References to the Local Or-
ganizations of the Masons, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Knights of
Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Independent Order of
Foresters, the Sons of Norway, the Daughters of Norway, the Modern Wood-
men of America, the Good Templars and the Brotherhood of American Yeo-
men.
CHAPTER XII— EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF NORMAN COUNTY.— 399
In 1874 the Region Now Comprised Within the Bounds of Norman County
Had But One School House, a Humble Structure of Logs; Today It Has One
Hundred and Nine School Houses and Is Carrying On the Noble Work of
Education With a Degree of Efficiency That Gives to All Districts Admirable
School Facilities — First Public Schools — Formation of School Districts
—Consolidated Schools— School Statistics— Graded Schools— Model School
Building. >
CHAPTER XIII— MILITARY HISTORY — — 406
Though In the Nature of Things Norman County Had No Part In the -Activ-
ities Incident to the Great Civil War, It Was Well Represented In the Span-
ish-American War and In the Gigantic Struggle Which This Country Entered
In 1917 It Rose Nobly to the Patriotic Task of Furnishing Its Quota for
Participation In the World War— Enlistments From Norman County— List
of Those Who Became a Part of the Nation's Selective Draft— Aids to the
War— Home Guard— Red Cross Work— First Toll Exacted By the War ?rom
This County— Company I, Third Regiment, Minnesota National Guard.
CHAPTER XIV-THE PRESS OF THE COUNTY -"Z"' '*'"
From the Days of the Establishment of the "Ada -Alert" Back m the Year
1880, Norman County Has Been Ably Represented By Vigorous and Progres-
sive Newspapers and the Reader Will Find In the Chapter Here Indicated an
CONTENTS.
Interesting Narrative Relating to the Gradual Development of the News-
paper Interests of the County, With Brief Histories of the Several News-
papers and Fitting References to Some of the Editors Who Have Exerted
a Helpful Influence Upon the Community By Reason of Their Editorial Activ-
ities.
CHAPTER XV— THE CITY OF ADA 419
As the Social and Political Center of the County, the City of Ada, County
Seat of Norman County, Merits Particular Mention In a Work of This Char-
acter and In This Chapter the Reader Will Find Set Out In Detail Something
of the Municipal History of the City. Together With References to Its Public
Utilities, Parks, Library, Postofficc, Industries, the Abolition of Its Saloons
and a Review of Its Commercial Development, Together With a Comprehen-
sive and Up-to-Date Commercial Directory, Carrying a List of Persons and
Concerns Doing Business There In 1918.
CHAPTER XVI— TOWNSHIPS OF NORMAN COUNTY 431
This Chapter Is Devoted to a Brief Review of the Work of Organization of
the Several Townships of Norman County, Together With Interesting De-
tails Relating to the Early Settlement In Each and a Roster of First Set-
tlers; the Townships Being Set Out in the Following .Mphabetical Order:
Anthony. Bear Park, Flom, Fossum, Good Hope, Green Meadow,. Halstad,
Hegne, Hendrum, Home Lake, Lake, Ida, Lee, Lockhart, Mary, McDon-
aldsville. Pleasant View. Rockwell, Shely, Spring Creek, Strand, Sundahl,
Waukon, Wild Rice and Winchester — Histories of the Several Towns and
Villages of the County .
CHAPTER XVII— REMINISCENCES OF EARLY PIONEERS 503
Wherein the Reader Will Find Some of the Most Interesting Narratives in
This History, First-Hand Stories Here Being Related Concerning Many In-
cidents and Events of Pioneer Days That Ought to Prove of Intense In-
terest to All Who Are In Any Way Concerned In the Matter of the Preserv-
ation of the History and Traditions of This Community — Hudson Bay Stations
— Early Settlers — Difficulties .Attending Pioneering — Grasshopper Days — Ind-
ian "Scares" — Pioneer Preacher's Experiences — Ox-Team Travel.
CHAPTER XVIII— MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 515
Herein Will Be Found a Number of Items of Interest Worthy of Preserva-
tion In the Annals of Norman County, Including Reference to Some "First"
and "Early" Events. City and Village Plats. Postoffices, Population Statis-
tics. Weather Statistics, Big Flood Years, Destructive Storms, Prairie Fires,
the Old Settlers Association, Pioneer Reminiscences and An Interesting Nar-
rative Relating to Some of the Early Political Fights In the "Bloody Fifth."
HISTORICAL INDEX
CLAY COUNTY.
A
Aboriginal Earthworks 65
Activities of Normal School 192
Activity in Railroad Building 45
Admission to Statehood 39
Agricultural 154-174
Agricultural Societies 156
Alliance Township —
Boundaries of 101
First Settlers 100
Location of 76
Organization of 85, 100
Population of 100
Taxes Paid ^ 87
Village of Baker 101
Altitudes in Clay County 64
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons- 250
Ancient Order of United Workmen. 256
Anderson, Alvide 279
Area of Clay County 59, 63
Area of Minnesota 47
Assessed Valuation 62, 88
Averill, Village of 137, 290
B
Baker State Bank .* 231
Baker, Village of 101, 290
Banks of Clay County 230-241
Baptist Church 211
Barnesville, City of 103-107, 290
Barnesville Hospital 222
Barnesville Township —
Boundaries of 102
City of Barnesville 103-107
Early Settlers 103
Location of 77, 102
Organization of 102
Bar of Clay County 223-229
Baxter, Judge L. L 224
Bear Shot by Pioneer 134
Bench and Bar of Clay County 223-229
Bethel, Early Name of Hawley 127
"Bill" Nye's Brother 229
Bishop Whipple School, the 186
Bonded Indebtedness of County 89
Bonds of County OiTicials i 86
Boundaries of Clay County 59
Buffalo River Settlement 61
Buflfalo River, the 145
Butter, the Best in the World 160
C
Carvell, J. S., County's First Lawyer 225
Cash Resources of County 88
Catholic Churches 208
Catholic Order of Foresters 254
Catton 290
Census of 1860 40
Chippewa Indian Kills Settlers 109
Chronological Data 50
Churches of Clay County 197-211
City of Barnesville 103-107, 290
City of Moorhead 259-278
Citizens Bank of Barnesville 236
Civil Townships, Formation of.-76, 100
Civil War Period 40, 246
Civil War Retards Settlement 40
Clay-Becker Joint Sanitarium 222
•Clay County," a Poem 295
Clay County Bankers Association. 241
Clay County Farmers Bureau 156
Clay County in 1874 59
Clay County in War — 246-249
Clay County Journalism 212-216
Clay County Medical Society 221
Clerks of District Court— 95
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Climatological Conditions 49, 293
Coal Mine "Boom" That Failed 133
Collins, Judge L. W 224
Commissioners Court, Opening of — Tl
Comstock, Hon. S. G.— 59, 60, 78, 80, 81,
92, 93, 94, 118, 186, 190, 192, 225, 229,
230, 260, 264, 265, 266, 268, 291.
Comstock State Bank 231
Comstock, Village of 131, 290
Concordia College 187
Congregational Churches 197
Congressional Apportionment 92
Congressmen 92
Consolidated Schools 180
Consolidation of Colleges 189
Co-operative Creamery Associations 161
Corn n, 154
Coroners 94
Council at Traverse des Sioux 35
County Attorneys 94
County Auditors 93
County Commissioners 95
County Fair Association 157
County Finances 87
County Government 74-91
County Named for Henry Clay 296
County Officers 92-99
County Printing 216
County's Cash Resources 88
County Seat .'\spirations Dashed 123
County Seat Town, the 259-278
County Surveyors 95
County Treasurers 95
Court Commissioners 95
Court House, History of-_74, 82, 84, 85
Creameries 161
Cromwell Township —
Boundaries of 107
Location of 76. 107
Organization of 108
Population of 108
' Settlement Notes 108
Crop Conditions 70, 154-174
Crop Statistics 174
Cross Saves Settlers 294
D
Dairying in Clay County 160
Daughters of Rebeckah 252
Decrease in Population Noted 109
Degree of Honor 256
Development of Minnesota 50
Dilworth State Bank 232
Dilworth, Village of 139, 291
District Court Judges 93, 223
Doctors of Clay County 217-222
Dog Trains 261
Douglas, Wallace B. 227
Downer, Village of 111, 291
Drainage 63, 69, 86, 89
Driving Park Association 157
E
Early Commissioners' Records 11
Early Recollections 279-287
Editor Holds the Fort 212
Educational 175-196
Eglon Township —
Boundaries of 108
Early Settlers 109
First Settlers Slain 109
Location of 11
Organization of 108
Picturesque Lake Region 110
Population of 109
Waste Land Noted 109
Election Districts Defined 78
Elevation of State 49
Elkton Township —
Downer, Village of 111
First Settlers 111
Location of 76, 110
Originally Named Madison 76, 111
Organization of 83, 111
Population of 111
Taxes Paid 87
Elmwood Township —
Boundaries of 112
Location of 76
Organization of 83, 112
Population of 112
Sabin, Village of 113
Settlement Notes 112
Taxes Paid 87
English Evangelical Church 202
Episcopal Church 211
Examples of Successful Farming 165
HISTORICAL INDEX.
F
Farmers as Bank Stockholders 230
Farmers' Clubs 1^5
Farming in Clay County 154-174
Farm Names, a Record of 162
Farms in Clay County, Number of- 59
"Father of the Potato Industry" 159
Felton Township —
Boundaries of ^^^
Location of '"
Organization of ^5, 114
Settlement Notes ^^
Taxes Paid S''
Village of Felton ^^
Felton, Village of 114, 291
Ferry Toll Rates in Early Days 80
Finances of County ^7
Financial Crash of 1873
Finkle Station 1^^
Fire Insurance Companies (Local)— 288
Fire Loss at Hawley 128
Fire Losses' at Moorhead 267
Fire Losses at Ulen 151
First .Constitutional Convention 38
First County Officers Appointed— 78, 93
First Election Districts 78
"First Events" in Clay County-61, 78
First National Bank of BarnesviUe. 235
First National Bank of Hawley 233
First National Bank of Moorhead- 230
First National Bank of Ulen 231
First Newspaper in County 21-
First School in County 176
First State Bank of Felton 233
First State Bank of Glyndon 234
First State Bank of Moorhead 237
First State Legislature 39
First Steamboat to Ft. SneUing 33
First Territorial Governor 35
First White Settlers ^9
„, 71
Flax
Floods of Other Days -^^^
Flowing Township H^
Flowing Wells at Felton 115
Founding of Moorhead 259
Fraternal Orders 250-258
Frontier Life Exciting at Times— 262
G
Game Plentiful in Pioneer Days 153
Geography of Minnesota 4/
Geological and Natural Features--63-73
Georgetown Township —
Boundaries of 116
Georgetown, Village of 118
Old Trading Post 117
Organization of 116
Population of --. 116
Settlement Notes 116
Georgetown, Village of 118, 291
German Evangelical Church 202
German Lutheran Churches 210
Glacial Lake Agassiz 65
Glyndon Township —
Boundaries of 1-1
First Settlers 122
Glyndon Village 122
Organization of 1-1
Population of 1 —
Glyndon Village 122, 291
Good-Roads Movement in County— 90
Goose Prairie Township-
Boundaries of 120
Early Settlement - 120
Hitterdal, Village of 121
Location of 76, 120
Organization of 83, 120
Taxes Paid ^'
Gophers, Bounty on 86
Graded Schools of County 180
Grand Army of the Republic 248
Grasses and Forage Crops 72, 154
Grasshopper Visitations— 61, 152, 284
Great Northern Railroad 44
Growth of PubHc Schools 179
H
, • P4
Hagen Township -
Hawley Township— *
Early Settlement YJt
„f —76, 123
Location of •
Old English Colony — J^^
Organization of '9, 1^^
Population of
Taxes Paid
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Village of Hawley 127
Hawley. Village of 127, 291
Highland Grove Township —
Boundaries of 129
Discontinued Postoffices 129
Early Settlement 130
Location of IT, 129
Organization of 130
Villages in Township 130
Highways of the County 90
History of Townships 100-153
Hitterdal Security State Bank 238
Hitterdal, Village of 121, 291
Holes, Andrew— 59, 74, 76, 77, 95, 176.
237, 259, 263, 265.
Holy Cross Township —
Location of IT. 131
Organization of 131
Origin of Name 294
Settlement of 131
Village of Comstock 131
Hope Academy 186
Hospitals at Moorhead 221
Hotels of Moorhead 263
Humboldt Township 132
I
Immigration. During the Fifties 37
Improved Order of Red Men 255
Incidents of the Old Days 262. 279
Incorporation of Moorhead 269
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 251
Indian Dance 280
Indian Hunters Cause Trouble 37
Indians Notified to Leave County 81
Indian Treaties 33
Indian Uprising of 1862 42. 76
J
Jail Destroyed by Fire 74
Jail Poorly Guarded 82
Johnsons. Predominance of 259
Journalism in Clay County 212-216
Judges of District Court 93. 223
Judges of Probate 94
Judiciary, the 223
K
Keene Township —
Boundaries of 133
Early Settlement 134
Location of 76, 133
Only Two Homesteaders 134
Organization of 85, 133
Population of 133
Taxes Paid 87
"Key City of Minnesota" 259
Kragnes State Bank 238
Kragnes Township —
Boundaries of 134
Early Settlement 134
Location of 76, 134
Originally "Woodland" 83
Organization of . 83, 134
Taxes Paid 87
Village of Kragnes 135
Kragnes, Village of 135
Kurtz, Plat of 291
Kurtz Township 135
L
Lafayette, a "Paper Town" 60
Lakes of Clay County 63
Likes of Minnesota 48
Legal Profession, the 223-229
Lightning Strikes Postoffice 137
List of Registered Physicians 217
Louisiana Purchase 33
"Lund" Township 148
M
Machinery for Cultivating Potatoes. 158
Manitoba Junction 291
Market Quotations 292
Masonic Lodges 250
Massacre of 1862 ..42, 76
Medical Profession, the 217-222
Memorial Day Observance 249
Meridian Line Officially Fixed 85
Methodist Episcopal Churches 203
Military History of County 246-249
Mills, Judge Ira B 224
Minnesota State History 33-58
Mirage, Description of 64
Miscellaneous Topics 288-296
Modern Rural Schools 178
Modern Woodmen of America 253
Moland Township —
Boundaries of 136
First Settlers 137
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Location of 77, 136
Organization of 136
Population of 136
Taxes Paid 87
Village of Averill 137
Moorhead Hospital 221
Moorhead National Bank 237
Moorhead, the County Seat-
Business Directory 275
Churches 1"'
Conditions in 1874 265
Created County Seat 74
Disastrous Fires 267
Distinctive Events 264
For Whom Named 261
Hotels 263
Lawyers 223
Location of 259
Lodges 250
Municipal History 269
Original Plat 292
Population of 259
Postoffice 271
Public Library 274
Schools 175
When Founded 259
Moorhead Township —
Boundaries of 13°
City of Moorhead 138, 259
Location of 76, 138
Organization of 79, 138
Population of 138
Schools and Churches 139
Settlement of 138
Taxes Paid 87
Village of Dilworth 139
Morken Township —
Boundaries of l'"^
Location of 76, 140
Organization of 83, 140
Population of 14^
Settlement of l-^O
Taxes Paid 87
Mound Builder Evidences 65
Murder of a Policeman 264
Muskoda, Village of 129, 291
Mc
McKelvey, Judge James M 224
N
National Loan and Improvement
Company 240
Newspapers of Clay County 212-216
Nichols, W. D., Pioneer Editor 212
"Nile of the North," the 68
Normal School Activities 192
Northern Pacific Railroad 243
Norwegian Lutheran Churches 205
Northwestern Hospital, the 221
Northwestern Lutheran College As-
sociation 187
Nye, Judge Carroll A. 225, 228
O
Oakport 260
Oakport Township —
Boundaries of 141
Location of 76, 141
Oak Mound Consolidated School- 142
Organization of 83, 141
Population of 1^1
Settlement of 1^1
Taxes Paid 87
Officers of Clay County 92-99
Official Statistics Regarding County
62, 289
Ondeland, Old Postoffice of 151
Order of the Eastern Star 251
Organization of County 75
Original Village Plats 290
Origin of State's Name 47
P
Parke Township —
Boundaries of 1"*-
Early Settlers 142
Location of ^^ ^ l'*2
Organization of '4-
Population of 1''2
Rollag Postoffice 143
Township Hall 144
Parsons, Judge William L 225
Patriarchs Militant 251
Period of Rapid Development 44
Physicians and Hospitals 217-222
Pioneer Braves Indian Terror 76
Pioneers Slain by Indians 109
Population Statistics 46, 62, 289
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Postoffices in County 288
Postoffices Robbed 128, 272
Postoffice Struck by Lightning 137
Potatoes 7i, 152, 154, 157-160
Potato Growers' Association 159
Prairie Fires 284
Prehistoric Lake Bed 65
Presbyterian Churches 201
Present County Officers 98
Presidential Vote 99
Press of Clay County 212-216
Prices in Early Times 287, 292
Prisoners Burned in Jail 74
Prisoners Enjoy Freedom 82
Probate Judges 94
Probstfield, R. M.— 59, 60, 61, 75. 76, 92,
117, 119, 142, 260, 263.
Public Library at Moorhead 274
Public Schools of Clay County 176
R
Railroad and River Traffic 242-245
Railroad Bonds Issued 39
Railroad Land Grants 243
Railway Shops at Dilworth 139
Rainfall 293
Ramsey, Gov. Alexander 35
Real Estate Increase 89
Recollections of Other Days 279-287
Record of Local Farm Names 162
Rcd-Rivcr Carts 261
Red River Valley, the 68
Red River Valley Treaty of 1863-.- 43
Registered Physicians, List of 217
Register of Deeds 94
Related State History 33-58
Religious Activities 197-211
Reminiscences 279-287
Report on School Conditions 184
Rivers of Minnesota 48
Riverton Township —
Boundaries of 144
Farmers Picnic Ground 146
Locations of 76, 144
Organization of 85, 144
Population of 144
Settlement of 144
Stockwood Postoffice 145
Taxes Paid 85
River Traffic in Old Days 242
Road and Bridge Expenditures 87
Roads of Clay County 90
Roeser, Judge John A 225
Rollag Postoffice — 143
Roster of Clay County Bar 229
Rough Life on the Frontier 262
Royal Arcanum, the 255
Royal League, the 257
Rural Conditions. Improvement in 181
Rural Schools in Pioneer Days 177
Rustad. Village of 136
s
Sabin State Bank . 239
Sabin, Village of 113, 292
Salaries of County Officials 98
Sale of Old Court House 82
Scandinavian Lutheran Churches 207
School Buildings at Moorhead 176
School Districts Early Defined 79
School Disturbed by a Bear 178
School Funds 182
School Lands .182
School Officers' Conferences 184
Schools of Clay County 175-196
School Superintendents— *— 95, 178, 184
School Tax Rates — 181
Schroeder, Henry, "Potato King" 159
Searle, Judge D. B 224
Secret Societies 250-258
Settlers Flee From Indians 76
Sheriffs 94
Skree Township 146
Small Fruits 73
Soil Conditions 59, 64, 68
Soldiers for the World War 246
Spanish-.\mcrican War 46, 246
Special Taxes for Schools 182
Spirit Lake Massacre 38
Sprague, E. C. 68
Spring Prairie Township 147
State .Aid for Schools 183
State Bank of Georgetown 234
State Bank of Hawley 232
State Development by Years SO
State History 33-58
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Statehood Granted Minnesota 39
State Normal School at Moorhead-_ 190
State Representatives 92
State Roads in County 91
State School System 185
State Senators 92
Statistics for 1913 62
Statistics Relating to Crops 174
Statistics Relating to Schools— 179, 184
Stein, Adam 60, 260
Steamboat Lines at Moorhead 263
Stearns, Judge O. P 224
Stockholders Lose in Bank Failure- 241
Stockwood Postoffice 145
Successful Agriculturists 165
Surveyors 95
Swedish Lutheran Churches 206
T
Tansem Township —
Boundaries of 148
Early Settlement 148
Location of 76, 148
Named for John O. Tansem 149
Organization of 81, 148
Taxes Paid 87
Tax Collecting Season 86
Tax Rate for School Purposes 181
Taylor, Judge M. D 224
Teachers Institutes 184
Teachers Insurance Fund 179
Telephone Companies 294
Temperature and Precipitation 294
Territorial Government 34
Timber Conditions 64
Topography of County 63
Township History 100-153
Townsite Speculation in the '50s — 38
Transportation 242-245
Traveling Library Established 86
Treasurers of County 95
Treaties With the Indians 33
Turner, John 175, 295
U
Ulen State Bank 240
Ulen Township —
Boundaries of 149
Early Settlement of 149
Location of 76, 149
Named for Ole Ulen 149
Organization of 84, 149
Taxes Paid 87
Village of Ulen ISO
Ulen, Village of 150, 292
L^nited Lutheran Church 210
Unrest Among the Indians 40
Upham, Prof. Warren 63
V
Valley of the Red River 68
Valuation of County 62, 88
Viding Township 153
Village of AveriU 137, 290
Village of Baker 101, 290
Village of Comstock 131, 290
Village of Dilworth 139, 291
Village of Downer 111, 291
Village of Felton 114, 291
Village of Georgetown 118, 291
Village of Glyndon 122, 291
Village of Hawley 127, 291
Village of Hitterdal 121, 291
Village of Kragnes 135
Village of Rustad 136
Village of Sabin 113, 292
Village of Ulen 150, 292
Village Plats. Original 290
W
Water Transportation 242
Watts, Hamlet of 124
Weather Reports 293
Wells and Water Conditions 65
Wheat 71, 154
Wilson, Peter 76, 11, 95
Winnipeg Junction 292
Woman's Part in Pioneer Life 281
World War, the 246
Y
Young Men's Christian Association. 211
Young People's Farm Contests 155
Young Women's Christian Associa-
tion 193
NORMAN COUNTY.
A
Abolition of Saloons 425
Ada Commercial Directory 428
Ada Postoffice Robbed 422
Ada, the city of —
Abolition of Saloons 425
Business Interests 426
Charter Granted in 1878 419
City Building 420
City Officials 420
Commercial Directory 428
County Seat 304, 309
Electric Light Plant 420
Industries 423
Library 422
Location of 419
Municipal History 419
Parks 421
Plat of, Filed 516
Postoffice 422
Railway Depot 423
Reincorporation 420
Schools 401
Agriculture 336- 348
Agricultural Societies 344
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. 393
Anthony "Settlement" 432
Anthony Township 431
Artesian Wells 300, 469. 475
Assessed Valuation of County 329
Auditors of County 312
B
Bank Destroyed by Fire 389
Bank Robbery at Halstad 389
Banks of Norman County 383- 392
Bar of Norman County 349, 353
Bear Park Township 433
Before Railroad Days ;5J4
Bench and Bar 349
Betcher. Hamlet of 442
"Bloody Fifth," the 524
Bonds, First Authorization of 321
Borup, Village of 500, 516
Boy Killed by Falling Tree 444
Brotherhood of American Yeomen. 398
Buffalo "Wallows" 466. 471
Burial of Soldiers 325
Business Interests of Ada 426
c
Catholic Churches 382
Cause Celebre of Early Days 458
Children Burned to Death 453, 480
City and Village Plats 516
City Officials of Ada 420
Civil War Period 406
Clerks of Court 314
Churches of Norman County 360- 382
Commercial Interests of Ilcndrum.. 454
Community Hall at Hendrum 452
Company I, Third Regiment, Min-
nesota National Guard 406
Congregational Churches 381
Consolidated Schools 402
Creameries 341
Crop Statistics 336
Coroners 314
Costly Blaze at Gary 486
County Attorneys 313, 354
County Commissioners 314
County Finances 311, 328
County Government 318
County Officials 312, 334
County Organization 302
County Physicians 315
County Seat, Location of 304, 419
Court Commissioners 314
Court House, Erection of 309
D
Daughters of Norway, the 396
Destructive Fire at Ada 421
Destructive Fire at Shelly 480
Diphtheria, Scourge of 457
District Schools 401
Diversified Farming 340
Doctors of Norman County 355
Drainage 299, 326, 501
E
Early Official Proceedings 318
Early Settlers 504
Early Settlement Notes 454, 493, 503
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Educational 399- 405
Enlistments for World War 408
Evangelical Lutheran Church ; 378
F
Kaith, Hamlet of 439, 516
Farmer Frozen to Death 494
Farmers' Alliance 3^:^
Farm Losses Due to Hail 521
Farm Names 345
"Fast Mail" in 1864 335
Fight for County Seat 305
Finances of County 311, 328
Fire Department at Ada 421
Fire of 1900 at Ada 421
First and Early Events 515
First Bank in County 384
First Church in County 360
First Commissioners Court 318
First Hog in Norman County 345
First Lawyer in County 349
First Newspaper in County 412
First Officers of County 303
First Plat of County 319
First Physician in County 355
First School House in County 399
First Toll Exacted by World War.- 411
Flaming. Village of 490
Flom Township 435
Flom, Village of 437
Floods at Various Periods 519
Flour-Mill Destroyed by Fire 439
Flour-Milling Industry 423, 496, 497
Flowing Wells in Norman County.- 469
Fossum Township 437
Fraternal Societies 393- 398
"Frenchman's Bluff" 299
Fruits and Nuts 301
G
Gary, Village of 485. 516
Geological and Topographical 299
German Lutheran Churches 376
German M. E. Churches 378
Good Hope Township 439
Good Templars, Order of 398
Goose River Trading Post 512
Gophers, Bounty on 323
Government of County 318
Graded Schools 405
Grand Army of the Republic 406
Grasshopper Plague 456, 508
Great Northern Railway Strike 334
Grasses and Fruits 301
Green Meadow Township 440
H
Hailstorm of 1886 463
Halstad Township 442
Halstad. Village of 445, 516
Hegne Township 448
Heiburg, Village of 497, 517
Hendrum Township 449
Hendrum, Village of 451, 453. 516
Highest Point in County 299
Highway Robbery Near Hendrum-- 458
Hollanders in Spring Creek 482
Home Lake Township 459
I
Incorporation of City of .^da 420
Incorporation of Twin Valley 495
Independent Order of Foresters 396
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 396
Indian "Scares" 509
Industries of Ada 423
J
Judges of Probate 313, 354
Judicial Ditches 300
Journalism in Xorman County.. -412-418
K
Knights of Pythias 395
L
Lake Ida Township 460
Lakes of Norman County. — 299
Lawyers of Norman County 349
Legal Profession, the 349-354
Lee Township ^^
List of Banks in County 3W
Local Aids to War Work 410
Lockhart Township -— Zrl
Lockhart. Village of 468, 516
Lumber-Milling Industry 4^4
HISTORICAL INDEX.
M
Market Quotations in Early Days—- 339
Mary Township 469
Masonic Organizations 393
Medical Profession, the 355-359
Meteorological Conditions 518
Methodist Episcopal Churches 381
Military History 406-411
Miscellaneous Subjects 515-526
Model School Building 405
Modern Woodmen of America 397
Mosquitoes Prove a Pest 456
Municipal History of Ada 419
Mc
McDonaldsville Township 471
N
Negroes Didn't Stay Long 465
Newspapers of Norman County--412-418
Norman County in War 406-411
Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Church 376
Norwegian Lutheran Churches 360
Norwegian M. E. Church 379
Norwegian Newspaper 418
o
Official Bonds 327
Oldest Resident of County 488
Old Settlers Association 503, 511
Orchards and Nurseries 342
Order of the Eastern Star 394
Organization of County 302
Ox-Team Travel 513
P
"Paper" Railroads 331
Park at Heiberg 498
Parks of Ada 421
Physicians of Norman County 355
Pioneer Preacher's Experiences 511
Pioneer Reminiscences 454, 493
Pioneer Sketches 503-514, 523
Pedley, Village of 463, 516
Pleasant View Township 473
Political Bellwethers Deserted 526
Political Fight in Old Days 524
Political Parties 316
Polk County, Settlement With 320
"Poor Farm" Movement 324
Population Statistics 517
Postoffice at Ada 422
Postoffice Robberies 422, 496
Postoffices in County 517
Potato Culture 341
Prairie Fires 498, 522
Presbyterian Churches 380
Presidential Vote 316
Press of Norman County 412- 418
Public Library at Ada 422
Public Playground at Hendrum 452
Public Utilities at Ada 420
R
Railroad Land Prices 333
Railroads and Transportation 331
Red Cross Work 408
Registered Farm Names 345
Registers of Deeds 313
Religious Life of Community 360
Rindahl, Village of 435
Reminiscences of Pioneers— 503-514, 523
Roads and Bridges 327
Robbers Hold Up Bank 389
Robbery on Cazenove Farm 465
Rockwell Township 475
Roster of War Draftees 408
Russian Thistles 326
S
Saloons Abolished 425
Scandinavian Lutheran Church 364
Scheie Church, the 508
Schools of Norman County 399-405
School Statistics 404
Secret Societies 393-398
Seed Grain Furnished by County —
324, 327
Selective Draft of 1917 408
Settlement Notes 454, 493, 503
Seventh-Day Adventists 382
Shely Township ■ 476
Shelly, Village of 478, 516
Sheriffs 313
Sons of Norway, the 396
Spanish-American War 407
Spring Creek 300
Spring Creek Township 480
HISTORICAL INDEX.
State Representatives 312
Statistics Relating to Crops 336
Statistics Relating to Population 517
Statistics Relating to Schools 404
Strand, Postoffice of 483
Strand Township 483
Stuart-Xaruin Tragedy, the 355
"St. Vincent Extension," the 510
Sundahl Township 488
Superintendents of Schools 314
Surveyors 313
Syre, Hamlet of 459, 516
T
Taxes in 1883 328
Timber Growths 301
Topographical 299
Townships, Dates of Organization-- 304
Townships of Xorman County--431-502
Transportation 331
Treasurers of County 312
Tribute to Senator Nelson 526
Twin Valley, Village of 495, 516
U
"Union" Church at Borup oW)
Cnion of Norwegian Churches 360
V
Victim of Submarine Warfare 411
Vote Buying Scathingly Rebuked-. 525
Vote for President 316
W
War Draftees of Norman County-- 408
War Work, Local Aids to 410
Waterworks and Electric Light 420
Waukon, Hamlet of 492
Waukon Township 491
Weather Conditions 518
Weights and Measures, Standard 340
Wheat Prices In Early Days 337
White Earth Indian Reservation 302
Wild Rice Drainage Basin 299
Wild Rice Township 493
Winchester Township 499
World War, the 407
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES.
A
Aabye, Andrew T. ^88
Aagaard, Charles M. ^90
Aamoth, Ingvald H. o^j*
Aamoth, Peter H. ^^"
Aanenson, Andrew ^^^
Aanenson, A. U.
Aasen, Ole T. _^_^
Aasgaard, Martinus ^'-
Adanis, Edwin ^^^
Akesson, Ake T. -;;
Alberts, Edward '
Allen, Albert C. «0^
Allen. Charles C. °-"
Allen, John W. 'Z
Altenbernd, Frederick \\ . J
Altenbernd, Loms ;
Amlniel, Peter ^^°
Amundson, Nels
Anderson, Adolf
Anderson, Albert -
Anderson, Alfred ^^
Anderson. Andrew ^
. r- - 53o
Anderson, Anun (j.
Anderson, Bernt
Anderson, Halvor
Anderson, Henry V. ^^^
Anderson, Jens
Anderson, Joseph W. G. -
Anderson, Rev. Martin ^^
Anderson, Martin O. ^^^
Anderson, Olaf
Anderson, S. P. g
Anderson, Theodore H.
Arends, John J. ^^g
Arnestad, Alert "g^
Aschbach, Bernhart ^^^
Aske, Julius B.
Askegaard, David 240
Askegaard, Eugene l^
Awty. William J., M. D 52
B
Backman, Gust ^53
Backman. John A. ^^^
Bagne, Nels B. 55-
Bakke, Bennie °f
Bakke, Ole E. "J
Bakken, Lars A. '^y
Ballard, Prof. C. A. ^
Barnes. George S. -^^^
Barry, John S.
Barry, M. Coleman ^J-
Bauer, Emil __-- ^ ~
Bauer, George C.
Beck, William '
Beckman, Ole L. ^
Bekkerus, Askild T. "^^
Bekkerus, Halvor
.■ T- J ■ r -- loo
Benedict, Edwin L. ^^
Benson, Charles "
Benson, Henry *
Bentley. Helmer N ^^^
Bentley, Ole b. ^^
Bergh, Justus C. ^^^
Betcher, E. C ^^^
Bjerke, E. N. ^7
Bjorge, Edward E. ^^^
Bjorkquist. Carl
Bjorndahl, Adolph ^.^
Bjorndahl, Ole N. ^^
Bjornson, Lars g^j
Bodkin. William J. ^^^
Bowen, J. J- ^ 268
Braman, John H. — ^^^
Bratland. Andrew A.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Braunschweig, Albert 756
Bredemeier, Christian 639
Bredeson, Melvin O. 797
Breiland, Adna H. 459
Brekke, Ole J. . 802
Bremer, Bennie 469
Brendenuihl, Charles W. 206
Briggs, W. R. 208
Brodine, C. B. 329
Brown, Edmund L. 231
Brunsberg, Peter 888
Burns, James 905
Burrill, Herbert F. 179
BurriU, John 123
Burrill, H. K. 131
Burrill, Jacob 42
Burrill, Dr. James S. 116
Burud, John E. 210
Bye, Andrew 252
C
Canning, Charles \V. 685
Carlson, Albert 421
Carlson, David E. 884
Carlson, John E. 310
Casselman, W. E. 504
Cederberg, August 303
Cederberg, Charles J. 281
Chloupek, Matt 727
Christiansen, Andrew 361
Christianson. Otto A. 382
Christianson, Sever 870
Clayton, Herbert 514
Colby, Charles E. 187
Comstock, Solomon G. 272
Connelly, James 133
Connelly, John 167
Cook, Walter, Jr. 88
Corneliuson, John 483
Crosby, Gunerius I. 413
D
Dahl, Henry 543
Dahl, Nils O. 795
Dahl, Ole A. 895
Dahl, Otto 235
Dahl, Otto L. 324
Dahlcn, Martin O. 487
Dalen. S. S. 404
Daniels, K. M. 417
Danielson, John 780
Danielson, Walfred 909
Darrow, Daniel C, M. D 33
Davy, VV. H. 112
Degerness, Andrew T. 853
Denenny, R. H. 37
Desing, John C. 675
Dorseth, John A. 779
Drageland, Jakob O. 480
Dullard, Patrick 423
Durling, August 573
E
Eckhoff, Henry 512
Eckmann, C. J. 195
Edwards, Prof. H. R. 128
Eeg, Gustav O. 763
Egge, Erick J. 621
Egge, Ole O. 190
Eggiman, Andrew 162
Eklund, Gust 799
Ellefson, H. O. 683
Ellingson. Iver X. 836
Ellingson, Ole I. 864
Engen, Herbrand 900
Enger, Xels J. 405
Engum, Claus , 785
Erickson, Herbran 574
Erickson, John 692
Erickson, Ole O. 197
Erstad, Gustav A. 200
Erstad, Jacob X. 642
Euren, Emil 901
Evans, Edward M. 520
Evanson, Theodore 75
Evenson, Clarence I. 183
Evje, Conrad H. 429
F
Farsdale, O. G. 400
Ferris, William H. 115
Fetting, Robert H. 666
Fisch, J. H. 846
Fischer, August 292
Fiskum, Peter O. 476
Flakne, John O 742
Flom, Elhng H. 762
Flom, Eric H. 860
Fobes, Arthur L. 135
Follett, Leiand C. 151
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Ford, John 276
Foss, Jens 374
Fossay, Charles 247
Foster, John C. 902
Freeman, John H. 171
Fridlund, Adolph J. 643
Fridlund, J. 103
Fuchs, George F. 158
Fulton, David E. 226
G
Gaare, Joseph 380
Gangler, John G. 828
Garden, Evans N. 758
Garden, Lewis 597
Garden, Martin O. 868
Garden, Ole L. 545
Garrity, James A. 153
Gartland, Albert 697
Garven, Jacob 260
Germolus, August 508
Giere, Martin A. 271
Gilbertson, Albert 424
Gilbertson, Cornelius 424
Gilbertson, Magnus O. 733
Gilbertson, Thor 481
Gilbery, William 250
Glasgovi', James, Sr. 50
Glawe, Albert C. 842
Gol, Ole H. 333
Grande, P. A. 840
Gray, Frank 570
Grettum, Henry 170
Griewe, Herman 766
Griffin, John 80
Grina, Conrad I. 775
Grina, Lars L 358
Grina, Ole 1. 214
Grinde, John E. 910
Grommesh, John W. 216
Grothe, Albert J. 419
Grothe, John P. 410
Grover, Otto J. 568
Gruhl, Fred 432
Grutle, Henning E. 904
Gunderson, Bennie J. 448
Gunderson, Gilbert 53
Gunderson, Henry E. 814
Gunderson, Oscar 305
Gustavson, Adolph 899
H
Haagenson, Alfred A. 145
Haaland, Andrew 418
Haljerle, Fred 470
Haberle, Henry W. 79
Hadler, Jacob 464
Hadler, Walter G. 817
Hagen, Andrew J. 396
Hagen, Tver O. 664
Hagen, Rev. T. A. 600
Halvorson, Hans 659
Hammer, Nels 330
Hammerud, Charles H. 463
Hammerud, L 142
Harare, Andrew 875
Hansen. Julius A. 344
Hanson, Aslak 708
Hanson, Elmer G. 140
Hanson, H. H. 95
Hanson, Martin F. 603
Hanson, Ole H. 873
Hanson, Peter H. 1 809
Hanson, Sten 314
Hassel, Peter 876
Haug, Filing 342
Hauger, Anton J. 323
Hauske, Erick 752
Havelson, Torger 850
Hcdahl. Knut E. .— — 767
Hedin, John 744
Heglie, Albert 654
Heiberg, Jorgen F. 563
Heiberg, Martin A. 592
Heinen, A. P. 539
Hellerud, Hans J. 560
Hellerud, Oswald S. 583
Hendrickson, Olaf H. 777
Henrickson, Hans P. 528
Henry, James E. 86
Henry, Purkey 44
Herman, Lambert, Jr. 914
Hermanson, Henry O. 632
Herringer, Eugene J. 280
Higgins, Michael 453
Hilde, Ole O. 426
Hillestad, John O. 279
Hilmo, Lewis 745
Hitterdal, Bendt O. 220
Hitterdal, Lars 92
Hogcnson, Hogan 854
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Ilogstad, Ole H. 64
Holbeck, Nils 63
Holden, Alexander 485
Holes, Andrew 614
Holm, Andrew E. 39
Holmes, Walter B., M. D. 880
Hopeman, Albert M. 148
Hoppe, August F. 340
Iloseth, Severin A. 701
llouglum, Andrew O. 300
Hovden. Ole 818
Hoven, Borre 640
Hovland, Andrew A. 796
Hovland, John 741
Hurner, Jacob 889
Huseby, Andrew 522
I
Idtse, Rhinehart P. 484
Ingberg, G. T. 826
Ingberg, John G. 565
Ingberg, Peter O. 606
Ishaug, William O. 898
Iverson, O. N. 186
J
Jackson, John W. 501
Jacobson, John 561
Jelsing, Andrew L. 363
Jenkins, E. S. 48
Jensen, Carl O. 684
Jensen, John 657
Johnson, Albert H. 299
Johnson, Albert H. 617
Johnson, Andrew 90
Johnson, Frank 885
Johnson, George 537
Johnson, Hans L. 295
Johnson, John T. 205
Johnson, Martin 656
Johnson, Sylvester J. 99
Johnson, Theodore 746
Jones, D. C. 107
Jones, Isaac 298
Joop, Herman W. 317
Juhl, Chris N. 774
K
Kail, Charles R. 430
Kasin, Ole H. 907
Kassenborg, Edward A. 288
Kelting, Otto F. 57
Kimm, Frank 886
Kippels, Bruno 85
Kittilson, Gilbert 479
Kittelson, K. 821
Kjelstad, Nils A. 350
Kleppe, Nels M. 331
Klokseth, Iver 375
Knutson, Carl 844
Knudtson, Louis 755
Kost, Anton 59
Krabbenhoft, Ernest F. 296
Krabbenhoft, Henning O. 248
Kroll, W. P. 87
Kuehl, Benedix 144
Kvidt, Gjert J. 771
Kvidt, Martin J. 695
Kyllander, Gustav 694
L
La Grange, Byron G. 12
Lahey, John 360
Lamb, Charles, Sr. 184
Lamb, David A. 62
Lamb, James 136
Lamb, John 848
Lamb, Patrick H. 861
Lammers, Claus P. 261
Landro, Jens N. 473
Langeland, Ole M. 526
Langseth, Carl M. 147
Larson, Hans 624
Larson, Jakob J. 768
Larson, James 213
Larson, Jens 173
Larson, Lars B. 176
Larson, Louis T. 416
Larson, Ludwig B. 676
Larson, Mads 440
Larson, Ole 445
Larson, Ole D. 371
Larson, Peter 533
Larson, Peter 587
Larson, William P. 262
Leach, Eugene E. 68
Leding, John E. 578
Lee, B. O. 739
Lee, Gustav O. 384
Lee, Hans O. 447
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Lee, Martin G. 613
Lee, Mekkel O. 608
Lee, Ole T 726
Lee, R. M. 653
Lee, S. M. 580
Lee, S. N 722
Lee, Sverre J. f^
Lee, W. C. 43^
Lee, William S. 230
Lemke, Louis 222
Lerud, Emil 856
Lerud, Jacob 6^^
Leverson, Knudt A. 275
Libok, John A. 646
Lien, Johannes P. 649
Lightbourn, David C. 588
Lindahl, John 266
Lindback, John J. 716
Lofgren, Lewis 171
Lorentz, John P 576
Lovsnes, Oscar ^^
- , r r 874
Luchan, (j. 1-.
Luedke, August J. ^53
Lunder, Julius T. ^44
Lura, Severt S. _
Lussenden, John T. 730
Luthi, John ^^'^
M
^44
Maas, August ^
Madson, C. O. "
Malakowsky, John 610
Malme, Johan M. 50U
Marden, Charles S. 6o
Marquart, Fidelis ^^
Marsden, Henry ^°^
Marston, Henry '|^^
Marth, John "
Martinson, O. C.
Martinson, Ole "
Mayer, George J. V.
Meighcn, J. J- '
Mclbostad, Lars ^
Melbye, George H. -
Meldrum, Elbert A. -^^'^
Melvey, Nels N. °J'^
Menge, Emil A.
Merkins, John A. •;
Meyer, Dick
Midgarden, Ole G.
Mikkelson, Martin L. 452
Milsten, Jacob E. 660
Moe, Nels H. 753
Moen, Nels O. 734
Moll, Albert E. 596
Moore, Peter B. 191
Morken, Torgrim O. 233
Mortenson, Otto J. 209
Mueller, Frank S"
Muhle, Torge G. 35
Mumford, Hamilton M. 101
Mc
McCabe, Thomas 152
McCartan, Arthur A. 228
McColgin, Edgar B. 89
McEvers, Smith W. 1^2
McGough, John 1^8
McGrath, John 1^0
N
Narverud, Ole S. 270
Natwick, Thomas T. 630
Nelson, Anton 663
Nelson, August G. ^78
Nelson, Hans J. °f
Nelson, Magnus P- "^
Nelson, Nikolai "S-
Nelson, Swan 32d
Nelson, Theodore S. -°^
Nereson, Nere J. ^
Nesheim, W. M. =6
Ness, Andrew O «60
Ness, Lars O.
Nickel, Wilhelm ^^-
Nicklay, Christian ^^^
Nilson, Ole
Norby, A. J 2g
Norby, Hans L. ^^^
Norby, Joris C-
Nordby, Rev. Halvor O »^^
Nokken, Ole P. ^.^
Norby, Ole L. ^^
Northrop, John H.
Nybakken, Ole A. '=^
Nye, Judge Carrol A -^^^
Nygaard, Haldor 1. ^^^
Nygaard, John P. _gj
Nystevold, Ole
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
236
403
702
449
431
Olin,' Ole J. 557
Oliver, Charles R. 105
Oliver, Orris 1^;^
Olson, Alfred R.
Olson, Anion
Oberg. John
Odegaard, Nels T
Ofstedal, Ole I. -.
Oien, B. M.
Oien, Hans P.
Olson. Oscar
Olson, Martin
Olson, Ole K.
Olson, Olaf C.
Olson, Olaus _-
Olson, Peter P. ---
Ondrush, Valentine
Opgrand, Anton —
Opgrand, Arnt
668
681
838
Olson, Carl K.
Olson, Christian 728
750
Olson, Andrew 356
Olson, Hakan 341
Olson, Halvor 326
883
585
492
301
678
712
108
108
Opsahl, Ludwig A. 347
Oss, Alfred 159
Oss. John '--
Otterson, "p. A. 605
Overbo, Peder H. 879
Pagel. William 862
Pallas, Charles 822
Paulson, Lars 761
Pederson, Aanen 84/
Pederson, Gilbert 869
Pederson, P. H. 78
Perkins, John G. 362
Perry, Albert W. 893
Peterson, Gilbert 146
Peterson, Oscar 670
Peterson, Peter A. 320
Peterson, Samson N. 395
Pilot, Chester S. 612
Pinske, Ernest 584
Plummer. Omer J. 77
Poehls, Ernest 113
Poppe, August 513
Possehl, H. C. 290
Possehl, Herman 338
Possehl, Louis ^71
Powers, J. H. 903
Qualley, Even N. 618
Quam, Lewis K. 336
Quam, Ole - 263
Rabe, William H.
680
Ramsey, Jens R. 827
Ramstad, P. N. 357
Rasey, William H. 265
Rask, Halvor O. 415
Rasmusson, Halvor ' 243
Rasmussen, Hans 478
Redland, John T. 385
Rehder, Christian -. 93
Reirsgord, Ole E. 189
Richards, Gill H. B. 242
Richards, Harry 393
Richard, Margaret E. G. 443
Richards, Max 609
601
593
Rindahl, Ole L.
Rishof, Tron
Roach, Thomas M. 832
Robertson. Mads 662
Roesch, Lambert 815
RoUe. Leo J. 460
Romkey, Charles B. 282
Rost, Elias O. 202
Rostvold, Andrew 824
Rostvold, Lars H. «03
Rude, Andrew K. 709
Russell, William 139
Rustad. Garfield H. 119
Rustvold, John A. 748
Salomonson, C. John 882
Sanders, Peter 322
Sauer, James A. 254
Schecl, Fred 141
Scheide, Iver 911
Scheie, Anthony 857
Scheie, John L. 372
Schellak, Fred 150
Schindler, Charles F. 273
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Schmidt, Jacob 713
Schroeder, Edward C. 663
Schroeder, Henry 160
Schroeder, Henry C. 566
Schulstad, Carl N. 690
Scott, Robert L. 368
Semling, C. K. (Vol. I) 527
Semlinge, Iver 688
Serum, A. O. 96
Shaide, Francis E. 518
Shea, P. J. 212
Sheets, Peter, Jr. 625
Sirjord, George K. 674
Skalet, Ole 154
Skaurud, Fred L. 547
Skaurud, Henry O. 534
Skavdalh, Karelins J. 843
Skrei, Hilbert O. 307
Skrei, Theodore H. 104
Sliper, Thomas N. 328
Smith, John I. 517
Snartland, Saavi T, 316
Solberg. George O. 705
Sulcm, Rev. O. A. Th. 427
Solum, Hans O. 651
Solum, Bernhard J. 891
Solum, Martin O. 451
Solum, M. J. 156
Solum, S. O. 245
Solwold, Andrew O. 318
Solwold, Olaf 399
Spenningsby, John 253
Spotts, W. L. 178
Sprague, Elisha C. 800
Sprung, William 264
Stadum, Norman H. 786
Stadum, Oscar 556
Steen, John G. ',. 349
Steen, Ole M. 343
Stennes, Edward H. 422
Stennes, Edward T. 390
Stensgaard, Lars J. 698
Stephenson, Erick 738
Sticn, Peter I. 736
Stiening, August 334
Stoen, Ole N. 790
Stordahl, Carl J. 496
Strand, Anund K. 467
Stromberg, Nels J. 749
Stromstad, Martin 433
Stiidlien, Edwin O. 219
Sulerud, Hon. Christen L. 40
Sulerud, John C. 224
Sundet, Johan P. 720
Sundet, Torger O. 519
Svenson, Frank V. 195
Swanson, Anthony G. ._.. 807
Swenson, August 793
Swenson Brothers 793
Swenson, Lenus 793
Swave. Erick O. 700
T
Tall, Carl 672
Tang, Prof. Severt O. 283
Tangen, Ole E. 138
Tenney, Bernard F. 369
Tatley, John K. 791
Thomas, A. T. 229
Thomas, Peter 531
Thompson, Frank P. 166
Thompson, Nels 352
Thompson, William 256
Thortvedt, Levi 376
Thorstad, Ed. O. 466
Thorson, Ole 706
Thune, Halvor W. 896
Tillotson, William R. 304
Todd, Thomas L. 472
Toftner, Johan 703
Torske, John 769
Torstenson, L. O. 348
Tronnes, Edward A. 365
Tufte, Frederick F. 549
Tufte, Hans C. 527
Turner, John (Vol. I) 297
Tucker, William J. 788
U
Ueland, Andreas O. 238
Ullrich, Hans J. 126
Liven, Andrew 687
Ulven, Bernt J. 688
Liven, Hans J. 688
LUven, Juel 687
Ulven Family, The 686
Undeland, Ole M. 631
V
Valen, Malker O. 523
Van Vlissingen, Paul 441
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Verne, Victor E., M. D. 82
Videen, William 820
Vistaimet, P. S., M. D. 456
Voje, Andrew J. 529
W
Wade, Edward U. 201
Walker, Ludvig 157
Wangen, Mons J. 289
Wardeberg, Edward O. 71
Webb, Robert B. . 834
Wefald, Knud 66
Weld, Frank A., M. A., LL. D. 60
Welley, Andrew J. 852
Welter, Leslie 715
Wendlandt, Herman G. 73
Wennevold, Ole 731
Westberg, Peter 337
Westlin, Oscar M. 620
Weum, Mons T. 100
Weuni, Randolph M 294
Whaley, Archie 913
Wiegen, Esten T. 835
Wilkins, Reinhart W. 554
Wilson, Alonzo, M. D. 312
Winjum, Jens, Jr. 174
Withcrow, James M. 84
Wold, Hon. John L. 524
Woldahl, Harold O. 345
Wolfe, J. Pierce 223
Woodward, Flavel A. 207
Works, Wright 258
Wouters, Peter 655
Wright. Albert J. 232
Y
Young, John F. 339
Z
Zervas. Hubert 673
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CJXAjC/^^J
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Itildl;- i-.v.'
BIOGRAPHICAL
DANIEL C. DARROW, AI. D.
Dr. Daniel C. Darrow, a member of the medical profession at Moor-
head, county seat of Clay county, proprietor of the first hospital established
in that city, and one of the l:>est-kno\vn physicians and surgeons in the Red
river valley, is a native of the neighboring state of Wisconsin, but has been
a resident of Minnesota and of Moorhead since the year of his graduation
from medical college in 1884. He was born on a pioneer farm in the town-
ship of Clayton, in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, January 4, 1850, son of
Daniel C. and Isabella D. (Murray) Darrow, both natives of New York-
state and members of old Colonial families, who became pioneers of Winne-
bago county, Wisconsin, and there spent their last days.
The elder Daniel C. Darrow came West with his family from New
York in 1846 and pre-empted a tract of land between Neenah and Oshkosh.
in Clayton township, Winnebago county, Wisconsin, where he established his
home, one of the pioneers of that section, and where lie spent the remainder
of his life, his death occurring there on June 3, 1862. His widow survived
him many years, her death occurring in December, 1895. They were the
parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth
in order of birth, the others being as follow : Annabelle, who married James
Chamberlain, who became a soldier of the Union during the Civil War,
going to the front as a member of the Third Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry, and who died at Andersonville prison after having been held tliere
for thirteen months; Seymour F., who also gave his life that the unity of
his country might be [)reserved, his death having occurred, at the age of
nineteen years, while he was serving as a soldier of the Union, a nieniber
of the Twenty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantn-; Mary H.. who
died at the age of twenty-six: years; David M.. who lived to be sixty-four
years of age: Delia, wife of John G. Hubbard, now of Chicago; Grace,
who died at the age of forty-four years; Dr. Edward M. Darrow. a grad-
(3a)
^4 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
uate of Rush Medical College and a resident physician at i''argo since 1878,
one of the real pioneer physicians of the Red river country, and Gregg
E.. who died at the age of seven years. The mother of these children
was a member ui the United Rresbyterian church and they were reared in
accordance with the rigid tenets of that faith. The Darrows are an old
.\merican family, two Iirothers of that name having come to this country
from the north of Ireland in Colonial days, settling in Connecticut. .A son
of one of these brothers served as a soldier of the, patriot army during the
W'ar of Independence and it is from that Re\-olutionary sire that Doctor
Darrow is descended. He was one of the company that put a cable across
the river at Albany to stop the boats from coming up the ri\er. The Murrays
also are an old Colonial family, the ancestors of Mrs. Darrow having come
to this side from Scotland in the days preceding the Re\olulion.
The junior Daniel C. Darrow was twelve years of age when his father
died. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Winnebago county, receiving
his schooling in the schools of Xeenah, and after his marriage in 1872.
established his home there. l'"rom the days of his boyhood he had been
attracted to the study of medicine and after a while iletermined to devote
liis life to the medical profession. Presently entering Rush .Medical College
at Chicago, he was graduated from that institution in 1884. Thus admirably
qualified for the practice of his profession. Doctor Darrow came up into
the Red river country, his brother. Dr. Edward M. Darrow, having located
at Fargo six years previously, and opened an office at -Moorhead, across the
river from the city in which his brother was practicing, and has ever since
been engaged in practice at Aloorhead, now the oldest physician in continuous
practice in Clay county. In T8f)3 Doctor Darrow erected the first hospital
erected in Clay county and is still operating the same, just recently having
built an addition to the hospital, this addition being for the purpose of pro-
viding a home for the nurses. The doctor is a member of the Clay-Becker
Medical .Society, the Minnesota State Medical Society and the American
Medical Association, in the deliberations oi which organizations he takes a
warm interest, and has ever kept abreast of the wonderful advances con-
stantly being made in his profession. He also takes an active interest in
civic affairs and for twelve years served as coroner of Clay county, rendering
admirable public service in that connection. The doctor has done well in
his practice and in addition to his property interests at Moorhead is the owner
of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 30 of Home Lake town-
ship, in Norman county. Since 1S86 he has been a member of the local lodge
CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. -le
of the liulepeiident Order of Odd Fellows at .Moorlicad and lakes a warm
interest in the affairs of tlie same.
On January 4, 1872, Dr. Daniel C. Harrow was iiniied in marriage l(,
AHce J\I. Stone, who was horn at Fond (hi Lae, Wi.sconsin. daughter of
Richard Stone and wife, and who was a schoohnate at Xeenali, and to tliis
union two children have 1ieen horn, j'.crtha 1)., who married Charles Foring.
an attorney at Crookston, and has two children, Helen and (k-nevieve. and
F.dith, who married Joseph V. Godfrey, who died in kjii. leaving two
children, Vernon D. and Annahelle. Doctor and Mrs. Danow arc attendants
at the Congregational chiurh and ha\e ever taken an interested part in
the general good works of the community, as well as in its social and cultural
activities, and have heen helpful in many ways in promoting movements
designed to adxance tlie common welfare hereabout. .Mrs. 1 )arrow's father,
Richard Stone, was a iiati\e of F'ngland and for nine vears served as a
memher (d" the Royal (iuard. with the rank of corporal.
FORGF CLJNDKRSON MUHFE.
1 he late 'Forge Cuniler-o?i .Muhle. who>e memory ever will he cherished
in this section of the i\ed Ri\er country as one of the ver\- first settlers in
Cla\ county and perhaps the first .settler in diat part of the county now com-
prised withm the houmls of Aloland township, he lia\ing pre-empted a claim
there in i<S70, was a nati\e oi the kingdom of Xorwa\ . hut had heen a resi-
dent of Minnesota since he was nineteen years of age, he having accompanied
his parents to this state in iRh(). ITc liecanie a substantial pioneer farmer in
Moland township, owner of a line fai'ni. where his last da\s were spent, his
death occmTing there on .September _' i . iSc^j, and where hi^ widow is .-till
living.
Torge ( iundersou .\luiile was born in .\orwa\' in iNat). son of (iunder
and Ingeborg ( Chestersdatter ) Torge, also natives ol Xoiwvay, who came to
the United States with theii" frunil\- in iSdh and proceeded directh' on out to
.Minnesota, settling on a farm in Houston county. There Torge (i. Muhle
remained until 1869, in which \eai- he made a pros])ecting trip np here info
the then prairie wilds of the Red Ri\er country .and in 1870 pre-empted a
((uartcr of a section of land in what later came to Ijc organized as Moland
toAvnship, in (da\- countw thou.gh that was in the days before Clay county
36 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
liad been organized as a civic unit. The next year Iiis parents joined him on
that pre-emption claim and the family home was estabhshed there, one of
the very first permanent settlements made in this section of the Red River
valley. Upon the enactment of the homestead law in 1872, T. G. Muhle con-
\ erted his pre-emption into a homestead, "proved up" on the same and grad-
ually improved and developed the place until he had a well-established farm.
In 1879 there joined the Torge family a young woman just out from Nor-
way. Guro Olasdatter Rue. and on December 21. 1879, in the little neighbor-
hood school house, there then being no church thereabout in which to cele-
brate a marriage, Torge G. Muhle and Miss Rue were united in marriage.
■ imid the felicitations and well wishes of many friend>. .\ftcr his marriao-e
Mr. Muhle continued to make his home on his homestead ])lace and became
a well-to-d(i farmer and a man of substantial weight and influence in his
community, his deatii occurring there, as noted above, in the fall of 1897.
He was the second in order of birth of the si.\ children born to his parents,
the others having been Ole, Carrie, Chester, Ole (second), and one who died
in infancy, all of whom are now deceased save Chester.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Muhle has continued to make her
home on the old home place in Aloland town.ship and has done much to
further improve the ])lace, having erected substantial new buildings, and has
also increased her lanil holdings, being the owner now of three hun<lred and
twenty acres of excellent land. She is a daughter of Ole and loraand
( Johansdatter ) Chesterson, also natives of Norway, who came to this coun-
try in 18S3. several years after the coming here of Mrs. Muhle, and for about
twehe \ears thereafter made their home with the Muhles, but later settled
on a tract of their own: later, however, returning to the Muhle home, where
then- last days were spent. They were the parents of five children, of whom
Mrs. Muhle was the fourth in order of l)irth, the others being Carrie (i),
Carrie (2). Chester and IJv, all of whcjm are still living, Chester Chesterson
now being a resident of the territory of .\laska. Mrs. :Muhle has a very
pleasant home in Moland township and has e\er taken an earnest interest in
the general affairs of the community of which .she has been a resident ever
since her coming to this country back in the early flays of the settlement of
this part of Minnesota.
To Mr. and Mrs. Muhle ten children, eight of whom are living, were
l)orn, named as follow : Gust Olaf, Olaus, Oscar (deceased), Oscar, Josephine
Emelia, Edward Julius. Eva Olive, Gina Theres-a. John and Martin Tidman,
the latter being deceased.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 37
R. H. DENENNY.
In writing tlie history of Norman county, Minnesota, and especially of
Borup it is well to mention the life's work of R. H. Denennv, a promi-
nent and successful hardware dealer of that place. He was horn in the
state of New York in the year 1877, the son of C. C. and Catherine
(Barry) Denenny, who were also born in the state of New York, where
they received their education in the public schools and grew to maturity.
They were later united in marriage and established their home in the state
of their nativity and early life. There Mr. Denenny engaged in general
farming after his marriage and there he and his wife and family lived until
the year 1880, when they decided to leave their home in that state and
establish a home in the state of Minnesota. On their arrival here they
settled in Clay county, where they homesteaded one hundred and si.xty
acres of land. The tract was undeveloped and unimproved at that time
and the prospects for a future home were not bright to the people who
had come from a thickly settled and well-developed section of the state of
New York. A house was erected, in which the family lived for some years,
and the task of developing and improving the farm was begun. By much
hard work and close application to business, Mr. and Mrs. Denenny in time
transformed the wild prairie and wood tract into a splendid farm, and
where once grew the forest tree and the wild prairie grass, there grew the
golden grain, and the pasture lands were dotted here and there with herds
of fine cattle and splendid hogs. The task was not an easy one, and it re-
quired the energy and determination of a vigorous people. It was here
that Mrs. Denenny spent the remaining days of her life, devoted to the
interests of her family and the community in which she lived. Her death
occurred in the year 1914, after a life of usefulness and well doing. She
was a woman in whom the people of her home community had the greatest
confidence, and at her death she left to mourn her passing a large circle of
friends, who felt the loss of her taking away. Since the death of his wife,
Mr. Denenny has lived at his home in Felton, where he and his wife first
came on their arrival in the .state many years ago.
C. C. Denenny has always taken the keenest interest in the affairs of
the district in which he has lived, and where he has exerted such an admu"-
able influence. He has held many of the local offices and during his official
life always ga\e the same careful care and attention to public matters that
he has given to his own business; and has always been interested in those
projects that had to do witli the growth and development of the township
38 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
and the county in which lie hved. Before the teleplione became a part of
the life of the people of this section, Mr. Denenny and his son, R. H.
Denenny, installed a line between the farm and the village home for their
own convenience. This enterprise led to the extension of the system and
soon Mr. Speck connected with the line and it was not long till others had
ioined the colony of pioneers in the telephone business. This line was in
time extended to the town of Borup. after which the Borup Telephone
Compan}' was organized and the line was extended to all jiarts of the terri-
tory and other towns. This was in the year 1905. and on the organization
of the company C. C. Denenny was made the first president of the com-
pany and has since held the position. To him much of the success of the
company depends, and it is to his credit that he and his son were the very
first in their locality to enjoy the pleasure and convenience of this inven-
tion. Mr. Denenny is a man of unusual ability and business tact and his
leadership has resulted in much that has been of advantage to the com-
munity in which he has lived so long. His advent into this territory was
at a time when the settlements were few and far apart. In the great devel-
opment of the district he has done well his part and has ever devoted his
best efforts to that development. He and his wife were of Irish descent,
though they were born in this country. His parents, as well as those of
his wife, were born in Ireland and there they received their education and
grew to maturity and later came to the United States, where they estab-
lished homes.
C. C. and Catherine (Barry) Denenny were the parents of the following
children: F. C, R. H.. \\illiam. Grace. Jack, Stella. C. C. and Bernice, all
of whom are living save the last named. Mr. and Mrs. Denenny were long
active members of the Catholic church and were devoted to the cause
of religious teaching in their home community, Mr. Denennv ever being
a liberal subscriber to the support of the local church.
R. H. Denenny received his education in the schools of Felton and
Moorhead and was reared on the home farm, during his boyhood days
assisting his father with the work on the farm. .After he had reached man-
hood he and his brother, F. C. Denenny, for six vears farmed the home
place, which had been extended to comprise four hundred and eight}' acres.
In addition to this. Mr. Denenny had one hundred and sixty acres of his
own and his brother had one hundred and sixty, which, together with the
father's land, made a tract of seven hundred and sixty acres. This tract of
splendid land was all in one body and was later developed and improved
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNKSOTA.
39
and put under a In't^li state of cultivatiun. In connection with tlieir general
farming they were extensive hreeders and raisers of stock and were known
oxtv the county as successful and suljstantial farmers and stockmen. After
having spent six years in the work on the farm, R. H. Denenny located in
the town of I'^elton. where he was for two years successfully engaged in
the well-drilling hnsiness and operating a threshing-machine. He then
moved to Bfirup, -where in 191 1 he purchased the hardware and implement
business of Oscar .Mattison. which business he has since conducted w^ith
success. He has a well-stocked store and his constantly increasing tratle is
evidence of his ])iipularity and business tact. He is posses.sed of much
business acumen and is held in the highest esteem by all.
In 1904 R. H. Denenny was united in marriage to Lillian Paranto,
of X'iding township. Clay county, the daughter of Midie Paranto and wife,
who were among the earl\- pioneers of that section. To this union the fol-
lowing children have been born : Gladys, Eunice, Raymond, Curtis and
Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Denenny are devout members of the Catholic
church, and are prominent in the social life of the town. Mr. Denenny
has always taken an active interest in local afifairs and is one of the influen-
tial men of the town as well as the county. Being possessed of excellent
judgment, his advice and counsel are often sought in matters that ])ertain
to the general welfare of the community.
.\NDREW It. HOLM.
Among the native-born Norwegians who have come to America and
engaged in general farming with success, is Andrew E. Holm, who was
born in the kingdom of Norway, on May 7, 1854, a son of Even and Emilia
1 Christianson ) Tngebrightson, both of whom were also born in that same
country, where they were of the farming class.
Even Ingebrightson was educated in the schools of Norway and
worked at fanning u]) to rSji, in which year he immigrated to the United
.States, first locating in billmore county, this state. He continued to reside
there for ten years and in r88i moved to Norman county and lived with
his son, Andrew l',. Holm, until his death. He operated a .small farm,
which he contin.ued to work during his active years. His wife died in Nor-
way. Thev were the parents of live children, namely: Sirene, who died in
40 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Norway; Matliia, who also dietl in that country; Bertha, who is living in
Beltrami count}-, this state; Andrew E., the subject of this sketch, and
Torger, of Hendrum township, Norman county. The parents were mem-
bers of the Lutlieran church and their children were reared in the same
faith.
Andrew hi. Ilolni was educated in the schools of his native country
and in 1871 came to Minnesota with his father and settled in Fillmore
county, working on die farm. .About nine years later he moved to Norman
county and in the summer of 1879 he homesteaded a quarter section of
land in Hegne township, and here he has made iiis home ever since, engaged
in general farming, and since the commencement of his agricultural opera-
tions has met with a marked degree of success. He has effected a number
of substantial improvements and erected some fine farm buildings and has
set out a grove which adtls much to the general appearance of the holding.
Mr. Holm is also the owner of one hundred and thirty-five acres in section
7, Hegne township, which is given over to the production of general crops.
Andrew E. Holm has been twice married. His first wife was Christina
Anderson Holm, who was Ixjrn in Norway; she died some years after her
marriage. There were no clu'ldren of that union. Mr. Holm later was
married to Matilda JohnsDU, ;ilso a native of Norway. There arc two
children of this marriage, .\nna and ivlwin. The Ilohn family are mem-
bers of the Concordia Lutheran church and are earnest supporters of all
its good works, Mr. Holm l)eing a generous contrilnitor to the upkeep of
the ciiurch. Mr. Holm takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs and
has served as road overseer for some vears.
HON. CHRISTEN L. SULERUD.
Hon. Christen L. Sulerud, mayor of Halstad, former representative
in the Minnesota state Legislature from the sixty-first legislative district,
a well-known hardware dealer in the flourishing village of Halstad and the
proprietor of one of the best-improved and most thoroughly equipi>e(l dairy
farms in Norman county, is a native of Norway-, but has been a resident of
Minnesota and of Norman county since he was sixteen years of age. He
was born on July 17, 1865, son and last-born of the eight children of
Christen Anderson and Karen (Johnson) Sulerud, also natives of Norway,
the former of whom was a blacksmith and farmer, and lioth of whom spent
IKl.X. CIIlilSTKX L. SULERUD.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
41
all their lives in their native country, the other children of the family bcins'
Carl, Maren, Johan, ]^Iartin, Caroline, Sophia and John.
Reared on a farm in his native Norway. Christen L. Sulerud received
his schooling there and at the age of sixteen years, in 1881, came to the
United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, his destination being
Ada, Cdunty seat of Norman county, which county had just been organized
in that year. Mr. Sulerud's residence in this county, therefore, has covered
the full period of the county's existence as a separate civic entity and he
has been a witness to and a participant in the development of the same
since pioneer days. After his arrixal at Ada, Mr. Sulerud entered school
there and attended for some time, perfecting himself in English, and for
some years after his arri\al was engaged at various forms of employment,
including several winters of service as a clerk in a store at Strand. He
then engaged in the mercantile business, as a partnership, at Gary and was
there about three years, at the end of which time he returned to Ada
and clerked in a hardware store there for about three vears. He and Iris
brother, John Sulerud, then bought a hardware store at Ada and operated
the same for one \ear, or until 1894, when they moved to Ilalstad and opened
a hardware store there, which Jjusiness they have been conducting very
successfully ever since, long having been regarded as among the leading
merchants and business men of that thriving little city.
For years Mr. Sulerud has been much interested in the dairy business
and is a practical dairyman of large experience, his dairy farm of about
three hundred and .seventy-five acres directly adjoining the town of Halstad
being looked upon as one of the best-equipped dairy farms in northern
Minnesota. During his ser\ice in the Legislature Mr. Sulerud succeeded
in securing tlie enactment of a bill furthering the interests of the dairymen
of this state, which gained for him the warm gratitude of all those tiuis
engaged. Mr. Sulerud's dairy barn, a very convenient structure, built in L
shape, one hundred by sixty Ijy sixty feet, with cement floor, is a model
of up-to-date convenience, equipped with steel mangers and stalls for his fine
herd of Guernsey cattle, steel watering basins for the cows, a milking-
machine, operated by a gasoline engine, electric lights, and other conveniences
designed to Ijring the operations of the dairy plant as near to perfection
as ixjssible. Mr. Sulerud raises little corn on his ])lacc, devoting the most
of it to alfalfa and potatoes.
Politically, Mr. Sulerud is an ardent Prohil)itiiHiist and in 1908 be
was made the nominee of that part)- for representative in the Legislature
from the sixtv-first Minnesota legislative district, carrying the election by
42 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
a vote four times in excess of the Piohil)ition vote, an evidence of confidence
on tlie part of tlie \-oters of the district very highly appreciated by ^Ir. Sulcrud
and his friends. So satisfactory did his serx'ice in the House during' the
session of 1909 prove that Mr. Sulerud was re-elected in 1910 and gave equally
efficient sei-\'ice during the session of 191 1. Mr. Sulerud has ever given his
close attention to local civic afi^airs and has served for years as president
(if the Halstad school board and in other ways has done a good citizen's
part in advancing the best interests of his home town, which he now is
further serving as mayor.
In 1893 Christen L. Sulcruil \\a> united in marriage to lunula lieise and
to this union five children ha\o been born. Hazel. Gladys, Clark. George
and Lester. The Suleruds have a \ery pleasant home at Halstad and take
an interested part in the community's various .social activities. Mr. and Mrs.
Sulerud are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and give their earnest
attention to cliurch work and other good works in the community, ever
helpful in promoting all worthy mosenients for the advancement of the
common welfare.
JACOB BURRILL.
The first of the numerous and sterling old Burrill family in America
was John Burrill, father of John Burrill, the second, who was born in
J658 and died in 1731. He was the fadier of John Burrill, the third, who
was born in \(h)4 and died in 1756. He was the father uf John Burrill,
the fourth, who was Ixnn in 1719. He was the father of John Burrill.
the fifth, who was born in 1752 and died in 1842. He was the father of
Jacob Burrill, who was born in 1818 and died in 1S91. The latter was
the father of H. R. Burrill, merchant of Hawley, Clay county, a .sketch of
whom appears on another page of this work. Paul C. Burrill, of 1518
Ninth street, Milwaukee, ^^'isconsin, has compiled a genealogical record of
the family an.] from that is copied the following:
There were at least two different families of Burrills in Massachusetts
in Lolonial times, (^ne was a descendant from (jeorge Burrill, of Lynn,
that state, who was a prosperous farmer and one of the wealthiest men
of his town. One of his descendants was for many years speaker of the
Massachusetts Assembly, another was chief justice of Rhode Island, and it
is very probable that the city of Burrill, that state, was named for him.
The other Burrill family is descended from John Burrill, of ^^'eymouth,
CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 43
Massachusetts. John Burrill, founder of the Hne in i\merica, arrived at
Weymouth, a tnwn a1)out twelve miles southeast of Boston in 1639. His
wife was named Rebecca, and to them three children were liorn, John, in
iC)38: Thomas, in 1659. and Ephraim, in 1664. The son, John, married
Mercy Alden, in Taunton, Massachusetts, June 26, 1688. She was a grand-
tlaughter of John Alden and Prisciila Mullins, who came over in the "Ma}-
tlower," and who were celebrated as leading characters in Longfellow's
"Courtship of Miles Standish." It will be remembered th:it the first white
child born in Xew England was Elizabeth Alden. daughter of John and
I'riscilla (Muilins) Alden. John Burrill. great-grandfather of the subject
of this sketch, was born Se])tember 24, 17 19. He was a soldier in the
h'rench and Indian War. and was known as Sergeant Burrill.
[acob Burrill, of this review, was born at Dover, Maine, April 20,
1X18. He grew up in Xew England and married Rachel Bennett, who
was born in (juebec. Canada. Eebruary 18. 1824. ;md died June i, 1904.
|()hn Burrill. of Weymouth. ^Massachusetts, the first of the family, married
Xellie Craig. John Burrill, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was
a soldier in the Revolutionary War. serving in a Massachusetts regiment.
under General Gates. He took part in the battles of Bennington and Sara-
t(jga. About the close of the war he moved to Maine, locating at Dover,
and there he spent the rest of his life, dying at the advanced a,ge of ninety-
tliree years.
Jacob Burrill. of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Dover.
Maine. He worked on the farm w lien a young man : he also learned the
carpenter's trade. About 1852 he moved to Framingham. Massachusetts.
There he hauled stone to build the first normal school building ever erected
in llie United States. He also hauled the stone for the foundation for
the house of Henry Wilson, later vice-president of the L'nited States, whose
residence was at Xatick, Massachusetts. About 1854 he moved to Fitz-
wiljiam, Xew Hampshire, where he followed the carpenter trade. In 1868
he nuived to Keenc, that state, where he was emi)loyed in the carpenter
department of the railroad shops f(jr a period of ele\en _\eai-s. In 1879
he came to Minnesota and took up a homestead in Clav county, being one
of the pioneers here. He circulated the petition lor the organization of
the township which he nanie.l Keene. alter his old home town in New Ivig-
land. He developed a good farm in that town.ship and tiiere spent the
rest of his life. He was also one of the organizers of school district Xo.
30. and he built the school house. He was a Democrat in politics.
Eio-ht children were born to Jaco!^ Burrill and wile, namely: John.
44 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
who is mentioned in a separate sketcli in this work; Adtlie, the wife of
Henr}' C. Longley, of l^'itchlKus'. Massachusetts: ]\Iarv Augusta, who first
married Charles Putney, and later Lewis Smith, and she is living in Idaho;
H. F., who is mentioned in a separate sketch on anotlier page of this volume;
Xellie, deceased, was the wife of Frank Spooner. also now deceased, and they
matle their home in Fitchliurg, Afassachusetts; H. R.. a merchant at Hawley.
Clav county, who is mentioned in a separate sketch in this work; Susie, the
wife of Ben Tacohson; Cora, who married Charles Brooks and they live in
ATinneapolis. Minnesota.
PURKEY HEXRV
Among the earliest settlers of Elkton township, in Cla)' county, were the
Henry familv, who settled there in the latter seventies, helped organize the
township and became active and influential in the work of bringing about
proper social conditions in the pic)neer community. The head of this family,
-\braiiam Henry, was a native of Pennsylvania and a man of the true pioneer
breed, moving successively from Pennsylvania to Illinois and thence to Iowa
and thence up here into the Red River valley, ever following the frontier, ;m(l
here lie spent his last da\s, one of the most intluential pioneers of Elkton
township, which he had helped to organize in the days of the beginning of
the settlement of that regior.. His fatlier, John Henr\-. was a man of much
the same type and when se\ent\-two years of age. in i<S54. headed an expe-
dition, of which liis son Abraham was a member, to the Pacific coast, acting
as scout for the party and walking almost the entire distance. John Henry
liad served during the War of 1812 as a member of Commodore Perry's
command on the Great Lakes.
In Penn.sylvania, where he had grown to manhood. Abraham Henry
married Rachel Jones, a daughter of Isaac and Esther (Xefif) Jones, the
former of whom was a native of Holland, who moved from Pennsylvania
into Illinois, driving through with a family of eleven, the essential domestic
belongings being transported in a one-horse wagon, all but the frailest of the
party walking. Later, about 1855. Isaac Jones and his wife moved to Jack-
son county, Iowa, and there spent their last davs. It was in 1854 that
Abraham Henry had moved from Kane county. Illinois, to Jackson countx.
Iowa, and there lie remained until 1878. when, finding the settlement there
Iiecoming too crowded for one of his pioneering instincts, he came up here
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 45
into the Red River valle} and homesteaded the southwest (luarter of section
2f) in Elkton township. Clay county and "tree-claimed" the northwest
(|uarter of the same section and settled down to prepare a place for his
family, who joined him here the next year, he meantime having erected a
shack of a house for their reception, and on that place he and his wife spent
their last days, among the leaders of that community. Abraham Henry
liell)id to organize the township. He and his wife were earnest Presbyterians
and the latter offered the opening prayer at the first public religious service
held in that communit}', that service having been held in the railway section-
bouse, which for a time was used as a place of worship until presently a
-chool house was built, the latter serving as a place for worship until later
the Presbyterians erected a church at Baker. Abraham Henry and wife were
the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
last-born, the others being Clinton, Alfonzo, James E., Anna, Lsaac, Betsy
,ind Isabel.
i'urkey Henry was born in Jackson county, Iowa, in June, 1861, and
was eighteen years of age when he came up into Minnesota with the family
and settled in Clay county. Upon reaching his majority he homesteaded a
i|uarter of a section in Skree township and after his marriage in 1884 estab-
lished his home there, continuing to make that his place of residence until
1899, when he moved back to the old home place and has since occupied that
portion of it comprised in the northwest quarter of section 26 of Elkton
township, the original tree-claim entered by his father back in the seventies.
.Mr. Henry has an excellent farm and he ami his family are very comfortably
situated there. He ba^ taken an interested part in general civic affairs and
has served as a member of the local school board. He and his family are
members of the Presbyterian church and take a projier jiart in the general
good works of the communit\-.
In 1884 Purkex- Henr\ was united in marriage to Ruth Jane Daniels.
\\hn also was born in J.-ick^m county, Iowa, datighter of Kensey C. and
Enialie (Rose) Daniels, who moved from that county into western Iowa and
after five years of residence there came up into this part of Minnesota, in
1880. and homesteaded a (|uarter of a .section in .section 6 of Humboldt town-
^hii., Clav cr.untv. where Kensev C Daniels died about 1893. His widow
^urvi\ed him for more than txventy years, her death occurring at her home
in the village of Baker in nji4- They were the parents of six children, who
-r.wv to matnritv. Ruth fane Daniels had received excellent schoohng ni
Iowa and upon her arrival in Clav county was engaged at once as a school
teacher, beginning in 1881 as the teacher of the first school opened between
46 CLAY AND NdUMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
( ilvmlon and Barnesville. for llie tirst month of that term conducting her
school in an old chrt-floor homestead shack that stood on land now a part of
the farm of Charles J.amh. Sr.. a little east of the present village of Downer.
To Mr. and ^^rs. Henry four children have been horn, Joseph. I'.emis.
Lamont and IVarl. Thex have hesides an adopted daughter. Matilda.
w 1
JUDGl". r.XRROL .\. NVI-:.
S];)ecific mentinn is niaile in this history of Clay count)' of many of the
rth\- citizens wlm have figured in the growth antl development of the
cdunfy and whose interests are identified with its varit)us phases of progress.
I'^ach has contributed his share to the well-being of the ci>ninuniity, and to the
achancement of its interests. Though all do not reach the heights to which
lhe\ aspire, \et in some degree each can win a measure of success and
bring adxantages to his fellowmen. It is not necessary to follow an_\- par-
ticular line of endeavor or engage in an\- [)articular \H>cation, to be of service
to one's home communitx. In all walks of life there remains much good to
be accomplished and main opportunities for the exercise of talent and influ-
ence that in some way lotuh the lixes of those with whom one may come in
contact, making them the better ;uid the greater. Of the men of the county.
who ha\e had an ele\ating elfect on the resident pt)i)ulati(jn, as well as on the
entire district, it is well to mention one of the most prominent members of
the ( la\- county bar. and one wh(j has risen to a high position in the legal
fraternity in the county. Judge Carrol A. Nye.
Judge Carrol A. .\\e was born in St. Croix county. Wisconsin, in 1861,
and receixed his education in the common and normal schools of that stale.
After having cijinpleted his education in the schools of the state, he entered
the law office of his brother, h'nuik M. Nye, who was at that time located at
Cle;ir Lake. Wisconsin, and is now a successful attorney of Minneapolis.
.Minnesota. He later studied in the otfice of l\ol)ert M. LaFollette, the
pre.sent senator from that .state, and who was at that time located at Madison.
Me then entered die I'niversity of \\'isconsin in 1886, where he was given
the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He received the greater part of his educa-
tion ilu'ough his own efforts and. while in college, paid the larger p.art of
his expenses with money earned i)y working on the farm and in teaching
school. After completing his education and after having been admitted to
the bar. he located in Afoorhead. Minnesota, where he has since resided.
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
47
After having estaljli.slicd his residence and liaving engaged in the praclice
of his profession in Cla}- county, Judge Nye met with much success, and
always took the greatest interest in local affairs. His ability and force of
character were soon recognized and he was appointed city attorney, which po-
sition he held for five years. He was then elected mayor of the city and was
the efficient executixe for four years, and was for eight years attorney for
the county. His educational qualifications and high standing attracted to him
the attention of the officials of the State Normal, and he scr\cd on the hoard
of management of that institution for a term of six years. In all of diese
positions he gave to the pe(iple the highest measure of ser\ice and won the
approval of the entire community. In 1910 he was elected district judge,
and in 1916, was re-elected without opposition. His services on the bench
ha\-e been of the hi.ghest class, and his decisions have been regarded as just
by the people and the bar. His life as an attorney and as a judge has placed
him among the high-minded and conscientious men of the district. Few
men in the district are held in higher regard and few have had more to do with
the high standard of mcM-al excellence.
In 1886 Carrol A. Nye was united in marriage to Mary A. Gordon.
and to this union a son, James G., was born. He received his primary
education in the local schools, and later was graduated from the Philip I'-xter
College and the University of Wisconsin, and from the lalter institution he
received the degree of Baciielor of Laws. He later entered (ju the practice
of his profession and has met with the highest degree of success. Hi<
patriotism and loyalty to his government have been demonstrated by the
fact that he served with the troops on the border of Mexico during the
years iqiCi and 1917. He is n(iw a commissioned officer :U I't. Snellmg.
Minne.sota. In 1896 Mary ((Jordon) Nye passed away, and two years later
Mr. Nye was marrie.l to Harriett Rumball, and to this union one son has
been born, Carrol A., Jr. Harriett Nye was for a number of years an
instructress in reading and expression in the Moorhead Normal, and is a
woman of education and refinement. Her work in the normal school was of
the highest class, and many of the proficient teachers of the state bear evi-
dence to her abilitv as an instructress. Since assuming her i)osition in the
home of judge Nve, she has won the esteem of a large circle of friends,
who hold 'her"^ in the highest regard. She has long been identified with the
social and religious life of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Nye's best efforts
are ever exerted in the jiromotion of those enterprises that x\ ill tend to the
future greatness of the district.
nuring his student days in the university, Judge Nye .gave much atten-
48 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
tion to military training, and has always been a strong advocate of pre-
paredness and the training of young men for military duty, whereby they
may be able to assist in the defense of their countr}-. In 1916 Judge Nye
was at Plattsburg, New York, where he took part in camp life. On Januan-
5, 1917, he was appointed captain in the (|uartermaster"s division of the
reserve corps of the United States army, which position he now holds. Judge
Nye has lived an acti\e and useful life and he has accomplished much that
is worthy of note.
E. S. JENKINS.
E. S. Jenkins, a member of the board of commissioners of Norman
county, former chairman of the board of supervisors of McDonaldsville town-
ship, vice-president df the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Ada and
a well-to-do retired farmer now living at Ada, is a native of the great
Empire state, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was ten years
of age and of Norman county since pioneer days, he having settled here
on a quarter of a section of land he pre-empted in McDonaldsville township
back in 1878, in the days before the county was organized as a separate
civic unit. He was born in Warren county. New York, October 7, 1856,
son of Chauncey and Sarah (Davis) Jenkins, both of whom were born in
that same county, who later became pioneers of Stearns county, this state,
and there spent their last days.
Chauncey Jenkins was born on a farm in Warren county, New York,
February 24, 1821, and was a farmer all his life. He married Sarah Davis,
who was born on March 16. 1826, in the village of Hague, in that same
county, and remained there until 1866, in which year he came with his
family to Minnesota and settled in Stearns county, where he and his wife
spent the remainder of their li\cs. Upon coming to this state he Iwught
a farm three miles from Sauk Center, but presentl}- left the farm and moved
to Sauk Center, where he died in 1868. His widow survived him for man\
years, her death occurring in 1906, she then being eighty years of age. They
were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was
the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow: John W., born on
May 19, 1846: Julia S., Februan- 17. 1849; George W., August 17. 185 1 :
Edith A., December 27, 1853, and Emma E., May 2"/, 1859.
As noted above, E. S. Jenkins was about ten years of age when he
came to this state with his parents in 1866 and his schooling was completed
Mi;. AND JIKS. E. S. JENKINS.
TH& NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENeX
TILDKN FOUNDATIONS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 49
ill the schools of Stearns county. His youtii was spent on the farm and
he later became engaged in a livery stable at Sauk Center, where he was
employed until his marriage in the summer of 1878, when he and his wife
straightway came up to this part of the state and establishefl their home in
Norman county, where they ever since have resided, honorable and influential
pioneers of this section. They drove up here into the Red river valley by
ox-team, riding in a "prairie schooner," and bringing with them such house-
hold goods as would be essential to the starting of their humble home in a
new lantl. They were ten days in making the trip from Sauk Center. Upon
arri\ing here JMr. Jenkins pre-empted a quarter of a section of land in what
later came to be organized as McDonaldsville township and there established
his home. The first small house he erected there presently was supplanted
by a more substantial and commodious residence and the other improve-
ments on the farm were in keeping with the same. He later added an adjoin-
ing "forty" and is now the owner of two hundred acres of well-improved land
in sections 12 and 13 of McDonaldsville township, besides another "forty"
in section 16. During his long residence on the farm Mr. Jenkins gave
considerable attention to the raising of Jersey cattle, in addition to his
general farming, and did very well. He remained on the farm until 1908.
when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Ada, where
he and his family are now living and where they are very comfortably
situated.
Mr. Jenkins has given considerable attention to the general business
affairs of the community and is vice-president and a member of the board
of directors of the Fanners and Merchants Bank of Ada. Since the organ-
ization of the Norman County Agricultural Society in 1S95, he has been
a member of the board of directors of that organization, was secretary of
the same for five years and president for one term. He is an ardent Repub-
lican and ever since he settled in Norman county has given his earnest atten-
tion to civic affairs. For twenty-eight years he served as treasurer of his
local school district ; for ten years was chairman of the lx)ard of supervisors
of McDonaldsville township, 'and for ten years was treasurer of the same.
In the fall of 1914 Mr. Jenkins was elected a member of the board of county
commissioners from his district and is now serving in that important and
responsible public capacity, the whole county thus getting the benefit of
his wide experience in county affairs.
It was on July 4, 1878, that E. S. Jenkins was united in marriage to
Marv Revnolds. who was born in ^\'aushara county. W'isconsin, September
(4a)
50 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
9, 1861, a daughter of Solomon and Sarah ( i\rnistrong) Reynolds, Ijoth
of whom were born in the neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, the former
on March 4, 1834, and ihe latter, October 27, 1843. Solomon Reynolds
was an honored veteran of the Civil War, having served with a Wisconsin
regiment, and was with Sherman on that commander's memorable march
to the sea. He died on February 12, 1873, and his widow sur\ived him
for more than fifteen years, her death occurring on October 24, 1888. .Mr.
and Mrs. Jenkins have three children. Ruby, who married George Coldwell
and has one child, a son, Charles E. ; Effie, who married J. C. Chick and has
eight children, Vivian, Ora, Floy, Elmore, .Xrnie. Lloyd, Orin and Kenneth;
and Jessie, who married Edward E. Carmen and has one child, a daughter,
Mildred. Mrs. Jenkins is a member of the Congregational church. For
more than twenty-five years .she has been affiliated with the Daughters of
Rebekah. tlie woman's auxiliary to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and is a past i)residing officer of that organization in .Minnesota.
J.A.\[ES GLASGO\\'. SR.
James Glasgow, Sr.. manager of the Monarcii Elevator Company's
extensive plant at Barnesxille, former member of the common council of
that city and former president of the school boanl, is a native of Scotland,
but has l)een a resident of this countr\- since he was eighteen years of
age, a resident of Minnesota ever since his arrival in this country, with
the exception of a couple of years spent in the grain business in Oregon
during the early nineties. He was born in .\yr.shire in October, 1855,
son of .\iKlrew and .\nn ( f-iobertson) Glasgow, both of whom also were
natives of Scotland, the former born in .Ayrshire and the latter in Dundee,
who later became pioneers of the Red river country and whose last da\s
Avere spent in Clay county.
.'\ndrew Glasgow was a tailor and draper, who moved from his native
-\yrshire to England about the year i860 and there was engaged in the
tailoring Ijusiness until the year 1873, when he came with his family to
the United States and proceeded directly on out to Minnesota and bought
a tract of railroad land in the vicinity of Hawley, in Clay count)-, where
he established his home and where he and his wife spent the remainder
of their lives, honored and influential pioneers of that community, .\ndrew
Glasgow had a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he bought
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. CI
ill its raw prairie state and which he improved and developed into one
of the best farms in tliat part of the county. As one of tlie real pioneers
of Clay county, he took an active part in pul)lic affairs durin.y; the earl\
(lays of the county's organization, served for two or three terms as a
member of the board of county commissioners and for twent\-live years
served as justice of the jieace in and fur his home townshij). lie and his
wife also were active in the work of the church in earl\- da\s hereabout
and were among the organizers of the congregation of the Congregational
church at Hawley. They were the parents of two children, the suhjccl i>\
this sketch ha\ing a sister, Anna, widow of the late Thomas .\1. Krown,
of Hawley.
James Glasgow was but a child when his parents mo\ed from Scotland
to England and in the latter country he received his schooling, completing
the academic course. He was about eighteen years of age wlim he came
with his parents to this country and settled on a pioneer farm in the Hawley
neighborhood and he at once took an active part with his father in the lators
of developing and improving that raw prairie farm, continuing there thus
engaged until i8c)i, in which year he went to Oregon, where he became
employed in the service of the old Northern I'acific Elevator Company antl
where he remained a couple of years, at the end of which time, in 1893,
he returned to Clay county and became engaged as manager of the old Min-
nesota and Dakota elevator at Barnesville, which position he ever since
has occupied: the elevator and the extensive plant connected therewith now
being the property of the Monarch Elevator Company, and is thus one of
the be.st-known grain men in this jjart of the state, having been continuously
eneac-ed in the tirain business at Barnesville for nearly a quarter of a
century. Mr. (ilasgow is the owner of a tract of several acres ot ground
just inside the city limits, where he makes his home and where he and
his family are very comfortalily and very pleasantly situated, Mr. (Ilasgow
has for years gi\en his earnest attention to local civic affairs and for two
terms served as president of the local .school board and for two terms as
a member oi the city council from his ward. 1-raternally. he is affiliated
with the local lodges of the Ancient Free and Accepted .Masons and of the
Ancient Order of Cnited Workmen and in the affairs of l>oth n\ these organ-
izations takes a warm interest.
In 1880 James Glasgow was united in marriage to Josephine .\arveson,
daughter of Xarve Xarvesoii and wile, iiioneers of b'.glon tounship. Clay
county, and to this union eight children have been iK.rn, .\nna, .\ndrew.
Agnes fames, b,sephinc, Marv, Gretchen and Ruth, all of whom are hvm.g.
52 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Tlie Glasgow's are menihers of tlie Congregational clnirch and lune ever
taken an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good
\vorks and social activities of their home town, and have been helpful in
]jronioting causes designed to advance the common welfare not only there,
but throughout the county and this region at large.
WILLIAM j. AW r\', .M. D. -
Dr. William J. Awty, a practicing physician at iloorhead since the
\ear 1892, was born on a farm in the province of Ontario, in the Dominion
of Canada. January 24. 1863, .son of Foljambe and Hannah (Chapnian)
Awty, the former a native of luigland and the latter of Ontario, whose
last days were spent in Ontario. I^'oljambe .\wty was a substantial fanner
and a man of influence in the communitx in which he lived. He and his
wife were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Mary A., .Sarah !•"..,
Folj;unbe, Fannie M., Maud, Harriet G. and Kate M.
Reared on the home farm in Ontario, William J. Awty received lii>
early schooling in the schools of that ncighliorhood and remained at home
until he was nineteen years nf age, when, in 1882, he went to Winnipeg,
remaining there and at ]^t. Arthur for about five years, at the end of which
lime, in 1887. he reiurned to his home in Ontario. The next year, in
1888, he entered the medical department of Trinity University at Toronto
and was graduated from the .same in i8gi. Upon receiving his diploma
IDoctor Awty was appointed an interne in the City and County Hospital
at St. Paul and after eighteen months of very practical and \alnable ser\icc
there opened an office for the practice of his profession at INIoorhead, in
October, 1892. and has e\er since been located there, one of the best-known
physicians in the Red ri\er \allev. Doctor Awty is a member of the Cla}'-
Becker Medical Society, the Minnesota State Medical Association and the
American Medical Association and takes a warm interest in the deliberation.-
of these organizations.
In 1906, Dr. William J. .\wty was united in marriage U< Fthel ('•.
L(ird, daughter of L. C. Lord and wife, and to this union two children
have been born, William J- and Inez Lord. Doctor and Mrs. .\\vty are
members of the Fpi'^copal church at Moorhead and take a proper interest
ui the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good works
and -ocial and cnltunil activities of the conimunitv in which tbev live.
CLAY AND XORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. C'
i,. GILBERT nrXDERSOX.
Gilbert Gunderson, cashier o! tlie Security State Jiauk of iiittenlal ami
one of the leaders in the business lite of that thriving village, treasurer
of Goose Prairie townshij) and otherwise interested in the general affairs
of his home community, was born in Clay county and lias lived here all
his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Highland (lro\e townshi]) on
June iJ, 1883, son of Olaf and Maren { Ivilstad) (junderson, natives of
Sweden and Norway, respectively, the former born on October 24, 1832,
and the latter. February 21. 1846, who became pioneers of Clay county
and here s])ent their last days.
(llaf Gunderson came to the United States fi-oni his native Sweden
in the days of his y<jung manhood and settled in the neighlx)rho()d of
Decorah, Iowa, where he presentl}- married, later coming up into the Red
ri\-er country in .Minnesota and settling in Clay count\. Cp()n his arri\ai
here he bonicsteaded a quarter of a section of land in Highland (jrove town-
ship and there established his home, he and his wife spending the remainder
of their li\es there. She died on June 16, 1896, and he survived her nearly
twenty years, his death occurring in .March. 1916. 'rhe\- were t!ie members
of the Norwegian Lutheran clun'ch and were the parents of fixe sons anri
one girl.
Gilbert ( lunderson was reared on the homestea<l farm in Highl.and
Grove township and sujjplemented the schooling recei\ed in the local schools
by a course in the Archil)ald Business College at Minnca[)olis, beginning his
attendance there in icpo, when se\enteen years of age. L^pon leaving college
lie began working in the store of Ole 1'. Storberg at I law ley and later
was employed in the general store of Rittiman & lude and for the Andrew
Johnson Company at th;it same place, continuing thus engaged in the mer-
cantile line until in .i()io. when be became employed in the State Bank of
Hawlev. I''(jr four \cars Mr. (iunderson remained in the Ijank at Hawley
and then, in April. 1914, was elected cashier of the Security State P.ank
of Ilitterdal. a position he ever since has occupied, one of the l>est-known
young bankers in that part of Clay county. In addition to his banking
intere.sts Mr. Gunderson also takes an interested pari in the general civic
aftairs of his borne communitv and is the present treasurer of Goose Prairie
township.
In the vear 1907 Gilbert Gunderson w;is united in marriage to .Mabel
Mitchell, dausbter of the Rev. Charles Milchell. and to ibis union five chil-
54
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
ilren have been burn, Stanley, Dorothy, Harry, I'lorence and draee. Mrs.
Gunderson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Gunderson
is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and
takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same. He is an active young
business man and is regarded as one of the most energetic "boosters" in
that part of the county.
PROF. C. A. T!.\LLARD.
Prof. C. A. Ballard, one of the most popular members of the faculty
of the Minnesota State Normal School at Moorhead and head of the depart-
ment of biology of that institution, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived
in this state all his hfe, with the exception (>f a few years during his youth
when he li\ed in Indiana. He was born at Zumbrota, in Goodhue county,
this state, in icSdj, son of Joshua Ballard and wife, the former of whom was
a farmer, wIim, a few years later, moved back to his old home in Hendricks
count}', Indiana, with his f;!mily and remained there until about 1883, when
he returned to Minnesota and again established his home at Zumbrota.
C. .A^. Ballard was about sixteen years of age when his parents moved
l)ack to this state and he complete<l his common-school education in the high
school at Zumbrota, from which he was graduated in 1889. He then entered
the University of Minnesota and after two years of attendance there Ijegan
teaching school, but a year later returned to the university, from which he
was graduated in 1894. with the degree of Bachelor of Science. While at-
tending the university he won a scholarship in Ijotany and held the same
during his last two years of attendance there. During several summers
while going to school he was engaged in work on behalf of the state botanical
departnient and was a member of the partv of botanists that established the
Marine botanical station on Vancou\er Island in the summer of 1891.
In the fall of 1894 Professor Ballard took up his real work as an edu-
cator and has since ilevoted his time and his energies to the cause of educa-
tion. It was in that }ear that he accepted a position in the high school at
bergus Falls and in the December following his arrival there was made
superintendent of the schools of that city to fill the vacancy created by the
resignation of Prof. Frank A. Weld, superintendent of the Fergus Falls
schools. Professor Ballard remained at Fergus Falls, superintendent of the
schools there, until 1800. Nvhen he was appointed a member of the faculty
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
55
of the State Xomial School at Aloorhead, in charge of the department of
biology, and has since occupied that position, with his residence at Moor-
head. During his residence in Moorhead. Professor Ballard has taken an
active interest in the general affairs of the city and for six years served as a
member of the city council. He owns a well-improved farm south of the
city and gives considerable attention to the operation of the same.
In 1898. the year before he moved to Moorhead, Prof. C. A. Ballard
was united in marriage to Ida Bell, of Fergtis Falls, and to this union four
children have lieen born, James, Curtis, Margaret and Edward. Professor
and Mrs. Ballard are members of the Congregational church and take an
earnest interest in church work, as well as in the general works of the com-
munity, and are recognized as among the leaders in the cultural activities of
their home town. The IVofessor is a member of the Masonic order and
takes an active interest in the affairs of the same.
REV. MARTIN ANDERSON.
The present pastor of the Trinity Lutheran church at Moorhead, Clay
county, Rev. Martin Anderson, was born in Benton county, Iowa, May
17, 1882, a son of Mons and Sarah (Tvedt) Anderson, both natives of.
the kingdom of Norway.
Mons Anderson came to .\merica in 1865 and located in LaSalle county,
Illinois, where he remainetl for two years. He then moved to Benton
county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until 1905, in which year he
retired from acti\e work and moved to Minneapolis, IMinnesota, where he
died in 1915. He was the father of eight children, as follow: Bertha.
deceased: Andrew, Celia, John, Anne, Peter, Christine and Martin.
Rev. Martin .\nderson received his elementary education in the puljlic
schools of Benton county, Iowa. He afterwards attended the St. Olal
College, at Northfield. Minnesota, and graduated from that institution in
1906. Having chosen the profession of the ministry he attended the L'nited
Church Seminary, at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he completed a course
of theological study and graduated from that seminary in roog and was
ordained in the same year. His first pastoral charge was at Madison. South
Dakota, where he remained for nearly five years. In 191 4 he came to
Moorhead and accepted the pastorate of the Trinity Lutheran church in
^6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
this place, where he has since remained. In 191 5 he received the honorary
degree of Doctor of Divinit}-. conferred hy Fargo College.
Re\'. Dr. .\nderson has proven himself to be a man of ability, energy
and influence by his work in this community. He was instrumental in the
building of a fine new church, costing forty-two thousand dollars, whicli
was completed in 191 5. The building is of modern construction and equipped
with modern appointments. It is a credit to tlie congregation an<l one of
the attractive buildings of the town.
In 1909 Doctor Anderson was married to Cora Gunderson, daughter
of lohn E. Gunderson, of Driscoll, North Dakota. Two children have been
born to this union, Milo and Harriet.
W. Al. XESHEIM.
W. M. Nesheim, a well-known druggist at .Moorhead, was born in
Decorah, Iowa, April 19, 1865, a son of Iver H. and Elizabeth Nesheim,
the former of whom was born in Norway and came to .America in young
manhood, locating in Iowa, where he followed the occupation of a painter.
In 1880 he removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and lived there until his
death. His children were : Josephine, Christine, W. M., Ida, Emma
(deceased), Oscar (deceased), and Louis (decea.sed). Iver H. Nesheim was
head of the paint department of the .\mon Scop & Coiupany, of Decorah,
and was a man of rare artistic talent, his decorative work giving him more
than local fame.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Decorah,
Iowa. At the age of fifteen he began work in a drug store in Decorah,
where he continued for about one year. In 1881 he went to Minneapolis
and was employed in drug stores in that city for fourteen years. Coming
to Moorhead in 1895. he engaged in the drug i)usiness on his own account
in that city and has continued in this business there ever since.
In 1905 W. M. Nesheim and Eleanor Albertson. daughter of Orris
Albertson, of Battle Lake. Minnesota, were united in marriage, and to this
union three children have been born: Eleanor, Roseltha and William (de-
ceased). Mr. Nesheim's fraternal affiliation is with the local lodge of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen at Moorhead. Mrs. Nesheim's father.
Orris Albertson, for many years one of the foremost residents of Battle
Lake, which town he helped to lay out. buying the first town lot sold there.
W. M. XESHEIM.
THE NEW YUhK
PIIBI,IC LIBRARY
^o,wR, LENex
TILDEN FOUNDATfONh
CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 57
was born in Jefferson connly, New York, a son of Josiali and Rhoda I Kig-
gins) Albertson. natives of the state of New Jersey. When nineteen years
of age, in 1869, Orris Albertson came to Minnesota to join his sister, Mrs.
Benjamin Sherman, in Otter Tail county, and for some time thereafter was
employed as a clerk in the city of Otter Tail. In the fall of 1873 he married
Mrs. Roseltha (Gould), Corliss, a widow and the owner of a homestead farm
in Everts township. Otter Tail county, and took a homestead in his own
name adjoining that of his wife. In 1876 he established a store on that farm
and later moved the same to the new townsite of Battle Lake and for many
vears thereafter was engaged in the mercantile business there, six years of
which time he served as postmaster. For eight years he served as clerk
of the township and in 1904 was elected sheriff' of Otter Tail county, an
office he held for four vears.
OTTO F. KELTING.
Otto F. Kelting, a well-known merchant at Downer and justice of the
peace in and for Elkton township. Clay county, is a native of Germany, but
has lived in this country since he was seven years of age and in Minnesota
since he was twelve and is therefore thoroughly familiar with conditions
up here in the Red river country. He was born on February 13, 1886, son
of John and Anna (Grevey) Kelting, also natives of Germany, who came
to this country in 1893 and after a residence of five years in Chicago came
to Minnesota and located in Clay county, where they are still living, sub-
stantial residents of Elkton township.
John Kelting was born on April 9. 1861, son of Otto and .\nna ( Brown »
Kelting, l)Oth also natives of Germany, farming people, the latter of whom
is still living there at a ripe old age, and who were the parents of eight
children, those besides John, the first-born, being Henry, Kathcrine, WW-
liam. Otto (deceased), Augusta, August (deceased), and Ferdinand. Dur-
ing 1912-13 the Widow Kelting made a visit to her children in this country.
Tohn Kelting was trained as a stonemason in his native land and there
became a proficient workman. From 1882 to 1885 he ser\ed in the anuy
and in the latter year, shortly after his return to civil life, married .\nna
Grevev, who also was born in Germany, daughter of Hans and Katherme
(Lench) Grevey, the former of whom is still living there. After his mar-
riage John Kelting continued to make his home in his native land untd
1^8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
1893, ill which year he came to the United States with his little family and
located in Chicago, wliere he became engaged working at his trade as a
stonemason and where lie made his home for five years, or until 1898, when
he came to Minnesota with his family and settled at Sabin, in Clay county,
wliere he continued working at his trade and was thus engaged there until
his appointment some years later, upon the establishment of rural mail routes
nut of Sabin, as a rural mail carrier out of that postoftice, the first carrier
thus appointed there. A year later, in 1906, he bought a quarter of a
section of land in Elkton townshi]) and has since made his home on that
place, having improved the farm in admirable shape. John Kelting has
given considerable attention to local civic affairs since liecoming a resident
of Clay county and while at Sal)in and since moving to the farm has been
a member of the school board, a period of about fifteen years. He also
served for some time as justice of the jieace. He and his wife are members
(if the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith.
Of the ten children born to them, seven are still li\ing, those besides Otto
l*".. the subject of this sketch and the first-born, being as follow: Emma,
wife of Marcus Ullrich; Freda, wife of David Lamb, Gusta, wdio is engaged
with her brother. Otto, in business at Downer, and Bertha, Minnie and
August, at home.
As noted abo\e. Otto F. Kelting was but se\eii vears of age when he
came to this country with his parents and his schooling was continued in
the schools of Chicago until he came to Minnesota, where he completed
his schooling in the Sabin schools. .\s a young man he became interested
in railroading and for three years was employed as a brakeman on the
Great Northern. He then became engaged in farming and was for se\en
years thus engaged, the owner of a Cjuarter-section farm adjoining the
village of Downer. He then sold his farm and on Januar_\- 25, 191 7, bought
the store building and stock of goods of Kost Brothers at Downer and has
since then iieen engaged in the general mercantile business in that village.
Mr. Kelting has been attentive to local political affairs and is now serving
as justice of the ]ieace in and f<ir his home township. He formerlv served
as constable.
On .'\pril 28, 1908. Otto V. Kelting was united in marriage to Eliza-
beth Kluck, who was born in Skree township. Clay county, daughter of
Vved Kluck, one of tlie homesteaders and pioneers of that townshi]). anfl a
biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, and to
this union si.x children ha\e been Ijorn, Lawrence, Pearl, Alfred, Florence,
Evalvn and \\'illiam.
CI.AY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. eg
ANTON KOST.
Anton Kost, one of the early settlers of thi> part of Minnesota and a
snbstantial landowner, of Alary township, Norman connty. umw living re-
tired in the \ illaaje of Downer, in Clay county, is of European birth, a native
of the rei)ublic of Switzerland, but has been a resident of Minnesota since
the days of his young manhood, having settled up here in tiie Red I^iver
countr}, a homesteader in what later came to be organized as Marv town-
shi)) in Norman count\-, at that time a ])art of Polk county, and became one
of the organizers of that township and chairman of its first board of super-
visors. He was born on December 24, 1850, son of Joseph and .Mary ( Ilell-
miller) Kost, also natives of Switzerland, who spent all their lives in that
country. Joseph Kost was a butcher. He died in the middle fifties and his
widow survived him many years, her death occurring about the year 1880.
The}- were the jiarents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Joseph, Jack. Robert, Fitz-
mons, Katie and Christina.
Anton Kost was but a child when his father died. He grew to manhood
in his nati\e country and there learned the carpenter trade, remaining there
until some little time after reaching his majority, when, in 1873, he came
to the United .States and proceeded directly on out here to the Red River
country, marrving in that same year a Swiss lass who had come out here
:md had located in Clav county in that same year. I'Vir a short time after his
marriage Mr. K(jst worked as a butcher at Moorhead, working for John
Erickson, and then he entered a homestead claim on a (|uarter of a section
of land in what later came to be known as Mary township, miw in Norman
count\-, liut then ;i ]);irt of I'olk county, and there established his home. One
of his first ste]!-- in the way of developing and improving that virgin tract
was the jilanting <>\ a grove, which in the years since then has grown to
noble proportions, one of the finest groves in that part of the county. A\'hen
it came time to organize that pioneer community as a township for civic pur-
poses, Mr. Kost took an active part in the work of organization and was
chairman of the first board of sujjervisors of the township, a position he held
for four years. He was the second treasurer elected in his school district
( district No. 20 ) and held that position for twenty-one years, a strong and
able factor in the work of developing the school system of the community in
an early da\ . As he prospered in his farming operations Mr. Kost added to
his boidini/s until be became the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred
6o CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MI N NKSOTA.
and eighty acres, on which lie erected suljstantial huil(hngs, and gradually
created there one of the liest farm plants in that section. He also paid con-
siderable attention to the raising of live stock and did very well. On that
farm Mr. Kost made his home until his retirement in 1912 and removal to
the village of Downer, where he built a line house and where he and his wife
are now making their home, comfortably siluated and enjoying in quiet re-
tirement the rewards of their labors during the pioneer period of the de-
\elopment of this region.
In 1873, shortly after his arrixal in Clay county. .Mr. Kost was united
in marriage to Nina Heflicker, also a native of the rciniblic of Switzerland,
who had arrived here in that same year, and to this union four children have
been born, Katie (deceased), .\nton, .\dolph and John. Mrs. Kost's parents.
John and Katherina Heflicker. who also were born in Switzerland, spent all
their li\es in their native land. iNIr. and Mrs. Kost are Catholics and aided
in the organization of the first Catholic church in the community in which
they settled in Norman county — .St. Mary's church, which now is a strong
and nourishing parish. As pioneers of this region they are thoroughly famil-
iar with the details of the development of tin,' counlr\- hereabout and both
have man\- interesting tales to tell of the earh' da vs.
FRANK AUGUSTINE WELD. .M. .\., LL. D.
Dr. Frank Augustine Weld, president of the .Minnesota State Normal
school at Moorhead. is a native son of the old Fine Tree State, but he
has been a resident of Minnesota for the past thirty-five years or more.
He is thus as nnich a Minnesotan in spirit, and in the ardor of his service-
to this state as one "nati\e and to the manner born." Doctor Weld was
born in the city of Skowhegan. Maine. December 10, 1858, son of George and
Lucy .\nn (Robbins) \\'eld. Flis father was a cabinet-maker and farmer,
who came to this state in 1899 and spent his last days in Moorhead.
Upon completing the course in the Skowhegan high school and Bloom-
field Academy in 1877, Frank A. Weld entered Colby College at \\'aterville.
Maine, where he received his collegiate training, having made his wav
through college b\- teaching country schools, the grammar school at Machias.
ALaine, and by serving as principal of the high school at Cherryfield. in
that same state. In 1882 he came to IMinnesota, where for a short time lie
was engaged in newspaper work in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but not long
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 6l
afterward accepted a call to take the superinteiidency of the schools at
I'arniington. From Farmington he went to Zumbrota, in Goodhue county,
a position which he occupied for fi\e years. While living at Zuinl)rota,
he married, and in 1889 accepted a call to the sui)erintendency of the schools
at I'"ergus h'alls, in which city he was thus engaged for more than iivc
years, at the end of which time he accepted the ]iosition of Northwestern
representative for the ])uljlishing house of D. C. Heath & Company, with
offices at Minneapolis. .\ year later, however, he resumed school work,
going to Stillwater as superintendent of the schools of that city, and there
he remained until 1899. in which year he received the appointment as head
of the State Normal school at Aloorhead, which office he has since held,
making liis home at Moorhead. Doctor Wekl has devoted practically his
entire life since reaching maturity to the cause of education, and there
are few lietter know 11 educators in the Northwest than he. in 1899 he
received his master degree, and in 1914 Fargo College conferred upon
him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He has written and delivered
many lectures on travel, art and literature, and his services are in wide
demand on the lecture |)latlorm. Doctor Weld has served as president
of the Minnesota Educational A.ssociation ; he has been president of the
Council of State Normal School Presidents, an organization covering all
the states west of the ^lississippi : he is now a member of the state com-
mission of education, and he has held other important positions of trust.
The Moorhead Normal school was the fourth school of its kind provided
for by the state Legislature, the act passing in 1885. The site of the
school is a gift of the Hon S. G. Comstock. The buildings are modern
and include a main Imilding; two dormitories for young women; an addi-
tion to the main building, which contains a beautiful library, gymnasium and
bath rooms: a model school building for the elementary school; and an
auditorium, costing $100,000, providing space for the science departments
and a beautiful auditorium. The school was opened on August 29, 1888,
with a membership of forty-two, and since that time the growth of the
school has been steady and continuous. The present annual enrollment
in all departments is one thousand four hundred and fifty.
--Vs noted above, it was while living in Zumbrota that Doctor Wekl
was u,u-le<l in marriage to Hattie F. Flwell. To that union three children
have been born. Moselle Edna, wife of Dr. O. J. Hogan, a well-known
physician and surgeon of Moorhead; Lucy Ann. wife of Curtis Pomeroy,
au'atlor.iev at Barnesville, and I- rank F., now a senior in the Moorhead
Normal school Doctor and Mrs. Weld are members of (he Congregational
62 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
church at :\Ioorhead. Fraternally. Doctor Weld is affiliated with the Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons and with the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks. He, also, is a memher of the Delta Kappa Epsilon college fraternity.
DAVID A. LAMB.
David -\. Lamh. chairman of the hoard of supervisors of Elkton town-
ship, Clav county, and the proprietor nf a line farm in section 28 of that
township, is a native of Scotland, hut has heen a resident of Miiniesota
since he was live years of age, the Lamh family having come here in 187 J.
first settling in Becker count\ and later moving over into Clay county,
heconiing prominent and influential factors in the development of the pioneer
interests of Elkton and Elmwood tcnvnships. In a memorial sketch relating
to the late John Lamh, uncle of the suhject of this sketch, and a hiographical
sketch relating to Charles Lamh, .Sr., father of suhject, presented else-
where in this volume, there are set out in considerahle detail particulars
of the coming of the Lamb family from Scotland, their settlement in the
Red river country and the ])art tiiey t(X)k in the (levelo]>nient of this region,
and the attention of the reader is respectively directed to those narratives
for further details of a genealogical ,-md historical character in this con-
nection.
Daviil A. L.aml), eldest son of his father, Charles Lamh, Sr.. was Ijorii
in Forfarshire, Scotland, June 9, 1867. and was hut five years of age when
he came with his parents and grandparents to Minnesota, the family settling
in Becker conntv and later moving o\er into Cla\' county, where he ever since
has made his home. He received his schooling in the early schools of this
latter county and grew u\i a practical farmer, thoroughl\- familiar with
pioneer conditions hereahout. When he reached his majority, in 1888, he
homesteaded a tract of one hundred and si.xtv acres in section j8 of Elkton
township and entered upon the ask of impro\ing and developing the same,
and after his marriage in 1893 established his home there and has ever
since resided there, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers
and stockmen of that neighborhood. As he prospered in his operations Mr.
Lamb added to his land holdings and is now the owner of three hundred and
forty acres of excellent land, three hundred and twenty acres of which is
in the home place, one of the best-developed half-sections thereabout. Mr.
Lamb has substantial buildings on his place and has a fiiie farm plant. In
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 63
addition to his general farming, Mr. Lamb has given considerable attention
to the raising of graded Shorthorn cattle and is doing very well. For
years he has gi\'en close attention to the civic affairs of his comninnily
and for more than ten years has been serving as a member of tiie l)oard
of township supervisors, the present chairman of the board, and in that
capacity has done much for the advancement of the general public interest.
In 1893 Da\id A. Lamb was united in marriage to Elizabeth Mann.
who also was born in Scotland and who died in 1901, lea\ing live children,
Ernest, Jessie, Laura, David and Margaret, all of whom are living. Mrs.
Lamb was a daughter of Alexander Mann and wife, who came to this counlr\-.
but who returned to their nati\e land after about two years of residence
here. Mr. Lamb is a member of the Presbyterian church and takes a proper
interest in the various beneficences of the same. He is a member of the
local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of .\merica and take^ an jictive interest
in the afYairs of that organization.
NILS HOLBECK.
Nils Holbeck, proprietor of the New Columbia Hotel at Moorhead,
former chief of police of that city, former deputy sheriff of Clay county
and actively identified with the affairs of that county since old homestead
days, he having been a homesteader in Morken townshi]). is a native of
tlie kingdom of Denmark, fnit has been a resident of Minnesota since the
days of his boyhood, having come to this state with his parents, who
settled tMi a homestead farm in Otter Tail county, this state, where the.v
.spent the remainder of their lives, honored pioneers of that county. .
Nils Holbeck was liorn on December 16, 1855, and was about tifieen
years of age when he came to Minnesota with his parents, b'or^some
time after coming here he worked as a farm hand on a farm near Fergus
Falls and then came on farther West and for a time was employed on a
farm in the \ icinitv of Fargo. He then went over to Hi.smark and thence
after a while down into the P.lack Hills, whence he presently returned to
Minnesota and settled at Moorhead, where he has made his home most
of the time since then. L'pon coming back to this state Mr, Holbeck en-
tere<l a homestead claim to a tract of Land in Morken town.ship, Clay county,
and while living there wa. made deputy sheriff of that county, movnig
to Moorhead, where be later was made chief of police. Cpon the com-
64 CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
pletion of his term of service in that office lie engaged in the coal Ijusines^
at Moorhead and later became proprietor of the old Columbia Hotel. When
that building was destroyed by fire Mr. Holbeck went to Minneapolis, where
for a time he was engaged in the retail Iic|uor business, but he presently
returned to Moorhead and resumed the i)roprietorshi]) of the New Columbia
Hotel and has since been conducting the house, one of the most popular
hotels in this part of the country. In addition to the official [wsitions above
mentioned as haxing been held by Mr. Holbeck. he also for some time
served as state game warden for this district and in that capacity did
much to help preserve the native game out of season.
OLE H. HOGSTAD.
Among die [)ersevering and energetic fanners of Oak Port township.
Clav county, is Ole H. Hogstad. who was born in Norway, September 4.
1861. He is a son of Helge and Ingeborg (Nelson) Hogstad, both natives
of Norway, where they lived and died on a farm. Their family consisted of
four children, namely: Ingeborg. Bertha (deceasedj, Jacob and Ole H.
Ole H. Hogstad grew to manhood in Norway and there attended the
public schools. In 1884 he emigrated to America, coming directly to Moor-
head. Minnesota, and for some time he worked as a farm laborer in Clay
count} and has resided here ever since. He worked on farms along the
Buffalo river for nine years, then rented land in Oak Port township for
seven years, operating one hundred and sixty acres just across the road from
where he now lives : but in the meantime he had purchased one hundred and
sixty acres of unimproved land where he now resides. He moved on this
land in 1899 and in due course of time had it under cultivation, erected a
good group of buildings and set out a grove. He has one of the most de-
sirable farms in the township, and has Ijeen very successful as a general
farmer and stock raiser, now owning three himdred and twenty acres. He
raises a great deal of grain, much of which is fed to live stock, preparing
large numbers of cattle and hogs for the market annually. He plants a large
acreage of potatoes every year, his land being admirably adapted to the
growing of the white tubers.
Mr. Hogstad helped organize the Northern Potato Growers' Sales
Company, and was president of the same for two or three years. He did
much toward making it a pronounced success. He also helped organize the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 65
Farmers' Elevator Company at Moorhead and was the first vice-president of
the same. Politically, he is independent. He is township supervisor, which
office he has held during the past sixteen years.
Mr. Hogstad was married on November ii, 1910, to .Anna Grinis-
tvedt. who was born in Norway, a daughter of Sven and Signie (Ness)
Grimstvedt. also natives of Norway, where they established their permanent
home, and both of whom are now deceased. Sven Grimstvedt was married
twice and was the father of fifteen children. Mrs. Hogstad came to America
in 1897. Three children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Hogstad. namelv :
Helge, Segfred and Bertha.
CHARLES S. MARDEN.
Charles S. Marden, extensive owner of land, former member of the
state Legislature and former county attorney for Clay county, is a native
of the state of Vermont, but has been a resident of Minnesota since 1882.
He was born in Randolph, Vermont, on October 2, 1864, a son of Riley H.
and Emily M. (Clififo-rd) Marden, natives of the same state.
Riley H. Marden was born in Albany, Vermont, on January 24, -1832,
and was a member of the legal profession and a well-known member of
the bar in his native place. At the age of fifty, in 1882, he moved to
Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he continued to practice as an attorney and
also became the owner of a tract of land. His death took place on July
22, 1900. Riley H. RLnrden served the cause of the Union during the
Civil War and was a member of Fourth and Ninth Regiments, Vermont
Volunteer Infantry, and later held a commission in the One Hundred and
Twenty-seventh United States Colored Infantry. His war service covered
the entire period of that conflict and he participated in several important
engagements, receiving his honorable discharge at the close of the war. Mr.
Marden's wife, Emily M. Clifford, was born in April, 1837, in the .same
house in Randolph, Vermont, as was her son, Charles S., the subject of
this sketch. She died in April, 187 1, eleven years before her husband
came to this state. They were the parents of two children, namely, Mrs.
Caroline E. Hooper, whose death occurred in Omaha, Nebraska, in March,
1899, and Charles S.
Charles S. Marden was reared in Bristol, Vermont, and attended the
(5a)
66 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
public schools and Bristol Academy. In 1882 he accompanied his father
to Minnesota, where they settled in Fergus Falls and he commenced taking
a law course with the view to practicing as an attorney. In 1891 he moved
to Barnesville, Clay county, where he resided until igi i. and where he served
as city attorney from 1891 to 1901. From 1901 to 1907 Mr. .Marden was
county attorney for Clay county, and from 191 1 to 1915 he represented the
Sixtieth district in the Minnesota state Senate. During all those years of
public service he commanded the unstinted confidence of the electors and
was generally recognized as one of the leading and public s[)irited men of
Clay county. In April, 191 1, Mr. Marden rcmo\ed his practice to Moorhcad.
In January, 191 1, he organized the Red i\i\er Farm F(ian Comp;uiy. and
has been president of the company ever since.
On January 2, 1886, Charles S. Marden was united in marriage to
Elise E. Cayo, who was born on April 15. 1863, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
Thev are the parents of two children. Irene Emily, who married L. V.
Repke and is living at St. Paul, this state, and Edith Josephine, who became
the wife of Fred M. Brophy and lives in Moorhead, this county. Mr. and
Mrs. Marden take a proper part in the general social activities of the
community in which the\' reside, helpful factors in the promotion of all
causes having for their object the common good of the community. Mr.
Marden is a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution ;
he is also a member of the Masonic order and is a Shriner and also holds
membership in the Odd Fellows. Knights of Pythias and the h'lks, and in
all these several organizations takes an active part. He served two years
in Company C, Second Regiment, State Militia, at Winona, Minnesota.
KNUD WEFALD
Knud Wefald, well-known lumberman of Hawlev, Clav county, was
born in Kragero, Norway, November 3, 1869. He is a son of Knut and
Karen (Pederson) Wefald. The father was born June 10, 1843. i" Drange-
dal Parish, Norway, June 10, 1843, and the mother was born in Songedal,
Sondeled Parish. Norway. They grew to maturity, w-ere married and estab-
lished their home in their native land. The father was a non-commissioned
officer in the regular Norwegian army for about twentv-five years. He
was a surveyor by profession, but spent the latter part of his life on a
farm. His was the oldest family in Drangedal Valley, the old Wefald home-
CI, AY AND iXORMAX fOl'NTIES. MINN KSdI'A, ()''
Stead being the oldest dwelling in the valley. They were all known as good
citizens and were intluential in the affairs of their locality. Four chil-
dren were bom to Knut and Karen W'efald, namely: Kniid, of this sketch:
-Martin, who lives in Minneapolis. Minnesota: Peter, who is farming in
Mountrail county, Xorth Dakota, and F.ninia, unmarried, wlio resides in
Minneapolis.
Knud W'efald grew to manhood in Norway, and there he rcccixed a
public school education: lit- also attended high school. lie immigrated to
America in 18(87, landing in -\ew \'ork City on May Jtjtli of that year.
He came on West and located in l-'ossum townshi]), Xorman count\', .Min-
nesota, where he worked on farms until i8r)r), in which \ear he came to
Hawley, Clay countw and accepted a position with tlie Wilcox Lumber Com-
|)anv, with which he remained until i()02, gi\ing eminent satisfaction and
doing much during that period to increase the business and prestige ot
the firm in the localit\' of llawle\. lie took his famil\- on a \ isit to Xorwax'
in 1902, remaining in the old country one year. He had redeemed the old
home i)lace, which he sold while there. In the fall of 1903 he returned
to Hawley. Minnesota, and in the spring of 1904 he organize<l the Hawley
T. umber Coni])an\- in partnership with Andrew Johnson and II. 1*". Mensing.
and he has been manager and secretary of the same ever since. The \enture
proved successful from the first and the business has gr.adually increased
with advancing vears until it has now reached vast proportions, which
result has been due \ ery Largely to the eft'orts and judicious management of
Mr. Wefald. .\ large and well-stocked yard is maintained and a complete
line of building material and paints is handled. It is one of the best known
and most successful lumber coni])anies in Clay county.
Mr. Wefald was married in 1899 to Sarah Skree. a d.aughter of .Mikel
Skree and wife, natives of Telemarken, Norway. To Mr. and Mrs. W'efald
nine children have been born, namely: Magnus, Harold, Egil, Karen, Martha,
Olav, Nana. Else and Sarah.
Mr. and Mrs. Wefald are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church,
in which he served several years as secretary. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Woodmen and the Sons of Norway. Politically, he is a ])rogressive Re-
l)ul)lican. l'"rom 190^1 to i()|j he served as i)resi(lent of tlie village council
of Hawley. to which otfice he was again elected in nn;. In 191-' he was
elected representative and served two terms in the state Legi.slature. or
during the sessions of 1913 and n^i.s. lie made a most commendable
record, of which his constituents and friends were justly i)roud. Durnig
the session of 191 3 be. with the assistance of Senator Charles .Marden.
68 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
secured an appropriation of one hundred tliousand dollars witli which to
erect a science huilding for the Moorhead State Normal school. He made
his influence felt for the general good of Clay county and the state. He
is a man who is well informed on current topics of the day and has kept
well ahreast of the times. He is widel}- read and is a close ohserver.
He is also public-spirited and scrupulously honest. He has done much
for the upbuilding of Hawley, whose interests he has long had at heart and
sought to promote in every legitimate way. and is eminently deserving of
the o-ood will and high esteem in which he is held by all who know Iiim.
irrespective of party alignment.
EUGENE ELLSWORTH LEACH.
Eugene I'^Usuorth Leach, member of the board of township supervisor-
of Iilkton township. Clay county, and the proprietor of a tine farm of four
hundred and eighty acres in the northern part of that township, is a native
of Illinois, born at Franklin Grove, in Lee county, that state, on August
27, 1S64, son of James and Lucy (Miller) Leach, who later moved to
Dows, Wright county, Iowa, where the latter is still living.
James Leach was born in New York state in 1839. He later moved to
1-ranklin Grove, Illinois, and was there married in 1863. to Lucy Miller,
who was born in Illinois on June 16. 1846. Two or three years after
his marriage James Leach established his home on a farm in the immediate
\icinity of Dows, low-a, and there si)ent the remainder of his life, his death
occurring in 1889. His widow is still living there. They were the parents
of four sons, the suliject of this sketch, the first-born, having three brothers,
Claud, of Dows. Iowa: Mont, who is married and is living in Clay county,
and Harry, of Dows, Iowa.
Eugene E. Leach was but a child when his parents moved from Illinois
to Iowa and settled in the neighborhood of Dows, where he received his
schooling and grew to manhood, from the days of his boyhood a valued
assistant in the labors of improving and developing the home place. In
1891. in \\'right county. Iowa, Mr. Leach was united in marriage to Eva
McCov, who was born at Galesburg. Illinois, in 1872, and in the spring
of 1904 he bought the farm on which he is now living, in Clay county,
and has ever since made his home there, he and his family being very
comfortablv situated. Mr. Leach is the owner of four hundred and eighty
CLAY AND XOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 69
acres, a lialf section in section 2 of Elklon townshij). and a (|uaitcr o\ a
section cornering on the same in section 10, and has improved and developed
the same in fine shajje, now having one of tlie l^est farm ])l;ints in that i)art
of the county. In addition to liis general farming he is .giving consideral)le
attention to the raising of li\e stock, with particular reference to l^iland
China hogs and Shorthorn cattle, and is doing well in his npcralions. Mr.
Leach gi\-es his earnest attention to the general civic affairs of the com-
munity and is now serving as a meml)er of the hoard of township supervisors.
He is a progressive and puhlic-si)irited agriculturist and for the past \'ear
has heen serving as president of the East Side Farm cluh.
Mr. and Mrs. Leach have twelve children, Ray, Roy. .Arthur. Clyde.
Lloyd. l*!arl, .Alva, Lewis, Virgil, Ruth, Lucy and A'clva 1)., all of whom
are living, a verv interesting family. They never lia\c had a doctrir on
account of sickness up to the date of this puhlicalion. The Leachc; have
a pleasant home and take a proper interest in the community's general
social activities.
JOHN \Y. .ALLEN.
[ohn W. .Mien, former well-known extensi\e landowner and now a
dealer in real e.state, is a native-horn Hoosier. whose hirth occm-red near
Brazil, in the state of Indiana, on October 7, 1870. He is the son of
William Allen and wife, the former of whom was a farmer on a lar.ge scale
for several years in Indiana., later going to the state of Iowa, where he
continued his farming operations, meeting with considerable success, and
in that .state he spent the remainder of his life.
When lohn W. Allen was ten years old he ;iccomi);niied his parents
from Indiana to Iowa and jn the public schools of the latter state he received
a sound general education. He was reared on his father's farm and assisted
in the work on the land for some years. He then commenced Kj operate
a farm on his own account in Iowa, engaged in .general farming for several
years, until the fall of 1900, in which year be came over to the state of
Minnesota, coming to Barnesville. He has owned several farms in this
vicinity, which he sold from time to time, always to advantage, and eacii
of those farms varying from one hun.lred and sixty acres to two sections
of land. Throughout the >ears he w.is engaged in the purchase and sale
of his different land holdings, he was conducting on a large scale, a gram
and slock farming business, a handsome competency accruing to him a^
/O CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
the result of his successful operation.^ in those lines. Durin<( the greater
part of his residence in Clay county. Mr. Allen has been engaged in handling
real estate and now chiefly follows that occujiation. at the same time being
engaged in tlie sale of automobiles, and in all hi> various undertakings
he has met with marked success, his knowledge of land \ alues being well
established throughout Clay county and outside it.
On October 3. 1803. John W. Allen was united in marriage to .Marv
\'. Miller, a dau.ghter of Johnson Miller and wife. To Mr. and Mrs.
Allen six children have been born as follow : Claude. Harlcv. Gladys.
Donald, William and Delores. The .Allen family are earnest members of
the Methodist church and are warmly interested in its good works and
in all community good work-, ever hel])ing every worthv cause in the town-
ship and county.
Mr. Allen is a Democrat in politics, but has never been a seeker after
public office, ])referring to devote his time to his real-estate interests. Ik-
is a member of the Modern \\'oodmen of .\merica. and in the affairs of
that fraternal order he takes a li\elv interest.
EUGEXK ASKF-:C,.VARI).
One of the enterprising yt>ung business men of Clay county is Eugene
A>kegaard. cashier of the Comstock State Bank, and a man who is doing
much toward the development of his home town in a general wav. He
was born on the home farm in Pleasant township. Cass county. Xorth
Dakota, just across the Red river of the Xorth. on l<"ebruary 1. 1884. He
is a son of D.ivid and Miimie (Dunhom) Askegaard, a sketch of whom
ajjpears on another page of this \olume. Suffice it to sa\- here that the
father is one of the leading business men of Comstock and an old .-md
influential citizen of Clay countv.
Eugene .Vskegaard grew up on the home farm in Holy Cross township.
Clay county, his father moving from Cass county. Xorth Dakota, to a farm.
the present site of the village of Comstock, in 1886, when Eugene was
two years old. Here the son assisted with the general work on the farm,
and in the winter time he attended the public schools at Comstock, later
the State Xormal school at Moorhea.l, from which he was graduated in
1004. After leaving school he taught for three winters in the district
schools of Clay county and during the summer months he worked in his
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 7 1
father's store or on the liome farm. Upon the organization of the Gmi-
stock State Bank in 1909 he hecame cashier, the (hilies of which responsible
position he has since discharged in a manner that has reflected nnich credit
upon himself and to the satisfaction of tlic stockholders and patrons of the
Ijank. He has been a close observer and student of modern banking methods
and is an alert, courteous and painstaking man, who believes in system as
well as fair dealing.
In January, 19 10, he was appointed assistant secretary of the Comstock
and Holy Cross Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and in 1916
he was elected director and secretary of the same. The pronounced and
rapidly-growing success of this company has been due very largely to his
influence, as he has done practically all the work in prcmioting and carrying
on the work of the same since it was first started.
Mr. Askegaard married Harriet Charlotte Rustad on June 4, 1914.
She is a native of North Dakota and grew to womanhood in Rustad. Min-
nesota. She received good educational advantages, graduating from the
Moorhead State Normal. She is a daughter of Sanuiel and Valliorg Rustad.
a native of Rustad, Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Askegaard two children
ha\e been born, Dorothy Margaret and Rachael Helen.
Politically, Mr. Askegaard is a Republican and he lias been more or
less active in public affairs for some years. He served as village clerk
of Comstock for three \ears and is now serving his second year as treasurer
of the village. He is at present clerk of the school board. He is a member
of the Masonic order and the Norwegian Lutheran church.
EDWARD O. WARDEBERG.
One of the enterprising voung business men of Barnesville, Clay countx'.
Minnesota, is Edward O. Wardeberg, who was born on a farm in Wilkin
county, this state, the son of Ole E. and Agnetta (Jenson) Wardeberg, both
of whom were natives of Norway.
Ole E. Wardeberg came to America as a young man, and located in Wil-
kin county, Minnesota, where he made his home up to the time of his death,
September, 1909. He was the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and
sixty acres located in Prairie View township, his farm lying along the county
line lietween Cla}- and Wilkin counties. He and his wife were the parents
of four children, Edward O., Anton, George and Bertha. The family are
72 CLAY AXD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
earnest members of the Norwegian Lutheran cliurcli. and are among tlie
substantial citizens of their home community.
Edward O. Wardeberg received his early education in the public schools
of his native county, and later attended the Agricultural College at Fargo,
North Dakota. During his summer vacations he assisted with the work on
the home farm until 1914, in which year he came to Barnesville, and in part-
nership with O. P. I.andsom, engaged in the general merchandise business, in
which line he has met with a very commendable degree of success. Besides
dealing in all kinds of general merchandise, they buy and ship many car-
loads of potatoes. Mr. Wardeburg is well known, prominent and popula:
in the social activities of the younger residents of Barnesville, and also t
an active interest in the affairs of the Norwegian Lutheran church, of whicli
he is a member. Mr. Wardeberg on July 9, 1917, married Clara Linn, of
Maidenrock, Wisconsin.
BYRON GRAHAM LA GRANGE.
Byron Graham La Grange, proprietor of a tine farm of four hundred
acres in Elkton township, Clay county, and one of the most progressive
farmers of that .neighljorhood, is a native of the neighboring state of Wis-
consin, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was six years of age.
He was born on a pioneer farm in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, in 1858,
son of .\lonzo Graham and Anna .\1. (Hillman) La Grange, the former a
native of the state of New ^'ork and the latter of German}-, she having come
to this country with her widowed mother when she was but a child. In the
fall of 1864 Alonzo G. La Grange came with his family from Wisconsin to
Minnesota, driving through, and locating at Garden City, in Blue Earth
county, arriving there on October 13 of that year. At Garden City he estab-
lished a hotel and later a butcher shop and made his home there until 1868,
when he moved to Worthington. ccnmty seat of Nobles county, opened a
hotel there and continued in the hotel business in tiiat city until his retire-
ment. He is still living at A\'orthington, now nearly ninety years of age.
His wife died in 1912. He is a member of the I'resbyterian church, as wa'
his wife, antl their children were reared in that faith. There are three c
these children, the subject of this sketch, the lirst-born. having two sisters,
Grace and Leonice.
As noted above, Byron G. La Grange was but a child when he came
P.yUOX ti. I.AOnAXGE AND FAMILY.
Tnt Nh-'vV YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENeX
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. J?
with his parents to Minnesota and his schoohng was completed in the schools
of Worthington. As a young man he followed various branches of industry,
none of these various jobs being "snaps," however, he declares: and later
became a railroad contractor and then a butcher, and for eight years was
(lei>uty sheriff of Xobles county. In the meantime he had bought a tract
of land up here in the Red River country, in Elkton township. Clay county,
and in ^larch, 1906, moved here with his family and established his home
on that farm and proceeded to improve and develop the same. Since enter-
ing upon the occupancy of his land .Mr. I.a Grange has erected a substantial
set of Ijuildings and has otherwise improved the place until he now has a
fine farm plant, one of the best-ordered places in the community. He has
four hundred acres of excellent land and of late years has gone in quite
extensively for potato raising, in addition to his extensive live-stock busi-
ness, his specialty in the latter line being Durham cattle.
On November 5, 1894, Byron G. La Grange was united in marriage to
Augusta Berreau, who was born in Nobles county, this state, daughter of
Otto Berreau and wife and to this union two children have l>een born, a
son and a daughter, .\rthur (jraham and Eudora Louise. Air. and Mrs. La
Grange are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper part in
church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of
the communilv in whicii the\' live. Mr. La Grange is a member of the local
lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the
affairs of that organization.
HERMAN G. VVENDLANDT.
Herman (i. Wendlandt, well-known merchant of Sabin, in Clay
county, and for \ears postmaster of that village, also formerl\- and for
years justice of the peace in and for Elmwood township, is a native son
of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a
pioneer farm not far from St. Cloud, in Steams county. May 16, 1869, son
of Fred and Ernestine (Schultz) Wendlandt, natives of Germany, who
were married in Stearns county and there spent their last days.
Fred Wendlandt was born in 1844 and was eleven years of age when
his parents. Christian and Rebecca Wendlandt. left Germany in 1855 and
came to the United States with their family, settling in Wisconsin, where
they remained until 1863, in which year they came o\er into Minnesota
and settled in Stearns county, where they spent the remainder of then"
74 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
lives. Christian Wendlandt had served as a soldier in the army of his
native country and was in the army at the time Poland took up arms against
Germany, but did not participate in any active engagements. Fred Wend-
landt was under twenty years of age when he came to Minnesota with his
parents from Wisconsin and in time he homesteaded a tract of land in
Stearns county and after his marriage in thai county estalilished his home
there. His wife, Ernestine Schultz, was horn in 1S45 and was eighteen
years of age when she came to this country. She was a daughter of
Gottfried Schultz and wife, tlie latter of whom was a Moede. Her mother
died in her nati\e land her father later married \\'ilhelmina Ernst and
in 1863 left Germany with his family, and after spending a year in Canada
came to Minnesota and hecame a homesteader in Stearns county, where he
spent the rest of his life, living there to the age of ninety-one years. His
father was a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars and carried a hullet in liis
knee to his gra\e. l'"red Wendlandt hecame a substantial farmer of Stearns
county and a man of influence in his community. He died there on Sep-
tember 12, 1916. and his widow surxivetl him a little less than a year,
her death occurring on February 5, 1917. They were the parents of nine
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the- others
being Rebecca. Emelia. Augusta. Ji>hn, Eouisa. Mathilda. Lena and
William.
Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of St. Cloud, H. G. Wend-
landt received his early schooling in the schools of St. Cloud and was
later graduated from the State Normal school there, after which he was
engaged in teaching school for three years, in the meantime becoming ac-
<|uainted with commercial forms and the mercantile business, and remained
there until 1899. when he came up into the Red River country and opened
a general store at Sabin. in Clay county, where he ever since has been
engaged in business, one of the best-known business men in that part of
the count}-. In December of that same yeai- Mr. ^^'en(llandt was commis-
sioned postmaster of .Sabin and has ever since occupied that position. From
the beginning- of his residence in Clay county Mr. \\'endlandt has taken
an earnest interest in local political affairs, served for some time as a
member of county Republican central comi-nittee and for vears served as
justice of the peace in and for his home township.
In 1900, the year after he became established in business at Sabin,
H. G. W^endlandt was united in marriage there to Minnie Schroeder,
daughter of Frank Schroeder and wife, pioneers of the Sabin neigh1)or-
liood. and to this iu-iion three children have been born. Fred. Erna and
CLAY AND XOKMAX COUNTIES, M INNICSOTA.
/D
liuijert. The Weiullandts are members of tlie Lulheran cliurch and take
a proper interest in chnrch work, as well as in the <,rcneral good works
and social activities of their home commnnity.
THEODORE EVANSON.
In the case of 'J'lieoddre Evanscjn, a farmer of Ulen township. Clay
county, the opportunity to succeed may not have sought the man, hut most
certainly the man sought and took advantage of the opportunity and he has
made good application of the gifts which nature has bestowed upon him.
Mr. Evanson was born in Decorah, Iowa, May 4, 1866. He is a son of
John and Catherine | Anderson) Evanson, both natives of Norway, where
they spent their earlier years, but were not married until after they came to
the United States. He came in 1850 and she preceded him by aljout one vear,
coming with lier ninther and stepfather, Iver Ringstad. .Mr. Ring-
stad bought government land in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on which
he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. The parents of the
subject of this sketch located near Decorah, Iowa, where they were married,
in 1 85 1, being the first couple to marry in Winneshiek county, and were
among the early pioneers there. They worked hard to get a start in the new
country and eventually became very comfortably established. They owned
one hundred and twent\- acres for which they paid only one dollar and twenty-
five cents per acre. They subsequently bought and sold other farms in that
county. Mr. Evanson made all the improvements on the homestead, erecting
.good buildings, his first house being of logs. Later a large frame dwelling
was erected, ^^■hen he married, Winneshiek county had not Ijeen organized
and Ik- was cnm]ielled to go a long distance to the county seat of .Allamakee
countv. in order to ])rocure the necessary license. Not knowing the customs
in America very well be took his bride to the parson's residence and when
asked for the license handed the preacher his first naturalization papers. So
he had u> leave bis bride there and make a long jnurney to secure the proper
license.
John Evan.son took an active interest in the early affairs of Winneshiek
count)-, which he helped organize, also assisted in organizing the township
in which his land was located. He was thereafter incumbent of some town-
ship office, most of the time, until his death, the township being Madi.son. He
was assessor of the same for a period of twenty-five years, also served as
76 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
treasurer for more than a quarter of a century; a part of the time he lieUl
both offices simultaneously. He gave a lot for the first cemetery and also
for the first E\angelical Lutheran church in his community, and it was liuilt
on one corner of his farm. He and his wile s])ent the rest of their lives in
that county, each reaching an advanced age.
To John Evanson and wife ten childen were horn, named as follows:
Enielia, deceased; Nora; Eliza, deceased; Evan, deceased; Maria, Theodore,
Lena, Edva, Anna, deceased, and Emma. They .grew up on the home farm
in Iowa and attended the district schools there.
Theodore Evanson grew to manlmod on tiie home farm in W'inneshiek
county, Iowa, and he received his education in the district schools there. He
continued to work on his father's farm until he went to Ada. Minnesota, in
1885, east of which town he rented a farm one summer: then returned home
for a year. He later went to Xnrman county, Minnesota, and located in Green
Meadow township, where he bought a tree claim of one hundred and sixty
acres, which he rented out most of the time and worked in the vicinity of
LHen, Clay county. He has made his home in Ulen township for a period
of thirty years, or since 1887. During that time he has seen the township dc-
\ eloped from a sparsely settled prairie to its present advanced position as a
modern farming community. Upon coming here he bought a homestead
right of one hundred and sixt\ acres, which he proved up on, but later sold
out and in 1900 bought one hundred and twenty acres on which he has since
resided. He made all the present excellent im|)ro\ements on this land and
has been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is also a stock-
holder in the I'armers" Co-operative Creamery at Ulen. whose pronounced
success has been due very largely to his efforts. He was formerly a director
of this concern and in 1916 he became manager and vice-president, but later
gave up the office of manager; he is still discliarging the duties of vice-
president.
Mr. Evanson was married in September. i8qi. to Gena Mobeck. who
was born in Norway, from which country she came to America when young.
She is a daughter of Lars Mobeck and wife. Three children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Evanson. all of whom live at home at this writing: thev
were named as follows : Leonard. Eliza and Mildred.
Mr. Evanson has long been active in public aff'airs. Politically, he is a
Republican. He was first road boss; later served about seven years as town-
ship assessor and is now clerk of the township, which position he has held
for eighteen years, or ever since the village of LHen was separated from the
township. He served as school clerk while living on his homestead farm
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA. 'J-J
from 1892 to 1900, when he moved to his present farm. At that time he was
made clerk in this school district, which office he has since held. He helongs
to the Lutheran church.
OMER J. PI.UMMER.
Omer J. Plummer, a suhstantia! farmer and stockman of Humboldt
township, owner of a half section of land in that township, is a native of the
state of Illinois and has been a resident of Clay county for the past ten years.
He was born in \\'hiteside county. Illinois, on January joth, 1852, a son of
Kaleb and Rebecca (I'ittenger) riummer, the former a native of the state
of Marvland and the latter, of the state of Ohio, and whose la.st days were
spent in Iowa.
Kaleb I'lummcr was born in Maryland in 1803 and was educated in the
schools of that state. He follcnved the occupation of a farmer and thus con-
tinued in his native state for some years, later moving to Iowa, where he
resumed his farming oi)erations and spent the remainder of his life, his death
taking place in 18^4. at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. He was a
.good, practical farmer of the old school and trained his sons to lives of use-
fulness. In 1830 Kaleb I'lumnicr was married to Rebecca Pittenger. who
was born in Ohio in 18 14. The marriage was performed in Ohio and Mrs.
Plummer died in Iowa in iSSS. having reached the age of seventy-four years.
To Kaleb Plummer and wife the following children were born: John, Susan
and Hiram (twins). Anna. Thomas, Joseph, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Mary,
lulia, Wavne, Omer J.. I.ydia, Belle and Catherine. Of the sons of this
faniih-. all are dead but Omer J., the subject of this sketch. Four of them
\-olunteered for service on behalf of the Union during the Civil War. a family
record to be justlv proud of, and three of the four boys died while in the
service.
Omer f. Plummer was educated in the public schools of Illinois and was
reared on his father's farm. He accompanied his parents to Iowa and settled
on the farm, where he continued to work, a valuable as,sistant in the develop-
ment of the home place. He came to Clay county in 1907 and rented a farm
in Eglon township, which place he worked for two years. 'Hie next year he
rented a farm near Hawley and in 1910 he bought the farm which he now
occupies, consisting of a half section of prime land, located in .section 10,
Humboldt township, and on this tract he is engaged in general fanning and
in the raising of a choice strain of Hereford cattle and is doing very well.
78 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA.
When Mr. Plummer took over tlie holding a set of good liuildings had lieen
ahead}- erected and his farm is now regarded as one of the best-kept and
productive in the township.
On November ist, 1S74. Onier J. I'lunmier was united in marriage to
Ida Downs, who was born in Ogle county, lUinois. July 9th, 1857, the mar-
riage taking place in Iowa. To this union eleven children were born as fol-
low : Luc\', married and hves in .Missouri; Xicliolas. married, lives in \e-
Ijraska: Mary, deceased: Calel), married, in Iowa; lielle, married, in Iowa;
luldie. who is married and lives in Clay county: Cora, killed by a cyclone
while the family livetl in Iowa: Ida, at home, Hazel, deceased, and Sylvester
and Henrv, at home. Mr. Plummer takes a good citizen's interest in local
affairs and in all movements intended for the benefit of the public. He is a
director and vice-president of the Clay County I'"air Assix'iatiou, proving a
v.ilua1)le factor in making the annual fairs a success, :md in other ways he
tri\'es of his time and energy to the liest interests of the communitv.
P. H. PEDRRSON.
P. H. Pederson. one of Moorhead's leading business men. proprietor of
a hardware store in that city and president of the Ivpiity Manufacturing
Company, is a native of the Kingdom of Xorvva\, but has been a resident of
Minnesota since he was seven years of age and of Moorhead since he was
twenty. He was born in 1862 and was seven years of age when his parents,
Peter E. and Mary (Chri.slock) Pederson, left their native Norway in 1869
and with their children came to this country.
Upon his arrival in this countr\- in 1869, Peter E. Pederson proceeded
on out to Minnesota with his family and settled in Goodhue county, where he
engaged in farming and where he made his home until 1882, in which year
he came over into this part of the state with his family and settled in Norman
countx. l)U\ing a tract of land near Twin \ alley, where he for a second time
established his home in a pioneer section of this state and where he and his
-wife spent their last days. They were the parents of five children, of whom
the suljject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being
ICrick, Ral])!!. Caroline and Gertina.
.\s noted abo\e, P. H. Pederson was but seven years of age when lie
came to Mimiesota with his parents in 1869 and he grew to manhood on the
home farm in Goodhue county, receiving- his schooling in the neighborhood
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7g
schools and at the same time gaining- some practical business experience
which, when he came over to this part of the state in 1882 with his parents,
he presently put into use. Mr. Pederson was twenty years of age when he
came up into this section and he secured employment at Moorhead. where he
ever since has made his home. Some time after locating- there he engaged in
the wholesale liquor business in that city and later engaged in the lunil)er
business over the river in North Dakota, though continuing to make his
home in Moorhead. Gradually he accjuired other interests and it was not long
until he came to be recognized as one of the most active business men in his
home town. In 19 13 he became connected with the Moorhead Hardware
Company, as a partner in that concern, a corporation, and presently became
the sole owner of the same, now operating the business alone. Mr. Pederson
also is president of the Equity [Manufacturing Company of Moorhead and is
vice-president of the Bergerth Fish Company at Fargo.
In 1893 P. H. Pederson was united in marriage to Emma Thorson, and
to this union four children have lieen born, Irene, Esther, Clifford and Earl.
The Pedersons are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an
active interest in church wcirk and the general good works of their home city.
HENRY WITJJ.VM HABERLE.
Flcnrv William Flaberle, one of the pioneers of Clay county and the
owner of a half section of excellent land in Elkton township, where he and
his familx- make their home, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident
of this county since 1882. He was born on December 25, 1854, son of John
and Fredericka ( Caesemann ) llal)erle, also natives of that country, farming
people, who spent all their lives in their native land and who were the par-
ents of five children. Fred, Fredericka, Katherina, Henry W. and Elizabeth,
all of whom are still living. John Halierle and his wife were members of the
LtUheran church .ind their children were reared in that faith.
Reared on the home farm in his native land, Henry W. Haberle received
his .schooling there and remained at home until 1882, when he came to the
United States and after a year spent in New York state came to Minnesota,
in 1883, and homesteaded a (juarter of a section of land in b:ikton township.
Clay countv, and proceeded to improve and develop the same, .\fter his mar-
riage in 1887 he established his home on that place and has ever since resided
there. As he prospered he added to his land holdings until he now owns three
8o CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
hundred and twenty acres, one of the best-improved farms in that part of the
county. Mr. Haberle has long given his earnest attention to the general civic-
affairs of his community and was for years road overseer in his district.
Mr. Haberle lias been twice married. In 1887, about four years after
settling in Clay county, he was united in marriage to Paulina Beck, also a
native of Germany, who died leaving two sons, Henry John and William
Fred. In 1895 Mr. Haberle married Christina Weber, who also was born in
(rermany, daughter of Eberhart Weber and wife, and to this union foiu"
chikiren have been Ixirn. Emma, Fred. Christina and Mary. The Haberles
have a pleasant home un their well-kept farm in Elkton township and take a
proper interest in tlie general afifairs of the community.
JOHN GRIFFIN.
The late Jolin (jriffin. one of the pioneers of Clay covmty, who died at
liis home in Barnesville, that county, in the fall of 1913, was a native of
County Kerry. Ireland, l)ut had Ijeen a resident oi this country since the
early seventies, he iiaving come to the United States shortly after reaching
his majority. He was Ix)rn in 1850 and grew to manhood in Ireland. Upon
coming to this country he located in Massachusetts, but after awhile came
West, proceeding on u[) into the Red River country, and after awhile home-
ste;i(ietl a tract of land in .Alliance township. Clay county. In 1885 he re-
turned East and at Holyoke, Massachusetts, in that same year, married
.Margaret Griffin, wlio also was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and who
liad come to this country in 1882.
.\fter his marriage John Griffin returned to Clay county with his bride
and established his home on the homestead farm in Alliance township, one
of the most .substantial pioneers of that part of the county, a continuous
resident of Clav cotmtv for more than forty years. Mr. Griffin wa> the
owner of a fine farm of four liundred and eighty acres of land, which he
had ini])ro\ed in a<imirable s!iape and brought to ;i higli state of cultivation,
he long having been regarded as one of the most progressive farmers of his
neighliorhood. He developed that land from its virgin state, built up an
excellent farm plant and was very comfortably circumstanced at the time of
his death, which occurred on October 29, 1913.
To John and Margaret (Griffin) Griffin were born ten children, namely:
John, deceased: Thomas, deceased: Catherine, deceased; Mamie, who is
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX
TILDEN fOU.N-D-\T10NS
JOHN GRIFFIN.
MRS. MARGARET GRIFFIN.
TH -
PUBl aY
ASTOR, LENOX
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. Si
married and livint; in Iowa; Josephine, wIkj is now living in I'argo; James,
who is assisting widi the management of the home farm; Wilhani, de-
ceased; Patrick, who is assisting with the management of the home fann,
and Margaret and Ceceha, also at home. The Griffins have a very pleasant
home and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities
of the ct)mmunity in which they live. Besides her e.xtensive farm holdings,
Mrs. Grif^tin also is the owner of a honse and lot in Barnesville, and she and
her family are cjuite well situated. They attend the Catholic church at
Barnesville.
JOHN S. BARRY.
John S. Barry, clerk of Alliance township. Clay county, owner of a
fine farm of five hundred and sixty acres in that township and president
of the Baker Telephone Company, is a native of die great Empire state, but
has heen a resident of Clay county since 1881 and a landowner there for
the past twenty-five years and more. He was horn on a farm in St. Law-
rence county. New York, on January 21, 1859, son of John and Margaret
(Clemnions) Barry, both natixes of Ireland, who were married in St. Law-
rence county, New York, and there spent their last days, the former dying
in 1902, at the age of seventy years, and liis widow surviving until 1909,
she being over ninety years of age at the time of her death. The Barrys
are genealogically connected with the famous Commodore Barrv* of Revolu-
tionary fame. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject
of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth, the others being as follo\v :
Hannah, w'ho is now living in Wisconsin; Mary, deceased; Bridget, died in
Felton; Thomas, who came to this part of Minnesota and spent his last
days in the village of Felton ; Kate, deceased ; Julia, who lives at Massena,
New York; Joseph, (if Louisville. New York; William P., of Felton;
.Samuel, deceased, and Ilenrw who is now a practicing attorney at Dickinson,
North Dakota.
Reared on the home farm in St. Lawrence county. New York. John
S. Barry received his schooling in the neighboring schools and early began
teaching school. In i88r he came to this part of Minnesota and began
to teach school at Georgetown and was for seven years thereafter engaged
in teaching there and in other schools in the county, during the summers
giving his attention to farming, and after his marriage, in 1891, l)ought
(6a)
82 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
a farm and established his Iiome. In 1900 he bon_y;ht the farm on wliich
he is now Hving, in section 2 of Alhance township, and has since made his
home there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Barry
has an excellent farm of fi\-e hundred and sixty acres and has the same
improved in admirable shape, one of the best general farm plants in that
part of the county. In addition to keeping up his farming interests, Mr.
Barry has long given his earnest attention to the civic affairs and general
business life of the community and for seventeen years served as a member
of the school board and is now serving as town clerk. He is also president
of the Baker Telephone Company and has done much to extend the telephone
ser\ice throughout that part of Clay county.
.\t Moorhead, Minnesota, June 25. 1891, John S. Barry was united
in marriage to Cora Agnes Burns, who was born in Mason county, West
Virginia, near Glenwood, June 25, 1867, and to that union have been born
scAen children, namely: Irwin, who was married on June 2, 1917, and who is
the owner of a quarter of a section of land in the neighborhood of his
father's home : Edith, who is a teacher in the schools of Clay county ; Paul,
deceased, and Malcolm, Russell, John and Philip, who are at home. The
Barr\s are Catholics, members of the church at Barnesville, and take ;i
Ijroper interest in parish affairs, as well as in the general social and cultural
acti\ities of their home neighborhood, and are helpful in promoting all
movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare
thereabout. Mr. Barry is a member of the local lodge of Woodmen and
takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.
\ ICTOR E. VERNE, M. D.
Dr. \ ictor E. \'erne, a practicing physician at ^Moorhead since the sum-
mer of 1909. is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his
life. He was born in the city of Minneapolis, March 2, 1883, son of Olof and
Charlotte (Blom) \'erne, natives of the kingdom of Sweden, who are still
living at Minneapolis, where Olof \"erne is engaged in the merchant tailoring
Inisiness and where he has made hi< home since he came to this country in
1871. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church. They
have four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others
being Dr. Paul C. Verne, a well-known dentist at Moorhead ; Dr. .\rthm-
\'erne, of Cando, North Dakota, and Charlotte.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA. 8^
Reared in the city of Minneapolis, the place of his hirtli, Victor E. Verne
was graduated from- the high school there and in 1902 entered Minnesota
State University, later entering the State College of Medicine and Surgery,
a department of the University, from which he was graduated in 1906, witli
the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving his diploma. Doctor \'erne
was appointed an interne at the City and County Hospital at St. Paul and was
thus engaged for a year, at the end n{ which time, in the sunmier of 1904. lie
took a course of supplemental work under Doctor DeLee. In 1906 Doctor
Verne opened an ofifice for the practice of his profession at Biwabik, in St.
Louis cdunt}- and was located -there from June to December of that year, when
he returned to St. Paul and was further engaged there in the City and Conntv
Hospital for a few months, at the end of which time, in 1907, he opened an
office at Parker's Prairie, in Otter Tail county. The next )-ear he marrietl
and he continued in i)ractice at Parker's Prairie until in July, 1909, when
he moved to Moorhead, where he opened an office for the practice of his pro-
fession and where he since has lieen located. The Doctor is licensed to prac-
tice in North Dakota as well as in this state and is doing very well in his
practice. He is a member of the Clay-Becker Medical Society, the Minne-
sota State Medical Association, the .\merican Medical .\ssociation, Associa-
tion of Military Surgeons, United States Army, and Southern Minnesota
Aledical Society, and takes a warm interest in the deliberations of these bodies.
He is a Scottish Rite ]\Iason and Xoble of the Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mvstic Shrine. In 1908 Doctor \'erne married Charlotte
Granell and has one child, Marion, bom on July 26, 191 1.
Dr. Paul Conrad \^erne, younger lirother of Dr. V. E. Verne, was born
in .Minneapolis in 1882 and after his graduation from the high school in that
city entered the dental department of the State University, from which lie
was graduated in 1909, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, b'ol-
lowing his graduation he began the practice of his profession at Minneapolis
and was thus engaged there for two years and six months, at the end of
which time, in 1912, he joined his brother. Dr. V. E. Verne, at Moorhead
and has ever since been engaged in practice there. Dr. P. C. Verne is a mem-
ber of the National Dental Society and of the state organization of dental
surgeons, as well as of the local society maintained at Fargo and MoorheatI
and at Crookston, and the North Dakota Dental Society. He is a Scottish
Rite Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine and a member of the Moorhead Commercial Club. Dr. P. C. Verne
married Cora Agnes Christopherson and has two children, Paula and Jeanne,
both daughters. Both of the Doctors \'erne have pleasant homes at Moor-
84 CLAY AND XOKM.W COUNTIKS, MINNESOTA.
head and take an acti\e interest in tlie t;eneral social and cultural activities
of their home city.
On Mav 2. U)i/. Dr. \'. E. \crnc applied for a commission in the
.Medical Ofificers' Reserve Corps. United States .\rniv, and on July lo, 1917,
he received his a])])ointnient hy President Wilson as first lieutenant in the
medical service.
JA.MI-:S .M. W ITIIl'.ROW.
lames M. Withcrow. court commissioner for Clay county, former city
attorney of Moorhead, a practicin.i; attorney in that city for the past twenty
vears and one of the best-k-no\vn lawyers and public s])eakers in this part of
the state and in the neighboring state of North Dakota, is a nati\e of the
Emerald Isle, but has been a resident of this country since he was s-eventeen
\ears of age. He was born in the north of Ireland on December 19, 1869.
son of James W'itherow and wife, both of Scottish descent, and received his
earlv schooling;- in his native land, remaining- there until he was tlfteen years
oi age, when, in 1884. he came to the United States.
Upon arriving in this country Mr. W'itherow [)roceeded on up uilo the
i\ed River vallev. his ])oint of destination being Grandiu, Traill county. North
Dakota. After two years in Ncjrth Dakota, he left and came into Minne-
sota for the purpose of attending school, stoi)ping in Norman county, where
he worked on farms during vacations. During the winter of 1887-88 he
attended Carlton College and later entered the Minne.sota State Normal at
Mocrhead. from wliich he was graduated in 1892. During the year follow-
ing his graduation. Mr. W'itherow was engaged in teaching school at St. \'in-
cent. up in Kittson county, and during tlie succeeding winter, 1893-94. was
enga,ged in teaching at Caledonia, Traill county. North Dakota. Upon the
completion of that term of school Mr. W'itherow returned to Moorhead and
entered systematically upon the study of law, a subject to which he had for
some time been gixing his thoughtful attention, having carried on his law
studies and the stuch' of elocution;ir\ expression privately during the time he
was engaged in teaching school, many hours having thus been put in prac-
ticing expression. On June 21, i8g8, Mr. W'itherow was admitted to the bar
and has since Ijeen engaged, in the practice of his profession at Moorhead, for
years having been regarded as one of the leading lawyers in this part of the
state, his recognition as a trial lawyer having come early in his practice. For
ten years he served as attorney for the city of ]\Ioorhead and for the past
CLAY AND NOUMAN CUL'NTrES, Ml N .\-KS( IT A, gc
twenty years has been court commissioner for Clay county, which official
position he now occupies. Mr. Witherow is an active and anient Repul)!ican
and has done much campaigning^ for his party, particularl\- in Xortli Dakota,
under engagement to the Republican natidual committee, lie also is widelv
known as a lecturer and his lectures on travel, literature and kindred subiecls
are in much flemand among farmers' clubs and school organizations.
On Xovember j6, 1904, James .\1. Witherow was united in marriage to
hjnnia Jane liund, daughter nf James I'xind and wife, the former of whom is
a farmer lixing near 1 Funter, North Dakota, and to this union four children
have been burn, (irace, ALargaret (deceased), James and b'rank. The W'itli-
erows are lUL-mbers of the Episcopal church and take an earnest interest in
cburch woik. Air. Witherow was reared in the Presbyterian church, his
])eople for generations ha\ing been I'resbyterians, and one of his uncles was
for some time moderator of the General Assembly of that church in Ireland.
Fraternally, Air. Witherow is affiliated with the Alasons and takes a warm
interest in the affairs of that order.
BRUNO KIPPELS.
l!run(i Ki]ipel>, proprietor of the Aloorhead laundry, owner of the public
abattoir in Abjorhead. formerly and for years a well-known building con-
tractor in that citv and in other ways identilied with the comnuuiity of which
he has been .a part since pioneer days, is a native of Germany, but has been a
resident of this country since he was twenty-four years of age. He was
born in 1856. son of William and Katherina ( Isaacheimer) Kippels, also
natives of German)-, the former of whom was a farmer and a manufacturer,
who spent all their lives in their native land and who were the parents of
eight children.
In his native Germany, I'.runo Kippels learned the trade of a miller and
that of a baker and remained there until the summer of 1880, when he came
to this country, landing at the port of Baltimore, August i. A few weeks
later he came on out to A/finnesota and located at Moorhead, presently home-
steading a (piarter of a section of land in Spring Prairie township, Clay
county, and the next spring entered up(jn the task of developing and improv-
ing the same, giving that place his close attention for nine years, at the end
of which time he disposed of his farming interests and at Aloorhead engaged
in carpentering. Three vears later he began work as a building contractor
86 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
on his own account and for ten or fifteen years was engaged at Moorhead
as a contractor. In tlie meantime Mr. Kippels had engaged in the retail meat
Inisiness at Moorhead. in partnership with Hubert Zervas, and that partner-
ship continued for ahout eighteen years, or until it was dissolved in 191 1. It
was about 1906 that .Mr. Kippels built the public abattoir in Aloorhead and
he still owns the same. In October. 1914. he bought the Moorhead laundry
and has since owned and operated the same with much success, the excellent
cliaracter ni the work turned out at his laundry having recommended the
])lacc widelv throughout this section. Mr. Kipi)cls has put on the markc
three (|uite successful inventions, a children's merry-go-round, a clothes
hanger and a ])!aitc'r. and has diuu' fpiite well in the several enterprises with
which he is connected.
.On October 4. 1904. I'.runo Kippels was united in marriage to Martha
Kopi-h. and to diis union four children have been born, Joseph, John, Bruno
and Mar\. The KijJiiels are members of the Catholic church ;uid take a
iiriiuer interesi in parish affairs.
I.AMES E. HEXRY.
Elsewhere in this volume there is set out at considerable length some-
thing of the genealogy and history of the Henry family, which settled in
Clav county in the seventies and became among the most useful and influen-
tial factors in the early settlement and organization of Elkton township, and
it therefore will not be necessary to repeat those details in connection with
the subject of this sketch.
lames V.. Henrv was born in Kane county. Illinois. .April 11, 1852, son
of .\lirahani and Rachel (Jones) Henry, who later moved with their family
to Jackson countv, Iowa, and thence, in 1878, up into this section of Minne-
sota and settled in Clay comity, as set out in another part of this volume. In
the meantime, in 1875, James E. Henry had gone from Jackson county, Iowa,
to Cass countv. in that same state, and in 1880 he left there and came up
here to join the other members of the family in Clay county and upon his
arrival here homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Elkton township
and there established his home, he having married the year previously. To
that quarter section be added, by purchase, an adjoining "eighty" just across
the road on the east, and now has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres.
Mr. Henry has an interest in the fanners' creamery and in the farmers' ele-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. g-
vator at Barnesville. For sixteen years he served as a member of the town-
ship board and for the past twenty years has been treasurer of his local
school board.
In 1879, at Greenfield, Iowa, James E. Henry was united in marriage to
Alary E. Daniels, who was born in Jackson county, Iowa, daughter of Ken-
sey Daniels and wife, further reference to whom is made elsewhere in this
\olume, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Marion Henry. Mr.
and Mrs. Henry have an adopted daughter, Ida Ellen.
W. P. KROLL.
Among the many enterprising Germans who have made a success in
their adopted country is W. P. Kroll, who is die owner of a fine farm in
Elklon township, Clay county, and is also the affable proprietor of a fiourish-
ing livery business in Barnesville. He was born near Stetien, Prussia, on
September 3, i860, and is a son of Charles and Augusta (Riemer) Kroll,
both of whom were also natives of Germany.
Charles Kroll and family came to America in 1870, settling (irst in St.
Cloud, Minnesota, from which i)lace they dove overland with an ox-team to
Long Prairie, Todd county, Minnesota. They were among the early pioneers
of that county, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land.
In those early days their market and base of supplies was either St. Cloud or
Long Prairie, and supplies had to be hauled one hundred miles, the round
trip requiring six days. In addition to farming, Charles Kroll freighted
supi)lies to the early settlers of Todd county for four or five years, and his
death occurred in Long Prairie in 1876. In 1884 the mother and family
moved to Hawlev, Clay county, Minnesota, where the mother died in 191 5.
Charles Kroll and wife were parents of six children, B. E., Charles, W. P.,
Ann:e, ^■'j.rlclph cr) .\."""-\ t'"? b'* *""r vi'v.f.d being deceased. The family
were sll fcitiiiji rr.;; iini.: i t ;« vjC liiii j.iitheran church.
W. P. Kroll rcccivcii hiS early edcKation in the public schools of Kbng
Prairie, later attending the schools of Moorhead. .\fter leaving school he
worked for a time with his brother in a flour-mill at Hawley, but in 1887
he homesteaded land in Elkton township, and proceeded to develop and culti-
vate his tract. He placed all the improvements on his farm, which now con-
sists of two hundred acres, and lived there until 1910, when he moved to
88 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Rarnesville, and in tliis little city he has been engaged in the livery business
very success full\- for the past seven years.
In 1887 Mr. Kroll was married to Isabel Wilson, the daughter of A.
Henry Wilson, a resident of Elkton, Minnesota. He is a member of the
Modern Woodmen lodge, and takes an active interest in the affairs of that
(irganization. While living in Elkton township. Mr. Kroll very efficiently
served his township as school clerk for eighteen years; was supervisor of
Elktown township for a period of four years, and also served as road overseer
for eight ^■ears, and alilv discharged his duties as a citizen of his community.
WALTER COOK, JR.
Walter Cook, Jr., a [jrosperous farmer and stockman, the owner of a
lull section of land in Clay county, is another of those enterprising Cana-
dians who have come across the l)or<ler tcj Minnesota. He was born in Can-
ada on July 8, 1866, a son of Walter and Eleanor (Ching) Cook, both of
whom were natives of Devonshire. England.
The elder Walter Cook and his wife left luigland in 1857 and went to
Toronto, Canada, where they resided up to the year i88j, in which year
they crossed over to the United States and settled in this part of Minnesota.
Walter Cook had learned the carpenter trade and participated in the "Fargo
boom" of 1882. In the .same year he settled on a homestead and farmed
during all the vears of his active life and met with marked success in his
farming operations. He was among the early settlers in this part of the
county and lived on the homestead farm, which he acfjuired in 1882, until
1909, after his wife died, when lie came to live with his son, Walter, Jr.,
and has reached the line old age of ninety years, honored and respected bv
tlie community in which he has lived for more than thirty-five vears. His
wife, Eleanor (Ching) Cook, died at the advanced age of eighty-three years.
.She was born on March 4, 1826, in Devonshire, England. To Walter Cook
and wife the following children were born: \\'illiam .Alfred, living in Flint.
Michigan; .\nna, who resides in Canada; Jennie, in Minneapolis, this state;
Pollen, deceased; Carrie, Josephine, Mary Grace and \\'aUcr, all living in this
country, and Joseph, who was drowned when a boy of nine years old. The
Cook family were members of the Episcopal church.
Walter Cook, Jr., came with his parents from Canada to Clay county
in 1883 and settled on the homestead farm which his father entered the
"•{E NEW YORK
''BRARY
ASTOR, LEN©X
TILDEN FOUNDATiONS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MIN NKSOTA. 8q
;i'
previous _\ear. He worked ou his father's farm for several \ears, and late
decided to engage in farming on his own account. In 1889 he purchased a
tract of land and coniinenced to cultivate crops, and as he prospered in his
labors he added to his holdings from time to time until he liecanie the
owner of one full section of land. He has set out eighty acres to the cultiva-
tion of potatoes and has had good average crops from that source. He is
extensively engaged in general farming and stock raising and is recognized
as one of the most substantial farmers in Elmwood township. He has car-
ried out many costly improvements, iiis outbuildings and dwelling house
being in the front rank in the district in which he resides. In addition to his
farming interests Mr. Cook finds time to give attention to pulilic afYairs and
has been township assessor for three years, and is a warm advocate of all
movements calculated to serve the public welfare.
On February 11, i8(;i, \\'alter Cook, Jr., was united in marriage to
Jane T.;imb. :i daughter of Charles T.amb and wife, and to their union the
following children have been born: Cora, who married Merle Schenck, of
Elmwood townshij), and the\ have two children. Vera and Milo; Elsie.
Myrtle, Allen, l\dith, Charlie. Jennie. Robert, Etta, Clifford and George.
The family are earnest members of the Presbyterian church at Baker ;ind
are warmly interested in all its good works as well as in the general social
activities of the community in which they live.
EDGAR B. McCOLGIN.
Edgar B. McColgin. postmaster of the village of Downer, in Clay county,
and the proprietor of a well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres
adjoining that village, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a
resident of the Red River country and of Clay county since he was twenty-
four years of age. He was born on a farm in .\rmstrong county, Pennsyl-
vania! April 14. 1872, son of Thomas and Mary (Marshall) McColgin, both
natives of that same state and the former of whom is still living there, being
now past ninety years of age. Thomas McColgin served as a soldier of the
Union during the Civil War, a member of a Pennsylvania regiment. He
and his wife were the parents of nine children, Oscar, William, Luella, Anna.
Elizabeth, (irant, Totton, Edgar and one who died in infancy. Thomas
McColgin and wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their chil-
dren were reared in that faith.
go CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Reared on the home farm in his native Pennsylvania. Edgar B. McCol-
gin received his schooHng in tlie schools of that neighborhood and for two
terms taught school there. He continued to make his home there, helping in
the cultivation of the iiome farm, until he was twenty-four years of age,
when, in 1896, he came to Minnesota with a \iew to estalilishing himself as a
farmer up here in the Red River country, and located in Clay county. Two
years later he married and after his marriage established his home on a farm
southeast of Havvley, where he remained until about 1905, when he moved
to his present quarter-section farm in the vicinit)- of Downer, where he ever
since has been activelx- engaged in general farming and stock raising and has
done well. For years Mr. McColgin has given his clo.se attention .to local
civic affairs, for some time served as a member of the board of township
supervisors and is the present treasurer of l^lkton township. On January i,
icjio, he was commissioned postmaster of Downer and has ever since occu-
pied that position. In that same year he bought a store at Downer and has
since continued to manage the same, at the same time giving his general
direction to the management of his well-kept farm. Mr. McColgin is a mem-
ber of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at the neigh-
lioring village of Baker and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.
On Decemlier 7, i8c)8, Edgar E. McColgin was united in marriage to
Anna Mix, daughter of Charles Mi.x and wife, of Clay county, and to this
union four children ha\ e been born, Thomas, Totten, Elohama and William.
The McColgins have a very pleasant home and give proper attention to the
ciimmunitv's gcner;d social affairs.
ANDREW JOHNSOX.
One of the enterprising and influential citizens of Hawley, Clay countv.
who has forged to the front by his own eft'orts, often in the face of obstacles
that would have discouraged men of less courage and mettle, is Andrew-
Johnson, well-known general merchant. He was born in Norway, February
12, 1857, and there he grew to manhood and attended school. He remained
in his native land until 1876, when he immigrated to the United States, locat-
ing in Trempealeau county, Wisconsin.
In 1879, with William E. Bennett and James Craig, :Mr. Johnson came
to Hawley, Clay county, and worked in this vicinity for two years at the
carpenter's trade. In 1882 he and Pete Larson started in the luinber business
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA. QI
under tlie firm name of Johnson & Larson also taking contract building at
Hawlcv. This partnership continued with mntna! Iicnetit and ever-increasing
success until tlic spring of 1887, at which time Mr. Johnson engaged in gen-
era! merchandise, lumber and machinery business on his own account, in fact,
he handled everything that could be bought and sold in this part of the state
to advantage. He did a large business from the start and carried an exten-
si\e stock of goods, his customers coming from all over the eastern part of
Cla\- county. In the spring of 1904 he organized the Havvley Lumber Com-
pany, in j)artnership with Knnd ^Vefald and H. L. Mensing. They estab-
lished a large yard and i)nl in an extensive stock of all kinds of lumber and
nthcr materials used by builders. Lender the wise foresight and counsel of
.Mr. Johnson the venture has proven more successful even than was at first
antici])ated, and it is now one of the leading lumber firms of the county.
Afr. Johnson is a heavy stockholder in the First National Bank of Haw-
lev and is a director in the same. He is also a dealer in potatoes at Hawley
on a \ ast scale, buying and shipping many carloads annually. He sold his
machinery business a few years ago, and he now devotes much of his atten-
tion to the operation of his fine department store in Hawley, which would be
a credit to towns much larger than Hawley. It is modern in all its appoint-
ments ; a varied, extensive and carefully selected stock of goods is carried at
all seasons and everything is managed under a superb system. The thou-
sands of regular customers of this popular store always are assured of hon-
est. i(romi)t and courteous treatment I)y both the management and the
employees.
Mr. John>on was married in iS8_' to Louise Anfinson, who was born in
Houston county, Minnesota. She was educated in the public schools. Mr.
and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of six children, two boys and four girls.
a1I living at Hawley.
I'oliticallv. Mr. Johnson is a Repuljlican. He served as president of
ilawlev, also on the village council for some time. He has done much toward
the general welfare of Hawley in fact, has been one of its principal boosters
ever since he located here, believing in its future with implicit confidence. He
always supports any mo\ement having for its object the good of his town and
county. Fraternaliv. he lielongs to the Masonic Order, and he is a member
;uid liberal supporter of the Lutheran church, which he helped to organize.
He is deser\ing of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished,
unaided and bv sheer force of character, having started out in life with no
capital, a stranger in a strange land. He is a m:m whose word is as good
as the bond of most men, and he has the respect and good will of all who
know him.
92 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
LARS HITTERDAL.
One of the well-reniemljeiecl citizens of Clay county iluring tiie genera-
tion tliat is past, whose name is deserving of perpetuation on the pages of
local history was the late Lars Hitterdal, for many years a successful farmer
of Goose Prairie township. He was born in Norway in 1859, a son of Ole
and Berat Hitterdal, both natives of Norwa\-, where they grew to matur-
ity and married. They finally came to .\merica and located in Houston
county, Minnesota, when their .son, Lars, was nine years old, and when he
was about sixteen }ears old his parents moved to Clay county and took up a
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section 34, Goose Prairie town-
ship. The father had improved the place only slightly when he died, leaving
It to his son, Lars. The mother, who spent her l;ist years with her dau"hter,
.Mrs. I'aregan, in Hitterdal. died in 1914 at the advanced age of eighty-four
\ears.
To Ole Hitterdal and wife six children were born: Bens, who
lives on a farm in Highland (hove township: Lars, of this sketch; Marie,
deceased; Mrs. Marie Faregan, of the village of Hitterdal: Ole, living in
Hitterdal, and Hanna. who lives in the state of Washington.
Lars Hitterdal grew to manhood on the home farm and he was edu-
cated in the district schools, .\fter inheriting the homestead he continued
to develop it into a tine farm and as he prospered he bought adjoining land
untd he owned one of the choice farms of the township, consisting of live
hundred acres, which his widow now owns. He erected an attractive home
and a good group of outbuildings. Lie carried on general farming and stock
raising on an extensive scale, raising vast quantities of grain and large num-
bers of live stock. He was regarded as one of the most progressive farmers
of this locality.
Mr. Hitterdal married Isabel Clenientsoii. who was born in Xorway on
-March j^, 1864. She came to .\merica when ten years old with her mother
and six other children, about the year 1875. Her father was a farmer
and died in Norway. His widow came to America, as stated, in 1S75 and
located with her children in Houston county, Minnesota, and there the chil-
dren worked out. The mother took up a claim near Ulen, Clay county. She
was a woman of courage and business ability and she provided well for her
family, keeping her children together and giving them educational advan-
tages. She lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven years, dying in 19 14.
To Lars Hitterdal and wife seven children were born, namelv : Clara,
CLAY AND NORMAN COL-NTIES, MINNESOTA. 93
married and living in North Dakota; Mrs. Olga \'iner, married and living in
Highland Grove township; [Minnie, Oden. Clifford, Leona and Harry, are all
lixe at home.
Mr. Hitterdal was a Repul)lican. He served as a meniher of the school
lioard in his district; also as a member of the township hoard. He was a
meml)er i)f the United Lntheran church, of which he was a trustee. He was a
mail who believed in keeping abreast of the times. He raised full-blooded
live stock and did much to encourage raising better stock in his township,
especially cattle. He and liis l>rother. Bens, owned the first steam tractor
engine in their localit) .
The death of I.ars Hitterdal occurred on November 21, 1900, at the
age of forty-one years. Mrs. Hitterdal later married for her second husband
Carl Rroton, who owns a harness shop in Hawley, Clay county, also a store
there. This last unimi has been without issue.
CHRISTIAN REHDRR.
Christian Rehder, owner of se\en hundred and twenty acre.s of fine
land in Alliance township. Clay county, for many years chairman of the board
of supervisors of that tovvTisJiip, president of the Farmers Elevator Com-
])any of Comstock, vice-president of the State Bank of Comstock, a member
of the board of directors of the Northwestern Hospital at M(K)rhead, formerly
treasurer of his home township, formerly overseer of roads in his district
and in other ways for vears actively identified with the civic and business
interests of the community in which he has lived since pioneer days, is a
native of Germany, but has been a resident of this country since he was
twenty-one years of age and of Clay county since the year 1884, one of the
most substantial citizens and homestead farmers in the soiuheni part of the
county. He was born on .\u,gust 13, i860, son of John and Magdalina
Rehder, l)oth also natives of Germany, the former of whom died many
vears ago in his native land. The widow Rehder later married I'red K'uehl,
father of Bendix Kuehl, a hiograpliiacl .sketch of whom is presented else-
where in this volume, .\lioul 1889. some time after he had become well
settled in Clav county. Christian Rehder .sent lor lii's molher and his .step-
father and thev came from Germany and located at Sabin, where Mr. Kuehl
spent his last days, his widow thereafter making her home with her son
Christian, her last days being spent there.
94 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Reared in his nati\e land, Chri-stian Rehder received his schooling- there
and remained there until he was twenty-one years of age. when, in 1881,
he came to the United States and located at Davenport. Iowa, in which cit\
and in the vicinity whereof he remained for about eighteen months, the most
of that time being engaged in farm labor. He then went to Des Moines
and was there engaged, driving a delivery wagon and working in the coal
mines, until his marriage in 1884. in which 3'ear he came up here into the
Red River country, Sabin being his destination, ;md in June of that year
homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 30 of Alliance township, in
Clay county, established his home there and has e\er since resided there, he
and his family being Acry comfortably situated. When Mr. Rehder settled
on that quarter section it was raw prairie land and for si.\ years after set-
tling there he farmed with oxen. He planted a line grove, which is now
an attracti\e feature of the landscape thereabout, and gradually impro\ ed
his place: replacing his original homestead building with buildings of a sub-
stantial character, and has for years had one of the best-ordered farm plants
in that part of the countr\-. .\s his affairs prospered Mr. Rehder added
to his homestead holdings b\- |)nrchase of .additional land and now has a
well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of seven hundred and twenty
acres. Of late years he has given considerai)le attention to the raising of
potatoes, which have proven to be such a desirable crop in this region, and
has done much to encour;ige potato culture among his neighbors. Not only
has he done well in his farming operations, but Mr. Rehder has for years
given his intelligent attention to the general business affairs of his commun-
ity. He helped to organize the Farmers Elevator Company at Comstock
;ind is now president of the same. He also as.sisted in the organization of
the State Bank of Comstock. ;i member of the board of directors from the
beginning of that sound financial institution, and is now vice-i)resideut of
the same. In all measures having to do with the community's general wel-
fare he also has taken a warm personal interest and is a member of the board
of directors of the Northwestern Hospital at Moorhead. In civic affairs Mr.
Rehder also has taken an .active interest and for many years has been serving
as a member of the Ixiarcl of township supervisors, for years past chair-
man of the board. He also for years served as overseer of roads in his
district, in that capacity doing much to encourage the better-roads move-
ment hereabout, and also served for some time as treasurer of his home
township. He also helped to organize the Comstock and Holy Cross i'"arm-
ers»Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he is treasurer.
In 1884, about three years after coming to this country. Christian K'ehder
CLAY AND XOKMAN COrXTIES, MINNKSOTA.
95
was united in marriage to Christina Sclmoor, who also was born in Germany,
and to this union eight children have been born, Franz. Adelia, Bertha, Sclnia!
Paulina, Henning, Edward and Alax, all of whom are living. The Rehdcrs
are members of the Lutheran church at Sabin, with the affairs of which the\-
ha\e been closely identified for years, Mr. Rehder having helped to build
the present house of worship and parsonage of that congregation, and take
an earnest interest in cliurch work, as well as in the general good works
and social activities of the communitv in which thcv live.
H. H. HANSON.
H. H. Hanson, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Hendruni
town.ship, now living retired in the village of Hendrum, former member of
the township board and actively identified with the interests of that part
of the county since pioneer days, is a native of the kingdom of Norway,
but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was seven \cars of age and
of Norman county since shortly after attaining his majority. He was liorn
on July 17, 1858, and was seven years of age when his parents. Hans and
Bertha (Gilbertson) Hanson, left their native Norway in 1865 and came
to the United States, proceeding on out to Minnesota and settling in Houston
county, whence, two years later, they moved over into Fillmore county and
there established their home. Hans Hanson became a substantial farmer in
Fillmore county and remained there until 1881, the year in which Norman
county was organized, when he disposed of his interests in h'illmore count\-
and with his family moved to Norman county. He Ivnight a tract of two
hundred and twenty acres in section 21 of Hendrum township, established
his home there and there he and his wife spent their last days, his death
occurring in 1903. Hans Hanson and wife were members of the Norwegian
Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There are two
children, the subject of this sketch, the first-born, having a sister, Annie,
who married R. ?I. Thompson,
Having been but a child when his parents came to this state, H. iJ.
Hanson completed his schooling in Fillmore county and from the days of his
boyhood was a valuable aid to his father in the labors of the farm. Upon
moving to Norman county with his father he practically took charge of the
operations of the new farm in Idendrum township and did well, at one lime,
in as.sociation with his father, owning aboiU five hundred acres of land.
96 CLAY AND NORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
He still owns two humlred ami eight}- acres and has the same well improved.
In IQIO he rented his farm- and retired from active farming, moving to
Hendrum, wliere lie and his wife are now lixing and where they are very
comfortably sitnated. \Vhile living on tiie farm Mr. Hanson took an active
part in local cixic affairs and for some time ser\ed as a nicmher of the town-
ship board.
On Novemljer JiS, 1888. H. H. Hanson was united in marriage to Jnlia
H. Harvey, who was horn in l'"illmore county, this state, daugiitcr of H.
and Martha (Solberg) Harvey, natives of Norway, the former born in
November, 1837. and tlie latter, in 1838. H. Har\ey was but a toy when
he came to America w ilh his parents, the family locating in Houston county,
this state, later moving to Fillmore county, where lie married .md where he
remained until 1882, when he moved to Norman count)- and engaged in the
mercantile business at .\da, remaining thus engaged until his retirement in
1914. Both he and his wife are now living at Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson
are attendants of the serxices of the Lutheran chuich ami contril)ut(jrs to
the support of the saiue.
A. O. SERl'M.
A. O. Serum, one of the real pioneers of Norman county, a well-to-do
farmer of Halstad township, clerk of that town.ship practically all the time
since its organization, secretary of the Halstad Telephone Company e\er
since the organization of that company, for more than a cjuarter of a century
secretary of the Halstad Fire Insurance Compan_\-, a member of the school
board ever since his local district was organized, and in other w ays prominently
identified with the development of the community in which he has lived since
pioneer times, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident
of Minnesota since the days of his boyhood and of Norman county since
i87_>, nine \ears before the county was organized as a .separate civic entit\^
Fie was born in the parish of Selboe, in the stift of Trondhjem, February
28. 1849, a son of Ole and Annie J. (Norby) Serum, both natives of Norway.
the latter of whom spent her last days in Minnesota, one of the pioneers of
Norman county.
Ole Serum was a farmer in his native Norway. There he married Annie
J. Norby and to that union eleven children were born, of whom the subject
of this sketch was the hfth in order of birth, the others living being Ingeborg,
Maret, Karen, Mollie. Annie and Ole. In 1862 the elder Ole Serum was
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CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 97
drowned while taking part in a loj; drive on the river not far from his
home, his body being carried over a waterfall when the log boom broke
away from the drivers. Five years later, in 1867, the Widow Serum and
four of her children came to the United States and proceeded on out to
Minnesota, settling in l"'illmore county, where she had kinsfolk living. There
she remained until 1872, when she accompanied her son, A. O. Serum, uj)
into this part of the state and settled on the homestead he took in what
later came to be organized as Halstad township, Norman county, and there
she spent the remainder of her life, her death occurring in 1907. She was
an earnest member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and her children
were reared in that faith.
A. O. Serum was eighteen years of age when he came to Minnesota
with his mother from his native Norway and settled in Fillmore county.
For a time after his arrival there he attended school, furbishing up his
limited knowledge of the English language, and even after he moved to
Norman county and became a homesteader he attended school a while, per-
fecting himself in the tongue of his adopted country. In 1872 he left Fill-
more county and came up into this part of the state, having l)ecome convinced
in his own mind that here there were great opportunities awaiting the earnest
young homesteader. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in
sections i and 6 of what later came to be known as Halstad township and
there he and his mother established their home. He drove through with
a team of oxen, leading two cows and besides what essential household articles
and a few farming implements could be loaded in the wagon, had practically
nothing. Upon his arrival here he built on his homestead tract a house
sixteen bv eighteen feet and that sufficed as a home until 1896, when he
built his present commodious residence. The year of his arrival here was
the year of the great grasshopper scourge in this part of the state and
everything that he attempted to grow during the first season of his residence
here was destroyed by the pests. At that time the nearest market was at
Fergus Falls, to which he made a trip that fall, the journey requiring about
two weeks. After the first discouraging year, when the grasshoppers almost
ate him out of house and home, Mr. Serum's affairs began to prosper and
it was not long until lie had his quarter section well improved and profitabl\-
cultivated. After his marriage in 1877 he further improved his home and
earl}- became regarded as one of the most forehanded and substantial pioneers
of that section. .\s he ])rospered in his farming operations he gradually
added to his land holdings until now he is the owner of a little more
(7a)
g CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
than a half section of land, which he has improved in excellent shape and
has brought the same up to a high state of cultivation.
It was in the fall of 1879 that Halstad township was organized. The
following pioneers comprised the poll list of those present at the first meeting
called to' consider the question : A. A. Scheie. L. B. Larson, A. B. Larson,
Ole Halstad. W. Christopherson. T. Stennes, Ole E. Olson and Anthony
Scheie. .\t a later meeting held on November 6, 1879. A. O. Serum was
present and helped to organize the township, being elected first clerk of the
same, the other officers elected being as follow : Supervisors, J. L. Scheie.
L. B. Larson and Ole E. Olson, the first-named being chairman of the board ■
treasurer, Antliony Scheie: justices of the peace. E. L. Iverson and Ok
Halstad and constables. John (i. Paulson and J. L. Houske. With the
exception of a period of about five years Mr. Serum has continued to serve
as clerk of the township ever since that date, a record of such service prob-
ably not exceeded in this part oi the state. When his local school district
was organized he was elected a member of the school board and has ever
since served in that capacity, ha\ing done much to advance the interests of
the schools thereabout. In addition to his earnest i)ublic service Mr. Serum
has been an equally earnest promoter of the general interests of the com-
munity and has done much to advance the common welfare in that part of
the county. In 1904, when the Halstad Telephone Company was organized,
he was elected secretary of the same and has ever since occupied that office,
doing much to promote the extension of telephone service throughout this
section, and for more than twenty-six years he has been secretary of the
Halstad Fire Insurance Company, a mutual organization that has been of
large benefit in the territory its policies cover.
In 1877 A. O. Serum was united in marriage to Anna Rustvold. who
was born in Nonvay in i860 and who had come to this country with her
parents in the days of her girlhood, the family settling in this state, and
to that union nine children were born, Mary .'\nn, Oliver, Anton, Joseph
(deceased), Clara, Minnie, Anna Isabel, Clarence A. and Edwin (deceased).
The mother of these children died in 1896. Mr. Serum is a member of the
Norwegian Lutheran church and was one of the organizers of the local
congregation, which was organized in 1875, about three years after he located
here. Since the day of the organization of that congregation he has opened
and closed the church services and has led the singing and has also been
clerk of the congregation practically ,ill the time since it became an organized
body.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA. 99
SYLVESTER JAMES JOHNSON.
S_\lvcster James Jolinsoii, who nuns tlie fine farm in Elmwood town-
shi]). Clay county, developed ])y his late father, Sever Johnson, was born at
Dwatonna, in Steele county, this state, in 1881. He was but two years of
age when his parents. Sever and Bertha (Johnson) Johnson, came up into
this i)art of the state and settled on the farm on which he is still living and
of whicli he has had practical charge since the lamented death 0i his father.
\\lif> was killed in a railway-crossing accident at Moorhead in 1907.
Sever Johnson was born in Wisconsin, son of Louis and Dora Johnson,
who had come to this country from Norway and had settled in Wisconsin,
later going to Montana, afterward settling in Steele county, Minnesota. Louis
Tohnson was living in Montana at the time of the Indian uprising, and for
the valuable service he rendered in giving warning to other settlers of the
uprising, was awarded a medal by the state. Reared in Steele county, Sever
lohnson was there married to IJertha J(jhnson, who was Ixirn in the kingdom
of Xorwav and who had come to this country with her parents, the family
lirst settling in Wisconsin and later coming to Minnesota. After his mar-
riage he continued to make his home in the vicinity of Owatonna, where he
was engaged in farming until iXX;;, in which year he came with his family
u]) into the Red River country and located on the farm on which his son
SvKester is now living, in Elmwood township. Clay county, and proceeded
to develop and improve the same, becoming the owner there of a well-
improved place, comprising one-half a .section of excellent land. The father
was prospering in his affairs when he accidentally met his death at a railway
crossing in Moorhead, as ncjted above. Ifis widow is now making her home
in the village of Sabin. They were the parents of three children, Dora, Teda
and Sylvester J., and had besides an adopted son, Alvin.
Sxlvester J. Johnson was I)ut a child when his parents settled on the
|)ioneer farm in lilmwood township and there he grew to luanhood, Ijecom-
ing ;i i)ractical farmer. Upon completing the course in the district school in
the neighliorhood of his home, he entered the high school at Moorhead. He
tlien took a course in the State Normal School in that city and for ten years
afterward was engaged in teaching school, his service in that cf)nnection being
rendered in four districts, in one of \\hich he taught for seven years. Mean-
while, he continued to he actively engaged in farming diu-ing the summers,
and after his father's shocking death took charge of the home place and has
since been managing the same, making a pronounced success of his opera-
87S962
lOO CI.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. .MINNESOTA.
ti(in>. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Johnson gives considerable
attention to the raising of potatoes and is doing well. He has an excellent
farm plant and carries on his operations in accordance with approved and
up-m-date methods. Tliough not particularly active in politics, he has held
liK-.il otifices and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs.
In 1907, Svlvester J. Johnson was united in marriage to Margarette
Malchose, daughter of Hubert Malchose and wife, of Clay county, and to this
union twi) children lia\e l)een l)orn, sous I)otIi. Xiles and Gordon. Mr, and
Airs. Johnson have a \erv pleasant home and take a proper interest in the
social affairs of the community. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Modern
r.rotherhood, and in the affairs of that organization takes a warm interest.
MONS T. WEUM.
Mons T. W'eum. |)resident of the State Bank of Moorhead, president of
the I'irst State Hank of .South Haven and a director in several other banking
concerns in this part of the state, formerly engaged in the retail clothing
business at Moorhead and still the ]K)ssessor of mercantile interests, is a
native of the kingdom of Xorwa\-. but has been a resident of Minnesota
since he w;is twehe years of age. He was lx)rn on March 20, 1857, a son
of Tosten .\. and Ingeljorg W'eum. also natives of Xorwav, who spent all
their li\es in their natix'e land.
W hen he was twelve years of age, Mons T. Weum came to the United
States with a 1)rother and a sister, the three proceeding on out to Minne-
sota and locating in Goodliue county, where he began working on farms, later
liecoming a clerk in a store at Owatonna and was engaged in the latter occu-
l)ation for se\eral years, :it the end of which time he started a store of his
own at Xorcross, in Grant county. Two years later, upon the establishment
of the village of Georgetown, in Clay county, he moved to that new town
and started there the first real store started in the place. His business there
prospered and he still is a partner in that pioneer store, though a resident of
Moorhead for the jxist fifteen years. It was about 1902 that Mr. Weum
located at Moorhead. where he started a ck^hing store. He also for a time
was connected with the jobbing trade at Minneapolis. In 1903, about a year
after becoming a resident of Moorhead, Mr. Weum was made the president
of the State Bank of Moorhead, a position he ever since has held and to
the duties of which he gives his active attention. Mr. Weum has other
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA. lOI
banking interests throughout this part of the state, incKiding his position of
president of the First State Bank of South Haven : a director of the Farmers
and Merchants' Bank of Perley, and a director of the Farmers and ^^ercl^-
ants' Bank of Steele, all three of which banks he helped to organize. Mr.
Weum has long been recognized as one of the active and public-spirited busi-
ness men of Moorhead and as an influential member of the Commercial Club
of that city. He also gives his earnest attention to local civic affairs and is
now serving as a member of the school board of his home city.
Mr. Weum is a member of the Trinity Lutheran church and takes a
proper interest in church work. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local
lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in the affairs of which
he takes a warm interest, and is a member of the ^Iinnea])olis .\thletic Club.
; HAMILTOX MEECH MUMFORD.
Hamilton Meech Muiuford, cashier of the Farmers" State Bank of Glyn-
don and a substantial landowner in the vicinity of that thriving village, is a
native of Connecticut, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was five
years of age and of Clay county since the summer of 1875, '^'^ parents having
been among the early pioneers of the Glyndon neighborhood. He was born
at Norwich, Connecticut, February 15, 1870, son of Robert B. and Helen M.
(Phillips) :\lumfortl, both of whom also were born in Connecticut and who
later became honored and influential pioneers of this section of Minnesota, the
former spending his last days at Glyndon and the latter later moving to
Seattle, where her last days were spent.
Robert B. IMumford. who is well rememljered hereabout as one of the
.most jjotent influences in the development of this region in pioneer days, was
a veteran of the Civil War, having been one of the first to resporrd from his
home town of Bozrah, Connecticut, upon the President's call for volunteers
in April, 1861, and served with a Connecticut regiment until the close of the
war. Some time after the completion of his mihtary service he married and
after his marriage continued to make his home in Connecticut, a resident of
Xorwich, until 1872, when he came with his family to Minnesota, coming by
way of Duluth, and settled on a homestead fanu in the vicinity of Rochester,
in Olmstead countv, where he remained until the summer of 1875, when he
disposed of his interests there and moved with his family to Clay county,
establishing his home on a homestead tract of a quarter of a section of land
I02 Cl.AY AND NORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
at the edge of what later came to he the village of Glyndon, and tliere he spent
the remainder <>{ his life, althmigh his later husiness activities kept him trav-
eling far and wide over the then rapidlx developing country in this section
of the Northwest. The }ear after his settlement at Glyndon, Robert B.
Alunifiird imported a large herd of dairy cattle into Clay county, driving
them through from Fergus Falls, and distributed the cattle among- the pioneer
settlers throughout the neighborhood in which he had settled and from the
])rn(lucts of that herd there was established here in that same year the first
cheese factory in the county. He also shipped in many horses from Roches-
ter and became an extensive dealer in horses as well as in cattle. .At the same
time he became largely interested in real estate ventures, acting- for a .Minne-
apolis firm of realty dealers, and in that capacity did a .a;reat deal of develop-
ment work, handling- land ihrougbout the Red River valley and as far west as
Bismarck, with particular reference to the creation of townsites along the line
of the Northern Pacific railroad, acting as land agent for the railroad coni])any,
being- thus the means of inducing the immigration to this section of many
settlers. On one occasion he and his wife drove all the way from Glyndon
to Bismarck in a buggy, inspecting the progress of the settlements he had been
instrumental in projecting. Mr. JMum ford's special interest ever centered in
and aliout (ilyndon, and he did niucli tn promote the development of that place
during the early da\s of the settlement, continuing to make that his estab-
lished home the rest of his life, his death occurring there in March, 1889. His
willow sur\-i\cd him more than twent\--five years, her death occurring at
Seattle, Washingt-jn, in May, IQ16. They were the parents of six children,
of whom the subject of tliis sketch was the second in order of birth, the others
being Arthur .\.. Hale H., Leonard J., Morris C. and Mary .Vnne, all of
whom are living sax'c- the last-named, who died at the age of nine months.
As noted above. Flaniilton M. Mumford was but five years of age when
his jjarents settled at r,iyndon in 1875 and he has ever since made that place
his established home, though six \ears of his life were spent in developing a
couple of sections of land in Canad;i. Reared at Glyndon. he received his
carl} schooling- in the schools of that village and supplemented the same by
a course in the State Normal School at Moorbead. from which he was grad-
uated in 1894. In the meantime he had taught several terms of school and
after his graduation taught two more terms of school. He then became con-
nected with an agricultural implement house and for ten vears thereafter was
■"on the road" for that concern, meanwhile, however, continuing to make his
home at Glyndon. lie having married in 190J. I'pon leaving the road Mr.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. IO3
Mum ford bougiit a couple of sections of land in Canada and for six years was
engaged in developing the same, his family spending two summers with him
there. He still holds and operates his Canada land, as well as the quarter
section homestead farm entered by his father at Glyndon in 1875 and on
which he has founded a herd of Shorthorn cattle; he and his family being
very comfortably situated in a home in the village, where he is active in the
bank work. In January, 1917, Mr. Mumford and others organized the Farm-
ers State Bank of Glyndon and Mr. Mumford was made cashier of the same,
a position he now occupies and to the duties of which he is giving his most
earnest and intelligent attention.
On September 20, 1902, Hamilton M. Mumford was united in marriage
to Anna Osborne, daughter of Luther Osborne and wife, further and fitting-
mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union four
sons have been born, Leonard Phillips, Kenneth Osborne, Ralph Vernon and
Luther. Mr. and Mrs. Mumford are members of the church at Glyndon
and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in other neiglilx)rhood
good works and in the general social activities of the community in which
they live, helpful in pminoting all a.gencies designed to advance the cominmi
welfare thereatout.
T. FRIDLUND.
J. h'ridlund was l)(irn in .Sweden in 1853, a son of C. M. Fridlund, and a
brother of Adolpli Iridlund, whose personal sketch appears in another place
in this work.
J. F'ridlund rccei\ed his elementary education in tiie common schools of
Sweden. He came to America in 1874 and located in Goodhue county, Min-
nesota. From 1875 to 1878 he attended Augustana Colege, at Rock Island,
Illinois: also attended the high school at Red Wing, Minnesota. In 1881 he
located at Fargo, North Dakota, where he was engaged in the flour and feed
business for about four years, and has been buying grain since that time. For
the last six years he has been manager of the Farmers' Elevator Company at
Hawley, Minnesota.
Mr. Fridlund was married to Matilda Samuelson in 1880, and to this
union three children have been born, namely: Minnie, who married C. A.
Bye, a general merchant at Pine Wood, Minnesota : Ruth, who is attending
the normal school at ]\Tankato, Minnesota; and Carl, who is attending Gus-
I04 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
tavus College, at St. Peter. Minnesota. Mr. Fridlund is a student and well-
read man and is giving his children the advantage of a good education. He
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a member of the Masonic
Lodge, in both of which he takes a deep interest.
THEODORE H. SKKKI.
Theodore H. Skrei, a substantial aiul progressive farmer, engaged in
raising blooded Holstein cattle, former township treasurer and former clerk
of the school board, is a native son of Minnesota, born on Buffalo River on
December 15, 1870, tlie first white child born here, a son of Norwegian
parents, who were married in their native land before coming to America.
He is the son of Targe T. and (iunhild (Herve) Skrei, the former of whom
was born in 1836 and the latter ten years later.
Targe T. Skrei was educated in the schools of Norway and grew u[>
to the work of the farm. He was married in that country to Gunhild
Berve. who was born in 1846 in Xorway, and in 1866 they decided to try
their fortunes in the new world, where so manv of their countrA-men had
found a himie ar.d an ;unplc means (j1 li\ing. On arriving in this country
they came on to Houston county, Minnesota, where they remained for four
years. Targe T. Skrei then moved west, joining a party, the journey being
made by o.x-team, and came to Clay county, where he homesteaded the
southwest i|uarter of section 28. Moland township, and on that place he im-
mediately l)egan farming operations and was thus engaged for the remainder
of his active life, being regarded as a hard-working and skillful agricul-
turist, popular with iiis friends and neighbors. He died in 1895 at the
age of fift\-nine years and his wife survived until 1908, when her death
occurred at the age of sixty-two. Targe T. Skrei and wife were the jiarents
of the following children: Signa, who is living with Hilbcrt; Theodore H..
the suliject of this sketch, and Hilbert, who is married. Targe T. Skrei
took a good citizen's part in public affairs, but never sought office.
Theodore H. Skrei attended the public schools of Clay county and was
reared on his father's farm, where he became a valuable assistant in the
work of improving and develoiiing the holding. At the age of twenty-one
he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 29, Moland town-
ship, which he improved and now has in an excellent state of cultivation. In
1909 he l)ought out die old homestead and four years later, in 1913. he
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N fOUNDATlONS
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CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I05
iii.iight an additional eighty acres in section 29, and is now the owner of
four hundred acres of prime land, from which he is ohtaining most satis-
factory results, the land being set out to wheat, barley, oats, corn, alfalfa
and potatoes. He raises a fine strain of blooded Holstein cattle and has
some spendid specimens of that breed on his place. In 1912 Mr. Skrei built
a nine-room house, fitted with all modern requirements, including electric
light, waterworks, hot-water heat, etc., and here he and his family are com-
fortably situated.
On September _>/, 1897, 'it Aloorhead, Theodore H. Skrei was united
in marriage to Tilda Juve, who was lx)rn in Houston county, Minnesota, in
1867, a daughter of Ole and Gunhild Juve, who came to Clay county in the
early seventies. Mr. and Mrs. Skrei are the parents of four children, name-
ly : .\nna, Obert, Milo and Targe. They are also providing a home for
Robert and Nellie (Mson, children of Mrs. Skrei's sister, the latter and her
husband being both deceased, the children having been living with Mr. ami
Mrs. Skrei for the past five years.
Mr. Skrei and family are members of the Concordia church, of which
he has been trustee and in connection with which he has held other offices.
He has been identified with public affairs for several years and served the
people as township treasurer, in which responsible position he gave general
satisfaction. He was clerk to the school board for six years, proving a
satisfactory olficial. He is interested in the Farmers' Grain and I.umber
Company of Glyndon. to the affairs of which he gives close attention. Mr.
Skrei's life has been one of usefulness and hard work and proves again that
being born in a log house with a sod roof is no barrier to progress.
CH.^RLES R. OLIVER.
Charles R. Oliver, former cashier of the First National Bank at Barnes-
ville. Clay countv, and now president of that flourishing institution, an exten-
sive landowner, his land holdings amounting to four thousand acres, was
born in the state of Wisconsin, but has been a resident of this part of Minne-
sota for the past twenty-six years. He was born in August, i860, in Grant
county, Wisconsin, a son of Douglas and Sarah (Fitzgerald) Oliver, whose
last days were spent in Kansas.
Douglas Oliver was born in Tennessee in 18 19 and died in 1885, at the
age of sixty-six vears. During his active life he was a well-known woolen
I06 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
manufacturer, havin.g a large mill for that purpose, and he also farmed on
an extensive scale, in Grant county, Wisconsin. Some years before his death
he moved to Kansas and there spent his last days. His wife, Sarah Fitz-
gerald, was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1834 and died one year after
her husband, her death occurring in 1886, in Kansas at the age of fifty-two.
They were the parents of the following children: i-rank, living in Santa
Cruz, California: Duighi, married and ii\ing in Lancaster, Wisconsin;
Grant, married, lives in Dinuba, California; h'red, in Fresno, California:
Charles R., the subject of this sketch. ;md Mrs. TTarriet Mullen, of Tempc,
Arizona.
Charles R. 01i\er was educated in the schools of (iraiu county, Wis-
consin, and was reared on his father's farm, with the work of which he
assisted during a few of his early years. His business inclinations led him
to follow the profession of a banker and before coming to Clay county he
was associated with the b'irst National Bank of Breckenridge. In 1891 he
moved to Clay county and became assistant cashier in the First National Rank
at Barnesville and has ser\ed through all the departments and official positions
of the bank's service, for the past three years being president of the company.
Much of the success of the institution is traceable to Mr. Oliver's sound and
conservative methods of banking and he is generally regarded as one of the
far-seeing bankers in this part of the state. In addition 10 his banking inter-
ests, Mr. 01i\er is tlie owner of four thousand acres of land located in Clay
and Wilkin counties, the greater part being in Wilkin. His farming is tarried
on according to modern methods of agriculture and he is fully abreast in
the ecjuipment of his farms, everything being maintained in first-class con-
ditit^m, the improvements being fully e(jual to the best in the county. He
also owns business i)roperty in the town of Barnesville and is generally
accounted one of tlie most pros])erous and enterjirising citizens of the town-
ship and count}-.
In .\pril. 1898. Charles R. Oliver was united in marriage to Mary E.
McGinn, who was born in Blooming Prairie. Minnesota, the marriage taking
place in Barnesville. There are no children to this union. Mr. Oliver takes
an active part in the general social conditions of the township and has long
lieen holding membership in various fraternal organizations. He is a mem-
ber of the Masonic lodge at Barnesville and Shrine at I'argo. the Knights of
Pythias and IModern Woodmen of .\merica. and lias a warm interest in the
successful working of these popular organizations. Mr. Oliver, however,
devotes the greater part of his business life to his banking interests.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I07
D. C. JONES.
D. C. Jones, one of tlie best-known and most substantial ti.t;ures in
financial circles of tbis part of tbe state, president of tbe b'armers and Alercli-
ants State Bank of Ada, president of tbe Fir.st State Bank of Gary and
president of the First State Bank at Lockbart, is a native of tbe nei.e^bborinf;-
state of Wisconsin, born at Cambria, in Columbia count>-, that state, .Vu.^ust
23, 1866, son of Morris and Margaret (Jones) Jones, natives of tbe princi-
pality of Wales, whose last days were spent in tbe nciejiborini; stale of
South Dakota.
Morris Jones w.-is reared in his native Wales, where he received bis
schooling, and about 1S40 came to the L'nited States with his father, Joini
Jones, tbe family settling;- in Racine, A\'isconsin. There be ])resently became
engaged as a contractor and builder and later moved to Cambridge, that same
state, where be remained until 1S80, when be mo\ed with his family to
Ib'ow n county. South Dak(jta. about nne hundred miles ahead of tbe railroad,
and settled on a homestead farm there. He later entered a tree claim to
an adjoining cjuarter section, proved up the same, and on that half-section
farm spent the rest of bis life, brin.ging bis place u]) to an excellent state
of dex'elopment. Morris Jones and bis wife were tbe [)arents of five children,
of whom tbe subject of tbis sketch was the last born, the others being as
follow: IMary, wife of Hugh Pugh ; Sarah, wife of Owen Evans; John, of
Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Susie, wife of T. A. Jones.
D. C. Jones was about i'onrteen years of age when his jjarents nio\ed
from Wisconsin to Brown county. South Dakota, and be grew to manhood
on the homestead farm in that county, completing bis schooling at Groton
College at Groton, South Dakota, and at Carbon College at Nortbfield, this
state. Upon leaving school be became engaged as a grain buyer for tbe St.
Anthony & Dakota I'llexator Company and was thus engaged in his home
state for eight vears. or until i8(;4. when be was transferred to Minnesota
and given charge of that company's business at Ada. fn [900 Mr. Jones was
made cashier of the First State Bank at Gary, in Norman county, and for
eleven years was in charge of that bank's affairs, in 191 1 returning to Ada,
where he enga.ged in the banking and real-estate business and where be since
has made his home. Mr. Jones retained bis intei-est in die b'irsl State
Bank of Gary and is now president of tbe same, as well as president of tbe
First State Bank at Eockbart. a flourishing village in tlic northern part of
the county. In 19x5 Mr. Jones and Eambert Koescb organized tbe h'armers
lOS CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES^ MINNESOTA.
and Merchants Bank at Ada and Mr. Jones is president of the same. Tn
addition to his e.xtensive banking interests he also is the owner of some \al-
nable land in Xonnan county and in South Dakota. .Mr. Jones is a Repub-
lican and lias ever criven his earnest attention to local political aft'airs. Ib-
is a member of the Bene\olent and Protective Order of Elks. When the
village of Gary was organized he was elected treasurer of the same and
served in that capacity until lie left there, lie also for some time served
as president of the village council and was also for some time the president
of the village school board.
In Octol:)er, 1897, D. C. Jones was united in marriage to Clara ri'und.
daughter of John Pfund and wife, and to this union three children have been
l)orn, Beatrice, Law rence and Deverau.x, the latter of whom died in child-
hood. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have a very peasant home at Ada and take a
proper interest in the general social activities of the city, helpful in ])ro-
moting all movements basing ti> do with the advancement of the general
welfare hereabout.
-\RXT .\xn .\XTOX OPGRAND.
Arnt and .Knton Opgrand, general mercliants at Haistad, doing busi-
ness there under the firm style of Opgrand Brothers, ha\"e been residents of
Xonnan county since the days of their Ixnhood. ha\ing come here with their
[jarents in pioneer days, and are active and energetic members of the busi-
ness community in the flourishing village in which they are conducting their
well-stocked mercantile establishment. They are the sons of M. A. Opgrand.
one of the pioneers of X'orman county, who settled in Haistad townshi])
back in the early eighties and is still living there, one of the substantial and
well-to-do farmers of that [jart of the countv.
M. A. Opgrand was born in Xorway on April 8, 1847, ^"fl there spent
his youth and young manhood, being about twenty years of age when he
came to this country in 1867 and proceeded on out to Minnesota, locating
in Houston county. There he married Joran Xelson, who was born in Xor-
way on January 16. 1836, and who had come to Minnesota with her parents
in die days of her girlhood, .\fter his marriage ?*Ir. Opgrand continued
to make his home in Houston county until the early eighties, when he came
up to this part of the state with bis family and settled on an eightv-acre
farm which he bought in Shelly township. Xonnan county, on the line
adjoining Haistad township. In 1893 he bought a quarter of a section in
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 Oy
section 5 of Halstad townsliip, adjoining his eighty in Shelly, sold the eight}'
and established his home in Halstad township. To the quarter section he
bought at that time he later added an adjoining quarter and now owns a
half section of well-imprii\ed land in Halstad townshij). where he still lives
and where he and his family are very comfortably situated. He and hU
wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children
were reared in that faith. There are nine of these children, .Vrnt, Anton,
.\nna, Pedra, Clara, Pauline, Ole, Carl and James, all of whom are living.
Arnt Opgrand was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, over the line
from Houston county, this state, .\ugust 24, 1S74, and was eight or ten
years of age when his parents moved from the latter county up into this part
of the state and settled in Xorman county. He received his elementary
schooling in the district schools of Halstad township and supplemented the
same by a course in Concordia College at Moorhead, after which he resumed
his place on the home farm and there remained until iqoo, when he began
clerking in the hardware store of J. H. Xokken at Halstad and was thus
engaged for two years, at the end of which time he transferred his services
to the Halstad Mercantile Company and was engaged as a clerk for thai
concern for three vxars. He then worked a year in the general store of
Iver Lien at Halstad and then he and his brother, Anton, went over into
North Dakota and each homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in .\dams
countv, that state. A \ear later they returned to Minnesota and Arnt
Opgrand resumed lii-, fcrnier pusitinn in the store of Per Lien at Halstad.
where he worked a year, at the end of which time he returned to the store
of the Halstad Mercantile Comjiany and was there engaged until in May.
U)i2. when he and his brother, .\ntou, .started in the mercantile business
on their own account at Halstad and have ever since been thus engaged,
having a well-equipped and well-stocked general store, and have built u]i an
extensive trade in the village and throughout the surrounding countr\-. In
addition to his mercantile interest, .Arnt Opgrand is the owner of a jiotato
warehouse, which he has operated for the past four years. He has served
as a meml)er of the village council and has for years taken an earnest inter-
est in local civic affairs. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge
of the Modern Woodmen of America and is clerk of the same.
Pi 1904 Arnt Opgrand was united in marriage to Emma Larson, a
daughter of Ole Larson, .and to this union three children have been born,
Judith. Evalyn and :\Iilburn. Mr. and AP's. Opgrand are members of the
PInited Lutheran church and Lake a proper interest in church affairs.
Anton Opgrand was born in Houston county, this state, .September 14.
no CLAY AND NORMAX COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
1876, and was Init a l)oy wlien his parents settled in N'unnan county. L'pcm
completing tlie course in the district schools of Halstad township he entered
the normal school at Minneapolis and later took a course in a business
college in that city. In the spring of 1907 he and his brother each home-
steaded a quarter of a section of land in Adams count)'. Xorth Dakota, and
a 3'ear later returned to this state. Anton Opgrand ihcn went to Minne-
apolis, where for three \ears he was em])loyed in the wholesale mercantile
establishment of W'yman & T'artridge. On May 15. 191 _', lie and his brother.
Arnt, opened their mercantile establishment at Halstad. as above set nut.
and have since been very successfully engaged in business together. In
addition to his mercantile interests, Anton Opgrand is the owner of a farm
of eighty acres in Cass county, this state. He is a member of the local
society of the Sons of Xorwav and takes .a warm interest in the alfairs of
the same.
On January i. 11)13. Anton 0])grand was united in marriage to ( )lga
Stordahl, a daughter of Carl Stordahl. .Mr. and .Mrs. Opgrand are member^
of the ATorwegian Lutheran church and take an active interest in the affairs
of the same. The Opgrand brothers are energetic and enterprising busi-
ness men and are doing well their part in the i)romotion of the best interests
of the communitv in which the\- Ii\-e.
E. C. BETCHER.
E. C. Betcher, manager of the i)lanl of the I'armers Ele\ator Company
at Ada, member of the cit\- council and a substantial landowner and retired
farmer of Norman county, is a native of Germany, but has been a resilient
of A'linnesota since the days of his childhood and of Norman county since
the days of his )oung manhood, having settled here with, bis parents in pio-
neer days. He was born on January 22. 1S58, and was but four years of age
when his parents, John and l^rnestine (Tobranz) Betcher, also natives of
that country and the former of whom was a weaver, left German\- many
years ago and came to the United States in 1862 and settled in Goodhue
count3% this state, not far from the city of Red Wing.
Upon his arrival in Goodhue county John Betcher homesteaded an
eighty-acre tract there and proceeded to develop the same, making his home
there until 1880. when he disposed of his interests in that countv to
advantage and came up into this part of the state, pre-empting a quarter
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I I t
of a section of land in what later came to be organized as Green Meadow-
township, Norman county, and there estahHshed his second and final home
in the land of his adoption. Mr. Betcher developed a good farm in (ireen
Meadow township and took an active part in the affairs of that township in
pioneer days. There he spent his last days. He and his wife have hoth
passed away. They were members of the German Lutheran church and their
children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of
whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being" Ro1)ert.
Lena, Arthur, Richard (deceased), Fred and Charles.
As noted above, E. C. Betcher was but a child when he came to this
state with his parents and he .grew to manhood on the home farm in Good-
hue county, receiving his schooling in the schools of Ked Wing. Being the
eldest son he was a valuable aid to his father in the labors of developing
the homestead farm, even from the days of his boyhood, and when the
family moved to Xorman countx' he aided his father in the initial develop-
ment of the new farm here, being thus occupied until his marriage in i88(i.
when he started farming on his own account in Pleasant View township,
where he established his home and where he remained until i8gS, at the time
of the or.ganization of the h'armers I'llevator Company, when he was elected
mana.ger of the same and in order to .give his whole attention to the affairs
of that company moved to Ada, the site of the elevator, where he since has
made his home. Mr. Betcher continues to retain his farm lands, however,
and is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Pleasant
View township, one of the best-improved farms in that part of the countv.
Mr. Betcher has made a distinct success of the affairs of the Farmers Ele-
vator Com])any and is widely recognized as one of the leading men in this
section of the state. He has done much to advance the general interests of
the countv seat and of the county at large and has long been regarded as
one of Norman county's most substantial and influential citizens. For nine
years he has been a member of the Ada city council and in that capacity has
rendered excellent service in helping to "boost" the county seat into its pres-
ent high place among the flourishing little cities of northern Minnesota.
It was in 1886 that E. C. Betcher was united in marriage to Minnie
Mackel, daughter of Ignatius Mackel and wife, and to this union five chil-
dren ha\e been born, Alfred, Ida, Walter, Raymond and I'lrvin. Capt.
Alfred Betcher, first-born of Mr. and Mrs. Betcher's sons, is ;i graduate of
the United States Military Academy at West Point and is now a captain in
the United States regular army. \\r. and Mrs. Betcher are members of the
Congregational church at Ada and take a proper interest in church work and
112 CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in the general good works of the community, helpful in promoting all worthy
causes. Mr. Betcher is a Republican and has ever gi\en a good citizen"*
attention to local iiolitical affairs. Fraternally, he i> affiliated with the local
lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the
aft'airs of that orsani;?ation.
W. H. D.WY.
W. H. Davy, former mayor and one of the most substantial citizens
of Moorhead, was born in Bath, Ontario, Canada, June 19. 1844, a son of
William H. Davy and Sarah M. (Perry) Davy, both of whom were born
in Ontario, Canada. William H. Davy was a shipbuilder in Bath, Ontario,
and lived there practically all his life. He was the father of three children:
Sarah Minerva, Mary I'erry and W. H. Mr. Da\y, Sr., was a member
of the Episcopal church.
\\'. H. Davy was educated in the public schools of Bath. Ontario.
Canada, where he spent his early years. During the Civil \\'ar he came
to Chicago, Illinois, and li\ed there until the close of the war and then
returned to Canada. In 1869 he came ag.'iin to this country and located in
Duluth, Minnesota, where he remained for about three years, .\bout 1872
he came to Moorhead and spent one winter, and in the following year he
came here to live and has since made this his home. For the first three
or four years after coming here he was empkned as bookkeeper and ca.shier
for the firm of Brunes & Finkle, and also was agent for the American
Express Company. At that time express matter was carried by a stage line
running from Breckinridge by way of Moorhead, to Minneapolis, also
from Aloorhead to Vt. Gary. Following this employmerit Mr. Davy was for
several years engaged in the grocery Inisiness. Later he started in the grain,
flour, building-material and fuel business, in partnership with I*". Goodsell,
under the firm name of W. H. Davy & Company. After about eight or
nine years in that business Mr. Davy retired from active management and
left the business in the hands of Mr. Goodsell, his partner.
For the past thirty years Mr. Davy has been interested in farming and
has large land investments. He now owns about three sections of land in
Clay county and carries on farming on an extensive scale. His time for
the past eleven or twelve years has been mostly occupied in superintending
his farms. In 1914 he had a patch of potatoes within the citv limits, adjoin-
W. H. DAVY.
•: NEW YORK
A STOP.
TTLDEN F
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. II3
ing- the Normal Scliool grounds, on which was produced over fifteen thous-
and bushels of potatoes.
For the last twenty-five years ^Ir. Davy has spent most of his winters
in Florida or California and has thus been able to escape the rigor of Minne-
sota winters. He is among the wealthiest farmers in the state, yet he is very
unpretentious and li\es in ]\Ioorhead in a modest way. He is a member of
the Episcopal church of Moorhead and has served for many years as warden
in that church. He served several years as county commissioner of Clay
county, and was chairman of that board for several years. He served two
tenns as mayor of Moorhead.
Mr. Daw is one of the living pioneers of Moorhead and is still one of
the citizens of the town who is actively interested in public affairs.
ERNEST POEHLS.
Ernest Poehls, proprietor of a well-kept farm of two hundred and
sixty acres just north of the \ illage of Sabin, in Elmwood township, Clay
countv. former constable for that township and former supervisor of high-
ways in his district, was born in Scott county, Iowa, November 23, 1876,
son of Chris and Elizabeth ( Krabbenhoft) Poehls, who lx;came residents
of Clay county in 1883 and are still living, prominent and influential resi-
dents of Elmwood township.
Both Chris Poehls and his wife are of European birth, natives of
Schleswig-Holstein, who came to this country in 1866, settling with their
respective families in Scott county, Iowa, where they were married in 1868
and where they remained, engaged in farming, until the latter part of 1883,
when they came to Minnesota and established their home in Clay county,
arriving at their new home there on December 10 of that year. Chris Poehls
had bought a farm in Elmwood township, during the prexious summer, and
came well-equipped for successful farming. As he prospered in his opera-
tions, he graduallv added to his land holdings until now he is the owner
of eleven hundred and fifty-three acres of excellent land. Despite the fact
that he is now past seventy-five years of age, he is still hale and hearty and
continues to give his active attention to the general direction of his extensive
farming interests. During eight years of his residence in Iowa, Mr. Poehls
was supervisor of roads in liis home district, and, since taking up his resi-
(8a)
114 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
dence in ATinnesota, also has given considerable attention to general local
affairs, one of his active business connections being with the local telephone
company. He and his wife are acti\e members of tlie Lutheran church
and their children were reared in that faith. There were twelve of these
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth:
the others being: Eureka, Minnie, Henry, Emma, John, Laura (deceased),
Hulda, Fred (deceased), Emil, Lena and .\nna.
Ernest Poehls was but se\en years of age when he came to Minnesota
from Iowa with his parents in 1883, and he completed his schooling in the
Sabin schools. From the days of his boyhood, he was an active assistant
to his father and brothers in the labors of developing and improving the
li(5iue place in Elmwood township, and he remained at home, thus engaged,
until his marriage, in the fall of 1904. He then engaged in farming on
his own account, establishing his home on the farm on which he is still
living, in that same township, just north of Sabin, and where he and his
familv are \ery comfortably situated. Mr. Poehls is the owner of a well-
developed farm of two hundred and sixty acres, and has an excellent farm
]>lant. He has erected good Iniildings on his place and carries on his opera-
tions in up-to-date fashion. Upon taking possession of that farm, he planted
a good-sized grove which is now well developed, a very attractive feature
of his farm. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Poehls has given
considerable attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle and is successful
in this enterprise. He gives close attention to local civic affairs and has
served his community in the capacity of constable and as "road boss."
In the fall of 1904 Ernest Poehls was united in marriage to Mary
Mickelsen, who was born in the \icinity of her present home, in Elmwood
township, daughter of Jens and Sophia (Wright) Mickelsen, early settlers
in that neighborhood, the former of whom spent his last days there. Jens
Mickelsen was born in Denmark and came to this country in the days of
his young manhood. He came on out into the Northwest and for some time
was engaged as a freighter out of Fargo, hauling to points along the then
frontier as far north as one hundred and twenty miles and more. He mar-
ried, after coming to this country, and in 1879 homesteaded a quarter of a
section of land in Elmwood township. Clay county, where he established
his home and where he spent the remainder of his life, one of the sub
stantial and influential pioneers of that neighborhood. His widow is now
living at Sabin. The}- were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs.
Poehls was the first-born: the odiers being: \\'illiam, Andrew, Martin.
Matilda and George.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. II5
To Ernest and ilary (Alickelsen ) Poehls five children have been born;
Argan, Calvin, Harold, Ethel and Vivian. Mr. and Mrs. Poehls are mem-
bers of the Lutheran cliurclT and take a proper interest in church work, as
well as in other local good works and the general social activities of the
community, of which they have l)een residents since the days of their child-
hood, and which they have seen develop from its pioneer state to its present
high stage of development and cultivation.
WILLIAM H. FERRIS.
W'ilHam H. Ferris, the proprietor of a fine farm of five hundred and
sixty acres in Elmwood township. Clay county, and the owner also of a
tract of three quarters of a section of land down the river in Wilkin countv
in the neighborhood of Kent, anil long recognized as one of the most sub-
stantial fanners in the Sabin neighborhood, is a native of Ireland. He has
made his home on this side of the water since he was twelve or thirteen
years of age, and in Minnesota since 1880, having come down here froui
Canada in that year, and has therefore been a witness to, aud a particijiant
in, the development of this region since pioneer days. He was torn in
County Down, Ireland, Septeml)er 22, 1862, son of William aud Eliza Jane
(Beggs) Ferris, both born in that same county, and the former of whom died
when his son was a mere child. His widow later, about 1S65, emigrated
to Canada, where she married again, later coming to Minnesota and is now
uiaking her home at Minneapolis.
Having been left fatherless when little more than an infant, aud liis
mother later leaving Ireland, William H. Ferris was reared by his grand-
mother Beggs in County Down, and, in 1875, came with ber to this side
of the water, locating in Canada. In July, 1880, William II. b'erris came
down from Canada with his uncle. Henry Beggs, who homesteaded a (piartcr
of a section of land in Elmwood township. Clay county, aud there estab-
lished his home. William FI. Ferris gave his active assistance to the labors
of impro\-ing and developing that farm and, upon the death of liis uncle
in 1887, bought the place, and continued the work of improvement. In the
meantime, his grandmother Beggs had come down here from Canada aud
he. cared for her in her declining years, her death occurring at his home
.some years later. Mr. Ferris prospered in his farming o])erations and grad-
ually increased his land holdings until his home farm now comprises fwi:
Il6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, well inijiroved and i)rofital)Iy cul-
ti\ated. In addition to this farm, Mr. l-'erris is the owner of tin-ee-qiiarters
of a section in the neighhorhood of Kent, down in Wilkin county, and is
regarded as heint;- (|nite well circumstanced. lie is a niemher of the local
school board and is interested in the Xorlhw estern Hospital at Moorhead.
In No\enil)er. 1890. William H. |-"erris vv;is united in marriage to Nel-
lie Xolan, daughter of \\'illiam Xolan and wife, of Wilkin county, and to
this union five children have been horn. 'I'homas, Ma\, W illiam, Alfred and
Cecelia. The Ferrises have a \ery pleasant home and ha\e e\er taken an
interested pait in tlie general social affairs of the community. They are
members of the Catliolic clinrch at Sahin. ?\linncsota. and take a proper
interest in the jjarisli affairs.
DK. JA.MES S. UrRKlLL.
Dr. James S. liurrill a ])rogTessi\e \oung dentist of IJlen, Clay county,
was born in Keene township, Clay county, July 27. 1892, a son of H. R.
and Harriet (McDonald) lUirrill. the former of whom is now a well-known
dealer in farming imi)Iements in ilaulev, this county. 11 K. IJurrill was
liorn on September 19, JS58, in bitzw illiam, of the Granite state, a son
of Jacob Burrill. who was born in 1S18 a.nd died in 1891. The father of
James Burrill was educated, in the common schools of Keene, his native
state of Xew Hampshire, and in iX^fi bf liegan working in a store at Dana.
^Massachusetts. In the sj)ring of 1878, he came to Hawle\', Minnesota, and.
soon after arri\ing in Clay county, took up a homestead in Keene townshi])
whicli he developed into a good farm. He and Lewis Smith were among
the earliest pioneers in Keene township, breaking the first sod in this vicinit\-
with ox-teams. He remained on the old homestead until 1897. when he sold
the same and bought another farm in section 10, f)ne and one-half miles west
of the village of Hawley, where be lived until 1907. In that year, he moved
to Hawley and formed a partnership with Hans Rushfeldt in the machine
business. In 1912. his son, Robert, bought out the interest of Mr. Rush-
feldt. and formed a partnership with his fattier. The new firm is located in
a large and niodernly-e(|uipped implement store, where they handle an exten-
sive stock of all kinds of farming machinery. On April 19, 1885, H. R.
P.urrill was married to Harriet ]\IcDonald. a daughter of fohn McDonald,
CLAY AND NDRMAX COIXTIES, MINNESOTA
117
and to their union the following;- clnUh-cn have hcen liorn; Uobert H., wiio
is in business with his father: Dan \V., who married i-'annie Skinner and
\\h(j died Ijy accidental asphyxiation on April 28, kjK); Henr\'. Allen. i,ei)la.
an adopted child, and James S., the subject of this review.
James S. Burrill received his elementary education in the public schools
of Hawley, ij^radnating from the high scIiodI of that place in i()io. He then
entered the L'nixersity of Minnesota, where he spent one year, pursuing the
agricultural course of study. In the _\ears, 191 1 and \()\2. he was engaged
in teaching at Velva, Xorth Dakota, and in the fall of kjI-', he returned
to the state university and took a course in dentistry, which he com[)leted.
graduating in 191 3. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at
Hawle)-, remaining there until the spring of 1916, when he came to I'len
and opened an office as a dentist and has been here ever since.
Dr. Burrill was marrieil in 11)14 to Edna Rapp. daughter of Louis Rapp,
of Minneapolis. They have one child, Herman Robert James. 'Vhtv are
members of the Congregational church.
Dr. Burrill is a niemljer of the Masonic Lodge and of the Indeiiendent
Order of Odd h'ellow s. lieing \-ery wide-awake and progressive in his
profession. Dr. Bui-rill is a member of the Crookston District, the state and
the National denial associations. He is also a member of the Psi Phi dental
fraternity.
JOHN A. BACKMAN.
John .\. Backman, a farmer of Eglon township. Clay county, was born,
April 2, 185-', in Sweden. He is a son of Andrus and Kajsa (Svvenson) An-
derson, both natives of Sweden, where they grew up, married and established
their home on a farm, and there the father died at the early age of thirty-three
years, when his son John was only eight months old. The mother was mar-
ried a .second tiiue. her last husband being Andrew Berg-, who initnigrated
with her to .Vnierici in i<S8i. They located in Highland Grove township,
Cla\- count V, on a farm in section 36. and there the death of Mr. Berg
occurred in the summer of 1916, having survived his wife, the mother of the
subject of this sketch, whose death occurred there in the autumn of 1914 at
the advanced age of ninety-one years. She had only the one child, John A.,
bv her brst marriage, and four children by her second marriage, namely:
Gust, who is farming in Highland Grove township; Mary, deceased; Hannah,
wiir
1
\\
ll8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
a widow, living in Detroit. Minnesota: and Sarah, the wife of the chief of
police of Fargo, North Dakota.
Tames A. Backman spent his boyhood in Sweden where he attended the
common schools. He immigrated to America, when a young man, and first
ked two months on the Northern Pacific railroad in Minnesota, then three
nonths on the Stillwater railroad, which extended from W^hite Burr Lake to
Stillwater, this state, .\fter spending the winter of 1870-71 in St. Paul, he
went to St. Cloud, where he took the stage for Crowing, and from there
alked for three tlays to a place eighteen miles east of the present village of
I'criiam. where he worked until April, 1871. -\t that time he came to Becker
count\, locating on a farm, hut later settled on land in sections 6 and i, Eglon
township, Clav count), on his uncle's claim. Two of his uncles had come whh
him to America and had at once taken up claims in Minnesota. In 1876, Mr.
Backman homesteaded eighty acres in section 2. Kglon township. He later
l)OUght fort\ acres more in section 11. l-".gl<>n township, and subsequently
another fortv in section 3. Eglon township. He now owns a well-improved
farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He has continued to reside on the
same claim that he took up over forty years ago, and has made all improve-
ments, including a good home and numerous outbuildings, and is making a
success as a general farmer and stock raiser.
On January 16. 1880. Mr. Burns was married to Mary Xelson, who was
lioni in Sweden, January 24. 1861, and there she grew up and attended
.school. She came to .\mcrica in 1873 ^^'''i ^^^^ parents. .After her father had
worked in the mines of the iron district of Michigan for some time, he came
to Eglon township. Clay county. Minnesota, and established the family home
on a farm in section 8, where his death occurred in 1899. His widow is
still living in this townshi]) at the unusual age of ninety-seven years.
To John -\. Backman and wife, nine children were born, namely: Min-
nie. Mho is married and lives in \'ale, Minnesota: Ida, who works in Fargo.
North Dakota: Fretiof, who works in Lake Park, Minnesota; Matilda, who
lives at home and is a school teacher; Olga, living at Dilworth, Minnesota, in
the employ of the Northern Pacific railroad; Kail, who operates the home
farm : Hulda. Henr}' and August, all of whom are living on the home place
in Eglon township and assisting their parents with the general work on the
farm.
Politically. Mr. Backman is an Independent Democrat. He was a mem-
ber of the tow'-nship hoard of Eglon township for ten or eleven years, and was
clerk of the school hoard for a twelve-year period. He was one of the organ-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. HQ
izers of the Lake Parke Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is a member,
also formerly a trustee, of the Swedish Lutheran church, the plans for the
church edifice of which he drafted, the same being- accepted by the congre-
Q-ation.
GARFIELD H. RUSTAD.
Garfield H. Rustad, a well-known young attorney-at-law, with offices at
Moorhead, city attorney there and former president of the Moorhead Com-
mercial Club, was born in the neighboring state of North Dakota, but has
lived in Moorhead since the days of his I)oyhood. He was born at Larimore,
North Dakota, in 1887, son of August J. and Thea (Thorson) Rustad, who
later became residents of Moorhead, where their last days were spent.
August J. Rustad was born in the kingdom of Norway and lived there
until he was grown, when he came to this county and located in Larimore,
North Dakota, where he presently became engaged in the clothing business,
t-emaining there for some years, at the end of which time he moved to Grand
<"orks, in that same state, engaging there in the same line of business, after-
vvard "coming over into Minnesota and locating at Moorhead, where he
engaged in business and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their
lives. His wife's parents, Ole Thorson and wife, also spent their last days
in Moorhead, at which place they had settled shortly after the laying out of
tlie town, having located there straightway upon their arrival in this country
fmni Norway, of which country they were natives. Ole Thorson was
engaged in the fiour-milling business at Moorhead and was one of the best-
known and most active among the pioneer residents of that city. He died
about fifteen years after locating there. August J. Rustad and wife were the
])arents of three sons, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born,
tlie others being Oscar and Fred.
Garfield H. Rustad was but a child when his parents located at Moor-
liead and he finished his course in the common schools there. Upon gradu-
ating from the high school at that place in 1905 he entered the law depart-
ment of the UniversitN of Minnesota and was graduated from that institu-
tion in igo8, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. For two years after his
adinission to the bar Mr. Rustad was engaged in the ofifice of the county
attorney at Moorhead, N. I. Johnson being county attorney at that time, and
since then has been maintaining an ofifice of his own and has acquired a fine
practice. In 1911 Mr. Rustad was elected city attorney and has since been
I20 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
serving in that capacity, giving his earnest attention to local civic affairs. He '
also has given his close personal attention to the general affairs of his home
town and during the year 1916 served as president of the Moorhead Com-
mercial Cluh. doing much in that time to promote the general interests of
the city.
On January 1. 1Q13, Garfield H. Kustad was united in marriage to Agnes
E. Aladsen, of Fargo. JNIr. and Mrs. Rustad are members of the Episcopal
church and take a warm interest in the general good works of their home
town. Mr. Rustad is a ^klason and a member of the local lodges of the
Knights of Pythias, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of the
Ancient Order of United \\'orkinen and of the Royal League, and in the
affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest.
JOHN MARTI I.
John Marth, well-known and well-to-do retired farmer and an honored
veteran of the Civil War, throughout which he had seen much service, was
liorn in Germany, but has been a resident of this country for sixty years,
having come tn the United States in 1857. He was born on June 6, 1837,
the only son of George and Sophia (Hohman) Marth. also born in the
Fatherland and wiio spent all their lives in that country.
George Marth was born in Germany in February, 1793. and was edu-
cated in the schools of his nati\c land, where he followed the occupation of
a farmer during all his active years. He died in the old country in 1876.
having reached the advanced age of eight\-three years. He was twice mar-
ried, his second wife being Sophia Hohman. who was born in Germany in
1814, and who died at the earh- age of twent\-ninc vears, in 1843. They
were the jjarents of two children. F,lizal)eth Keiser, who lives in Delano.
Minnesota, and John, the subject of this sketch.
John Marth was educated in the schools of (jerman\- and was reared on
his father's farm, where he helped in the agricultural labors up to the age of
nineteen, when he immigrated to .\merica. arriving in this country in 1857.
He engaged in farming, at which he contiinied for a few years, and .some
six months after the Civil War l)egan. he enlisted on October 4, 1861, and
served to the end of the war. He enlisted at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, and
saw service in the battle of Shiloh and at the siege of Corinth, at the end of
which engagement he followed General Price through Tennessee and Mem-
MR. AND MRS. JOHN MARTH.
CLAY AXD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 121
phis. He was also at tlie battle and siege of \'icksburg. He re-enlisted at
the end of the first term and was with Sherman's army on the march to the
sea. At the end uf the conflict between the states he was honorably dis-
charged at Ft. SneJling on Jnne i, 1865. having served three years and nine
months on beliaif of tlie Union cause. He was in ten battles and was never
captured, nor did he receive any wound.
Following his discharge from the army, Mr. Martii engaged in the mer-
cantile business in Wright county, this state, and continued in same until
1877, when he mo\-ed to Barnesville, Clay county, and Iniilt a store and
stocked it with a full line of general merchandise, his venture in this line
proving very successful. In ic)o8 he soid out tlie stock, but still retains the
ownershi]) of the Iniilding. In 1877 li<^ had homesteaded a quarter section
of land in section 18, Humboldt township, and continued to operate it for
twenty-one years, selling out in 1899. About 1891 lie bought a quarter
section in section 18, Barnesville township, which he still rclains. and is now
the owner of six hundred and eighty acres in all. Mr. Marth carried out
many Aaluable improxements on his holdings and during his active life on
tlie land be was regarded as one of the most .substantial farmers in that part
of the township.
Tn June, 1867, John .\larth was united in marriage to Wilhelmina
Kleinent, who was born in (iermany on b'ebruary 15. 1851, and who came to
America four years later, in 1855. The marriage took i)lace in Wright
count}', .Minnesota, and the following children w^ere born: Mrs. Mathilda
Englis, deceased : Sophia, at home : Amanda, deceased ; John, who is now
managing his father's farming interests; Rosa, a clerk at Frazee, Minnesota,
antl Mrs. .\lvina Partridge, who lives at Dodge Center, this state. The
senior John Marth. notwithstanding his extensive mercantile and land opera-
tions, found time to devote to matters connected with the civic affairs of the
township. He was president of the townshi]) Ijoard of the village of Barnes-
ville for several \ears, and at a later time, when the i)lace was incorporated,
he was alderman of the cit> of Barnesville, and in these representative jiosi-
tions he gave general satisfaction to the public. He is a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic and in that organization continues to take a warm in-
terest. Mr. Marth is now living retired at Barnesville. and has reached ten
years beyond the allotted span of three-score and ten years, still vigorous in
mind and body.
The junior John Marth is nc^w carrying on the farming operations
since his father's retirement. He had been living in Canada, where he was
engaged in farming, and sold his land there in 1916 and returned to the old
122 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
farm, which he is now managing very successfully. He carries on general
farming and raises mule-foot hogs, and is doing \ery well. He was mar-
ried to Ida Nelson on December 28. 1898, and the\- are parents of one child,
a daughter, Winifred, now three years old.
An interesting item in connection witli the Alartli fanuly on tiie female
side is worth recortling. Rosalia Ziel)erth, grandmother of Wilhelniina
Klement. who became the wife of John Alarth. Sr., was the third white
woman to cross Crow river from Wright county, .Minnesota.
]OHN OSS.
John Oss, an in\entor now living in Hitterdal. Clay county, was born
in Norderhow, Ringerike, X(jrway, September -'3, 1845, a son of Nels Paul-
son and Kari Ellinger, both natives of Norway. The father was a farmer
in Norway and spent his entire life in that country. He was the father of
five children, namely: Paul. .Martin. Thomas, John, the subject of this
review, and Nels.
John Oss. who was a sergeant in the Norwegian army, received there
his education, passing his examination in the higher studies with honors.
In 1882, he came to America and located in .\tlanla township, Becker
county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming. In 1886, he came to Keene
township, Clay county, and took up a homestead consisting of one hundred
and sixty acres, where he built a house and other Iniildings, making this
home until about i8q0. In that year he returned to .Atlanta township, Becker
county. Minnesota, and bought a farm of eighty acres, which he later sold.
and then bought another tract of one hundred and sixty acres in the same
township. He lived on this farm and engaged in general farming until 1914.
when he sold out and removed to Hitterdal, Clay county, where he has since
resided.
For fourteen Aears, while living in Becker county. Mr. Oss was county
surveyor, and, being of an in\entive turn of mind, worked out several
improvements on surveyors' leveling rods and computing machines, at Ids
spare time. He was for twenty years a member of the school board, and for
two years assessor of Atlanta township. While living in Keene township,
Clay county, he serxed as chairman of the school board of that township,
also as constable for a time, and as justice of the peace. Mr. Oss was t)ne
of the organizers of the Clay County Bank, of Hitterdal, of which he has
CLAY AND NOUMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I23
l)een a trustee since its org-anization. He is a member of the Synod Lutheran
church, of whicli lie was for three years trustee before becoming treasurer,
which office he now holds.
Before coming to America, Mr. Oss was sergeant in the Norwegian
armv which he entered in 1867. serving until 1872. After leaving the
arm\-, he went to Christiania, Norway, where he was empoyed for eight
years as superintendent of a manufacturing plant, where many kinds of
machinerx', tools, stoves, and the hke were manufactured. Because his health
was failing he was advised by his physician to gi\e up inside work and he
quit the factory. He then decided to come to America, where there was
larger opportunity fnr outdoor work.
John Oss was united in marriage to Johanna Wenner, and to this union
six children were horn, namel\- : Oscar, Ra)-, Jennie, who married Anton
Melbye: Tlieoclore, Helga. the wife of Julius Schloesser : Alfred, the post-
master at Hitterdal, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Oss. being members of the Synod Lutheran church, have
reared their children according to the jjrecepts of this creed.
JOHN BURRILL.
One of the well-reniembered and highly esteemed citizens of Hawley,
('la\ count\. during a past generation was the late John Burrill. He was
born at \i)l)ott. Maine, tm August 2, 1842, a son of Jacob and Rachael (Ben-
nett ) r.urrill. who are mentioned on other pages of this volume.
hihn lUirrill spent a part of his boyhood in his native town, where he
attended the public schools, but before he had reached man's estate, he
reuKived with his parents to I'raminghani, Massachusetts, and later to Fitz-
willi.im. New Hampshire, where he was employed in a woodenware factory.
In the spring of 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Second New Hampshire
\"olunteer Infantrv, l)eing the first man from his county to enlist in the three-
year service. At the expiration of his first term of enlistment, he re-enlisted
for the duration of the war. a jjcriod of one year. He took part
in many of the leading battles of the Civil War, including Bull Run
(first and sec<Mnl). Fredericksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg, siege of Rich-
moud. and many others, being present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
\'irginia. Soon, thereafter, he was detailed as a guard. He had previousl\'
been an orderlv for Gen. Joe Hooker, and he had the honor of escorting Pres-
124
CLAY AND XOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA.
C)
ident Lincoln from the Ijoat-landing at Fredericksburg to General Hooker's
head(iuarters on one occasion, when the chief executive paid the commander
f the .\rmy of the Potomac a visit. In all, Mr. Burrill took part in about
thirty battles and skirmishes. He was a lirave and efficient soldier for the
Union. Other battles in which he took part were those of Cold Harbor, siege
of ^'orktown, Williamsburg, siege of I'etersburg and those of the Peninsular
campaign. The dates of his enlistment were as follows: April 25, 1861 ; one
uKuitli liter. May 31. 1861. when he enlisted for three years in Company A.
-Second Xew Hampsliire \'olunteer Infantry, and on February i. 1865. when
he enlisted a third time, in Company C, of his old re.giment.
After the war J(jhn P.urrill went tn .St. John!)erry. \'ermont, and worked
a \ear in ;i scale factory, then returned to bitzwilliam, Xew Hampshire, and
l)oupht a saw mill. In 1870 be moved to Iowa, where he remained until 1872.
then went to Minneapolis. Minnesota, and later moved to Brainard, this
state. He came to Hawley in iH;;,. and helped build the present Northern
Pacific depot. He located on a homestead in section 26, Cromwell town-
siiip, Clav countv. at this time, and about 1878 he moved from his farm in
1887. In 1880. he moved to Superior, this state, where he remained one
year, and tlien returned to Hawley. li\ ing there until his death, which occurred
on June 12, 1906.
Mr. Burrill was married in i8()() to i.ewellyn I't^-istall, who died in 1873.
leaving three children, (lertrude. who married .\rthur ShoUey and lives in
Minneapolis; Mabel, the wife of I.. D. Libbey, a farmer of Honey Creek.
Wisconsin, and Allen F., who served in the Spanish-American War as a
memljer of Companv C. Thirteenth Minnesota N'olunteer Infantry, and also
in the Philippine W ar. and who married Daisy I'ryor. after which he moved
to luigene. Oregon, where he died.
John Burrill married for his second wife Jane Colborn, and two children
were born to them, namely: Paul C, who married Hilda Andrea and is a
lieutenant in the Minnesota Xational (iuard, and Margaret, who makes her
home in Minneapolis.
John Burrill was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Po.st at
Hawley. of which he was commander at the time of his death. He belonged
to the Masonic Lodge. In his early days here he served on the school board
and for many years was justice of the peace at Hawley. He gave eminent
satisfaction as a public servant, being conscientious, loyal and painstaking;
prompt and obliging. He was a great student of history and was a well-
informed man along general lines.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. IJ5
DICK MEYER.
Dick .Me\er, a well-kiuiwn and siil>stantial farmer of Humboldt town-
shi|), owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 2 and 3,
that township, at present township treasurer and in other ways connected with
the public life of Humboldt township, is a native of Germany, born in that
country in July, i860, but has been living in America since 1882. He is the
son (if Herre and Marv ( Hein ) Meyer, natives of Germany and who lived
and died in that country.
iierre Mever was hurn in (jermany in 183 1 and was educated in the
schools of that country. R\- occupation he was a farmer and continued thus
engaged throughout Iiis active life, his death taking place in 1917, at the
advanced age of cightv-six years. The intimation of his father's death
reached his son, Dick, the subject <>f this sketch, through a newspaper notice.
His wife, Mary Hein, was also Ijorn in the fatherland and spent all her life
in lier native land, her death occurring in 1907, having reached seventy-three
\ears of age. To Iierre Meyer and wife the following children were born:
Hey, a farmer, living in Germany; Trenty, married and living in Germany;
Dick, living in Humboldt township; Volke (i) deceased, and Volke (2),
.also deceased.
Dick Meyer recei\cd a sound education in the excellent schools of Ger-
m.anv and was reared on liis father's place, where he assisted in the labors
of developing the farm. At the age of twenty-two, in i88j, he immigrated
to tlie United States, liis lir^t place of residence in this country being Madison
countv, Illinois, where he worked on farms for some years. In 1901 Mr.
Mewr moved to ("lay county and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres of prime land in section J. lIuml)ol(lt townshi]). the farm on which he
now lives. He is also the owner of another one hundred and sixty acres in
section 3, in the same townshi]). He carries on general farming and since
the commencement of his oiieratious he has been most successful, everything
al)out his two tracts of laml l>eing in excellent condition. The dwelling
house in which Mr. Meyer and his family reside was erected before he be-
came the owner of the farm, but all the other buildings, including a new barn,
were ])ut u]) by him. His place is well improved and he is generally regarded
as one of the substantial and progressive farmers in the township, operating
his place according to modern methods of agriculture. He plants about
I'orly-live acres of jiotatoes, the yield to the acre being well up to the average
for the district.
126 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Tn 1 89 1 Dick Meyer was united in marriage to Cena Johnson, who was
lioni in Christian county. Illinois, in 1869. the marriage taking place in Iowa.
They are the parents of the following children : Herman, John. Mary, Cena
and Kattie. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer take a proper interest in the affairs of the
community in which they reside, helpful factors in the promotion of all
causes ha\ing for their object the common good of neighborhood and town-
ship. Mr. Merer gives a good citizen's attention to public affairs and is now
serving as township treasurer, filling the office with a marked degree of abil-
itv. He also was a director on the district school board for six years, his
attention to educational matters during that period being unremitting.
HAXS I. ULLF'tlCH.
o
Hans J. L'llricli, wcll-kndvvn grain buyer at the \illage of Downer,
and clerk of the to\vns]iii> of Elkton, Clay county, was born in Germany,
but has been a resident of this country since he was ten years of age, and
f Minnesota since 1885. He was born on October 27, 1870, son of Hans
and Wibv (Glohe) Ullrich, also natives of Germany, who came to the
United States with their family in 1880 and settled in Boone county. Iowa.
Five years later they came to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Martin
county, and there Mrs. Ullrich spent her last days. Some time after his
wife's death. Hans Ullrich, Sr., mo\ed to Elkton township. Clay county,
where he was engaged in farming until his death. He took an active inter-
est in local ci\ic aft'airs and was ser\ing as a member of the board of
township supervisors at the time of his death. He and his wife were mem-
bers of the Lutheran church and tiieir children were reared in that faith.
There were fi\e of these children, all of whom ;ire living, the suliject of
this sketcli having three brothers. Henry. Julm and Marcus, and a sister.
Anna.
Having Iieen Init a boy when he came to ihis country with his parents
in 1880, Hans J. L'llricli completed his schooling in the schools of Iowa
and Martin county, Minnesota, where he began farming on his own account.
He remained there until the fall of 1899. when he came up into the Red
River country, where he has e\er since made his home, living in Downer
and vicinity. For a time after coming here, he was engaged in farm labor
and then for five years was engaged as a clerk in a store at Downer, work-
ing first for John Seini and later for Mrs. Hawkins, the latter having sue-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 12/
ceeded the former in the proprietorship of tlie store. Mr. Ullricli then was
engaged by the Hennepin Grain Company as buyer at Downer and, after
two years of connection with that concern, was employed Ijy the St. Anthony
& Dakota Grain Company as buyer in the same place and has ever since
been thus engaged, one of the best-known grain men in that part of the
country. Mr. Ullrich is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres at
Downer, a part of the townsite hax'ing been laid out on his place. In addi-
tion to his activities as a grain Ixiyer, he gives his personal attention to the
management of his farm. He also handles the local agency for the Fargo
Implement Company. Ever since coming to this section, Mr. Ulrich has
given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, having served for two
terms as justice of the peace in Rlkton townshi]) and for the past eight
years as clerk of the same.
In 191 2, Hans J. Ullricli was united in marriage to Lydia .\. Austin,
who was born in Clay county, daughter of C. W. Austin and wife, and to
this union two children ha\e been born, John Arthur and Myrtle Anna.
Mr. and Mrs. Ullrich are members of the Lutheran church, the former being
one of the organizers of the local congregation of that rluirch. in the affairs
of which he and his wife take a warm interest.
FREDEf^ICK W. ALTENBERND.
Frederick W. Altenhernd, a well-known and substantial farmer of the
southern part of Clay county and the proprietor of a fine place of four
hundred and eight acres in Elmwood township, where he and his family are
very comfortably situated, is a native of Kansas, Irarn on a pioneer farm
in Douglas county, that state, on January 4, 1871. He is a son of William
and Katie (Hill) Alten1)ernd, natives of Germany, the former of whom
came to this country in r80o. he then being twenty-seven years of age, and
the latter of whom came to .America with her parents \\hen she was eight
years of age. Both are now deceased. 'I'hey were the parents of eiglit
children.
Reared on the home farm in the neighborhood of Lawrence, Kansas,
Frederick \V. Altenhernd received his schooling in the public schools of
that city and in the business college there. Not long after leaving, he came
up here into the Red River country and bought a farm of two hundred and
forty acres in Elmwood township. Clay county, and started in to improve
Ij8 clay and NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
and develop the same, establishing his permanent home diere after his mar-
riage in 1901. Mr. .\ltenbernd has done well in his farming oi)erations.
and has increased his original holdings nntil now he is the owner of a fine
place of four hundred and eighty acres. He is now regarded as one of the
most securely established farmers in that section of the county, his place
being well improved and profitably cultivated. In addition to his general
farming, he has, of late )ears, gone somewhat extensively into potato rais-
ing and has done well in that line, having discovered, along with many
other thoughtful agriculturists hereabout, that potatoes constitute one of
the most profitable crops raised in the Red River valley.
In 1901, Frederick W. Altenbernd was united in marriage to Wilhelmiua
Schroeder, who was born in Elmwood township, daughter of Henry
Schroeder and wife, pioneers of Clay county, further and fitting mention
of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children
ha\-e been born, sons both, Carl and Clarence. ^Ir. and Mrs. Altenbernd
are members of the German Lutheran church and give proper attention to
the various beneficences of the same, as well as to the general good works
and social affairs of the community in which they live, and are doing well
their part in advancing the neighborhood's common welfare.
I'ROF. II. R. i;d\\ards.
Prof. H. R. Julwards. .superintendent of the Moorhead city schools,
past president of the Minnesota .State .Vssociation of School Superintend-
ents, an acti\e memijer of the National Education Association for more than
twentv vears and for years one oi Minnesota's best-known and most influ-
ential schoolmen, is a nati\e of the great ICmpire state, but has been a resi-
dent of Minnesota, actively engaged in school work here, for nearly a quar-
ter of a century. He was born in the village of Alfred, in Allegany county.
New York, Decemljer i. 1870, son of Joseph and Harriet fW^lliams)
Edwards, both natives of that same state, who spent all their lives there.
Joseph Edwards was a substantial miller and landowner and a man of
influence in his community, tie and his wife were members of the Baptist
church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of
these children, all of whom grew to maturity and of whom the subject of
this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Horace G., .Allison
TKOF. II. ];. KUWAKDS.
-5- up, NEV_V
AlM
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 29
]., Elsvvorth J., William S., Lillian M. and Lewis D. Professor Edwards is
of distinguished lineage both on the paternal side and on the maternal side,
being a lineal descendant of Jonathan Edwards, the great America:i divine,
theologian, metaphysician and early president of Princeton College, and of
Roger Williams, Welsh clergyman and Puritan, who fled from England to
escape persecution and settled in New England in the early days of the Pil-
grim colony, where he hoped to enjoy the religious freedom he was denied
at home.
Reared at his home village of Alfred, H. R. Edwards spent his youth
as an assistant in the labors of his father's mill and farm, meanwhile giving
careful attention to his studies, and after his graduation from the Alfred
high school entered the university at that place and was graduated from the
same in 1894. Upon receiving his diploma Professor Edwards entered at
once upon his long and useful career as an educator and has since taken post-
graduate work in the University of Wisconsin and in the University of Min-
nesota. He began his high-school work in Minnesota in the fall of 1895
antl has ever since been actively engaged in school work in this state, before
entering upon his present position of superintendent of city schools at Moor-
lead in 1909 having had successive connection with the schools at Wheaton,
.t Browns Valley, at Redwood Ealls, at Worthington and at Morris. It was
in 1909 that he accepted the position of superintendent of schools at Moor-
head and he has been retained in that useful and influential position ever
since. During' the past fifteen years Professor Exiwards has occupied his
summers as a teacher in the State Normal Schools at Mankato and at Moor-
head and has long been one of the best-known schoolmen in Minnesota. For
the past twenty-one vears he has Iteen a member of the National Education
Association and has attended most of the meetings of superintendents. In
1975 he was the president of the Minnesota State Association of School
Superintendents. For vears he has taken an active interest in the delibera-
tions of this association and in tlie general school work of the state, and was
a memljcr of the state high-school committee that formulated the present
high-school curriculum in use in this state.
In' 1894. the year of his graduation from the university. Professor
Edwards was united in marriage to Harriet M. Potter, of Albion, Wisconsin,
and has two children, Carrol and Helen. Professor and Mrs. Edwards are
members of the Baptist church and take an active interest in the various
beneficences of the same, as well as in the general social and cultural activ-
(9a)
I^O CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ities of the comnniniity in which they live. Professor Edwards is a member
of the local lodges of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the
Knights of Pythias and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same and
is an officer in llie Ro^al League.
JOHN McGRATH.
John McGrath, former member of the Legislature, former mayor of
Barnesville, city treasurer for several years and in otiier ways identified
with public affairs, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, born in Outaga-
mie county, on Octol^er 20, 1857. He is a .son of Dennis and Ellen (Cashman)
McGrath, both of whom were natives of Ireland, and who came to this
country in 1847 — the year of the great immigration from that country —
and soon located in Wisconsin.
Shortly after his arrival in Wisconsin, Dennis McGrath settled in
Outagamie countw and commenced ojjcrations as a farmer, success attending
his efforts from the very l)eginning. He continued thus engaged until iS()7.
when the family moxed to near Owatona. Steele county, Minnesota, where
he bought a farm and operated the same for a short time only, death claim-
ing him that same year. His wife survived him several years. Dennis
and Ellen (Cashman) McGrath were the parents of eight children as fol-
low: Alice, Mary Anna, Thomas. John, the subject of this sketch; Johanna.
D. F., Michael and Edward. Dennis McGrath and his wife were earnest
memljers of the Catholic church, always interested in its good works, and
their children were reared in the same faith.
John McGrath was ten years old when his parents left Wisconsin and
came to Steele county, Minnesota, and he was educated in the public schools
of that county. At the age of twenty-two, in 1879, he came to Barnesville.
Clay county, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Barnes-
\ille township. .\t the time he settled here there was no town where the
present village is located, and the place at the time Mr. McGrath. settled
there, consisted of two or three stores. He continued to reside on his home-
stead for about two years, at the end of which time he came to Barnesville.
where lie has since li\ed. His first residence was northwest of what is
now the main portion of Barnesville.
On settling in Barnesville John McGrath started in the butcher business
and was engaged in that branch of work up to 1909, meeting with encourag-
CLAY AXD NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I^I
ing- success during the long period he was in that trade. In addition therein.
al)out 1885, he opened up an ini])lement and harness Ijusiness, in which lie
was equally successful and which he cnntinued to operate until igOQ, when he
disposed of the harness branch of his store. He still conducts the imple-
ment department which he first opened in 1885, being thus one of the oldest
merchants in tli;it branch of commercial enterprise in Clay countv, and
from the operations of which he has reaped a handsome cnmpetency.
On September i, 1885. John AIcGrath was united in marriage to Alice
Brislaim. formerl\- a resident of Steele county, this state. Mr. and Mrs.
McGrath are the parents of seven children, namely : F"rances, .Mice, Cecilia,
Luc\\ Ruth, John and Harold Robert. The McGrath family are mem-
bers of the Catholic church and are warm supporters of all the good works
and societies attached to the church. They take an active interest in the
affairs of the C( immunity and are earnest advocates of all movements
designed to further the general welfare of the township and county.
.Mr. McGrath is a supporter of the Republican party and was returned by
the votes of that party to the Le.gislature, in which he served for one term,
giving general satisfaction in that important office to the interests he repre-
sented. He was elected ma\or of Trlarnesville and served the jniblic very
acceptably for a period r)f six years, during which period many improvements
of an important character were carried out. Mr. McGrath was elected to
the office of treasurer and occupied that responsible ofifice for the long tern?
of thirteen vears — a period during which he enjoyed the undiminished con-
fidence of the public. i''or many years he was a member of the local council
and is now serving as justice of the peace in and for the Barnesville town-
ship. Mr. McGrath holds membership in the Knights of Columbus and in
the affairs of that popular order takes a warm interest.
H. R. BURRILL.
H. R. Burriil, dealer in farming implements at Hawley, Clay county,
was born on September 19, 1838, in Fitzwilliam, Xew Hampshire, a son
of Jacob Burriil, who was born in 1818 and died in iSqi. He was edu-
cated in the common schools of his native town, and at Keene, New Hamp-
shire, until 1876. After that, he worked in a store at Hana. .Mas.saciiusetts.
In the spring of 1878, he came to Hawley, Minnesota, arriving in Clay
county on April 19th. Fie took up a homestead in Keene township, which
132 Cl.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
lie developed into a good farm. He and Lewis Smith were among the
earliest pioneers there, hreaking the first sod in Keen township, using oxen
fur the pvn-pose. Hawley, twelve miles away, w^as their nearest base of sup-
jilies. They continued farming until 1897 when they sold out. While living
in that township, Air. llurrill was the first treasurer of school district Xo.
30, which office he held many years until a new district was formed out of
part of the old. In 1897, he bought a farm in section 10, Hawley town-
ship, one and one-half miles west of the village of Hawley, and there
he lived until 1907. in which year he moved to Hawley and formed a part-
nership with Hans Rushfeldt in the machine business. In 1912. he formed
a partnership with his son Robert, who bought out the interest of Mr.
Rushfeldt, the new firm also taking over the Andrew Johnson machine
business. They have a large and well-eciuipped store and handle an exten-
sive stock of farming implements, making a specialty of the John Deere
machinery, and they now carry on a large and constantly growing trade
with the surrounding country.
Mr. Burrill was married on April 19, 1885, to Harriet McDonald, a
daughter of John McDonald, and to their union the follow-ing children have
been bom: Robert H., who is in business with his father at Hawley; Dan
\\'., who married b'annie Skinner, and who died by being accidentally suffo-
cated by gas on April 28, 1916; James, who married Edna Rapp, and is
a dentist at Ulen, Minnesota; Henry, Allen, and Leola, an adopted child.
Politically, H. R. Burrill is a Democrat. He has served three terms
as a member of the Hawley school board, and is, at this writing, a member
of the \illage council. He belongs to the Congregational church.
Robert H. P>urrill, son of H. R. Burrill and partner in business with
his father at Hawley. was l;oni, January 24. 1888, at Hawley, where he
was reared and received his education in the public schools, graduating
from the high school. In 1907, he went to Minneapolis and found employ-
ment with the Deere & Weber Implement Company, where he learned the
\arious phases of the farming machinery business. He was alert, faithful
and courteous and gave his employers eminent satisfaction. In the spring
of 1910, he returned to Hawley and worked for his father-in-law, in the
store of the Andrew Johnson Company until the spring of 1912, when he
formed a partnershij) with his father, as related in a preceding paragraph
in this sketch. He has remained here in the farming implement business
which has steadily grown until it has now assumed vast proportions.
Robert H. Burrill was married to Laura Johnson, a daughter of Andrew
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1^3
Johnson and wife, well-known citizens of Hawley, where Air. Johnson lias
long been a leading merchant. To Robert H. Burrill and wife three chil-
dren have been born, namely: Robert H., Jr., Laton Herman, and Henry
Willard.
TAMES CONNELLY.
James Connell)-. (Hie of the best known and most progressive young
farmers in the central western part of Clay county and who, in association
with his elder brother, William Connelly, is farming the old Patrick Con-
nellv farm in Glyndon township, is a native son of this county and has lived
here all his life. He was born on what is now known as the Wright farm,
in the vicinity of Moorhead, in Moorhead township. May 2, 1884, son of
Patrick and Bridget (Lundy) Connelly, natives of County Monaghan, Ire-
land, who became pioneers of Clay county, settling here in 1880, and fur-
ther and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Patrick
Connelly was a substantial and influential pioneer citizen, and for years
served as a member of the board of supervisors of Glyndon township, in
which he established his home three or four years after coming here and
where he spent his last days. His widow is still living on the home place.
They were the parents of three sons, William and James Connelly having a
brother, John Connelly, also a Glyndon township farmer, a biographical
sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume.
Reared on the home place in Glyndon township, to which his parents
moved from Moorhead township when he was but an infant, James Con-
nellv completed his schooling in the public schools at Moorhead and early
became a practical farmer. At the age of fourteen he became fireman in a
threshing crew and at seventeen years of age qualified as an engineer, in
which position he acted for five years or more during the threshing seasons.
Since the death of their father, he and his elder brother, William, have been
operating the home place and have done well. They also own and operate
a threshing outfit and have a wide ac(iuaintance throughout the field of then-
operations. The Connelly farm consists of two hundred and forty acres
of excellent land and the brothers have one of the best-equipped farm
plants in that part of the county. William Connell}-. who is unmarried, was
born in 1877, in Pennsylvania, and was but three years of age when his par-
ents moved from that state to Minnesota, where he has ever since lived,
making his home on the home place in Glyndon township, with the exception
134 C],AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of the period spent in "proving- up" a liomestead tract of a lialf section of land
in tlie vicinity oi ?^Iiles City, Montana. He is the eldest of the three Con-
nell\' brothers and his judg;inent is highly \alued h}' them.
On Deceni1)er g. 19 14, James Connelly was united in marriag^e to
Amanda Hetn-ietta Kuehl, who was hurn in the neitjhboring township of
Jilmwood, daugliter of I'red Kuehl and wife, pioneers of that section of
Cla\ county, the latter of whom died suddenly on March 4, 191 7, at Sabin,
Minnesota, at the age of fifty-nine )ears. He was of German ancestry, and
was the father of ten children, si.x girls and four box s. Mr. and ]\frs. Janie^
Connellv are the ])arents of one child, a son. Raymond. Thev are members
of the Catholic church and have e\er taken an active interest in ])arish
affairs, liberal contributors to the work of the same and helpful in other
ways in advancing the good works of the ncighhorliood. in which they have
been residents since pioneer days.
ORRIS OLIN'ER.
Orris Oliver was. born in Grant county. Wisconsin. July 5, 1873. a son
"f Douglas and Sarah ( Fitzgerald) Oliver, the former a native of Ten-
nessee and the latter (jf Grant countv. Wisconsin. Douglas Oliver came to
firani county. Wisconsin, when a }Oung man and there was interested in
a woolen and flour mill, and also was engaged in the mercantile and farm-
ing business. About 1879, he removed to Kansas, where he conducted a
large farm, on wiiich he engaged in general extensive agriculture. He
died at Junction City. Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Oliver were born the fol-
lowing children: Charles R.. Dvvight. Grant, Hattie. Fred, and Orris, the
subject of this review. Mrs. Oliver, who was a devoted member of the
Methodist Episcojjal church, survived her husband a few years, her death
occurring also at Junction City.
Orris Oliver was educated in the public schools at Kansas, and later
took a Inisiness course in a school at Fargo, North Dakota. In 1893, he
entered the Barnesville bank :is a bookkeeper, and on December i, 1894, he
entered the law office of Charles S. Marden, at Barnesville. to take charge
of the real estate department in which that office was largely engaged. In
1897, he went to the Klondyke, where he remained for two years, and
after returning to Minnesota in 1899, 'le located at Minneapolis, where he
was cni])loyed until T901 with a threshing machine companx'. Then he
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 135
returned to Barnesville and again took charge of the real estate business
in the office of Charles S. Marden. In 1910, on Mr. Marden's removal to
Moorhead. the Red River Farm and Loan Company was organized in
Barnesville to handle the real estate business of the community, and Mr.
Oliver took charge of the enterprise and has continued in this business
since.
Air. Oliver was married to Minnie G. Cornish in 1902, and to this
union three children have I)een born: Charles D., Frank C, and Lew D.
Mr. Oliver's fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic, the Knights of
Pythias and the Woodmen lodges. He has served on the city council two
terms and is at present serving his second term as a meml>er of the school
lioard.
.ARTHUR L. FOBES.
-Vrthur L. Fobes, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers of
Ehnwood township, Clay county, and the proprietor there of a fine farm of
three hundred and twenty acres, was born on a farm in the vicinity of
Racine, in Racine county, Wisconsin, January 21, 1866, son of Orange and
Cxnthia (Morse) Fobes, natives of the state of Ohio. His parents settled
in Wisconsin about 1S65. Init later moved to Iowa, where the former spent
his last days and where the latter is still living.
Orange l'"nl)es was a farmer through life. He was of old Colonial and
of Revolutionary descent and his wife was descended from "Mayflower"
stock. He and his wife located in Racine county, Wisconsin, about 1865,
and remained there until 1876, when they moved to Grundy county, Iowa,
where the former died in 1881. His widow is now living' in Butler county,
Iowa. They were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of
this sketch, who is the second in order of birth, being Homer L. ; Stiles,
who died in infancv: Clarence M. and Clara E., twins, and one other, who
died in infancv.
.\rthur L. Folies was aljout twelve years of age when his parents
moved from Wisconsin to Iowa, and he completed his schooling in the latter
state. He began farming on his own account in Butler county, Iowa,
where lie was married in i8q2, and continued to reside until 1902, when he
came u]) into Minnesota and bought the farm on which he is now living,
a half section in Elmwood township, Clay county. He has since made this
his ])lace of residence, he and his family being very comfortably situated
136 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
there. In addition to his general farming interests, Mr. Fobes has given
considerable attention to other interests and is president of the Home
Farmers Mntual Hail Insurance Company of Minneapolis, which he helped
to organize and of which he has been the president since the date of its
organization. He also is active!}- interested in the local telephone com-
pany. In civic affairs he likewise has taken a proper interest, and has been
clerk of the school l)oard in his home district ever since it was organized.
On Septeniljer 28. 1892, in Iowa. .A.rthur L. Fobes was united in
marriage to Cora G. Bronson, daughter of G. M. and Margaret (Hendrick^
Bronson. natives of New York state, who became residents of Wisconsir
and later of Iowa. G. M. Bronson was a veteran of the Civil War, who
performed service in a Wisconsin regiment, a member of the Twelfth Wis-
consin Batterv, and also was for some time connected with the United
States secret service. Mr. and Mrs. Fobes have four children: Charles V.,
Orange G., Joseph and Josephine, all of whom are at home. Mr. Fobes
is a member of the Baptist church and the children are connected with the
Presbyterian church. Mr. Fobes is a member of the local lodges of the
Modern Woodmen of America and of the Knights of the Maccabees, and
in the affairs of these organizations takes a warm interest. He is now
serA'ing as supervisor of bigliwav construction in his home district.
I AMES LAMB.
The late James Lamb, one of the pioneers of Clay county, who died
at Fergus Falls, and whose widow is still living on the home place, the
owner of three-quarters of a section of land besides a quarter section in
North Dakota, was a native of Scotland, born in Forfarshire in 1847, ''"J"
of John and Elizabeth Lamb, also natives of Scotland, the former of whom
died in his native land and the latter of whom came to Minnesota with
her younger son, John, in the seventies. The son pre-empted a claim in
Elkton township. Clay county, and here she spent her last days on a quarter
section near Dormer. In a memorial sketch relating to the late John Laml
and in a biographical sketch relating to Charles Lamb, Sr., of Baker, brother:
of the subject of this memorial sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume,
there is set out at some length further details of the settlement of the Lamb
family in Clay county and the attention of the reader is respectfully invited
JAMES LAMP. AND FAMILY.
THE NEW YORK
PUB! '^ ' '^RARY
ASTOR. LENOX
TILDEN FO'Jf: O \TinNS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. ] T,J
to those narratives for further information of a genealogical and historical
character relating to this well-known and influential family.
Reared on the home farm in his native Forfarshire, James Lamb there
grew to manhood and in that neighborhood was married in 1868 to Ann
Anderson, who also was born in Scotland, a daughter of George and Agnes
(Todd) Anderson, the former t)f whom was an extensive stock dealer and
had many business interests. He was an ardent church member and he
and his wife spent all their lives in Scotland. George y\nderson and wife
were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Lamb was the last-born,
the others being Mary, who is still living in Scotland, and Agnes and
James, both now deceased. In 1882 James Lamb came to the United States
with his family and proceeded on out to Minnesota, locating in Clay county,
whither his mother and his brothers had preceded him some years before,
settling on a homestead tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Elkton town-
ship, where he and his family established their home. L'nhappily, not long
after locating there, Mr. Lamb became incapacitated for the physical labor
necessary to the development of a pioneer farm and the laborious ta.sk of
developing and improving the place fell upon his wife, who with fine cour-
age and indomitable spirit surmounted the difficulties in her way and pres-
ently had an excellent farm plant there, a substantial set of buildings and a
profitably-cultivated farm. Mrs. Lamb is undoubtedly one of the niDst
remarkable pioneer \\omen in the state. She did not lia\e a dollar of lier
own, or a wagon team, implement or seed with which to start her crops,
when she took hold of this pre-empted claim. With true Scotch grit .she
managed to keep her family together and paid off every dollar she borrowed.
She succeeded in accumulating the land interests she now owns, all of the
work being the outcome of her own energy. She has numerous friends who
hold her in the highest esteem. .\s she prospered in her undertak-
ings Mrs. Lamb bought three hundred and twenty acres more of land and
now has three-quarters of a section of valuable land, continuing actively
engaged in the mana.gement of her well-improved place.
To James and Ann (Anderson) Lamb the following children were lioru,
namely: George,- deceased; Mary, deceased; Andrew, now a resident of
North Dakota; Agnes. decea.sed, Avife of Gu.stav Erstad; Albert, of Clay
county; William, deceased; James, who is at home assisting his mother in
the management of the home farm, and one who died in infancy. Besides
rearing this family, Mrs. Lamb rearecl her grandson. Walter, son of lier
deceased daughter.' Mary (Lamb) Morey, and the young man has adopted
I ^8 CLAY AND XOR.MAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the surname Lamb, being known as Walter Laml). Mrs. Lamb is an active
member of the I'resbyterian church and has ever taken an interested part
in tlie affairs of tlie church, as well as in the general good works of the com-
niunitv of which she has been a resident since i)ioneer days.
OLE E. TAXGEN.
The career of Ole E. Tangen, a farmer of Kragnes township. Clay
county, is a good example of what may be accomplished by a man of grit
and perseverance, who comes to a strange land without capital. There have
been many such in :\Iinnesota during the past half century, principally from
Scandinavia, and we have always welcomed them, knowing that most of
them would turn out to be good citizens.
Mr. Tangen was born in Norway, January 19, 1851. He is a son of
Evan O. and Inge Marie (Stensgord) Tangen, both natives of Norway, the
father born on January i, 1829, and the mother, in 1825. They grew up
in their native land, where they married and where they lived until they
came to America and established the family home in Fillmore county, Min-
nesota, where they s]5ent the rest of their li\es on a farm, the father dying
at the age of fifty-four years. The mother reached the advanced age of
eighty-five vears. To these parents the following children were born:
Andrew, who died in New York City at the age of fifty-four years: Ole
E., the subject of this sketch: Ivathryne, who died in South Dakota at the
age of forty-five: Gust, who is engaged in farming in Montana: Christ, who
lives at Livingston, this state: Christina, who married B. B. Hetland and
died in Moorhead, Alinnesota. June 16, 191 7.
Ole E. Tangen was ten years old when he came to America in 1861.
He spent his boyhood on the farm of his father in iMllmore county, Minne-
sota, where he attended the district schools: but his education was limited,
for he had to go to work when only ten years old. He came to Clay county
in 1878 and the following year bought one-half of section i6, Kragnes town-
ship, and here he has since resided. During his residence of thirty-eight
vears in this locality he has seen the country change from a wild prairie to
a fine farming section. He made all the improvements on his land, erecting
a splendid group of buildings, good fences, etc.. and has been very success-
ful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He makes a specialty of raising
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 39
Shortliorn cattle. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at
Kragnes.
Mr. Tangen was married in Houston county. Minnesota, on March 30,
1878, to Gelina Studlien, wlin was born in that county June G, i860, and
tiiere she grew to wonianhr)()<l on the farm and received a common school
education. She is a daughter of Ole and FJertha (Lien) Studlien, both natives
of Norway, where they grew up and married and from there immigrated to
America in 1850. and established the family home in Houston county, this
state, being pioneers there. The father owned a good fann there, which
was sold a number of years ago. They moved to Clay county and here
both passed away.
Fourteen children ha\e I)een Ijorn to Mr. and Mrs. Tangen, namely:
Mrs. Bertha Montgomery, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri; Edward, who
died in 1900 at the age of nineteen years; Bernice. who is at home; Clara,
who li\es in Missouri; Mrs. Genelia \\'liitsel. who lives in Montana; Selma.
at home ; Oberlin, also at home ; Jennette. at home ; Martin Walter, who died
at the age of eighteen months: and Winnifred, Walter. Esther. Rudolpli and
Norman, all at home.
Politically. Mr. Tangen is a Rei)ublican. He has held all the offices
on the school board in district No. 24 and is now a director. He has also
held all the offices on the township board and has been assessor, etc. He
is a member of the Lutheran church and is chairman of the board of trus-
tees of the same.
WILLLVM RUSSELL.
William Russell, formerly and for years the official reporter for the
seventh Minnesota judicial district, with residence at Moorhead, and for
tile i):ist seventeen years a practicing attorney in that city, is a native of the
Dominion of Canada, but has been a resident of Minnesota since the njiddle
eighties and is thus thoroughly familiar with the development of this part
of the state for more than thirty years. He was born in Stratford, in the
l)r(ivince of Ontarirj. and there received his schooling and grew to manhood.
In 1883 Mr. Russell left his native Canada and came to Minnesota,
locating at Moorhead. where, and at Fargo, he began the study of law. In
ilie year 1886 he removed to St. Cloud. Minnesota, having been appointed to
the |)osition of reporter for the seventh judicial district, comprising the
counties of Stearns. Benton. Afille Lacs, Morrison, Todd, Douglas, Otter
140 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Tail, W'abena, Becker and Cla)-, and held that position continuously until in
January, 1900, wlien he engaged in the practice of law at Moorhead and has
since been thus engaged. During his many years of experience as reporter
for this judicial district, Mr. Russell gained an acquaintance throughout the
district and a familiarity with legal procedure that has been invaluable to
him since he entered upon the practice of the profession, to which he had
lieen giving his studious altentiun since the days of his young manhdud, and
there is perhaps no better known lawyer throughout this whole section of
the state than he. !\Ir. Kussell has ever given a good citizen's attention to
the general afifairs of his home town and is an active member of the Moor-
head Commercial Club, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest. Mr
Russell is the owner of a half section of well-improved land in the neigh-
borhood of Moorhead and gives considerable interested attention to the oper-
ation of his farm.
In iqoi, \\'il!iani Russell was united in marriage to Esther Davis, of
Marshall, this state, and to this union one child has l>een born, a daughter,
Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Presbyterian church and
take a proper interest in the general good works of their home town.
EOIER G. H.-\NSOX.
I'llmer G. Hanson was born in Badger, Iowa, .\ugu.st 17, 1890, a son of
H. P. Hanson, Ixirn at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and Rena Hanson, born
at Rushford, Minnesota. The former is a retired merchant, of Badger,
Iowa, and is now living at Driscoll. .Vorth Dakota, the owner of several
farms which he operates by tenants.
Elmer G. Hanson received his elementary education in the public
schools of Iowa, and then attended St. Olaf College, at Northfield, Minne-
sota, where he took a course of preparator\- studies, after which he entered
the University of Wisconsin for a regular college course. He completed
the course and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After leav-
ing college, he took up the banking business and received his training in that
line in Iowa. In October. 1916, he came to Hitterdal. and in November of
that year he opened up the Clay County State Bank. He was made cashier
of this bank and has held that position since.
On January 4, 19 17, Mr. Hanson was married to Annette Davenport,
daughter of N. S. Davenport, of Dennison, Minnesota. Mr. Hanson is a
member of the United Lutheran church.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. I4I
FRED SCHEEL.
Among- tlie well-knuwn residents of long standing in and about the
town of Sabin, Glay county. Fred Scheel. fuel merchant at that place, de-
serves recognition. He was born in German) on February 22, 1858, a son
of Wilhelhi and ]\Iargaret ( Kraino) Scheel, both of whom were also born
in Germany and sjjent their entire lives in that country, the son. Fred, liein.g
the only member of the Scheel family to settle in the United States.
Wilhelm Scheel, father of the subject of this sketch, followed the occu-
pation of a railroad man for several of the active years of his life. His
diligence and attention to his duties brought him recognition and he was
eventuall\ promoted to the important position of railroad inspector, his
journeys in connection with this work taking him on long trips over the
railroad system on which he was employed. Wilhelm Scheel was also in
the military service of his country and saw active campaigning in 1866
during the war between Germany and Austria. Mr. and Mrs. Scheel were
the parents of five children. namel\- : Caroline. Fred, Wilhelm. Margaret
and Henry.
I'red Scheel was educated in the public schools of Germany, and some
short time after the close of his school days he started life for himself as a
sailor. He made several voyages to this country, the first being in 1874,
and eventually decided to seek fortune as a landsman, settling permanently
in the United States.
In 1885 Fred Scheel made a tri[) to America and located in Chicago,
where lie took up sailing on the Great Lakes, and continuefl thus engaged
for some years. In i8<;4 he came to Clay county and worked for two year^
as a brick layer in Sabin and then started in the hardware business, buy-
ing out a former hardwareman, Fred Hafifen. Mr. Scheel continued in that
line of trade for several years during which time bis hardware business
proved a financial success, and in 19 15 he turned the store over to his son.
Fred M.. who has since been conducting it. giving the business the same
care which made it successful under his father's management. Following,
the transfer of the hardware business to his son, Mr. Scheel started in the
fuel business and has been so engaged since 1915, making a success of his
operations in that line as he had done previously in the hardware enterprise.
In i8gj. l*>ed Scheel was united in marriage to Augusta Fraino, who
was born in Germany, a daughter of Fred Fraino and wife, both of whcjui
spent their lives in Germany, where the former was a fanner. To Mr. and
142 CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
^Irs. Scheel three children have been bom, namely : Fred AL, Alargaret.
and Helen. The Scheel family are earnest members of the Lutheran church
and are active in all its good works and in all community good works. Mr.
Scheel was for three years chairman of the Klmwood township board, and
also served on the school board for some time.
I. HAMMERUD.
I. Hammerud. manager of the Farmers' Elevator at Comstock, Clav
county, was Ixnn in Xorway, June u, 1874, a son of Halvor and Jennie
(Hanson) Hammerud. bnth natives of Norway, where they grew up, were
married and established their home. They continued to reside in their
native land until 1880, when they immigrated with their family to America,
locating near Lake I-'ark. in Becker county, Minnesota, where the father
liecanie \ery well situated, owning a farm which he developed through his
close application and persistency. He continued general farming and stock
raising there until liis death, which occurred in 1912. He was a member
of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as was also his wife. They were par-
ents of eleven children, as follows: Ole, Hans, Christine, I., Mary, .\ndrew ,
Charles. Henry. George, .Albert and Rudolph.
L Hammerud was six years old when his parents brought him to the
L'nited States. He grew to manhood in Becker county, Minnesota, and
assisted his father with the work on the home farm. During the winter
months, he attended the district schools of Clay county, since the nearest
school house was in Clay county. Later he attended Concordia College at
Moorhead, this county. He continued farming until about 1902, when he
came to Comstock. Clay county, and conducted a pool hall for about twelve
}ears with success. In August, 1916, he became manager of the J-'armers'
Elevator at Comstock, which position he still holds and has discharged his
duties in an able and faithful manner to the satisfaction of the stockholders
and all concerned. He handles a large amount of grain each year and has
made this the best-known elevator in the southwestern part of the county,
doing a thriving business with the farmers on every^ side.
'Sir. Hammerud was married on June 12, 1908, to Jennie Monson, who
was born in Comstock, Clay county, Minnesota, where she was educated in
the public scliools. She is the daughter of Ludwig and Eliza (Knoph)
?iIonson, both natives of Norway-, who immigrated to America and are still
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 143
living. They are the parents of three children, as follows: Jennie, the wife
of the subject of this review; and two sons, Henry and Reinard, both at
home. They also have an adopted daughter, Dora, who is also living at
home. To ]Mr. and Mrs. Hammerud three children have been born, namelv :
Leonard. Chester and Ivin.
Politically. Mr. Hammerud is a Republican. He was assessor of Holy
Cross township four years^ and has performed his duties as a public servant
in a highly acceptable manner. He is a member of the Norwe.gian Lutheran
church, which he has served as treasurer.
LOUIS ALTENBERND.
Louis Altenbernd, a well-known landowner and the proprietor of sev-
eral potato warehouses in and alx)ut Clay county, was born in the Blue
Grass state on February i8, 1876, the son of William and Katie (Hill)
Altenbernd, both of whom were natives of Germany. William Altenbernd
immigrated to the United States in i860, when he was twenty-seven years
old, and his wife, Katie Hill, came to this country with her [larents, when she
was twelve. Thev were the parents of eight children. William Alten-
bernd and his wife were memlx;rs of the Lutheran church and ever were
active in its affairs.
Louis Altenbernd was reared on his father's farm in Kansas, and he
attended the public schools of the community in which he lived. Later he
supplemented this training l)y a course in the business college of Lawrence.
Kansas, from which institution he was graduated. After helping in the
work on his father's farm fcjr se\eral years, he finally lie.gan agricultural
pursuits on his own account. In 1903. he removed to Sabin, Clay county.
Minnesota, and there began to farm on a modest scale, his efforts meeting
with success. As he i)rospered in his farming operations, he added to his
land holdings and is now the owner of sixteen hundred and sixty acres of
choice farming land in and around the Sabin vicinity.
In 1905. Mr. Altenbrend began to handle potatoes on a large scale and
now has several warehouses where potatoes are stored. To meet the grow-
ing demands for his potatoes, which crop is one of the most im|)ortant on iiis
farms, he built the present large potato warehouse at Sabin in 1905, and
also operates warehouses at such different points as Rustad, Baker, Downer.
Watts and Hawley. His operations in potatoes are on a very extensive
144 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
scale and he is generally recognized as one of the largest and most substan-
tial potato growers in this part of the state. In addition to the potato trade,
he also conducts general farming and has been very successful.
In the summer of 1909. Louis Altenbernd was united in marriage to
Alary Brandt, a native of the state of Ohio, and a daughter of Louis Brandt
and wife, residents of that state. To Mr. and Airs. Altenbernd four chil-
dren have been born, namely: Walter, Esther, Louise and Hilda, all of
whom are at home witli their parents. The Altenbernd family are members
of the Lutheran church and are active i)articipants in the good works of the
same. They are warm advocates of all movements designed to advance the
cdmmunitv interests. Air. .Altenbernd is an independent in politics, but
has never been a seeker after public office, preferring to devote his time to
his large potato warehouse interests.
BENEDIX KUEHL.
Benedi-x Kuehl, a substantial and prosperous farmer, owner of three
hundred and twenty acres of prime land in Elmwood township. Clay county,
is a native-born German, but has been a resident of this country for more
than twenty-seven years. He was born in Germany in 1855 and is a son
of Fred and .Anna Kuehl, also n;itives of the Fatherland, where .\nna Kuehl
died in 1869.
Following the death of his first wife, l-'red Kuehl was married a second
time and in company with some of the members of his family he immigrated
to the United States in 1890. On his arrival in this country' he came on
out to the state of Alinnesota and settled in Clay county. He engaged in
farming in Elmwood township, at Sabin. and continued thus engaged for
the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1903. He was the father
of the following children : Dora, Lizzie, Alargaret, Kattie, living in Germany :
Fred, who is deceased, and Benedi.x, the subject of this sketch.
Benedix Kuehl was educated in the common schools of Germany and
\vorked for some time at farm later. At the age of thirty-five, in 1890.
he accompanied his father to the United States and on reaching this country
they came on out to Alinnesota and settled in Clay county. Benedix Kuehl
worked for various farmers in and about this county for a period of about
eight years. In 1898 he decided to purchase land and to commence the
life of a farmer on his own account. He bought a tract of prime land and
w
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TILDEN fOUNDATfONS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I45
immediately proceeded to place it in a state of cultivation. He ))rospered
from the very beginning of his farming operations and added dther I.ind to
his original purchase, and he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty
acres of choice land. He is engaged in general farming and has now a well-
developed tract, and is generally regarded as one of the most progressi\e
and energetic farmers in Elmwood township; his farming operations being
carried on according to modeiMi methods of agriculture. Mr. Kuehl made
.all the present substantial improvements on his farm, and his buildings and
<lwelling are among the best in the district.
On July II, 1880, Benedix Kuehl was united in marriage to Henrietta
Neve, while they were living in Germany. They are the parents of the
following children ; Fred, who is married : Henning : Hans, married ; Ferdi-
nand : John; Lena, Margaret, A'lary, Dora, the latter four being married, and
Lincke. The Kuehl f;imilv are earnest members of the Lutheran church and
take .'I ])roper interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in the general
.social activities of the communitv in which thev live.
ALFRED A. HAAGENSON.
Alfred A. Haagenson was born at Sacred Heart. Renville county. Min-
iKxjta. December 13, 1879, a son of Arne Haagenson, born in Saaler, Nor-
wav, and Ida A. (Ericson) Haagenson, born in Dakota county, Minnesota.
/\rne Haagenson, father of our sul)ject, came to America from Norway at
the age of fifteen years and found employment, working on the Mississippi
ri\er for three or four iiears as a river man. Then he went to Renville,
Minnesota, in 1877, and was one of the jjioneer homesteaders in that county.
He established a home on his homestead, improved the land and remained
there the rest of his life. He was the father of eight children, namely:
Alfred A., the subject of this review: Sina, John, Carl, Matilda. Bennie.
Olivia and Robert. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Alfred A. Haagenson was educated in the public schools of Sacred
Heart and Renville, Minnesota, working on the farm when not in school.
Later he attended a private school in Minneapolis. From 190 1 to 1905, he
\\as employed in the state grain department at Duluth, and for three years
following this employment he was manager of the Farmers' elevator at
W^elcome. Minnesota. In 1908, he came to Barnesville, Minnesota, and
( loa.)
146 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
I)ecame manager of the Farmers' elexator at this place and has been in this
Inisiness since. He also has a farm implement business here, and is inter-
ested in other business enterprises.
Mr. Haagenson was married, in 1904, to Sigrid 1*1 Bolinder, daughter
of Andrew Bolinder, of Maine township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and
to this union three children ha.\c been Iwrn : Alfred, Jr., Margaret, and
Ida. Mr. Haagenson is an ;ictive member of the Norwegian Lutheran
church. He served as alderman of Barnesville in 191 1 and 1912; as mayor
in 1913 and 1914; clerk of the board of education since 1915, which position
he holds at the present time. He is a member of both the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was John Erickson. born in
Sweden, as was his wife, Lou\isa. They came to .\merica in the spring of
1849 and located in Minnesota. At that time the entire white population
of Minnesota, not yet a territory, was estimated to be one thousand. They
were among the first of the Swedish colony to come to Minnesota. John
Erickson was among the men from Minnesota who enlisted in defense of
his adopted country when it was threatened with disunion in 1861. He as
a soldier in the Ci\il War, enlisted in Company ¥. First Regiment. Minne-
sota \'(ilunteer Infantrv. and was killed in the battle of Gettysburg.
GILBERT PETERSON.
Gilbert Peterson was born in Norway, January 11, i860, a son of Peter
and ^latikla (Peterson) Gubbrandson. both natives of Norway, the former
being a carpenter by trade and spending his entire life in Norway.
Gilbert Peterson was educated in the public schools of Norway. In
1878. he came to .America with his uncle, Gilbert Hanson, and located in
Polk count), Minnesota, where he remained until 1880, when he came to
St. Croi.x county, Minnesota. In 1883, he removed to Ada, Norman county,
Minnesota, and was there for eight years engaged in farming and carpenter
work. In igii. he came to Hitterdal, Clay county, and has made this his
home since that time. He is engaged in carpentering and contracting work.
making a specialty of the latter, and has been doing most of this work in
North Dakota.
JNIr. Peterson was married in 1883 to Anna Anderson, and to this
union four children have been born, namely : Bennie. Gunda Christina,
Carl and Emma. Thev are members of the Svnod Lutheran church.
CLAY AND NORM AN COl'NTIES, MIXNKSOTA. 1 47
CARL MARTIN LANGSETH.
Carl Martin Langseth, former member of the l^oard of township super-
visors in Elkton township, Clay county, and the proprietor of a fine farm of
four hundred and eighty acres in section 5 of that township, on the line of
the Great Northern railroad, was born on a farm in Worth county, Iowa,
May 13. 1879, son of Hans N. and Anna (Benson) Langseth, both natives
of the kingdom of Norway, the former of whom is still living, now a resi-
dent of Richland c"untv. North Dakota, where he owns and farms a half
section of land.
Hans N. Langseth was born in 1856 and remained in his native Norwa\-
until he was sixteen or seventeen years of age, when, about 1872, he came
to the United States and located in Iowa. Two or three years later, he
returned to Norway after his sweetheart, Anna Benson, and after their
retmn here, the\- were married and established their home in Worth county,
Iowa, later moving to North Dakota, where the former is now living, as
noted above. His wife died in 189 1, she then being forty-one years of age.
They were the parents of six children, the subject of this sketch having four
brothers, Oscar, Nels, William and Peter, and a sister, Emma, who is mar-
ried and now lives at New Ulm, this county. .\11 the brothers are farming
in Richland county, North Dakota.
In 1901. at Moorhead, Carl M. Langseth was married to Marta Seter,
who was born in the kingdom of Norway in 1877, and who came to this
country in 1897. About two years after his marriage, Mr. Langseth Iwught
the farm on which he is now living, in section 5 of Elkton township, and
has since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably
situated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Langseth gives consider-
able attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle and is doing well. He has
a well-improved place of four hundred and eighty acres and has an excellent
farm plant. During the season of 19 12 he had in sixty acres of potatoes.
For eleven }ears Mr. Langseth ser\-ed his community as a member of the
township l)oard of supervisors, his term of office having just recently
expired, and for the past thirteen years has been serving as clerk of his local
school district. He is a stockholder in the Glvndon Telephone Company
and in other ways has displayed hi^ interest in the general affairs of his
community.
Mr. and Mrs. Langseth have ten children: Hans, Anna, Selma. Alice,
:^Ielvin and :Marv (twins), Albert, Norman, Helen and Alma, all of whom
148 CLAY AND NORMAX COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
are living-. The Langseths are menil)ers of the Xorwegiaii Lutheran church
ami take a projjcr interest in the attairs of the same. They have a very
jjleasant home and give their interested attention to the community's various
social affairs. licl|)fu! in [iromoting all agencies having to do with the ad-
vancement of the general welfare of that neighborhood.
.\LBERT M. IIOPEMAN.
.\lhert .M. Ilopeman, one of the well known and prominent residents
ni .Moorhead. Cla\ conntv, was born at Preston, Minnesota, in 1878. He
recei\ed his education in the common and high schools of that place, and
after completing his education in the latter, he entered the University of
Minnesota and was graduated from the department of civil engineering with
the class of 1905. .\fter he had completed his work in the university he
was with the Chicago Sr Great Western Railway Company for one and
one-half vears. a fur which he ser\ ed for one year as civil engineer of the
city of St. I'aul. lie then came to Moorhead. where he engaged in the gen-
eral construction work until the year 1912, when he organized the Ilopeman
Material Companv. -au^] was elected president and general manager of th ■
same. The conii)anv does an extensive work in the handling of building
materia! and in construction work. Their territory has covered a large part
oi the state of .\drth Dakota and the northwestern part of Minnesota. In
addition to his large interests in the Hopenian Material Company. Mr. Hope-
man, in 19 1 4. organized the ^loorhead Hardware Conrjiany, and was presi-
dent of the organization until 1916, at which time he sold his interests in
the concern. He was most active in the enterprises in which he was inter-
ested and much of their success was due to his untiring effort to make them
a success.
It was in the spring of 1907 that .\li)ert M. Hopeman was united in
marriage to T^illie Ul,g. one of the prominent young women of Moorhead.
anil to tills union ha\e been horn two children, Albert and Lillian, both of
whom are now attending the home schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hopeman are
active members of the Congregational church, and have long been proni-
inem in the social life of their home community. Mr. Hopeman has always
taken a very keen interest in local affairs and is now the president of the
C ommercial Club. He is a member of the Free and .Accepted Masons, hav-
ing filled all the chairs of the local lodge, and of the Ancient Order of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I49
United Wurkinen, of which he is a past master. For the past five years, he
has served as a member of the school board, where he has given most effi-
cient scr\ice. As a member of tlie Progress Club, lie has done much active
work and lias given his best servive to the home city. Few men in the com-
munity have done more for the welfare of Moorhead antl the surrounding
country than has Mr. Hopeman. whose best efforts have always been
e.xerted for the district in which be has lived and where he is held in the
iiighest regard.
OFF P. XOKKEN.
.NuKing the natixe-boni Xorwegians wlio ha\c come ti) the L'nitcd
States and engaged in general farming and stock raising in Clay county.
is Ole P. Nokken, the owner of a fine farm in Moorhead, Kurt township.
He was born in Norway in liS^j and is the son of Peter P. and Anna
(Ouamme) Xokken. the former of whom was horn in Sogn. Norway in
1825 and the latter, in i82_|, in the same country.
Peter P. Nokken, who is still living at the advanced age of ninetv-
two years, was a farmer in his nati\e country. He was married in Xorw ax-
to Anna Ouamme. and, in 1870. lie and liis wife and clu'ldreii ininiigrated
to this country, where he resumed his farming operations and continued in
such during the acti\e years of his life. Peter P. Nokken and wife were
the parents of four children, as follow : I'eter, deceased: Ole, the subject
of this sketch; iiertha. deceased, and S\en, who is married and li\ing in
North Dakota. His long residence in Clay coiuit\- has endeared Peter
Nokken to a wide circle of friends. He and bis wife were earnest mem-
bers of the United Lutheran churcii, and were e\er interested in all its
good works.
Ole P. Xokken was educated in the schools of his native land and
for some time afterwards assisted his father in farming operations. At
the age of eighteen years he came witli his parents to tliis comitry, in 1870.
On arrixing here, the familv came on out to Minnesota and, in 1871. ( )le
P. Xokken came to Clay county, where he acquired a tract of kuid and
commenced farming on his own account. .Vs be prospered in iiis labors
on the farm, he added to his Land holdings and final!}' became the owner
of three hundred and se\enty-three acres of the choicest land, having pur-
chased the place on which he lives outright in i88j. He is engaged in
general farming and is very successful, his land being profitably and sys-
150
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
tfiiiatically cultivatetl. ;\Ir. Xokken has made many valuable and costly
improvements on his place to bring it up to the standard of modern require-
ments, and he is now accounted one of the best farmers in this section of
the county.
In 1883. Ole 1'. Xokken was united in marriage to limlic liettland.
who was born in i8()5, and following their marriage, they settled on the
farm where they have ever since been living. Mr. and Mrs. Xokken are
the parents of the following children: .Mabel, wiio is married; Kmma, also
married; Anna, Henry, Gilford, Engel, Caroline and Bertha. The Xokken
family are memljers of the United Lutheran church at Salem and are earnestly
interested in all its good works, as well as in the general social activities
of the community, ever supporting all movements having for tlicir purpose
the advancement of the public welfare.
FRED SCHEI,1..\K.
Fred Schellak. owner of a half section of tine land in Elkton town-
ship, Clay county, where he and his family are very comfortably situated,
is of European birth, a native of western Germany, but has been a resi-
dent of this country for the past twenty-five years or more. He was born
on September 16, 1864, son of Gustav and Augusta (Parsharlus) Schel-
lak, also natives of (lermany. the former of whom, a stonemason, died
when his son Fred was but six weeks of age. Tlu- Widow Schellak was
still living in Germany at the time communication was interrupted u])on
the declaration of war between the United States and that country in
the spring of 191 7. (Justav Schellak and wife were the parents of two
sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Carl Schellak. who remained
in his native land.
Reared in his native land, h'red Schellak received his schooling there
and grew up a practical farmer, remaining there engaged in farming until
1892. when he came to the United States and located at St. Louis, where
for three years thereafter he was employed working in a factory. He then
decided to take up farming and went to Iowa, where he rented a farm in
Buchanan county, that state, and was engaged in farming there for three
years, at the end of which time he came up into Minnesota and bought
a farm of eightv acres in Elkton township. Clay county. Three years later
he sold that place and bought the farm on which he is now living, in that
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I5I
same township, and lias since made that his phice of residence, having
developed an excellent piece of property there. Mr. Schellak has three hun-
dred and twenty acres of fine land, on which he has an attractive grove
and substantial farm buildings, one of the best-ordered farm plants in that
neighborhood. In addition to his general farming, he has gi\en considerable
attention to the raising of live stock and has done well in his operations.
On June 19, 1898, Fred Schellak was united in marriage to Bertha
Wendtland, who also was born in Germany, and who came to this country
with her sister, and to this union seven children have been born, Ella.
Otto, Herbert (deceased), Eddie, Alma, Elsie and Clara. The Schellaks
have a pleasant home on a rural mail route out of Glyndon and take an
interested part in the general social activities of the community in which
they live.
LELAND C. FOLLETT.
Leland C. Follett, cashier of the First State Bank of Sabin and treas-
urer of Elmwood township. Clay county, was born at Mapleton, in the
neighboring county of Cass, over the river in North Dakota, on January
28, 1891, son of Charles C. and Sarah E. (Ohr) Follett, the former of
whom was a native of the state of New "S'ork and the latter of Illinois,
pioneers of the Red River countiy.
It was about 1874 that Charles C. Follett came up into this part of
the country and settled on a homestead farm in the immediate vicinity of
Lisbon, in Ransom county. North Dakota. There he made his home until
his removal to Mapleton, in the adjoining county of Cass, where he became
engaged in the grain business. Later, however, he moved to Oriska, where
he remained until about 1912. when he returned East and is now living,
retired, at Williamstown, Pennsylvania. His wife died in 1904. Of the
children born to this parentage, three are still living, the subject of this
sketch having two brothers, C. O. Follett, of Fargo, vice-president of the
Fargo Mercantile Company, and Dr. W. C. Follett. a practicing dentist
at Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Leland C. Follett received his schooling at Fargo and, upon the com-
pletion of the course in the high school of that city, became employed
as bookkeeper and teller in the Dakota Trust Company of Fargo. He
remained thus engaged until his appointment on February i, 1914, as cashier
of the First State Bank of Sabin, which position he still occupies, one of
152 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
the best-known young bankers in Clay county. He established his home
in Sabin in October, 1915, and he and his fainil}- are now \ery pleasant!}-
situated tliere. Mr. Follett gives his earnest attention to local civic affairs
and is now serving as treasurer of his home township.
On December 25. 1914, Leland C. Follett was united in marriage to
leannette Johnson, of Moorhead, and to this union one child has been
born, a son Robert C. Mr. and Mrs. FoUelt are members of the Method-
ist Episcopal church at Sabin and take a proper interest in church work,
as well as in the general good works and social activities of their home
communitv. Mr. Follett is a member of the Ancient Free and Acceptec
Masons, in the affairs of which fraternitv he takes a warm interest.
THOM.XS McCABE.
Thoiuas McCabe, a member of the board of directors of the Sabin State
Bank and the proprietor of a fine farm of seven hundred and twenty acres
in Elmwood township. Clay county, is a native of County Cavan, Ireland.
but has l)een a resident of this country since he was fourteen years of age
and of Minnesota since he established his home here in the spring of 1884,
shortly after his marriage. He was born on March 10, 1858, son of John
and Kate (Murphy) McCabe, also natives of County Cavan, who spent all
their lives in their nati\e land.
At the age of fourteen years Thomas .McCabe left his native Ireland
and came along to the United States. He proceeded on out to Wisconsin
and located at Oshkosh, in the vicinity of which city he began working on
farms and for several years afterward spent his winters attending school. In
the spring of 1880 he came over here into the Keel River country on a pros-
pecting tour and bought the homestead right to a tract of land, the place
on which he is now living; but at that time did nothing toward the develop-
ment of the same, presently returning to Oshkosh, and worked in the timber.
fn the fall of 1883 he was married at Fargo. North Dakota, and shortly-
after his marriage, he and his wife came to Clay county and entered ui)on
the occupancy of the homestead tract he had Ixiught three or four years
before, and have e\er since made that place their home. .Mr. McCabe pros-
pered in his farming operations from the very start and has increased his
holdings until he now owns seven hundred and twenty acres of excellent
land surrounding his home and has long been regarded as one of the most
o
'^'■g^'a^^^.qfll^Ml^
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY'
.•.«TOB LENOX.
CLAY AXD NOUMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I :; ^
substantial citizens of that community. In addition to his general farmin.t;-.
he gives proper attention to the general business affairs of the community
and is a member of the board of directors of the Sabin State Bank of the
neighboring- village of Sabin.
On October i, 1883. Thomas AlcCabe was united in marriage to Carrie
Moon, daughter of .M. O. Moon and wife, of Pierce county, Wisconsin,
natives of Norway, bi)th of whom are now deceased, and to this union
fire children have Ijeen born, Margaret, Frank H., Emma, Edward G. and
Thomas M., all of whom are li\ing. The McCabes have a very pleasant
home on their well-ke])t farm and have ever given proper attention to
the community's social activities. Mr. McCabe is a member of the local
lodge of the .\ncient i*>ee and Accepted Masons at Barnesville and takes
a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
JAMES A. GARRITY.
James A. Garrity, a well-known and energetic young lawyer of Moor-
head and local attorney there for the Xorthern Pacific Railroad Company,
is a native of the neighboring state of Wisconsin, but has been a resi-
dent of Moorhead since entering upon the practice of his profession upon
completing his studies at law school in 1913. He was born at Hudson,
Wisconsin, July 24, 1892, son of Thomas Garrity and wife, and grew to
manhood at that place. He was graduated from tiie Hudson high school
in 1910 and afterward entered the St. Paul College of Law at St. Paul,
from which institution he was graduated in 191,3, with the degree of Bache-
lor of Laws, and was atlmitted to practice law.
In the December following bis graduation from law school, Mr. Gar-
rity located at Moorhead for the practice of his profession and, until Sep-
tember I, 191 5, was associated there in practice with Edgar E. Sharp.
Upon the termination of that connection, Mr. Garrity formed a partner-
ship for ])ractice with Grover McGrath, a connection which was shortl\-
afterward terminated, since which time he has maintained offices alone.
In addition to his general practice, Air. Garrity is the legal representative
of the Xorthern Pacific Railroad Company at Moorhead. Since taking
u]} his residence in Moorhead, he has given his thoughtful attention to
the .general affairs of this part of the state, and, as a member of the Moor-
head Commercial Club, is doing all he can to advance the material interests
J54 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of his home town, of whicli lie was elected city attorney on l*'el)i"uar\ 20,
1917.
Mr. Garrity is an earnest member of the Catholic church and is promi-
nently affiliated with the local council of the Knights of Columbus and with
the Catholic Order of Foresters. He also is a member of the local branch
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the affairs of these several
organizations takes a warm interest.
On May 31, 1917, Mr. Garrity was united in marriage to Marguerita
luans, of Ottumwa, Iowa, the daughter of (ieorge W. and Regina Jivans.
the former being one of Iowa's prosperous farmers in Wapello county,
that state. Mrs. Garrity was the teacher of domestic science in the public
schools of Moorhead before her marriage.
OLE SKALET.
Ole Skalet, one of the best-known and most substantial first settlers
of Clay county, general manager of the Ulen Grain Company at Ulen,
president of Citizens Auto Company of Ulen. vice-president of the State
Bank of Ulen, former president of that village, former chairman of the
board of supervisors of Keene township, former assessor of that township
and the owner there of four hundred and forty acres of fine land, is a
native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life, a continuous
resident of Clay county since he was twenty -one years of age, having come
up here into the Red River country in 1883. He was born on a pioneer
farm in Houston county on Octol>er 14, 1861. son of Knut and Helga
(Olson) Skalet, natives of the kingdom of \orwav. who came to this coun-
try in 1852 and proceeded on out to Minnesota, settling on a farm in
Houston county, where they reared their family and spent the remainder
of their lives, substantial and useful pioneers of that section. Knut Skalet
antl wife were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being; Gutrum, Helga,
Mary, Anna, Knut, Gura, Berget, Andrew and Olaus.
Reared on the pioneer home farm in Houston county, Ole Skalet re-
ceived his early education in the local schools, and from the days of his
boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving
the home farm, becoming practical manager of the same when in his teens.
He continued to he thus engaged until he was twenty-one years of age,
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 55
when, in 1883, he came up into the Red River country and began working
in Clay county. He married in 1885, and shortly afterward bought a farm
in section 2 of Keene township, where lie estabhslied his home, liis iirst
place of residence there lieing a humijle shack, nine by eleven feet, enclosed
in lap-siding, with Init one door and one window. This is a distinct ccni-
trast to tlie present substantial farm house and excellent farm buildings
that mark the Skalet farm. When Mr. Skalet took that tract, it was
wholly unimproveil and he "broke" e\'erv furrow and planted e\er}' tree
on the place. As he prospered in his farming, he gradually added U) his
holdings until now he is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres sur-
rounding the home place, and an additional tract of one hundred and sixty
acres in section 4. The old original home shack on the home place is
still standing, and Mr. Skalet is carefully preserving the same as an inter-
esting relic of his experience as a pioneer farmer.
In 1901, Ole Skalet retired from the farm, lea\-ing the same in re-
sponsible hands, and moved to Ulen, where he became engaged as local
manager of the Monarch Elevator Company and was thus engaged until
1911, when he returned In the farm. The next year, however, he returned
to Ulen and there bought the Great Western elevator and has ever since
been operating the same, the elevator now being under the management
of the Ulen Grain Company, of which Mr. Skalet is general manager,
the company doing a general grain, coal and seed business. In addition
to his interests in the grain and coal business, Mr. Skalet takes an active
interest in the general business affairs of his home village, being president
of the Citizens Auto Company of Ulen and vice-president of the State
Bank of Ulen. He has ever taken an interested part in the civic affairs of
the community and for six years served as i)resident of the village council.
During his residence in Keene township, he served for about five years as
chairman of the board of township supervisors, and at the time of his
remo\al t(.) Ulen was serving as township assessor. He also served for several
years as clerk of the local school board and in other ways has given of his
time and energies to the public service. Mr. Skalet is a member of the
Lutheran (Synod) church in Keene township. He helped build the church,
being a member of the building committee when the church was erected,
and for years served as a member of the board of trustees of the same.
In 1885, Ole Skalet was united in marriage to Martine Martinson,
daughter of Carl Martinson and wife, who died in 1909, leaving nine
children: Xedia, Charlotte. Charles, Ella. Hermana. .Myrtle, Elvina, Olga
and Carl.
l^(, CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
M. J. SOLUM.
.M. f. Solum, president ui the Security State I'.ank of Hitterdal, clerk
of Goose Prairie township, and for the past i|uarler of century actively
engaged in the general hardware and farm-iniplement husiness at Hitterdal.
one of the veteran business men of Clay county, is a native of the kin.s^di.ni
of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota and of Clay county since
he was fifteen years of age. having come here in the year 1888. He was
l)orn on June 14. 1873, one of tlie three children born to John and Mette
(Solum) Johnson, also natives of Norway, who si)ent all their lives there.
When fifteen years of age M. J. Solum came to the L'nited Staler
in 1888, alone and jiroceeded on out to the Red River country in Min-
nesota, which then was attracting large numbers of settlers, making hi--
honie with some kinsfolk in the township of Tausem. in Clay county.
He arrived there, owing sixtv-hve dollars of money advanced on his steam-
ship ticket, and began working at farm labor, his first wages being eight
or ten dollars a month. Later he learned the carpenter trade, at which
he began working for seventy-five cents a day. his wages being graduall>
increased twenty-tive cents a "raise" until he was receiving one dollar and
seventv-five cents a day. the highest wages he ever received for a (la\"s
labor. During the winter of 1892-93, Mr. Solum took a course of instruc-
tion in Hope Academy ;it .Moorhead; and in die fall of 1893, engaged in
the hardware business at Hitterdal, erecting there a little store building,
eighteen by twenty-four feet, and starting with a stock of goods \alued at
about two hundred and fifty dollars. From that small lieginning Mr. Solum's
present well-established and extensive business has had a continuous growth.
iMom time to time, as the demands of his growing business required, he
built additions on to his original store rocmi and it was not long until he
was doing a large business in the general liardware and farm-implement
line. On January 3. 1914. his store was destroyed by fire, and in that same
year he erected his present substantial store building of brick and cement
i)locks. the same being thirty-three by eighty feet, with a full basement,
and at the same time added to his stock a full line of furniture. In addi-
tion to his mercantile business at Hitterdal. .Mr. Suluni has ever given his
close attention to the general business atYairs of the community. He was
one of the organizers of the Security State Bank of Hitterdal, of which
he has been president for the past ten years. It was also largely through
his initiative that seven or eight years ago the present flourishing Solum
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 57
Elexator Company was organized. He also has given close attention to
local civic affairs and for the past eight or nine years has been clerk of
the township of Goose Prairie.
In the year 1896. abont three years after embarking in bnsiness at
Hitterdal, M. J- Solum was united in marriage to Anna Anderson, and
to this union three children ha\e been Ixjrn, Xorman, Mette and Raymond.
Mr. and Mrs. Solum are members of the L'niled Lutheran church at Hitterdal
and take an active interest in the affairs of the same. Mr. Solum being the
liresent secretar\- of the local congregation.
LUDVIG WALKER.
Ludvig \\'alker, one ni the well-known and prosperous farmers of
Kurtz township, owner of a full section of laud of prime quality, was born
in the kingdom of Norway on Christmas Eve, 1848. He is the son of Kristen
and Brita ( Marum ) Walker, natives of Solvorn, Norway. The original
faniilx- name was Walaker, which has been changed to Walker in recent
years. Kristen Walker wa^ born in 1809, and his wife. Brita (Marum)
Walker, was born in 1809. Thex' were the parents of the following children :
Anna, a widow, now living in Norway: Lars, deceased, and Ludvig. the
subject of this sketch.
Ludvig Walker was educated in the schools of Norway and worked
for some time at farm labor. At the age of twenty-one he decided to .seek
his fortune in tlie United States and came to this country in 1869. On
his arrival, he went to the state of Wisconsin and worked on farms for
about seven or eight years. In 1878, he came lo the state of Minnesota
and settled in Clay county, where he has ever since been engaged in the
active duties of farming aufl is recognized as one of the most progressive
and substantial agriculturalists of Kurtz township. .\s he prospered in Ins
labors, he added to his land holdings and is now the owner of six hundred
and forty acres of ])rime l.-md. one hundred acres of which is set out to
the cultivation of potatoes. .Mr. Walker carried out a series of systematic
improvements on his farm, and his outbuildings and dwelling house are
among the best in the district.
In 1883 Ludvig Walker was united in marriage to Carrie Grove, who
was born in Minnes(.la in November. 1862. They are the parents of the
following children: Annie, deceased: Thomas, Carl and Minnie, all living
158 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
at home with tlieir parents. The Walker family aue members of the Luth-
eran church and take a proper interest in the affairs of the same, as well
as in the general social activities of the community in which Mr. W .ilk-cr
has resided for nearly forty years. Mr. Walker is an independent in ixjli-
tics, and has served the public as township super\isor and as treasurer of the
district school board. In addition to this, he has in other ways given of his
time and ability to the furtherance of all nioxemcnts having for their object
the general good of the community.
GEORGE F. FITTIS.
Among the native-born German settlers of Clay county, who are en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits, is George V. h\ichs, who was born in tiie
Fatherland in 1863, but has l)een a resident of this country since he was
seventeen years old. He is a son of Martin and Mary (Bick) I'uchs. also
natives of Germany.
Alartin Fuchs w.is born in German\' about the _\ear 184J and died
there in iS/J at the early age of thirty. He was married to Mary Bick,
who came to this country some three years after her son, George F., and
spent her last days in this county, dying about 1913. after she had reached
the advanced age of seventy-seven years. Martin Fuchs and wife were
the [larents of two children. C harlie W .. deceased, and (ieorge 1'"., the subject
of this sketch.
George F. Fuchs was educated under the e.\celleiu school system pre-
vailing in Germany and at the age of seventeen, in 1880, immigrated to
the United States. He was but nine years old at the time of his father's
death and the responsibility of doing for him.self was early cast upon him.
On his arrival in this country, he started for Ottawa, Illinois, and remained
in that place for three years. He then moved to Chicago, that state, and
work in that city for about seven years, at the end of which period he
went to the state of Kansas and engaged in farm work for some twelve
years. About 1902, Mr. Fuchs made a further change, coming to the state
of Minnesota and settling in Clay county, where he has ever since been
engaged in farming and has been very successfid. Me purchased land in
Glyndon township, and, as he succeeded in his farming operations, he added to
his holdings, and is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of
fine land, the equal of any in the township. He follows general farming
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 59
and. at the present time, one of his important crops is potatoes, of whicla
he has about sixty acres in cultivation. He is regarded as one of the
progressive and substantial farmers, following modern methods in his work.
In 1887, George F. Fuchs was united in marriage to Lena Gutyahr,
who was born in 1862. They are the parents of five children, as follow :
George M., who is married; Carl F., Archie, Jennie and Emily, who are
at home with their parents. The Fuchs family are members of the Lutheran
church and take a proper interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in
the general social activities of the community in which they live. Air. Fuchs
gives a good citizen's attention to public affairs, having been treasurer of
the school board for ten years and is now ser\-ing as township trustee, in
which office he is giving general satisfaction.
ALFRED OSS.
Alfred Oss was born in Keene township. Clay county, Minnesota,
March 27, 1893, a son of John and Johanna (Wenner) Oss, l.)oth nati\es
of Norway.
John Oss came to America in 1882 and located in .\tlanta township,
Becker county, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming. In 1886, he came
to Keene township, Clav county, and took a homestead of one hundred and
sixty acres of government land. He built him a home and improved tliis
land and continued to live there until 1896, when he returned to Becker
county, Minnesota, and bought a farm of eighty acres. Later he sold this
farm and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 33.
Atlanta township, where he lived, actively engaged in farming until 1914.
when he sold out and remo\ed to Hitterdal, Clay county. I'or fourteen years,
while living in Becker county, he was county surveyor; he also ser\ed
twenty years on the school board, and f(.ir two years as township assessor.
A more extended sketch of John Oss appears in another jilace in this work.
Alfred Oss was educated in the public schools of Atlanta townshij
Clay county. He learned the barber trade, when a young man, and 1
lowed that occupation for three years. In 191 5, he and his sister, Helga.
started a general grocery store at Hitterdal, which the\- operated jointly
until his sister married Julius Schloesser, and then he assumed entire control
of the business. Mr. Oss was appointed postmaster in 1914 and now holds
that position. On October 5. T915, he married Lillian Tingdahl, dan.ghter
of Theodore Tingdahl. .Mr. Oss is a member of the Synod Lutheran cbnrcli.
),
.,1-
l6o CLAY AND NORMAN COl'NTIKS. MINNI-SOTA.
HENRY SCHROF.DKR.
Henry Scliroeder, who began his activi- Ute in an humble way, now
president of the First National BanU at Moorhead, also interested in other
banking institutions, and owner of extensive land holdings in and about Clay
county, is a native-born German, but has been living in this county siuce
1871. He was born in Renesburg. Holstein. Germany, August 31. 1853. a
son of Henry and W'ilhelmina (May) Schroedcr, both of whom were natives
of that same country and there spent all their lives.
The senior Henry Schroeder was engaged in the tannery business in
his native land, and bad followed that occupation during all of his active
life, the tannery still being carried on by his son. Adolph. The elder Henry
Schroeder died in German>- before the sul)ject of this sketch came to America.
Wilhelmina Schroeder, his wife, died the summer after her son, Henry,
immigrated to this country. The tannery has been in the possession of the
Schroeder family for upwards of one hundred years. To Henry Schroeder
and wife three children \\ere born, namely: Adolph, who still operates the
tannery in Germany; Emil, who came to America about 1867, now living
in San Francisco, where be is engaged in the fur-dyeing and dressing busi-
ne.ss; and Flenry, the subject of this review. The parents of these children
were members of the German Lutheran church.
Henry Schroeder attended the excellent .schools provided by the edu-
cational system of Germany and received a very thorough education. Ik-
came to the United States in 1871 and proceeded out to P.enson, Minnesota.
which town was then the terminus of the Great Xorthern railroad. From
this point he started out on an eighty-mile walk, going north to .Mexandria,
the journey occupying a few days, to join an uncle. AMiile living at the lat-
ter place he worked on farms during the summers, going for that purpose
to different parts of southern Minnesota. When winter would set in he
generallv returned to .Mexandria, and north of that town he spent most of
the winter seasons bunting and trapping, still continuing to reside with his
uncle, and during a portion of the time he lived in a very rude shack.
In 1878 Henry Schroeder left Alexandria and came to Wadena, accom-
panying the mail carrier on the journey. From Wadena be traveled on to
Glyndon, Clav countv, via the Northern Pacific railroad, and then walked
to where Sabin now is, most of the way being partly under water. He
purchased a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres in F.lmwood town-
ship, Clav county. He then returned during tlie next winter, going on foot.
. DaTIONSI
MRS_ HENRY SCHROEDER
HENRY SCHROEDER.
THE NEW vf,HK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
A STOP
TILDCN '
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. l6l
to Alexandria and there bought a team of horses, whicli lie brought back
to Elmwood township, the following January. In the preceding summer
he had purchased oxen near Sabin and used them to break the land for till-
age. He continued at the laborious task of breaking and clearing the land
on his tree claim, and finally got it fit for the planting of crops. Later, he
added forty acres to the tree-claim holding and still lives on that farm,
where he was first housed in a small shack, which had been standing up to
a recent date.
Prosperity attended j\lr. .Schroeder's efforts from the very start. He
became an extensive farmer and potato grower. He is now the owner of
two thousand six hundred acres of prime land, one thousand acres of which
is lying near Sabin and sixteen hundred acres near Glyndon, Clay county.
He has effected numerous costly and substantial improvements on his various
tracts of land, the entire amount so expended being seventy-five thousand
dollars. He erected warehouses at Watts and Sabin. and bought potatoes
for some years, storing them in these warehouses, but the latter he now
operates for his own use. In addition to his vast land holdings Mr. Schroeder
is connected with banking. He is now the president of the First National
3ank of Moorhead, which institution has flourished under his wise guidance,
u'n 1908 he helped to organize the First State Bank of Sabin, and is also
the president of that thriving bank. He is also interested in the operations
of other banks, principally as a stockholder, and is recognized throughout
the entire county as one of the foremost bankers in this part of the state,
as well as being one of the most substantial landowners in the county.
In 1879 Henry Schroeder was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Krab-
benhoft, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Wolf Krabbenhoft and
wife, also natives of Germany. Her parents were farmers in their native
land. They immigrated to the United States in 1874, coming on the same
shi]) which had brought Mr. Schroeder three years earlier. On their arrival
in this country they came on out to Minnesota and located near Sabin,
Clay county, and bought land on which they carried on general farming for
several vears, later dying in the vicinity where they had settled. They were
members of the German Lutheran church. Their eldest son, W. C, who
had come to America some couple of years before them, is still living near
Sabin. Mr. and Mrs. Krabbenhoft. were the parents of the following chil-
dren: W. C Chris. Eliza, Anna, Henry O.. Wilhelmina and Henry.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder the following cliildren were born:
E. C. Theo, Minnie. Emma, Ernest. Irene, Erhart and Henry. Mrs.
(iia)
l62 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Schroeder passed away on April 5. 1917, and \va^ l)uried in the (kninan
Evangelical Lutheran cemetery at Sabin on April S. Tlie Schroeder famil\-
are earnest members of the German Lutheran church and are active work-
ers in all church affairs, wanuly interested in all that concerns the welfare
of the community, where din-ing their long years of residence they have
been universally esteemed and regarded as representing the highest type of
citizens. In politics. Mi: Schroeder is a supporter of the Republican party,
but has never been a seeker after public ofiice, preferring to devote his nnic
and energies to his commercial, banking and land-holding interests.
ANDRLW l-.GGIMAN.
Among the native-born Swiss who have come to .\merica and engaged
in general farming with considerable success in Elniwood township, Clay •
count\-. is .Andrew Eggiman, who was born in the republic of Switzerland,
.August 24. i86(;. He is the son of John and .\nna (Merkendahl) Eggi-
man, also natives of the same country, the former of whom is now about
seventy years old. but the son, .Andrew, has not heard from his father or
mother for some twent\- years. John and Anna Eggiman are parents of
three children, namely: Anna and Elsie, who are living in Switzerland.
and .\ndrew. die subject of this .-sketch. The members of the Eggiman fam-
ily in the old countrv are members of the Lutheran church. The parents
came from ;i long line of ancestors, noted for upright lives in the part of
their native country in which they lived.
\ndrew Eo-giman attended the schools of his home district in Switzer-
land, and when he reached the age of twenty-three in 1892, he immigrated
to the United States. On arriving in this country, he went on out to Liv-
ingston. Illinois, where he was eiuployed at farming work for two years. .\t
the end of that period, he went to Calhoun county. Iowa, where he also en-
gaged in the labors of the farm, living in that state for nine years. He then
decided to acipiire land for himself and. with that purpose in view, came to
Minnesota in 1900. and settled in Elmwood township, Clay county. Here
he is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of choice, land, which has
been placed in a high state of cultivation. He has placed important and valu-
able improvements on his farm, on which his operations are very successful.
When Air. Eggiman assumed possession of his farm, a house stood on the
land, but this he has torn down and a new- and substantial dwelling erected
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 163
in its place: here lie and his family are comfortably and pleasantly situated.
On February 9, 1895, .\ndre\v Eosriman was united in marriage in
.\nna .\'yt1er, a daughter of Jacob Xyller and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Eggiman
are the parents of the following children: WilHam, Martha, Walter, Her-
man and Rudolph, all of whom are living at home with their parents.
Andrew Eggiman and his family are members of the Presliyterian church,
and he is a Renujjlican in ixilitics.
H ALDOR P. NYGAARD.
ll;ildcir I'. .Vygaard, fi)rmer president of the village of Halstad, former
recorder and treasurer of the same, former justice of the peace, present sec-
retary of the local school l.ioard, secretary of tlie local creamery company
and head of the lirm of Xygaard & Hostad. retail dealers in meats at Hal-
stad. is a nati\e of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of Min-
nesota and of Xoi-nian county since the days of his childhood. He was born
in the cit\- of Troudlijem on May 30, 1871, son of 1'. J. and Jonette (Moen)
Xvgaard, nati\es of that same country, who came to Minnesota in 1881
with tluir family and settled in Hendrum township, Xorman county, remain-
ing there on a farm until the station at Halstad was established, when, in
1883, t!ie_\' moved to that [jlace, where Mrs. Xygaard siJent her last days and
where Mr. XA.gaard is still living, an honored pioneer of Xorman county.
1'. |. .Xygaard was a carpenter in his native land and he built for him-
self one of the fust houses erected in Halstad, besides building many other
houses there in ;iu early day. On April 9, tgio. he and his wife celebrated
their golden wedding anniversary, about sixty guests being present, besides
six of iheir ciiildreu, forty-three grarid-children and one great-grandchild.
Mr. Xvgaard now has fifty -one grandchildren and fourteen great-grand-
children. To iiim and his wife eight children were born, all of whom are
living sa\e Ole. the last-born, who died in 1883, the others being Jacob,
Ingeborg-, Hansine, Haldor and John P.
ilaldor P. Xygaard was ten years of age when his parents came to
Minnesota and he grew to manhood at Halstad, early learning the carpenter
trade under the skillful direction of his father. Upon completing the course
in the local public schools he took a cour.se at Concordia College at Moor-,
head, and upcjn leaving school engaged in the carpenter trade and was thus
engaged at Halstad for ten vears. Tn igoo he started a meat market at Hal-
164 CLAY AND NOKMAX COr\'TIKS. MIN.VESOTA.
stad in partnership with S. Ftjrseth and tliat connection continued for a
couple of years, at the end of which time Forseth sold his interest in the
business to A. Melting, who remained a partner of Mr. Nygaard until 1908.
when he suld liis interest to A. M. Hostad and the business has since then
Iseen continued uncler tlie firm name of X\gaard & ITostad. Mr. Xygaard
lias ever taken an acti\e interest in local affairs and particularly in the affairs
of the village schools, in the upbuilding of which no one has been more
enthusiastically attentive than he. it benig generally admitted that the present
splendid school in the village owes its present form largely to his long-con-
tinued, energetic and unselfish service in thai behalf. Me has been a member
of the local school board since 1897 and is now ihc efficient secret:iry of
the hoard. In other ways Mr. Nygaard has devoted much time and labor
to the public welfare and has long been accounted one of Halstad's most
l)ui)lic-spirited citizens. He has served as a member of the village council,
was for two terms president of the same and has also served as village
recorder, as treasurer and as justice of the peace. He has ever been active
in promoting local enter|>rises and is now the secretary of the local creamery
company.
In 1906 Haldor P. Nygaard was united in marriage to Hansine Grend-
stad. and to this union seven children ha\ e been born. Pcrcival H., Elmer.
Julia B.. Amanda Belinda, Oliver, Herman and Ethel N'ictoria. Mr. and
Mrs. Nygaard are members of the United Lutheran church, in the affairs of
\vhich they take a warm interest, as well as in the general social activities of
their home town, and Mr. Nygaard fur some years has been a member of
the board of trustees of the church.
EDWIN ADAMS.
Edwin Adams, one of the well-known and successful attorneys and
prominent business men of Moorhead. Clay county, was born in Lanark
county, Ontario, Canada, on July 19, 1852, a son of Daniel Adams and
wife, both natives of the Dominion of Canada, where they received their
education in the public schools, and lived their li\es. they having died in
the land of their nati^•it^• some years ago. The paternal grandfather, Joshua
•Adams, was a native of Vermont and was a captain in the British Army.
during the time of the Revolutionan.- War. After that memorable cf)ntlict. he
located in Canada, where he established his home and continued to live
CLAY AND XOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 05
until the time of his deatli. Daniel Adams, as a young man, engaged in
the milling business and in time became the owner of a saw, flouring and a
woolen mill, in the operation of which he met with success. He and h\<
father, during the time of the Mcivenzie Rebellion in the year 1837. took
an active part in assisting the government to quell .the disturbance. The
family were ever prominent in local aiTairs, and were active in the social
and religious life of the communit\- where they liveil. being held in high
regard and esteem by all.
Edwin .\dams received his education in the schools of Ontario and
there he grew to manhood. He later studied law in the office of T. B.
Pardee and others in Ontario, after which he came u> the United States
and established himself at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was with the
Omaha Railroad C"oni])any for one and a half years. He came to .\l<„ior-
head, Minnesota, in the year 1881, and, on July 13 of that year, entered
the employ of H. G. Finkle in the mercantile and grain business, remaining
until 1884. His desire had been to engage in the practice of the law, and
in the last year mentioned :>.bove opened an office at Hawley, where he
practiced with success until 1892, when he returned to Moorhead, becoming
cashier of the First National Bank. Sometime later he opened a law office
and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In
connection with his legal practice, he is engaged in the insurance and real-
estate business, and is today regarded as one of the successfid and substantial
men in his line of work in the state. His careful businesslike methods
have won for him a large circle of friends and clients, who regard him
as a man of the highest integrity.
It was in the vear 189J that Edwin Adams was united in marriage
to Georgia Axtel of Troy, Penn.sylvania, and to this union the following
children have been born: E. Maurice, Helen M., John C. Grace E., .Man
K., Henry A., and Laura C, all of whoiji are now living.
Mr. and Mrs. Adams are active members of the F.piscopal church and
have long been prominent in the social and the religious life of their home
town. Their interests have ever been for the betterment and the growth
of the district in which they have lived, and their best efforts have ever
l>een exerteil in the promotion of those enteq^rises that would tend to the
substantial growth and improvement of the city of Moorhead and the sur-
rounding country. They have had much to do with the high sentiment of
their city in its educational anfl moral development.
Mr. Adams is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the i<o\al
Arcanum, the .\ncient Order of United Workmen and the Commercial
l66 CLAY AM) XORMAN ('( H' XIU:S. MINNESOTA.
Club. He ha.^ never been a seeker after oliice. yet he has taken the keenest
interest in local affairs and has had much to do with the civic life ot
the district. While living in Canada, he was a member of the C"anadian
Volunteers and saw active service iii the I'enian Raid, and held a commis-
sion as lieutenant. Mr. .Adams is a man of much force of character and
is a leader in the \arious organizations of which he is a member. I le has
lived a useful and active life anc! i-~ today known as one of the prnminent
men of Moorhead.
"R.\XK P. THOMPSON.
]-"rank 1'. 'riionipson. proprietor of a well-kept farm in Elmwood town-
ship. Cla\- county, and one of the pioneers of that neighborhood, is a native
of the kingdom of Denmark, but has l)een a resident of this county since he
was nineteen years of age and of Minnesota since 1880, the year in which he
liomesteaded the tract on which he is now living and where he has made his
home since his niarria.ge in the year following his location there. He was
born in 185J, son of I'eter and Cecelia ( Johanson) Thompson, also natives
of Denmark, industrious farming jieople. who spent all their lixc^ in their
native land.
Reared on the home farm in Denmark. Frank P. Thompson received
his schooling in his native schools and he remained at home until he was
nineteen years of age. when, in 1871. he came to the United States and
located at Ivan Claire. Wisconsin, where for two years thereafter he was
engaged working in tlie lumber mills and in the big timber adjacent to that
place. He then went to Okoma. in that same state, and a short time after-
ward went over into the big timber region of Michigan, where he worked
for some lime in the luniljer woods. He then returned to Wisconsin and
located at Oshkosh. where he became acfjuainted with Thomas McCabe and
in 1880 the two of them came over into this part of Alinnesota and home-
steaded neighlx)ring quarter sections in Elmwood township, Clay county. In
the ne.xr year. 1881. Mr. Thompson married and established his home on his
(|uarter section, but Mr. McCabe did not settle on his tract until after his
marriage in 1883. The old neighbors are still living alongside each other
and the fine neighborly relations established back in the days of their pio-
neering together have remained altogether amicable and wholly undisturbed
all these years : the fine friendship which sprang up between the two young
men from a foreign shore, for Mr. AfcC.abe .also is of European birth, a
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 167
native of the Emerald Isle, remaining as tinii as in the days when it was
cemented by their mutual interest upon coming up here into the Red River
country to look for homes. Mr. Thompson has improved his place in admir-
able shape and has been quite successful in his operations, for years having
been regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood.
In 1881 Frank 1'. Thompson was united in marriage to Katie .\. Gal-
ligan, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and to this union five children have been
born, Stephen, Thomas, Marie, Marjorie and Katheryn, all of whom are
living. The Thompsons have a very pleasant home on their well-kept farm
and from the days of the beginning of their residence there have ever given
their thoughtful attention to the general improvement of the community
in which they have lived since the days of the pioneers.
JOHN CONNELLY.
John Connelh , proprietor of a line farm of two hundred acres in
Glyndon township, and one of the best-known young farmers in that part
of Clay county, was born on a pioneer farm in that township on April
lo, 1883, son of Patrick and Bridget (Lundy) Connelly, natives of Ireland,
who became pioneers of this section of Minnesota and the latter of whom
is still living on the old homestead farm in Glyndon township, where the
family settled about the year 1880.
It was in 1877 that Patrick Connelly and his wife came to the United
States from their native Ireland and located in New York City. Not
long afterward they moved to Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1879, Pat- *
rick Connelly started West on a prospecting tour and his good fortune
directed his way up here into the Red River country, his destination being
Moorhead. Becoming deeply impressed with the possibilities of this region,
Mr. Connellv returned East and in the fall of that same year brought his
family here and located at Moorhead. Three years later, he settled on
the farm in Glyndon township, where he established his permanent home
and where be .spent the rest of his life, a well-to-do farmer, his death
occurring there on May 12, 1912. Patrick Connelly from the very beginning
of his residence there took an active part in local civic affairs and for
fifteen years, or more, served his home township in the important capacity
of a member of the board of supervisors, and in other ways contributed
of his time and his energies to the public service. He and his wife were
]68 CLAY AND NORMAN C0T;NTIES. MINNESOTA.
members of the Catholic church and took an active part in local parish
affairs. They were the parents of three sons, the subject of this .'sketch
having two brothers, William and James Connelly, who are still living on
the old home place with their widowed mother.
John Connelly was reared on the home farm in Glyndon township
and attended the common schools of that neighlmrhood. .Vs a youth, h-
learned the carpenter trade and worked at the same until 1909, two years
after his marriage, when he bought a quarter of a section of Jand in Glyn-
don township, not far from his old home, and has ever since made that
place his home. In 1914, he bought an adjoining tract of two hundred acres
and is very successful in his farming operations, being regarded as one
of tlie substantial farmers of that neighborhood.
On February 2-], 1907, John Connelly was united in marriage to .Mannc
Krabbenhoft, who was born in Elmwood townsliip. Clay county, daughter
of W. C. Krabbenhoft and wife, pioneers of that township and further
and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work To this
union three children have been born. I^wrence. ]'"<lna and Helen. Mr. and
Mrs. Connelly have a very pleasant home and have e\cr taken an interested
part in the general social activities of the community in which they have
lived all their lives. Mr. Connelly is a member of the Masonic lodge at
jNIoorhead and of the ^lodern Woodmen of America at that place. In
the affairs of both of these organizations he takes a warm interest.
EDWIN C. BENEDICT.
Edwin C. Benedict, clerk of Glyndon township. Clay county, and one
of the best-known and most substantial farmers of that part of the county.
is a native of Wisconsin, but has Ijeen a resident of Minnesota and of Cla}-
county since he was seventeen years of age, his parents having settled here
in 1887. He was born at Oshkosh. Wisconsin. January 19, 1870, son of
Stephen D. and Sarah F. (Pride) Benedict, the former a native of Ohio
and the latter of Maine, who were married in Wisconsin and later came to
Alinnesota. becoming pioneers of Clay count\-. where the fomier died, tht
latter going to California, where her last days were spent.
Stephen D. Benedict, who was an honored veteran of the Civil War,
was but a child when his parents moved from Ohio to Wisconsin, becoming
pioneers of the Oshkosh neighborhood, where he was reared on a pioneer
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 69
farm. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he eiiHsted for service as a
member of Company C, Fourteenth Regiment, Wisconsin VoUinteer In-
fantry-, and with that command served for four years and three months,
during whicli long period of service he never was wounded nor taken pris-
oner. After the war Mr. Benedict continued for some time in service, on
guard dut}-, and ujion the completion of his military service returned to his
home in Wisconsin, where he presently married Sarah I'. Pride, who was
Ijorn in the state of Maine and who was but a girl when her parents came
over into the northwest and settled in the vicinity of Oshkosh. After his
marriage Mr. Benedict continued to make his home in Wisconsin until 1887,
in which year he moved with his family over into Minnesota and bought a
homestead right to a (|uarter of a section of land in .\lliance township, Clav
county, which he "proved up" and improved and to which he added by later
purchase until he became the owner of six hundred and forty acres there,
one of the best farms in that part of the county, and on that place he spent
his last days. His widow later moved to California, where her last days
were spent. Stephen D. Benedict took an active part in local civic affairs
and fur some years served as assessor of Alliance township. He and his
wife had three children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mabel,
wife of Henry Legler, of Blackduck, up in Beltrami county, and a brother,
Henry Benedict, of Oakland, California.
As noted abo\'e, I^dwin C. Benedict was seventeen vears of age when
he came into the Red River country with his parents in 1887, the family set-
tling in Clay county, and he at once became an active factor in the labors of
developing and improving the home place in Alliance township. After his
.marriage ten years later he rented the home place and operated the same for
four years, at the end of which time he bought the place on which he is now
living, in Giyndon township, and has since made his home there. He has
done well in his operations there and has increased his holdings until now
he is the owner of nine hundred and twenty acres and has long been re-
garded as one of the most substantial citizens of that part of the county. In
addition to his general farming, Mr. Benedict gives considerable attention to
the raising of live stock and makes a specialty of his fine Percheron horses.
His place is improved in admirable sliajie and he has one of the best farm
plants in Clay county. The year in which he moved to Giyndon township
Mr. Benedict was elected township clerk and by successive re-elections has
ever since been retained in that office, giving his most thoughtful and intelli-
gent attention to local civic affairs. He likewise gives his interested atten-
tion to the general business affairs of the community and is a stockholder in
I JO CLAY AND NORMAN COUNXmS. MINNESOTA.
the Equity packing plant at Fargo and in the creamery i)iant at .Moorhead.
On November lo. 1S97, Edwin C. Benedict was united in marriage to
Kallierine Wiedenian. daughter of Ewald W'iedenian ;ind wife, of Clay
county, and to this union ten children have been born, Mabel, Ewald, Lila,
l-'.sther. Alice. Ethel, I'Vances, lulwin. George and ('".dith, all of whom are
living. The Benedicts have a very pleasant home on their fine farm ;uid
have ever given their iinijicr attention to the general social activities and
good works of the community in which they live, helpful in many ways in
liromoting movements ilesigned to adxance the common good thereabout.
HENin" GRETTUM.
One of the most promising of the younger farmers of Cla)' comity is
Henry Grettum, who lives on the farm on which he was born in L'len
township. He has been wise in remaining on the homestead where he has
found all the opportunities necessary for a successful career as a tiller of
the soil. Too many of our farmer boys hasten away to some distant city
to start their careers. The life of the average farmer is more satisfactory
in many respects than that of his city brother.
Mr. Grettum was born on May 11, nSgi, in L'len townshij), Clay
county, a son of John and Bertha ( Klemmetson ) Grettum, both natives
of Xorwav, where they spent their earlier years, but were still single when
they immigrated to America. They were married in Houston county, Minne-
sota, where he had settled in the seventies. John Grettum worked as a
farm hand until 1882, when he came to Clay county and took up a home-,
stead of one hundred and si.xty acres in Ulen town.ship, where he has since
made his home. He dexeloped the raw land into a good farm, placing it
under excellent improvements, including the erection of a substantial group
of buildings. He has engaged in general farming and stock raising. His
wife died in 191 5. She was a member of the Lutheran church to which
he also belongs. He was treasurer of the .school board in his district
for a number of years. To John Grettum and wife six children were born,
namelv : Clara, Julius, Selma, Clarence, Henrv and Helen, all of whom
are living at this writing.
Henry Grettum received his education in the district schools. He has
always lived on the home farm, which he has l)een managing successfully
since 1916. He received excellent training tinder his father and is a student
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. \J\
of modern methods of agriculture. He feeds much of the grain the phice
produces to h\e stocic, fattening large numbers of cattle and hogs for the
market annually. He has remained unmarried He has been treasurer of
the local school district for two years. I'oliticallv. be is a Republican.
JOHN HENRY FREEA'IAN.
John Henry Freeman, manager of the Moorhcad Nezvs, is a native of
the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was a
child, having been lint four years of age when his parents settled at Moor-
head. He was born ;it Rdckfnrd,. Illinois. May 27. 1878, son of C. W. and
Anna M. ( Blomf|uisl i breeman. who came to Minnesota in March, 1882,
and settled in Mooriiead. where they since have made their home.
Jn ]<)07 John 11. breeman became proprietor of the Moorhcad Iiulc-
l^cndcnt and continued as the publisher of that paper until 191 1, in which
year he disjiosed of his paper and was thereafter engaged in operating a job-
printing plant in Fargo. North Dakota, until in April, 1916, when he was
enga.ged as manager by the Moorhead News Company, of which he is one
I'f the stiickholders.
LEWIS LOFGREN.
Lewis Lofgren, cashier of the First National Bank of Ulen and one
of the most"acti\e real-estate dealers and promoters of immigration in
Clav county, is a native of Sweden, but has been a resident of this country
since he was four years of age. He was born on March u. 1864. son
of Olaf and Margaret (Johnson) Lofgren. also natives of the kingdom
of Sweden, who came to the L'nited States with their famil\- in 1868 and
-ettled in Trempealeau cmint)'. Wisconsin. Two years later, in 187c. they
came over into Minnesota and located on a homestead quarter section in
I 'ope comity, between Tdenwood and Sauk Center, remaining there until
their retirement from the farm and removal in 1908 to Duluth, where
both are now living. To Olaf Lofgren and wife were l)orn seven children,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth: the
others being: Charles J.. August. Julius. Fred. Melvin and Clara L.
.\s noted above, Lewis Lofgren was but four years of age when he
came with his parents to this country and was but six when they moved
1J2 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
from Wisconsin to Pope county, this state. He grew to manhood on the
home farm in the latter county, a valued assistant to his father and elder
brother in the labors of improving and tleveloping the home place. lie
supplemented the schooling he received in the local schools by attendance
at the high school at Sauk Center and at a business college at La Crosse.
Wisconsin. In the meantime, his elder brother, Charles J. Lofgren, had be-
come engaged in the drug business at Sauk C^enter and, uiX)n leaving the
business college, Lewis Lofgren liecame engaged as prescription and general
clerk in his brother's store, continuing thus engaged for three years. At
the end of that period, in 1886, he transferred his services to the Bank of
Park Kivcr at Park River. Xorth Dakota, and was there employed as lx)ok-
keeper and assistant cashier until 1890, wlien he returned to Minnesota
and became engaged as assistant cashier in the bank of his brother, Charles
T. Lofgt;en. at Ada. n(n\ the First National Bank, and was thus engaged
there until i8c;_'. In that year, he went to the coast and for two years
thereafter was employed in a bank at Sumas City, Washington. In 1894
Mr. Lofgren returned to the i)lace he had left in the bank at Ada and
remained there until 1897, when he went to Chicago ami was for a year
engaged in the maimfacturing business in that city. He then returned
to the bank at .\da and was there again employed until in June, 1899,
when he was elected cashier of the State Bank of L'len and moved to that
village, where be has since resided. In December, 1903, the State IJank
of Ulen was reorganized and was rechartered as the First National Bank
of Ulen, Mr. Lofgren being retained as cashier of the same, a jwsition he
still occupies, one of the best-known bankers in this part of the state. Since
taking up his residence in Lien, Mr. Lofgren has been also actively engaged
in the general real-estate business, with particular reference to farm lands,
and in that capacity has done much to stimulate immigration to this part
of the state, having encouraged many settlers to locate in this region.
In the year 1897 Lewis- Lofgren was united in marriage to CharloUe
C. Irwin, and to this imion five children have been born: Lowell I., ?^Iar-
, garet L., Lawrence, Mildred and Charles. The Lofgrens have a very pleas-
ant home at Ulen and take an interested part in the general social activities
of the community. Mr. Lofgren is a member of the local lotlges of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of Amer-
ica, and in the affairs of these organizations takes a warm interest. He
gives careful attention to the general business and civic activities of W\>
home village and of the county at large, and has long been regarded as
one of Clav countv's "live wires."
CLAV AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MIXXESOTA. 1 73
JEXS LARSON.
Jens Larson, a suljstantial and progressive farmer, ihe owner of large
tracts of land in Clay county, former treasurer of the township school board,
and otherwise identified with public affairs, was born in the kingdom of
Sweden, but has been living in the L'nited States for the past thirty years,
ha\'ing immigrated from his native land in 1887. He is the son of Lars
and Anna Fireson. also born in Sweden and who spent their last days in
that country.
Lars Fireson was educated in the schools of his native land, following
which he engaged in farming and continued thus occupied during the years
of his active life, his death occurring in 1902, when he had reached the
age of seventy-seven years. His wife, Anna Fireson, died in 191 2 at the
ad\anced age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of the following-
children : Peter and John, living in this country ; Torkel, who lives in
Sweden; Johanna, the wife of Ingle Christianson, and who lives in Sweden;
-Marie, who married Xels Pearson and lives in Haver, Montana, and Jens,
the subject of this sketch.
Jens Larson was educated in the schools of his native land and was
reared on his father's farm, where he was an able assistant in the work
of the farm. In 1887, he left Sweden and came to this country, locating in
Clay county, Minnesota, where he settled in section 16, Hawley township.
There he bought two hundred acres of land, which he continued to operate
for several years and which he still owns. His first venture in farming
in the new country pro\ing successful, he continued to add to his land
holdings and in T902 he Ijought a tract of two hundred and sixty-seven
acres in section 8, Hawley township. Mr. Larson and his sons now own
among them about one thousand acres of the choicest land to be found
in the township. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, having
an excellent herd of Shorthorn cattle, and since the commencement of h{>
operations he has been most successful, everything about his farms l>emg
in good order and condition. He has entirely remodeled some of the
outbuildings and erected new ones, including potato storage accommodation
and additions to the dwelling house. He allots about seventy acres to
the cultivation of potatoes and is generally regarded as one of the progres-
sive and substantial farmers of the township.
In November, 1889, Jens Larson was united in marriage to Anna
iThvsell) Tolson. Mrs. Larson had been married before, the first husband
174 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
being Andrew Tolson. who died in Clay county. .Minnesota, in 1888. Tliere
were no children Ijorn to this union. Mrs. Larson was horn in Sweden in
February, 1867, and came to .\nierica twenty years afterward, in 1887. She
was the daughter of Andreas and Emma (Helstrom) Thysell, both i\ative~
of Sweden, where the father died in 1901. The mother, who survived the
father, came to .\merica in igo6 to join her children, all of whom have
come to this country except one. Albion, who still resides in Sweden: the
others are: Anna, the wife of the subject oi' this review: August, wh"
was drowned near I'ortland. Oregon; Tilda, the wife of John Larson,
living near St. Cloud. Minnesota.: Xels, who resides in Hawley, and Carl.
living in Hawlex' township, .\ndreas and lunula Tliysel! were de\out and
conscientious iiieniliers of the Lutheran church, rearing their children in
that faith. Jens and .\niia Larson are the parents of eleven cliildren all
of whom are living: Lewis, Edward, who owns eighty acres anil rents a
half section: Anna. Carl. Hilda. Selnia. Clarence. \'ictor. X'endal. Oscar
and Ida. Mr. Larson takes a good citizen's interest in the local civic affair--
and in the general conditions of the cominunit\ in which he li\es. He
served on the township board and as super\isor iov ten years, and was
treasiuer of the schcjol board for two terms. In these representative posi-
tions he rendered a good account of himself, serving tlic ]ienple with fidelitx'
and abilit\-.
li:XS WIXTU.M. IK.
L the husbandman is fortunate enough to have the true vision of
farming and starts out to make it a reality, he will certamly find this busi-
ness a most profitable one. He will urge the l)ackward acres of his farm
into actix it\ that will make them produce abundantly, keep a good grade of
li\e stock and use the most modern implements. S\ich a man is lens W'inium.
Jr., of Goose Prairie township. Clay county.
Mr. Winjuni was born in Fillmore countv. Minnesota, belirnary 21.
1871. a son of Jens. Sr., and Margaretta W'injum. both natives of Norway,
where they .sjient their earlier years, finally coming to America and locating
in I<"illmore county. Minnesota. The mother died in 1905 at the age of sixty
years. The father was twenty years okl when he came to America, coming
at once to Fillmore county, this state, where he worked out as a farm hand.
He came up to Clay county in 1871 and homesteaded one hundred and sixty
acres in section u. Highland Grove township, bein,g one of the pioneers of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. T
/.I
the county, and there he followed general farming successfully for a period
of a))out forty years. He added to his original holdings by buying eighty-
six acres and, later, one hundred and sixty more. He became one of the
leading farmers of his township and was influential there in the early histor\-
of the locality. He finally sold out and moved to Norman cmmty, where he
has since li\ed retired, after many years of hard work, at the age of seventy-
four years. His family consists of nine children, namely : Ella and Louise,
who are both dead; Andrew, who owns and operates a farm in Norman
county, Minnesota: Claia, Anna, Mary and Sam, all four of whom are
deceased, and Jens, Jr., t>\ this sketch, the youngest of the family.
Jens Winjum, Jr., who was an infant when his parents brought him
here from I'"illmore county, grew to manhood on the home farm where he
assisted with the general wofk during crop seasons, and in the winter time
he attended the district schools. When a young man, he began farming for
himself, and in 1897 bought his present farm of two hundred acres, one
hundred and sixty acres in section 21, Goose Prairie township and forty
acres in section 5, Highland (Irove township. It was all wild land, and he
worked hard ])utting it under its present hi.gh state of cultivation and devel-
opment. He has erected a substantial rmd convenient set of buildings, set
out a grove, and added other excellent improvements, and has oile of the
choice farms in his locality. He raises wheat, oats and flax, principally, and
also sends large numliers of cattle and hogs to the market every year. He
is one of the leading farmers of bis vicinity. He is a stockholder and direc-
tor in the State Bank at Hitterdal.
Mr. Winjum was married June i, 1898, to Jennie Iverson, who was
burn in Norway, December 8. 1880. She came to America with her parents
when fourteen years old, the family locating near Hitterdal, Clay county,
^Minnesota, where Mr. Iverson bought a farm. He carried on general
farming there' until a few years ago, when he sold part of the farm and
mo\-ed to the \illage of Hitterdal, where he and his wife are now living in
retirement. To Mr. and Mrs. Winjum, six children have been born, all
of whom are'living; they are: Clara, now (1917) eighteen years old, who
is attending the State Normal school at Moorhead, and ex])ects to become
a teacher: I'.lla, aged fourteen: George, who has reached the age of thir-
teen; Arnt, who has passed his tenth birthday; Norman, who has attained
the age of eight; and Murkle, who is now six years old.
Politically, Mr. Winjum is an independent. He .served as assessor
of Goose I'rairie township for six or seven years, but is not now incumbent
176 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
of til is oFfice. He took the census for the government of Goose Prairie and
Keene townships in 1910, and is at present a director on the school hoard in
his district. He helongs to the Lutheran church, in which he is a trustee.
LARS B. LARSON.
Lars B. Larson, one of the real pioneers of Norman county and a well-
known and substantial retired farmer of Halstad township, now living in
the pleasant village of Halstad, has been a resident of this section of the
state from the days of the beginning of permanent settlement up this way.
having come here before the city of Moorhead had been laid out and some
years before the city of Ada even had been projected in the mind of man.
In those days the old Hudson Bay Company was still doing a. thriving busi-
ness in furs throughout this section of the country and for some time after
taking his homestead here Mr. Larson found profitable incidental employ-
ment as a freighter in the service of that company. When settlers began
coming in and there were enough of them in the vicinity of the location of
Mr. Larson's place to effect a township organi;;ation he took an active part
in the organization of Halstad township and afterward served for some
time as a member of the board of township supervisors and for two years
as chairman of the Iward, while in other ways he performed well his part
in the general development of this section in pioneer days.
Lars B. Larson was born in the kingdom of Norway on January 18,
1846, son of Bjorn and Ingeborg (Johnson) Larson, natives of that same
country, \\'ho came to the United States with their family in 1854 and located
in LaSalle county. Illinois, whence, two years later, in 1856, they came to
Minnesota and settled in Fillmore county, where they remained until along
in the middle or later seventies, when they came up to this part of the state,
whence their son, the suljject of this sketch, had preceded them some \ears
before, and located in Halstad township, Norman county, where they si)ent
their last days. Bjorn Larson was a substantial pioneer farmer. Though
reared a Lutheran, he died in the faith of the Methodist church. He and
his wife were the parents of nine _ children, of whoin the subject of this
sketch was the first-born, the others being Andrew B., Martha B.. B. B.,
Lena, Daniel, Eli, William and Christen.
Eight years of age when he came with his parents to this country, Lars
B. Larson completed his schooling in the schools of Fillmore countv. this
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY'
I JTMOX
CLAY AND NORMAN COL'NTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 77
State, and there grew to manhood on the farm on which his parents had
settled, farming on his own account after he had attained his majority. In
1 87 1 he married and in that same year he and his wife came up to this part
of the state, thus being among the very first permanent settlers in this
section. That was one year before Clay county was organized as a separate
civic body and ten years before the organization of Norman county, Moor-
head, the county seat of Clay county, not being founded until a year after
lie came up here and Ada, seat of Norman county, not for some years after-
ward. Upon coming up here Mr. Larson entered a quarter of a section of
land, a portion of which was situated in section 13 of what later came to Ije
organized as Halstad township and tlie remainder in section 18 of the adjoin-
ing township, establishing his home on that portion in section 13. When
the "odd" sections later were set off to the state to be held in trust for the
promotion of railroad Iniildiiig, Mr. Larson was required to buy that portion
lit his homestead l>ing in section [3. ^Slr. Larson and his wife drove through
from Fillmore count\- with two ox-teams, two cows, two calves and two
sheej), a wagonload of household goods and essential farming implements,
one sack of flour and five dollars in cash. During the first year of his resi-
dence here Mr. Larson was able to add to his small supply of cash by doing-
some freighting lor the Hudson Bay Company, which at that time was
still doing an extensive business in the Red River vallc}-. .\s he gradually-
]irosiicrcd in his farming operations Mr. Larson added to his land holdings
imtii be became the owner of four hundred and seventv-five acres of excel-
lent land and was counted one of the substantial pioneer residents of that
section. He continued to make his home on the farm until 1896, when he
retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Halstad, where he
since has made liis home. In 1912 he bought a furniture store in that village,
but after conducting the same for about three years again retired and is now
taking things easy again. As noted above, Mr. Larson was one of the
organizers of Halstad township and served for years as meml)er of the
l:)oard of super\isors of the same, for two years serving as chairman of the
lioard. He is a member of the Methodist church and has ever given his
earnest attention to neighborhood good works and in other ways has been
helpful in bringing his home tow^nship to its present high state of develop-
ment.
Lars B. Larson has been twice married. It was on January 18. 187 1.
the year in which he movetl to this part of the .state, that he was united in
marriage, in Fillnn>re county, to Anna K. Faae, who shared with him the
(12a)
178 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
trials and privations of a life on the frontier and who died in 1896, after
a residence of more than twenty-five years in Halstad township. To that
union seven children were born, Bernhardt, Emma, Isabel, Theodore, Clara.
Emelia and Lawrence. On January 2, 1907, Mr. Larson married Betsie
Bloom, who died on July 10. 1915.
W. L. SPOTTS.
W. L. Spotts, [jostmaster at Dilworlh and a well-known railway con-
ductor in the ser\ice of the Northern Pacific, was bom in Sterling, Illinois,
August 7, 1869, a son of Adam and Margaret (Lichtenwalter) Spotts,
who were both natives of Ohio, the father having lieen born in Akron and
the mother, in Massilon, that state.
Adam Spotts was a farmer in Ohio. Later he removed to Sterling.
Illinois, where he lived and followed the same occupation for several years.
In 1880 he removed to Fargo, North Dakota, and entered one hundred
and sixty acres of land near that place under the homestead law. Me
improxed this lanil and maintained his home there until about 1886. when
he removed to OI)eron, North Dakota, and made a pre-emption and tree-
claim entry of three hundred and twenty acres. He farmed this for a
number of years and then returned to Fargo where he continued to live
until his death, which occurred in .\ugust. 1916. Adam Spotts was the
father of six children: Flla, Laura, Emma, William L., Herbert F. and
Jennie. He was an active member of the Congregational church and was
for many years a deacon in the Plymouth church of that denomination in
Fargo.
William L. Spotts was educated in the public .scliools of Sterling,
Illinois. In his young manhood he was employed as a salesman for the Luger
Furniture Company, at Fargo, and continued with that firm for six years.
He was then with the American Express Comi)any for two years, and
then entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad Compan\- as a
brakeman. He continued with this company for several years, working his
way up to the position of conductor. He was conductor on this road
running out of Fargo, for about twelve years: then came to Dilworth, in
1904, and took a position as conductor on the Northern Pacific railroad,
a position which he still holds. In 1916 Mr. Spotts was appointed post-
master of Dilworth but did not give up his railroad position. He still
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1/9
runs as conductor on the Northern Pacific, while his wife, as assistant
postmaster, attends to the postoffice.
In 1892 W. L. Spotts and Minnie J. Phimmer were united in marriage.
To this union two cliildren have Ijeen horn, William P., who is in the
L'nited States navy, and Margaret. They are memhers of the Christian
Science church at Fargo. The Order of Railway Conductors is Mr. Spotts's
only lodge affiliation.
HERBERT F. BURRILL.
Herbert V. Burrill. well-known contractor and Iniilder, of Hawley.
Clay county, was born in b>amingham, Massachusetts, January 24, 1853.
He is a son of Jacob and Plachael (Bennett) Burrill and a brother of H.
R. Burrill, sketches of whom will be found in another part of this volume.
Herbert F. Burrill received his education m the public schools of Fitz-
william. New Hampshire. .\s a boy he worked in a woodenware factor\-
at Fitzwilliam, then worked in a tlouring-mill for two years at Winchendon,
Worcester county, Massachusetts. He later secured employment in Keene.
New Hampshire, in a sash-and-door factory, where he remained about four
vears, at the end of which time he went to Dover, Maine, where he learned
the trade of bricklayer. In 1878 he came to Minnesota, locating at Hawley,
and proved up on a homestead in section 28, Keene township; living there
about ten vears, working at the mason's trade at intervals the meanwhile.
In 1895 he moved to Hawley, where he has since resided and followed a
contracting and building business ever since. He has worked on every
brick building in Hawley, with but one exceptif)n. He helped build the
first brick roundiiouse for the Northern Pacific railroad at T-'argo, North
Dakota, in 1879. He also helped build the second brick dwelling house
in Moorhead.
On March 19, 1884, Herbert 1*". Burrill was married to Jean AIcDonald.
a daughter of John McDonald and wife. Her death occurred on Septem-
ber 22, 1915. She was the mother of five children, namely: Addie. born
on Tanuary 13, 1S85, who married Ray Williams, h'ebruary [4, 1912, and
lives in Alberta, Canada: John, July 4. 1887, who is a bricklayer by trade:
Herbert drover, June 15. 1892, who is in the newspaper business: Mary
Augusta, October 13, 1895. a"'! Wallace Douglas. March 10, 1903.
Politically, Mr. Burrill is a Democrat. He was chairman of the first
lioard of supervisors of Keene township, and later was cliairman of the
l8o CLAY AND XORMAX COf XTIKS. MINNESOTA.
l)oard of supervisors of Hawiey township. He also served two terms as
justice of the peace at Hawiey, and was special census agent for the United
States in 191 5, covering ten counties. As a public servant he has discharged
his duties in an aljlc. faithful and highl\ accciitahlc manner.
BERXH.XRT .\SC1I P.. \CH.
Bernhart .\schi)ach. one of Xornian county's best-known and most sub-
stantial pioneer farmers, now living retired at Ada, secretary and treas-
urer of the Ada Creamery Association and secretary of the Xorman County
I'air Association and for years actively identified with the development of
those useful enterprises, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident
of Norman county since the days of his young manb(»od. Iiaving come <>ul
to this part of .Minnesota early in the days of the .settlement of this section.
Born on May 13. 1858, Bernhart .\schbach was reared in his nati\e
Gernianv and ilu-ie received his schooling and learned the trade of shoe-
maker. VVlien twenty-one years of age he married and two years later,
in 1881, he and his wife came to this country and proceeded on out to
Minnesota and settled in Xorman county, which has been their home ever
since. That was the \ear in which Norman county was organized as a
ci\ic unit and the country hereabout was very sparsely settled. Not long
after his arrival in Ada Mr. .\.-;chbach bimghl a tract of eighty acres in
AIcDonaldsville township and there established hi> home, improving and
developing the ])lace and remaining there for eight years, at the end of
which time he bought a half section of unimproved land in Winchester
township. On this Litter place Mr. .\schl)ach made his home from 1889
to 1913, in wliicii latter year he retired from the active labors of the farm
and moved to .\da. where he and his wife are now living and where the}'
are very comfortably situated. ^Ir. .\schbach improved his farm of three
hundred and twenty acres in excellent shape, putting up fine buildings,
and has there one of the best farm plants in the county. In addition to
his general farming Mr. Aschbach gave much attention to dairying and
when the Ada Creamery .Association \\as organized in 1903 was made
secretary and treasurer of the same and has ever since occupied those posi-
tions, doing much to help promote the dairy interests of this section of
the state. He also for years has given his earnest attention to the affairs
of the Norman Countv Fair Association and is now the secretary of that
CI.AY AND XORMAX COINTIES, MINNKSOTA. l8l
useful au(l inlluential urganization. During liis long residence in Winchester
township Mr. Aschhach gave proper attention to the civic affairs of that
township and served for some lime as township assessor. He also was
clerk' of his Ujcal school district an^l did much to advance the work nf
the school, while in other ways he also did what , he could U> a<lvance the
common welfare.
It was in 1879, two years hefore he came to America, that P.ernhart
Aschhach was united in marriage to Matilda Glaesner. who also was horn
in Germany, and to that uni(jn eight children have heen horn, Olga, Oscar.
William, (Jtto, Clara, George, Hilda and Elma, all of whom are living.
The Aschhachs are nienihers of the Lutheran church and have ever gixen
their earnest attention [n church work.
IL'LILS BAKER ASKE.
One of the large landowners of (lay county is Julius Baker Aske,
who resides in Moorhead. He was horn in Eillmoi'e county, Minnesota,
Decemher 13, i^~^, a son of Lars and Martha ( Bersagel ) .\ske. The
mother also was a native of that cijunty, hut the father was horn in Norwav,
from which country he came to America when a young man, locating in
Fillmore county, this state, where he married. Ahout 1882 he moved to
Norman county, hringing' his family and household effects overland hy ox-
team and wagon. He located on a homestead of one liundred and si.\t\'
acres, four miles northwest of Ada, later selling out and huying another
farm in the same \icinity and there he remainefl a number of years. He
worked hard developing the raw land and hy ])erseverance Ijecame \erv
comfortably establisherl, continuing farming during his active life. His
wife died on the farm in Norman county, hut he died in California. Their
family consisted of five children, Lewis, Louise, Julius, .\nna and Ella.
Julius P). .\ske attended- the early-day schools in Norman county, being
four yeJirs old when his |)arents located there. He assisted his father
with the work of imjjroving and culti\ating the homestead. ,\s a young
man he engaged in the ice and dra\age business at ,\da, then followed the
saloon business two vears, after which he spent one \eru- in Twin Valley,
in the same liusiness ; then came to Moorhead and continued in that line
until 1906. since which year he has been interested in a saloon in .Min-
neapolis. In 19 If) he started a pool hall and soft-drink business at his
l82 CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
old Stand next to the north bridge in Mnorhead. He owns six hundred
acres of vahtable land in Clay county, and four hundred and twenty acres
in Cass county, over the river in Xorth Dakota. Most of Mr. Aske's time
during the crop seasons is taken up with the management of his land. He
carries on general farming on a large scale.
Mr. Aske was married in 1903 to Rosella Schill. a native of Mariim
township. Norman county, and a daughter of Lambert Schill and wife.
To this union three children have been born. Jerome. Egienia and W'endal.
Politically, Mr. Aske is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Improved
Order of Red Men and to the I'ratern.al Order of Eagles.
OLE MARTFXSOX.
(31e Martinson was Ijorn in Xorway. Januar\- 19. 1847, ^ son of Martin
Anderson and Olava Jerswald, both natives of Xorway, where they lived
their entire life, the father being a farmer. Their children were: Erick,
Uergette, .Vnna, Xickolena, Karlen Marie, Ole and Olena.
Ole Martinson was educated in the schools of Norway. He worked on
his father's farm during the summer season, and in the winter engaged
in the business of cod fishing which was a common and remunerative voca-
tion of the people in that community. With a view of seeking a larger
opportunity for a livelihood, he followed the foo^teps of many others of
liis neighborhood and nationality and came to America in 1872. He landed
in Xew York, May 2T,, of that year, and came directly to Minnesota, locat-
ing first in St. Peter, Xicollet county, where he remained for three years. He
then went to ^Minneapolis, where he found employment for about seven years
in a planing mill. In 1882 he came to Moorhead, Minnesota, where he
has made his home since that time. For more than twenty years Mr.
Martinson was engaged in the mercantile business here, conducting a grocery
and crockery store, but in 1904 he sold this store and retired from business.
Mr. Martinson was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of
IMoorhead, and ser\ed as vice-president of this institution for several years.
He finally sold liis interest in the bank and retired from official connection
\vith this institution. For about sixteen years he has been a stockholder
in the Moorhead Xational Bank and is at present one of the directors of
this bank. ]\Ir. Martinson is also interested in farming. He is the owner
of a half section of land in Kurtz township. Clay county. Minnesota, a
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 183
tract of land well-adapted for general fanninq- and stock raising, in whicli
Air. Martinson is largely engaged.
The maiden name of Mr. Martinson'.s wife is Christine Otto. Three
children have been born to them: Mollie, who is at the head of the piano
department in Concordia College: Eric and Oscar. Mr. Martinson and
family are members of Trinity chnrch, Moorhead, Mr. Martinson being
one of the organizers and charter members of this church, of which he was
the first church treasurer. He has served several terms as school director
in Moorhead.
Eric Martinson, son of O. Martinson, was born in Moorhead, Minne-
sota, October ii, 1888, and was educated in the public schools of that citv.
He afterward attended the North Dakota Agricultural College, from which
he graduated as a civil engineer in 19 12. For the first three years after
graduating he was employed in engineering work in St. Paul, Minnesot;i.
In 1915 he returned to Moorhead and was appointed district engineer of
Clay county, which position he holds at present. He is a member of the
Norwegian Lutheran church, and a member of the Commercial Club of
Moorhead.
CLARENCE I. EVENSON.
Clarence I. Evensnn was born in Moorhead, January 17. 1890. a
son of Even and Olena (Anderson) Evenson, both natives of Norway.
The father came to America in the spring of 1882 and located first in
Decorah, Iowa, where he remained for four years, at the end of which
period he came to Moorhead, Minnesota, and has since made this his home.
He is the father of three children: Alvina E., Clarence I., subject of this
sketch, and Ethel. His church relationship is with the Norwegian Lutheran
church, at Moorhead.
C. I. Evenson was educated in the public schools of Moorhead, and
found employment, as a liny, in working for a grocery firm in Moorhead,
delivering groceries. Later he held the position of a clerk in the same store
and was thus employed for eight years. On November 9, 1912, he started
in the grocerv business for himself and has continued in this enterprise
since. He handles an extensive general grocery line and has established a
good trade in the town and surrounding country.
Mr. Evenson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in the
afifairs of which he takes a deep and consistent interest. He is fraternally
]84 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
atililiated witli the local lodges of the Modern Woodmen of America. Ini-
jM-oved Order of Red Men. Degree of Honor, the Royal League and the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is president of the Moorhead
Retail Merchants Association and is a member of the board of directors
of the State Retail Merchants .\ss(Kiation. Mr. Evenson is also keenly
alive to the civic progress of his comnnmity and was elected a membei- m'
the city council in January of 1917.
CHAUl.l'.S L.\MB. SK.
Charles Lamb. Sr., the hrst permanent settler in Llkton township. Clay
county, one of the organizers of that township and for twenty-four years a
member of the board of supervisors of the same and for ten years town-
ship clerk, a substantial landowner and retired farmer, who is noW varying
his residence between his tine farm home in l-llkton township and his town
house in Baker, is a native of Scotland, but has been a resident of Minnesota
since 187^. one of the early residents of the Red River country and one of
the most influential pioneers of the section in which he settled back in the
days of the beginning of the development of this region. He was liorn in
b'orfarshire. Scotland, April 30. 1844, son of John and Llizabeth Lamb, also
natives of Scotland, the former of whom died there many years ago and
the latter of whom came to this country with her younger son, the late John
Lamb, a meuKnial sketch of whom is ]>resented elsewhere in this volume,
in 1873, '^'^'l li\ed in Becker count\. this state, until ai)out 1878, w'hen she
homesteaded a quarter section in Rlkton township. Clay county, where sin-
spent the remainder of her life, making her home with her son William and
family. That quarter section is now owned by her grandson, Charles Lamb.
son of the subject of this sketch, whom she reared and who is now making
his home there. Of the chiklren born to the senior John Lamb and his wife,
the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being
David. .\nn. Magdaline. Charles, James. John, Alexander, Marv, lane and
William.
Reared on the h(jme farm in his native Forfarshire, Charles Lamb there
grew to manhood and was married. In 1872 he came to the United States
with his famil}' and proceeded on out to Minnesota, settling in Becker county,
which not long before had been opened for settlement, and there made his
home for five years, or until 1877. when he moved over into Clav countv
CHARLES LAMB. SR.
THP NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
astor. LENes.
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 85
and hume:^teade(I a quarter of a section of land in what later came to be
organized as Elkton township, tiie first permanent settler in th.it township.
At the same time he bought the tree-claim right to an adjoinin.g quarter sec-
tion, the original claimant having become discouraged and willing to dis-
pose of his claim, and later bought an adjoining tract of one hundred acres
of railroad land, thus making him a i)!ace of four hundred and twenty acres,
which he gradually improved and which he still owns, now one of the most
valuable farms in the townshi]). As the premier pioneer of that section of
the county. Air. Lauib look an active part in the organization of the town-
shij) when increasing settlement jiresently necessitated the organization of
the community for civil purposes, and was elected a member of the first board
of township supervisors, a position he occupied for twent}-four years and
in the performance of the duties of which he did much for the development
of the substantial interests of Elkton township and of the community in
general. For ten years he also served as clerk of the tcnvnship and likewise
helped to organize his home school district, the first school district in the.
townshi]). He also was a prominent factor in the organization of the first
religious congregation in that community and was a charter memlier of the
Presbyterian church, which at first conducted services in the school build-
ing, but later erected a house of worshij:) at Baker, of which congregation Mr.
Lamb is still an active member. During the days of the Good Templar
crusade in this countrv Mr. I.amb helped organize a branch of the (lood
Templars in his community and was active in the work of the same, the
meetings being held in the school house, which was the general social
center of the communit\- in those days. Mr. Lainb improved and developed
his land in fine shape and in (hie time had an excellent farm plant there, con-
timiing activelv engaged in farming and stock raising until his retirement,
since which time he has divided his time between his town house in Baker
and the farm. In addition to his extensive farining interests, Mr. Lamb is
the owner of a tidy bit of real estate in Baker and is quite well circiunstanced.
Mr. Lamb has been twice married. In Scotland he married Jessie
Taylor, who also was born in i-'orfarshire and who died some years after
the family settled in Clay county. To that union were born seven children,
Mary, David .\., John, Jennie, t'harles, James fdecea.sed). and Jessie
(deceased). Some time after the death of the mother of these children.
Mr. Lamb married, in Clav countw F.lizabeth Stewart, also now deceased,
who was born in Scotland and who came to Minnesota with iier parents,
Charles and Elizabeth Stewart, natives of Scotland, in 1S77. the family
1 86 CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
.-ettling- on a homestead farm of one lumdred and sixty acres in section 8
of Elkton township. Clay county. To this second union seven children were
horn, Elizabeth. Fred. Mabel, Ronald and three who died younf,^ As one
of the pioneers of Clay county Mr. Lamb has a remarkable fund of
reminiscences relating- to the early days of the settlement of this region and
his stories of pioneer days are interesting and informative. He has been a
witness to and a participant in the development of Elkton township and of
the Baker neighborhood since the days of the very beginning of a social
order therealxjut and has done well his part in that development.
O. N. IVERSOX.
O. N. Iversoii, the present postmaster at Baker, where he is an enter-
prising merchant, is well known in the southern part of Clay count}', although
he is but a young man. He was born in Tansem township, this county,
January 9. 1887, a son of S. O. and Anna (Herbranson) Iverson, the
father a native of Dakota county, Minnesota, and the mother, of Wisconsin.
About 1880, the father came to Clay county, Minnesota, and took up a
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Tansem township. He de-
veloped the raw land into a good farm and there he has since resided. He
put all the buildings and improvements on the place, and, prospering through
hard work and good management, has added to his original holdings until
he now owns three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, and is one
of the leading general farmers and stock raisers of his township. To S. O.
Iverson and wife eight children have been lx)rn, as follow : O. X., of this
sketch : Theodore. Emma. Cora. George. Xettie, Melvin and Alexander.
S. O. Iverson and wife belong to the Xorwegian Lutheran church. He has
Ijeen active in local public affairs for many years, serving on the board for
Tansem township for al)out fifteen years, and as a member of the school
board ten or twelve years.
O. N. Iverson grew to manhood on the home farm, and he received
his education in the rural schools of Tansem township. When seventeen
Acars old. he began clerking for Thompson Felde & Company of Barnes-
ville. this county, remaining in that capacity about four years, giving satis-
faction in every respect, for he was alert, courteous and faithful. He then
'spent two years in Adams county. Xorth Dakota, on a homestead of one
hundred and sixty acres. He left there in the spring of 1910 and came
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 187
to Baker, Clay county, Minnesota, where he worked for Possehl Brothers
in tlieir store for two years, giving them excellent service, for he had
fdnnerly mastered the various phases of the mercantile business. In 1912,
lie launched out in business for himself, starting a general grocery store
at Baker, where he has built up a large trade and carries an extensive stock
of staple .-md fancy groceries. In 1917 he and his brother, Theodore, who is
unmarried, bought the implement business of H. C. Possehl and N. C.
Xoice and this the\- are operating with gratifying results, their trade with
the surri3unding country for many miles being on the upward trend.
On December 8, 19 14, O. X. Iverson was appointed postmaster at
Baker and has since been discharging his duties in a manner acceptaljle t'>
the people of this vicinity and to the postoffice department.
Mr. Iverson was married in 1912 to Clara Butenhoff, a daughter of
August Butenhoff and wife. Two children have been born to ^Ir. and
Mrs. Iverson. namelx- : Francelia and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Iverson be-
long to the English Lutheran church at Barnesville. in the affairs of which
thev have a devout and conscientious interest.
CHARLES E. COLBY.
Charles E. Colby, ecHtoi and publisher of the Banicsz'illc Headlight at
Barnesville, and former president of the Clay County Editorial Associa-
tili)ii, is a nati\e son of Minnesota and has spent all his life in this state,
witli the exception of four \'ears spent in the postoffice service in South
Dakota back in the eighties. He was born on a pioneer farm in Plain-
view township, in Wabasha county, but was reared and educated at Glencoe,
where he finished the high school course : later becoming a student in the
Archibald Business Cnlle.ge at Minneapolis. His father, George H. Colby,
a native of Xew York stale and a veteran of the Civil War, lived on his
farm in McLeod countv until his retirement and removal to Hector, where
his last days were spent.
.\t the age of thirteen years, Charles E. Colby began his ai)prenticeship
in "'the art preservative of all arts," and before he entered the business col-
lege had become a proficient printer, thoroughly familiar with the details of
that important trade, and was engaged working at that trade until 1884,
when he went to Groton. South Dakota, where he spent the ensuing four
\ti-Ar< as a clerk in the postoffice and as mailing clerk in the railway post-
l88 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
office at that jjlace. In 1888 Mr. Colby returned to Glencoe und there bought
the plant of the Enterprise and was editor and manager of that paper for
two years, at the end of which time he scjld the Enterprise and moved to
Duluth, where he established a jobiirinting- ])lam and was there engaged in
the jolj-printing business until i8()_^. In the meantime Mr. Colby had mar-
ried at Duluth and in 1893 he mo\ ed with his family to (Irand Rapids, thi-
state, where he entered upon the position of foreman of the plant of the
Magnet and where he remained until his removal to Barnesville, which has
ever since been his place of residence. It was in January, 1897, that Mr.
Colliy established the Rarnesville Record, the lirst number of which \\a.'~
dated January 2S. Mr. Colby started the Record as a stanch supporter of
the principles of the Republican party and continued to publish the same
until he sold the i)aper to the P.arnesville Record-Review Company in 1903,
after which, for two years, he acted as local agent for the Money-Weight
Scale Company, of Toronto. Mr. Colby then returned to the print shop and
took uj) the duties of foreman of the plant of the Barncsz'ille Rccord-Rei'iezv.
Two years later he was made manager of the Record-Reinciv and continued
in that position nnlil 11)13. in which year he established his present news-
paper, the Baniesz'ille lleadiight. .\t the same time he bought the plant
of the Moorhead Independent and on July 18, 1913, merged that paper with
the Headlight, which has ever since been published under that name, the pub-
lishing linn being Colby Brothers. The BaruesviUe Headlight is well
ei[uipped mechanically, not only for ne\\si)aper work but for general job
printing, the efiuipment including a linotype machine and all the up-t<i-date
appliances for the successful operation of a modern ()rinting ])lant. Mr.
Colby is widely known in newspaper circles throughout this part of the
state and for three years or more served as president of the Claj' County
Editorial .As.sociation, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
It was while living at Duluth that Charles ]•.. CoUiy was united in
marriage to Anna Termath, also natives of Minnesota, born in the village
of LeSuenr, in LeSueur county, of German descent, though her parents
both were of American birth. Mr. and Mrs. Colby have two sons, Dana
T. and Everett C, the latter of whom is associated with his father in tlie
publication of the Barnes^c'ille Headlight, an energetic and progressive voung
newspaper man. Dana T. Colby also is engaged in newspaper work, which
has been his life-long vocation, and is now coiinected with the Fargo (North
Dakota) Daily Eornin. He received his early training in new.spaper work
under the able direction of his father and then for some time was emploved
on the force of the Courier-Neivs at Fargo, later going to the Fargo Eonini
CLAY AND NOKMAK COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. " 189
and thence to the Capital at Jamestown. North Dakota, later to tlie Bis-
inark Tribune and then returning to the Forum, wliere lie holds an editorial
chair.
OLE E. REIRSGORD.
Ole E. Reirsgord was horn, July 2T,, 1875, in Norway, a son of Evan
Gury (Ellingson) Reirsgord. hoth natives of Norway, the former l)eing
horn, Septemher 4, 1851, and the latter, January i, 1852. The father came
to America in 1875 and located in Houston county, Minnesota, his wife and
child coming the following \'ear. In 1877, Evan Reirsgord came to Clay
county and legated a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Ulen
township, section 10, where he lived two years and then sold the impro\e-
ments to Robert Syverson. He then removed to another location in Hagen
township, six miles west, taking a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres. He lived on this for about sixteen years and then sold out and
removed to Thief River h'alls, Minnesota, where he li\ed for four years.
Disposing of this ])lace, he removed to Canada, where he still lives. His
first wife died in ]888, and four years later he married Julia Halvorson,
who died in 1898. He was the father of six children by his first wife:
Ole 1'^., the subject of this review; .\nnie, Ella, Julius. Olof and Carrie; and
of four children by his second wife: Edward, Gilbert. P>ert, and Hilman.
He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
O. E. Reir.sgord was educated in the puhhc schools of Hagen township,
and in the city .schools of Moorhead which he attended about three winters.
In the spring of 1893, he be.gan teaching school in Clay county, continuing
in this profession every sjiring and fall until the spring of 1898. In the
winter and spring of 1894, he attended Concordia College at Moorhead,
where he completed a business course, graduating from that institution. In
the spring of 1898, he iiought the plant of the Ulcn Union, took jiossession
as sole proprietor, Mrw 17. of that year, and has been editor and publisher
of the same since that date.
Air. Reirsgord was postmaster of Lien from June, 1909, to June, igi.V
lie is the present chairman of the Republican central committee of Clay
county, and president of the public school lioard. He has served as presi-
dent of the village council, villa.ge recorder and justice of the jieace. lb-
held all these official positifms before he became postmaster.
On June 3, i8()7, O. r:. Reirsgord and Clara Bjerke, a daughter d'
igO CLAY AXD XORMAN COUXTIKS. MINNESOTA.
Nels and Catherine Bjerke, were united in jnarria,<;c. They have seven
children: Alice, Erwin, Cora, Lila, Reuben. .Milton and May. Tlicy are
members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Reirsgord is at present superin-
tendent of the Sunday school and takes a jironiinent part in all church
activities. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd I'ellow^ and
of the Modern \\"oodmen of America.
OLE O. EGGE.
Ole O. Egge. a well-to-do and prominent farmer and owner of a
several tracts of land in HumI)oldt township. Clay county, director on the
township school board and on the township board and otherwise active in
public affairs, was bom in the kingdom of Xorway. .March i, iSf>i. i)ut
has been living in this country since 1884, having settled in Clay county in
.\pril of that year. He is the son of Ole Hanson and Carrie (Dahlen) Egge,
also born in Norway and who lived and died in that country.
Ole Hanson Egge was educated in the schools of Xorway where he
was a farmer liy occupation and continued thus engaged for the remainder
of his active life, his death occurring in his native land in 1878. Ole H.
Egge was twice marrieil, his lirst__wife being Goro Dahlen, to whom he was
married alxnit i8j8. and to that union the following children were born:
Hans, who was born in i8.:;o and died in Xorway at the age of eighty-seven
vears: Paul: .Anders and .\nn.i. By his second marriage, in 1846, to Carrie
Dahlen he was the father of four children, namely: Ole O., the subject of
this .sketch; Goro, Bertha Marie and Carrie. Mr.s. Carrie (Dahlen) Egge
died in Xorway in 1890. Ole H. Egge was a member of the Norwegian
T,utheran church.
Ole O. Egge was educated in the schools of Xorway and was reared
on his father's farm, where he assisted in the labors of the same. His father
died when he was se\enteen years old. and for six years thereafter, or until
1884 when he immigrated to this country, he continued to remain oti the
old home farm and help the other members of the family. Upon his arrival
in Clav county, Mr. Egge purchased eighty acres of land, part of his present
farm, and, as he prospered in his farming operations, he made further pur-
chases and now has a tract of five hundred and eighty acres of choice land'
in section 12, Humboldt township, and has additional land in sections i
and II, in the same township. He carries on general fanning according to
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1 (J I
modern methods of agriculture and is very successful. His place is well
improved with new buildings and dwelling house, and he is accounted
one of the substantial and progressive farmers of this section of the county.
On November 7, 1894, at Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, Ole O. Egge
was united in marriage to Anna Egge, who was born in Norway in 1861
and came to America in 1884, ten years before the date of her marriage.
To this union the following children have been born : Clara, Oscar, Olga
(deceased), Gena and Henry. The Egge family are members of the
Norwegian Lutheran church and are warmly interested in all its good
works, and to the congregation of the church Mr. Egge has been secretary
for the past twenty-three A'cars. He takes a good citizen's interest in the
civic and general affairs of the township and has served as a member of
district school board No. 45 for upwards of twenty-four years. He has
rendered further pul)lic service through his connection with the township
board, at the deliberations of which he has been a constant attendant for
the long period of eighteen years. In many other directions he has given
evidence of a warm interest in ,ill matters tending toward the common
good of the community.
PETER B. MOORE.
Peter B. Moore was born in Becker county, Minnesota, November 10,
1878, a son of Peter and Kari (Oppen) Moore, natives of Norway, who
came to America in 1872 and located in Becker county, Minnesota, where
they took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of government
land in Cuba township, of that county. Here they built a home, improved
the land, and continued to live until Peter Moore's death in 1881. His
wife is still living. There were seven children in this family: Christina,.
Bertha, Andrew, Atlanta, who was born on the .\tlantic cjcean on their
way to this country: Ellick, Hans and Peter B. 'I'lie father was an active
member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Peter B. Moore was educated in the public schools of Cuba township.
Baker county, and worked on the farm in his early years. In the spring of
1897, he came to Ulen. Clay county, and was employed as a clerk in the
store of Robert Hanson for two years. He was afterward employed for
three years as a clerk for L. V. Herreid, and then with the Ulen Mercantile-
Company until 1910, in which year, Mr. Moore, in partnership with (iill
Fevig, bought out this company and assumed full control of the busuiess
192 CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIKS. MINXKSOTA.
and liave continued thus e\er since. They are <;;eneral niercliaiidise dealers
and have also a potato warehouse business in connection with their store.
In 1902, Peter B. Moore and Helma Fe\ig were united in marriage,
and three children ha\e been born to this union: Ruby. T'ern and Ray.
Mr. Moore is a member of the United Lutheran church, and also a member
of the Modern \\'oodmen of .\merica.
SMITH WESLEY McEVERS.
Smith Wesley AlcEvers. former member of the board of supervisors of
I'^lmwood township, Cla\- county, former assessor of that township and the
proprietor of a fme farm of si.\ hundred and thirtv-.sevcn acres in the
vicinity of Baker, where lie has made his home since his marriage in 1883.
is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but has been a resident of Minnesota
since he was twenty-five years of age. He was horn on a farm in the prov-
ince of Ontario in 1.S55. <on of Hiram and b'lizabeth (Grieves) McEvers,
the former Of whom also was born in C)ntari(j and the latter in Sc(jtland.
whose last days were spent on their well-kept farm in Ontario. Hiram
McExers and wife were the parents of eleven children, Jane, John, Elizabeth.
Mary Ann. Hiram, William. Stephen. Benjamin, Emily. James and Smith
W'esley. all of whom are now deceased sa\e the three last named.
Reared on the liome farm in Ontario, Smith W. McEvers received his
schooling in the .schools of his Ikmuc neighborhood and rerrmined there until
he was twenty-five years of age. when, in 1880, he came down into the States
and located at St. Paul, where for three years he was employed in the estab-
lishment of E. B. Stickney & Company. In iSHt, he married and, seeking
a place to establish a permanent home, came up into the Red River country
and bought die farm on which he is now living, in ICImwood township. Clay
county, and has ever since made his home there, having created there one
of the liest farm jilanis in that part of the county. ^Mr. McEvers has a well-
improved place of six hundred and thirty-seven acres, on which he is en-
gaged in general farming, potato raising and stock raising, making a spe-
cialty of his fine Percheron horses, and has done'well in his operations. From
the time of die l)eginning of liis residence there, Mr. McEvers has given a
.good citizen's attention to local civic attairs and has served his township
;is a member of the board of supervisors and as assessor.
In 1883, the year in which he settled in Clav countv. Sniidi W'. McEvers
v.
THE NEW YORK 1
PUBLIC LIBRARY
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA, 1 93
was united in marriage to Bessie Larson, who was born in the kingdom of
X(irw;iy and who had come to tlie United States in 1866, when but a small
child, with her parents. Andrew and ^Marian Dorothy (Halverson) Larson,
the family settling in Wisconsin, where Andrew Larson and his wife spent
the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of five children, those
besides Mrs. McRvers being Mar\-. Lars. Hans and Josephine. Of these
children but two are now living. Mrs. McEvers and her brother Lars. Mr.
and Mrs. McEvers have five children. Charles A., George W., Joseph S.,
Stephen and Daniel L., all of whom are living. The family are members of
the Presbyterian church and take an interested part in church work and in
the general good wdrks and social activities of the neighborhood, helpful in
man\- ways in promoting movements having to do with the advancement of
the common welfare.
O. C. MARTINSON.
O. C. Martinson was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, December 27, 1890,
a son of O. Martinson, who was a native of Norway, born on January 19,
1847.
O. C. Martinson was educated in the public schools of Moorhead, and
after the completion of his elementary studies, he attended Concordia col-
lege, at Moorhead. and graduated from that institution in 1909. Later he
engaged in business, and with .i view of fitting himself for the profession
of optometrist, he attended an optical school, at Minneapolis, where he took
a full course of instruction, passed the required examination and received
a certificate as a registered optometrist in the state of Minnesota.
In 191 1 O. C. Martinson, associated with j. Ouale. purchased
the jewelry store of Sweningsen & Company, in Moorhead. and engaged in
that business under the firm name of Quale & Martinson. In March, 1916,
.Mr. .Martinson purchased his partner's interest and has since conducted
the business alone. He carries a full line of jewelry and optical goods and
has a good trade among the substantial people of the town and county.
Mr. Martinson is a member of the Trinity church of Moorhead, and
:i member of the church quartette. He is a baritone singer and is prom-
inent in musical circles. Mr. Martinson is not married and makes his home
with his parents.
(13a)
194 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
JOHX LUTHI.
John Lutiii. a well-known and substantial farmer, li\in^- in Haw ley
township, the owner of a (luarter-section of prime land and actively engaged
in farming- oiierations, is a native of the republic of Switzerland, but has
been living in this country since he was seventeen years old, having immi-
grated from his native land in 1886. He was born in June, 1869, a son of
Christ L. and .\nna liarbara 1 l-'iman ) l.uthi. who came to the I'niled States
in 1891.
Christ L, Luthi was born in Switzerland in 1830, and in that countr\-
he was educated and brought uj) to the life of a fanner. He was marrieil
in his native land and immigrated to .\merica in 1891, his son. John, the
subject of this sketch having preceded him some five years before. He
continued to follow fanning after coming here, and is now living practicalb
retired in the state of Iowa. His wife. .\nna iJarljara FZiman, was born
in 1838, also a natixe of Switzerland, and came witli lier husband to this
country in 1891 and is now living in Iowa. Christ Luthi and wife are
the parents of the following children: Charlie, iMed, .\lbcrt, .\nna, Louisa.
Lena and John. During their active lifetime the parents were inlluential
residents of the district in which they lived and were helpful in promoting
all good causes for the benefit of the communitv.
John Luthi was educated under the excellent .school system that pre-
vails in Switzerland, and, on coming to this country in 1886, he commenced
to work on farms and came to Clay county in 1898, after his marriage in
the previous year. He entered into occupation of his present farm in 1903
and now is the o\\ ner of a (|uarter section of choice land in section 9, Haw-
ley township. Here he is engaged in general farming and since the com-
mencement of his agricultural operations he has been most successful, his
place Ijeing well improved and his farming methods being modern in all
particulars. He sets out a portion oi his holding, exclusivelv. to the culti-
vation of potatoes.
In 1897, John Luthi was united in marriage to Hermina Sinkler, a
native of Germany, who was born in that country in Ajiril, 1877, and who
has been living in this country since she was si.x years old. Mr. and .Mrs.
Luthi are the parents of eleven children, as follow: Rosie. who is inarrieil:
Minnie. Loui.sa, Lena, Elau. John, Freda. George, Clara. Margaret and
A'label. Mr. Luthi takes a good citizen's interest in all community affairs,
and for years has been giving attention to the cause of education, serving
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I (J5
as treasurer of the t(nvnship sdiool Ijoarcl. His efforts are not confined
to that form of puljlic usefuhiess. and in many other wavs he has given
of his time and enert,^- to furtlier the welfare of the cuinniunitv.
FRAXK \-. SVENSON.
Frani< \'. Svenson. son of Sven Anderson and Ehia (Nelson) Svenson,
and a native of Sweden, as were his father and mother, was horn. April 5.
1882. His father still lives in Sweden and follows the occupation of a
farmer, the ^uhject of this sketch hein.g- the only child in this family.
i-'rank \'. Svenson was eflucated in the puhlic schools of Sweden and
s])ent his early manhocjd in werkint;- with his father on the farm. In 11)04
he came to America and located at Hitterdal. Clay county, Minnesota. He
found emplo\nient in carpenter work and followed that trade until 1912. He
then hecaniL- niana,t;er of the Wilcox Lumber Company at Hitterdal, and
has been thus enc^a^ed since that time. He is not married.
C. T. KCKMANN.
C. J. Eckmann. he.id nt the C. J. Eckmann Euniher Company at Hen-
drum, present treasurer of the \illa.ge of Hendrum and one of the best-
known and most wideawake business men in Xorman county, is a native
of the king-dom of Norway, but has been a resident nf Minnesota fin-
more than a quarter of a century, having li\ed at Hendrum e\'er since he
was twenty-five years of age. He was born in the city of Stavanger. on
the southwest coast of Norway, October 14. 1866, son of Ca])t. Carsten
and Malena (Johnson) Eckmann, both of whom were born in that same
city, the former of whom is now living in the xillage of fTendrum and
the latter of whom spent her last days there.
Capt. Carsten Eckmann grew uj^ to the life of the sea and became the
captain of a merchant vessel, which he sailed for \ears, or until he tired
of the sea and. in 1891, came to the United States with his family, pro-
ceeding on out t<i Minnesota and coming on up here into the Red River
valley and locating in Norman county. He bought a farm of four hundred
acres one-half mile east of the village of Hendrum and there made his
]g6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
home for ten years, or until 1901. when lie sold his farm and retired,
moving to the village of Hendruni, where he still lives, one of the sub-
stantial citizens of that village. His wife died there nn January 10, 1913.
They were the parents of four children, of whom the sul)ject of this sketch
was the last-horn, the others being Hans, who lives in England: Caia. who
lives at Halstad, and Albert M.. of Hendruni.
C. T- Kckniann grew uj) among seafaring folk in Ins native Stav-
anger and upon completing his schooling took to the sea. remaining on
liis father's ves.sel until he became a thoroughly (pialified navigator and
at the age of twent\' ])assed the official examination and was commissioned
a ship's officer. He Cdiilinued a seafaring life until i8(,ii, when he came
to this countrv with his parents and located in Xorman county, shortly
afterward being employed by the Imiierial Elexator Company as that com-
pany's local grain buyer at Hendruni. In 1904 he was transferred by that
company from the elevator U> the lumber yard it alM) controlled at Hen-
drum and was thus engaged as manager of the lumjjer yard when, in 1907.
the same was sold to the Stenerson Brothers Lumber Compan\-. Mr. Eck-
niann remained in the employ of the latter conipaiix' until in i'"ebruary,
i()i5. when he bought the lumber yard from Stenerson Brothers and has
since conducted the lumber business, under the firm style of the C. J. Eck-
mann Lumber Company. Mr. I'A-kmann has long been regarded as one of
the leading lumber men of this \rdrt of the state and is doing very well in
his operations. He gives close attention to the general business affairs of
the village and is now the treasurer of the local Commercial Club. Ever
since locating at Hendruni he has given a good citizen's attention to Ipcal
ci\ic affairs, has served as recorder of the village and is now treasurer
of the village, secretary and treasurer of the Hendruni fire department
and director of school district Xo. i, giving to his various public duties
his most intelligent attention.
On October 10. iS()4. C. j. bx-kmann was unitetl in marriage to Julia
C. Seines and to this union seven children have been born, Chester, Carsten.
Lillie. Millard, Vivian, one who died in infancy, and Lillie, who died at
the age of two years and nine months. Mr. and Mrs. Eckmann are meni-
liers of the Cnited laitheran church and take a proper part in the various
beneficences of the same, as well as in the general social activities of the
coniniunitv in which they li\e. heljiful in promoting all worthy causes there-
about. Mr. Ecknianu is a member of the local lodge of the Indei)endent
Order of P'oresters and is financial secretary of the same.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. I97
OLE O. ERICKSON.
One of the liest known and most successful farmers and stockmen
of the northeastern part of Clay county is Ole O. Erickson, of Ulen town-
ship. He was horn in Filhnore county, Alinnesota, Marcli 24, 1864. a son
of Ole and Christie ( Christophersdatter) Erickson, hoth natives of Nor-
way, from which country they came directly to \^'isconsin about 1830.
After remaining there about two years, thev came on to Fillmore counlw
^Minnesota, driving an ox-team to a co\'ered wagon, the trip requiring nearl}-
a rnonth. The father took up a homestead of one hundred and si.xty
acres in I''illmore ccjuntv. six miles west of Rushford. which land he improved
into a good farm, erected such outbuildings as his needs re(|uired and a
comfortable residence. There he and his wife spent the rest of their li\c-,
the mother reaching an advanced age. dying in January, iqi/. They were
among the earliest pioneers of that county, there being only five other
families in that part of the county when the}' went there. Eight children
w ere born to Ole and Christie Erickson, namely : Christopher and Erick-.
both deceased; Turena, Ole O., of this sketcli; Helge, Mar)-, Bengt and
Helen.
Ole O. Erickson, of this re\"iew, grew to manhood on the home farm
in Fillmore county, \\here he received a limited education in the early-da\-
schools. He remained in his native community until 1890. when he came
to Clay count}' and worked in the \icinity of Ulen two years. He then
married and began farming for himself, buying forty acres in section 2-j.
L'len township, which was all in timber and \\ithout Iniildings. The [lari
of his land which he cleared he put under culti\atioii. He also erected
.suitable buildings and continued to reside there until March, 191 1. when
he moved to the fann he now occupies, just across the road from his origi-
nal forty, which contains one hundred and sixty acres. He added an eight}-
acre tract to his original forty many years ago, and all this he sold upon
mox'ing to his present farm. He has a we!I-impro\'ed and prijducti\'e place,
the improvements having been made b}' Helge Klemmetson, his brother-
in-law, of whom he bought the farm. .Mr. Klemmetson took the land up
as a homestead in 1879. Mr. Erickson has been very successful as a general
farmer and stock raiser, breeds full-blooded Holstein cattle and is a deaU'r
in all kinds of live stock, of which he is an excellent judge.
.Mr. Erickson was married on May 28, 1892, to Karen Klemmet,-on,
who was born in Xorwav, a daughter of Klemmet and Christie (Halvorsdat-
HjH CLAY AND NORM AN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
ter) Lia. both natives of Norway, where tliey grew up and married and
there the fatlier died a few montlis before his <hiughter Karen was Ijorn.
The widow siibsequentl\- brought fwi; rhilchen to America, three weeks
after her daughter's liirtb. coming' (hrectlv to Houston county. .Minnesota,
and locating in Spring (iro\e townshiij. where lier son I lel.ge had preceded
her l)v one \ear. About iHjg, Helge Klenimetson came to Clay county
and ,1 \-ear later his mother i()ine<l him here, bringing the rest of her chil-
dren. She homesteaded nne hundred and sixty acres of prairie laiul in
section 14, L'len township, and nn this she erected Iniildings and resided
for seven years. .\t the end of this time she sold out and built a small
house on the farm of her son, Helge. and there li\ed for some time, but
her death occurred in the home where the subject of tiiis sketch now resides.
Her death occurred in i<;i5 at the unusual age of eighty-nine years. She
was the nu)ther of the following children: Helge, Ingeborg, Bertha,
deceased; Andrie. lulling. Andrew and Karen. The Klenimetson frunily
heljied organize the lirst church at l^'len.
To Mr. and .Mrs. b'rickson four children, all li\ing at this lime, were
born, namely: Clara Olena. l"'dva Castelia, Clifford (Oliver, and .Mice
llehena. Mr. I'lricksou is a member of the Lutheran church, j'olitically.
he i> an inile]>endent.
lOHX MrCOCGH.
The late julin Mr(iciugh. first postmaster of the village of Downer, a
pinneer home-^teader of that neighborhood, formerly chairman of the board
<if supervisors of Elklcin township, for years a representative of the railroad
ciimpany's interests at Downer and a substantial landowner in the vicinity
i>\ that \'illagc and one of the bestd<nown men in Clay county, was a native
tif the Dominion f)f Canada, but had been a resident of Clay county since
about the \ear 1880. and had therefore been a witness to and a participant
in the de\clopnient of that region since the days of the pioneers. He was
born on June 11. 1840. and was reared and educated in his native Canada,
where lie became a teaming contractor and where he married.
Xot long .after his marriage John McGough came to the States and
became engaged ni railroad wurk. being thus employed at various places
until about 1880. when he liecame engaged on the construction work of the
railrojid at Downer, where he ever afterward made his home, spending the
re^t of his life there, his death occurring on May 30, 1917. Though actively
Cl.AY AND XOKMAN COUNTIES, MIXXESOTA. J 99
engaged in the work of the raih'oad after his arrival at Downer, serving the
company variously as foreman of the section, superintendent of the gravel
pit and foreman of the extra gang, Mr. McGough found opportunity mean-
whilc to de\eliip an excellent piece of farming property adjoining the vil-
lage, he having homesteaded the northwest quarter, of section 22, l^lktou
township, shortly after entering upon his duties at the railroad station, estab-
lishing his home there. When the postoffice was established at Downer
Mr. McGough was a])])ninte(l postmaster and for several years occupied that
jjosition, being succeeded by his daughter. Miss Alice McGough, who made
iier home with him and who held the office until the postofifi'ce finally was
located in the store building at Downer, the office previously having been
located in the McGough residence. The McGoughs are Catholics and John
McGough helped to organize the Catiiolic parish at Barnesville, his famih
still being attached to that parish. He took an active part in the various
civic affairs of the community in pioneer days and at one time and another
held .ibdut all the t(n\nship ofhces, including that of chairman of the board
of supervisors, .\fter he became pretty well established at Downer, Mr.
McGough gave up his railroad work there and thereafter devoted himself
to the development and improvement of his homestead farm, adding to the
same until he became the owner of a fine place of two hundred and eighty
acres. His wife died on I'cljruary 23, 1889, and lie survived her eighteen
years, his death occm-ring, as noted above, on May 30, 191 7. She was born,
l'.ridget Mahone\', in Ireland, Init was reared in Canada, having been but a
child when she crossed the water witli lier widowed mother. Mr. and Mrs.
Mc(iough had live ciiildren : Thomas, who is living at Downer; Anna, de-
cea,sed, who was the wife of William Hogan : .Mice, who is still on the old
home farm : James, deceased, and Edward J.
I'.dward J. McGough was born on September 17, 1874, and was about
six vears of age when his parents settled at Downer. He received his
schooling in the local scliools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued
assistant in the labors of improving and developing the home place, lie and
his father working together to that end. About fifteen years ago Edward
J. McGough established his home on his present fine farm of one hundred
and sixty acres in the Downer neighborhood and has since lived there, de-
veloping that place from the raw prairie. He has excellent Iniildings on his
place and has a well-ordered farm plant.
On .\ugust q. 1894, Edward J. McGough was united in marriage to
Dela Burlev, who was born near Tama, Iowa, but who was reared in Elkton
200 CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
township, daughter of Frank and Matilda (Croskey) Burley, and to this
union seven children have been born: Mary, Agnes, Emma (deceased),
Tames, Edward, Etta, Effie and Thomas.
GU,ST.W .\. ERSTAD.
Gustav A. Erslad, proprietor of "Elmwood 1-arni,"' a line place of four
hundretl and eighty acres lying on the line between I'^lnnvood and Glyndon
townships in Clay county, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this
slate all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Mineola township,
Goodhue count}. Jul\ 3, 1869, ^on of Andrew and Olene (Lebeck) Erstad.
l)t)th natives of the kingdom of .Xorway, wht) were married in Goodhue
county, this state, and there spent their last days, honoretl i)ioneers of that
community.
Andrew Erstad came to iJie United States in i'^53 and about two \ears
later, in June. 1855, pre-empted a tract of l;uid in what later came to be
organized a.> Mineola township, in Goodhue county, this state, the second
settler in that township : Christian Peterson, the first entrant there, having
made his location in the previous month of May. \ot long after filing on
his claim Andrew Erstad married Olene Leljeck, who had not long before
come to this country with her parents, the family settling in Goodhue county,
and after his marriage established hib home on his pre-emption tract and
jjroceeded to develop and imj)ro\ e the same, in time coming to be one of the
most substantial farmers in that community and a considerable landowner.
He was one of the organizers of his home township and for some time
served as a member of the board of township sujjcrvisors and also for .some
time was assessor of his townshij). He and his wife were the parents of
eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of
liirth, the others being Cornelius, John, Albert. Marv, Selma (deceased).
.\ugaistus (deceased) and one other, who died in \outh. Andrew Erstad
and wile were meml)ers of the Lutheran church and their children were
reared in that faith.
Reared on the home farm in Goodhue county, Gustav A. Erstad re-
ceived his schooling in the schools of that county and early l)ecame a prac-
tical farmer, remaining there until 1897. w^it-'" ''^^ L'-ime up into the Red
River country and locateil on the place where he is now li\ing, in Elmwood
townshii). and where he and his family are very comfortably and very pleas-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 201
antly situated. When IMr. Er.stad took possession of "Elmvvood Farm" the
place was Ijut a tract of raw i)rairie lantl and he has made all the substan-
tial improvements which make the place one of the best-appointed farm
plants in that part of the county. He has three-quarters of a section there,
one (|uarter being over the line in Glyndon township, and in addition to his
general farming and potato raising has .given considerable attention to the
raising of pure-Ijred Shorthorn cattle and has done well in his operations.
He is a stockholder in the Glyndon Elevator Company and in other ways
gives his earnest .attention to the general business affairs of the communitv
in which he lives.
In 1901. abcjut four vcars after taking up his residence in Clay countv,
Gustav A. Erstad was united in marriage to Maggie Lamb, daughter of
James Lamb and wife, pioneers of Clay county, and to this union five chil-
dren have been born, .Mbert. Lawrence, Earl Wallace, Ede (deceased), and
I'earl. Mr. and Mrs. Erstad are memliers of the Lutheran church and take
a proper interest in churcli work, as well as in other neighborhood good
works.
EDWARD U. WADE.
Edward U. \Vade, the present efficient and well-known police magis-
trate of Moorhead. was born in Albany, New York, July 3. 1867, a son
of Edward Wade, who was a prominent lawyer at Albany for forty-two
years. He is a descendant of an old American family, one of the oldest,
in fact, the first of the name to land on the shores of the western continent
coming to Massachusetts in the year i^),V- James Wade, a direct ancestor
of the subject of this sketcli, fought in the Revolutionary War, with a
Massachusetts re.giment.
Edward U. Wade grew to manhood in his native city, and he received
his education in the Albany Boys Academy. Later he was a student in the
Albany Law School, from which institution he was graduated with the class
of 1888; however, he never practiced. He came West as a surveyor to
Duluth. Minnesota, and after remaining there and at Superior, the adjoining
city, until Jul\- f, 1891, he came to Fargo, North Dakota, and established
his home. For some time he represented a mercantile company as collector
in this section of the northwest, but after the great fire at Fargo he located
in .Moorhead, where he engaged in the bicycle sales and repair business.
About 1007. he was elected justice of the peace and has since discharged the
-202 CLAY AND ,\<)K.MAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
duties of this office in an able, faithful and eminently satisfactorv manner.
Smce 191 5 he has also been incumbent of the office of police magistrate and
has looked after the affairs of both offices in a manner that has reflected
much credit iqion himself and has given satisfaction to all concerned. His
decisions show not only a profound knowledge of the basic principles of
jurisprudence but also an unbiased fairness in dealing with all cases, his
decisions never being reversed at the hands of higher tribunals.
Mr. Wade was married on March 3. 1892, to Anna G. I'.orgen. of
I'argo, Xorth Dakota, a daughter of T. L. P.orgen. To Mr. Wade and wife
eight children have been born, as follow: l-'.dward, who is deceased; Dudley
P.radstreet, deceased; Ivlward, Dudley P.radstreet, Richard, Ellen Anna,
Alary and Anna Borgen.
Politically, Mr. Wade is a Republican. He is a member of the state
b. i.ucl of man.-igers of the .Sons of the .\merican Revolution to which he
belongs, and ha^ been on the board four years. He belongs to Moorhead
Lodge Xo. i_'6. .\ncient Free and .Accepted Masons, of which he has been
secretary for ten years, and also past master. He has always taken an
abiding interest in local affairs and is a pnblic-.spirited and highly esteemed
resident of Clav conntv.
ELIAS O. ROST
It is not the weaklings that accomplish worthy ends in the face of
obstacles and opposition, but those with nerve and initiative, whose motto
IS. "He never fails who never gives up," and with this terse aphorism ever
m \iew, they forge ahead until they reach a definite goal in life. Elias
U. Rost, a farmer of L'len township. Clay county, is a man who has won
despite adverse circumstances.
Mr. Rost was born in Norway. December 5, 1845. He is a son of
Ole X. and Ann (Syverson) Rost, both natives of Xorway, where they
grew up, married and continued to reside until 1870, when they came tf.
America to join their son Elias, who had precedefl them to Osceola, Clear
county, l^ennsyhania. After spending a year there they all went to F.auder-
dale county, Tennessee, remaining there until the fall of rSji. when they
went to Chicago, in which cit>- the\- resided until 1879. when thev came
to Alinnesota and located on the farm in Clay county, where the suljject of
this sketch now resides, in I'leii township. Ole X. Rost, the father, took up
CLAY AXD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 20 ?
a homestead in Hagen township, where he developed a good farm on which
lie spent the rest of his life, dying at an advanced age. His widow spent
her last }ears in the \illage of Ulen. reaching tlie remarkable age of nearlv
ninety-nine. To these parents three children were born, namely : Xich,
deceased: Elias, the subject of this sketch, and Ellen, wlio is the wife nf
lulling Wang.
Elias O. Rosl .grew to manhood in Xorway and there attended the
common schools. He came to America in 1868. locating in Osceola, I'enn-
syhania, where he spent three years, working on a farm the first summer:
then worked in the coal mines during winters, but continued working un farms
in the croj) seasons. He then came West with his parents, as related in the
preceding paragraph, remaining with them until the fall (if 1879, when
he came to Clay county a little aiiead of them and took up a homestead of
one hundred and sixty acres in Ulen townshi]). i'his he (le\el(i|)ed int(^
a good farm, putting on all impro\ements, including an excellent group
of buildings, and here he has since resided. He worked hard and managed
well and, prospering with advancing years, he added to his original place
until he now owns li\e hundred and twenty acres, constituting one of the
most desirable farms in Lien townshiij: and he has been very successful,
carrying on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He
raises large cpiantitics of grain and prejiares live stock for the markets in
large numbers.
Mr. Rost was married in rSjf'i to Anna 'riiompson, who was burn in
Xorway. She is a daughter of Halger Thompson and wife and came to
.\merica when youn.g. To Air. and Mrs. Rost six children have been liorn.
namely: Olaf, .\dolph (deceased), Eliza, Matilda, Emil and .\lbert. who
grew up on the home farm and were educated in the juililic schools.
.\lr. Rost has seen .threat changes "come o\er the face of the land"
since he took up his residence in Ulen township some thirty-ei.ght years ago.
for lie was an earl\- pioneer there, the country being then but a wild,
sparselv settled prairie. He has taken a good citizen's interest in this develop-
ment, helped organize the school district where he lives and was the first
clerk of the same. In fact, he helped organize Ulen township and was one
of the first members of tlie board of the same and was clerk of the fir^t
board. Later he served as chairman for many years. He is well known
i>\ei- the northeastern part of the county and is higb.ly respected. He i-
an active member of the Xorwegian Lutheran church at the village of L'leii.
which church lie helped organize. This was the first church in Ulen.
204 CLAY AND NORMAX CULNTIES, MINNESOTA.
C. O. MADSON.
C. O. Madson, postmaster of tlie \illage of llalstad, was Ijorn on a
pioneer farm about two miles northeast of that village and has lived in that
neighborhood all his life, with the exception of a year spent at Warren.
He was born on January 4, 1889, son of Christ and Christine (Baggerudj
Madson, tlie former a native of the kingdom of Denmark and the latter
of the kingdom of Xorwa}', who are now living on their old home farm
northeast of the village of llalstad, pioneers of Xornian county.
Christ Madson was born in the town of Xystad, on the south coa:^t
of the Island of Laaland, Denmark, and from the time he was fourteen
years of age until he was twentj'-four he followed the sea as a sailor.
About 1874 he came to the United States antl hjcated at IJeloit, Wisconsin,
where he found employment as a blacksmith in the Thompson plow works.
and w litre he remained for a time, when he came over into Minnesota
and homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in what later came to be
organized as Halstad township, Xorman county, two miles northeast of
the present flourishing village of llalstad. and there he still li\es. one of
the honored and inHuential pioneer citizens of X'omian county. Mr. Mad-
son has ever taken an active part in local civic affairs and serveil for alwut
fourteen \ears as chairman of the board of supervisors of Halstad town-
ship and for four years, 1902-06, served as a member of the board of
county commissioners from the second district. He and his wife are earnest
members of the L.utheran church and their six sons were reared in that
faith. Of these sons the subject of this sketch is the second in order of
liirili, the others being Martin, Charles, Mandley. Odin and Walter.
C. O. Madson was reared on the homestead farm in Halstad town-
ship and following his graduation from the high school at Halstad learned
the art of photography under the direction of C. V. Olson, of Halstad.
He then went to Warren, up in Marshall county, where, he worked as a
photographer for a >ear. at the end of which time, in 1909, the year of his
marriage, he returned to Halstad and opened a photograph studio of his
own and was thus very successfully engaged in business at that place until
his appointment as postmaster of Halstad. Mr. Madson entered upon die
duties of postmaster on January i, 1915, and has since given his full atten-
tion to the affairs of that office, renting his studio.
It was on June 7, 1909, that C. O. Madson was united in marriage
to Julia Xelson, daughter of T. A. Xelson and wife, and to this union
CLAY AND XORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 20^
three children liave been born, two daughters, Charlotte and Karren, and
one son, W'oodrow Jennings. Mr. and .Mrs. Madson are members of the
Lutheran cliurch and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of
the same, as well as in the general social activities of their home village
and are helpful in promoting all good works thereabout. Mr. Madson is
a member of the local lodges of the Modern A\"oodmen of .\merica and of
the Knights of Pythias and takes a warm interest in Ihe affairs of these
organizations.
TOHX T. JOHNSON.
jfihn T. Jiihnson. nieniher of the board of county commissioners of
Clay county and a pmininent real-estate dealer at Ulen. was born in Fill-
more count}-. Minnesota, March 5, 1867, a son of John Johnson, born in
Norway in 1825. and Ingebor (Ellefson) Johnson, also born in Norway.
The elder John Johnson came to America in the spring of 1843 ^"d located
in LaSalle county, Illinois, where he li\ed for several \ears engaged in
farming. In 1856 he removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and took up
a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres which he improved and on
which he established his home. He continued to live there, engaged in gen-
eral farming, until lii^ death, which occurred in 1905. His wife died in
1^1 J. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. The\' had
quite a large family consisting of twelve children: Thomas E.. who died at
the age of fiftv-four; Martha, E\\s.s. Robert, Inger, Elvina, John T., Isabel,
Christine, Jose]jhine. Allicrt, who died at the age of nine years, and Edward.
John T. Johnson recei\ed his elenientar\- education in the public
schools of I'"illniore count\-, and in the high school at Rushford. After com-
pletion of his prepur;itorv studies in this school he entered Augustana Col-
lege, at Canton, South D.ikota, and was graduated from that institution in
the spring of 1888. He then came to Clay county, and for three years fol-
lowing was engaged in teaching at Ulen. He then spent six months attend-
ing a business college in Minneapolis, and for two years following was en-
gaged in office work in I'reston. Minnesota. In the fall of 1892 he returned
to Clav countv and was engaged in teaching for five years, three of which
were in the \illagc of Ulen. After he quit teaching he was engaged in the
iiardware business in Ulen for about three years. He then started in the
real-estate business and has continued in that business since. In 1906 he
was elected countv commissioner of Clay county and has been elected as
206 CLAY AXD XOK.MAX COUNTIES. MIXXliSOTA.
his own successor on the lioard at e\cry election since tliat year, and is now
lioUling that position.
Mr. Johnson was married ni i8go to Tohina Thompson, daughter of
her Thompson, of Ada. county seat of Xorman county, and to this union
two children have heen horn, .Adeline and Franklin. Mr. Johnson's fra-
ternal affiliation is with the Woodmen's lodge.
CHARLES W. BRENDKMllll..
Few farmers in flay county take greater ])leasure in their work llian
Charles \\'. Brendenmhl. of Kragnes township. He was horn at Rochester.
Minnesota, in June. 1S71, a son of Charles .\. and Wilhelmina ( I'ink )
Brendenmhl. The father was horn in Germany, from which country he
came to .\merica with his i)arents when ten years old. the family locating
on a farm eighteen miles from the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was
the custom of the mother to carry eggs to that city, for which she received
onlv six cents a dozen, making the trip on foot. Later the family moved
to near Rochester, Minnesota, where they lived several years. One of
the sons, August T.. was one of the first settlers on the present site ol
Moorhead. Charles A. lirendemuhl owned land where the court house
now stands. He hecame ow ner of sixteen hundred and forty acres in Kragnes
township. Clay county. He ga\e each of his sons a large farm as they
attained the age of twenty-five years. The father died in the spring of
i(ji3. at the age of .seventy-nine years, on the old home place in Kra.gnes
township, to which he removed in 1878. His wife died there in 1909 at
the age of sixty-nine years. She was a native of Wisconsin. These parents
were married in 1S65. Eleven children were born to them, as follow:
Clara, who is married and lives in California; Will, who also is married:
Fred, who is married and lives in North Dakota: Charles W., the subject
of this review : Albert, who died when two years old: .\nna, who lives in
[•"ergus Falls, Minnesota: August, who lives in Idaho: Henry, who ha>
remained on the old home place: Mrs. Minnie Xorljy. who al.so lives on
the homestead, and Lilly, who died at the age of thirty years.
Ch.irles W. Brendemuhl grew up on the farm and attended the public
schools. He has devoted his life successfully to general farming and slock
raising, and is now the owner of a well-im]5ro\ed farm of three hundred
and twenty acres of productive land in Kragnes township. He built a
CLAY AND NOUMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 20/
new residence in 1899, which he remodeled in 19 15, making it modern
in every appointment, installing a bath, hot and cold water, sewerage sys-
tem, furnace, electric lights and the like, making it one of the most com-
fortable homes in the count)-. All the outbuildings are well kept and every-
thing about the place denotes that a gentleman of good taste and progres-
sive ideas is at the helm. In connection with his general farming and
stock raising, Mr. Brendemuhl makes a specialty of potato growing, thirtv
acres being planted in tubers in 1917, and the crop for the pix-ceding \ear
was sold for thirty-six hundred dollars.
On October 26, 1899, Mr. Brendemuhl was married to llulda Poelils,
who was born in Iowa in 1881. To their union sexen children have been
born, Lena, Nellie, Lizzie, Emma, Howard, Roy and Ruth, all of whom
live at home.
Politically, the subject of this sketch is independent. He served as
chairman of the township board for eight years and is at present a member
of the school board. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers
Elevator Company at Kragnes, also in the telephone company that operates
in Oak])ort and Kragnes township, known as the Oak and Kragnes Tele-
phone Company. He has been treasurer of the school board in district No.
24 during the past fifteen years, takes a general interest in local public affairs
and is regarded as a good citizen in every respect.
FLA\1':L .\. WOODWARD.
I''la\el .\. Woodward, president nt the farmers State Bank, of Glyndon,
Minnesota, and one of the enterprising and substantial business men of that
progressive little city, is a native of Michigan, born in Barry county, on
Septemlier 28, i860, a son of Oliver Z. Woodward and wife, natives of New
York state. About 1872, (Jliver Z. Woodward came from Michigan to
Wright countx. Minnesota, but alter residing there about a year he returned
to Michigan, later going to Kansas, where his death occurred.
E. A. Woodward is the only child of his parents who grew to maturity.
.After his mother's death occurred when he was onlv an infant nine days
old, he was given to a neighbor woman to rear, Ijut at the age of si.x years,
he went to live with his father. When he was twelve years old, he and his
father drove overland with a horse team from Michigan to Minnesota.
l''rom that time Mr. W(;od\\ard has made his own wav in the world, and
208 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
1)\- hard work, close application and diligence, he has won a very com-
mendable success in the business world. In 1880 he came to Glyndon, Clay
county, Minnesota, and has made his home here practically ever since.
\Mien he first came to the county, he worked at various occupations, among
which were farming and lumbering. He lived on a farm alxjut a half mile
mirth of Glyndon until k;!^, in which year he went to California, hut the
following year he returned to Glyndon, and, in partnership with Walter
Shave, engaged in the machinery business, which they are still ver\- suc-
cessfully carrying on. dealing in farm implements and other machinery.
Mr. Woodward was one of the organizers of the i'"arniers State Bank, a
progre.ssive financial concern of Glyndon. and is now serving as president
of that institution.
In June, 1897, Mr. Woodward was married to Bertha M. Webb, the
daughter of R. 15. Webb, of Glyndon, and to this union one son has been
born, Roy W. .Mr. Woodward and family are prominent in all the social
activities of the community, having an active interest in the welfare and
betterment of their village. Mr. Woodward has served several terms on
the village council.
W. R. BRIGGS.
W. R. Briggs, a well-known lloriculiurist at Moorhead, was born in
lUoomington. Illinois, .\ugust i. 1875, ^ son of W. R. and Mary (De Board)
Briggs. The father was born in Ireland and the mother in Pennsylvania.
The senior W. R. l!riggs came to America when a young man and located
in Illinois, near lUooniiugton, where he engaged in the business of a gar-
dener and continued in this business for manv years. His children were:
Minnie, W. R., B. H., R. H., J. W., Frank and David. He was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bloomington.
The suliject of this sketch received his education in the coiumon schools
of llliu-ois, where he spent his boyhood years. He worked widi his father
as a gardener until the death of bis father. .\t the age of eighteen years he
started out to make his own living and worked for farmers in the neighbor-
hood for four or five years and then engaged in farming on his own account.
He farmed in Illinois for about two years and then removed to Missouri and
farmed in that state for two years. Then, with a cash capital of three
thousand dollars, he packed up his household goods and removed to Texas,
with the expectation of increasing his property possessions. After an expe-
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CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 20g
rience of about one \ear and a halt in the business of farming and gardening;
in Texas he found that liis expectations were not reaHzed. He lost practi-
cally all that he had brought with him, as well as the profit on his labor dur-
ing the time of his sojourn in Texas. In igo6 he removed to Tower City,
Xorth Dakota, arriving at that place with ei.ghty dollars in cash and very
little in the wa_\' (if household goods. He engaged in farming in that state
tor two years and b}' econonn- and industry greatly improved his condition
in the way of worldly possessions. In 1908 he came to Moorhead, and
bou.ght a tract of ground and engaged in gardening. In the fall of that
year he built the first one of his greenhouses. He has added others as the
!)usiness increased and now has five large greenhouses, with all modern ap-
pointments and conveniences, his plant now carrying about thirty thousand
square feet of glass. Mr. Briggs cultivates all varieties of vegetables, plants
and llowers and finds a ready market for his product in Moorhead and Fargo.
On February 19. 1902, W. R. Briggs was married to Eva Kate Miller
and to this union four children have been born : Harold, Gertrude, Mildred
and Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are members of the First Methodist
Episcopal church at Moorhead. Mr. Briggs is a member of the school
board and his fraternal affiliation is with the Independent Order of Odd
l'"cllo\\>. Politicalh'. he is independent.
OTTO J. MORTENSON.
Otto J. ^lortenson. secretary of the Moorhead Realty Company at
Moorhead and one of the best-known real-estate dealers in this part of the
state, is a native of the Red River valle}' and has lived in this section most
of his life. He was born on a pioneer farm, over the river in Cass county.
North Dakota, July ri. 1880, son of Paul and Maren (Lee) Mortenson,
natives of Norway, who came to this country in 1870, proceeding on up
into the Red River \ alley and settling on a homestead farm in Cass county.
North Dakota, where the latter spent her last days and where the former
is still living, one of the well-established pioneer farmers of that communit\-.
Paul Mortenson has held office in his home township and was one of the
organizers of the church in his neighborhood.
Reared on the homestead farm. Otto J. Mortenson received his ele-
mentary schooling in the schools of that vicinity and then entered Concordia
(14a)
2IO CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
College at Moorhead, from which institution he was .<>;raduated in 1900,
with the degree of Bachelor of Accounts. Upon leaving school Mr. .Mor-
tenson became engaged in the office of a real-estate dealer at A'loorhead
and after awhile engaged in the real-estate business on his own account in
that city and was thus engaged there until IQ04, when he went to Sawyer,
over in \\'ar(l county. Xorth Dakota, where he established the Sawyer
State Bank and remained there, acting as cashier of that concern, nniil
1908, when he went over into Montana, homesteaded a quarter of a sec-
tion of Ian din that state and remained there, improving and developing
his tract, until January i, 1911, when he returned to Moorhead, where he
since has made his residence. L'pon returning to Moorhead Mr. Morten-
son resumed his connection with the real-estate business and was engaged in
the interest of various land firms until 1915, in which year he organized
the Moorhead Realty Comjjany, of which he since has lieen the secretary,
and has worked up an extensive business in that line, his operations in
realty covering a wide territory hereabout.
On June 23, 1904, Otto J. Mortenson was united in marriage to Leonora
II. Dahl, daughter of T. II. Dahl and wile, of Moorhead, and to this union
si.x children have been born. Kthel, Carroll, Kenneth (deceased), Philip.
W'illjur and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Mortenson are members of Trinity
Lutheran church at Moorhead and take a proper interest in church works,
as well as in the general good works of the community. Fraternall}-, .Mr.
Mortenson is affiliated with the .Masonic order and takes a warm interest
in the affairs of the same.
JOHN E. BURUD.
Success as a general farmer has come to John E. Burud because he
worked hard and managed well and he is now enabled to spend his declin-
ing years in retirement. He is one of the well-known citizens of Goose
Prairie township, Clay county. He was born on November i, 1854, in
Norway, a son of Ellef Jenson and Barbara ( I'.rickson) Burud, both
natives of Norwav, where they grew up, married and established their home,
l)nt came to .America in 1881, locating in Clay county, Minnesota. There
they took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Hagen town-
ship, which they developed into a good farm through their industr}-, and
there continued to carry on general farming until .alxjut 1894 when they
CLAY AXD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 211
sold uut and spent the rest of their li\es witli their son John E. on his
farm in Goose Prairie township. The death of the father occurred in 1910
at the ad\anced age of eighty-seven years, and that of the mother in 1907.
She was t\\o years )"ounger than her husband. To these parents five chil-
dren were born, namely: John E., of this sketch; Mary, who died in the
spring of 1Q17: Edward, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred
and sixty acres in section 4, Goose Prairie township; Mrs. Tilda McTeney,
living in Chicago, and Olc. who lives in Ulen, ]\Iinnesota, and works on the
Xorthern Pacific railroad.
John v.. Burud grew to manhood in Norway and there attended the
common schmils. lie immigrated to America when twenty-three years old
in 1878, alone, and came on west to Clay county, where he worked out for
two and one-half years, dien took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres in section 12, Goose Prairie town.ship. He worked hard developing
this land, but prospering with advancing years, he later bought more land
and now owns one of the choice farms of his township, consisting of four
hundred and iortx acres. He has made all improvements on this land,
erecting a comfortable bume and numerous substantial outbuildings, and
setting out a large grove. Everything about the place denotes thrift and
good management. He has been very successful, carrying on general farm-
ing and stock raising on an extensive scale. He raised some pure-blooded
stock.
Mr. r.urud was married in Lake Park, Minnesota, in 1880, to Caroline
Thompson, who was born in Rice county, this state, in 1859. Her parents
were natixes of Norway, from which country they came to Minnesota in
pioneer da}-s, locating first in Rice county. Later they moved to Becker
countv, where they spent the rest of their lives, both being now deceased, the
mother dying when her daughter Caroline was twelve years old. Not long
thereafter, Mr. Thompson sold out and bought a farm in Becker, where he
lived until his death in 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Burud four children were
torn, namelv : Theodore, who died when twenty-two years old ; Albert.
Oscar and Joseph.
Mr. Burud bought property in the village of Ulen, Goose Prairie
town.shiii, in 191 5, and moved thereto, retiring from active farm work. He
has since rented out his land to Ole Holt. Mr. Burud served as township
supervisor for many years, also as a director of the school board in his dis-
trict. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he was
a trustee for a numlier of \-ears.
212 CLAY AND NORilAX CdLXTIES. MINNESOTA.
P. J. SHEA.
P. J. Shea was hmn in Jlainpton county. Massachusetts. t)clol)cr 13.
1866, a son (if Mich.iel ami ^Nfary (Sullivan) .Shea, both natives of Ireland.
His father came to .Xnierica in 1856 and located in Hampton countv. Massa-
chusetts, where he enijaged in his trade as a brick mason for alx)ut twenty
years. In 187(1. he l)r(iu.<,dit his family t>> Minnesota, located in Glvndon.
(lay county, and fnund employment with the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
('(>m])any. He entered a homestead of one hundred and sixtv acres, and
entered a tree claim of antnher one hundred and sixty acres in I*"elton town-
shii>. He continued his employment with the railroad company while his
.son worked the farm. He is still living at Glvndon; his wife died several
years ago. Their children are: Rose. P. J., the subject of this review; Mary
and James. Michael Shea was the first postmaster of Felton.
P. J. .Shea had a \er\ limited schooling when he was young and is
liractically self-educated. As a boy. he assisted his father in the postofifice,
and also was emploxed as a time-keeper for the railroad company. When
yet m his youthful years, he was occupied in looking after his father's farm,
while the father was working on the railroad. .Mr, Shea did some of the
In-t breaking of the virgin soil in Clay county, using an ox team to draw the
]ilow. He continued on the farm until be was twentv-one, and then st.arted
to work for the r.iilroad. in the employment of which he continued for
al)out four years. He first worked for the dreat Xorthern and afterward
tor the Xorthern Pacific railroad. In 1893 'i^ embarked in the general
mercantile business ;it Saliin, Minnesota, in partnership with his uncle,
James Shea. He continued in business at this jilace for about five years
and then came to Clynder and established the firm of P. J. Shea & Com-
pany in the general merchandising business. He has conducted this busi-
ness alone since that time. In 1889, he started a hotel at this place and
conducted that in connection with his mercantile interests for about eight
years Mr. Shea also has large farming interests to occupy his time and
attention. He began making investments of his savings in land sc\-eral
\ears ago and secured a considerable body of land when it was available for
purchase at a k)W price.
Mr. Shea was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of Glvndon.
and has been vice-president of this bank since the time of its organization.
lie has served twt. terms as president of the school board, and was president
of the \illage council some years ago. He helped to organize the Glyndon
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 2I3
Telephuiie Company, of which he was the first president. In 1914 he
Ijuilt a fine two-st(jry modern home with heautiful .orounds and modern
eqnipnient. In addition to the othur l)usiness activities in which ^Ir. Shea
has been interested he was one of the organizers of tlie Farmers' Grain and
r^nmher Company of Glyndon. of whicli he is president and E. D. Grant,
vice-president. In tiiese, and in all other lousiness enterprises, Mr. Shea is
a ieadini;' -.])irit. He is tlie leading; l)nsiness man of Glyndon and is always
readv to contribute his fuU sliare in the promotion of anv enterprise or move-
ment that tends to the growth and welfare of the town .and commnnitx'.
In iS8<), I'. J. Shea and Julia Timrue were united in marriage, and to
this union live children have been born, namely: Florence M., Frances E.,
.\fjuinia, Adeline and lulward T. The Shea family are very delightfully
situated in their new two-story, modern home at Glyndon, wdiich Mr. Shea
built in 1914.
TAMES LARSON.
James Larson, cashier of the State Bank of Halstad, a member of the
school board at Flalstad and the manager of a well-improved farm on
the outskirts of that \illage. was born on a farm in Mouston county, ihis
stale. May 10. 1873. son of I'cter and .Maria ( Christopherson) Lar.son
((iagnum). natives of .Vorway, who came to Minnesota about 18C9 and
settled in Houston county, where they remained until 1879. when they
moved to Cass county. Xortb Dakota, where they spent the rest of their
li\-es. with the exception of fi\e _\ears sjient in Ransom county, that state.
Peter Larson and wife rearefl a family (;f twehe children.
Reared on the paternal farm in Xorth Dakota, James Larson com-
])leted his common-school course in the schools of R;insom county, X(.irili
Dakota, and supplemented the same by a course in Concordia College at
Moorhead. In this connection he gratefully acknowledges a debt of grati-
tude to his uncle. K. F.. Bakke, of Onawa. Iowa, who supported him for
eighteen months during his school days there. L'pon completing his school-
ing in [ow.-i lames Larson resumed his labors on the home farm in Buffalo,
Xorth Dakota, and there remained until he was twenty-five years of age.
when, in 1898. he came over into Minnesota and located at Ilalstad. where
he remained until his marriage in 1901, when he moved up into Polk county
and there remained until igii, in which year he returned to Halstad and
has ever since been en.gaged there as cashier of the State Bank of Halstad.
214 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
In addition to his lianking interests. Mr. I.arson is the manager of a well-
iniproved farm located just one-lialf mile cast of Halstad and gives con-
siderable attention to the raising of early Ohio ])Otatoes and has done much
to stimulate the cultivation of potatoes in that part of the county. Air.
[.arson gives his earnest attention to local affairs and for the past five years
has been serving as a member of the local school board.
It was in h)oi that James Larson was united in marriage to Margaret
Holmberg. daughter of Charles and Beret Ilolmberg. and lo this union
seven children have been born. Harriet. Alton. Victor. i:;rdis. Helen.
Erling and Aaron. .Mr. .md .Mrs. Larson are members of the Norwegian
Lutheran rhiu-ch and Mr. I.arson has served as secretary of the local con-
gregation of that church.
OLE I. GRIXA.
Ole I. (hina, local manager of the plant of the Stenerson Brothers
l.nniber Company ;it Halstad, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived
in this state the greater part of his life. He was born on a pioneer farm
in Trondhjem township. Ottertail county, .\pril i<). 1874. son of Tver O.
and Oline L. ( Ohe ) Crina. both natives of the kingdom of Xorway, the
former of whom, a pioneer of this section of Minnesota, is now living at
I'clican Rapids and the latter of whom died on P^bruary 22, 1914.
Iver O. Grina was but three years of age when his parents, Ole H.
and Martha (Moger) Grina. left their native Norway and came to the
I'uited States, settling in Clayton county. Iowa, where they homesteaded
a quarter of a section of land and where they remained for twenty years
or more, or until their removal to Minnesota and settlement in Ottertail
county, where their last days were spent. Reared on the homestead farm in
Iowa. Iver O. Grina remained there until the days of his young manhood.
when he started out to do for himself and came up into this section of Min-
nesota, locating" on a homestead farm which he bought from a dissatisfied
homesteader in Trondhjem township. Ottertail county, later buying one
hundred and twenty acres of railroad land adjoining the same, and there
he li\ed until his retirement from the farm, after the death of his wife, in
it)i4 and removal to Pelican Rapids, where he is now living. Mrs. Grina
was a daughter of Lars and Ingeborg ( W'aterud) Ohe. who were among
the earliest settlers of Erhard Grove townshii). Ottertail county. To I\-er
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 215
O. Grina and wife nine ciiildren were born, those besides tiie subject of
this sketch, the first-born, being as follow: Lars I., who is engaged in
the lumber business at Felton ; Melvin I., who is engaged in the hardware,
implement and lumber inisiness at Erhard; Conrad I., who is engaged in
the lumber and machine business at Borup ; Joseph, who died in infancy ;
Joseph, second, who is farming his grandfather's farm, which was bought
by I. O., in Ottertail county: Theodore, who is in business at Erhard: Inga,
also living at Erhard, and Emma, who is living with her father at Pelican
Rapids. Iver O. Grina is a member of the Lutheran church, as was his
wife, and their children were reared in that faith. In 1913 Iver O. Grina
helped to organize the Erhard State Bank at Erhard and is a member of
the board of directors of the same. During his long residence on the
farm he served his home township in various public capacities and did
much for the development of the region in which he settled in pioneer days.
Ole I. Grina was reared on the homestead farm on which he was born
and received his schooling in the district sch(jol in that neighborhood. He
remained on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age and in Xo\em-
ber, 1895, started working for O. E. Juverud at Rothsay, and was thus
engaged for something more than three years, at the end of which time
he went over into North Dakota and took a homestead in Benson countw
A year later, in April, 1901, he returned to this state and began working
for the Stenerson Brothers Lumber Company at Borup. He was married
in the summer of that year and remained at Borup for fixe years and one
month, at the end of which time he returned to Xorth Dakota and engaged
in the lumlter business for him.self, locating at Columbus, in Ward county.
North Dakota, remaining there for nearly four years, from July, 1906, to
March, 1910, in which latter month he went to Montana and was there
engaged for four years in the lumber trade, connected with the Northern
Montana Lumber Company. On April 4. 1914. he returned to Minnesota,
resuming his former connection with the Stenerson Brothers Lumber Com-
pany and has since been engaged as the local manager of that company's
extensive plant at Halstad, one of the best-known lumber men in this part
of the state.
It was' on June 15, 1901, that Ole I. Grina was united in marriage to
Anna C. Ringstad, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter.
.'\lice Onida. Mr. and Mrs. Grina are members of the Lutheran church and
take a proper part in church affairs. They have a very pleasant home at
Halstad and take an interested part in the general social activities of that
2l6 CLAY AXD NOKMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
village. .Mr. Grina i.s independent in his political views. l)ut takes an earnest
interest in local civic affairs, ever willing to promote any movement lia\ ing
as its object the advancement of the common welfare.
JOHN \\-. GROMMliSlI.
John W. Grommesh, a well-known retired landowner, living at Barnes-
\ille. Clav count}, was Iiorn in Sand Creek township, Scott county, Minne-
sota, on October 14, 1855. lie is the son of John and Clara (Wagner)
Grommesh, both natives of Luxemburg, who left that country and came
to .\nierica the year before their son. John \V., was born.
On arriving in this country John (irommesh and his wife proceeded
out to .Minnesota and settled in Scott county about 1854, being among the
early settler> in that jiart of tiic state. John Grommesh pre-empted a tract
of timber l.md in that county and proceeded to clear and prepare it for the
planting of crops, .\fter c(3nsiderable labor he succeeded in getting the land
into condition, .ind remained there engaged in general farming until 1861.
In the latter year lie moved to Jackson township, Scott county, and resumed
farming operations, meetin.g with success during the greater part of the
time. In 1873 he moved to L;ike\ille township, Dakota county, and settled
on a farm located twenty-four miles south of St. Paul, where he remained
for five years. In 1880 John Grommesh made his final move and went to
House township. Cass county, .\orth Dakota, and there Ixnight out a home-
steader. On the land thus acrjuired he contiinied to farm for the remainder
of his life, his death occurring in I'ebruary, looj. His wife had predeceased
him l)y many years, her death having occurred in 1885, on the homestead
.settled on by her husband in 1880. To John Gronnnesh and wife the follow-
ing children were born : John W., the subject of this sketch, Celia, Michael,
Clara, Hubert. Mary (deceasetl), and Lewis. They were earnest members
of the Catholic church and their children were reared in the same faith.
John W". Grommesh was educated in the public and parochial schools,
after which he helped his father in the work of the farm for some time. He
then started for himself as a farmer in Dakota county, Minnesota, and re-
mained there engaged in general farming until the fall of 1880, at which
time he went with his parents to Cass county. North Dakota, and there
bought out a homesteader, as his father had done, and stayed on the home-
stead for six months, at the end of which time he .sold out. He later farmed
o
u;
7:
7
CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 21/
some scliool land and put in two crops wliile in that territory, but the grass-
hoppers came along and destroyed everything.
In June, i88j. Mr. firommesh came to Clav cotuit\- and commenced
to farm a tract of railroad land in Alliance township, six and one-half miles
west of Barnesxille. and continued thus engaged for six years. In 1888 he
moved to tiie town of Barnesxille, li\ing there for two years, and worked
for the great Northern Railroad Company. By the winter of 1890 he had
saved one thousand five hundred dollars by hard work and thrifty habits, and
proceeded to iiurchase land for himself. He bought a farm of one hundred
and si.xt}- acres in Wilkins county, six miles southwest of Barnesville, and
engaged in general farming for alxjut six years. In i8g6 he returned to
Barnesville: but in the meantime, in 1891, he had bought two hundred acres
of the land he had previously been farming in .\lliance township, Clay
county. He has Ii\ed in Barnesville since 1896 and has bought and operated
several farms up to recently, when he retired from the more active duties
of farm life. He now owns three hundred and ninety-four acres of prime
land at the edge of Barnesville and twenty acres within the city limits,
which latter jiarcel be operates personally. He is also the owner of one
hundred and sixtv acres uf what was formerly railroad land in Barnesville
townshi]), and one hundred and twenty acres which adjoins die latter, con-
sisting of school land, and which is situated in Alliance township. In all
iiis i)urchases and sales of land Mr. Grommesh has met with marked suc-
cess, and he mainlv attributes his good fortune to hard work and to good
crops, which latter have resulted in his case from close attention to all de-
tails of cultivation.
On September 23, 1878, John W. Crommesh was united in marria,ge to
Julia Stork, who was born in New Alarket, Scott county, this state, a
daughter of John and Katherine (Zeimat) Stork. Her parents were born
in Luxemburg and came to .\merica in 1854 and located first at Lakeville,
Scott countv. and later went to New Market, in the same county. The
Storks were farming people and spent the remainder of their lives in Scott
countv. Mr. and Mrs. Stork were the parents of nine children, as follow:
Katherine (deceased), Richard, Nicholas, Henry, ]^Iinnie. Mary, Kate,
Joseph (deceased) and Julia, wife of Mr. Grommesh. Tliese i)arents and
their children were 'members of the Catholic church.
^Ir. and Mrs. Grommesh are the parents of two children, namely, John
and Hubert, who are engaged in f.irming at Barnesville, ant! are well-known
citizens of that district. The Grommesh family are earnest members of the
Catholic church and are warmlv interested in all its good works as well as in
2l8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIKS, MINNESOTA.
all moveineiit? makings: for the welfare of the community. Air. Grommesh
ami his two sons. John and Hul)ert, are members of the CathoHc Order of
h'oresters and are ardent supporters of that fraternal organization and of all
neighborhood good works. Mr. Cironimesh was for two years clerk of the
Alliance lownshi]i school board. He also served as township chairman for
three rears and as alderman in Barnesville for some years, and in all these
public positi(jns he rendered excellent services to the citizens.
John Grommesh, eldest son of the subject of this sketch, was married
to Minnie Palman. of Barnesville, and they are the parents of two children,
Cecilia and Kenneth. Hubert Grommesh, the younger son. married Chris-
tina Lander, of I'rior Lake, Scott count \. this state, and they are the pa-
rents of one child. T.ucv.
ALERT ARNESTAD.
Alert .\rnestad, tire warden of .\da, who operates a general automobile-
repair and vulcanizing shop at that place, is a native of the kingdom of
Norwa\', but has been a resident of Xorman county since 1881, the year
in which that county was organized as a ci\ic entity. He was born on Sej)-
tember 28, 1858, son of Hans Gulmonson Jacob and Eliza Leeberg. natives
of that same country, farming people, who spent all their lives there. They
were the parents of nine children. Thee, Carl, Olaf (deceased). Ludwig,
Alert, Charlotta, Ole. Casper and Halvor (deceased).
Reared on a farm in his native Norway, Alert .Arnestad early began
learning the trade of wagon-maker and became a proficient craftsman in
that line. In March of 1881 he married there and he and his bride straight-
wav started for the United States. U])on their arrival here they came on
out to this then frontier section of Minnesota and settled at Ada, where
they ever since have made their home, thus being recognized as among
the real "old settlers" of that city. Upon his arrival at Ada Mr. Arnestad
secured employment at his trade in a local blacksmith shop and was thus
engaged for about two years, at the end of which time he engaged in
carpenter work and was thus occupied for five years or more, during which
time he erected many of the houses built at .\da and surrounding coun-
trv during that period. Mr. Arnestad then began farming near Ada, but
after two years of that form of work gave up farming and began working
in the establishment of Andrews & Hanson, hardware and lumber, at .Ada,
CLAY AXD XORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 219
and remained with that tirni lor eleven years, at the end of which time he
transferred his services to Lofsness & Shordahl, hardware, and was with that
concern for some \ears. He then started a liardware store and tin shoj)
of iiis own and o])erated the same for three or four years, or until failing
health cf)mpelled his temporary retirement. About a year ago Air. Arnestad
started a vulcanizing and repair shop at Ada and is meeting with a good
measure of success in his new enterprise. Mr. Arnestad has e\er given a
good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and is now serving his fourth
year as fire warden at Ada.
It was on March 21, 1881. in Xorway, that Alert Arnestad was united
ill marriage to Martha Hang, who also was born in that countrv, a daugh-
ter of Ingebright anrl Olena (Ingebrightson) Hang, farming people, and
to this union seven children ha\e been born, Eliza, Arnold, Helga, Bertha,
Adel, Ruth and Esther, all of whom are li\ing. Mr. and Airs. Arnestad
are members of the Hauges Lutheran church and ha\e ever taken mucii
interest in church work.
EDWIX O. STL'DLIEN.
Edwin O. Studlien, a farmer of Kragnes township. Clay county, was
born in Houston county, Minnesota, in March. 1865. He is a son of Ole
(). and Bertha ( Lundelein ) Studlien, both natives of Xorway, where they
grew up and married and made their home tuitil 1853. when the}' immi-
grated to America, locating in Houston county, Minnesota, and liought a
farm. There the father established a comfortable home and developed a
fine farm. He was one of the earliest pioneers of that county and he and
his family endured the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life.
Ole O. Studlien continued to reside there until 1874, when he moved to
Clay count}- and bought the farm in Kragnes township on which his son
Edwin O. now resides. There he spent the rest of his life, engaged in gen-
eral farming with his usual success, his death occurring there in 1908 at
the advanced age of eighty-two years years. His widow also reached the age
of eighty-two, dying in 1914 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Olena
Kragnes. To these parents eight children were born, namely: Inger, who
is married and lives in Houston county; Jane, deceased: Galena, the wife
of O. E. Tangen : Mrs. Olena Kragnes, mentioned above: Edwin O., the
subject oi this sketch: Mary Ann, who is married and li\es in Moorhead :
Otis, who disappeared in St. Paul, Minnesota, in December, 1891, and it is
220 CLAY AXD NljUMAN COUNTIES. MIX XHSOTA.
believed that he is dead, and Roljiii. who Hves with Mrs. ( )lena Kratjncs,
his sister.
Edwin O. Studlien grew up on the home farm in lltnistoii county and
there attended the district schools. He has dexotecl his life to .tjeueral
farming and has lived on his present farm in section 2^, Kragnes tnwii-
ship. since 1876. huyino- the place from his father in the year 1899. lie
has kept it well improved, replacing- all the ultl huildings with new ones.
He first bought a half section, later one huudrcd and lift}- acres in section
j6, and later a quarter section in section 13. which he later sold. He now
owns li\e hundred and forty acres, on which he carries on general farming
and stock raising- on an extensive scale, ranking among the leading farmers
of liis town.ship.
;\Ir. Studlien was married in 1889 to Engeborg Rc)holt. who was born
in 1863 in Xorway. where she grew up an<l attcmled school. She came
to America in the fall of 1885. making the trip to .Minnesota alone, to join
her two brothers who had come here from .\(jr\\a_\- several years previously
and had settled in C\:iy county. Five children ha\-e been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Studlien. namely: Oiaf, ' Eugene, Elida. .\nna and iulwin, ail of
whom are living.
Mr. Studlien is now- a member of the board of township supervisors
and is also clerk of school district Xo. 101. having iiekl this latter position
since the district was organized in 1901. He has been a member of the Moil-
ern Woodmen lodge for twenty years, or since 1897. His family are
Lutherans. He is one of tlie well-known and intluential men in pubhc
aftairs in Kragnes township.
BENDT O. HITTERDAL.
There is no better farmer in Goose Prairie township, Clay county, than
Bendt O. Hitterdal, who was born in Norway, November 30, 1855. ^^ '*
a son of Ole and Bertha ( Hertse) Hitterdal, both natives of Norway, where
the)' grew up. married and made their home until 1869. In that year they
immigrated to America and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they
spent two 3 ears, then came to Clay county, Minnesota, driving an ox-team to
a prairie-schooner overland, in 1871, and thus were among the early
pioneers of this county. The trip from Iowa took about one month. The
father at once took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, lying
CI.AY AXD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 221
less than a mile east of the present village of Hitterdal. in Goose Prairie
township. He worked hard at developing the land into a farm, erected
suitable buildings and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives,
his death occurring about 1874. The village of Hitterdal was named in
honor of this old family, which was one of the first to settle in that locality.
Six children were born to Ole Hitterdal and wife, namely: Mary, the oldest;
Bendt O., of this sketch; Lars, Maria, Ole, Jr., and Hannah.
The father of the ai)n\e named children was influential in the affairs
of his township, and he helped organize the first church in the comnumitv,
known as the Conference Lutheran church.
Bendt O. Hitterdal spent his boyhood in Xorvvay, where lie .ittended
school. He went to school only alxiut one month in ;\merica. He was
fourteen years old when his parents brought him to Iowa, and he came
with the family to C'l;iy county, ATinnesota, and helped develop the home
farm at Hitterdal. When he became of legal age, in 1878, he took up a
homestead of one Imiidred and si.xty acres where he has since made his
home. He worked hard at adding all the improvements on his land, includ-
ing a comfortable home and a convenient set of outbuildings. He has seen
the county develop from ;i wild prairie to a fine farming region during his
continuous residence here of forty-six years and has played well his part in
tliJN i!e\elopmciU. being regarded as a public-spirited and useful citizen all
the while. AMien he first located on the land he planted a large grove which
is now tall and flourishing. He has prospered through good management
and close application until he is one of the substantial men of his vicinity.
He later took up three-fourths of a section, one-fourth of which was a treie
claim, and this he has also well im])roved. He has been very successful as a
general farmer and stock raiser.
Mr. Hittedral was married about 1879 to yVnna Setter, who was born in
Wisconsin, a daughter of Paul Larson Setter, who removed to Goose Prairie
township, Clav county, Minnesota, about 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Hitterdal,
six children have been liorn, namely: Oliver, Albert. Joseph, deceased;
Andree, Ldjul and Bernhard.
Politically, Mr. liittcrdal is an independent. He helped organize Goose
I'lairie townshij) and was the first chairman of the township board. He has
since held various townshi]) offices. He helped organize the school district
ill which he resides, when the district included the entire town.ship within
its borders. He was a member of the first school board and he has been
treasurer of his .school district most of the time since. He also helped or-
ganize the L'luon Lutheran cliurch at Hitterdal.
222 CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES. iMINNESOTA.
LOUIS LEMKE.
Louis Lenike. one iif the most suljstantial farmers of Clay county and
proprietor of all of section 31 of Elkton townshi]), the seat of his pleasant
home just north of the xilla^e of Baker, is a native of Germany, but has
been a resident of this country since he was fourteen years of age. He
was born on .September 5. 1858. son of Carl and Christina (Blomk) Lemke,
lioth nati\es of that same countrw who came to the LTnited States in 1872
with their family and setlled on a farm in die vicinity of Chicago, in Cook
county, Illinois, where the father spent his last days. His widow died at
the home of one of her sons in Charlton county, Minnesota. Carl Lemke
and his wife were the parents of three sons, the subject of this sketch having
two brothers. John Lemke. now a resident of Martin county, this state, and
August Lemke. of Nebraska.
.As noted al)ove. Loui'; Lemke was fourteen years of age when be came
to this country with his parents in 1872 and for nineteen years thereafter
he made his home in Cook county, Illinois, engaged in farming. In 1892
he mo\ed from Illinois to Iowa and located on a farm in Franklin county,
that state, where he remained for eighteen years and where he developed a
fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1909, Mr. Lemke disposed of
his interests in Iowa and came up into Minnesota, locating on the farm
just north of Baker, where he is now living and where he and his family
are very comfortably situated. Mr. Lemke owns the whole of section 31
in Elkton township and has improved the place in fnie shape, having erected
an entirely new set of farm buildings there since taking possession of the
same, a ben-house being the only structure of the old set of buildings re-
maining. In addition to his general grain farming. Mr. Lemke has for some
time given considerable attention to the raising of potatoes and has done
nnich to encourage the cultivation of that crop in that neighborhood.
In 1 881 Louis Lemke was united in marriage to Sophia Pos.sehl, a
sister of H. C. Possebl, a biographical sketch of whom is ])resented else-
where in this volume, and to this union have been born fourteen children,
all of whom are living, namely: Fred, who lives in Franklin county, Iowa:
Amanda, who married Fred Fahrmann and is living in Elmwood town-
ship; ^linnie, wife of Louis Lenthe, of Elkton township: Herman, who is
at home: Eddie, also at home: Martha, wife of George Meyer, of Franklin
county. Iowa: /\nna. wife of Carl Carr, of Elkton township, and Edna.
Louie. Alvin. Arthur. Albert: Melinda and Lillie. who are at home. The
CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 22^
Lenikes are members of the German Evangelical Lutheran church at Sabin
and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good
\\orks and social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in
promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the common
welfare thereabout.
J. PIERCE WOLFE.
One of the substantial and successful men of Mourhead, Clay countv,
who is engaged in the insurance business, in which he has met with much
success, is J. Pierce Wolfe, who was born at Osseo, Hennepin county, Min-
nesota, on July II, 1872, a son of John Wolfe and wife, who are prominent
farmers and well-known and highly respected people of Nicollet countv, Min-
nesota. The parents were much interested in the education of their children,
and after the son, J. Pierce, completed his education in the local schools at St.
Peter, Minnesota, he entered the Gustavus Adolphus College at St. Peter,
where he later completed the course of study, in 1892.
Soon after having completed his work at St. Peter, Mr. Wolfe came to
Moorhead, where he established himself in business and where he has since
resided. When he first came to Moorhead, he kept books for Jacob Kiefer
for some years, and in April. 1898. he entered the general insurance busi-
ness, in which he has met with much success. He has devoted his best
efforts to this business and is today the agent and adjuster of the Security
and Reliance Insurance companies for the states of North and South Dakota,
Montana and the western |)art of Minnesota. Further, he is associated with
E. A. Davis of Minneapolis as general agents of the hail department of the
Security Insurance Company of Connecticut for North and South Dakota.
Montana and Minnesota. Withal, as an insurance man, he is today recog-
nized as one of the best in the state. Moreover, he is one of the directors of
the Equity Manufacturing Company of Moorhead, and is an advisory direc-
tor of the U. S. I. Realtv Company, a million-dollar corporation of Minneap-
olis. Even though Mr. Wolfe's business interests cover a wide extent of
territorv, \et his methods and progressive spirit place him in a positi(jn to
know every detail in the territory in which his interests are located.
It was on May 12, 1904, that J. Pierce Wolfe was united in marriage to
Alice Ambs of Moorhead, and to this union two children have been born,
Sarah and John, both of whom are now attending the local schools and are
at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are active members of the
224 CI. AY A.XD XOR.MAN COI-NTIKS. MINXliSOTA.
l-^piscopal clnirch and have long lieen prominent in the social and the relig-
ious life of tlie coninuinity in which they live, and where they are held in the
highest regard and esteem by all who know thcni. 'riicy have always taken
the greatest interest in the educational and moral development of the district,
and their inllncncc has ]iad a marked effect on the high standing of the
communitw
Mr. Wolfe i-^ a memlier ni the IVec and .\ccepte(l Masons and has at-
tained the Shriner degree, and is also a member of the Elks Lodge, Ancient
Order of United Workmen and the Knights of the Maccabees. Of the
latter organization he is a member of the state executive board, a position
he has held for twelve years. He has also taken a prominent part in the
local alYairs anrl for the past eight years he has been a member of the state
Democratic central committee, to which he has devoted much time, thus
winning much praise for the efficient work that he has rendered.
JOHN C. SLI.I'.KUD.
John C Sulerud, president of the State Bank oi llalstad, former pres-
iclent of the \illage of Halstad, for years actively engaged in the hardware
business at Halstad and the owner of a fine farm of two hvmdred acres
north of that village, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a
roident of this cnuniry since he was twenty-one years of age, having made
his home in Xorman county ever since he came over. He was born on
Januarv 5, 1862. seventh in order of birth of the eight children born to his
parents. Christen .\. and Karen (Johnson) Sulerud, also natives of Nor-
way, the former of whom was a blacksmith and farmer and both of whom
spent ;dl their lives in their native land. The others of these children are
Carl. Maren. Johan, Martin, Caroline, Sophia and the Hon. Christen I..
Sulerud. former representative in the Legislature from the sixty-first Alinne-
sota district, who is engaged with his brother, the subject of this sketch, in
the hardware Inisiness at Halstad and a biographical sketch of whom is pre-
sented elsewhere in this volume.
Reared on a farm in his native land, John C. Sulerud received his
schooling in the common schools there and at the age of fifteen went into the
citv of Christiania. where he became engaged as a clerk in a store and where
he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, when, in 1883. he came
to the United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, his destination
p
m
id
/
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 225
being Norman county. For the first year after his arrival here he was
engaged in farm labor and then, in the fall of 1884, he secured employment
as a clerk in a store at Ada and was thus engaged at that place for about
nine years, or until 1894, when he and his brother, C. L. Sulerud, opened a
hardware store at Halstad and have ever since been thus engaged at that
place, long having been regarded as among the leading merchants and citi-
zens of that thriving little city. Since 19 14 John C. Sulerud has been the
president of the State Bank of Halstad and in addition to his banking and
mercantile interests at Halstad is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred
acres, two miles north of the village, to the operation of which he gives his
interested attention. Mr. .Sulerud has given his earnest attention to local
civic affairs and has served as a member of the village council and as presi-
dent of the same.
Mr. Sulerud has lieen twice married. His tirst wife, who was Anna
.\aker, daughter of Hans .\aker, died in 1895 withont issue and on August
i,. 1902. he married Christine Holmberg, to which union three children have
been born: Allen C, l^uth and John Clintdn. Mr. and Mrs. Sulerud are
Mienibers of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an active interest in
■hurch work, for the past twenty }ears Mr. Siderud having been treasurer
• >\ the local congregation.
Mrs. Sulerud is the daughter and only child of .\rnt and Bereth
( lirotten ) Reiten. natives of Norway, who upon coming to this country set-
tled in Houston countv, this state, later coming up into the Red River conn-
try and settling in Xnrman county, where -\rnt Reiten died in 1876. His
widow married Charles Hulml)erg two years later and by his death in 1879
was again left a widow. .She is still living and is now making her home
with her daughter, Mrs. Sulerud. By her second marriage she is the mother
of one child, a daughter. Margaret, wife of James Larson, cashier of the
State Bank of Halstad and a biographical sketch of whom appears else-
where in this volume. Charles Holmberg was one of the pioneers of Nor-
man c>iuntv. hax'ing settled in the neighborhood of what is now the Brant
farm, near Halstad, in 1870. he and his party camping there in a tent until
the\- could make arrangements for permanent places of habitation. At that
time Indians still were numerous throughout this region and game was
plentiful. In 1914 Mrs. .Sulerud visited the scene of that jiioneer camp and
there unearthed some of the camp utensils that had been left by the party of
settlers.
(iSa)
226 CLAY AND NOKMAX COUNTIES^ MINNESOTA.
D.WID E. I'-ULTON.
13a\i<I v.. I'liltuii. auditor of Xorniaii couiitv, casliic-r of the Fanners
Bank of Ada and for years actively engaged in tlic real-estate business in
that city, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his
life, a resident of Xorman county since he was eigliteen years of age. lie
was horn in the city of Red Wing, this state, in 1861, a son of Sanmel .\l.
and Elizaheth J. (Hutchinson) Fulton, hoih of whom were horn in llutlcr
county, Pennsylvania, and who came to Minnesota in 1859, locating at
Red Wing, where Samuel M. Fulton engaged in the d ravage business.
In i87() Samuel M. F\ilton left Red W'ing and with his family came
up into this part of the state and settled on a homestead tract in what later
came to be (organized as Winchester township, Norman county, which farm
he improved and there made his home for fifteen years or more, or uniil
his retirement from the active labors of the farm, when he moved to .\d,i,
where he and his wife spent their last days in the lujuie of their .son. ihc
subject of this sketch. Samuel .M. l-'ulton and wife formerly were mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church, but when the Congregationalists effecte<l
an organization here they became affiliatefl with that denomination. Of
their children five are now living, .\lzada, David K.. Mary, J. H. and Min-
nie M.
.\s noted al)(ne, l)a\id F. I'ulton was eighteen years of age when he
came to this section with his ])arents fn:>m Red W ing in 1879 and he at
once entered upon die task of aiding in the development of the homestead
farm in Winchester township. In 1883, he by that time having arrived at
legal age. he took a homestead claim of his own and for a short time fol-
lowed farming on his own account, but presently gave that up and engaged
in the buying of grain in the neighboring county of Polk, presently engag-
ing in the real-estate business at Ada. in which he was engaged for about
four or five years, at the end of which time he was made cashier of a
bank at Beltrami, where he remained for four years. He then returned to
.\da, resuming there his real-estate business, and in the fall of 1904 was
elected auditor of Xorman county, a position of trust and responsibility
he ever since has held, the voters of the county displaying their confidence
in him by successive re-elections. Mr. Fulton helped to organize the Farm-
ers Bank at Ada and is the cashier of that institution.
In December, 1887. Da\id E. Fulton was united in marriage to I^Ila
M. Phelps, of Dane county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Rolland Phelps and
CLAY AND XORMAN COtNTIES, MINNESOTA. 22/
wife, and to this union two dauijliters lia\e been l)orn, Jean .\[aric and
;\Iillicent. Mr. and Mrs. l-'ulton attend tlie Congregational cliurch and take
a ])roper i)art in the \arious beneficences of the same, as well as in the
general social acti\ities of their home city. Mr. Fulton is a member of tlic
local lodges of the Independenl ( )r(ler of Odd Fellows, of the Knights nf
Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of .\merica, and in the atTairs of
these or.c;anizations takes a warm interest.
MAGNUS P. NFLSON.
Magnus P. Xelson is of Swedish nativity and ancestry, which runs
back through several generations. He was born in Sweden. February 20.
1845, '^ ^o" "^f Nels Pearson, and .\nne Xelson. both born in Sweden. The
father was a farmer in Sweden and spent his entire life in that country.
He had five children: Xellie, Ole. Ma.gnus 1'.. Sii,M-e and Fllcn. He was a
member of the Swedish Lutheran church.
Magnus P. Xelson was educated in the public schools in Swetlen and
worked with his father on the farm in his youthful days. Later he started
farming on his own account. With a view of seeking larger opportunities
for a livelihood, he came to America in 1866. Lie located first at Red Wing,
Goodhue count\. Minnesota, where he found employment on a farm, con-
tinuing at that iilace for six years. In 1871 he returned to his native land
for a visit and after remaining there for a short time returned again to
America, bringing his mother with him. He located again in Goodhue county.
Minnesota, and resumed w(jrk on the farni. In 1880, he came to l"la\- county.
Minnesota, and located on a tract of land that he had bought in 1878. '^lli^
land comprises a farm of one hundred and twent\- acres, lying on the river
three miles south of Moorhead. In 1883 he bought eighty acres of land in sec-
tion 30, on which he put up buildings and made other improvements. He
made his home on this place and was engaged in general farming until the
sjiring of 1014, at which time he removed to Moorhead, where he has since
continued to live. .\t one time Mr. Nelson was the owner of four hun-
dred and ei,ght\- acres of l;md. ;i part of which he ha-> sold. ;uid now owns
three hundred and twenty acres of good farming land. Though living a
somewhat retired life, Mr. Xelson continues to look after his farming inter-
ests and continues to take an active interest in public affairs. .\s one of the
pioneers of Clay county, he has always occupied a iimminent place in ct)unty
228 CL.W AND XOKMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
affairs and is lield in ln.t;h esteem in the cumniunity ut which he has been
an honored citizen.
Mr. Xelson was one of the organizers of the Swedish Lutheran church,
in Moorheatl. in 1880. and has been for many years a deacon in the same
and prominent in all the activities of the societ) . In civic positions he has
ser\ ed as supervisor in the township of Moorhead ; also as chairman of the
township l)oard. At the time of removal from the township to the town of
Moorhead, he was treasurer of the former. He also served for some time
as clerk of the school board of the township.
In 1884. Mr. Nelson was married to Carrie Jenson and to this union
five ciiildren were born, namely: Edith. Agnes, Manfred, .\lfred and
l\rnest : the latter is living on the old home farm.
ARTHUR A. McCAKT.W.
.\rthur .\. McLarlan, president of the l>arnes\ille Record-Review
rul)lishing Company, head of the real-estate firm of McCartan & W'halen at
Barnesville and a member of the common council of that city, for years one
of the most energetic and public-spirited citizens of Barnesville, was formerly
an Iowa farmer, hut since l)ecoming a resident of Barnesville in lyoi has
been engaged in tiie real-estate and newspaper business and has done well
there. He was born in the city of Dubuque, Iowa. October 3, 1867, son
of Bernard and Mary ( McXamara) McCartan, the former of whom was
I)orn in Ireland and the latter in the city of Buffalo, Xew York, who were
the i)arents of thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity sa\e three.
For some time after he came to this country, as a young man, Bernard
McCartan followed the vocation of a miner, Init later became a farmer and
his last days were spent in Iowa.
Reared on a farm in Iowa, .\rthur A. McCartan received his school-
ing in tlie schools of that state, and early became engaged in farming.
which \ocation he followed in that state until 1901. in which year he came
up here into the Red River coimtry and located at Barnesville, where he
l)ecanie engaged in the real -estate business and where he has ever since con-
tinued actively engaged in that line, head of the firm of McCartan & W'halen.
About two years after he locatctl at Barnesville the Record-Review Publish-
ing Company was organized at tliat place and that company has since been
engagefl there in the publication of the Banics2nlle Record. Since the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 22g
organization of that company .Mr. McCartan lias taken an active interest
in tlie same and most of tiie time has served tlie companv in the capacilv
of president, which position he now occupies, thougli until lately giving little
attention to the actual details of newspaper work, his real-estate operatiuns
occupying the greater part of his time. In January, icji/, the manager
of the Record died and Mr. .McCartan was compelled to assume the manage-
ment of the paper until such time as he could find a successor for the late
manager. Mr. McCartan takes an active interest in local political affairs
and for the past four years and more has been serving as a member of tlic
city council from his ward.
In November, 1914, Arthur .V. McCartan was united in marriage t'l
Gundrun Scow, daughter of Erick O. Scow, of Halstad, in the neighboring
county of Norman, and to this union one child has been Ixjrn, a son, .\ithur
.Vustin. ;\Ir. and Mrs. McCartan are members of the Catholic church ;ind
take a proper interest in parish affairs.
A. T. THOMAS.
A. T. Thomas, a farmer of Kragnes township. Clay county, was born
in Norway on June 24, 1848, and there he grew to manhood and attended
the common schools. He is a son of Torge and Kenne Islik (Tommas)
Tonimas, natives of Norway, where they grew up. married and established
their home, spending their lives there, the father dying when about forty-
six years old, his wife having preceded him to the grave by three years. The
father was a laborer all his life. To these parents four children were born,
namel}-: Osmon, who makes his home in Alaska: Sarah, who is married and
lives in Minnesota: .\. T., the subject of this sketch, and Christie, who died
at about the age of seven years.
A. T. Thomas was nineteen years old when his father died. He re-
mained in Norway until he was twenty-one, when he immigrated to Amer-
ica, locating first in Houston county, Minnesota, and for some time worked
out as a hired hand on a farm. He .saved his earnings and in 1878, after
he had spent three years in Clay county, he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres in section 15, Kragnes township, later buying one hundred and sixty
acres in section 10, same township. He has made all the improvements on
his land, including a substantial set of buildings. He has been quite suc-
cessful as a general farmer and stock raiser and has one of the best farms
27,0 CI. AY AM) XOK.MAX COL'XTIKS. MINNESOTA.
ill Ill's locality, in which he has lived since the ]iioiieer days, when this sec-
tion of tlie state was sparsely settled.
On I line ,^o. iS()o, Mr. Thomas was married to .Anna K. Gletna, in
l''argo, Xorth Dakota. She was horn in Norway on March ii. 1862. and
there she sjient lier girlhood and attended school. Her parents. Knut K.
and Maria 1 .. 1 lierystal ) Gletna. were natives of Norway. He died in
.\orwav in about loi.V I ''e mother is si ill livins;- in Norway. Tliere were
seven children in the (iletna family, six of whom are livin.t;. Two of these,
Johanna and Marie, came to .\iiierica; the others are still living in Norway.
.\lr>. Thomas came to .\merica in 1889, locating at Fargo. To Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas live children have been horn: Theodore. Regina. Louis. Clar-
ence and .Arthur.
Politicallv. .Mr. Thomas is a Uepuhlican. He and his wife are mem-
bers of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
WILLI A. M S. LEE.
William S. Lee, cashier of the Citizens .State liank of Baniesviile and
one of the best-known and most energetic bankers in Clay county, is a
native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was
iiorn at Little l-"alls. in Morrison county, on December 2. 1872, son of
Samuel Lee. an early merchant at that place and who was one of the first
to operate a ferrv across the Mississippi river there. During the seventies
Samuel Lee mo\ed from Little Falls to Long Prairie and in the latter place
started a store, which he continued to operate until bi< death .M>nie years
later.
Reared at Long Prairie, to which place his parents had moved when
he was but a child, William S. Lee received his schooling there and early
became thoroughly familiar with business forms and the mercantile busi-
ness, through association with his father in the latter"s store. .After his
father's death he continued to operate the store for about two years, at
the end of which time he disposed of his business interests there and entered
a store at .\kelev. Not long afterward he was employed to take charge
of a department store t'or .\. L. Cole at .Akeley, going thence, after a while,
to Eagle Bend, where for five years he was engaged as assistant cashier of
the First National Bank of that place. In 1907 Mr. Lee went from Eagle
Bend to Elizabeth, where he organized the Merchants State Bank and was
CI.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 23I
made cashier of the same: remaining there until 191 1, in which vear lie
moved to Barnesville and tliere organized tlie Citizens State P'.anl< of Barnes-
ville and since May 31, 191 1, has heen cashier of the same. Mr. Lee not
only is an active 1)anker, but lie takes an interested part in the general
business and civic affairs of liis Iiome town, a consistent "Ijooster" of the
various enterprises of that thriving city. While living at Long Prairie he
served for some time as village recorder, probably the \oungest otficial that
village ever had. He also served as a member of the village council there
and served in a like capacity during his residence at Eagle Bend.
In 1905, while living at Eagle Bend, William S. Lee was united in
marriage to Myrtle A. Euller, daughter of George E. Euller, of Moorhead.
and to this union two sons have been born, Robert G. and Charles S. Mr.
and Mrs. Lee are members of the Baptist church and take an interested
part in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activi-
ties of their home town, helpful in many ways in promoting agencies having
to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout. Mr. Lee is
a Mason and a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and
of the Independent Order of United Workmen, and in the affairs of these
several organizations takes a warm interest.
EDMUND L. BROWN.
Edmund L. Brown, a well-known realty dealer at Barnesville, was
born in Memphis, Tennessee, March 10, 1872, a son of Judge B. C. Brown,
who was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, and Jeanette B. (Booker) Brown,
who was born in .Memphis, Tennessee. Judge B. C. Brown was attorney
for the Southwestern division of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and had an
e.xtensive general law practice at the tiiue of his death, which occurred at
Little Rock, in 1888. His children are: Benjamin C, wlio is an artist in.
Pasadena. California: Annie, who married Isaac B. Gardener, superintendent
of the state institute for the deaf and dumb, at I-ittle Rock, Arkansas; and
Edmund L., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Brown, mother of these chil-
dren, died in 1872.
After the death of his first wife. Judge Brown married Ida Jordan, who
is now living in I'asadena, California. The children by the second wife
are: Howell J., a designer living in Pasadena, who designed the floats for
232 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
the tournament of roses in that city, and Sibley, who also lives in Pasadena,
California.
Edmund L. Brown was educated in the public schools of Little Rock,
Arkansas. As a young man he served an apprenticeship in the office of the
.4rkansas Gascffc, at Little Rock and was for some time reporter and city
editor of that paper. In 1894 he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he
was married to Lucy Huxley, of Martinsville. Indiana. He removed to
Martinsville, where he was engaji^ed for nine years in the manufacture of
old hickory chairs and rockers. Then he went to Seymour, Indiana, where
he had a factor}- in the same line of business for six years. Then he wen)
to Janesville, Wisconsin, and established a factory for the making of fireless
cookers, and continued in that business at that place for four years. In
1913 he came to Minnesota and engaged in the real-estate business at
Baniesville, and has been thus engaged in that city ever since.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one daughter, Frances, who is now a student
at Oberlin College, ()l)erlin, Ohio, taking a special course in that institution.
Mr. Brown is a Scottish Rite .Mason, aftiliated with the consistory of the
\'alley of Indianapolis, and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of
X'obles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Murat Temple of that order at
Indianapolis.
.\LBERT T. WRIGHT.
Albert J. Wright, undertaker and funeral tlirectnr at Moorhead, is a
native of Norway as were all his ancestors. He was lx)rn in Norway
on August 14, 1858. a son of .\ndrew and Oliaima (Sannes) Wright, who
were born and spent the greater part of their lifetime in that country. In
i860 the father of our subject came to America and located at LaCrosse,
Wisconsin, where he remained until 1876. In that year he rcmo\ed to Fill-
more county. Minnesota, where he is still living. He is a minister in the
United Lutheran church. His children are Albert T-. -Anna W., Marie O.,
Laura J.. Edwin P.. William R.. Ella T., Samuel J. and Hilma Louise.
.\lhert T. Wright came with his father to America in his chiidhocKJ
vears. He received his education in the schools of LaCrosse, Wisconsin
anil in the high school at Rushford, Minnesota, from which he was grad-
uated. He taught school for two years and then was engaged in farming
for about three years in Mower county. Minnesota. In 1881 he came to
Moorhead and engaged in the undertaking business and has contiiuied in
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ALBERT J. WRIGHT.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
TILDE.N
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CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 233
this business ever since, liis beino; the oldest undertaking- establishment in
Moorhead.
-Mr. W'ritjht lias been twice married. His first wife was Julia A.
Colberg. to whom he was married in 1878. To that union four children
were born : Albert Lawrence, ^Valter Collins, Russell Sherman and Lillian
C. The mother of these children died in 1893. Mr. \Vright"s second wife
was Christine Soreng, and by this marriage five children have been born :
Edgar Eugene, Alice Marie, Henry Morris, Clarence Bernard and Norman
Eerdinand. The family are members of the United Lutheran church. Mr.
Wright served for twenty-eight years as superintendent of the Sunday
school in this church, and lias held uther official positions in the same.
-Mr. Wright has held several official civic i)ositions. Eor three or four
}ears he ser\ed as city recorder ; was chief of the fire department for eight
years; in 1912 he was elected county commissioner of Clay county and was
re-elected to that office in 19 16 and holds that office at present. Fraternally,
he is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United \\^)rkmen, with the Knights
of the Maccabees and with the Sons of Norwav.
TORGRIM OLSON MORKEN.
Among the successful self-made men of a past generation in Clay
county, whose efforts and influence contributed to the general welfare of
his locality, the late Torgrim Olson Morken, one of the sterling pioneers
of Morken township, occujjied a conspicuous place, and his record is well
worth setting forth in a volume of the province of the one in hand.
Mr. Morken was born in Norway on October 14, 1846, and there he
grew to manhood and attended school. He was a son of Ole Torgrim
Morken and wife, natives of Norway, where they grew up. married and
continued to reside until 1867, when they immigrated to America, locating
in Houston count}', Minnesota, where they established their home on a
farm, and there the death of the father occurred in September, 1888. The
subject of this memorial sketch came to America with his parents at the
age of nineteen years. He was the youngest of a family of five children.
the others being as follow: Tona. who is married and lives in Houston
countv; Nels, who is also married and lives in that same county: Salva.
deceased, and Ole. deceased.
Torgrim O. Morken de\oted his active life to general fanning ami
234 CLAY AXD NOK.MAN COUNTIKS. MINNESOTA.
Stock raisino- and met with s'latifyins- success. He worked out as a larni
hand while Hving in Houston county, later worked in the Lake Superior
copper mines for some time, and also worked several months tor the South
Minnesota railroad. He came to Clay county in 1S73, being one of the
pioneers in this section of the state. He took up the first homestead in
.\lorken townshi]). ac<|uiring one hundred and sixty acres in section 30.
He broke the wild prairie sod with oxen and continued farming with ox-
teams for two vears. He finally had his land under an excellent state of
cultivation and erected a substantial set of buildings on the same, and there
he carried on general farming until his death, ranking among the best
farmers of his townshii). After his death his widow bought one hundred
and sixty acres in the same section as the original homesteail, and there
she still resides. She is a woman of much business ability and has man-
aged the farm well, raising a great deal of grain and large numbers of live
stock annually.
Mr. Morken was married in 1878 to Augusta Kassenborg, who was
jjorn in Houston county, Minnesota, in i860, and there .she spent her girl-
hood and received her education in the early-day rural schools. She is a
daughter of Andrew and Tilda (Olson) Kassenborg. natives of Norway,
the father born there on December i, 1836. They had come to this country
with their res))ective jiarents in 1850, the families settling in Rock county,
Wisconsin. There thev were married in 1858 and continued to reside there
until 1S76. when they came to Minnesota, beginning life in Clay county
ill t>pical pioneer fashion. They endured ten years of hardships and pri-
vations, but perse\ered and eventually developed a good farm from the
raw prairie and established a comfortable home. The death of Mr. Kas-
senborg occurred in September, 191 3. He held numerous township oftices
and was an influential man in his community. His widow is still living,
at the adxanced age of eighty-three years. They had eight children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Morken ten children were born, as follow: Andrew,
who owns a farm in Marshall county, Minnesota, which he is operating;
Gilbert, who works in a lumber camp at Rose Lake, Idaho; Salve, who
owns a farm at Park Rapids. Minnesota, and is actively engaged in farming
there: :\lartin. who is farming near the place of his brother Andrew; John,
unmarried, who is a commercial traveler; Obert, who is helping operate
the home farm in Morken township: Henry, who also lives at home and
works on the farm: Tilda, who works out. and Trina and Sophia, who
live at home and assist their mother keeping house.
Mr. Morken was independent in politics. He was a member of the
CLAV AND XOKMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 235
Norwegian Lutlieran cliurcli, to whicli his family also belong. He had been
in failing health for a numijer of years and, in 1883, made a visit to Nor-
way, believing that the change would benefit him. He took an active interest
in public affairs, and was the first townshi]) clerk of Morken township:
was also treasurer of his township for a number of years and served as
supervisor and clerk of the school board in his district. He was one of
the public-spirited and useful men of his townshi]) and the entire locality-
expressed sincere regret at his death, which occurred on October 7, 1908.
he then being sixtv-two }'ears of age. He was a. man of good character-
and was highly respected.
OTTO DAHL.
Otto Dahl. (if Miiiirhead, was burn in Alnnrcjc county. Wisconsin, I'^eb-
ruary 22, 1871. a son of Anton ( )lean ( Opsahl ) Dahl. both natives of Norway.
Anton Dahl came to America about 186S and first located in .Monroe county.
Wisconsin. In 1871 he removed to Trem)iealeau countw \Visconsin. where
he entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He improved this
land and made hi^ home there until his death, which occurred about 1883.
He was the fatliei- of six children: ( Ml<i, Matilda. Ingo, Mahin. .Xdoljih
and Marie.
(Jtto Dahl was educated in the public scliools of Trempealeau county,
Wisconsin. His father died while he was still _\^oung and the charge of
the farm came to him at the age of fifteen \-ears. lie continued to work
on the farm until he was twenty-fi\'e years of a.ge. at which time his brother
was old enough to take charge, ami he then went to Luther College, at
Decorab, Iowa, to take a course of study in that institution. In 1897 he
came with his uncle. Jens J. Opsahl. to Mimie.sota and they opened a store
in the line of general merchandise at b'elton, in Clay county. They con-
tinued the business as jiartners for two years, at the end of which time
Otto Dahl (lis])osi.-(l of his interest to his uncle and. in connection with his
brother-in-law. T. ( ). Alelby, opened uj) another general st(jre in Felton.
They continued in this business, under the firm name of Dahl & Melby.
until 1907. In the meantime the business liad grown to such an extent
that a branch store had been established at Wilton, in Beltrami county,
and in 1907 Mr. Dahl bought his ])artner"s interest in the Felton and Wil-
ton stores, and took in his two brothers as partners in the branch store
at W'illon. Mr. Dahl continued business at Felton tmtil December. 1914.
236 (LAY AND NORMAN COUNTIKS. MINNESOTA.
wlien he removed to Moorhead, wlicre he lias since hved. He still owns
the business at Felton.
In 1897 Mr. Dahl was married to Mae l)ewell. a daughter of lierlieri
O. Dewell, of Le Roy, Minnesota. To this union four children have been
horn: .\nton. who died at the age of ten years: Doris, \'irgil and Oliver
Wendell. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl are members of the Congregational church
at Moorhead.
While li\ing at i'"elton Mr. Dahl served as a meml)er of the .school
Intard and as a member of the village council, of which he was president
for two years, and also held other offices of trust. lie was actively inter-
ested in getting the first church built in Felton. Mr. Dahl has always been
interested in music, and while living in Felton organized and was the director
of the brass band at that place, the membership being composed of village
and Cfjuntry boys.
JOHN OBERG.
.\o life is more satisfactory than that of the farmer, provided he has
the right outlook and the proper attitude toward his work. One of the
contented and successful agriculturists of Clay county is John Oberg of
Kragnes township, who is also interested in the banking business and is one
of the leading citizens of his locality, a splendid example of a self-made
man.
Mr. Oberg was born in Xorway in 1855. a son of luigebrigt au.d Maria
Oberg, both natives of Xorway. where they grew up. married and establisheil
their home, never coming to America. They devoted their active li\es 1 1
farming. The death of the father occurred in 1905 at the advanced age
of eighty-six. and the mother reached the luiusual age of ninety-tw-o. dying
in 1909. To these parents the following children were born: Xels, .\ndrew,
Ola, Mar\, Ole and John, three of whom are living in Xorway on farnis.
John Oberg grew to manhood in Xorway, where he attended school
there, and. as a boy. helpetl his father on the farm. He came to .'\mcrica
in 1879, first locating in Houston county. Minnesota, but in a short time
went to \\'isconsin where he spent three years working in a lumber camp.
He came to Clay county in 1882 and, during his residence here, of thirty-
i\ye years, has .seen the country transformed from a wild stretch of plains
to one of the foremost farming communities in the state. He has played
well his part in this transformation, being a useful citizen from the first.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 237
He owned a store at Kragnes for about six years and in i8gi bought six
hundred and eighty-five acres in sections 24 and 2() in Kragnes townshii).
which he still owns. He replaced the old Iniildings with substantial new
ones and made other improvements. In 1900 he bought one-fourth of
section 13 and subse(|uentl_\- another one- fourth of the same section, on
which holding he also erected new buildings. He is now ow-ner of one
thousand and seven acres, and also owns the picturesque Riverside Addi-
tion in the city of Moorheacl. He has carried on general farming and
stock raising on an e-\tensi\e scale for man}- _\ears and is regarded as one
of the foremost general agriculturists in Clay county. He keeps an excel-
lent grade of live stock, preparing many cattle for the market annually,
feeding to them a large portion of the immense amount of grain he raises,
liis land is all under a high state of scientific cultivation.
Mr. Oberg is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he ha'^
accomplished unaided, ha\ing started out with very little capital and no
influential friends in a new land, where e\en the language was strange,
but be has forged to the front amid discoura.ging environments and is today
one of the representative citizens of western Minnesota. Besides farming,
he is interested in a financial wa\- in various enterprises, being a business
man of rare foresighl and acumen. He is a stockholder in the Norwegian-
American Steamship Line, the ()lness Luml)er Company in Montana, of
which he is president, the Houglam b^umiture Company of Moorbead, also
the Pederson Mercantile Conijjany of that city, the Cream of Barley Com-
pany of Minneapolis, and the Service Machine Company of Chicago. He
is also financiallv interested in numerous banks. He was one of the organ-
izers of the First State Bank of Moorhead and has been vice-president of
the same almost all tlie time it was organized. He is a stockholder in the
State Bank at South Haven, Minnesota; the Farmers and Merchants Bank
at Steele, North Dakota: the State Bank at I'erley. Minnesota: the TM|uit\-
Bank at Fargo, North Dakota: the Peoples Bank in St. Paul, and the
Bankers Trust and Savings Company in Minneapolis.
Air. Oberg was married in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1890, to Christina
Nelsen, a native of Goodhue county, Minnesota. She received a good edu-
cation and was a woman of man\ commendable traits of bead and heart.
Her death occurred on the home farm, in Clay county, in 1903, at the
earlv age of thirty-four years. Si.\ children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Oberg, all of whom are now living at home with the exception of the
eldest, who is deceased; tbe\- are Ingemann. who died when seventeen years
old; Goodman, Maria, Josephine, Nettie and Martin.
238 CLAY AND XOKMAN COUXTIES, MIXXESOTA.
Politically, .Mr. ()ber<f is an independent voter. lie has never been
\ery active in public affairs, nor a seeker for politica.! leadership, however,
he has always stood ready to support all movements luuing for their objeel
the general upbuildino- of his locality, trying at all times to perform ihv
duties of a good citizen. He was a memljer of the school lx:)ard in district
Xo. 101 for many years, and he also served as treasurer and supervisor
of the town board for many years. Other business interests with which Mr.
(^berg has been and is connected are: the Farmers Elevator Company of
Moorhead, which he helped to organize; the Moorhead Telephone Com-
pany, of which he was treasurer, and the Comstock antl Ploly Cross Insur-
ance Company, of which he was a director and also an agent. He is .1
wide reader and has kept well informed along general lines and personally
his reputation has ever been alKive all idle cavil. He is held in high esteem
bv all who know him.
ANDRE. \S O. lEL AND.
.Andreas O. Ueland, lawyer and banker, of Halstad, recorder of ili.it
village for a number of years, and one of the best-known citizens of Xorman
county, is a native of the kingdom of Xorway, but has been living in Minne-
.sota. a resident of Xorqian count}', since he was eighteen years of age. He
was born on October i. 1871, son of C). M. and Bertha (Eeg) Ueland.
lK)th natives of Xorway. farming people, who spent all their lives in th.it
country. They were members of the Lutheran church and their children
were reared in that faith. There were ten of these children, of whom
the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of l)irth. the others being
Martha. .Anna, Ole G.. Enoch. Christine. -\rne. Olga, Christan and Tine.
Reared on a farm, .\ndrcas O. I'eland completed his local schooling in
the schools of his native amt and when eighteen years of age, in iSSc).
came to the United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, his point
of destination being Xonnan county. He spent the first two years after
his arrival here in Shelly tow nship. attending school there during the winters,
advancing his study of English, and during the following winter attendeil
Concordia College at Moorhead. He then entered Curtis Business Col-
lege at Minneapolis and after a course there returned to Xorman county
and, in 1893. ^^^* installed as bookkeeper in the State Bank of Halstad.
The following winter he returned to Minneapolis and in the fall of 1894
entered the law department of the University of Minnesota, from which
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 239
he was graduated in the spring of 1896. Upon receiving his diploma Mr.
Ueland remained employed in a law office at Minneapolis until the summer
of 1897, when he returned to Xorman county and opened an office for
the practice of his profession at Halstad, where he e\er since has made his
home and where he has continued in practice, one of the best-known mem-
bers of the bar in this section of the state. For years .Mr. Ueland served
as recorder of the \illage of Halstad and since 1907 has been engaged as
assistant cashier of the State ISank of Halstad. In his jiolitical affiliation
he is a Democrat and gives his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs.
In 1897 Andreas O. Ueland was united in marriage to Elsie Ueland.
daughter of Nels N. Ueland and wife, of Shelly township. Xorman county.
She died in 1899 without issue. Mr. Ueland is a member of the local
society of the Sons of Norway and of the local lodge of the Knights
of Pythias, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes an acti\e
interest.
OSCAR LOVSNES.
Oscar Lovsnes, a well-known hardware merchant of Halstad antl for-
mer member of the village council there, is a nati\e son of Xorman count\'
and has li\ed there all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Halstad
township, August 28, 1878, son of Engel and Mollie (Serum) Lovsnes,
natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 186C) and proceeded
on out to Minnesota, locating in Fillmore county. There they remained
until about 1872, when they came up into this part of the state and home-
steaded a farm in what later came to lie organized as Halstad township.
Xorman county, and there spent the rest of their lives, substantial antl
influential pioneers. Engel Lovsnes and his wife were the i)arents of eight
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of
birth, the others being: Camella, Syvert, Isabel, Ella, Clara, Marie and
Emma, all of whom are living save Ella, who died when about fifteen years
of age, and Clara, who died at the age of twelve years. Mr. and Mrs.
Lovsnes were earnest members of the Xorwegian Lutheran church, active
workers in the same, and their children were reared in the faith of that
denomination.
Reared on the paternal farm in Halstad township, Oscar Lovsnes re-
ceived his early training in the schools of that township .and at the village
school at Halstad and supiilemented the same by a course in the Metro-
240 CLAY AND XORMAX COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
politan Business College at Minneapolis. In 1902 he began his mercantile
career as a clerk in the hardware store of the Solerud Brothers at Halstad.
and four years later, in 1906, bought a hardware store at Ada, remaining
in business there for four years. .At the end of that peritxl. in 1910, he
returned to Halstad. bought an interest in the store of his former emi>Ioyers,
Solerud Brothers, and has ever since been thus connected with that long-
established and progressive firm. Mr. Lovsnes gi\es proper attention to
local civic affairs and has served for one term as a member of the Halstad
village council. He is affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of
Pythias and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that order.
In 1905 Oscar Lovsnes was united in marriage to Minnie Beise, daugh-
ter of .August Beise and wife, and to this union three children have been
born, Russell, A\'allacc and Eleanor. Mr. and Mrs. Lovsnes have a very
pleasant home at Halstad and take a proper part in the general socird
activities of the village.
D.WID ASKKG.\ARD.
A well-known citizen of the southwestern part of Clay county is David
.Askegaard, merchant, banker, lumber and elevator man of Comstock, where
he owned a farm before the village was started. He was born in Norway,
June 19, i<^53. and is a son of David and Johanna Askegaard, both
natives of Norway, where they grew up and married and continued
to reside until 1872, when they immigrated with their family to the
L'nited Slates, locating in Cass county. North Dakota, where the father
entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Pleasant town-
ship, which he developed into a farm and there he and his wife spent
the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of the following children :
Corrinne. Ingeborg, Clara, Ole, David, John, Otto. Peter, Johannes and
Mary.
The junior David Askegaard grew to inanhood in Norway and there
he attended the public schools. He was nineteen years old when he came
with the rest of the family to America. As a young man he took up
a homestead of eighty acres in Pleasant township, Cass county, North Da-
kota, which he developed into a farm through hard \vork and perseverance,
remaining there until 1886. when he removed to Holy Cross township.
Clay county, Minnesota, and bought the land on which the \illage of Com-
stock now stands. Here he improved another farm and established the
>rr!. AM) Mi;s. kavih askhcjaakd.
tsEV^'
Y0R1^
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 24I
l';iniil\- home. In 1890 he iiio\ecl to Conistock and started a general store
in partnership witli a .Mr. HaHand under the firm name of Halland &
Askegaard. and he ha.s lieen successfully engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness ever since, enjoying a large and constantly growing trade. He carries
an extensive general stock of goods. In 1909 he assisted in organizing
the Comstock State Bank and was elected vice-president of the same. He
is now president of the bank. The rapid growth of this sound and popular
institution has been due very largely to his able management and local
prestige. In 1891 Mr. .Vskegaard established the Askegaard elevator at
Comstock and he also manages a lumber yard in Comstock. Both have been
very successful and are growing industries. In fact, whatever Mr. Aske-
gaard turns his attention to results in gratifying financial returns, for the
is a man of rare foresight and soundness of judgment and is one of the
strong financial men of Clay county, as well as one of the most influential
men of affairs in this locality. From 1892 to 1913 he was vice-president
of the First National Bank of Moorhead. In addition to the five and a
halt sections of fine land Mr. Aske.gaard owns in his home township, he
is the owner of three cpiarter sections in another township in Clay county,
a section in Montana and a quarter section in North Dakota.
In 1876 David Askegaard was united in marriage to Minnie Dunhoui.
who was born in Xorwax', daughter of Fric Dunhom and wife, who spent
all their lives in their native land. .Mrs. .V.skegaard and her three sisters
came to the United States in 1870 and after a year spent in Fillmore county,
ihis state, came up into this part of the state and was living in Otter Tail
county at the time of her marriage. To that union were born ten children,
of whom four are deceased, Milla. .\rthur, Delia and Henry, those living
being Milla (second), Edwin, Eugene, .\rthur (second), Corrinne and Delia
(second). In July, 1917, -Arthur .A.skegaard enlisted for service in the
regimental hand of the Washington Coast .\rtillery and is now serving with
that command. The mother of these children died in 1890 and Mr. Aske-
gaard later married Christine Larson, who was born in Sweden, daughter
of .\ndrew and Hannah (Nelson) Larson, who came to the United States
with their faniilv in 1880 and located at Moorhead. Mr. Larson became the
owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of that
city, but later moved to a farm near the home of his daughter, Mrs. Aske-
gaard. and there died in 191. t. His widow now makes her home with Mrs.
.\skegaar(l. .\ndrew Larson and his wife were the parents of two chil-
dren. Mrs. Askeg-aard having a brother. To David and Christine (Larson)
(i6a)
242 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Askegaard six cliildren have been born, namely : Aileen (deceased), an
infant (deceased), Tekia (deceased), Henry, Tekla (second) and Rolfe.
Political!}', Mr. Askegaard is a Republican, and from 1892 to 1896 he
served as county commissioner. He and iiis family are members of the
Norwegian Lutheran church. He has always borne an unblemished reputa-
tion as a man and citizen and is one of the highly esteemed men of Clay
county, a plain, ])ractical, unassuming gentleman who takes an active interest
in whatever pertains to the development of his town and county.
(".ILL 1I()\\\RD BARKER RICHARDS.
One of the enterprising young farmers of the western part of Cla\'
county is Gill Howard Barker Richards, a member of a well-known and
highly-respected family in the vicinity of Kragnes, where he was born on
the old home farm, .\ugust 11, 1886. He is a .son of Roljert and Ellen
(Giffin) Richards. The mother, who was torn in Belfast, Ireland, in
August, 1844, came to America in early life, and her death occurred here
in 191 3. Robert Richards was Iwrn in Cornwall, England, in December,
1844, and there he grew to manhood and attended the common schools.
He immigrated to America in 1864, first locating at Calumet, Michigan,
where he worked in the copper mines for some time as foreman. He
came to Clay county, Minnesota, in 18^2, locating on a farm in Kragnes
township, and there engaged successfully in general farming and stock rais-
ing until his death in February, 191 2. which, however, occurred in a hos-
pital in Fargo, North Dakota. His family consisted of seven children,
as follow: John, who died in 1903; Tom, unmarried, who was born in
September. 1871, and has remained on the home place, consisting of one
hundred and sixty acres, which he owns, also operating another farm of
one hundred and sixty acres, which l>elongs to his sister, Margaret, farm-
ing in all three hundred and twenty acres; Max, who was born in April,
1873, and is married, living in Fargo, North Dakota; Alexandria, born
in May, 1874, and living on a farm in section 17, Kragnes township;
Margaret, who is operating a rooming house in Moorhead, and also owns
a good farm in Kragnes township ; Will, who is married, having three
children, and is farming on the homestead in section 17, Kragnes town-
ship; Gill H. B.. of this sketch, the youngest of the family.
Gill H. B. Richards grew to manhood on the home farm in Clay county.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 243
where he worked hard wiien a 1)oy. He received his education in the
(Hstrict schools of his native community. \Mren a young man he began
for himself on a farm, belonging to his brother John, !)ut now owns an
excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 17, Moland town-
ship, on which he has made all improvements. He mo^'ed to this place
in KJ14, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He
was married in 1906 to Carrie Rassmussen. who was born in 1888, at
Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. To their union six children have been l)orn.
namely : Clara Belle, Harold, Arnold, Robert, .\lfred and Violet.
Robert Richards, father of the subject of this sketch, was a prominent
man in his township for many years. He held a number of county offices,
having served seven years as county commissioner, of which board he was
chairman for some time.
HALVOR RAS^IUSSOX.
Halvor Rasmusson, former clerk of the district court of this district,
former recorder of the cit)- of Aloorhead, one of the incorporators and
first treasurer of Concordia College and for many years a well-known real-
estate dealer and banker, now living retired in the city of Moorhead, is a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this country
since he was twenty years of age and of Moorhead since 1878, having
come up here into the Red River valley from Houston, this state, of which
city he was the first mayor. Mr. Rasmusson is one of the numerous band
of Telemarkens who found Minnesota so hospitable a place of abode in
the sixties and seventies of the past century and has never regretted the
decision which prompted him to locate in this state. He was born in the
pari.sh of Kritseid, in the district of Telemarken, Norway, September _M).
1841, a son of Rasmus and Anna ( Halv(jrson) Gunderson, who. with the
other members of their family, followed their son, the subject of this sketch,
to America in 1866 and settled in Houston county, this state. There Mrs.
Gunderson, who was born on November 10, 1817, died on March 2, 1875.
Rasmus Gunderson remained in Houston ccjunty, engaged in farming, for
fifteen years, at the end of which time he sold his farm there and mo\cl
to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he spent the rest of his life, retired, hi-
death occurring there on August 8, 1903. He was born on June C), 1819.
Rasmus Gunderson and wife were the parents of six children, of whom
-'44 CI. AY AXl) XOKMAX COINTIKS. MIXXIiSOTA.
tlie subject of this sketch \v;i> the first honi. the dtliers l)eiiig as follow:
Mrs. Signe l\ice. who died at her hmne in ('la\ county in IQ12; .\nna, wile
of l)(x-tor Hoegh. of .Minneapolis: (iunder, who is married and is engaged
in farming in Roseau county, tliis state: .Mrs. Christie llals. a widow, of
.Minneapolis, and Hans, who is engaged in farming in .Montana.
Ilahtir Kasnnisson grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Te!-
emarken and in the spring of 1861 was niarrietl, he and his bride straight-
way thereafter setting sail for the countrv of promise across the sea. 'I'hc}'
landed at the jxirt of Quebec on June S. 1861, after a voyage of eight
weeks, dming which twenty-four persons died on board the vessel on which
they had taken passage. I'Vom Oueljcc Mr. Rasmusson and his bride pro-
ceeded to Chicago and after a stay of some time in diat city went to
Afadison, Wisconsin, where they remained until their not oxerly large stock
of funds was exhausted, after which they walkeil sevent\' miles to the
farm home of .Mr. Rasmussou's uncle, in the vicinity of Kilborn City,
Wisconsin, where they found a cordial welcome. .Mr. Rasmusson found
employment in a store at Kilborn City and there remained thus engaged
until 1864. when he caiue to .Minnesota and was for a year thereafter en-
gaged in farm labor in b'illmore coimty. He then secured a position in
a store at Winona and remained there until 1866, in which year he mo\ed
to Houston, where he became engaged as grain buyer for the liergendahl
ele\ator, a position which he held for twelve years, or until his removal
to .Moorhead in 1878. During the time of his residence in Houston Mr.
Rasmusson took an active part in the conmiercial and ci\ic affairs of that
place and was elected first mayor of the town upon its incorporation as a
cit\ He also served as a member of the school board of that city and in
other W'ays did his part toward promoting the best interests of the ])lace.
Upon locating at .Moorhead in the spring of 1878 Mr. Rasmusson
became enga.ged in the hotel business, but after a year's experience in that
line abandoned that form of endeavor and became engaged in the real-estate
business, in the office of Comstock & White. In 1883 he was elected rec-
order of the city of Moorhead and was re-elected to that office in the sjiring
of 1884, also clerk of the municipal court. In the fall of 1884 Mr. Ras-
nuisson was elected clerk of the district court and by successive re-elections
was retained in that important ofTice for a period of si.xteen years, during
much of which time he also served as a member of the board of education
and was clerk and treasurer of the board. Mr. Rasmusson has e\er given
his earnest attention to the promotion of the educational interests of his
adopted state and when the moxenu'ut which culminated in the establish-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 245
nient of Conconlia College at AI(jorhfa<l in i8gi was under way he became
one of the incorporators of that institution and was elected first treasurer of
the same. In the meantime Mr. Rasmusson had continued his activities in the
real-estate line and for years was regarded as one of the best judges of
realty in the Red Ri\er valle\'. carrying on cjuite extensive operations in
that hue hoth at .Moorhead and at Winnipeg. In Kjoj; he became one of
the incor])oralors of the Iwrst State iJank of Moorhead. Of late years,
howe\er, he has been living practically retired from business cares, "taking
things easy" in his declining years.
Mr. Rasmusson has been twice married. ( )n .March J4, 1861. in his
native Norway, just a few daws before he and his bride took their depar-
ture for this country, he was united in marriage to Li\- Johnson, who also
was born in Xorwaw June 24. \i^42. and whose parents died when she
was an infant. To that uiu'on were horn six children, namely: John, who
is engaged in the hardware business at Crookston, this state; .Anna, wife
of (). ]). Dahl. of I'argo: Julia, who died at Moorhead in .\ugust, 1913;
Rud(il]ih, who is lix'ing at Minneapolis: Dr. b'rederick Rasmusson, of 01i\er
count)-, Xorth Dakota, and Xora, wife of Mar\in b'ullerton, of l*"argo.
The iui>ther of these children died in 1909 and in ii)ii, during a visit
b.'ick to his (lid iiomc in Xorwa\', .Mr. Rasmusson wa^ married in that
countr\- to .Marie ( hristijuison. who was burn in Xorw.'iy on December
iN, iS(Sj. .\lr. and .Mrs. Rasmusson ba\'e a \ery pleasant home at .Moor-
head and Mr. Kasmussou is also the owner of some \;iluablc business
houses on Front street.
S. O. SOLl'M.
S. O. .Solum, cashier of the hirst Xational liank of li.-irnesN ille. jiresi-
deiu of the mercantile firm of Xorby. Solum & Company (incorporated),
city treasurer of Barnesville and for years activel\- identified with the com-
mercial and other interests of that city, one of the best-known bankers
;nid merchants in this section, is a nati\e son of Minnesota and has li\ed
in this state all his life, a resident of Cla_\' county since he was three years
of age. and ma\' thus \erv properly be accoimted as one o( tlie leal "old
settlers" of this jj.'irt of the Red River country. F fe was born on a pioneer
farm in hillmore county on June 18, 1869, son of Ole H. and Karie
( Stadum ) Soluiu. natives of the kingdom of X'^orway, who became ])ioneers
of Clay countv in 1872 and here spent their last days.
246 CI. AY AND NORMAN- COl'NTIKS. MINNESOTA.
Ole H. Sdluni was horn and reared in Xorway, as was his wile. In
1868, W'ith tlie two cliildren. Hans and .Andrew, born to them in their native
land, they came to the United States and ]5roceeded on out to ^[inne.sOla,
selthng in I'ilhnore county, where the\' remained for four years. At tlie
end of that time, in iSjJ, they came up into tlie Kt.'i\ River vallex' with
their family, drivinj^ thruuijh with a covered waj^on and a team of oxen,
and located in Clay county, which had just been erected into a civic unit
that year. Upon his arrival here. Ole H. Solum honiesteaded a ([uarter of
a section of land in Tanscm townshii) and there established his home. .\t
that time, Indians still were mimerous herealjout and there was not another
settler between the Solum place and Glyndon. During the first summer of
his residence here. Mr. Solum eked out his slender means of subsistence
by working as a freighter to I't. .\bercrombie. Though he started with
practically nothing save his homestead right, he was a good farmer and
an excellent manager and presently i)egan to see his way clear to the de-
velopment of a fine piece of farm propert}-. .\s he prospered in his affairs,
he gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of an excel-
lent farm of three hundred and forty acres. He and his wife were earnest
workers in the church and were among the organizers of the First North
Kmanuel church. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others Ijeing :
Hans, Andrew, Uars (who died at the age of eleven years), Martin, Chris-
tine (who (lied at the age of fourteen), and Peter.
.\s noted above, S. O. Solum was but three years of age when hi-
parents settled in Clay county and he grew up on the homestead farm in
Tansem townshij), thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions thereabout.
Upon completing the course in the local schools, he entered W'illmar Semin-
arv and wa?- in attendance at that institution for the better part of two
terms, after which, in 1890, then being twenty-one years of age, he began
working in a lumber yard at Barnesville. In 189J he accepted the position
as bookkeeper in the Barnesville State Bank, and not long after that bank
was rechartered as the I'irst National Bank of Barnes in 1895 he was
made assistant cashier of the s^ame and, in 1910, was elected ca.shier, which
position he still occupies, one of the best-known bankers in this part of the
state. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Solum has other business
interests in Barnesville and is the president of the mercantile firm of Norby.
Solum & Company (incorporated). For the past sixteen years and more,
he has served as treasurer of the city of Barnesville and has in other
ways given of his time and his energies to the public service.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 2^/
In the year 1893 S. O. Solum was united in marriage to Christine
Austin, daughter of John and Bertha Austin, of Crawford county, Wis-
consin. Mr. and Mrs. Solum are members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general
social and cultural activities of their home community.
CHARLES FOSSAY.
There is no more persevering tiller of the soil in Kragnes township. Clay
county, than Charles F"ossay, who was born in Norway in 1853. He is a
son of Ole E. and Olia F. Fossay, both natives of Norway, where they
grew up, married and made their home until immigrating to America in
1866, locating in Mitchell county, Iowa, where the father bought one hun-
dred and twenty acres of land, for which he paid five dollars an
acre. The same land is now worth one hundred and seventy-five
dollars an acre. Here they engaged in farming, developing raw land
by hard work. The father's death occurred there in 1907 at the advanced
age of eighty-eight years. The mother died some three years later at the
age of eighty-four. To these parents the following children were born :
Eberhart, who was killed by a bull in 1912 in North Dakota; iVnton. who
died in Mitchell county, Iowa ; Charles, the subject of this sketch ; Bertha,
who is married and lives in Mitchell county, Iowa; Emma, who is mar-
ried and makes her home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Minnie, who
died near Davenport, North Dakota ; Oliva, who was married and who died
in Foster county, North Dakota, in 1915; Oliver, who lives in McHenry
cfjunty. North Dakota, and Mary, who died in Cass county, that state.
Charles Fossay was thirteen years old when his parents brought him
to America. He received a common-school education and grew to man-
hood on the farm. Like all sons of pioneers he worked hard when a bo_\-,
helping his father develop the home farm. In 1S77 he went to Fargo,
Xorth Dakota, anrl there operated a dray line for twelve years with very
gratifying results. He then, in 1889, came to Clay county and bought his
present farm in Kragnes township. The farm originally consisted of four
hundred acres, but Mr. Fossay later sold half of it and now owns the two
hundred acres, which lie in sections 30 and 31. He made all the improve-
ments on this land, including the erection of a modern and substantial set
248 CLAY VXD XORMAN COUXTIICS. MINNESOTA.
of buildings. He has been very successful as a general farmer ami sioclc
raiser, and makes a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle.
On September 6. 1886. at Ivargo. Mr. Fossay was married to Anna
Danielson. who was Ixmi in Sweden in i85<). She spent her girlhood in
her native land and there attended school,, coining to America alone whin
eighteen years old. locating at Fargo, North Dakota, where she remained
until her marriage. Five children have been born to .Mr. and Mrs. I'ossav.
namely: Charles, who is married and lives in the province of Manitoba,
Canada: I'^dward, who makes his home with Ch.uJes in Canada, and Obcii,
.Mice and Maliel. at home.
Politically. Mr. Fos.say is an "Independent", lie served as treasurei
of the .school board in his district for many years and was also a niemlu)-
of the township board for many years. He is a member of the Congrega-
tional church, in which he is a deacon, and is active in church affairs.
HENNIXG u. KRABBENIIOI 1.
Henning O. Krabbenlioft. one of Clay county's most successful farmers
and substantial landowners, proprietor of a section and a half of fine land in
the Sabin neighborhood of l^Imwood township, former assessor of that town-
ship, former chairman of the board of supervisors of the same and in other
ways actively identified with the affairs of that community since pioneer
days, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of Minnesota and of
Clay county since he was eighteen years of age, having come here with his
parents, who became the first permanent white settlers of what later became
organized as Elmwood township. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein on
May 27, 1856, son of W. F. and Katherine (Jess) Krabbenhoft, natives
of that same province of Prussia, who came to the L'nited States with their
family in 1874 and proceeded on out to Minnesota, settling on a homestead
tract in what later came to be organized as Elmwood township, in Clav
county, and there spent the remainder of their li\es, useful and influential
pioneers of that community, their original homestead tract there now being
the place of residence of the subject of this sketch.
It was in 1872 that the Krabbenhoft tract in Elmwood was entered,
W. C. Krabbenhoft, eldest son of W. F. Krabbenhoft having come here in
that year and made his claim to the same, ])utting up a homestead shant\
and preparing the way for the coming of his parents and the other members
a
5?
2
■31
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 249
of the family, who anivctl in 1874, and established their hmne there, the
lirst permanent settlers in that section of the county. VV. F. Krabbenhoft
bought the claim from his son and completed the development of the same,
later increasing his land holdings to two hundred and thirty acres, which
in 1882 he sold to his son Henning, who has continued to reside there since
his coming in 1874, one of the real '"nld-timers" now living in Clay county.
On that pioneer farm \V. F. Krabbenhoft and his wife spent their last days.
They were members of the Lutheran church and took an active part in the
organization of a con.gregation of their faith in the neighborhood of their
home in tlic early days. The\- were the parents of twelve children, six of
whom died in the old country, the other six coming with them to this country,
these latter being as follow : Wolf C, now deceased, who was the first of
the family to come to this country, as noted abo\e ; Christ, also now deceased :
Henning O., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Katherine.
wife of Chris I'eohls : Anna, wife of Chris Wright, and Wilhelmina,
now deceased, who was the wife of Henry Schroeder.
.\s noted above Henning O. Krabbenhoft was eigliteen \ears of age
when he came to Minnesota with liis parents and the otiicr members of the
family and settled in Clay county. He had received his schooling in iiis
native land and upon coming here he at once took an active hand in the
difficult labors of improving and developing the homestead place in Elm-
wood township. He married in tiie fall of 1881 and the next year bouglit
the home place from his fatlier, who was prepared to retire at that time,
and there established his permanent home. Since taking possession of that
place he has erected excellent buildings and for years has had one of the
best-ecjuipped farm plants in Clay county. As he prospered in his farming
operations, Mr. Krabbenhoft gradually added to liis land holdings until he
became the owner of two and three-quarter sections of land, but has since
sold a section and a f|uarter, retaining a section and a half, which he has
brought under a hi.gh state of cultixation. About 1892 Mr. Krabbenhoft
began to recognize the peculiar adaptability of the soil of the Red river
^■alley to the raising of potatoes and in that year made his first really exten-
sive plant of potatoes. Since then he has made much of potato crops and has
on his place one of the largest ]:)rivate potato warehouses in this part of the
state. He has also given considerable attention to the raising of pure-
bred live stock and has done very well in his operations. From the be-
ginning of his residence here Mr. Krabbenhoft has taken a .good citizen's
interest in local political affairs and at one time and another ha,s held
most of the offices within the gift of the ])eoplc of his home township.
250 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
including that of chairman of the l)uard of township supervisors and assessor.
Of late years, however, he has practically retired from politics. Among
the other interests to wliich he gives his earnest attention is the North-
western Hospital at Moorhead, in the affairs of which he has been deeply
interested since the day of its establishment.
On November 29, 1881, Henning O. Krabbenhoft was united in mar-
riage to Margaret Kuel, also a native of Holstein, who came to this country
in that same year. Some years later, in 1890, her parents, Fred and Mag-
daliua (Naeve) Kuehl, also came to this country and their last days were
sjK'nt in F.lniwood townshi]). Mr. and Mrs. Krabbenhoft have thirteen
children, Katlierinc, August, Herbert, Anna, .Alfred, Tiicodore, Waller, John,
Adoli)h, Christian, Siefried. Lizzie and Elsie, all of whom are living in this
communiiy, save John, who is now a resident of .Ambrose, North Dakota.
There are also four children deceased, Herman, Rudolph. Heinrich and Dora.
The Krabbenhofts have a very pleasant home and have e\er taken a proper
part in the general social activities of the community, helpful in many ways
in advancing movements having to do with the betterment of conditions
hereabout. As one of the real pioneers of Clav county, Mr. Krabbenhoft
has a wonderful fund of information regarding the conditions in the early
days of the settlement of this part of the state and some of his tales of
pioneer days are interesting indeed.
WILLIAM GILBERY
William Gilbery. a well-known fanner of Kragnes township, Clay
county, was Ixjrn in Devonshire, England, on May i. 1855. He is a son of
U. Hugh and Dina (Newcombs) Gilberj-, both natives of England, where
they grew up. married and established their home. In 1874 they immigrated
to Canada, where they resided until 1879, when they moved to Wisconsin and
spent the rest of their lives in Grant county, that state, each reaching an ad-
vanced age, the father dying in 1910 at the age of eighty-two, and the mother,
in 1914. at the age of eighty-three. Three children were born to these pa-
rents, namely: U'illiam, the subject of this sketch; Richard, deceased: and
Charles, who lives on a farm in Wisconsin, is married and owns his own
place.
William Gilberv grew to manhood in England and there attended the
pul)lic schools. He immigrated to Canada in the spring of 1873 and lived
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 25 1
there three years, at the end of wliich time, in 1876, he moved to Hancock,
Houghton county. Michigan, wliere he hved three years with an uncle. In
tlie fall of 1878 he came to Minnesota and worked at Crookston that winter.
His uncle, with whom he lived in Michigan, came here in 1879 and bought
two hundred and twenty acres in Oak Port township, Clay county, and this
land was farmed by the subject of this sketch for three years. He continued
to work on various farms in this county and finally bought land in Oak
i'ort township for another uncle and farmed the place for seven years. In
the spring of 1890 he ]nirchased his present farm in section 20 of Kragnes
township, on which he has made all imjirovements, including an excellent
group of buildings. He has three hundred and twenty acres of well-kept
and productive land, which is well adapted to potato growing and he planted
thirtv-five acres of the white tubers in 1917. He al.so raises a great deal of
wlieat and has been (|uite successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
On September 9, 1879. Mr. Gilbery was married to Clara Milden, who
was born in Houghton county, Michigan, Septemlier 23, 1859. She is a
daughter of John and Mary ( Westley ) Milden. both natives of Devonshire.
Rngland. where tliev grew up. ni;irricd and made their home until coming
to America over sixty years ago, or about the year 1856. They located at
Hancock, Michigan, being pioneers of that section of the Wolverine state.
.Mr. .Milden was a carpenter by trade and he helped build the first house in
the present town of Hancock. His death occurred in 1907. at the age of
seventy-three years. He was twice married, his first wife, mother of the
wife of the subject of this sketch, dying in 1882, at the age of fifty-one
vears. He was the father of four children by his first wife and eight by his
second wife.
To William Gilbery and wife eight children have been born, namely:
.\nna, who is married and lives on a farm in Kragnes township; Charles,
who is married and lives on a farm in the same township; William, who is
ni;irrie(l and lives at Hitterdal. in Clay county; Ida. who is married and lives
on a farm in Xortli Dakota, and George, Minnie, Robert and Raymond, at
home.
Mr. Gilberv is a Republican and has served as a director on the local
school Ixjard for thirteen years. lie was also a member of the township
board for some time and was for a number of years a member of the board
of supervisors of Kragnes township, a director and chairman of the board
for some time. He has been active in the affairs of his locality since com-
ing to Clay county, and has done much to develo[> the \aried interests of
that community.
2Z^2 CLAY AND NORMAX COUXTIF.S. MINN'KSOTA.
ANDREW BYE.
Andrew Bye, former memlier of the village council at Halstad an<l
manager of the local plant of the Northwestern EJevator Company at that
place, is a native son of Minnesota, born in Houston county, November
-5. 1873, a son of Peter (). and Bergit (Ilcfte) Bye, both natives of \\w
kingdom of Norway, who are now living in Grand Eorks county. Xnrth
Dakota, where they have resided for years, among the substantial i)i(inccr
residents of that section.
Peter O. Bvc was burn in 1S44 and was leu years of age w hi-n iic-
came to this country with his i)arenls, in 1854. the family settling in lions-
ton county, this state, among the pioneers of that section of the state, and
there he grew to manhood. In that county he married Bergit llefte. who
liad conic to Minnesota with licr parents from Norway in the days of her
girlhood, and after his marriage remained in that county until 1877, when
he went pioneering over into North Dakota and settled in the township
of Bentru, Grand ]-"orks county, where he and his wife still m.ikc then-
home and where they are very comfortably situated. They are members
of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in that
faith. There are six of these children, of whom the subject of this .sketch
was tile fifth in order of birth, the odiers being Nellie. Inga. Glaus, .\nton
and Theodore.
Andrew Bye was four years of age when his parents moved from
.Minnesota to North Dakota and he was reared on. a pioneer homestead
farm in (iraiul I'orks county, in the latter state, receiving his schooling
in the district school in the neighlxjrhood of his home, .^s a young man he
started fanning on his own account in Grand Forks county and was thus
engaged until he was twenty-five years of age, when he engaged in the
grain business, buying grain at .Mapes. North Dakota. Six months later he
was made buyer for the Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Company at
Felton. in t^lay county, this state, and remained there, agent for that com-
pany, for nine years, or until 1909, when he transferred his services to the
Northwestern Elevator Company and was made agent and buyer for that
c(imi)any at Halstad, where he ever since has rnade his home and where
he has quite successfully managed the Northwestern elevator, becoming one
of the best-known grain men in this part of the state. Since becoming a
resident of Haltsad Mr. Bye has taken an active interest in local civic affairs,
has served for two or three terms as a member of the village council and
also served for two or three terms as village assessor.
CI.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 253
On December 30, 1901. Andrew Bye was united in marriage to Eliza
Moe, a daughter of E. ]'. Aloe, of Caledonia, Xortli Dakota, and to this
union one child has been liorn. Alpha Eugene, Ijorn at Felton on Februar\-
1 1, 1903. The Byes have a very pleasant home at Halstad and take a proper
part in the general social actixaties of the community. Mr. Bye is a mem-
ber of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes an
active interest in the affairs <if the same.
JOHN SPENNIXGSBV.
John Spenningsby, proprietor of a harness shop at Ada and formerly
a farmer in Hegne township, Xorman county, was born in the kingdom of
Norway on Se]:itember 16, 1S77, and was about six years of age when his
parents, Knut and Julia (Braaten) Spenningsby, also natives of Norw^ay,
came to Minnesota and settled in Xorman county, where tliey ever since
have made their home.
It was in 1883 that Knut Siienningsln' and his family came to Min-
nesota, their destination being Ada. Upon their arrixal here Mr. Spen-
ningsl))- located on a farm in Halstad township, but later bought a home-
steader's right to a tract in Ile.gne township and there established his home,
remaining there and improx-ing the same until 1903, when he retired from
the farm and mo\ed to .\da, where he and his wife are now li\ing. They
are memljers of Trinit}- Lutheran church (of the Hauges synod) at Ada
and their children were reared in that faith. There are four of these chil-
dren, those besides the subject of this sketch being Emil, Lewis and Inga.
As noted above, John Spenningsby was but a child when his parent^
settled in X'^orman county and he .grew to manhood on the home farm in
Hegne township, remaining there, a \-alued assistant to his father in tho
development and improvement of the same, until the time nf his parents'
remo\'al to Ada in 1903, when he also left the farm and located in Ada.
In 1907 he started a harness shoj) in that city and has buill up a ]iros[)erous
business in that line.
In June. 1915. Jnhn S|)enning.sl:)y was united in marria.ge 4o Mrs.
Serena X'elson. .Mr. and Mrs. Spenningsby are members of Trinity Luth-
eran church and take a pn)]icr interest in clnu'cli work and other loc;:l
.good works.
254 CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
JAMES A SAUER.
One of the genuine pioneers of Clay county, who was wilh'ng to take
the hardships of tlie early days that he might acquire the soil and the home
that was sure to rise in due course of time, was James A. Saucr, who is
one of the leading general farmers of Spring Prairie township.
Mr. Sauer was horn in Norway, October ii, 1864. He is a son of
.Vndrew and Rachael (Sauer) Sauer, both natives of Xorway, where thev
grew uj), married and made their home until 1870, when they brought
ihcir fami!) to America, locating in Humboldt county. Iowa, where the
I'atlier engaged in general farming until the spring of 1881, when he moved
to Minnesota, taking up a homestead in section 26, Spring Prairie town-
.ship. Clay county. His wife had died in Towa. He and his children de-
veloped a good farm here on which he continued to reside until 1892, when
he moved to Cromwell township, and there spent the rest of his life, dying
in December, 1916. ha\ ing l>een retired for many years from active labors,
leaving the real work of the farm to his son, Ole Sauer. He was a true
])ioneer and had been very successful as a farmer and slock raiser. His
family consisted of ten children, .\mbrose, A. K., Tina. Rachael, Belle.
James A., Andrew. John, Samuel and Ole, all of whom are living.
James A. Sauer was six years old when his parents brought him from
Xorway to this country and he grew to manhood and atten.dcd the public
schools in Humljoldt county, Iowa. He came to Minnesota with his father
in 1 881 and started out for himself, taking u\> a homestead, the northwest
quarter of section 2t of Spring Prairie township in Clay county. About
three years later he secured the southwest ciuarter of the same section, as
a tree claim, and has made his home on the latter quarter e\er since. He
now owns a \aluable farm of three hundred and twenty acres, including the
northwest (|uarter of section 20. Spring Prairie township, although he has
sold his original homestead. He made extensive improvements on his land.
erecting a large. comfortal>le residence and substantial outbuildings, and
put out a tine gro\e. raising many of the trees from the seed. He has
been very successful as a general farmer and stock miser, making all by
his own efforts.
In 1887 Mr. Sauer was married to Jennie Torgeson. a native of Nor-
way, wiiere her parents lived and died, and from which country she came
to America when young. To her unicm w-ith Mr. Sauer two children were
born, namelv : .\ndrew and Gena. Mr. Sauer married a second time. No-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 355
vember 20, 1897, liis last wife being Minnie Torkildson, a daughter of
Tonnes Torkildson, a native of Norwa}- and an early settler of Riverton
township, Clay county. Tonnes Torkildson married Trene Larson, also
a native of Norway, and there they made their home until immigrating
to America in the spring of 1883. I" t'le fall of that year he homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres in Riverton township. Clay countv, improving
the place and building a good home, and there he spent the rest of his life,
dying in April, 1894. His widow still lives on the homestead, which now
contains two hundred and forty acres, Mr. Torkildson having added eighty
acres more to his original farm. His family consisted of six children,
Ole, Gust, Abin, Louise, Albert (deceased) and Lena. To Mr. Sauer and
his second wife eight children ha\e been born, Theodore, Gilbert, James,
Rudolph, Mabel, Esther, Arthur and Alfred.
Politically, Mr. Sauer is independent. He circulated personally the
petition to organize Spring Prairie township, and also the petition for the
organization of the first school district, which then included the entire town-
ship and was appointed one of the first supervisors by the county board.
He was later a memlier of the township board and is now chairman of tlie
school board.
OLE G. AHDGARDEN.
Ole G. Midgarden, of Aloland township, is one of Clay county's farmers
who seems to have the right idea about agricultural matters, and although
he does not farm on so large a scale as some, he does his work in a scien-
tific way and is making a comfortable living. Mr. Midgarden was born
in Norway, September 2, 1849, a son of Gunder and Thorberg G. (Spokali)
Midgarden, natives of Norway, where they spent their lives on a farm.
They were parents of seventeen children, ten of whom .grew to maturit)'.
namely: Tolef, deceased; John; Tore, deceased: Ole G.. of this sketch:
Howard and Gunder, both living; Signe, who lives in Norway; Ingeborg,
Halvor and Johanna. These children all came to America but Signe.
Ole G. Midgarden spent his boyhood in Norway where he attended
the common schools for a while, and also went to school a short time in
America, whither he came in 1866, reaching Houston county, Minnesota,
in June of that year, being a pioneer in that section of the state. He
remained there until 1870 and then, with other settlers, came to Clay county
and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Moland town-
256 CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
ship and li\e(l iliiTc until 1874, when he sold out and went back to Xorway.
remaining in his native land five years. At the end of that period he returned
to .\merica and spent a few months in Wisconsin, then came on to Clay
county, Minnesota, and rented land for about six years, after which time
he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Moland township, where he has
since made his home, making all the ]>resent improvements, including the
erection of the buildings. He carries on general and mixeil farming.
Mr. Midgarden was married in 1882 to Jorainl Thortvedl, who was
born in Norway, from which country she came to Houston county, Minne-
sota. When young, and when her people moved from that county to Clay
county, she walked most of the way. helping dri\e the sheep and cattle.
Three cliildren. all lix ing. were torn to Mr. and Mrs. Midgarden. namely:
Thorherg Gundelki. Thcckla Linda Josc])hine and tiottfred Otto I.eandcr.
Politically. Mr. Midgarden is a I^epublican. He has been treasurer
of school district Xo. (> nearly all the time since he has lived in the district,
with the exception of the period of his absence in Xorway. He is the
treasurer at this writing. He was the third man to hold this oftice. He
belongs to the Lutheran church.
WILLL^M THOMPSOX.
William Thompson, one of the real ])ioneers of Clay county, first clerk
of I'-lkton townshi]). a position he held for many years, or until his removal
across the line into Llmwood township, and the proprietor of a line farm
of four hundred acres lying in Elmwood and Elkton townships, his home
now being in the former township, is a native of Scotland, but has been a
resident of this country since 1870 and of this part of Minnesota since 1878.
and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the development
of this region since pioneer days. He was Ijorn in the city of Montrose, an
important seaport town in Forfarshire, thirty-four miles southwest of Aber-
deen, March 14. 1842, son of Dougal and Mary (Shand) Thompson, also
natives of Scotland, the latter of whom spent her last days in her nati\e
land; the former later coming to this country, his last days l)eing spent in
?kIinnesota. Of the three children born to his parents, the subject of this
sketch is tlie onlv survivor, his brother John having died at the age of four-
teen vears, and his sister Mary, at the age of ten months.
Dougal Thompson was a laborer in Montrose and was not in extra good
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENSX
TILDEN FOUNDATIONh.
Ml;s. ANN THOMPSON".
WII.I.IAM TlIOMrSOX.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC "--■^Y
ASTOR, LENSA
TTLOEN' Four: U .1 IONS.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 257
circumstances financially, hence his son William was given small opportuni-
ties for acquiring much more than the rudiments of an education in his
native land, never attending school at all until he came to this country long
after he was grown. Before he was eight years of age William Thompson
was set to work in ;l factory and worked there until he was sixteen years
of age, when, he learned the stone-cutter's trade, including general masonry,
and the early years of his manhood were spent in that form of labor. He
married in 1866 and four years later, in 1870, determining that there
was small opportunity for making much headway toward financial inde-
pendence in his native land, decided to come to the United States. He left
his wife behind until such time as he could see his way clear to the making
of a home in this country, and after his arrival in New York City began
working there at his trade. Two years later he was joined by his wife and
his father and about six years after their arrival left there and came out
to Minnesota with a view to finding a home on the free lands of the North-
west. At Idaborn, this state, his father died and he remained there a
short time before proceeding on to this part of the state. It was there
that, together with a party of other Scotchmen, he became interested in the
homestead proposition here in the Red River valley and about 1878 he
and his companions drove up here seeking a location. One of the party
had Iieen here for a short time previously and had left a few old tires on
the open prairie, which was the landmark toward which the party journeyed.
They arrived there about dark and their first night on the prairie was spent
under the friendlv shelter of the stars. Mr. Thompson and his three com-
panions staked out four (piarter sections and drew lots for the respective
possession of the same. When the survey later was made and the town-
ship lines run, it was found that Mr. Thompson's claim was just on the
west edge of Elkton township. Without delay he erected a temporary
house there and entered upon the task of developing and improving the
place. Wheir settlers gradually began to fill up the region round about and
b'.lkton township came to lie organized Mr. Thompson was elected first clerk
of the township and by successive elections was retained in that position
until his removal in 1896 across the line into Elmwood township, he mean-
while having acquired additional land to the west of his homesteafl place and
built a new and up-to-date set of buildings on the same. Ui)on his removal
from Elkton town.ship a public township meeting was called in Elkton town-
ship and appreciative resolutions were adopted expressing the sincere appre-
ciation of the people of that township for the valuable services which Mr.
(17a)
258 CLAY AND NORMAN COLNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Thompson had so long rendered as clerk, and a handsomely printed copy
of the same was presented to him, a testimonial which, it is needless to say,
is valued very highly by him. .Mr. Thompson now lias a well-improved farm
of four hundred acres and has never regretted the decision that prompted
him to come up intu the Red River country h.ick in the days of the beginning
of the settlement here.
Mr. Thompson's wife died at hei- new home in {•llmwuod town.ship in
1899. She also was born in Scotland, and before her marriage was .\nn
Lamb. Her father, also a native of Scotland, spent all his days in his native
land, but the mother came to .\merica in 1872 and died at the iiome which
she homesteaded in Elkton townshi)>. To .Mr. and Mrs. Thompson two
children were born, Mary, who died in 1902, and John Dongal, who died
in 1901. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Presbyterian church ami was
one of the organizers of the local congregation of that church back in
the early days. During the activities of the Good Templar societies many
years ago, be was an active Good Templar and his influence in the com-
munity in which he has resided from the \ery beginning of its settlement
h;is ever l)een exerted in behalf of better conditions.
WRIGHT WORKS.
It will always l)e a mark of distincticju to have .served the Lnion during
the great Civil War. The old soldier will receive attention no matter where
he goes, if he will but make him.self known, and when he passes away
friends will pay him a fitting eulogy for the sacrifices he made over a halt
century ago on the sanguinary fields of battle in the Southland or in the no
less dreaded prison, fever camp or hospital. One of these honored veterans
in Clay countv is Wright Works, who is now living in retirement at Haw-
ley after an active life as a farmer.
Mr. Works was born in February, 1844. in St. Lawrence county, Xew
^crk. He is a son of Joseph T. W. and Susan (Thornton) Works. Her
father settled in New York state in the year 1807. Her death occurred
in 1849 3t the age of thirty-six years. Joseph T. W'. Works was born
in Cuyahoga county, New York, in October, 1803. He devoted his life to
school teaching for the most part, and farmed some. He finally left his
native state and located in Hardin county, Ohio, where his death occurred in
1866 at the age of sixtv-two vears . His family consisted of four children.
CLAY AND XOUMAX COLNTIES. MINN'ESOTA. 259
namely: Wright, suljject of tliis sketcli ; Luciaii. ileceased ; W'aiien, who
came to Cla}' county among tlie early pioneers in 1873, took ui) a homestead
in section 20, Cromwell township, which he later sold and l;ought a farm
in Hawley township, operating the same until 1907. when lie sold out and
moved to the state of Washington, where he now resides, and Lena, the
youngest child, who died when nineteen years old.
Mr. Works is descended from an early founder of this great nation,
one f)f his ancestors being one of three W^orks brothers who came ovcr
from Ireland, aljout twenty years after the landing of the Pilgrims, and
.settled in Massachusetts. Moreo\er. .\lr. Works is of Revolutionary stock.
His grandfather, Asa Works, was a soldier in the Revolutionary W^ar and
received a broken arm in the battle of Monmouth. .Vccording to tradition.
In's mother's Grandfather Rounds and his father's (irandfather Mark were
also soldiers in the Revolution.
\\'right \Vorks grew to manhood in St. Lawrence county, Xew York,
and there attended the common schools. He and all his brothers were sol-
diers in the L'nion arm\- during the war between the states, and he and hi--
brother Lucian served in Company B, Sixtieth Xew \'ork Volunteer
Infantry, the latter being only sixteen years old when he enlisted. He was
with Sherman on his march through Georgia to the sea. Warren, who was
in I lattery H. l'"ourth Xew York Heavy .Artillery, was also only sixteen
when he enlisted in the sjjring of iH'')^. They all three came out of the
service with wounds, but th'ise of Lucian and Warren were not serious.
Wright, who was eighteen when he enlisted, took part in the great battle
of Getty.sburg, where he was injured b\- a musket ball destroying his right
eye, passing through the nose ami injuring the left side of his bead. He
spent the latter part of his term of enlistment in the hospital.
Wright Works returned home after he was honorably discharged from
the army and engaged in farming in his nati\e state luUil 1S91, when he
came to Clay county, .Minnesota, and lived with his brother Warren. He
hrst bought eighty acres in Keene township, where he farmed until he moxed
to section [9. Hawley to\\nsbi|). where he continued farming, buying a
good ])lace there, which he sold in the fall of if)i6 and moved to the \-illage
of Hawle\', where he has beei; lixing retired. He owns a ])leasant home
there.
Mr. Works was married at .Moorhead. .Mintiesota. in .\hiy. 1907. to
.Maude Whaley. who was bori^ in .\pril, 1863, in London. England, from
which country she came to America when ten years old. Tlie union of Mr.
26o CLAV .WD NIIRMA.V COUNTIKS. MINNESOTA.
and .Mrs. W'ork.s has resulted in the l)irili of a S(jn, Wright Works. Jr.,
who is ten years old at this writing.
.Mr. \\'orks takes a good .American citizen's interest in his political
parly. lie is a member of the local post of the Grand ^\rniy of the Repub-
lic, of which he was commander for one year. He has served four terms
as justice of the peace, discharging his duties in an able, faithful and accep-
table manner. His decisions were always characterized by an accurate
knowledge of the law and by fairness to all parties concerned.
JACOB G.VRVEX.
The late Jacob Garven, who died at his home in Alliance township,
Clay county, on June 2, 1914, was bom in Wisconsin on August 30, 1867.
and in the days of his young manhood came over into Minnesota and settled
in Clay county, where he spent the rest of his life, becoming a substantial
landowner and farmer. On June 17, 1892, at Barnesville, he married
MrUhilda Peter, who was born in Germany, September 8, 1875, and who
had come to this country with her parents, .\ugust and Hannah (Becker)
l^eter, in 1891, the family coiuing on out to Minnesota and settling at
Barnesville, where .August Peter spent the rest of his life, his death occur-
ring in 1903. His widow is still living in Clay county, being now past
eighty-two years of age. August Peter and wife were the parents of five
children, of' whom Mrs. Garven was the fourth in order of birth, the others
being Mary. Millie. Herman (deceased) and Bertha. Mrs. Garven's sis-
ters are all married.
It was in 1896 that Jacob Gan-en established his home in section 23
of .\lliauce township and there he spent the remainder of his life, becom-
ing a well-to-do farmer. He was the owner of seven hundred and twenty-
three acres of land, now owned by his widow, and at his death in 1914 left
his family in comfortable circumstances. He made all the improvements
on his home place and hatl an excellent farm plant there. The management
of this plant is now l)eing carried on by his widow and her sons, who are
successfully engaged in general farming. In the summer of 1917 the Gar-
vens were cultivating sixty-five acres of potatoes, in agreement with many
other farmers hereabout that potatoes form one of the most profitable crop.--
that can be raised in the Red River valley.
To Jacob and Mathilda (Peter) Garven were born eight children.
CLAY AND XORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 261
George, Alfred, Walter, Delia, Charles, Harold, Lester and Ernest, all of
whom are living on the home place with their mother. The Garvens atteml
the German Lutheran church and take an interested part in tiie work of
the church, as well as in the general good works and social activities of
the c'jnimunity in which they live.
GLAUS P. LAMMERS.
Glaus P. Lammers, a nati\e-horn German, l)ut wIkj has heen a resi-
dent of this country fur more than thirt}--five years, and is now the owner
of a fine farm in Elmwood townshi]). Clay county, was born in the h'ather-
land in 1859. He is the son of Frenz and Anna (Keuh) Lammers. also horn
in Germany and both of whom are now deceased. They were of the farm-
ing class and trained their children to lives of usefulness and self-reliance.
Frenz and Anna Lammers were the parents of the following children : John.
Jurgen, Mary, Margaret, Catherine and Glaus P.. the subject of this sketch.
Glaus P. Lammers was educated in the excellent schools of his nati\e
land. For some time after leaving school, he worked at farm labor and
later decided to try his fortune in America. He left Germany in 1882
and, on his arrival in this country, came on out to Minnesota and settled
on a farm in Elmwood township. He commenced farming on his own
account and, after the lapse of some time, purchased a tract of land and
proceeded to put it under cultivation. As he prospered in his farming, he
added more land to his original holding and is now the owner of five hun-
dred and twenty acres of prime land. He is now carrying on general farm-
ing according to modern methods of agriculture and is iloing very well. When
Mr. Lammers accjuired his present holdings, there were very few improve-
ments on the place. He has, however, been to considerable expense to bring
the farm up to a good standard in this respect and there are now on the
place large and substantial outbuildings and a fine dwelling, and Mr. Lam
mers and his family are here comfort^ibly situated.
In 1886 Claus P. Lammers was united in marriage to Minnie I'oehk
and to their union the following children have ])een born : Frank, who is
married; bjnma. married; John, married; and Louie, Hulda, Edward and
Anna, all at home with their parents. .Mr. and Mrs. Lammers are not mem-
bers of any church, but their children have all been confirmed at the Lutlieran
church. Mr. Lammers takes a good American citizen's interest in his
262 CLAY AXn XIIKMAX COl-NTIKS. MINNESOTA.
|K)litical ])arty ami lias sjiveii (jf his time and attention to the interests of
the ])ul)iic for many years. He was elected to the tcnvnship board and served
as a member for six years. He is now the treasurer of the school hoard,
which ofifice he has been fillino^ for the past six years, and tt) the duties
of which he yixes nnreniiltint;- care and attention.
\\"TTJ.T.\M P. T.ARSOX.
\\ illiaiu 1'. l.arson. an enerj^etic antl substantial yount; farmer of Kiver-
ton township, this county, proprietor of a tine farm in section 29 of that
township, also member of the school and township boards and in other ways
identified with public affairs, was born on .\uiJiist 12, 187C). at Byron, Min-
nesota. He is a son of Chris and .\lar\- (Jensen) Larson, both nati\es of
the kingdom of Denmark and who were married in that counlr\- before
coming to .\merica.
Chris Larson was born in Denmark in i<'^47 and was educated ni the
schools of that country. He worked at farm labor up to the time of his
leaving the ok! country to try his fortune in the land of opportunity at
this side of the .\tlantic. .\t the age of twenty-four, in 1871, he immigrated
to America and came on out to Minnesota, settling on a farm at Byron,
and there be farmed for the remainder of his life. He prospered in his
farming o])eraiious and was regarded as an expert in the agricultural neigh-
borhood where he made his home. He was married in Denmark about the
year 1870, to Mary Jensen and his death occurred in January, 1914, at
the age of sixty-five years. His wife's ]>irthplace also was in Denmark,
her birth taking place in 1847, and she is still living on the home farm at
liyron, vigorous in mind and body, at the age of seventy. They were rec-
ognized in their home comnumity as active and influential residents, ever
helpful in neighborhood good works. Chris Larson and wife were the par-
cius of the following children: Jens, who is married: .Alfred: Lewis, mar-
ried : Christine, marricfl, and William P., the .subject of this sketch, and all
of who)n arc li\ing in the Inited States.
William P. Larson was educated in the common schools of his home
neighborhood in Byron and was reared on his father's farm. From boyhood
he was an able assistant in the labors of developing and improving the
home place and continued to work on the I'arm until 1902. In the latter
\ear he ac(|uircd his present holding in Clay count}, in section 29. Rivertou
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 263
township, wliere he is tlie owner of two Iiundred and forty acres of prime
land, as good quality as any in the township, and a1)out twenty-five acres
of which are given over to the raising of potato crops. Air. Larson carries
on general farming and raises Dm-oc-Jersey hogs. Since the commence-
ment of his o])erations he has heen quite successful, evervthing a1)out his
farm teing in excellent condition and the impro\ements of a suhstantial and
durahle character.
Mr. Larson gives a good citizen's attention to puhlic affairs and lias
served on the district school hoard for seven years and on the townshiii
hoard for nine years; and in these representative capacities .he has given
unqualified satisfaction. In other ways also he shows a warm interest in
local civic affairs and in the general affairs of the community. He is a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is known to he an
active supporter of the objects of that order.
OLE OUAM.
Another of the alert and perse\ering farmers of Highland Grove
township, Clay county, who is making a success at his chosen life work is
Ole Quam, who was born in Norway, April 6, 1875, a son of John and
Unnia (Peterson) Quam, both also nati\'es of Norwa)', who immigrated
to America in 1880 and came to Minnesota, locating in Eglon township.
Clay county, where they spent about six montiis, then took up a homestead
of eighty acres in the adjoining township of Highland Grove, where their
son Ole now resides. Later John Quam bought an additional tract of one
hundred and twenty acres, all of which he placed under good improvements,
and carried on general farming successfully until his death. His widow-
is still living on the home place. The family erected a fine group of build-
ings and set out a large grove. Seven children were born to John (juani
and wife, namely: Tnga, Ole, Christian, Se\erin;i, Anna, I'eter and John,
all of whom are living.
Ole Quam was five vears old when his parents brought him to America.
He grew to manhoofl on the hrmie farm in Highland Grove township where
he has continued to reside. He helped his father with the general work of
the farm when a boy, and he attended the local rural schools in the winter
time. He owns two hundred acres of the homestead, which he has kept
well improved and under a fine state of cultivation, carrying on general
264 CLAY AXD XORMAN CdUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
farming and stock raising successfully. He has taken an interested part
in local civic affairs and for live years served as townsliip supervisor. The
family iielped organize the United Lutheran church at llitterdal, but is now
afiiliated witli the Synod church.
WILLIAM SPRUNG.
Among- the native-born citizens of Germany who have come to tiie
United States' and engaged in general farming and the raising of .stock,
is William Sprung, who was born in the Fatherland in 1871. He is the
son of August and Rika (Lau) Sprung, who were also born in Germany
and who remained there until thirty-three years ago.
August Sprung was born in Gemiany in 1835. and in that country
he followed the life of a farmer. In 1884 he decided to try his fortune
in .Vmerica and arrived in this country after a voyage of about two weeks.
He started out for Illinois and remained in that state for three months and
then moved to Iowa, where he operated a farm for about nineteen years.
At the end of that period he came up into the state of Minnesota and
settled on a farm in section 19, Moland township. Clay county. There
he established his home and continued to give his undivided attention to
the labors of his farm and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring
in the fall of 1908. Prior to leaving Germany, .\ugust Sprung had for
some years been married to Rika Lau, who came to America with her inisljand
and the other members of the family, in 1884, and is now living with iier
son, William, the subject of this sketch. To August Sprung and wife the
following children were born : Otto, who is married ; .Anna, living in Clay
county : William, .\ugust, Rudolph. Manda, and Edith, tlie latter four chil-
ilren being deceased. Mr. Sprung was an acti\e and influential man of the
district in which he had lived.
^\'illiam Sprung was educated iit the sch(jols of Germany and in 1884
came with his parents to .\merica and accompanied them to Illinois and
later to Iowa, where under the careful training of his father he learned tlie
rudiments of farming. He moved to Clay county in the spring of 190J
and shortly afterward commenced farming on his own account. He is
now the owner of three hundred and ten acres of |)rinie land, and plants
an average crop of seventy-five acres to potatoes, all liis farming opera-
tions being carried on in accordance with modern nietliods. In addition
wd.i.iAM srraxr; and fajiily.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC "--'RY
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES^ MINNESOTA. 265
to his general farming' lie lias for some )'ears paid considerable attention
to the raising of a good grade of live stock and now has some excellent
Shorthorn cattle on his place. Mr. Sprung's farm is well improved and
his outbnildings are snbstantial and modern in equipment. He has recently
remodeled the dwelling house and has converted it into a modern residence,
provided with all conveniences, including electric lights. He is accounted one
of the substantial and progressive farmers of this section of the county.
Mr. Sprung's maternal grandfather, Christian Lau, was a farmer in
Germany, where he died at the age of sixty-two years. Mr. Sprung's
maternal grandmother, Rika Lau, also died in Germany, at the fine old age
of eighty-seven, her death occurring about 1898.
WILLIAM H. RASEY.
William H. Rasey, a well-known and successful lawyer, living at Ulen,
Clay county, was born near St, James, Watonwan county, Minnesota,
September 14, 1885, a son of Elwin Z. and Llelen Adele (Sargent) Rasey,
the former of whom is a native of Hartford, Washington county, New York,
being born November 2^, 1844, and the latter, a native of Fond du Lac
county, Wisconsin. They are the parents of seven- children, namely: Roy
S., Ruth A., Inez E., William H., Jessie A., Flora E., and Nina O. Both
father and mother are living in St. James, Watonwan county, in substantial
and well-earned retirement.
\\^illiam H. Rasey received his elementary education in the schools
of St. James, ]\Iinnesota, graduating from the high school of that place
in 1905. In the same year, he entered Hamlin University to pursue a
supplementary course of study. In Ihe fall of 1906, he took up a home-
stead of government land in Williams county. North Dakota, and proved
up his claim in the fall of the following year. Since the laws of Ontario,
Canada, at that time allowed a homestead to be taken and proved up by an
alien without his beconnng a British subject, Mr. Rasey went up into that
])rovince in the spring of i()o8 and there filed a claim. In the fall of
that year, he returned to his studies in Hamlin Lhiiversity and completed
his sophomore year, but the following winter of 1909 and the spring and
summer of 1910 he spent on his homestead, during which time he cleared
fifteen acres and marketed the timber. Returning to Minnesota in the
fall of 1910, he began a law course in the St. Paul College of Law, but
266 CLAY Wn X()[<M.\X COrXTIKS. MINNESOTA.
on the coniintj of the following sprin*;-. lie returned again to his Canadian
claim, where he remained until the fall of 1913. occupying his time in
working on his holding and in reading law. He then resumed his studies
in the St. Paul College of Law. and in the summer of the following vear,
proved up his claim in Ontario. He then returned to college, and in the
spring of 191 5 came to Clay county and entered the law ottice of C. G.
Dosland. in ^haorhead. He then, in the fall oi 191 5. located in the practice
of his ])rofession at Lake Park, Becker county, Minnesota. His husiness
in the nortiiwestern part of Becker county brought him to Ulen on his week-
end trips, and. after three months, he decided to locate in Ulen. He came
here January i. 1916, and has been here ever since engaged in general
law ])ractice.
in 1915. September 9, William II. k;i.se\ and liia Chainbanl, daugh-
ter of F. G. and Emma C. (Torrey) Chambard, of Valley City, North
Dakota, were united in marriage. Mrs. Rasey is a musician of considerable
talent, having been a student of music practically all her life. She is teacher
of both ])iano and voice and has attained great success as an instructor.
Mr. and Mrs. Rasey are members of the Congregational church, in
Lien, and are interested in all the activities of that church. Mr. Rasey
is affiliated with the local lodges of .Ancient Free and .Acce])ted Masons, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of .\merica.
He is a member of the Communitv Club, of which he is secretarv.
JOHX LLVnXHl.
John Lindahl. a venerable farmer of Spring Prairie township, Clay
county, who has lived beyond the age of fourscore years, having reached
the advanced age of eighty-four years, the last three decades or more of
which have Ijeen spent in this locality, can relate tales of many interesting
e\ents that have transpired here since this locality was first settled. He
has witnessed with his own eyes the many changes that have taken place
;ind in the processes which ha\e brought these changes about he has played
no inconspicuous part himself.
Mr. Lindahl was born in Sweden, .\ugust 8. 1833, a son of Johanas and
Ingeborg Swenson. also natives of Sweden, farming people, who spent all
their- lives in their native land. The father reached the unusual age of
ninety-seven. Five of their children grew to maturity, namely : Carl, who
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 267
came to Minnesota and died in Cla)- county; Sarah, wlio died in Sweden;
Martha and Johanna, who also died in the old country, and John, whose
name forms the caption of this biographical review.
John Lindahl grew to manhood in Sweden and there attended the com-
mon schools. Dn January i, 1857, he married Sarah Johnson, a native of
Sweden, in which country her parents spent their lives on a farm. Mr.
Lindahl lived in Sweden, where he followed farming, until the year 1884.
when he came to the United States, but his wife antl some of their children
did not follow him until 1885. Two of their sons and two daughters had
preceded them here in 1882. Mr. Lindahl located first in Cass county. North
Dakota, but after spending one summer there he moved across the river into
Minnesota and about a year later settled on the farm on which he still lives
in Spring Prairie township, Clay county, taking up a homestead, the north-
east quarter of section 30. He endured the usual hardships and privations
of pioneer life and by perseverance succeeded in de\eloping a valuable farm
and a comfortable home, carrying on general farming and stock raisin.g
until old age made it necessary for him to turn the active management of
the place o\'er to his sons. Tlie\' have put up excellent new buildings, planted
a large gro\e and made other important improvements.
To John Lindahl and wife sixteen children have been born, named as
follow: Martha, who lives in Sweden, the widow of Carl M. Dahl; Charles,
will) died in infanc\' in Sweden: Charles, the second, who died in Alinne-
sota at the age of twenty-seven years; Johanna, wife of Ole Lundeene, of
Clay county; Johanas, who is a blacksmith by trade and lives in Minneapolis;
Ligre, wife of T,. T. Larson, a farmer, of Spring Prairie township, Clay
county; Christine, deceased, who was the wife of Nels Thompson, of Spring
Prairie townshi]). a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
volume; I-'rank. who is farming on the home place; Gustav, who died in
infancy in Sweden; Matilda, wife of P. P. Chandler, of Fargo; Carolina,
wife of Theodore Ekroth, of Minneapolis; .\ugusta. wife of Gust Eurin, of
Moorheafl ; Gust, who lives in Canada; Louise, a nurse in the L'nited States
army, who spent three years in tlie Philippine Islands and who is now ( 1917)
in Panama; Au.gust, who is at home and helping on the farm, and Amanda,
the only one of the cliildren born in America, her liirth havin,g occurred \n
Clay county. She is the wife of Herst Miller and hves at Stockwood. The
Lindahls are mcniljers of the Lutheran church and have ever taken an inter-
ested part in local church work. Mr. Lindahl is a Republican and has ever
given his earnest attention to the causes of good local .government.
268 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIKS, MINNKSOTA.
JOHX H. BRAMAN.
John H. Braman, a well-known antl substantial farmer of Alliance
township, Clay county, was horn at Ludlow, Massachusetts, in January.
1868, son of Albert H. and Augusta H. (Pike) Braman. the former of
whom was born in Granville. .Massachusetts. July 14. I'^.v*^. and the hitler,
in [-"ranklin, New Hampshire, Xoveniber 29, 1S39. who were married on
Xo\ember 20, 1858, and continued to make their home in Massachusetts
until in 1869, when they came West and settled in Iowa, remaining there
until i8(S6, in which year they came up into Minnesota and settled in Clay
county, where ihey are now living, honored pioneers of that county. L'pon
coming up into the \\ei\ River country. Albert H. Braman homcsteadcd a
cpiarter of a section of Iruid. the place where he is now living, in Alliance
township. Clay county, and there established his home. In 1909 his house
was destroyed by fire and he and his son erected a new and much more
commodious residence, the two families making their home together, the
father now lixing practically retired from the active labors of the farm,
though still making his regular weekly trips to Moorhead with butter and
eggs. Albert 11. Braman for many years took an active interest in local
civic affairs and was for some time justice of the peace in and for his
home townshij) and for iwehe years served as chairman of the Ijoard of
township supervisors. To him and his wife six children have been born,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the
others ijeing as follow: Ella, deceased; Charles, of Moorhead; George,
deceased: Grant, of Portland. Oregon, and Gertrude, of Thompson. North
Dakota.
John H. Braman was little more than an infant in arms when liis
parents moved from Massachusetts to Iowa in 1869. and in the latter state
he received the greater part of his schooling, having been seventeen years
of age when the family nioxed from Iowa to Clay county. From the begin-
ning of his residence here he has been an energetic factor in the lalKjrs of
developing and improving his father's homestead place in Alliance town-
ship and is now farming that place as well as a quarter of a section adjoin-
ing, in section 12. which he homesteaded on his own account ujwn reach-
ing his majority, and is doing well as a general farmer and stockman. In
addition to his grain farming. .Mr. Braman has of late years been giving con-
siderable attention to the raising of potatoes, and in the current season
(1917) had out fifty acres of potatoes. He and his father have made all
CLAY AND XORMAX COVXTIES, MINNESOTA. 269
iIk- improvements on the place and have one of tlie best-equipped farm
plants in tliat neighlic irhooct. John H. Braman has given a good citizen's
attention to local civic affairs and for some time served as constable in
his home township and is now treasurer of the local school board.
In October, 1896. in Fargo, John H. Braman was united in marriage
to Anna Johnk. whu was born in the city of Chicago in January, 1875,
and to that union two children have been born, sons both, Alljert H., named
for his grandfather, and Clifford. The Bramans have a very pleasant
home and take a proper interest in the community's general social activities.
THEODORE S. NELSON.
Theodore S. Xelsun. cashier of the State Bank of Georgetown, Clay
cuuntv, was born in iMJlmore county, Minnesota, June 23, 1879. a son of
Severt and Barbara ( Moen ) Nelson, both natives of Norway, in which
country they spent their earlier years. Severt Nelson immigrated tf) Amer-
ica about 1862, locating among the early settlers of Fillmore county, Min-
nesota. About 1 88 1 he came up to this part of die state and bought a
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hendrum township, Norman county,
where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until 191 2, when he re-
tired from active life and moved to the village of Hendrum. where be
still makes his home. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
His family consists of the following children: Cornelius. Theodore S..
Anton. Julia, Martin and Amanda.
Theodore S. Nelson grew to m.-mbood on the home farm in Hendrum
township. Norman count\-. and there attended the public schools, later be-
coming a student in Concordia College at Moorhead. He worked with
his father on the home farm until he was twenty years of age, then began
working in a store at Twin Valley, in the eastern part of Norman county,
remaining there seven months: then worked three months for G. T. Ing-
berg in a store in the village of Hendrum. In 1901 he became assistant
ca.shier of the State Bank of Hendrum and continued with that institution
for three years. He then took a course in the Dakota Business College at
Fargo, and in the spring of 1904. helped organize the State Bank of George-
town and has been cashier of the same ever since, discharging his dutie>
in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire
satisfaction of both the stockholders and patrons; in fact, he has done much
270 CLAY AND XORMAX COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
to increase tlie prestige and popularity of tliis sound and safe banking hou.->e,
which has had a very satisfactory growth. He is also secretar\- and treas-
urer t)f the h'anners Elevator Company at Georgetown, which operates
one of the thri\ing elevators in Clay county.
In i<)U4 .\Ir. Nelson was married to Burgetta Gunderson, a daughter
of I'eter Gunderson and wife, of Hentlrum. where she grew to womau-
liood and attended school. Mrs. Nelson was called to her eternal rest on
\])ril 16. igiT). leaving three children, SyKester, Eunice and Hubert.
Mr. Nelson is a Republican and is one of the leaders of his party
in Clay county. He was treasurer of the Republican county committee
in 1916; is treasurer of the village of Georgetown, and is also treasurer
of the local school district. .\s a public .servant he has always discharged
his duties in an able, faithful and credital)le manner. He is a member of
the Masonic order and of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
OLE S. N.Xin i'.IUI).
Ole S. Narverud was born in Norway, l-'ebruary 26, 1855, a son of
-Stengrim Ostenson and Birgit (Bakhus) Narverud. both natives of Nor-
way, where they spent their entire life. They were the parents of eight
children: Osten, Sunnev, Halvor. Ole S., Gurine. Barbro. Stengrim and
Sivert.
Ole S. Xarverud received his early education in the public schools of
Norway, supplemented by attendance of i)ublic schools in Clay county for a
few months after coming to this country. .\s a young man, he learned
the carpenter trade, at which he worked for some time in his native country.
In 1879 he came to .\nierica and located first in Goose Prairie township.
Clay countv, Miiniesota, and three years later he bought one hundred and
twenty acres of unimproved land in Highland (irove township. Clay county,
and located on this land. He i)ut up buildings and improved the land,
l)reaking the sod and clearing the land of the wild growth of underbrush,
and in time had the land in a fair condition for the production of crops.
He lived on this farm for seven years and during that time expended a vast
amount of hard labor incident in putting the land in condition for culti-
vation. In i8<Sq he sold the farm and worked out for about one year, and
in July, 1890. he embarked in the hardware and implement business, at
Hitterdal, in which he has continued ever since.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 2/1
Mr. Xarverud was married in 1882, to Gor Ostenson. and to this union
eight children have Ijeen horn, namely : Bertha Gustina, Tillie, Gustav O.,
Henry, Stina, Olga, Mabel and Lillian. Mr. Narv^eriid and family arc
members of the Synod Lutheran church. While living- on the farm Mr.
Xar\erud ser\ed as superviosr of the township for six years.
M.\RTn\ A. GIERE.
Martin A. Giere, a farmer of Cromwell township. Clay county, was
born in Olmsted county, Minnesota, April 19, 1861. He is a son of Amund
and Kari (Jesme) Giere, both natives of Norway, from which country ihcy
came to America, single, and were married in Dane countx , Wisconsin.
Nels and Mari Giere, the paternal grandparents, natives of Norway, came
to America in 1846, locating first in Dane county, Wisconsin, among the
early settlers, driving out how. Milwaukee to Dane county with an ox-team.
There the grandmother died ten years later. In 185(1 the grandfather,
with the parents of the subject of this sketch, made the trip in a prairie
schooner, drawn by an ox-team from there to Olmsted county, Minnesota.
Amund Giere bought one hundred and sixty acres in Wisconsin, which he
later sold, and then bought land in Olmsted county, this state, of the govern-
ment, and there he developed a good farm, on which he spent the rest rif
his life. His widow is still living there. Fifteen children were born to them,
namely: Nels, Torbjern, Ole, Martin, Ingeval (deceased). Lew Columbus,
Alfred (deceased). Otto Enoch (deceased) Alexandria, Tedman (who died
m infancy), Technan Oscar and Josephine Emilia (twins), Amanda Matilda
and Clara Louisa, both of whom died in infancy, and Alfred.
Amund Giere, father of the above named children, was an intluential
man in his locality. He served as treasurer of the school board from the
lime it was organized until within a few years of his death. He helped
organize the district he lived in. in Olmsted county, and also helped organize
the first church in his community. This church was Iniilt of stone and he
helped build it and remained an active church worker. This church has the
reputation of being one of the finest rural churches in the state. Torbjern
and Inga (Lee) Jesme, the maternal grandparents of the subject of this
sketch, were natives of Norway, from which country they came to America
in 1846 and located in Dane county, Wisconsin; later moved to Iowa and
272 CLAY AN'D NORMAN COL^NTIES, MINNESOTA.
then joined the parents of Martin A. Giere and spent the rest of tlieir hves
with them, she living there twenty-five years and he thirty years.
Martin A. Giere grew u[) on the farm and attended the common schools
ill Olmsted county, and there he lx)ught one hundred and si.xty acres, which
he improved and farmed until 1896, when he came to Clay county and
located on his present farm in Cromwell township, his place consisting of
two hundred and eighty acres, which is well improved and well cultivated
and on which he has carried on general farming and stock raising, breeding
Shorthorn cattle, in a very successful manner. He is also interested finan-
cially in the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Company at Hawley, which he
helped organize, and of which, for the first five years of its organization,
he was president.
In the fall of 1891 Mr. Ciere was married to .\nna Maria Fingerstjn.
a daughter of Ole h'ingerson, and to this union the following children luue
been born: Archie Oliver, who died when eighteen years of age; Amie
Elvilta, Xels Rudolph, Helen Constance, Olga Maria, Logan, Morris and
Alice. Mr. Giere is a Republican and is now township chairman, having
been a member of the board for about fifteen vears.
SOLOMON G. COMSTOCK.
The lion. SuK^mon (i. Comstock, former member of Congress from
this district and one of the well-known and successful residents of Moor-
head, was born in Penobscot county. Maine, on May 9, 1842. He received
his education in the local schools and was reared on the home farm, where
he remained until he was of age. After completing an academic course of
studv. he completed a course in law and was admitted to the bar in the year
i86(). He later left his native .state and located at Omaha, Nebraska, where
he was identified with the legal profession for a time. In the year 1871
he came to Mof.rhead. where he has since resided. Here he engaged in the
practice of his profession until 1884, when he engaged in die real-estate
business. In this business he has met with much success, and although
advanced in vears he is still one of the active business men of his home city.
It was during his life as a practicing attorney that ^Ir. Comstock was
elected to the position of county attorney, and while holding that office gave
the most efficient service to the duties that were incumbent ui)on him. His
abilitv as a lawyer and an advocate won for him the approval of a large
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX
TTLDEN fOUNDATI.-
MltS. SAKAll CO.MS'mCK.
HON. !SOr.O.\[()N G. COMSTOCK.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 2/3
circle of friends wlio liold liim in the highest regard. In 1875, the voters
of his district, recognizing iiis ahiHty and integrity, elected him to the Legis-
latnre, a position he held for several terms, with credit to himself and
honor to his constitnents. He was later elected to the fifty-first Congress
of the United States and served in that body with distinction.
In the year 1874, Solomon G. Comstock was united in ni.irriage to
Sarah Ball, a lady of high intellectual ability, and one held in the highest
regard and esteem. She has devoted her life to the interest of her husband,
her family and the good that she might do in the community in which she
has lived. To this union three children have l^een 1)orn : Ada Louise, Jessie
M. and George M. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock are most hospitable people and
bv their pleasing personalities and high ideals have had an elevating and
substantial influence on the moral, educational and civic life of the district.
Since coming to the state Mr. Comstock has taken the greatest interest
in .ill local affairs, and has taken a i)rominent part in all enterprises that
had a tendency to the greater growth and advancement of his section of
the state. He secured the location of the State Normal School at Moorhead
and donated to the state tlie site occupied by that institution. His greatest
desire at all limes, has been for the general welfare of the community. His
work in the real-estate Inisiness has given him an enviable position from
which to work for a greater and a l)etter community, in one of the greatest
sections of one of the greatest states in the Union.
CHARLES F. SCHINDLER.
Charles F. Schindler, one of the substantial and progressive farmers of
Ilarnesville township, owner of eight hundred and eighty acres of prime
land in that township and one hundred and sixty acres in Can;ida, breeder
of a choice strain of Hereford cattle, is a native of Germany, but has been
living in this country since he was nineteen years of age. Fie was born on
October 4, 1853, a son of Joseph and Catherine Schindler, who lived and
died in Germany.
Joseph Schindler was born in Germany in 1814, was educated in the
schools of that country and for the remainder of his life followed the occu-
pation of a farmer. He died in his native land in 1868 at the age of fifty-
four years. His wife, Catherine Schindler, was also born in Germany in
1817 and died in- 1870, being then sixtv-two vears of age. They were the
(i8a)
274 CLAY Ax\D NORMAN COl'XTIES, MINNESOTA.
parents of eleven children, Alexander (deceased). I'erdinaud (deceased).
Joseph, Angus T., Charles, Louisa, l-"edoria, Marie, l>arl)ara. Catherine and
Christine. These parents were prominent and influential residents of their
home locality.
Charles F. Schindler was educated in the excellent schools of Germany
and lor a few \ears he helped his father on the farm. In 1872. at the aije
of nineteen years, he immigrated to the L'nited States and went on to Con-
cinnati, Ohio, where he remained for six months, lie then went to the
city of St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked for two and a half years, at
the end of which time he moved to St. Paul. Minnesota, in 1878 he came
to Clay county and took a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land
in section 14. Rarnesxille township, and on this place he is now living. Me
immediately .set to work to break the land and ])Ut out crops and he was
successful in his agricultural operations from the very beginning. He con-
tinued to add to his land holdings as time went on, and he is now the owner
of eight hundred and eighty acres of the best quality of land in Barnesville
townshij), two hundred acres of which, in section 2^. he has rented. lie
carries on general farming and stock raising and is accounted one of the
most substantial farmers in this section of the county. He has carried out a
.systematic series of improvements and his outbuildings and dwelling house
are among the best in the district. In addition to his land holdings in Clay
county, Mr. Schindler is the owner of one lumdred and sixty acres of land
across the border in Canada. On his home place he plants al)Out eighty acres
of potatoes, and his cattle, forty-two head of Herefords, are of the best
strain obtainalile.
On June 10, 1888, Charles F. Schindler was united in marriage to Ennie
Moran, who was born on October 18, 1866, in Paris, I'Vance. and who came
with her parents to .\merica in 1872. Her parents are now dead. To Mr.
and Mrs. Schindler the following chiUlren were born : August, who reside^
in Canada: Charlie, the captain of a vessel, who makes his home at San
Diego, California; Christian, on the home tann: Louise, who died in 191 5:
Victoria, wife of E. V. McDunn. of Barnesville: Madeline, a nurse in the
Fargo Hospital, and Cecelia, at home. Mr. Schindler gives a good citizen's
attention to local civic afifairs, with special reference to educational matter-;,
and served several years as a director of the school board. He was also
a member of the township board for a long period and in each of these
public offices he applied himself to the duties with ability and energy. The
lamilv are members of the Barnesville Catholic church.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 2/5
KXl'DT A. LEVERSON.
Farming is Ijoth pleasant and pr(_)titaljle wlien entered into witii the
spirit that has always dominated Knudt A. Leverson, one of the best tillers
of the soil of Clay county, for he has never regarded it as drudgery and an
undesirable occupation. He was born in Worth county, Iowa, May j;,
1870, a son of Amos and Julia Isabell (Ouarve) Leverson, Ijuth natives
of Norway, the former of whom came to America about 1849 and the latter,
a year or two later, with her parents. Her father died in New York City
shortly after reaching the New World, and the rest of the family came on
to Wisconsin. Her parents were Teman and Kjersti (Sjong) Ouarve. The
mother later moved to Worth county, Iowa, and finally to Spring Grove,
^Minnesota, where her death occurred at the unusual age of ninety-six years.
The father of the subject of this sketch located in Wisconsin upon his
arrival in this country, but subsequently moved to Wnrtli enunty, Iowa.
He devoted his active life to general farming. In 1898 he came up into
Minnesota and located on a farm in Cromwell township, Cla\' county, where
he lived until his death, and there his widow is still making her home. The
place consists of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, well
improved in every way. To these parents the following children w ere born :
Betsie, wife of E. Bronsvold, of Clay county; Clara, wife of A. Holm, of
Clay county; Temen, of Fargo; Levi, of Clay county: Knuch, the subject
of this sketch; George, who resides at Hawley: Oliver, whd resides ncar
Salem, North Dakota; Sanuiel. who resides on the old hduie farm, and
Cora, deceased.
Knudt A. Leverson grew to manhood in Worth counl)-, lnwa, and when
a boy assisted his father with the general work on the farm, attending the
public schools in the winter time. Upon lea\ing there he came to Minnesota
and bought the farm on which he still resides, in Cromwell township. Clay
coimty. He owns two hundred and forty acres of productive and well-
cultivated land, all under excellent improvements, including a C(jmmodious
residence and numerous outbuildings, all of which he has put up himself
He carries on general farming and stock raising, keeping a good grade of
Shorthorn cattle. He had been a cattle raiser a number of years before
leaving Iowa. Besides his farming, he is interested financially in the Farm-
ers Elevator Company at Hawley, which he helped organize. He is also
a stockholder in the company which operates the co-operative creamery at
Hawley.
2/6 Cr.AV AND XORMAX Ci U' XTII'.S. .\f I XXICSOTA.
On June S. 1S94. Mr. I.everson was niarrietl Id Julia Ixnulson. wlio
was Iiorn in Iowa, where slie grew to womanliood and was educated in the
ciiuiniDn schools. She is a daughter of lulling Knutsoii. a native of Xor-
way, from which countr\- lie came to .\nierica when young. He has devoted
his active life to general farming in Iowa, where he owns a good fariu.
l)iu is now li\ing in retircmenl. To Mr. and Mrs. l,e\erson seven chil-
ilren have heen born, namely: .Vdolph. Ida and Ruth (twins), Karling.
Mvrtle, Alva and Cora (deceased). Mr. Leverson is a member of the
Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Repuljlican.
JOHN FORD.
When Clav comitv was covered with prairie grass and wild animals
roamed the \irgin plains over which wound Indian trails, John Ford came
here from far-away lingland and assimied the life of a pioneer, voluntarily
forsaking the advantages of civilization in its highest forms for the hard-
ships and privations of life on the Western frontier. Me assisted in estab-
lishing schools and churches and in introducing the general customs of
modern life.
Mr. Ford was born in Wiltshire, h-ngland, June jO, 1847. a son of
William and Jane (Smart) Ford, both natives of England, where they
grew up. married and established their home. The father was a baker
bv trade and was also engaged in the grocery business. He and his wife
both spent all their lives in England. They were the parents of eight chil-
dren, namelv: James. decea.sed : Anna, who was next in order of birth;
Thomas, who is a member of the Yeomanry, a military organization in
Fmgland; John. William, F'lizabeth. Sidney and luiiily.
John Ford grew to manhood in luigland and there attended school
and was married. He came with the fust luiglish cijlony to settle in this
part of the Red River country, arriving at Havvley on .\pril 17, 1873. In
the following May, or about a month after his arrival, he took up a home-
stead of one hundred and sixty acres in Cromwell township. He had the
foresight and judgment to select good land in a community diat was bound
to prosper in future }ears, and he has remained on his first purchase to the
present time, or during a period of fort\-five years. He worked earnestly
and managed well and in due course of time he had his land under a fine
state of cultivation and a comfortable home established. Today there arc
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 2"/
tew better or more lii<(hly improved farms in liis localitv. lie has a large,
substantial (lueiling and numerous convenient farm buildings. Air. l-'onl
planted a grove in the early days here, which is now large and inviting, a
most valuable addition to his farm and a distinctive feature of the land-
scapes thereabout, f^e later added one hinidred and si.xtv acres to his orig-
inal farm, making one of the best three-hundred-and-twenty-acre farms in
the tow-nship. He raises a large quantity of grain and big herds of live
stock, especially sheep. He has been a breeder of Shropshire sheep for the
past thirty years. He also raises Berkshire hogs and Red Polled cattle.
Air. Ford is also a stockholder in the l-'armers Co-o])erati\e C"reamei-v at
Hawley, which he helped organize.
()n Au.gust 2(), ](<()■/. Mr. l-'ord married Alary ,\. I'arsuns, who al^o
was born in Wiltshire, I'ji.gland, a dau.ghter of Xehemiah I'arsons, a car-
[jenter In- trade, who spent his entire life in lui.gland. There Mrs. l-"ord
.grew to womanhood and attended school. .Mr. and Airs. I-'ord ha\e one
child, a sou. Siflney. who lives on the home farm, which he helps operate.
roliticalK, Mr. l~ord is inilependent. He lieljjed organize Cromwell town-
ship and was the first townshi]) assessor. He has also served as supervisor
and as treasurer of the townshi]), ami has been a member of the local school
board ever since the school district was organized, with the exception of
one vear when lie was out of the count}'. \\'hcn the district was first
organized it embraced the entire eastern half of the towiishij). known as
district Xo. 44, which he helped to organize. \\ heo' it w ;is subdixided he
helped to organize district Xo. 104.
JOHX P. XVG.\.VRD.
John P. Xy.gaard. former president of the \illage of Ilalstad, manager
of the Halstad .\uto Company and of the electric-light ])lant in that villa.gc.
a former deputx' Indian agent and former grand chief templar of the
Independent Order of Good Templars for Alinnesota. is a native of the
kingdom of Xorway. but has Iieen a resident of Alinnesota and of Norman
count}- since he was about seven years of age. He was born near tltc
city of Trondhjem, a seajxirt tow 11 of Xorwa}-, at the mouth of the Xid,
Alav 7, 1874, son of I'. J. and Jonette (Moen) Xygaard, both natives
of that country, the former of whom is now living at Halstad. an lionored
pioneer resilient <jf Xorman count}-.
P. J. X'vgaard was trained as a car])enter in his native land. He mar-
278 CI. AY AXD XORMAX COL' NTIF.S, MIXXESOTA.
ried on April 9, i860, and continued to make liis home at Trondhjem until
1881, when he came to the United States with his family and proceeded on
out to Minnesota, settling in Hendrum township. Xorman countv, among
tile e.'irly settlers ot" that part of the county. In 1883. upon the estahlish-
nient of the station at Halstad. he moved there and has ever since been a
resident of that village. He lias one of the hrst houses built at Halstad
and. in his xocation as a carpenter, did much of the building there at an
early day. On .\pril (). i<;io. !'. |. .Xygaard and his wife celebrated the
hftietb anniversary of their marriage, the "golden wedding" celebration
being the occasion of a joyful gathering of the family and about si.xty
guests. Of their seven surviving children there were si.x present, besides
forty-three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In the Nygaard fam-
ily there are now li\ing the father, P. J. Xygaard, seven children, fifty-one
grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. P. J. Nygaard is a mem-
lier of the United Lutheran church, as was his wife, and their children were
reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, of whom the sub-
ject of this sketch was the seventh in order of birth, the others being:
Lovi.se, Karen. Jacob. Ingeborg. Hansine, Haldor and Ole, all of whom
are living sa\e the last named, who died in 1883.
John P. -Xygaard was seven years of age when his parents came to
this country and be grew to manhood in the \illage of Halstad, where he
still makes bis home. Upon completing the course in the village schools,
he started in as a boilermaker and later worked for a year as a blacksmith
lor the Rush ford Wagon Cf)mpany. He then took employment with Sule-
rud & Lovesnes as a tinner and plumber, and worked for that company for
fourteen years, or until in January, 191 3. when he helped to organize the
1 lalstad .\uto Compan\ at Halstad and has since been manager of the
same, the com[)any doing a general garage and auto-repair business. Mr.
Xygaard also operates the Halstad light plant, which is owned by the Hal-
stad .\uto Company, bor three years he served as president of the village,
two years as trustee of the village board and for two years he served under
William K. Johnson as a deputy Indian agent for this district.
On June 7. 1895, Joli" I'- Xygaard was united in marriage to Jose-
phine Griffin and to this union six children have been born, Esther, Orin,
Elva. Vernon, Edna and John, the latter of whom died in infancy. Mr.
X'ygaard is an ardent and active member of the Independent Order of Good
Templars and has served a term as grand tem])lar for the state of Minnesota,
a work in which he took much interest and in which his earnest efforts in
behalf of temperance were widely felt throughout the state.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 270
JOHN O. HILLESTAD.
The business of the farmer is to make the farm produce the utmost
possible at the lowest cost, and to be certain of a ready cash market for
all that is produced. Thus the farmer who succeeds nowadays must use
both his brain and his brawn. One of the tillers of the soil in Cromwell
township, Clay county, who seems to be both a good planner and a hard
worker is John O. Hillestad, who was born in Norway, July 12, i860. He
is a son of Ole J. and Thora Christina (Hillestad) Hillestad, both natives
i)i Norway, where they grew to maturity, married and established their
home and where the mother still resides, the father dying several years ago.
They never came to America. To these parents eight children were born,
namely: Karin Ellina, John O., Hans, Peter, Sophia (deceased), Martin,
Andrew and Gustav.
John O. Hillestad spent his boyhood in Norway where he attended
school. He came to Minnesota in 1879 and located in Fillmore county,
where he remained four years, working as a farm laborer. He came to
Clay county in 1883, driving up here with three horses and a buggy. He
continued to work out on farms until 1887, when he moved on his present
farm, in Cromwell township, as a "squatter," later buying the land from the
railroad, when it was placed on the market. He worked hard improving the
place, built a house and outbuildings and by perseverance and good man-
agement has succeeded as a general farmer and stock raiser and now owns
two hundred and forty acres. He not only has exceptionally fine farm
buildings, but a large and inviting grove surrounding them. Mr. Hillestad
has become one of the substantial men of affairs in his township and is
a director in the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Company at Hawley.
which he helped organize. Fie is also a stockholder and director in the Lake
Park and Cuba b'ire Insurance Company.
On December 24, 1884, Mr. Hillestad was married to Stena Maria
Nelson, a native of Norway and a daughter of Andres Nelson and Helga
(Flyhus) Eck. the former a native of Sweden and the latter of Norway.
Thev came to .\merica in 1883, coming directly to Minnesota, and at once
located in Parke township. Clay county, where they bought an eighty-acre
farm, on which they established the family's future home, and there sjient
the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of four children, namely :
Jennie, who came to Wisconsin in 1S80, later came to Clay county, Minne-
sota, where her death occurred some time ago; Siena Maria, wife of the
28o tXAY AND NORMAN CULNTIES. MINNESOTA.
subject of this sketcli; Ingeborg-. deceased; and Carrie, tlie youngest. The
eldest daugliter came to .America alone, but the three younger children came
with their parents in 1883. To Mr. and Mrs. Hillestad ten children have
l)een born, namely; Oscar, .\lbert (deceased), Tilda, Henry, John, Sarah.
Edwin, Carl. William and Ida (deceased).
Politically, .Mr. Hillestad is an 'Tndependent." He has .served as town-
ship supervisor and was township assessor for a period of fifteen years.
-\s a public servant he has performed his duties ably and acceptably. He
;inil his faniilv are meniliers of the Lutheran church.
EUGENE J. HERRINGER.
Eugene J. Herringer, abstractor and real-estate dealer, of Ada, former
auditor of Norman county, former mayor and former clerk of Ada and one
of the best-known and most progressive citizens of that city, is a native of
Canada, but has been a resident of Ada since he was eighteen years of age.
Upon completing his .schoolintj- in the public schools of his native
province of Ontario, Eugene J. Herringer came to Minnesota and in Ma>',
1882, located at .\da, where he ever since has resided. Upon his arrival
there he secured employtnent as a meinber of Norman county's excellent
teaching corps and for eight years sjjcnt his winters teaching school, the
summers being employed at various forms of clerical labor. He then was
engaged in the office of the auditor of Norman county and servetl as deputy
county auditor for six years, at the end of wdiich time he was elected county
auditor. In the succeeding election he was re-elected to that ofifice thus
served for eight years as auditor of the county. Upon the completion of
his term of public service Mr. Herringer engaged in the abstracting busi-
ness as a partner in the Norman County -Abstract Company and about 1908
became sole proprietor of the business of that company, which he since has
conducted alone, at the same time giving his attention to his flourishing
real-estate business, long having Ijeen recognized as one of the leading realty
dealers in this part of the state.
In addition to his considerable term of service in the court house, Mr.
Herringer also has performed valuable service in behalf of the city of .\da.
For five years he .served as clerk of that city and he also has served a term
as mayor of the city, in all his public acts doing all in his power to advance
the growing interests of his home city.
KlCiKNlO .T. lIKUKI.XGKi:
"HE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
LEnex
^••D \TtONS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 28 1
CHARLES J. CEDERBERG.
There came to our great western plains some tliree decades ago, "a
youth to fortune and to fame unknown," Charles J. Cederberg, who, by
perseverance and good management has become one of the progressive farm-
ers of Highland Gro\e township. Clay county. He was liorn in Sweden.
Movember 30, 1859, and is a son of Carl Cederberg and wife, fitting men-
tion of whom is made in the sketch of August Cederberg, which appears
on another page of this work.
Charles J. Cederberg grew to manhood in Sweden and there attended
the public schools. He also attended school a while after coming to the
New World, for which he set sail from his native shores when twenty-tive
vears of age. He came directly to Minnesota, arriving in the village of Haw-
ley, Clay county, in March, 1884. He worked as a farm liand in that vicinity
for two years, during which time he made his home in Hawley. He saved
his earnings and in 1886 purchased the farm on which he has since made
his home, the place consisting of eighty acres in Highland Grove town-
shii). He has increased his holdings to two hundred acres, which he has
bnniglit up to a high state of cultivation and improvement, putting up an
excellent group nf buildings, and has been quite successful as a general
farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Cederberg helped organize the Earmers Ele-
vator Company at Hawley and was elected first president of the same, serv-
ing thus two years; remaining a director until 1917, and a heavy stock-
holder. He was also the .second president of the company, which |)osition
he occupied two years, and did much for the successful growdi of the same.
Mr. Cederberg was married on December 31, 1886. to IngelHDrg West-
lierg, a nati\e of Sweden, where she si)ent her childhood. She came to
America aknit 1882, taking up her residence at Hawley. To this mar-
riage two children were born, Jennie and Selma. In iSq.). Mr. Cederberg
was married again, his second wife being known in her maidenhood as
Johanna Danielson, also a native of Sweden, in which country she grew to
womanhood, immigrating to the United States in 1894 and coming directlx-
to Hawlev, Minnesota. Two children have been bom to this second union,
.\lma and Alice.
Politically, Mr. Cederberg is independent. He helped organize the
school district in which he resides and has been a member of the school
1)oard ever since. He was elected township supervisor in 1888 and has
continued a niemljer of the board e\cr since, with the excei^tion of about
282 CI.AV AXD NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
three years ; chairman of the same chiring- the past eighteen years, w ilh
the exception of the year 1916, when he was prevented from serving on
account of illness. As a public servant -Mr. Cederherg has always performed
his duties in an able, faithful and highly acceptable manner, for he has
at heart the best interests of his community, which he always seeks to
promote in every legitimate w'ay.
CHARLES B. ROMKEY.
Charles B. Romkey, a substantial and progressive farmer of Clay county,
justice of the peace in and for Riverton township, former chairman of the
township IxDard, former treasurer of the school board, and in other ways
identified with public affairs, is a native of the state of Iowa, but has been
a resident of this part of Minnesota for more than twenty years. He was
born on January 4, 1873, near Burlington, Iowa, a son of Conrad D. and
Catherine Romkey, natives respectively, of Prussia and of Hessen Darm-
stadt.
Conrad D. Romkey had a somewhat varied career. When yet not
more than a mere boy he was with Xapoleon some few years before the
final defeat of that great soldier, .\nother member of the Romkey family,
a brother of Conrad D., had also military tastes and was one of Emperor
William's body guards. Conrad Romkey immigrated to the United States
in 1822. coming on to Defiance. Ohio, where he owned land and operated a
lioat yard for several years. In 1854 he moved to Iowa, had a fine farm
of land and continued the work of the farm for the remainder of his acti\e
life. He was regarded as an excellent farmer and he and his wife were
acti\e and influential residents of the district in which they had made their
homes. Both lived to good ages. Conrad Romkey dying in 1880 and his
widow in 1909. both deaths occurring at Burlington, Iowa. Mrs. Rom-
key owned one-half of a section of land in Riverton township. Clay county.
They were the parents of the following children : Frank C, deceased ; John
H.. deceased: Edward W.. married; Emma, married; Carrie E., married:
Sarah, married ; Anna, married, and Charles B., the subject of this sketch.
Charles B. Romkey was educated in the public schools of Iowa and was
reared on his father's farm, where he helped in the labors of the same for
several years. He is quite a machinist, having operated several threshing-
machine outfits and assisted also in the contract work on the Northern
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 283
I'acific recentl}-. He has been a resident of Clay connty for upwards of
twenty years and is recognized throughout the township as one of the most
progressive and substantial farmers in the district in which he resides. He
is now the owner of four hundred and si.xty-five acres of prime land,
located in sections 9, 16 and 17. Riverton townsiiip. Mr. Romkev carries
on general farming and since the commencement of his operations he has
been t(uite successful, everything about his holdings being in excellent con-
dition. He has carried out many \aluable improvements at considerable
e.xpense, and his farming is managed according to modern methods of a.gri-
culture. thus ensuring a maximum of profitable results.
In the summer of 1897 Charles B. Romkev was united in marria,ge
to Xellie M. Miller, who was born in Burlington, Iowa, in 1876. To this
union two children ha\"e been b(irn, Horace C, aged seventeen, and Alargaret
C. aged thirteen. .Mr. and Mrs. Romkey take a proper interest in the
general social activities of the community in which they live, helpful factors
in the promotion of all causes having for their object the common good
of people ;ui(l district. .Mr. Romkey served as postmaster at Stockwood,
for many years, giving general satisfaction to the patrons in the discharge
of the duties of the office. He was chairman of the township board for three
years: was treasurer of the district school board for six years, and is at
present serving as justice of the peace. In many other ways also he has
given of his time and energy to the interests of the public.
PROF. SE\'ERT O. T.\XG.
Prof. Seven ( ). Tang, superintendent of schools of Clay county and
one of the best-known and most influential citizens of Moorhead, is a native
of the neighboring state of Wisconsin, but has been a resident of Minne-
sota since he was two }'ears of age, and is therefore as much a Minnesotan
as one "native and to the manner born". He was born at Wauzeka, in
Crawford county, \Msconsin, .\ugust 26, 1866, son of Ole and Sophia
(Guam) Tang, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to this coun-
tr\- in i8(')_> and ])n)ceeded on out to Wisconsin, settling first at Stougli-
ton. in that state, and after spending the siunmer there moved to Madison,
the capital of the state, where they remained for four years. .\t the end
of that period they mo\ed to Wauzeka, where they remained until 1868, \v
which \ear thev came o\-er intfi Minnesota and located at Albert Lea. where
284 CI.AY AND XOKMAN COl ' N 11 ICS. M I X Nl'.SOTA.
lliey resided until 1878. wlit-ii ilif\ came up into tliis part of tlie state and
located in Lake Park townsliip. Becker county. A year later they moved
over into Clay county and Mr. Tani^- lioniesteaded a tract of eightv acres in
legion township, where he estahlished his home and where he and his wife
spent the remainder of their li\es, honored pioneers of that section of the
county. Ole Tans;- was a substantial farmer, and he added to his homestead
tract until he became the owner of a tine farm of twi) hundred acres, which
is now owned by his .son, I'rofessor Tant,'. (^le Tani^- ;ind wife were the
l)arents of twelve children, of whom six are still living', those Ijesides I'm
fessor Tang being: Susan, who marrie<l O. X. Larson: .\min. who nianie<l
L. N. Larson, and Henry .M.. .Si>phia and Christian.
Severt C). Tang was but two years of age when his ])arents mmed
from Wisconsin to .\lbert Lea. this state, and was about thirteen years
of age when they came up here and settled in Clay county. He completed
the common-school course in the grade<l schools at Lake Park and then
began teaching school, rendering service in the school roc)in during the
winters and continuing a valuable aid in the labors of improving and develop-
ing the home farm during the summers. He was thus engaged for two
years, at the end of which lime he entered the State Normal School at
Moorhead and was graduated froni that institution in t8()6, meanwhile
continuing his teaching- service, thus working his way through the Xornial
school. Following his gra(luati(jn, he continued teaching and, after three-
years of service in the district school, was hired as grade teacher of the
schools at Hawley. where he remained one year and then accepted the
position of principal of the schools at Auburn. There he remained for
three years, at the end of which time he was made principal of the schools
at Xew York .Mills and was thus engaged when, in 19CH9. he was elected
superintendent of the schools of Clay county, with his office at Moorhead.
I'pon the expiration of that term of service two years later. Professor Tang
was made principal of the consolidated .schools at Comstock and was thus
engaged there for two years and six months, at the end of which tinu- he
transferred his services to the new consolidated schools at Oak Mound, i le
was engaged as principal of the schools last named when, on January o.
19 1 4, he was appointed to fill an unexnired term in the office of superin-
tendent of schools of Clay county and thus resumed his former official
position. He then was elected county superintendent for a term of foiu'
years and is still serving in that important public capacity, long having
been regarded as one of the leading schoolmen in this part of the state. In
addition to his official duties. Professor Tang retains an active interest in
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 285
Ilis farming- operations and is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred
and forty acres in Eglon township, having added to the old home farm,
which he owns, a tract of forty acres. During his residence in Eglon tow ii-
shij), he served for five years as assessor of that township and also served
for twehc years as justice of the peace in and for that township.
On July K), 191^), T'rof. Severt O. Tang was united in marriage lo
Jennie Ronning. a former teacher in the schools of Clay county. Pro-
fessor and Mrs. Tang are memhers of the Norwegian Lutheran church and
take an earnest interest in church work, as well as in the general good
work'- of the communitw iiclpful in advancing all worthy causes hereabout.
A. T. XORBY.
.\. J. Xorhy, merchant and banker at Ilitterdal. was born in Norway
DU Januarv 12, 1867, a son of John G. and 'iliorena (Akre) Norby, bodi
natives of that country. John G. Norby came to America in the spring of
iH()j and located for one \ear in .Vllamakee county, Iowa. He then came
to Minnesota, and for three years lived in Fillmore count\ . In 1871 he
nio\ed to Becker countv and located on a farm two and one-half miles
west of Lake Park, where he made hi'-- home until his death, which occurred
on ^Larch 17. 1913. He owned two hundred and seventy acres at the time
of his death. He was the father of ten children: G. J. Norby: Louise,
who married C K. I'.keru : L. J., L. M.. \. J.. Henry (who died at the age
of thirty-five). Hannah. Martin. William and Hilda. Mr. Norby was a
member of the Norwegian church.
A. J. Norby was educated in the [jublic schools of Lake Park, and
worked on his father's farm until his marriage, in the summer of 1892.
In that year he mo\-ed to Moorhead and was engaged in the general grocery
business there until the spring of igi6. In that year he moved to Hitter-
clal, opened uj) a general u-ierchandise store there and has been engaged in
this business since. He is a successful business man and is ii-iterested in
ihe promotion of ])nsiuess enterprises. He was one of die organizers of
("lav County State Hank, of Hattcrd:il, and is at present one of the direc-
tors of this bank.
In 1892 Mr. Xorln- was married to I'lorence May Peck, daughter of
\l. A. Peck, of Lake Park. Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Norby have four
children: Sarah. Myrtle. Corrall and Lucile. They are members of the
Svnod Lutheran church. Mr. Norbv is a member of the Yeoman lodge.
286 CLAY AND NOUMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
CHRISTIAN NICKLAV.
Christian Xicl<Iay, a proniinent and well-to-do farmer and owner of
a fine farm of four hundred and forty acres of land in Barnesville town-
ship. Clay county, treasurer of the township board for the lon.sj period of
thirty-two years and treasurer of the district school hoard for l\ventv-t\vo
years, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, March r, 1861, a son of John
and Susan ( Birk ) Xicklay, both of whom were natives of Germany and
who immigrated to the United States while still young.
John Xicklay was born in Germany in 1833 and was educated in the
schools of that country, coming to America when about twelve vcars old.
He moved from lUitifalo county. Wisconsin, to .Minnesota in 187c), driving-
two teams: leaving Buffalo on May i, that year, and arriving at Barnes-
ville, Clay coimty. at the end of twenty-eight days. He immediately home-
steaded a farm in section 14. Barnesville township, and shortlv afterward
took a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres, south of Barnesville. Mr.
Xicklay proceeded at once to break u[> his land and get it into a state lit
for the |)lanting of crops and presently had things well luuler way, his
labors from the very start being successful. He continued to operate hi>
land for the remainder of his active life and died in Xovember, 1897. at
the age of sixty-four years. His wife. Susan Birk. also was a native of
(iermany. born in that country in 1835. She came to America when eighteen
years old and four year;> after her arrival was married in Dane countv.
Wisconsin, to John Xicklay. They were the parents of the I'ollowing chil-
dren : Christian, the subject of this sketch ; Jacob, a farmer in l?arnesville
township: .Anna, married and living in the state of Washington: Peter, in
Humboldt township: l.izzie. married, living in Montana: William, a rail-
road engineer, and John, a railroad conductor. The mother of these children
died in 1905.
Chri-stian Xicklay was educated in the i)ublic schools of Dane countv.
Wisconsin, and in 1879 accomnanied his father to Clay county, and worked
on the farm of the latter until he was twenty-three years old, at which
time he made his first purchase of land. He bought eighty acres in Barnes-
ville township and commenced the life of a farmer on his own account and
as he prospered in his labors he continued to add to his holdings and
is now the owner oi four hundred ;uid forty acres of excellent land in
sections 11, 14 and 15. Mr. Xicklay has carried out many valuable improve-
ments and his farms are now classed among the best in that section of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 287
Clay county, he being accounted one of the substantial and progTessi\e
farmers of the township.
On January 9, 1890, at Mankato, this state. Christian Nicklay was
united in marriage to Anna Bruels, who was born on August 4, 1868, in
Blue Earth county, Minnesota. To this union the following children have
been born: George, Leo (married), Mary (married), Catherine, Dora,
Anton, rVed, Francis (deceased), Edmond, Mathilda and Mildred (twins)
and Olivia. The family are members of the Catholic church of Barnesville
and are active in support of all its good works. Mr. Nicklay is a member
of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He served as treasurer of the town-
ship board for thirty-two years and has been treasurer of the district school
board for twenty-two years, and in these representative public positions has
rendered valuable service to the people of the district.
EDWARD ALBERTS.
The Inisiness of the farm ;ni(l ihe business of farming, while in many
jioints analogous, are in realit\- (|uite distinctive. The former carries with
it the consideration of dollars and cents in the employment of labor, the
outlay of capital on buildings and improvements; the cost of raising crops,
as against the revenue received after harvesting and sale, the maintenance
and repair of machinery and implements, and the saving to be made possible
if improved machinery be installed on the farm. One of the citizens of
Cromwell township. Clay county, who understands all phases of farming
is Edward Alberts.
Mr. Alberts was born in (ioodhne county, Minnesota, November 30,
1 868. He is a son of Klaus and Margaret (Bauman) Alberts, both natives
of Germany, from which country they came to America when young and
sina-le After their marriage thev located in Goodhue county, Minnesota,
where they made their h<jme for al)out fifteen years, then moved to Dodge
county, this state, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm. Their
family consisted of eleven children, all of whom survive at this writing
but one daughter, namely: George, William, Hiram, Mary, Edward, Kale,
Ida (deceased), Margaret, Elizabeth, Frank and T'.enjamin.
Edward Alberts grew to manhood on the home farm and attendetl the
public schools in Dodge county, this state. There he l)egan farming for
himself. In the spring of 1899 he came to Clay county and located on
j88 clav and xouman couxtif.s, mixnesota.
the farm on which lie still resides, in Cromwell township, and here he
has been very successful as a .general farmer and stock raiser. His place
consists of three hundred and twenty acres. Me has erected an excellent
sroup of l)uildiiigs and everything al)out the place is kept in shipshajje.
indicating the good taste of the owner. He raises a large quantity of grain,
much of which he feeds to live stock, preparing a number of carloads
of stock annually for the markets, and is one of the l)est-known stockmen
in Cromwell and adjoining townships. He was one of tlie organizers oi
the Hawlev T-ive Stock .Shipping Association an<l is a member of the l)oar;l
of directors of the same.
On March 7. 1894. lulwanl .\lberts was married to I"~liza Carter, win.
was born at Winona. Minnesota, a daughter of Harry and Sarali May
Carter, natives of Devonshiie. h'.ngland. where they married. They came
to America in 1875 and located at A\inona, Minnesota. Mr. Carter died
there in 1879 and his widow now resides in Mantorville, Minnesota.
Seven children ha\e been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alberts. Guy, Ralph,
Esther, Russell (deceased). .Marjorie. Lloyd and Miklred. Mr. .Mberts
is a Republican and is township supervisor. He belongs to the Union church
at Hawlev.
I':i)\\ARl) A. KASSI-:XBORG.
.\nother of the painstaking farmers of Clay county, who has worked
Iiard for the success he has won is Kdward .\. Kassenborg. who owMis a
valuable farm. ])art of which lies in Kragiies town.ship and part in Morken
township. He was born in Houston county, .Minnesota, in rS68, a .son of .\.
G. and Tilda ( Krageness) Kassenborg, natives of Norway, who located
in Houston county in pioneer days and established the family home on a
farm. The following children were born to A. G. Kassenborg and wife:
Mrs. Carolina Rergliu. wlm lives in Moorhead: .Mina .Augusta; Gilbert, who
is unmarried and lives on a farm in Clay county; Mrs. Mary Moe, who
lives in Moorhead: Edward, the subject of this sketch; Eliza, the wife of
[ohn Olnes; Julia, who married Christ Twedten and lives in Crookston,
Minnesota, and Malina, deceased.
Edward A. Kassenborg grew up on the home farm in Houston county,
and there he attended the common schools. He has devoted his life to
general farming and stock raising and has been very successful. He came
to Clav countv as a voung man and is now owner of a well-improved and
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 289
well-cultivated farm of three huiidred and ninety acres, part of which lies
in Kragnes township and part in Morken township. He makes a s]iecialty
(if raising Shorthorn cattle.
On Octoher 15. 1890, Edward .\. Kassenborg was married at Con-
cordia church, Clay county, to Christina Kragnes, who was born in 1871
in Houston county, this state. She is a daughter of Levi and Sarah (Oleson)
Kragnes, natives of Xorway, the father born in 1837. They came to Minne-
sota in an early day and located on a farm in Houston county. The father
died in 1900. His widow is still living on the homestead in Houston count} .
being now seventv-three years old. There were fourteen children in this
family, eleven of whom are now living.
Eleven chiklren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kassenborg-, namely:
Dora, the eldest: Aha, at home; Mabel, who is working as a bookkeeper
in St. Luke's Hospital at Fargo: Louise and Selvene, twins; Elmer, Florence,
Edna, Bennie, Gilbert and Ernest. They all live at home but the three
elder children.
Politically, Mr. Kassenborg is a Republican. He served as Irea.surer
of the school board in district No. 103, and was a director on the lioard for
a period of twenty }ears.
MONS 1. WANGEN.
Anv man who works on the land, who feeds a field and watches the
result, gains a real fundamental knowledge of the underlxing foundation
on which rests all our civilization. Tt makes him a sober man, a thoughtful
man ; and, if he experiments wisely, a hopeful optimist. Such a man is
Mons J. Wangen, a farmer of S])ring Prairie township. Clay county. He
was born in Norway on Septemlier i, 1851. He is a son of Johanas Mon-
son and Carrie ( Aslaksdater) Wangen, both natives of Norway, where
they grew to maturity, married and established their future home. They
never came to America and died in their native country. He was a car-
])enter by trade. To these parents seven children were born.
Mons J. Wangen grew to manhood in Norway and there he attended
the common schools. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade
under his father and in due course of time became an expert workman. He
came to America about 1871, locating in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where
he spent six vears. then came to Clay county with Ole G. l-'arsdale. a sketch
(19a)
290 CLAY AND XdKMAN COl'XTIKS, MINNESOTA.
(if whom appears elsewhere in tins work. .\flcr lonkini; uver tliis sec-
ticm of the state Mr. Wangeii took up a homestead of one hundred :uid
sixty acres in section t,2. Spring Prairie town.sliip. wliich was the tn-'-t
liomestead in tliat townsliip. He was therefore the first ])ioneer in this
locaHty, and lie endured the usual hardshijis and privations incitlent td lite
on the frontier in those days, hut he persevered, worked hard and has suc-
ceeded, remaining- here ever since. He has hrought his place up to a
high slate of improvement and cultivation and has huilt a cozy home and such
.luthuildings as his needs require. He set out a large grove which is now
\ery attractive, lie hegan with nothing, hut he has forged ahead unaided
and is now verv comfortably situated. He passed through the lean yea'-s
with hope for better times ahead, which finally came.
On March 17. 1876. in Goodhue county. Mr. Wangen was married
to Aiuta Olson, a native of Trogenlien. Norway, and a daughter of Ole
Irneson and Anna I'eterson, also natives of Norway, who died there. Mr.s.
Wangen came to .America in 1S74. To Mr. and Mrs. Wangen seven chil-
dren have been born, namely: Caroline, John (deceased); Anna, wife of
William Moore, of (dyndon; a son who died in infancy; Oscar and two
daughters who died in infancy.
Mr. Wangen is a Republican and has taken an active interest in local
public affairs from the first. He heli)ed organize Spring Prairie township
and was one of the first members of the township board. He l^elongs to
the Lutheran church and built the church, donating his labor to the congre-
gation.
H. C. POSSEHL.
H. C. Possehl. fanner and potato dealer of near Baker, in the southern
jjart of Clav countv. and former postmaster at Baker, was born in Cook
countv, Illinois. May 24. 1871. He is a son of Fred and Minnie (Schlede)
Possehl, both natives of Germany, where they spent their earlier years. The
father immigrated to America about t86i. locating in Dupage county, Illi-
nois, where he worked out the first few years, then rented a farm. He con-
tinued farming in that state, mostlv in Cook county, until 1892, when he
moved to Franklin county, Iowa, where he farmed .seven or eight years.
then retired from active life, locating in the town of Latimer, Iowa. In
igri he moved to Minnesota, locating at Baker, where he has since lived
retired. His wife died some \ears ago. Fred Possehl started out with lit-
"~ CLAY AND XORMAX COINTIES. MINNESOTA. 29I
tie capital, but bv perseverance lie became \er\- conifurtably establisheil
through his own efforts. His family consisted of the following children:
Sophia, Emma (deceased), Herman. H. C. Fred, Martha. Louis and Minnie.
H. C. Possehl grew to manhood in Illinois and there he attended the
puljlic schools, in Dupage county. He worked with his father on the fariu
when a boy and when a young man he began farming for himself in iM-ank-
lin county, Iowa, and became tlie owner of eighty acres there, where he
remained until i()0_'. when he moved to Minnesota and bought the L. H.
Uaker farm of two hundred and lifty acres adjoining the townsite of Baker,
and in the following year he bought the general store from Mr. Baker
and conducted the saiue with ever-growing success from 11)03 ""t'' ")'.t-
enjoying a large trade with the peojile of the surrounding country, and
carrying an extensive and well-selected stock. He also served as postiuastcr
at the town of Baker during that period, giving entire satisfaction to the
])eople and the department. While po.stmaster he was (jne of the princi])al
jiromoters of the rural mail n^ute out of Baker. He subse(|uently bought
the Evans farm of four hundred and eighty acres in section [O of Alliance
toNvnship, and now operates both farms, carrying on general farming and
stcjck raising on an extensive scale: also deals extensively in potatoes, main-
taining a large modern warehouse on the Great Northern tracks at Baker.
Mr. Possehl is also interested in the automobile business at Barnesville.
His land is well improved and he has an attracti\e, modern and well-
appointed home and large, convenient outbuildings, everything al)oul his
place denoting good management, thrift and prosperity. He has been \ery
successful as a business man and is one of the sul)stantial citizens of Cla\'
county, also one of her most public-s]jirited citizens, always doing his
part in furthering movements having for their object the getieral welfare
of his town and county. Mr. Possehl raises a got)d grade of live stock,
preparing large numl)ers for the markets annually, and is regarded as an
excellent judge of stock. He keeps well abreast of the times in all that
pertains to modern agriculture.
On January 15. 191 1. Mr. Possehl was married to Rosa IJutenhoff.
who was born at Franklin. Iowa, .September 18. 1880, a daughter of .August
Butenhoft" and wife, natives of (iermany. To Mr. and Mrs. Possehl the
following children have been born: Edward. Arthur, Rudcilph. Morence,
Clara and Adaline.
Mr. Possehl is a Republican and has served as town.shi]) supervisor,
l-'or a i)eriod of fourteen years he also was a meiuber of the local school
board. He lielongs to the German Lutheran church, to which his parents
292 CLAY AND NOKM.W Col" Xll l-.S. .MINXKSOTA.
also belonged. He is a man of nnqnestioned honesty ami his lielpful. yenial
and neighborly characteristics have made him popular with all whom ho
has come in contact.
AUGUST FISCHER.
Angnst Fischer, a retired lumberman of Georgetown. Cla)' county, was
bom in the province of Ontario, Canada, December 14, 1854, a son of
b'idilias and Celia (Gould) Fischer, both natives of Germany, where thev
spent their earlier years. h'idilias b'ischer was a civil engineer and was
\ery proficient in bis line. He immigrated to Canada when a young man.
establi.shing his future home in Ontario, where he spent the rest of his
life. His famil\- consisted of eight children, namely : .\ugust. Mary, Pauline,
Lucas, John, Lena, George and Eliza.
August Fischer grew to manhood in his native community and there
attended the common schools. As a young man he learned the carpenter's
trade, becoming an expert in the same, and he followed that vocation until
he was twenty-eight years old. He left Canada in 1881 and came to Min-
nesota, locating at Georgetown, Clay county, and has l^een there ever since.
He has seen the ct)untry develoj) from a sparsely settled and little developed
stretch of wild plains to its present high state of cultivation and improve-
ment during his residence here of thirty-six years. He was local manager
of the W. H. White Lumber Company for twenty-seven years, his long
retention in this responsible position indicating that he gave eminent satis-
faction to his cmijloyers, being able, faithful and reliable, ffe carried on
an extensive trade with the people of this section of the state and kept
an up-to-date and well-ecpiipped lumber yard. He resigned his position
in 1915 and retired from the lumber business, and soon thereafter opened
a billiard hall in connection with a soda fountain and owns the fixtures and
liuildin^. He has met with success in this new venture anil his place is very
popular. He is living practically retired and merely oversees his business.
In 1883 Mr. Fischer was married to Mary Hoffman, a native of Michi-
gan, who was reared in North Dakota, where she attended the common
schools. She is a daughter of John and Grace (Schuler) Hoffman, natives
of Germany. John Hoffman was a brewer in Germany for about fifteen
years. He nuned to North Dakota in 1877 and took up a homestead. Both
he and his wile are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. l-'ischer the following
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 293
children ha\e lieen liorn; Clara. Alary, Kdward, August, Jr., Fred, Frank,
Herbert, William and Claude.
Air. Fischer is a Democrat. He served as justice of the peace for four
years, as \-illage treasurer for four years, as health commissioner for si.v
years and as clerk of his school district for thirteen years. Fie has been
acti\e and influential in public affairs since locating at Georgetown and as
a public serxant he has discharged his duties in an able and conscientious
manner. He is a member of the Catholic church, in which lie was reared.
JOFIX H. XORTHROP.
John H. Xorthroi), farmer and grain Inner of (jeorgetow n. Clay county,
was tjorn in Allegan count}, Michigan, May i8, 1863. Fie is a son nf
Stephen and Mary (Osterhout) Xorthrop. The father was a native of
the state of Xew York and when young he went to Allegan county, Michi-
gan, where he engaged in farming until 1882, when he removed with bi-^
family to Minnesota, and settled on a farm in Moland tnwnship, Clay
county, where he continued farming until 1885, in which year he moved
to Aitkin county, this state, and there he sjjent the rest of his life on a
farm. His wife died in 1873. Their family consisted of five children,
Charles, .\lhert, .Mice, Jdbu IF and May, the last named of whom dieil
when she was a child.
John H. Northrop grew tcj manhood nn the farm in .Mlegau county.
Michigan, being eighteen years old when lie came with tlie family to Min^
nesota. He received his education in the rural schools near Troy, Michi-
gan. During the crop seasons he worked with his father raising the vari-
ous crops adapted to this latitude. When nineteen years old he began
farming for himself in Kragnes township. Clay county, and he has con-
tinued general a.gricultural pursuits ever since, raising grain and live stock
and his efforts have been amply rewarded. In r88c) he moved to Cass
county, X'^orth Dakota, just across the river from Clay county, remaining
tliere until 1903. when he movdl back to Clay county, locating at George-
town and this has been his place of residence ever since. Since 1902 he
has been local manager of the St. .Vnthony elevator and has built u\) a
large and growing business with the surrounding country, making this one
of the leading and pupular ele\ators in the county. He is owner of two
hundred and twentv acres of \ahiable and well-impn i\ed land in section
2(J4 I I.AV AM) XdKMAX COUN'TIES. M IN N'KSOTA.
30. GeorgetDwii towiishii). l)ut lu- maintains liis residence in tlie \illage.
where he lias a comtortahle lionie.
.Mr. Xiirthro]) was married in iS(/) tn Helle Xortin-uii, who was Ixirn
at Dowagiac, Michigan, a danghter of Charles 1). and Charlotte ( Sarbner )
Xorthro]). natives of that same place. Mr. Xorlhrop is a Democrat and
is the present jiresident of the town council of Crcorgetown. He has done
mucli in hnilding up his home town, whose interests he has e\er had at
heart, ever seeking to promote tiie same along all legitimate lines. In his
fraternal relations Mr. Xorthro]) is a mcmher of the Modern P.rotherhood
of .\merica.
U.\Xl)()l.ril M. WELM.
Randolph M. W'eum, a successful merchant at Georgetown, Clay county,
and postmaster of that village, was born in Xorway. March 2/. 1879. He
is a son of Mons \'. and Johanna ( Landgaad ) W'eum. natives of Xorway,
where the\ li\ ed and died. They w ere i)arents of six children, namelx' ;
I'lllen. lidward. .\likel, John. Randolph M. and Jennie.
lvaudoli)h M. \\ eum grew to manhood in Xorway and there he received
a common-school education. He immigrated to America in 1900 and located
;it Gardener, Cass county. .Xorth Dakota, just across the Red River of the
.Xorth from Clay county, Minnesota, and there he worked out as a farm
hand for two years, in the crop seasons, laming the w inter time he attended
Concordia College, at Moorhead. In 1902 he came to Georgetown and
began clerking in the general store of M. T. W'eum and S. S. Dalen. prov-
ing to lie an alert, wide-awake, faithful and reliable emplovee. lie con-
tinued as a clerk, saving his wages and mastering the various ins and outs
of the general-merchandising business luitil 1909. when he purchased a
third interest in the business and has since devoted his attention to the build-
ing up of the store, which is one of the well-known and popular mercantile
estal)lishments of Holy Cross township. He is the only member of the
liini lixing at Georgetown. .A large and carefully selected stack of goods
is carried, including^ everything used by the farmers and citizens of George-
town, The lirni naiue is W'eum. Dalen & Company.
Mr. W'eum has Ijeen postmaster at Georgetown for the jiast nine years
• nid has gixen entire satisfaction in this capacity to both the people of his
community and \o the ])ostoffice department, lieing i)rompt. faithful and
]:ainstaking. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 295
HANS L. JOHNSON.
There is both ])leasure and pmht to be derivetl from farming when
one goes about it in an intelligent and ambitious manner like Hans L.
Johnson, of Cromwell township, Clay county, who has forged his way up
from an early enxininment none too promising by sheer courage and per-
severance.
Mr. Johnson was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota. June 4, 1879.
He is a son of Lewis C. and Karin Ellina (Hillestad) Johnson, both natives
of Norway, from which country they came to America, single, the former
locating in Freeborn county, Minnesota, in 1871. She came to Fillmore
county, this state, in 1873, with her parents, wiio are mentioned on another
page of this work. There she li\-ed with her folks until her marriage.
Lewis C. Johnson was the son of Carl and Johanna (Peterson) Johnson,
natives of Norway. Carl Johnson died in his native land and his widow
came to Minnesota in 1873 and spent the remainder of her life in Fillmore
county. Lewis C". Johnson and family came from Fillmore county to Clay
county in 1882, driving an ox-team to a "prairie schooner." and located
in Cromwell township, where he entered a homestead of one hundred and
sixty acres, which be still owns. He put on all improxements, including
an excellent .groU[) of buildings. He has a fine farm of two hundred and
eighty acres. He also owns timber land in Becker county, this state. His
family consists of fi\e children, namely: Johanna, Hans L,, Emma, Ida
and Nora, all of whom are living.
Lewis C. Johnson helped organize the first Lutheran church in his
locality. He also helped organize the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Com-
pany at Hawley, his interest in that concern now being owned liy his son,
TI;ins L. The father has held township c>fiices nearl\- all bis active life.
but is now retired from public life, as well as from active farming. He
organized his home school district and served on the board of the same
for many years, from the time of its organization until be was succeeded
!)}• liis son, the subject of this sketch.
Hans L. Johnson .grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated
in the public schools of Clay county. He worked on the farm with his
father when a bov and started life for himself as a young man by working
in the Evans elevator at Hawley for six years, giving his emplo}'er entire
satisfaction and becoming known as one of the leading grain buyers in this
section of the state. He then took up farming on the old home place
296 CLAY AND NUK.MAN COINTIKS, MINXliSOTA.
in Cronnvell township, whicli he lias since operated with success, carryinj^-
on general farming and stock raising on an extensi\e scale, and keeping
the land well impro\ed and well cultivated. He also owns eighty acres
of good land of his own. Init he lives with his father. Besides general
fanning he raises a large acreage of potatoes each \car. also pays con-
siderahle attention to dairying.
On November 22, 1906, Hans L. John.son was unitcii in marriage to
I'etra Solum, who was horn in Tanseni township, Clay county. M'here she
grew u]) and attended school. She is a daughter of P. P. Sohun and wife,
a sketch of whom will be found on another [)age of this work. Four chil-
dren have been born to Hans L. Johnson and wife, namely: Leon, Harvev.
Orpha and Bertram.
ERNEST FREDERICK KRABBENHOFT.
Ernest J'"rederick Krabbenhoft, chan-man of the board of supervisors
of Elniwood township, one of the most substantial and progressive young
farmers in Clay county and the proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and
sixty acres in Elmwood township, where he and his family ha\e an admir-
able, modern establishment, is a native son of Clay county, born in the
neighborhood in which he is now living, and has lived there all his life. He
was born on June 10, 1880, son of Wolf C. and Mary (Jensen) Krabben-
hoft, natives of Germany, who became pioneers of Clay county and the
latter of whom is still living on the old home place in Elmwood township.
Wolf Christopher Krabbenhoft was born in the Prussian i)rovince of
Schleswig-Holstein in 1847 and in 1872 came to the United States and pro-
ceeded on out to the Red l\iver country and homesteaded a tract of land in
what later came to be organized as Elmwood township, Clay county, being
the first permanent white settler in that township. He was the eldest son
of his parents and had come to "spy out the land" for the family, who were
desirous of setting up a new home in the land of the free far away to the
west, and in 1874 his parents, W. 1". and Katherine (Jess) Krabbenhoft.
and the fi\e other members of the family joined him here on his home-
stead place, the Krabbenhoft family thus becoming recognized as among
the very early settlers of that part of the county. \\". F. Krabbenhoft bought
the homestead place from his son Wolf and in 1882 sold it to his vounger
son, Henning, who is still living there and a biographical sketch of whom,
together with further details of the .settlement of the Krabbenhoft familv
y.
Eh
V.
e
y.
\.
Wdl.F C. KKAP.r.KNHOFT.
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 29/
in Clay couiitv. is presented elsewliere in this vi:)lume. After selling his
homestead tract \\'olf C. Krabbenhoft bought another iract nearby and
after his marriage in 1878 establislied his home there, continuing to make
that his place of residence the rest of his life, his death occurring there in
May, 1910. He was an excellent farmer and as he prospered he added to
his holdings until he became the owner of eighteen hundretl and eighty
acres of land and was accounted one of the best-circumstanced men in this
part of the state. He had an admirable farm plant, in full keeping with
his extensive operations, one of the features of which was a grain elevator
•of his own. Air, Kral)benhoft's widow is still living on the old home place.
She also was born in German}-, in 1856, Mary Jenson. and has been a resi-
dent of this country since 1867. She has nine children, of whom the subject
of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow:
Mamie, wife of John Connelly, of Glyndon township. Clay count}-; Richard,
who is managing the home farm; Cora, wife of Fred Kuehl, of Glyndon
township: Helen, wife of ^\'illiam W'usson, of Moland township, and Carl,
Otto, Edna and Stella, at home.
Ernest 1*". Kral:)l)enhoft "was reared on the honie farm in Elmwood
township and received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood.
As the eldest son of his father he from the days of his boyhood was a
valued aid in the dex'elopment of the extensive interests created by his father
in connection with the big fan-1-1 and remained at home until his marriage
in the fall of 1910, when he estaljlished his home on the farm on which
he is now- li\-ing, in Elmwood township, and has since made his home there,
he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Krabbenhoft has
a fine farm of four hundred and sixty acres, on which he has made excellent
improvements, including a handsome, modern house electrically lighted and
otherwise ef|uipped for the best comfort and convenience of the family.
Air. Krabbenhoft carries on his farming operations in accordance with up-to-
date methods and is doing verv well. He has for some time given his earnest
attention to local civic ati'airs and is now serving as chairman of the board
of supervisors of Elmwood township, to the duties of which im])ortant office
he gives his most thoughtful and intelligent attention.
On Xovember 9, 19 10, Ernest F. Krabbenhcjft was united in marriage
to Rosalie Schroeder. daughter of Frank Schroeder and wife, and to this
union one child has been born, a son, Ernest Frederick, jr. .Mr. and Mrs.
Krabbenhoft take a proper part in the general social affairs of the commun-
ity in which they live and give their thoughtful attention to all mattei--
having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout. In
298 CI.AV AND XOU.MAX COUXTH-.S. MIXXKSdTA.
tlie Schroeder faiiiil\- tliere are twehe children ; Minnie. l''rank, Rniil, Clara.
Rosalie, Christine, Otto, Henry, Herbert, Walter, Hulda and Margaret, all
nf whom are all living in Clay county. Minnie is the wife of II. G. Wend-
land. postmaster at Sabin. Clara i-~ the wife of Chris Legler. livins; i>n a
farm. I lenr\- m.arrit'd i'dl;i Miller and lives near Moorhead.
IS.V.VC JOXES.
Isaac Jones, a well-known grain buyer of Baker, in the southern part
of Clay county, was l>orn in Jackson county, Iowa, January 30, 1872. He
is a son of William and Rowena Jones, the father a native of Crawford
county. I'ennsyhania. and the mother, of Jackson couiUy. Iowa. Wil-
liam Jones spent his boyhood in his native county in the old Keystone
state and there attended the public schools. When a young man he came
West, locating in Jackson county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until
1880, in which year he came to Minnesota, taking u\) a homestead of one
hundred and sixt\- acres in Clay county, and tree-claiiued one hundred and
sixty acres also, in Elmwood township. He worked hard clearing and de-
\eloping his land, but by perseverance he made a good iiome and there he
followed general farming imtil about 1897, when he rented his land out
and retired from active life, moving to the village of Baker. He subse-
([uently sold his farm to R. X. Lewis. He had been (piite successful during
the last vears of his active life as a farmer and stock raiser. He spent
his la.st days in Baker, his death occurring there in July, 1915. He was
a member of the German Lutheran church, and his wife was a Presbyterian.
To these parents four children were born, namely: Mary, the wife of
I. M. Wright: Hcttie. wife of .\. C. Duke: Isaac, the subject of this sketch,
ami Hannah, who is the youngest child.
Isaac Jones grew to manhood in Jackson county, Iowa, and in l^lmwtjod
township. Clay county. .Minnesota. He attended school in both, and later
attended tlic high school at Barnesville. He grew up on his father's farm
and assisted with the general work, remaining with his father on the farm
until he was about twenty-seven vears old, when he started farming for
himself in Elmwood township, continuing successfully thus engaged until
1910, when he m<ived to Baker and for four years was manager of the
local atTairs of the Anchor Grain Company. Since 1914 he has Ijeen buying
grain for the Red River Seed and Produce Company, and is accounted one
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 299
of the best-known i;raiii liuyers in tliis secti(jn (if the state ;ui(I one of
the best-informed men in liis line. His work in connection with these
two companies lias been entirely satisfactory to the stockholders and rdl
concerned.
On January 25, i<S99, Mr. Junes was married to Ella Lafayette, who
was Ixirn in Iowa and was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter
of James and Elizabeth Lafayette, the former of whom was born at St.
Charles, Illinois, and the latter, at fronton, Ohio. James Lafayette was
a carpenter. He died in June, 1914, at Plummer, Minnesota, at the age
of eighty-four. Iii> widow, who is seventy-eight years of age, is living
with her daughter, Mrs. Jones. T(j Mr. and Mrs. Jones two children have
been tjorn, Hettie and Cdarence. Mr. Jones is a Democrat, but he has never
Ijeen \-ery active in ]iuhh'c attairs. h'raternallv, he belongs to the Masonic
Order and to tlie Independent Order of Odd I'eliows.
.\LBERT il. lOHXSON.
Albert H. Johnson, a farmer of Cromwell township. Clay county, was
born on his father's homestead in Highland Grove township. Clay county.
May 6, 1882. He is a son of Henry and Betse\- (Jensen) Johnson, both
natix'es of Norw'ay, from which conntr\- they came to America in the early
fifties, the parents of each accompanying- them. They all settled in Win-
neshiek county. Iowa, and there the parents of each sjient the rest of their
li\es and died. Henr\ Johnson came to Minnesota, in iS/6, accompany-
ing a ])ig train of wagons to Moorheail. the overland journey requiring
three weeks. He located on a farm in Highland Gro\e township, Clay
county, taking u]) a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section
18, where he (le\'eloped a farm on which lie iii.ade his Jionie until kjoj,
when he moved to the farm on which his scm. .Mhert H.. now lives, in
Cromwell township. lie became one of the leading public men in Clay
county, and was \ery active in politics. He was a delegate to county, state
and national conventions of the Republican party. During the Civil War
he served in Coni|)any (i. Twelfth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantiy. He
was a memlier of the township lioard in Highland Grc\e township for
many years. He heli)ed organize the creamery at Hitterdal, also the one
at Hawley, and was president of the former for some time. He hel])ed
organize tlie Cniled Lutheran church at Hitterdal. His familv consisted
300 CI, AY AND XDRMAN COVJN'TIKS. MTXN'F.SOTA.
of llie folldwiuif cliildren : Ellen (deceased), Christina. Theodore, Han-
nah (deceased), Matilda (deceased), and Albert H.
Albert II. Johnson grew to manhood on the farm and was educaicd
in the common schools. He remained with his father and helped him with
the general \vnrl< on the farm an<l now operates the home place of one
hundred and sixty acres in Cromwell township. The place was well im-
))roved b\' Iiis father, who erected substantial buildings and l)rought a pvo-
dncti\e farm up from the wild ])rairie sod.
In the fall of 1914 -\lben 11. Johnson was married to Tilda Hillestad.
who was born in Cromwell township. Clay county, where she grew up and
attended school. She is a daughter of John O. Hillestad. a biographical
sketch of wh<im api)ears elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. John-
son two children have been born, namelv : Gundrn and Kaakon. Mr.
Johnson is a Republican and has lieen a member of the school board in
his district and has also served as justice of the peace in a very able and
satisfactory manner.
ANDREW O. HOUGLUM.
.Xndrew O. Ilonglum. auditor of Clay county and one of the best-
known residents of the city of Moorhead, was born in the neighboring
cotinty of Becker and has l)een a resident of Minnesota all his life. He
was born on a pioneer farm in Lake Park township, Becker county, April
19. i<S75, son of Ole A. and Ragnhild (Sande) llouglum. natives of Nor-
way, who came to Minnesota about 1867 and located in Goodhue county,
whence, in 187 1. they came over to this part of the state and settled on a
homestead farm in Lake Park township. Becker county, among the lirst
settlers of that ])art of the county, and there established their home. Ole
.\. llouglum s])ent his last days on that homestead farm and after his
death his widow moved to the \illage of Lake Park, where her last days
were spent.
Reared on the homestead farm on which he was born. Andrew O.
Houglum com])leted his schooling in the high school at Lake Park and
for two years taught school in his home county. He then entered a busi-
ness college at Minneajjolis and was graduated from the same in 1897.
after which for a .short time he was engaged as a clerk in a store at Min-
neapolis. He then returned to Lake Park, where he was engaged as a
bookkeejier f<ir three \ears, at the end of which time he was appointed to
CLAY A\D NOUMAX COUNTIES, JIINNESOTA. 3OI
the position ot deputy auditor uf Clay county and nicived to Moorhead.
where he since has made his home. For eight years Mr. Houglum oc-
cupied the position of deputy county auditor and during that time made
sucli an achiiirable record for pubhc service that he was elected counix-
audit<ir and has since been retained in that ofifice by the people of the c<iunt\,
his successi\-e elections never ha\ing jjeen contested. In aildition to his
official connection Mr. Houglum also has an interest in the Houglum l*"ur-
niture Cfjmpany. of Moorhead. and is a member of the Moorhead Com-
mercial Club. He has for years given close attention to the affairs of
the County Auditors Association of this state, was formerly treasurer of
tlie same and is nnw a member of the committee of that association engaged
in the labor of codifying and revising the laws relating to drainage. Mr.
Houglum from the da\s of his youth has enjoyed singing, is an active
member of t!ie Xnrrona Singing Society, of which for two years he was
president, and is vice-president of the Scandinavian Singers Association
of the Red l^iver Valley. He is a member of the local lodges of the Modern
Woodmen of .\mcrica and of the Royal Arcanum. He is now in the mili-
tary service of the United States, having first served as one of the three
members of the registration board for Clay count}-, and is now a commis-
sioned member of the local board for said county in connection with the
military draft.
In 1905 Andrew (). Houglum was united in marriage to Sophia Ebel-
toft, daughter of I'eter Ebeltoft and wife, of Lake Park, and to this union
four children ha\e been born, Celest, who died at the age of four years,
antl Muryel, X'irgic and Audrey. Mr. and Mrs. Houglum are members
of the I'nited Lutheran church.
OLAL'S OLSON.
The viewpoint of the twentieth-century farmer has changed greatly
with his increased knowledge and he has discarded many of the early-day
methods of tilling the soil One thing he lias learned to bear in mind is that
it is often (|uite as impcirtant to do a thing at the right time as it is to do
it at all. One of tlie careful farmers of Highland Grove township, Cla\-
county, is Olaus Olson, who was Ijoni in Detroit townshi]), Becker county.
Minnesota, December 13, 1872.
Mr. Olson is a son. of Ole D. and Ragna ( Ingebrightsdatter ) Olson.
302 CLAY AND XoKMAX COlXTir.S. M I X N" i:S()TA.
liulh natives oi Hallingdale, Xorway. when.' tliev ijrcw to maturity, mar-
ried and continued to reside until in May, 1S7J, the father proceeding directly
{o Becker county, Minnesota, but the mother spent a few months in St.
i'aul l)efore joining him there. His brother, Christ Olson, preceded him
to Becker county b}' ti\e \ears. Christ is now a resident of Lake I'ark.
Ole D. Olson took up a homestead in section 8, Cuba township, Becker
county, in 1873 and there he has since made his home. His wife died on
the homestead there, January 14, hji<k He has developed an excellent
t'arm from the wild prairie. ])Ianting a large grove and erecting a substantial
group of buildings. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres. He
formerly owned more, but sold one hundred acres some time ago. He has
been one of the leading men of his township. He helped organize the school
district in which he lives and served as treasurer of the same from it--
organization in 1882 until 191 1. He also helped organize the Conference
congregation (Lutheran) oi Cuba township and was treasurer of the same
from the time of its organization for many years. Later he affiliated witii
the United Lutheran church. To Ole I). Olson and wife nine children
were born, namely: Olaus, Edolph, Mary, Carl, .Minnie (deceased), John
(deceased), Minnie (second), John and Julia.
Olaus Olson grew to manhood on the home farm in Becker couniy.
working on the farm during the crop seasons. He attended the district
schools of his home comnnmity and also attended school at Lake Park
and at Detroit. .Minnesota. He remained at home until lie was twentv-
iwo years old. when he began farming for himself on rented land in his
nati\e county and later bought eighty acres in Cuba township, Becker county.
He continued general farming there until 1901, when he moved to High-
land Grove tt)wnhip, Clay county, buying one hundred aiul sixty acres of
raw prairie land, which he has developed into a good farm and on which
he still makes his home. He planted a large gro\e and erected good build-
ings, and has met with encouraging success as a general fanner and stock
raiser. Mr. Olson assisted in organizing the Hittcrdal I'armers Co-opera-
tive Creamery, and was a member of the board of directors of the same from
the second year of its organization until 191 7. He has been financially
interested in the company from the start.
On October tq. igoi. I\lr. Olson was married to Gundhild Midtdahl.
a native of Norway and a daughter of Jorgen and Chestine (Moen) Midt-
dahl, both natives of Norway, where they spent their earlier j'ears, immi-
grating to America in 1881, locating in Highland Grove township, Cla\-
county, where they took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA, 3O3
and there they still reside. Their family consists of five children, Lewis.
John, Gundhild, Sarah and Lena. Four chilclren have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Olson, namely: Ole, Clara, Gladys (deceased), and Gladys (second).
Mr. Olson and family belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. Politi-
cally, he is independent.
AUGUST CEDKRBERG.
A farmer when he has raised his crop has performed only half his
duty; the other half is in selling, which determines his profit for the year's
work. It is just as important for the agricultural producer to know what
the markets are as it is for the lumberman, the ore producer or the manu-
facturer to know what his goods are worth in the market and what com-
peition he must meet in his selling. One of the farmers of Highland Gro\e
township. Clay county, who understands both the production and sale of
his crops is August Cederberg, and therefore he has been successful.
Mr. Cederberg was born in Sweden on November 9, 1857, a"<^I ^'''^'^
one of five children born to his parents. These parents spent all their lives
in their native land. August Cederberg grew to manhood in his nati\e
land and there attended the common schools. As a young man he worked
on the farm until immigrating to .\merica in 1882. He located in Meeker
county, Minnesota, but remained there only si.x months, then moved to
Hawley, Clay county, and worked on the Northern Pacific railroad as a
section laborer, being boss of the section gang part of the time. He save<l
his earnings and finally bought eighty acres in section 32, Highland Gro\e
township, which he improved and farmed so successfully that he was sub-
sequently enabled to buy three "forties" in section 5, Eglon township. He
is now owner of two hundred acres of excellent and well-impro\'ed land
in Highland Grove township, having made all the improvements himself.
His fields are well fenced and his land well tilled. He has a cosy dwelling
and convenient outbuildings. In connection with general farming he raises
graded stock, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle. Besides the grains
adapted to this latitude he raises several acres of potatoes each year.
Mr. Cederberg was married to Anna Anderson, in Sweden on March
25, 1882, shortly before his departure for the New World. She was born
in 1858 in Sweden, of which country her parents were natives, and there
she grew to womanhood and was educated in Sweden. Ten children ha\e
304 CLAY AND XOKMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
been b(jrn to this union, namely : Gusta, Emma, Oscar and Anna, wlio arc
all married; Ella, wlio lives in Fargo: Sarali. who is deceased, and Olga,
Victor, Ida and George, who are at home.
Politically, yir. Cederberg is independent, lie served at one time as
road supervisor of his district, and he has been a director on the local
school board for the past nine years. He is a member of the Mission church.
He is a public-spiritetl man, always interested in the affairs of his township
and readv to do hi> part in furthering any worthy movement, and lie i''
pojjular with the people of his locality, being helpful, neighborly and coni-
jjanionable.
W ILLIA.M RIPLEV TILLOTSOX.
William Ripley Tillotson, one of the oldest and best-known lawyers
in this part of Minnesota, former mayor of the city of Moorhead and for
years a member of the school board in that city, secretary and treasurer and
one of the organizers of the National Loan and Improvement Company
at jMoorhead and in other ways actively identified with the interests of the
city of which he has been a resident since its village days, is a native of
the old Clranite state, but has been a resident of Minnesota for more than
thirty-five j'ears and is thus thoroughly identified with the citizenship of
the great Northwest. He was born at Bath, in Grafton county, New Hamp-
.shire, April 22, 1856. son of Bradley P. Tillotson, a farmer, and in his
youth was familiar with the labors of the farm.
Mr. Tillotson obtained an ample educational equipment for the exacting
])rofession to which he early devoted himself. Upon completing the course
in the common schools of his home town he entered Dartmouth College
and was graduated from the academic department of that excellent old insti-
tution in 1877, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. T'ollowing his admis-
sion to practice law. Mr. Tillotson remained for a while in the East, but
presently he became attracted to the great ix)ssibilities then opening to the
earnest settler in the Northwest and in 1882 came out to this part of Minne-
sota and l)ecame a member of the firm of Burnham, Mills & Tillotson, enter-
ing upon the practice of his profession at Moorhead, then little more than
a lively frontier station, but giving promise of Ijecoming one of the chief
cities in the then rapidly developing Northw-est, and has ever since made
his home in that city. On January i, 1886, the firm became Burnham &
Tillotson and so continued until 1898. when Mr. Burnham died. As one
^^^^^^^^H 1h^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^I^H
^^^^^^^^^S*^ '~ ^^^^m ^^^^^^m^ \ iilH^B .^^^^^^^^^1
WILI>IAM R. TILLOTSOX.
THE NEW YORK
"^RARY
■, LENOX
.r;NDATinNS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 305
of the pioneer lawyers of this part of Minnesota, Air. Tillotson has a wide
acquaintance throughout this part of the country and has done much to aid
in tlie development of the region to which he became attracted more than
tliirtv-live years ago. Twice he was elected mayor of Aioorhead and while
serving in that important capacity did much to advance the interests of
his home town. For many years he has been a member of the local school
board and no one has done more to promote the development of the school
s\stem in Alooriiead than he. He also for several terms served as a member
of the library board of the city and in other ways has done his part as a
good citizen in advancing the general cultural activities of the city. Air.
Tillotson was one of the organizers of the National Loan and Improxement
Company of Aloorhead, which was established in 191 1, and has been secre-
tarv and treasurer of the same ever since its organization.
On April 19, 1888, William R. Tillotson was united in marriage to
Harriet C. Tanner, of Moorhead, and to this union two children have been
born, Bradley P. and Francis AT. Air. Tillotson is a member of the Catho-
lic church and his family are affiliated with the Episcopal churcli. He is
a member of the local council of the Knights nf Columbus and in the atYairs
of that organization takee- a warm interest.
OSCAR GUXDERSON.
The Gunderson family has long been well and favorably known in
Clay county, being progressive and law-abiding citizens. Oscar Gunderson.
a farmer of Highland Grove township, was born on the farm on which
he still resides, July 8, 1877. He is a son of Olaf and Alarie (Olson)
Gunderson, the father a native of Sweden and the mother of Norway. The
paternal grandparents were natixxs of Sweden, where they spent their lives
on a farm. Andrew and Karen Olson, the maternal grandparents, were
both natives of Norway, from which countr\- they came to America about
1872, locating at Decorah, Iowa, where they spent about six years: then
came to Highland Grove township, Cla_\- county, Alinnesota, Andrew Olson
and Olaf Gunderson making the overland trip here at the same time, driv-
ing through in prairie schooners, but their families came by railwav- train.
Air. Gunderson took u]) a homestead in the northwest quarter of section
28. Highland Grove township — the place where his son, Oscar, now resides.
(20a)
306 CLAY AND XOK.MAX COrXTIES, MIXNESOTA.
Andrew Olson located on the northeast quarter of section 28, and there
he spent the rest of his life, iiaxini; made an excellent farm of the place.
His widow spent her last years at the home oi Olaf (ninderson.
Olaf Gunderson, father of the f;entleman whose name forms the caption
of this sketch, grew to manhood in Sweden, l)ut was married in Norway.
In 1874 he came to Decorah, Iowa, where he lived t\\o years, coming to
Clay county, Minnesota, in 1876, as noted in the preceding paragraph. He
develo])ed his homestead into an excellent farm, putting on a substantial
group of buildings, and finally adding one hundred and sixty acres more
to his original holdings. He carried on general farming and stock raising
very successfully and became one of the leading men of his township. His
family consisted of six children, namely: Carl, Andrew and Anna, wlui
are now deceased: Oscar, the subject of this sketch, and Clarence and
Gilbert. The father of these children and .Andrew Olson, his father-in-law .
helped establish the United Lutheran church at Hitterdal. Mr. Gunder-
son was also active in the organization of the local school tlistrict and was
a member of the first school board, continuing a member of the same until
his death. He was, at different times, a member of the township board.
Oscar Gunderson grew to manhood on the home farm. He attended
the local district schools and Concordia College, spending several terms
at the latter. He has always lived on the home place, which he has kept
w'ell-improved and well-cultivated. He owns two hundred acres, and in
connection with general farming he makes a specialty of dairying, handling
Holstein cattle.
On February 21, 1902, Oscar Gunderson was married to Annie Sanden.
who was born in Eglon township. Clay county, where she grew to woman-
hood and attended the public schools. She is a daughter of John and
Saralisa (Johnson) Sanden, both natives of Sweden, from which country
they came to America, single, and were married in Moorhead, Minnesota.
The parents of each lived and died in Sweden. John Sanden was alx)ut
twenty-one years old when he came to .\merica, about the year 1866. His
wife came about a year later. Ijeing eighteen years old ;it the time. She
came directly to Lake Park, .Minnesota. He stopped a while at Superior,
Alichigan, and at Duluth. Minnesota, before coming on to Clay count\ .
Here he took up a homestead in Eglon tow nship, which he improved into a
good farm on which he still resides. His wife is deceased. To these
parents seven children were born, all living at this writing but one, namely :
Annie, .Andrew, Hulda, Carl, Carl Johan (deceased), Oscar and Ellen.
To Oscar Gunderson and wife seven children ha\e been born, namely:
CLAY AXD XOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 307
Laura, Herbert, John P. (deceased). Clarence, Ray, Lillian, Mabel and
Clifford.
Politically, Oscar (junderson is independent. He is miw ( 1917) ser\-
ing his eleventh consecutive year as township assessor. He lias also served
as school director and as treasurer for the past twelve or thirteen years,
being treasurer at this writing. He was also justice of the peace at one
time. He helped organize the b'armers Elevator Company at Hawley, of
which he has been secretary since its organization, and is a heavy stock-
holder in the same. He also helped organize the P'armers Co-operative
Creamery at Hawley and has been financially interested in the same e\er
since. Fie is a member of the Idawlev Li\'e Stock Shipping .Vssociatinn.
Like his father before him he is one of the influential men of his township,
always ready to assist in any movement having for its object the general
good of all the people in this localil\ .
IIILBRRT O. SKREL
Hilbert O. Skrei, a well-known and energetic farmer of Goose Prairie
town.ship, Clay county, owner of a compact and well-kept farm of one
hundred and sixty acres in section 22, that township, and of ei.ghty acres
in Montana, is a native .son of Minnesota, born on his father's homestead
on Buffalo river, August 28, 1875. He is the son of Torge T. and C.unhild
( Bervie) Skrei, natives of Norway.
Torge T. Skrei was married in his native land and immigrated to the
L'nited States in 1866. On arriving in this country he proceeded to Hous-
ton county, this state, in which ])lace he lived for four x-ears. Some time
Later he came to Clay county, where he homesteaded ;i tract of land in
section 28, Moland township, and there spent the rest of his life. He
died in 1895 ^'""^1 ^''■'^ widow died in 1908. They were the ])arents of three
children, Signa, Hilbert O. and Theodore H. .\ re\ie\\ of the life of the
latter appears on another pa.ge of this vokime and in it are .gi\'en further
and extended details of the history of the Skrei family in this state.
Hilbert O. Skrei was educated in the schools of Clay count\- and later
worked on his father's fariu, where he was well trained in the rudiments
of agriculture. In .\pril, 1917. he became the owner of one hundred ;ind
sixty acres of prime land in section 22, Goose Prairie township, and is now
enga.ged in .general farming ;ind contemplates adding blooded stock at an
^OS CLAV A\D NOU.M A\ C'orXTlKS. MINNESOTA.
earlv tlatc. lie raises wheat, corn, oats, rye ami potatoes on the home larin,
and since tlie commencement of his operations he has met with a com-
mendable measure of success. Mr. Skrei is also tiie owner of eighty acres
in Montana. He Hved on tlie old place near Tdyndon liefore takini^- over
his [)rescnt ho](lin<;'.
In |une. \<)\(<. liilhert O. Skrei was united in marri.age to Enielia
Dennison, who was horn in Augu.st, \Sj><. Tlie marrias^e took place in Gien-
dine, Montana. Mr. Skrei is a memjjer of the Lutheran church and is
carnestK interested in all its s^ood works, and he and his wife participate
ni the social and cullural activities of the neighborhood in which tliey live,
ever readv to assist in all movements tending to the welfare of tlie com-
mimitv.
GEORGK S. H.\U.\ES.
The success wliich George S. Barnes attained would alone entitle him
to special mention in a work of this character as one of the really promi-
nent men of Clay county and of the state of Minnesota: hut in citizen-
ship as well he did that which causes hi- name to be honored, for hi-
labors were a factor in promoting the growth and development of the
great Nortliwest. The real up-lmilders of a county, state or nation, arc
not those wiio handle the reins of government, but those who give their influ-
ence to contiiuious municipal progress, and who found, promote and control
extensive business interests. Laudable ambition, ready adaptability to every
contingency, and a capacity for hard work are and were essential elements
of success, especially in the early jjioneer days, and in none of these elements
was George S. Barnes lacking. It. therefore, is ntjt a matter of marvel
that he occupied a pre-eminent position among the builders of Clay county
;md the state, 'i'he eminence to which he attained was also due to the fact
that he had the ability to recognize the opportune moment and to correctly
ai)praise the value of a .situation and determine its possibilities.
In the ])assing of George S. Barnes it is well for us to stop in the
midst of the stress, luirry and turmoil that go to make up life as we live
it — to consider the character of one who has quit the scene, to estimate
his plan of life and to draw from it more clearly than we possibly could
from mere theories a conclusion as to what makes this life of ours worth
li\ing: and we who step aside from the c|uick march of our daily duties
to do honor to the memory of the subject of this review will at the same
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
3"9
time i)a\' tril)ute io ;i lite wiiose theory and practice went band in hand.
This theory of life was the simple hut difficult one that dut\ to God, neigh-
bor, and self are one and the same, and the record of his long, husv years
shows not only the discharge of that duty, but a force and serenity that
could only come from a nature as gentle as it was strong, joined to a con-
science as sensitive as it was tireless. The communitx' kudws only in pari
of his public sjiirit, his liberality where any measures for the public good
were concerned. All who were associated with him in business or financial
matters recognized his absolute integrity as well .'is his fairness. His was
the symi)athy of real wisdom, the gentleness of true force, the full \a!ue
of a life well lived from day to day.
George S. Barnes was born in Vermont in 1840, a son of I'bilo Barnc-.
who died when George S. was a young man. The famih' liad long reside^l
in Xew England. 'i"he subject of this review grew to manhood in Vermont,
and attended the pui)lic schools, and there he resided until 1864, when he
came to Ononoco, Minnesota, and bought a farm in Olmsted county, on
which he resided until iSji, when be sold out and moved to Clay countv,
and in partnership with I.. H. Tenney bought a farm near where the vil-
lage of Glyndon now stands. His widow now resides on the original farm.
He and Air. Tenne\' increased their farmin.g interests luitil thev operated
about h\e thousand ;icres. carr\ing (jn general farnu'ng and stock raising
on an extensive scale and with pronounced success all along the line. Neither
of them resided on their land, but made their homes in Glyndon, where
they opened a general store, the lirst store in the \'illage, and they also
bought and cold grain in large quantities.
.\fter the death of Mr. Tenney, a Mr. Bangs became a partner with
Mr. Barnes in the .grain business. Mr. Barnes became associated with the
Northern I'acific Grain Company, of which he was later president, in which
capacity he had charge of the elevators along the Northern Pacific railroad
all the way from .St. l\-tul. Minne.sota, to Tacoma, Washington, thus becom-
ing one of the best-known .grain buyers of the .great Northwest. Mr. Barnes
made ins home ;it Glyndon until 1883. wiien be moved to bargo. North
Dakota, where he spent practically all of his life thereafter. However, he
was li\-in.g at Glyndon at the lime of his de;ith, which occurred on Novem-
ber 28, IQ12.
On June H). 1864. .Mr. Barnes was married to Maria L. Paige, a
native of Vermont, where she grew to womanhood and was educated and
where her family had long been well and favorably known. .She is tlie
3iO CLAY AND NOkMAX COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
inotlier of three children, namely: deorge S.. Jr.. Hector G. and .Marie,
wife of Otto J. Morrow.
.\lr. Barnes was a tlnrt\ -third degree Mason and was prominent in
the affairs of that order: in fad, few men in this state ever attained to
such a high position in this ancient order. He was an active memher of
tlie Congregational church. Politically, lie was a Repuhlican.
Such, in brief, is the life history of George S. Barnes. While .\mer-
ica is the home of the self-made man. it is not so usual for an individual
to ach'ance from a humble jiosition tn one of marked prominence — anrl
such a course always awakens admiration and interest. Such was tlie life
record of Mr. Barnes, and there was not a single esoteric i>hase in his career,
his life ever being an open book. Diligent in business, he was also loyal
in citizenshi]) and faithful in fricndshii) — while in his jiome he was a de-
\()ted husband and father.
lOHX RLOI" CARLSON.
That period following the close of the Civil War. covering two or
three decades, was characterized by the immigration of the pioneer element
which made the great state of Minnesota what it is today. These home-
seekers were sturd\-, heroic, sincere, and for the most i)art. u[)right and
law-a])iding people, such as constitute tlie strength of the commonwealth.
One of this sterling type of citizens is John Klof Carlson, a farmer of
1 1 ighland Gro\e township. Clay county.
.Mr. Carl.son was born in Sweden, October 24. 1H57. He is a son
i>f Magnus and Lena CarLson, both natives of Sweden, where they grew
to maturity, married and established their home, but immigrated to Amer-
ica in icSog, when their son, John E., was twelve years old. The familv
located at Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois, but a year and a half later removed
t(i Minnesota, locating near Brainard, where the father worked at con-
struction work on the Xorthern Pacific. On April 2, 1871, he arrived at
Lake Park, Becker county, and soon thereafter took up a homestead five
miles northwest of the \ illage of Lake Park, in Cuba township. There he
developed a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, putting the wild
])rairie land under cultivation, erecting a group of suitable farm buildings
and planting a grove. There he and his wife spent the rest of their lives,
influential factors among the other pioneer settlers in this locality. The-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. ^11
lather lielped organize Cuba township about five A-ears after he located
tliere. He also helped organize the Eskjou Swedish Lutheran church of
that township, and later was one of the organizers of the Swedish Grove
Lutheran church. He was a successful farmer and a good citizen in every
respect, having the respect and good will of all who knew him. Six chil-
dren were born to Carl M. and Lena Carlson, named as follow : Frank,
who makes his home at Lake Park, Becker county ; Emma, deceased ; Hanna,
deceased; John Elof. the subject of this sketch; Carl W.. who lives at
Lake Park, and Axel, who is deceased.
John E. Carlson spent his childhood in Sweden, where he attended
school a while. He had little opportunity to obtain an education after
coming to Minnesota, for there were no schools in Becker county to which
the children of the first settlers could go. However, by close observation
and home reading and study he became, in due course of time, a very well-
informed man. He assisted his father with the general work on the home-
stead, for there was plenty of hard work for the entire family. He con-
tinued to work with his father until 1880, when he homesteaded one hun-
dred and sixty acres in Highland (irove township, Clay county, where he
has since resided — a period of thirty-seven years, during which he has
seen the country developed from a vast, wild prairie to a fine farming lo-
cality, dotted with attractive homes, numerous chiuxhes and school houses,
and has played well his part in this transformation. He brought his land
up to a high state of cultivation and impro\ement, setting out a large gro\e
and erecting an excellent group of buildings, suitable to the needs of a
thrifty farmer in this latitude. His farm is well located at Manitoba Junc-
tion and he has been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
On July 5, 1886, Mr. Carlson was married to Caroline Johnson, a
native of Wisconsin and a daughter of .\nton JohnscMi Hanger, one of the
early homesteaders of Highland Grove township, Clay county, Minnesota,
where he still resides. A sketch of Mr. Hauger and family will be found
on another page of this volume. Eleven children ha\e been born tri Mr.
and Mrs. Carlson, named as follow: Lena, Josie, Manda, Jennie, who mar-
ried Edward Eastman, who died in 191 3, leaving two children, Edward,
Jr.. and Margaret. Mrs. Eastman and children now making their home with
the subject of this sketch; .Anna, the fifth in order of birth; Emma, Carl.
.Arthur, a daughter who died in infancv. unnamed, and Lillian and Roy.
Mr. Carlsf)n helped organize Highland Grove township, also the school
district in which he lix'es. He is now (1917) serving his second year as a
T,\2 CLAY AND XOKMAX COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
member of the school hoard. He belongs to the Swedish Grove Lutheran
church. Politically, he is independent. He has always been a helpful man
in his township, doing much for its general development.
ALONZO W ILSON. .M. 1).
.\mong lilt real old settlers of Clay county there are few who ha\e
a' wider acquaintance throughout this section of the Red River valley than
has Dr. Alonzo Wilson, a well-to-do retired physician, of Moorhead, an<l
an honored veteran of the Civil War, who has been a resident of Moorhead
since the \car 1876 and who has conse(|ueutly been a witness to and a
participant in the (le\ clnpnient of this region since pioneer days. Doctor
Wilson is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, but has been a resident of
this country since he was twenty years of age. He was Ixtrn in the year
1834, a son of O. L. Wilson and wife, the latter of whom died on board
vessel iiu the way to this country in 1854 and the former of whom later
became a resilient of Clay county and here spent his last days, his death
occurring in 1901.
O. L. Wilson was a small landowner in his nali\e Sweden and he and
his wife were the parents of five children. In 1854 he sold his farm and
with his family sailed for the United States. During the voyage an epi-
demic of disease broke out among the passengers and .Mrs. Wilson and one
of the sons and two of the tlaughters (lied and were buried at sea. Mr.
Wilson and his two remaining sons, the subject of this sketch and the
hitter's younger brother, Peter Wilson, proceeded to Chicago upon their
arri\al at j>ort and during the first winter of their residence in this country
were engaged working in a wood yard in that city. The father and his
\ounger .son remained in that city for a year or two, but the elder son left
in the spring following his arrival for the Northwest and has ever since
l)een a resident of Minnesota, .\fter his son. Doctor Wilson, had become
established at Moorhead, O. L. Wilson joined lu'm here and his last days
were spent on one of the Doctor's farms, his death occurring sixteen
years ago.
Peter Wilson, who died some years ago, was one of the pioneers of Clay
county and was for years one of the best-known and most influential resi-
dents of this county. Upon leaving Chicago he came u[) into the Northwest
and was a resident of the Red River valley when Clay ccMuity was organized
:e new yofk
PUBLIC LIBRARY
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 3I3
in 1872 and, with .Viulrew Holes, was appointed In Governor Austin as
one of the two commissioners to set in motion the wlieels of government
in the new county, as set out in the historical vokinie of this work. Before
coming up here Peter Wilson had serxed as a soldier of the L'nion, a mem-
ber of the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, and with that gallant command served
for two years and six months, at the end of which time he was honorabh'
discharged on a certificate f)f disability, he having suffered severe injuries
when a horse fell on him. In additit)n to liaving been one of the earliest
settlers of Clay county and one of the original commissioners of this countv,
Peter Wilson also served for some tin'ie as justice of the peace, also as
register of deeds and for three terms was auditor of the coiint\-, in all of
his public ser\ice rendering a faithful account of his duty to the i^eople. l*"or
years he was engaged in the hardware business at Moorhead, but later
moved across the river to I'^argo. He left four ilaughters. Mrs. William B.
Bartlett, wife of an attorney at Minneapolis; Mrs. Ross, a widow, living
at Los Angeles, California, and two living at Cannon Falls, this state, these
nieces being the only kinsfolk Doctor Wilson has in this coinitry.
As noted above. Doctor Wilson was about twenty years of age when
he came to this country in 1854. He had received an excellent education
in his native land, completing his studies in the l^niversity of Lund, and had
been engaged for a time there in teaching school. The first winter of his
residence in this country was spent in Chicago and then, in the spring of 1855,
he struck out for the Northwest and found employment in a lumber camji
on the St. Croix river. In the spring of 1856 he went from Taylors Falls
to Superior City and there became em])loyed as an agent to help retain land
claims, at the s.ame time locating something more than a f|uarter of a sec-
tion of land in his own behalf. Durin.g the winter of i85''>-57 he and three
others formed a partnership in the lumber business and from the fall of 1857
to the fall of i86r he was engaged in contract work, building wagon ixiads
through the timber. In the fall of iS^i he enlisted for .service in the Union
army, going out from Ft. Snelling with Company K. Fifth Iowa Cavalry,
and was in active service for three years, the last year of bis service being
spent in the Red River country fighting Indians.
Upon the completion of his military service Doctor Wilson went to
Wisconsin and seriously entered upon a design he long had cherished, that
of the study of medicine, and after some preliminary study unflcr the pre-
ceptorship of local physicians entered the Medical College at Keokuk and
was graduated from that institution in 1870. Upon receiving his diploma.
Doctor Wilson opened an office for the practice of his ])rofession at Keokuk
^i4 n.AV AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNK.SOTA.
and remained there until iHj(>. in wliich year he rejoined his brother I'eter
at Moorliead and opened an oftiee for the practice of his profession in tliat
city, continuing actixely engaged in practice until his retirement. Upon com-
ing up here in 1876 Doctor Wilson honiesteaded a quarter of a section of
land in Oakport township, C"iay county, at the same time taking a tree claim
to an adjoining quarter section. He later added to his land holdings and
at one time was the owner of no less than a thou.sand acres of land, all of
which, however, he has closed out and is not now a landowner. Doctor
Wilson is quite comfortably situated at Moorhead. Though now past eighty-
three years of age, he retains much of his former physical vi.gor and con-
tinues to take a hearty interest in current affairs. .\s one of the pioneers
of Clay county, the Doctor has seen the development of this region from
its primitive state to its present state of substantial development. His inein-
ory of the early days hereabout is clear and distinct and he has long been
regarded as one of the ablest and most accurate authorities on the history
of this section of the famed Red Kixcr valley.
Some time after locating at Moorhead Doctor Wilson married Ida
Broberg, who died at the age of fortv vears. 'j'he Doctor has no children.
STEX HANSOX.
It is scarcely probable that in the future of the American republic
another such periotl can occur when such a solid phalanx of strong-armed
men and self-sacrificing women will take possession of a new country, dis-
playing the courage and perseverance of the pioneer element that invaded
the plains of Minnesota some four or five decades ago. One of this number
is Sten Hanson, a venerable farmer of Highland Grove township. Clay
county.
Mr. Hanson was born in Sweden. I-'ebruary 7, 1838, and is, therefore.
now in his seventy-eighth year. He is a son of Hans and Sigrid (Pehrs-
datter) Stensun. both natives of Sweden, where they grew up and married
and where the father's death occurred, after which the widow brouglit her
children to America in 1868. After spending two vears in Winneshiek
county, Iowa, they all came to Clay county, Minnesota, driving an ox-team
to a covered wagon, in 1870, the trip requiring over a month in the early
summer of that year. The family located in Highland Grove township.
The country wa^ l)ut a wild prairie and had not yet l)een surveverl. The
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 3I5
family located in what is now section ii, where the subject of this sketch
nuw lives, having resided liere ever since, a period of forty-seven years,
and lie is, therefore, one of the oldest pioneers in the county. Here his
uKjther died in 1884. She had five children, namely: Gertrude and Anna,
twins, the former of whom is deceased; Sten, the subject of diis sketch,
and Peder and Hans. This family helped start the first church in Cla>-
countv, which was a Xorwegian church, and later helped organize the Swed-
ish (irove Lutheran church, which is near the old homestead and to which
the family still belong.
Sten Hanson was thirty years old when he came to America. Fie
has devoted his acti\e life successfully to farming and has accumulated
t\\M hundred and sixty acres, only eighty acres of which is a part of the
original homestead, buying the rest as railroad land. He has erected an
excellent group of farm buildings and early set out a magnificent gro\e.
Being advanced in \ears he has not engaged actively in farming for many
\ears.
On June 24, 1866, in Sweden, .Mr. Hanson was married to Ringnel
Svvenson, who was born and reared in Sweden. To this marriage ten chil-
dren were born, all in .\nierica but one — the eldest. They were named
as follows: Hans S.. Sven S., Severt (deceased). Caroline, Anna (deceased),
Christine (deceased). Lewis, wlm is living, and Olaf, Severt and Sven, de-
ceased.
Sten Hanson helped organize Highland Grove township and later held
township offices. He also assisted in organizing his school district and was
treasurer of the same for many years. Politically, he is indejiendent. He
has always been regarded as an industrious ;md useful citizen.
.\nton Johnson, son-in-law of the subject of this sketch, was born in
Sweden, December 6. 1872. He is a son of Johan and Johannah (Samuel-
son) Johanson, both natives of Sweden, where they grew up, married and
established their permanent home and where the mother is still living, the
father dying there some time ago. They were parents of six children, all
living at this writing. Anton Johtison grew to manhood in Sweden and
there attended the comtnoii schools. When twenty years old, in 1892, he
came to the L'nited States, stopping in Chicago. Illinois, a month : then spent
a vear and a half at Escanaba. Delta county. Michigan. He then came
to Clav countv, Minnesota, where he has since made his home. Here he
was married on June 29, 1901, to Caroline Hanson, a daughter of Sten
Hanson, the immediate subject of this sketch. She was born in Clay count}-.
Minnesota, where she grew to womanhood, and was educated in the i)ubhc
3l6 CLAY AXD XOR>r\X COIXTIF-S. MIXNESOTA.
schools. Six children have been Ijorn to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, '.lanicly :
Salley, Adolpli. Carl. Grace, Henry and Morris.
.Mr. Johnson has followed j^eneral farming- e\er since coming to Clay
county and is now snccessfull)' operating the farm of his father-in-law.
Politically, lie is independent. He was township supervisor and clerk of
the local school hoard for a period of ten years and dischar.<jed his duties
in hoth positions in a highly acceptable manner.
S.\.\V1 T. SX.\RTL.\.\1).
Saavi 1'. Snartland is one (.)f the many native-horn .Norwegians who
have come to the L'nited States and to this part of Minnesota and become
successful farmers. He was born in Norway on January 22, 1871, a son
of Torkel and Gro (Salveson) Snartland, both also natives of Norway
and who came to .\merica in 1880 and settled on a farm in Clay county.
Torkel Snartland was born in Norway in 1837, and was etlucated in
the schools of that countr\'. He engaged in the life of a farmer in his
native land and at the age of forty-three years he and his family immigrated
to this country an<l came on out to Minnesota and settled in Clay county.
Here he resumed his fanning oi)erations and alMiut the year 1897, was
in a position to purchase land for himself. He is still li\ing on the farm
which he then bought and which is located in section 5. Moland township.
Clay county. Some years before leaving Norway, Torkel Snartland was
united in marriage to Gro Salveson, who was also born in Norway in 1847.
and who met a tragic death in 1900, l)eing killed by lightning on her hus-
baiurs farm. Torkel Snartland and wife were the jiarents of the following
children: Saavi T.. owner of a half .section of land; Olaf, a general fanner:
Mary, now a widow; Gonel,' married, and W'illa, married. Mrs. Snartland's
lirother, Halxer Salveson, was one of the first settlers in this part of Min-
nesota.
Saa\ i .Snartland received part of his education in \'orwa\'. He came
with his parents to this country in 1880 and lived on his father's farm.
From boyhood he was an able assistant to his father in the labors of de-
veloping and improving the home place. He is now engaged in fanning
for himself and is the owner of a half section of prime land, on which
he is engaged in general fanning and has done very well, being regar(le<l
as one of the sulistantial agricultm-ists of Moland township.
CI.AY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 3I7
On Jul\ II. i8(;7, Saa\i Snartland was united in marriage to Helen
Svenkenson. \\li<i was born in Clay county, Minnesota, a daughter of Gun-
der Svenkenson and wife, natives of Norway. To Saavi Snartland and
wife three children have been born, Thorance, Gladys anrl Gerard, all livin.t,'
at home with their parents. Mr. Snartland takes a good citizen's interest
in local civic affairs and was a director of the district school board for
six years. He and his faniilv are members of the Norwe.gian Lutheran
church and are warm supi^orters of all its good works.
Olaf T. Snartland was Ijorn in Norway in .Uigust. 1S79, and came
to this country with bis jiarents. He is the owner of one hundred and
twentv acres of land and is engaged in general farming. All the improve-
ments on his farm were carried out by his father. He was married in
1904 to Lillv .\nderson. who was !)orn in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1883.
They are the parents of the following children: Anna. Torkel, Jacob,
(iertie, and an infant born in 1917. The family are members of the Nor-
wegian Lutheran church and take a general interest in all the affairs of
the communitv calculated to serve the public welfare.
HERMA.V W. TOOP.
Herman W. Joop, of I'ellon township. Clay county, has applied busi-
ness principles to his farming and has used his mind as well as his brawn.
He has therefore met with encouraging success all along the line. He was
born in Germany on December 2, 1879. He is a son of Gustav and Tm i
(Camps) Joop. both born in Germany, where they grew up and married
and lived on a farm until in the seventies, when they came to .Vmerica.
locating in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania, where they lived several years, the
father working in the steel mills. The_\- then returned to Germany and
remained there a few years, then came to .America a second time and located
in Blue Earth county. Minnesota, where they engaged in farming until
T896, when the\ mo\ed to Felton townsbi]). Clay county, and located on
the farm where their son. Herman W.. now resides. Here Gustav Joop
farmed imtil his retirement and he now lives with his son, Ludwig. in
Norman countv. His family consisted of six children, three of whom are
still living, namely: Ludwig, Bertha and tierman W.
Herman W. Joop spent his boyhood on the home farm in Blue Ivirth
count}' and there he attended school. He came to Clay county with his
3'^ CLAY AND XOK.MAN C()L-\TIKS. :M1 N N' HSOTA.
parents ami as a youny- man took up railroad wurk as a tircnian on the
Northern Pacific railroad, running between Fari^o and Jamestown. Xorth
Dakota. He remained in railroad service until 1907 when he came hack to
his father's farm, in January of that year, and has since operated it with
success, owning; one hundred and sixty acres, which he operates in connection
with his father's (|uarter section. lie keeps it all under a tine stale of
cultivation and is making a pronounced success as a general farmer and
Slock raiser. He raises a large acreage of potatoes each vear.
Mr, Joop was luarried on December 16. 1903, to Clara I'arnow, who
was born in Germany. She is a daughter of William and Othelia (P.erns-
dorf) Parnow. both natives of Germany, where they grew up. married and
e.stabli.shed their home on a farm. .Mr, Parnow came to .\merica ai)oui
1893, his wife coming later. They located lirsl in Blue i'.arth count v,
Minnesota, and in 1896. came from there to Clay count v and bought one
hundred and sixty acres in Feiton townshi]), where thev lived until U)04.
when they moved to a farm east of Thief Ri\cr h'alls, and there they both
>till reside, owning a gOfKl farm of one hundred rind sixtv acres there,
on which they have made extensive improvements, including the erection
of good buildings. The following children were l)orn to Mr. and Mrs.
I'arnow: Selma. Clara. Otto. Paul. William. Oscar, who is in the United
.States navy: Frma, .\le\, wlm died when .seven davs old, and h'.rnest, who
died when three years old.
Three children have been Ixjrn to Mr, and Mr.^. Juop, namely: Walter,
who died when three months old, and Myrtle and Elnora. Mr. loop is
independent in his political views. He is a member of the Futhcran church.
A.XDREW O. SOLWOLD.
.A. man's life work is the measure of his success, and he is truly the
most successful man \vho. turning his powers into the channel of an honor-
able purpose, accomplishes the ol>ject of his endeavor. In the study of ever\-
man's life we find some mainspring of action, something that he lives for.
In .\n.drew O. Solwold. farmer of Goose Prairie townshi]), Clav county,
it seems to have been an ambition to make the best use of his native and
ac([uired powers.
Mr, Solwold was born in .Xorway on June _'6, 1841. He is a son of
Olaf P. and .Andrea (Eidshaug) Sohvold. both natives of Xorwav. where
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 319
thev grew to maturity, married and established their home. The father was
a farmer, also superintendent of forests for many years. His death occurred
in his native land at the age of fifty-eight years. His widow later immi-
grated to America, in i8Si, and spent her last years in Tacoma, Washing-
ton, where her death occurred in 1897. She was born in 18 16. To these
parents the following children were born : Peter, who is engaged in farm-
ing in Keene township. Clay county: Andrew O., the subject of this sketch:
Olaf, who owns a farm near Tacoma, Washington, it having been at his
home that the mother of these children died ; Gunder, who also lives near
that city; George, who lives in Utah, and Bertena, who died at Tacoma,
Washington.
Andrew O. Solwold grew to manhood in Xorway and there attended
the comm.on schools, completing bis schooling at .\sker Seminary there.
He immigrated to America in 187-' when thirty-one years old. He spent
his first year in the New World at Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, Wis-
consin, then came to Minnesota, and spent five years teaching school in
[•'illmore county. He then came to Clay couny and took up a homestead
near Hawlev, in section 12, Cromwell tow^nship, and there be developed
an excellent farm, making all improvements. He engaged in general farm-
ing and stock raising there with success until 1895, when he sold out and
moved to his present farm, of one hundred and sixty acres in section 22.
Goose Prairie township, which iiis wife owned. He ])urchased another
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the same section, and later bought
forty acres more in that section. He now owns three hundred and sixt\-
acres, comprising one of the best-improved and choicest farms in his town-
.sliip. His wife inherited her farm from her mother. Mo is making a
pronounced success as a farmer and raises large quantities of grain and
large numbers of live stock annually. He has made all modern improve-
ments, including the erection of good buildings.
Mr. Solwold was married on the farm where he now resides on Decem-
ber 6, 1884, to Maria Larson, who was Ijorn in Lafayette, Wisconsin,
November 11, 1858, a daughter (jf .\ndrew and Nicoline (Grindvold) Lar-
son, natives of Norway, from which country they came to America, locat-
ing in Wisconsin, later coming to Clay county, Minnesota, the father
renting land in Goose Prairie township, where he and his wife spent the
rest of their lives, the father dying in 1880. The mother was born in
1822 and died in 1903. To Mr. and Mrs. Solwold eight children have
been born, namely: Olaf, who was graduated from the State Normal and
the \'allev Citv Normal, is a school teacher by profession and lives at
3_'0 CLAY AND XOR.MAX COLXTIES. MINNESOTA.
liDine; Agnes, deceased; Borgliild. wlu) is inarried and lives on the home
farm: Alt', who was graduated from the Park Region College at Fergus
{-"alls, Minnesota, later taking an advanced course at the State Normal
School, and is also a teacher hv profession, and Agnes. Ingeborg. .\lvilda
and Dagmar, who arc also engaged in school teaching. They all recei\efl
excellent educational advantages and are successful teachers.
Politically. Mr. Solwold is independent. While living in Cromwell
township he served as township clerk. He has also served as chairman
of the township hoard in Goose Prairie township, also as supervisor of
the latter, and was clerk of school district No. 95 for a period of twenty
vears. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he is a deacon.
He was also a deacon of the church of this denomination in his early days
in Fillmore county. He is a well-informed man, having been a student
and a wide reader, as well as a close observer, all his life and is well
posted on c<irrcnt events, one of the leaders of public affairs in this locality.
PETER .\. PETERSON.
Peter .\. Peterson, whc for more than twenty years has held the
important office of sheriff of Norman county, is a native of the kingdom
of Norwav. but has lived in Minnesota since he was ten years of age and
in Norman county since he was twenty -five, he having been a homesteader
here back in pioneer days. He was born in 1857, son of Andrew and Bertha
Maria ( Hanson ") Peterson, both natives of Norway and the former of whom
died there when the subject of this sketch was nine years of age. The
widow and her two sons, Peter and .\nton. a short tiiue afterward, in 1867,
came to the L'nited States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, settling in
iM-eeborn county, where the Widow Peterson presently married Sterner
Hansijn and where she spent the remainder of her life, her death occurring
in 1897. Her husband dieil a few years prior to that date. Her younger
son, Anton Peterson, two years younger than his brother, Peter, is now
living in Santa Cruz, California.
As noted above, Peter A. Peterson was about ten years of age when
he came w ith his mother to this state and located in Freeborn county. There
he completed his schooling and early began work on a farm, becoming an
excellent farmer. During the last two years of his residence in that county
Air. Peterson owned a horse-power threshing-rig. which he operated with
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 32I
much success througliout the neighborhood hi which he Uved. In 1879 Mr.
Peterson married and in 1882 he and his wife drove over to this part of
the state, bringing through some essential household articles, four horses and
several cattle, the trip requiring twenty-three days. Upon his arrival here
Mr. Peterson homesteaded a quarter section of land in section 10 of Strand
township, Norman county, and there established his home, putting up a
comfortable house and adequate farm buildings, and made other improve-
ments on the place. After a while he sold that place to advantage and
bought two hundred acres of railroad land in Bear Park township, which
he proceeded to improve and on which he made his home until his election
to the office of sheriff of Norman county in 1896, when he moved to Ada,
where he ever since has made his home, occupant of the sheriff's residence ;
for he ever since has occupied that office, his manner of conducting the
affairs of the sheriff's office having so warmly recommended him to the
voters of the county that he has been re-elected at each succeeding election.
Sheriff Peterson had had ])revious public exi^erience before taking up the
duties of the sheriff's office, for during his residence in Bear Park township
lie was chairman of the board of township supervisors all but two years
of the time he spent there and during the last two years of his residence
there was township assessor. He also was acti\'e in the general affairs of
the community and helped organize the creamery, company at Rindahl, the
company that established the first real creamery in Norman county, and
until he left the farm remained a member of the board of directors of that
company. Not long after locating in Norman county iNlr. Peterson bought
a horse-power threshing-rig and operated the same for two seasons, at the
end of which time he bought the first steam-traction outfit in that section
and for years operated the same widely over the four nearby townships.
Strand, Sundal, Bear Park and Waukon, his experience as a threshcrman.
including the time spent at that business in Freeborn county before he came
up here, covering twenty-two years. For some years after moving to Ada
Slierift' Peterson also owned and operated a livery stable in that city.
In November, 1879, Peter A. Peterson was united in marria.ge to
Helena Thronson, who was born on a pioneer farm in the vicinity of Calmer,
in Winneshiek county, Iowa, daughter of Thron and Guri (Helgeson)
Thronson, natives of Norway, who had located in Iowa in 1S54, and to
tliis union seven children have been born, ;\Iary, who died in infancy, Mary
(.second), Tillie. Bertha, Flby, Carl and Arthur. Slieriff and Mrs. Peter-
(2ia)
^22 CLAY AND XflR.MAN COl" XTUIS. MIX X ICSi ITA.
soil are members of the Synod Lutheran churcli and were among the most
active factors in the movement that resuUed in the erection of a churcli of
that denomination east of Gary.
PETER SANDERS.
The country has many ad\antages over the cit}-. Likewise, it has its
disadvantages — one of the greatest being tlie laci< of opportunity to gain a
competence within a reasonable period of time. Many farmers have grown
rich through increased valuation of their land ; others through carefull\
husbanding their resources, rigid discipline and economic living and good
business ability, ofttinies combined with favorable seasons for their principal
products. One of the successful 'farmers of Felton township, Clay county,
is Peter Sanders.
Mr. Sanders was born in Sweden, August 29, 1870. He is a son of
Peter and Celia Sanders, both natives of Sweden, where they grew uj).
married and made their home until 1884, when they came to America,
locating at Vasa, Goodhue county, Minnesota, where the father followed
the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in the old country when a
voung man. He and his wife are still living at Vasa, many of the buildings
of which town he helped erect during his residence there of over thirty
vears. Six of the children born to these parents grew to maturity, namely :
Peter. Jr.. .\nnie. Matilda, Albertina, John and .\lma. Two children died
in earlv life. The parents of these children are members of the Swedish
Lutheran church.
Peter Sanders was fourteen years old when his parents brought him
to America. He attended the ])ublic schools in Sweden, also went to school
three months after coming to Vasa. .Minnesota. He began working out in
Goodhue county as a farm hand, remaining there until 1887, when he
came to Moorliead. where he worked in a brick yard for four years. During
that period he learned the brick-making business thoroughly, but upon leav-
ing Moorhead he turned his attention to farming, which he has continued
ever since, in Clay county, and in Felton township since 1909. He operates
a half section near the village of Felton. carrying on general farming and
stock raising and during the summer months he also operates a hay bailer.
Mr. Sanders was married in 1891 to Thresa Brandt, a native of Sweden,
from which country she came to .\merica with her parents, Frank G. and
CLAY AND NORMAN COrNTIES, MINNESOTA. ^2i,
Johanna ( Peterson) Brandt, wlien young. She is ihc nnly child. Tier
parents located in Clay count}', Minnesota, in 1879. The father died in
Moorhead some time ago, but the mother is making her liduie with her
daughter, Mrs. Thresa Sanders.
Six chilflren ha\-e been horn tn Peter and Thresa Sanders, namely:
Hilda. Edith, Carl,. I'" red, Lillian and .\lma. Mr. Sanders and family belong
to the Swedish Lutheran church. I'olitically. he is a Uepuljlican. He has
been a member of the township Imarrl since 1914 .and was chosen chairman
of the board in 19 17.
.WrOX JOHNSON HAUGER.
As everyone knows, methods o{ farming are changing and we are
learning many things tliat the husbandman of half a century ago did not
know, or at least did not attach much attention to. .\ dif-ferent system of
general agriculture has had to he adopted from that used hv the ]iioneers.
for conditions ha\e changed in many respects : even the climate and the
soil have changed, to say nothing of markets, methods of trans])ortation
for the farmer's jiroducts and the laws of supply and demand.
One of the careful and thoughtful farmers of Hi.ghland ( h-o\e town-
ship. Clay county, was the late Anton Johnson Hanger, who was born in
Norway, November 24. 1H35. He grew to manhood in his native land.
attended the common scIkxjIs and was luarried there to Karen Christiansnn.
also a native of Norway. They remained in their native land until iiS'17.
when they came to America, by way of Quebec. Canada, proceeding thence
to Wisconsin, locating near the town of Boscobel. Grant county, where
they spent eight years nn a farm. Then the\' made the long o\erland
journey by team to Clay county, Minnesota, where the father took u]) a
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Highland Grove township,
which he developed into a good farm, erected suitable l;)uildin,gs and there
continued general farming until his death. His wife died at the h(jme of
their daughter. Mrs. John 1-1. Carlson, of Highland Gro\e township, dying
while on a \-isit there. .\ sketch of Mr. Carlson and family will be found on
another page of this work. Mr. Hauger later took up a tree-claim of one
hundred and sixty acres just south of his homestead. Lie was one of the
active men of his township. He helped to organize the Lhiited Lutheran
church at Hitterdal, and was long a member of the official board of the
3^4 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIKS, MINNESOTA.
same. In the early days he also helped organize the Buffalo Lutheran con-
i^regation.
To Mr. and .Mrs. llauger six children were horn, namely: Carl }..
who was horn in Christiania. Norway; Christian A., who also first saw the
light of (lav in that city: Olaf E., who was born on the train between
(}uehec and Montreal, Canada, wliile the family was en route to the United
States from XcDrway : Caroline .\., who married John E. Carlson, a farmer
of Clay county, was born in Grant county, Wisconsin: Julia 1"., who was
also horn in the last-named county and state, and Hans Martin, who was
born in Ma\', 1875, and who died on the homestead at the age of thirteen
rears. The death of Anton J. Hauger occurred on November 2'4, 1894.
OTTO L. DAHL.
An enterprising mercliant at Eelton. Clay county is Otto L. Dahl, who
was horn at Sparta, Wisconsin. January 18, 1874. He is a son of Lauritz
;ind Thea (Blegen) Dahl, l)oth natives of Norway, where they spent their
earlier years, immigrating to America in 1865. establishing their future
home at Sparta. Wisconsin. There the mother's death occurred in 1877.
ill 1S84 the fatlier removed to Polk county, Minnesota, taking up a home-
stead of one hundred and si.xty acres in Hill River township, which Ik-
(levelopeil into a good farm through years of hard work and close application
and there he still resides. He belongs to tlie Norwegian Lutheran church.
He has onl\ two children, the subject of this sketch having a brother.
Oscar J.
Otto 1.. Oahl grew uj) in Wisconsin, attended the public schools at
Baldwin, that state, and as a young man started clerking in a store at
Woodville. his native state. He had a natural inclination to mercantile life
and gave eminent satisfaction as a clerk, .soon mastering the various ins
and outs of the business. He remained there until 1892, when he came to
Polk county. Minnesota, and clerked in the store at Mcintosh for nine years,
his long retention there being suf^cient evidence of his faithful and honest
work. From 1901 to 1907 he devoted his attention to the picture busi-
ness, then turned his attention to farming, filing on a claim of one hundred
and sixtv acres in Red Lake county. Minnesota, in 1907, and he lived there
until 1910, in which year he built a store and established Roland postofifice,
in Red Lake county, remaining there four years, enjoying a very satisfactory
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 325
business. He sold out in 1914 and soon thereafter made an extensive
trip to Europe, visiting England, Holland, Germany. Denmark, Sweden
and Norway. Upon his return home he purchased a farm in Polk county,
Minnesota, but in the fall of 1914 he came to Felton and has made his
home here ever since. He was manager of the Otto Dahl store, owned
l)y his cousin. In January. 1917, he bought a partnership interest in the
business and is now manager and resident owner of this popular and suc-
cessful store. He has everything under a superb system and a large and
well selected general stock of goods is carried. A brisk trade is carried
on at all seasons with the people of Felton and the surrounding country.
Mr. Dahl was married in 1907 to Anna Broin. who was born in ^^lin-
nesota and was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of John
and Lena (Quale) Broin, natives of Wisconsin. Six children have liecn
l)orn to Mr. and Mrs. Dahl, namely: Vernon, Arlie, Or\-ille, Otto, Doris
and Llewellyn.
Mr. Dahl was appointed postmaster at Felton in July, 1915, and lie
has filled that office ever since in an able and creditable manner. Politicallw
he is a Democrat.
SWAN NELSON.
Swan Nelson, proprietor i.f a fine farm of four hundred acres in Elk-
ton township. Clay county, and one of the most substantial farmers of
that part of the county, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, but has been
a resident of Alinnesota since the year 1881. He was born on Januar\-
10, 1857, son of Nels and Cecelia (Swanson) Swanson. both also natives
of Sweden, who spent all their lives in their nati\-e C(juntrv, the former
dying in 1909 and the latter, in 1910. During the active years of hi-
life Nels Swanson was a coachman. He and his wife were the parents of
six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the first-born, the others being Edith, deceased; Cecelia, who
is still making her home in Sweden ; Olaf, also a resident of his nati\e
land, and August and Mary, deceased. The Sw^ansons were members of
the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith.
Reared in Sweden, Swan Nelson received his schooling there and, in
1877. was married. About four years later, in March, 1881, he came to
the LTnited States w'ith his family, his wife's widowed mother accompany-
ing them, and proceeded on f)ut to this part of Minnesota, Hawley being
T^26 CL.w AM) Xdk.M AX i()r.\rii:s. .mixxesota.
his destination. l-"or a year after liis arrisal here Mr. Nelson was engaj^ed
working on the farm x>f Nels 'J'iesei. in tiie Hawley neif^hhorhood, <ind
llien homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in section 12 of Elktun
township, in Clay county, where he established his hcinie and has ever since
resided, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in that part
of tlie countw I'pon taking possession of his homestead tract Mr. X'elson
planted a gro\ e and gradually im])roved his place, putting up good build-
ings, and as he prospered added to his holdings by the piuchase of an addi-
li<mal tract of two hundred and forty acres and now has a fine farm of
four hundred acres. Though still making his home on the farm, Mr. Nelson
has been practicalU retired from the active labors of the same for the past
six vears or more, lie has ever taken an interested i)art in local affairs and
for some years past has been serving as treasurer of the school district in
wliich he lives.
Mr. Nelson's wife died in 1906. She also was born in the kingdom of
Su'eden, Helen Torkelson. and as noted above, her widowed mother. Elena
(Johnson) Torkelson, came to this country with her. Mrs. Torkelson ever
afterward made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and her last days
were .spent there. Mr. Nelson has three children, Edith. Theodore and
.\nna. The family has ever given proper attention to the general social
affairs of the community in which they live and have been helpful in manv
ways in a<lvancing movements designed to promote the common welfare.-
thereabout.
HALVOR OLSON.
A large number of Scandinavians have immigrated to Minnesota where
ihev have found broader opi)ortunities than existed in their native land, and
they have been welcomed everywhere for reasons too obvious to mention
in detail here. Clay county has been fortunate in securing a large number
of these aliens, among whom was the late Halvor Olson, a skillful farmer
of Eglon township, who, like others of his countrymen, benefited alike him-
self and us after casting his lot in this locality, where he was highly esteemed.
Mr. Olson was born in Norwa\- on January 1, 1843. ^'s parents were
also natives of that country, where they lived and died on a farm. Thev
were parents of the following children: Ole, who died in Norway: Halvor.
the first, who came to .\merica and died in this ci>untr\-: Tom and Fiiii.'i,
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 327
who also died in the I'nited States, and Halvor, the second, subject of this
brief review.
Halvor Olson, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Norway
and there attended the common schools. While living in his native land
he engaged in farming. He crossed the .\tlantic in 1S69 and came to Min-
nesota, locating in Houston county, where he lived two years, at the end of
which time, in 187 1, he came up into the Red River country and home-
steaded a c|uarter of a section of land in section 28 of Eglon townshi]).
Clay county. The Indians still were numerous hereabout at that time and
just about the time Air. Olson came here a white family was massacred
by the redskins. During the spring of his arrival here Mr. Olson was
stricken with typhoid fe\-er and notwithstanding the fact that he had to
subsist on salt pork, his wonderful constitution pulled him through. He
established his home on that homestead farm and there spent the rest of
his life, and his widow is still living there. He worked hard develo[>ing the
place from the wild prairie, and by perseverance and good management
prospered with the advancing years, and later added one hundred acres to
his original farm, in section 27, Eglon township, on which land he also
made all improvements. He carried on general farming and stock raising
extensively and became one of the leading farmers of his community. He
built a comfortable home and a number of convenient outbuildings. Mrs.
Olson has made considerable improvements since her husband's death and
has managed the place successfully, continuing the work of the same along
the lines which he had inaugurated. In connection with general grain and
stock farming she raises a large cpiantity of potatoes, planting fifteen acres
in 1917. A good grade of live stock is always to be found on the place.
Mr. Olson was married at Lake Park, Eglon township. Clay count}',
on January 3. 1882, to Anna Ness, who was born in Norway on December
4. 1855. Her parents were natives of Norway, where they grew up and
established their home, the father dying there in the year 1877. After
his death Mrs. Ness came to Minnesota and died in Clay county, in 1892.
Mrs. Olson came to .America in 1881, unaccomi)anied. She came to Min-
nesota and located in Clay county, wlnere. not lon.g thereafter she met and
married Mr. Olson, of this memoir.
To the union of Halvor Olson and wife eight children were born,
named as follow: Sophia, who is married and lives on a farm near Wadena,
this state; Sarah, wdio is married and lives in Minneapolis: Oscar, who has
remained on the home farm, which he is operating: Mollie. who has remainetl
at home with her mother: Helen, who is married and lives at Lake Park,
328 CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Minnesota ; Ella, w ho is married and makes her home on a farm in Eglon
township ; Edward, who has remained with his mother and is assisting;'
in running; the farm, and Mabel; who is also at home. These children
were all educated in the district schools of Clay county. The family are
meml)ers of the Solum Norwegian Lutheran church.
The death of Halvor Olson occurred on his farm in Eglon tovvnshi))
in 1909.
THOMAS N. SUPER.
Thomas N. Sliper, a progressive farmer of Cromwell township, Clay
county, was born in Norway on July 15, 1852. He is a son of Nels X.
and Jaqumina (Peterson) Sliper, both natives of Norway, where they grew
to maturity, married and established their home. They came to Canada
in July, 1868, their vessel taking eight weeks to cross the ocean, and stopped
first in Quebec ; and from there they came to ^^'inneshiek county, Iowa,
where the father worked out until the spring of 187 1. when he came to
Clay county, Minnesota, driving an ox-team to a covered wagon, also drove
along his cows, and began life here in typical pioneer fashion, in June, 1871.
He took up a pre-emption claim of one hundretl and seventy acres in
Cromwell township, where his soi> Thomas X. now li\es. He later made
it a homestead. He worked hard and managed well and placed the land
under a fine state of improvement and cultivation and was one of the suc-
cessful general farmers of Cromwell township. He spent the rest of his
life on this farm, dying in 1888, his widow surviving until 1895. To these
parents five children were bom, namely: Peter X., now deceased, wlm
came to Minnesota in 1866 and settled in Houston count)-; Jacob, also
deceased, who came to Minnesota in 1867 and settled in Houston county:
Thomas N., the subject of this sketch: Kari, and Edward (deceased). The
family hcljjed start the first Lutheran church in Clay county.
Thomas N. Sliper spent his boyhood in Norway, where he attended
the common schools. He was sixteen years old when he came with his
parents to America, living with them in Quebec, Canada. Winneshiek county,
Iowa, and Clay county. Minnesota. He worked hard, like all pioneer boys
of that period, helping develop the new farm on the wild prairies. When
he reached his majority he took uj) a homestead of one hundred and twenty
acres and a tree claim of one hundred and thirty acres, in the same section
in which his father had located. Upon the death of his father he bought
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 329
out the Other heirs and now owns a total of about four hundred and fifteen
acres, on which he for years carried on general farming and stock raising
on an extensive scale, but is now retired from active labor, renting his farm.
He formerly raised a large quantity of grain, also large numbers of cattle
and hogs, and shipped many carloads of live stock to the market annually.
He has a modern home, large barns and other first-class improvements.
There is a large, fine grove by his home, which he set out many years ago.
Politically, Mr. Sliper is a Republican. He has been township treasurer
since 1887 and in other ways has taken an active and an earnest interest
in the general public affairs of the community in which he has lived since
pioneer days.
C. B. BRODINE.
C. B. Brodine, manager of the Felton Elevator Company at Felton,
Clay county, was born in Sweden, September 29, 1855. He is a son of
C. B. and Anna (Henrickson) Brodine, both natives of Sweden, where
they grew up. married and established their home; in fact, spent their lives
in their nati\e country. The father was engaged in the lianking business.
To these parents eight children were born.
C. B. Brodine grew to manhood in Sweden and there attended the
public schools. In 1882 he immigrated to America and the first few years
of his residence here traveled extensively, visiting" places of interest all
over the United States. About 1887 he located on a farm near Luce, in
Otter Tail county, Minnesota, carrying on general farming there several
years. Later he bought and sold grain, also handled lumber. He came to
Clay county, about 1898, locating on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres,
four miles .south of Felton, and continued farming there until 1905, when
he rented out his land and moved to Felton and has since been manager
of the Felton Elevator Company, building up a large and growing busi-
ness. He handles feed, grain, flour, fuel and machinery.
Mr. Brodine was married on November 14, 1890, to Ida Rassmuson.
who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of B. F. and Margarette (Larson)
Rassmuson, natives of Denmark. To Mr. and Mrs. Brodine six children
have been bom, Anna E., Ruth E., .\da M., Alonzo G., Calvin J. and
Philip O.
Politically, Mr. Brodine is a Democrat. While living on the farm in
Flowing township he served for some time as chairman of the township
33^ CI.AV AXl) XdKM AX CorXTIKS. .MIXXi:S()TA,
hoard, also as assessor and clerk of the school district. Since locating in
h'elton he has heen a member of the \illage conncil. clerk of the scliool
district, and is at this writing- clerk of Felton township. As a public servant
he has performed his duties in a faithful and satisfactory manner, and is
always deeply interested in public affairs.
XFT.S Il.\.\lArF.R.
One of the leading farmers of Goose Prairie towiishrj). Clay county,
is Nels Hammer, who was torn. May 3, 1862, in Norway. He is a son
(if Nicholi and Inge (Torreson) Hammer, lioth natives of Norway, where
they lived and died, the father passing away at the early age of thirty-
eight, when his son. Nels, was five years old. He owned and operated a
farm in his native land. His widow survived to 1881, reaching the age
of lifty-seven years. They were parents of the following children; Mary,
who is married and lives on the old homestead in Norway; Tom, who died
when three years of age; Tom (second), who is a road master in Norway,
having been in railroad service there many years; Olaf, who came to Min-
nesota, and is farming a place of two hundred and forty acres in Keene
township. Clay coimty ; Margaretta, who died in Norway, and Nels, the
subject of this sketch.
Nels Hammer spent his b(\vhood in Norwa)- and there attended school.
He came to .\merica in 1882, coming directly to Minnesota. After working
one summer for Peter Nelson on his farm in Eglon township. Clay county,
he went to A\'i,sconsin, spent one year in the lumber camps at Rice Lake,
then went to Dnunmond, that state, and continued to work in the timber
and in a saw -mill there "for three and one-half years. He returned to Clay
county in 188O and during the summer of that year worked on the Northern
Pacific railroad — the branch through the village of Hitterdal. He worked
for Ole Gunderson the next winter, then on a farm for one year. He
then purchased his present farm of eighty acres in section 33, Goose Prairie
township, later buying .-mother eighty, and he now owns a good farm of
one hundred and sixty acres. It was all raw land when he bought it and
he has placed it under a fine state of cultivation, erected a substantial group
of buildings, set out a grove and otherwise improved it. Mr. Hammer carries
on general and mixed farming and raises a good grade of Shorthorn cattle.
He is one of the pioneers of his community and was the first man to
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 33 1
borrow tlie sum of five dollars from the Hank of Havvley, just after it
\\'as started.
Mr. Hammer was married in Fargo, North Dakota, June i6, 1888,
to Jennie Salvevokl, who was born in Norway, November 27, 186.5, ^nd
who was about fourteen years of age when her parents brought her to
America. Tlie family located in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where the
father spent the rest of his life on a farm, dying a number of years ago.
The mother is still li\ing on the homestead there with her son. She is now
about eighty years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Hammer eight children have
been born, namely: Theodore who owns and operates the hotel at Hitter-
dal, and Engar, Minnie, Nels, Jr.. Nora, Stella, Elmer and Lillian, who
arc all at home.
Politically, Mr. Hammer is independenl. He has been a member of
the township board in Goose Prairie township for a period of twenty years,
and chairman of the same part of the time. He is a member of the United
Norwegian church, in which he is a deacon, and is an active worker in
tlie same.
NELS M. KLEPPE.
Nels M. Kleppe, justice of the peace in and for Spring Prairie town-
ship. Clay county, and for many years engaged in the grain business at
A\erill. but who is now gix'ing his chief attention to his c|uarter-section
farm in the immediate vicinity of that village, is a native of the kingdom
of Norway, but has been a resident of this country and of Minnesota since
he was an infant. He was born on November 22, 1885. son of S. R. and
Nellie (Nelson) Kleppe, also natives of Norway, who came to this country
in 1886 and located in N'ellow Medicine county, this state remaining there
abi)ut sixteen years, at the end of which time they moved to Lyon count}-.
In this latter county S. R. Kleppe spent his last days and his widow is still
living there. Of the children born to them three surviv'e. those besifles the
subject of this sketch being R^asmus and Sikke.
.\s noted above. Nels M. Kleppe was l)ut a babe in arms when his
parents came from Xorway to Minnesota ^ind his youth was spent in Yel-
low Medicine countv. where he received the greater ])art of his schooling.
After the family moved to Lyon county he became a valued assistant in
the labors nf the home farm there and remained there until 1908, when
2iS- CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES. MINXKSOTA.
lie came up into the Red River country and located at A\erill, being there
engaged as grain buyer for the Minnesota & Western Grain Company, and
continued thus engaged until 191 5, since which time he has been chiefly
engaged in farming, operating a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres
nearby the village. In the meantime, in 1912. he married Mrs. Effie Jolm-
son, who was then and still is conducting a general store at Averill, and
until he took up active farming assisted in the management of the store
as well as looking after his grain business. Mr. Kleppe has given close
attention to the general civic affairs of his home community since locating
here and for tlie past six years has been sending as justice of the peace.
Mrs. Kleppe was born, Effie Hawkins, on a pioneer farm in Rockwell
township, in tlie adjoining county of Norman, daughter of Christian Inge-
bright and Johanna John.son (Slater) Hawkins, the former a native of
Norway and the latter of Sweden, who were married in Minnesota and
became pioneers of Norman county, where Christian Hawkins spent his
last days. His widow is still living. She was born in Sweden and was
liut six years of age when she came to this country with her parents.
I'eter and Mary (Johnson) Slater, who first settled in Wa.shington county,
this state, later moving to Carver county, where they spent their last days.
Christian Hawkins came to the L'nited States from Norway when about
twenty-one years of age and located at Minneapolis, where he became en-
gaged working at his trade as a tailor. He married about 1876 and about
two years later, after a year spent at Fergus Falls, homesteaded a quarter
of a section of land six miles east of Borup, in Norman county. Cpon
his retirement from the farm he moved to Averill and later to Ada, where
be died in May, 1905, at the age of sixty-four years. His father died in
Norway and his mother later married again and came to this country. Chris-
tian Hawkins helped to organize tlie first church established in the \icinity
I if Borup.
On OctoI)er 30. I1S97. Effie Hawkins was united in marriage to John
Jolinson, who was liorn in .Sweden on September 17, 1867, son of John
and Johanna Johnson, who spent all their lives in their native Sweden. When
twenty years of age the younger John Johnson came to the United States
and after a while located at Felton. in Clay county, later moving to Averill.
where in March. 1898, he started the first store established in that village
and also ojierated a farm in that \icinity. Mr. Johnson was for years a
member of the school board at Averill and credit was due him for the move-
ment which led to the erection of the school house there. Though reared
CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 333
as a Lutlieraii he lielped to organize the Congregational church at Felton
and also aided in the organization of the church at .Vverill. John Johnson
died on February 20. 191 1, leaving a widow and four children, Clara.
Evelyn, Leonard and Ruby.
OLE H. GOL.
Some people seem to forget that a fertile soil is a living, breathing
thing, well fed by nature or by the hand of man, with the natural mineral
elements and the organic matter necessary for the use of the soil bacteria
in the manufacture of plant food, and for a delightful environment in which
they can live and work. Ole H. Gol, a farmer of Highland Grove township,
Clay county, has not overlooked this fact, and consequently he is making
his farm produce good crops annually and is living comfortablv as a result
(if his good management.
Mr. Gol was born in Norway. Xo\eml)er 15, 1868. He is a son of
Hans and Ragna (Tollefson) Tollefson, both natives of Norway, where they
spent their li\es on a farm. Eight children were born to them, namel}- :
Tollef Hanson, the first : Tollef Hanson, the second ; Berget Hanson, and
.\rnna Hanson, all of whom live in Norway; Hans Hanson, who came to
Minnesota and lives in Eglon township. Clay county: Nels Hanson, who
lives in Norway: Ole H., the subject of this sketch, and Tngebright. the
wife of Christ Erickson, of Parke township, Clay county.
Ole H. Gol spent his boyhood in Norway and there attended the com-
mon' schools. He remained with his parents on the home farm until alxnn
1896, when he immigrated to America and came to Minnesota, locating on
a farm in Eglon township. Clay county, where he remained about eight
years, then removed to Highland Grove township, buying his present excel-
lent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has since been engaged
in general farming and stock raising.
In the spring of 1906 Mr. Gol was married to Emma Sophia West-
lierg, who was born on her father's homestead in Highland Grove township.
Clay county, where she grew to womanhood. She was educated in the local
district schools. She is a daughter of Peter and Annie (Anderson) W'est-
berg, both natives of Sweden, from which country they came to Minnesota
when young and were married in Clay county in 1881. Mr. Westberg came
directly to Clay countv in 1879 and was one of the pioneers in Highland
334 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Gro\e township, wlicrc he now owns a fine farm of two liundred acres, on
which he lias made all the improvements. His family ctinsists of eiijht
children, named as follow: lunma, the first (deceased): Lewis. Jennie,
luiima (second), wife of Mr. Gol : .\dol])h. who lives on the Imnic fai'ni
and assists his father in operating the place, and .\nnie. Minnie and Tilda.
.\ separate sketch of the W'estherg familv will he fitund i)n another jiagc
of this work.
To Mr. and ^[rs. (iol one child has heen hum. a son. Ilelnier Knv
Gol. Mr. Gol is a Repnhlican and lias always heen interested in the affairs
of his home community. lie was a meniher of the village council at Mani-
toha Junction. Clay county, where he lived a while many years ago. He
and his famih- helou"- to the Xorwctrian Lutheran church.
.\UGUST STIEXTXG.
The name of August Stiening. hanker of Felton, is loo well known
to the ])eople of Clay county to need any formal introduction by the bio-
grapher. He was l)orn in Germany, July 17, 1868, and is a son of Carl
and .\nna Maria (Knollmann) Stiening, both natives of Germany, where
they grew up and married. The father was a wagon-maker by trade and
he became a well-known manufacturer of wagons in Guernheim, Germanx'.
but later in life he devoted his attention to the lumber and merchandise
busine.ss. His family consisted of fi\e children, namely: Heinrich. who
lives in Germany, a painter and decorator by trade; Carl, who died at
\\ aterloo. Illinois: Wilhelm, who makes his home at Waterloo, lllinMs:
Herman, who resided in Waterloo, Illinois, and is now deceased, and .August,
who is the youngest of the family.
August Stiening grew to manhood in Germany, and where he attended
tile public schools and worked with his father when a young man. W'licn he
w.is alK)ut twenty years old his father was appointed postmaster at Guern-
heim. in 1888, but it was the understanding of the government that the
son, August, was to run the office, which he did for a period of eight
years, performing his duties in an able, faithful and acceptable manner.
He had five carriers and two sub-stations under his direction. His health
failing, he was advised, in 1896. to take an ocean trip in the hopes of
restoring it. On September 3 of that year he sailed from his nati\e laml
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 335
lor the New World. He came on West to Waterloo, Illinois, to visit
his brothers and was so favorably impressed with the United States that
he decided to remain here, so he sent back to Germany for his wife and
two children. The first year he worked with his brother, Wilhelm, at
Waterloo, painting and paper-hanging. In the fall of 1896 he purchased
a farm of two hundred acres about six miles south of W'aterloo, erected
a large brick house thereon and made other important improvements, living-
there three years. There were good buildings on the place when he bought
it, but his renter occupied them. In the summer of 1900 he was overcome
by the heat while working in a cornfield. Believing that die climate of
the Northwest would be better for him, he made an extensive trip, finally
selecting the vicinity of Anamoose, North Dakota, and homesteaded one
hundred and twenty acres six miles northwest of that town. He soon had
a good farm improved there and, prospering through close application and
good management, he now owns a half section. In 1904 he started buying
grain for the Osborn McMillan Elevator Company at Martin, North Dakota,
working for that firm about a year. He then worked for the A. D. Zien
Company, wholesale liquor dealers of Duluth, Minnesota, as a traveling-
salesman, but in a short time he accepted a similar position with the Jung-
Brewing Company, of Milwaukee, being stationed at the company's branch
house at East Grand Forks, this state, at good wages and all expenses paid,
and was manager of the house there for eighteen months. In August,
1910, he came to Clay county, as cashier of the First State Bank of Felton,
and has held this position ever since, giving his usual satisfaction, being
able, loyal and courteous to the patrons of the bank. He has also been
treasurer of the Felton Rural Telephone Company. He and Otto Dahl
built the first brick building in Felton — a bank building and store house.
On September 5, 1H93, Mr. Steining was married to Johanna Meyer,
and four clrildren have lieen born to tliem, namely : Maria Elizabeth, Carl
H., Marie and Jenny. Mr. Steining is independent in his political views.
He has been active and influential in the affairs of Felton since coming here,
was for some tinie president (if the village, has done much for the upbuild-
ing of the town and community, served for five years on the local school
board and has also served as justice of the peace. He put in the first
cement sidewalks in I'^lton and otherwise improved the place in a general
way. He has been a leader among the people of this locality, is a man of
progressive ideas and has discharged his duties as a ])ulilic servant in a
capable and faithful manner.
336 CLAY AXD .NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
LEWIS N. QUAM.
Lewis N. Quam, one ol the wideawake Iwentielh-century farmers of
Spring Prairie township, Clay county, was born in Steele county, Minnesota.
October 25, 1856. He is a son of John N. and Anna (Lysne) Quam, both
born in Sogan, Norway, wliere they grew up and married. In the spring
of 1854 they came to America, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin, where
they spent two years, moving from there to Steele county, in the southern
Ijart of Minnesota, in the spring of 1856, making the journey from the
I'adger state in a covered wagon, drawn by an o.x-team. Three other
families came along at the same time, crossing the Mississippi river at
.McGregor On tiie ferry. Mr. Quam took up a pre-emption claim in Steele
county, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. He made a splendid
farm of it and operated the same until 1879, when he moved to Kandiyohi
countv. this state, where he bought a farm on which he spent the rest of
his life, dving some years ago, and there his widow still makes her home.
To these parents ten children were born, five of whom died before reaching
maturity. Those who grew up were as follow : Lewis X., the subject
of this sketch; Nels, who lives in Willmar, Minnesota; Wilda, who lives
in Kandiyohi county, this state; Metha, who lives in the state of Washington,
and John, who took up a homestead in Bowman count)-. X'orth Dakota, where
he is engaged in farming.
Lewis X. Quam spent his boyhood on the farm in Steele county. Min-
nesota. There he attended the district schools and later was a student in
the Augustberg Seminary at Minneapolis two winters. In the spring of
1882 he went to Montana, where he worked two summers and one winter
in the Placer gold mines. He then returned to Minneapolis and was a
student in the above-nained seminary for another four months. He then
made a prospecting trip through Clay county, bringing horses, a wagon,
plow, etc. He traded his three horses for a homestead right of one hundred
and sixtv acres, in section 26 of Spring Prairie township. The following
vear. 1885. he began developing the place and has resided there ever since.
He prospered with advancing years through perseverance and good man-
agement and added to his original holdings until he now owns a total of
four hundred acres, all in one body. He has erected a handsome residence
and substantial outbuildings, also planted large groves. He has been quite
successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, operating on a large scale,
and ranking among the leading agriculturists of his township and county.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 337
In the fall of 1885 Lewis N. Ouam was married to Carrie Arneson,
who was born in Norway. She is a daughter of Arne Arneson, who died
in Norway, but whose widow came to America about the year 1897 and
is still living, making her home with her daughter in Spring Prairie town-
ship. Fourteen children have been torn to Mr. and Mrs. Ouam, namely :
John A., Agnes M., Lalia Clarisa, Harry Edwin, Ralph W., an infant
(deceased), Nina, Mathia, Andrew L., Goodhue N., Sophia May, Roy E.,
Anha Gladys, Lewis Norris, and Morrel O'Neil.
Politicallv, Mr. Ouaiu is an "Independent." He helped organize the
school district, which then comprised the entire township. He was the first
school clerk and has held that office ever since in his district. As the county
was settled there were a numljer of small districts formed from the old
one. He is now chairman of the township board, which office he has held
for fifteen vears. The Ouams iiavc a veiy pleasant home and have ever
taken an interested and influential part in the general social activities of
the community in which they live.
PETER WESTBERG.
Peter Westberg, one of the older farmers of Highland Grove township.
Clay county, was born in Sweden, September 21, 1847. He is a son of
Nels Peterson, a native of Sweden, where he grew up, married and lived
until immigrating to the United States in 1879, following his son Peter,
w ith whom he spent the rest of his life. His wife died in Sweden.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Sweden and there at-
tended the public schools. He landed in America on October 20, 1878, and
came to Minnesota, locating at Lake Park, in Becker county. In 1880
he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Highland Grove
township. Clay county, and here he has lived continuously to the present
time. He later jjurchased forty acres more, making him at present a fine
farm of two hundred acres, all of which he has brought up to a high state
of improvement and cultivation. He has a cozy residence and such out-
buildings as his needs require. Mr. Westberg was a pioneer here, most of
the land in his locality being raw prairie when he came here, and he has
Ijeen very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
Mr. Westberg was married in Clay county on June 23, r88i, to Annie
(22a)
338 CLAV AXD XORMAX CorXTIES, illXXESOTA.
AiidersiMi, a native of Sweden, in which country she spent her girlhood and
attended tlie common schools. She came to America the latter part of 1880.
Her i)arents lived and died in Sweden. To Peter Westberg and wife nine
children have been born, namely: Emma (deceased), Lewis, Jennie, Emma
(second), Adolph, Annie, Minnie, Tilda and one who died in infancy.
Adolph Westberg operates the home farm, having assisted his father
with the crops and stock raising for years, and he still lives at home. He
was married April 8, 191 5, to Anna Carlson, a daughter of John E. Carlson,
a well-known farmer of Highland Grove township, a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this work. To Adolph Westberg and wife one child has been
born, a son, Adolph Willard Westberg.
Politically, Peter Westberg is independent and has nc\er .sought public
honors or mixed up with political affairs. He helped organize the Ejska
Lutheran church, of which he is an active member, he and his family taking
an interested part in church work.
IIEinLXN POSSEHL.
.\nothcr member of the well-known Possehl family in Clay county,
who is making a success as a general farmer is Herman Possehl, of near
Baker, Barnesville township. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, August
2. 1869, and is a son of Fred Possehl and wife, mention of whom is made
at proper length in the sketch of H. C. Possehl, appearing on another page
of this work, to which the reader is respectfully directed. Suffice it to say
here that Fred Possehl was a native of Germany, from which country
he came to the United States in young manhood and began life in Illinois,
.starting with practically nothing: but by good management and hard work
he forged ahead, farming in that state and later in Iowa, and now is living
in retirement at Baker, Clay county, having accumulated a comfortable
competency through his own efforts. He marriefi Minnie Schlede, also a
native of Germany, and to their union eight children were born, namely :
Sophia. Emma. Herman, H. C. Fred, Jr.. Martha, Louis and Minnie.
Herman Possehl grew up on the home farm in Dupage county. Illi-
nois, being but a child when bis parents removed there from Cook county,
that state. He received his education in the public schools. As a young
man he started farming in Franklin county, Iowa, where his family moved
upon leaving Illinois. There he became owner of eighty acres, which he
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 339
farmed until in February, 191 1, when lie sold out and came to Minnesota.
He bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 6, Barnesville township.
Clay county, and there he has since been successfully engaged in general
farming and stock raising, and has since added another quarter section
of land to his fine farm, in the same section. He also conducts a dairy,
the output of which is constantly increasing. His place is well improved
in every respect and he is regarded as one of the progressive general farmers
and stock men of his township.
Mr. Possehl was married in 1894 to Emma Hopkey, a native of this
country, who was educated in the common schools. She is a daughter <if
John and Minnie Hopkey, of Latimer, Iowa. Three children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Possehl, namely: Walter, Herman, Jr.. and Aleda.
Politically, Mr. Possehl is a Republican and is at present a member of
the board of supervisors of Barnesville township. He is a member of
the German Lutheran church, in which faith he was reared. While living
in Franklin countv, Iowa, he was assessor of his township.
JOHN F. YOUNG.
land
bjhn F. Young, an energetic and substantial farmer, also renter ot
and engaged in general farming, is a native of the Empire state, but
has been a resident of Clay county for the past fourteen years. He is the
son of John and Ann (Miller) Young, both of whom were natives of Eng-
land and who left that country while yet young and came to the United
.States.
[ohn Young was born in England in 1838 and some years later immi-
grated to the United States and went to Cortland county, New York, and
there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring about twenty-
five years a.go. He was married to Ann Miller, who was also a native of
England and who came to this country when a young girl. They were
married in Cortland, New York. Mrs. Young died in the fall of the year
1916. They were the parents of the following children: Wilfred, living;
Jennie and Anna, deceased ; Ella, married ; Rose, married : \\'illiam, deceased :
Henry, John and Nancy, the latter also deceased.
lohn F. Youn.g, the subject of this sketch, was born in Cortland county.
New York, in 1874. He was educated in the public schools and early
decided to follow the V\ie of a farmer. He came to Minnesota in 1903 and
_^4" CLAV AM) XOKMAN' COL" NTUCS, iM IXXICSOTA.
immediately proceeded to rent some land in Clay county. He succeeded in
his early venture and later ac(|uired a tract of land by purchase and is now
the owner ot one hundred and fifty acres of choice land, in addition to which
he rents three hundred and twenty acres. Me carries on general farming,
including the cultivation of potatoes, and since the commencement of his
operations he has lieen most successful, everything about his farni being in
excellent ccmdition and the inipro\ements of modern class. Mr. Young
contemplates raising Red Tolled cattle and success in this line is also pre-
dicteil for him.
In August, K)Oo, John 1-'. \ nung was united in marriage to Christina
Larson, who was burn in Olmsted county, .Minnesota, in 1879. To this
union the following children have been born : Ruth. Robert, Arthur and
Helen. Mr. "N'oung takes a good citizen's interest in local civic afifairs and
in the general aftairs of the community, but has never been a seeker after
political office. i)referring to devote his time to his agricultural interests.
AIT.UST F. HOPPE.
August 1'. i ioppc. one of the progressive young fanners of .Mliance
township. Clay county, the owner of a quarter section of fine land adjoining
his father's place in that township, is a native son of Minnesota and has
lived in this state all his life. lie was born at \\'inona in 1884, a son of
.\ugust and Augusta Hopjie, natives of Germany, the former of whom was
burn in iS5(>. who came to this country with their family in the early
eighties and settled at Winona, this state, where they lived until about
iX()5, when they came up intcj this part of the state and settled in Clay
county, where they ha\e since made their home. August Hoppe is the
owner of a half section of land in Alliance township and has developed
a line bit of farm property there, his place being well improved and [)rofit-
,ibly cultivated. His son .\ugust owns a quarter of a section adjoining,
the [ilaces being in sections 20 and 21. .August Hoppe and wife have
nine children. \\'illiam. I'red. Charles. I'rank. John. August. Bertha, .\nnie
and Ida. Of these, Fred. /\ugust. Annie and Bertha are married.
August 1'. Hoppe was about eleven years of age when his parents
settled in Clay county and his schooling was completed in the .schools of
his home neighborhood. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued
aid in the laljors of improving and developing the home place and in time
CLAY AND XORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 34I
liecame the owner of :i ()uarter of a section of land atl joining his father's
farm and since his niarrias^c in 1911 has made his home there. He has
a modern house on tlie place and his well-kept farm plant is in keeping
with the same, exer^'thing being up-to-date and indicative of the progressive
spirit of the owner. Of late he and his father have been giving consider-
able attentinn to potato culture and im his farm in the summer of 1917
he had out aJiout twenty-hve acres of potatoes, while his father had out
fortv acres.
In [91 I .\ugust !•'. Hoppe was united in marriage to Charlotte Ernst,
who was born in Clay county in 1891, and to this union two children ha\e
been born, Harry and Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Hoppe have a very pleasant
home anrl take a pro])er ]);u"t in the communitv's general social affairs.
HAK.W OLSON.
I lakan Olson, a well-known and progressive farmer, owner of a fine
fa'-ni of one hundred and sixty acres in section 22, Rixerton township, this
county, is a native of the kingd<im of Sweden, but has l)een a resident of
this country fnr thirty years, or since 1887. He was born in Sweden in
1866 and is a son of Ole H. and Anna Olson, also natives of the same
coimtry and in which the_\- spent all their li\es.
Ole H. Olson was born in Sweden in 1822 and was educated in the
public schools of his native place. He was engaged throughout his active
life as a farmer and died sevetiteen years ago, in 1900, at the age of seventy-
two years. His wife, Anna ( )lson also was a native of Sweden, born
there in 1833, aufl w;is educated in the schools (jf her home neighborhood.
She died in 1903. at the age of seventy years. Ole H. Olson and wife
were the parents of two children, Anders and Hakan. The parents of
these children were members of the Swedish Lutheran church and took
a proper interest in the affairs of same, active and influential residents of
the district in which tliey lived.
Hakan Olson was educated in the schools of his native Sweden and
was reared on his father's farm. From boyhood he was a valuable assistant
to his father on the farm and continued thus engaged up to 1887. In
the latter year he left the old country and immigrated to the United .States,
and on his arrival proceeded on out to b'argo. He began working for
himself at farm lalxir, saving all the money possible with the view of
34- CLAY AXD XOKMAX Ci IL' NTIKS. MIXXESOTA.
acquiring- land ftir liiniseit. In this latter purpose he was successful and
settled on his present farm eleven years ago. He is now the owner of
one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land in section 22, Riverton town-
shi]i, on which he carries on general farming', and since the commence-
ment of his operations he has been very fortunate, everything about his
farm disclosing an air of pros])erity. Mr. Olson has carried out a syste-
matic series of improvements on his place and in the summer of 1917
remodeled the dwelling- from the foundation up.
In 1002 Hakan Olson was united in niarriage to Freda Knutson. who
was born in Sweden in 1879. Mrs. Olson came to this country when about
nine years old and later catne to reside in this county, her marriage taking-
place at Moorhead. To Flakan Olson and wife the following children have
been jjorn : John, Clara. Adolph, Olof, .\nnic, Henry, Herman and Lilly,
;iil uf whom are living at home with their parents. The Olson family are
members of the Swedish Lutheran church and are warmly interested in the
aiTairs of the same, as well as in all the general community interests of the
district in which they li\e. ^Ir. Olson takes a good citizen's part in the
public and civic welfare of the township, but has nexci- been a seeker r.fter
]>o!ilical office.
KLLIXG HAUG.
Elling- Haug. a well-known and substantial farmer of Keene township,
owner of two hundred and twenty acres of splendid farming land, engaged in
raising a fine grade of Shorthorn cattle, former supervisor of the towuiship
and former clerk of the school board, is a native of the kingdom of Norway,
but had been a resident of this county since he was nineteen years old. He
is a son of Gilbert and Gunel Haug, both "natives of Norway and who were
111' the farming class in that country.
Gill)ert Haug, who died many years ago, at the age of sixty years, spent
all his life in Norway, where he was a farmer, holding rented land. After
the death of Gilbert Haug. his widow. Gunel Haug, came to America, about
1S77, accompanied liy ;i brother and two sisters, and proceeded to the state
of Minnesota, locating in the southern part of Minnesota, where she lived for
one year. She then moved to Ulen township, Cla\- county, and took a home-
stead f)f one hundred and sixty acres in section 18, and lived there up to the
time of her death in 1889. Gilbert ;uid Gunnel Haug were the parents of
tlie following children: Carrie, deceased: Maria, who died in 1915; Elling,
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 343
ilu- subject of this sketch; Erick, married, wlio hves in section 2 of Keene
township, and is the father of ten children; Mrs. Lizzie Broset, who hves in
Ulen township, and Thea, who is married and Hves in Twin Valle3^
On arriving^ in this county Elhng Haug took charge of his mother's
Immestead farm and worked it until the death of the mother, when it was
sold. Later, he decided to begin farming life on his own account and home-
steaded one hundred and sixty acres in section 2, Keene township, and im-
mediately proceeded to the task of preparing the land for cultivation and
soon had things going in good shape. Mr. Haug erected all the buildings
to be seen on the place today and carried out many improvements, finally
bringing the place up to a standard not surpassed in the township. He later
bought an additional sixt_\' acres in section 3, of the township, improving the
farm and bringing it up to date, and is now the owner of two hundred and
twenty acres of choice land and on the two holdings is engaged in general
farming and in the raising of .Shorthorn cattle.
lulling Haug was united in marriage to Gurine Grandahl, a native of
Norway, born there in 1863, who came to this country alone at the age of
twenty years. Her parents lived and died in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Haug
are the parents of six children, namely : Mabel, living in Viding township ;
Gena, working at Devil's Lake : Eline, at home : Emma, working at Devil's
Lake, and Gilman ;ind Clarence, at home. Mr. Haug is a member of the
Synod church, of which he acts as treasurer, and formerly served as deacon
and trustee. He takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs and was clerk
to the local school board for four years, and served as supervisor of the town-
ship board for one term. He helped to organize the creamery and co-opera-
tive store at Ulen and is a stockholder in the same. In all matters appertain-
ing to the welfare of the community he is ever ready to lend a helping hand
and is regarded as one of the progressive men of the township in which he
lives.
OLE M. STEEN.
Ole M. Steen, one of tiie most painstaking farmers of Oakport town-
ship. Clay countv, was l)orn in Norway, May 12, i860. Mr. Steen grew to
manhood in Xorwa\- and there attended the common schools, also a military
training school for officers. Upon completing his course he came to the
United States in 1882, single, making the long continuous journey to Fargo,
North Dakota. .Since then he has made his home in Clav countv, Minnesota.
344 CLAY AXD NOKMAN CiirXTIES. MINXKSOTA.
JULIUS A. HANSEN.
Farming has become an exact science and tlie best and Ijriglitesl miniis
in tlie country have not thought it beneath their dignity to give it the best
of their efforts and genius. JuHus A. Hansen, of Highland Grove township.
Clay county, is a type of our better class of farmers, a man who uses
more brain than brawn in operating his place.
Mr. Hansen was Ixjrn in Henry county, Illinois, October 20, 1876,
a son of !''red and Anna (Johnson) Hansen, jjoth natives of Denmark. The
father came to America with his parents in 1868, the family locating in
Hcnr}- county, Illinois, where they resided until 1879, when they remo\e«l
to Seward county, Nebraska, taking uj) a homestead on wliich the parents
of Fred Hansen spent tKe rest of their lives. The father was a tailor l)y
trade and followed that trade in Denmark, but after coming to the United
States he followed farming. His name was Hans Hansen and he married
.Marn Stena Beck. They were both natives of Denmark. Anna Johnson,
mother of the subject of this sketch, was a daughter of Hans Christian
Johnson and wife, also natives of Denmark, where the mother's death
occurred. The father later came to .America and died in Nebraska. Their
daughter, .\ima Johnson, was nine years old when her father brought her
to America, in 1868. They located in Henr}- county. Illinois, where the\
resided until 1880. when he moved to Seward count), Nebraska, where he
.spent the rest of his life. He was a farm laborer. The paternal grand-
father was a soldier in the Danish army and fouglit in the war between
his country and Germany.
i'he i);irents of the subject of this sketch were married in Illinois and
from there, in 1879, moved to Seward county, Xebra.ska, where the mother's
death occurred in 1882, and where the father spent the rest of his active
life engaged in farming. However, he farmed in Kansas for a while. He
returned to Denmark in 191 3. where his death occurred. Two. children
were Iwrn to Fred and .\nna (Johnson) Hansen, namely: Julius A., the
subject of this sketcli. and Rosa. After the death of his first wife, Fred
Hansen married Mrs. Margaret (Hansen) Johnson, a native of Denmark.
who had one child, Emma Johnson, Ijy her former husband. She bore her
second hu.sband five children, Rudolf. Fred (deceased). May. Walter and
Harold.
Julius A. Hansen grew up on the farm in Seward county, Nebraska,
having been but six years of age when his parents moved there from Illi-
.TIT.TIS A. TIANSKX AND FAMILY.
THE NT
PUBLIC 'i...
ASTOR, LENOX
TTLDEN fO':r:DATinNSj
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 345
nois. He \\orkecl on the farm during the crop seasons and attended the
common schools in the winter time. .Vs a yomig man he engaged in farming
in Seward county, Neljraska. for himself, remaining there until the fall of
1914, having made a decided success along general lines of mixed farming
and stock raising. L'pon coming to Minnesota from Nebraska he located
on his present farm in Highland, ()ro\'e t<i\vnship, Clay county. ])urchasing
there one of the choice farms of the township, the same consisting of four
hundred acres, which is well improved and on which he is carrying on general
farming and stock raising with very gratifying results.
On March 17, 1897, -^I''. Hansen was married to f'llsie Nelson, who
was born in Henry county, Illinois. She is a daughter of Rasmus and
Caroline (Palle) Nelson, both natives of Denmark, from which country
they came to America, single, each coming alone, the father in 1869 '"'"■'
the mother about 187J. They were married in Henry county, Illinois, and
continued to reside there until 1894, when they removed to .Seward county,
Nebraska, where they still live. They followed general farming until retir-
ing some time ago. They now reside in the town of Cordova. Rasmus
Nel.son is a son of Nels ;ind FJsie Jensen, both natives of Denmark, where
they lived and died. The parents of Mrs. Rasmus Nelson also lived and
died in Denmark. Two children, a son and a daughter, were born to Rasmus
Nelson and wife, namely : Axel and Elsie.
To Julius A. Hansen and wife eight children have lieen liorn: Alfred.
Clarence, Anna, Arthur, Josei)h, Harvey, Elmer and Hazel. The Hansens
are members of the Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Hansen is a Repub-
lican.
HAROLD O. WOLDAHL.
Tlie tiller of the soil who has a true vision of twentieth-century farm-
ing will utilize every acre of his land, raise a good grade oi live stock,
purchase labor-saving machinery and will make his surroundings attractive
in a general way. Then he will experience the full reward of his labors.
Such a man is Harold O. Woldahl. of Goose Prairie township. Clay county.
Mr. Woldahl was born in Norway on August 20, 1839. He is a son
of Ole and Bertha (Woldahl) Roeros, and took his mother's maiden name
upon coming to America.' His parents were natives of Norway, where
they grew up, married and resided all their lives. The father died in
1887, when past the age of seventy years. He owned two farms and en-
346 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
gaged in fanning all his life. His wife, who was his junior b)- two vears.
died the day following his death. To these parents eight children were
born, namely: Jens, who died in Sweden in 191 5; Johanas, who lives on
one of tlie farms which the father left in Norway ; Ole, who lives on the
other farm which the father left; Berge, who is living with Ole; Johanna,
who died when sixteen years old ; Elizabeth, now deceased, was a twin,
the other child dying in infancy, unnamed; Harold, of this review, is the
youngest of the family.
Harold O. Woldahl spent his boyhood in Norway and was there edu-
cated. He worked on the home farm with his father until 1881, when
he immigrated to America and located in Blue Earth county, ^Minnesota,
where he worked out as a farm hand. He then came to Clay county,
arriving at Hawley on l-^ebruary 2, 1882. He worked for his cousin there
for over a year, and in the spring of 1883 went to Otter Tail county, rented
a farm, and while there was married. In the fall of 1883 he came to Goose
Prairie township, Clay county, and bought the farm on which he now
lives, his land lying in sections 31 and 32. He also owns land in section
6, Highland Grove township. His excellent farm is well improved in every
respect, all the improvements ha\ing been made by himself. His place
consists of three hundred and twenty-three acres. He has been quite suc-
cessful as a general farmer and stock raiser and makes a specialty of raising-
Shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Woldahl was married in Otter Tail county on May 23, 1883, to
Merian Salvevold, who was born in Norway on March 16, 1858. She spent
her girlhood there and attended the common schools. She came to America
with her ])arents in 1880. the family locating on a farm in Otter Tail county.
Minnesota, where the father took up a homestead, buying a right, and there
establishefl a comfortable home and spent the rest of his life engaged in
general farming, dying in 1890 at the age of sixty-five years. His widow-
still lives on the old homestead there and is now (1917) seventy-nine years
old. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Woldahl, namely:
Berdia. who was Ijorn in 1885; Oscar, who is living on a rented farm one
mile east of where his father resides: Johanna, who died in June. 1907:
Edward, who li\es in Montana: John, who died in November, 1911 ; Minnie,
who lives at home; Louis and Christ (twins), at home, and Malven.
Politically, Mr. Woldahl is independent. He has been a member of
the township board for many years and he also served as road boss several
}-ears. He and his family belong to the Uniteil Lutheran church and he
was formerlv a trustee of the same.
CLAY AXD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA, y ' 347
LUDVVIG A. OPSAHL.
Most farms succeed in spite of certain weaknesses. Some of these weak-
nesses can be corrected ; others are due to conditions that cannot be im-
proved, such as naturally poor soil, short growing seasons, steep hills and
various things. No better example of a good general farmer than Ludwig
A. Opsahl could be fimnd in Ulen township, Clay county.
Mr. Opsahl was born in Norway, September 27, i860. He is a son
'if .\ndrew and Anna (Larson) Peterson, both natives of Norway, where
the^• grew up, married and, in fact, spent all their lives. They have been
deceased many years. The father was a carpenter, and followed that trade
during his active life. To the.se parents the following children were born:
Lduisa, the eldest, who came to ,\merica when young and has remained in
this country; Ludwig .\., the subject of diis sketch, and Maria, Olena and
Christian, who are living in Norway, where they have always resided.
Ludwig A. Opsahl spent his boyhood in Norway and there attended the
common schools. He set sail for the shores of the new world in 1881, when
twentv-one years old, and upcjn his arrival at port proceeded on out to Min-
nesota, arriving at Red Wing in June of that year and at once began working-
near there as a farm hand. He remained in that vicinity until 1886, in which
vear he moved to L'len townshij). Clay county, and bought a relinquishment
to a quarter .section, and later homesteaded the same. To this he later added
eighty acres just across the road from his original holdings and also pur-
chased one hundred and si.xty acres in section 7 of LJIen township. Mr.
Opsahl has placed all his land under an excellent state of cultivation and im-
provement, including the erection of a large modem home and numerous out-
buildings, and has bv infinite effort and patience transformed the wild prairie
into choice farming land. He set out a large grove when he first came here,
which is now very attractive. He engages in general and mixed farming,
raising a large (|uantity of grain ;uuuially; also prepares large numbers of
cattle and hogs for market and makes a specialty of raising a good grade of
Percheron horses. He handles Shorthorn cattle.
In 1886 Ludwig .\. Opsahl was married to Elena Johnson, who was
liorn in Norway, from which country her mother brought her to Minnesota
when she was five years old, settling at Red Wing. She is a daughter of John
and Sarah (Borstad) Melha, natives of Norway, where they grew up, mar-
ried and established their home and where the father died when compara-
livelv young, after which his widow lirought her children to the United
34^ CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, M 1 N NK.SOTA.
States. She remarried in Kcd Wing, this state, lier second hnsband heint;
John Tildon. They i-emo\-ed to Norman county in the fall of 1881, Air.
'J'ildon taking u|) a homestead there of one hundred and sixty acres in Home
T.ake township, where he still lives, his wife, the mother of Mrs. Opsalii.
d\ing (here a number of years ago. Slie had one cliild h\ her last liusband,
Julia 'J'ildon. Seven children, all living, have been born to Air. and Airs.
Opsahl, iiamel) : .\dolph. Joseph, Lewis. Rachael, Selma. Ole and Inez.
I'olitically, Air. Opsahl is a Republican. He served as a member of the
townsliip board several years ago and has been township chairman since 191 5.
L. O. TORSTKXSON.
Life is where things arc born and live and grow. (3n tlie farm is real
life. It is not to be found in the city. Realizing this when young L. O. Tor-
stenson. a farmer of Cromwell township. Clay county, took up agricultural
pursuits and he has always been contented with his environment.
Mr. Torstenson was born in Fillmore county, Alinnesota, and he is a
son of Ole and Anna (Larson) Torstenson, both natives of Norway, where
they grew up, were married and continued to make their home until 1S67.
when they immigrated to America, locating in I'illmore county, Minnesota,
where they lived on a farm until 1873, when they removed to Douglas county,
this stale, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm, the father dying
in 1S83 and the mother in H)ii. To these parents six children were born,
named as follows, and ail still living: Tosten O., L. O.. Belle, Otto, Knut.
and Gulick.
L. O. Torstenson grew to manhood on the home farm in Douglas county,
and there he attended the district schools. He worked hard when a boy, as-
sisting his lirolliers with the general work on the home farm, for when he
was ten years old his father was killed in a runaway accident and the labors
of developing the home farm fell on the brothers. Later L. O. Torstenson
took charge of the farm and continued to operate it until 1897, in which
vear he purchased the farm on whicli he now lives, consisting of one hun-
dred and sixty acres. By perseverance and good management he has pros-
pered a,s a general farmer and stock raiser and has added to his original hold-
ings until he now has a total of two hundred and forty acres. However, he
did not begin im[)r(iving his farm at once after coming to Clay county, but
w orked out and rented land, for five years. Since about 1902 he has engaged
CLAY -\XD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. T,^g
I
in farming for himself on his own land. In connection with general and
mixed farming he specializes in potato growing, planting a large acreage
every year. He was formerly one of the stockholders and for two years a
director of the I'anners' Elevator Company at Hawley. He is also a stock-
holder in the Rollag Telephone Company at Rollag, also a stockholder in
the Equity J'acking I^lant in Fargo. He is financially interested in the
Xorthwestern Hospital in Moorhead.
Politically. Mr. Torstenson is a Republican. He has served ten years
consecutively as treasurer of the local school district and is still holding that
])osition. He is unmarried.
JOHX G. STICEN.
It is a pleasure to look over a well-kept and productive farm like that
owned by John G. Steen, of Spring Prairie township, Clay county, where
he has long been regarded as a representative citizen and a man of many
commendable traits, a useful and highly respected gentleman.
Mr. Steen was born in Honefos. Norway, in 1864. and there he grew to
manhood and attended school. He came to America, single, in 1882, and
located first at Lake Park, Minnesota, from which point he traveled for the
Xorlhern Pacific l'"lcv;itor Conipanx-. with which he remained seven years,
.gi\ing the firm entire satisfaction and doing much to increase the business
and prestige of the same. He then came to Spring Prairie township, Clay
innnty, and wiih the exception of two years, during which he was engaged in
tin- niercrmtile business in Sjiokane, Washingtcjn, has l)een here continuously
e\er since 1897. living on his present farm all the while. Through hard work
and perseverance he developed a fine farm from the raw prairie, and, adding
lo his original farm, he now has three hundred and twentv acres of well-
impri)\-ed land, nn wliich he has been very successful as a general farmer.
He makes a specialty of raising Holstein cattle.
Mr. Steen was married in Clay county to Bertha Thuney, a native of
Goodhue count}', this state, and a daughter of Erick Thuney. They have
iinly one cliild, I'.dwin Sleen, whose birth occurred on October 15, 1887. He
grew up on the home farm and was educated in the ])ublic schools and in the
State Xormal at .Moorhcad. He has remained on the homestead with his
father and assists with the operation of the farm. He was married in 1910
to I'jniK- Hougi-nd. who was l)orn in l"illniorc count\-, .Minnesota, and a
350 CLAY AXD NORMAN CdVNTIES, .MINXESOTA.
(laughter of Ole Hougnid. To this union two children have been born,
Jarvis and Bernard Steen. Politically. John G. Steen is a nienihcr of the
Nonpartisan League. He has served as township a.ssessor.
Gulbrand Larson and wife, parents of the subject of this sketch, spent
their entire lives in Norway. Four chililrcn were torn to them, naniely :
Mary, who lives in Grand I'orks. .North Dakota; Mollie, who died in Moor-
head, Minnesota; Carrie, who lives in Xorway, and John G., the subject of
this sketch. F.rick and Martha Thuncy, parents of Mr. Steen's wife, were
born in Norway, from which country they came to .\merica, locatiijg in
Goodhue county. Minnesota, later moving to Clay county, where the mother
is still living, the fatlier ha\ ing died some years ago. They were the parents
of the following children : .\nna. Jacob. Ole. John. Susan. Minnie. Ik-rtha.
Ida. l>ick and Julia.
NILS A. kii:lstad.
Nils A. Kjelstad. a farmer of Highland Grove township. Clay county,
was born in W'armland, Sweden. November 4, 1870. Me is a son of .Andrew
and Stena (Nelson) (lunderson. both natives also of the above-named local-
ity in Sweden, where they grew to maturity, were married and established
their home. There the mother's death occurred, after which the father
immigrated t(j .\merica in 1880 and located at once in Highland Grove town-
ship. Clay county, Minnesota, taking up a homestead of one hundred and
sixty acres in section J9. lie was one of the pioneers of that locality and by
hard work and perseverance he improved a good farm, which he continued to
operate until about 1907, when he moved to Pelican Lake, in Becker county,
this state. Two of the children by his first marriage arc living at this writ-
ing, namcl}- : Nils A. and (iust. After locating in Clay county, .Andrew
Ciunderson marrietl Ida Hammer, a native of \\'armla!id, Sweden, from
which country she came to Minnesota when young. Tiirce children, all
living, have been liorn to the second marriage. namcK': P.milia, the wife
of L. R. Willis, and Fred and Oscar.
Nils A. Kjelstad si)ent his childhood in Sweden, where he attended school
for awhile, but received most of bis education in Clay county, being ten
years oKl when his father brought him to .\merica. He assisted with the
general work on the homestead and as a young man began farming for him-
self, buying one hundred and seventy acres in 1894, in Highland Grove
township. He at once began actively farming the same and soon had the
CLAY AMj NOkMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 35I
land under a fine state of cultixation and improvement, erecting an excellent
group of buildings, setting out a grove, etc. He transformed the bare
prairie into one of the most desirable farms in the township, and has contin-
ued to reside on the place to the present time, successfully engaged in gen-
eral farming and stock raising. Mr. Kjelstad helped organize the Farmers"
l^levator Company at Hawley, the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Haw-
lev, and the Rollag Telephone Company, and has been a stockholder in all
three since their organization.
In 1892 Nils A. Kjelstad was married to Anna M. Dahl, a native of
Norway, where her parents lived and died. She came to Minnesota in early
life. To this union has iieen 1)orn one child, Inga.
FIDELIS MAROUART.
One of the thrifty farmers of Georgetown township, Clay county, is
Fidelis Marquart, who was born in Wittenburg, German}', September 23,
1869. He is a son of Albin and Ludvicka (Stoehr) Marquart, both natives
of Germany, where they grew up, married and established their home. The
father was a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and died a few
months after his discharge from the army, his death being due to exposure
during the war. In the spring of 1873, the mother of the subject of this
sketch, accompanied by Iier father, Mr. Stoehr, brought her children to
Canada, locating in the province of Ontario, but came on to Moorhead, Clay
county, Minnesota, in 1874, and the following year moved to Georgetown
township. In May, 1874, the mother remarried, her second husband being
Jacob Wambach, of Ontario. Upon coming to Georgetown township he
bought a farm in section 32. where he engaged in general farming until
in March, 191 5, when he retired from active life and moved to Moorhead
where he and his family now reside.
To Albin Marquart and wife two children were born, I'idelis and Lena.
The mother bore her second husband nine children, Joseph, Frank, Matthew.
Carl Nicholas, Alphonse, Edmond. Catherine, Josephine and Afarie. They
have one adopted son. named John.
Fidelis Marquart was about four years of age when his mother brougiit
him to Ontario, Canada. He grew to manhood in Clay county, Minnesota,
and the first school he attended was in the old Hudson Bay building in
Georgetown township, and later he was a student in tlic first school house
35-; CLAY AND NdK.MAN COUNTIES. MINNKSOTA.
Imilt in tliis townsliip. He worked on tlie home farm wlien a youny man.
assisting to develop tlie virgin soil of the prairies into productixe liekls.
On February 23, 1897, he married Mary Fahnlender. a daughter of Leonartl
and Augusta (Guide) Fahnlender, who were early pioneers of Cass county,
North Dakota, where they established their future home on a farm, and
the following children were born to them; Joseph I'., John A.. Philip L.,
I'rank X., Catherine, Elizabeth and Alary, wife oi the subject of this sketch.
In March. 1897, shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Marquarl
moved to their present farm of forty-seven and forty-two one-hundredths
acres, in section 23, Georgetown township, on which their dwelling and farm
buildings stand. They also own one lumdred and twent\' acres in section
29, just across the road. Their home is near the townsite. Mr. Mar-
quart has been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and is paying
more attention each year to stock raising and the dairy business. He has
served thirteen years as township clerk and about seven years on the local
school board. He has seven children. Leonard. Joseph, Eugene. Walter,
.\Ibina, Magdalen and Frances.
NELS THOMPSON.
Nels Thomson, of Spring Prairie township, one of the scientilic farmers
of Clay county, was bom in Sweden, September 2j, 1857. He is a son
of Thomas and Asrena (Swanson) Parson, natives of Sweden, where they
grew- up, were married and established their home; in fact, spent all of
their lives there. The mother died in early womanhood, but the father
survived to an advanced age, dying about the year 1915. To these parents
seven children were born, all of whom are living at this writing, namely :
Pehr. Elizabeth. Nels. Lena, Tilda, Nellie and .Axel.
Nels Thompson spent his boyhood in Sweden, where he attended the
public schools and where he made his home until 1882. when he crossed
the Atlantic to the great western republic, locating first in North Dakota,
w here he worked at different places, in railroad service. During this period,
while not actively at work, he made his headquarters in Moorhead, Minne-
sota. He followed railroading for about ten years for the Northern Pacific
and the Great Northern and was section foreman at different places, mostlx'
between Moorhead and various points in different directions. He saved his
wages and in 1894 began fanning, but still continued to maintain his home
3
75
3
73
1^
•TTf'l--'
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 353
in Moorhead : but in 1896 moved lo his farm, the place he now occupies
in Spring Prairie township. Although he owns but eighty acres he usualh'
farms four hundred and eighty acres. He has erected substantial buildings
and made other improvements on his land, including the planting of a large
grove. The land was only a bare prairie when he came. He has worked
hard and managed well and has been very successful as a general farmer
and stock raiser. He purchased the land from a railroad company. Besides
his large farming operations he is interested financially in the local tele-
phone companv and in the Tilyndon creamery, also in the Northwestern
Hospital at Fargo.
In the fall of 1889 Mr. Thompson was married to Christina Lindahl.
a daughter of |ohn Lindahl. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
volume. Mr.s. Thompson passed awa}- in 1909, lea\ing four children, Emma.
Oscar. Lilie and Thomas, who have received their schooling in the common
schools of Spring Prairie township.
Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest
in local public affairs. He has been elected a member of the local school
board four different times and is still serving, making twelve years in all
when his present term is completed. He has served five terms on the town
board and is now serving as a member of the board and is treasurer of the
same. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
GUST B.ACKMAN.
.V pioperK- managed farmers" organization can be used to secure the
farmers the benefits that "big business" secures from doing things on a large
scale. Many have the idea that nothing can be done in this line unless
there is a powerful organization, but this is a mistake — the successful co-
oiierative enterprises have come from small beginnings. .\n advocate of
such organizations is Gust Backman. a farmer of Highland Grove tovvn-
shij). Clay county.
Mr. Backman was born in S\n eden. December 21. 1858. He is a son
* of .Vndrew and Cajsa ( Svenson ) Berg, both natives of Sweden, where
thev grew up, married and made their home until 1881, when they immi-
grated to .\merica, locating in Clay county, Minnesota, the father intyiiig
forty acres of school land near the present farm of his son, Gust. He
(23a)
354 CLAY AND NORMAN CDUNTIES, MIN'NKSOTA.
placed the land under cultivation, erected huiklings and there engaged in
farming the rest of his active life. His wife died there in 1914, after
which event he made his home with the subject of this sketch until his
death in 191 6. These parents were members of the Swedish Lutheran
church. Six children were born to them, as follow ; John, who is the
eldest; Anna, the wife of Erick Anderson: (hist, the subject of this sketch:
Mary, deceased: Mrs. Frank Johnson: Johannah, the wife of Ward Connel,
and Mrs. Louis Dahlgren, the youngest.
Gust Backman grew to manhood in Sweden, where he attended the
public schools. In 1878, when twenty years old, he set sail for the shores of
America, coming directly to Becker county. Minnesota, and he worked out
as a farm hand at various places for a period of twelve years. He saved
his wages and in 1891 bought eighty acres from a railroad company in
Highland Grove township and he has contiimed tu make his home on the
same to the present time, lie made all imjjrovements on it. erecting a good
group of buildings and setting out a grove. He has since added another
eighty and now has an excellent and well-kept farm of one hundred and
sixty acres. He has carried on general farming and stock raising with
gratifying results. He helped organize the Farmers Co-operative Creamery
at Lake Park and has been a stockholder in the same ever since. He is
also a stockholder in the Lake Park Telephone Company. He has done
much to encourage the raising of a better grade of live stock in his county,
and he makes a specialty of raising full-blooded N'orkshire hogs. Owing
to their superior (|ualities they find a very readv market at fancy prices
whenever he offers them for sale.
Mr. Backman was married in 1886 to Emma Olson, who was born
in Sweden. She is a daughter of Carl and Lottie (Erickson) Olson, both
natives of Sweden, where they spent their earlier years and married. The\-
came to the United States when their daughter Lmnia was about eighteen
months old, about the year 1868. The family located first in Duluth, where
they spent four years, coming on to Clay county, Minnesota, in 187J.
locating among the pioneers. Mr. Olson liought railroad land in Eglon
township, which he improved, establishing the family's future home there
and where he carried on general farming until his death a numlier of years ,
ago. His widow still lives on the home farm. To these parents three
children were born, all still living, namely: F.mina, wife of Mr. Back-
man, the subject of this sketch: Amelia, who is the wife of John Lindberg.
and .Alfred, who is operating the old home place in Eglon township.
The union of Gust Backman and wife has resulted in the birth of five
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 355
cliildren, namely : Amelia, Edith, Esther, Anna and Carl, all of whom
are living at this writing. Mr. Backman helped build the present Agustana
Lutheran cluircli in his vicinity. Politically, he is a Republican.
OLE A. NYBAKKEN.
Restlessness causes a large number of people to leave their parental
halls and seek fortunes in distant lands. This is not necessarily the wander-
lust spirit, which is often indulged in to the detriment of the individual,
but merely the primitive force urging one to try to better one's condition in
life. And this is the impulse that led Ole A. Nybakken, and many others
of his countrymen to cast their lots with the people of Minnesota.
Mr. Nybakken, who is engaged in farming in Goose Prairie township,
Clay county, was born in >forway in 1863. He is a son of Andreas and
Ingeborg Anderson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, married
and established their home and where they spent their lives, the father
dying in 1912 and the mother in 1905. To these parents five children were
born, Andreas, Jr., Ole, Evan, Christian, who died when twenty-six years
old, and Andrus.
Ole A. Nybakken grew to manhood in Norway, where he attended
the common schools. In 1881, when eighteen years old, he immigrated to
America, coming on West to Northfield, Minnesota, aufl he worked out as
a farm hand in that vicinity until 1886, when he returned to Norway,
s])en(ling one winter there; then returned to America and located in North
Dakota, where he worked for a land company until 1894, when he came
to Clay county, Minnesota, Iniying his present farm of one hundred and
sixty acres — the old homestead, in section 30 of Goose Prairie township.
Later he bought eighty acres in section 29. He has kept all his land under
,L fine state of cultivation and improvement, replacing the original buildings
on the homestead with modern substantial ones. He has been successful
as a general farmer and stock raiser. He grows large crops of wheat, oats
and flax, also large quantities of potatoes, having had twelve acres in tubers
in 191 7. He also keeps a large herd of graded cattle. He is a stockholder in
the creamery at Hitterdal.
Mr. Nybakken was married in Minnesota in 1892 to Lizzie VVelo. and
to their union six children have been born, namely : Ida. who died when
two years old; Arthur, Oscar, Ernest, Clarence and Otto. They are all
336 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNKSOTA.
at iKinie at this writins^'. Mr. Nybakken served as a member of the school
Ijoard a few year.s. He is a member of tlie I'nited l.utlieran clmrch and
was formerly a trustee of the same.
ANDREW OLSON.
'i"o the honest, pu.shing, hard-working and enterprising farmers i^ due
the prosperity, wealth and advancement of any community, and to their
/cal. energy and integrity will its future prosperity be indebted, as it has
lieen in the pa.st. Among the names that are prominent in agricultural circles
in the northern part of (lay county is that of .\ndrew Olson, of l-'eltun
tr)wnship.
Mr. Olson was born in Ostra W'emmenhog, Malmohus Ian, Sweden,
October it, i860. He is a son of Olla and .\nna ([-arson) Larson, both
natives of Sweden, where they grew to maturity, married and established
their home and where the father is .still residing, now advanced in age.
He devoted his active life to farming in the crop seasons and working in
a brewery during the winter months. The mother is deceased, liight chil-
dren, two of whom died in infancy, were Ijorn to Olla and Anna Larson:
six are living at this writing, namely. Inga, who lives in Sweden; .Andrew
()., the subject of this sketch: I^rs, who lives in Sweden: Carl, who lives
in Millelacs county, Minnesota, and Kerstic and Per, both of w'tioni make
their home in Martin county, this state.
Andrew Olson grew to manhood in Sweden and there attended the
common .schools. He set sail for the shores of the Western reiniblic in 1889.
proceeding to Chicago, where lie worked in a shop about three months:
then worked on a farm near that city for six years, working out and renting
during the last three years of that period. He then came to Minnesota,
where he farmed on rented land in Martin count\- for six years. In the
fall of i()02 he came to Spring IVairie townshii). Clay county, where he
spent one wiiUer. and in the s])ring of 1903 he mo\ed to his ])resent farm
in h'elton town.shi]). having bought one hundred and .sixty acres tliere in
the fall of 1901. The land was only slightly improved and there was onl\-
a small house on it. He put out a grove, erected suitable buildings and has
made a comfortable living as a general farmer.
On June 29. 1888, Andrew Olson was married to Matilda So))hia I'alm-
quist. a native of Grolanda, Skaraborgs Ian. Sweden. She is a daughter
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 35/
of Carl and Kariii (Sveson) Palmqiiist, both natives of Sweden, uliere
they grew up, married and established their home on a farm. The father's
death occurred there some time ago and the mother is still living there.
Their family consisted of the following children: Matilda S., wife of the
subject of this sketch; Josephina, who li\es in Nebraska: Amanda, who lives
in Sweden : Annie, who lives in Helena, Montana ; Carl Johan, who' makes
his home in Sweden, and two other children who died in early life.
To Mr. and Mrs. Olson seven children, all living at this writing, ha\e
been born : Sellstiiie, .Annie, .Mice, Carl, Ellen, John and Clara. Mrs. Olson
spent her girlhood in Sweden and there attended the common schools. She
came to America in 1890. Mr. Olson has served as road boss. When a
young man in Sweden he was under-military training for some time.
P. N. RAMSTAD.
One of the promising young business men of the southern part of Clay
county is P. N. Ramstad, manager of the Baker Lumber Company at Baker.
He was born at Ada, Norman county, Minnesota, March 8, 1889, a son of
Peter and Christina (Skriver ) Ramstad, both natives of Norway, the mother
born in the city of Christiana. Peter Ramstatl came to America as a young
man with his parents, the family locating in Vernon county, Wisconsin,
where he remained until in the seventies when he came to Minnesota, locating-
at Ada, and there he and his brother engaged in the general-merchandise bus-
iness for many years, and while living there he was elected register of deeds,
serving in that office several years. He subsequently moved' to McDonalds-
ville township, Norman county, where he followed farming until his death in
1896. He was a memljer of the Norwegian Lutheran church. His famih
consisted of seven children, Isben L., Carrie V., !'. N., ( )nin, Llla, Sigurd
and Petra.
P. N. Ramstad recei\'e(l his early education in the ])ul)lic schools of Ada
and later studied in the agricultural dejiartment of the University of Minne-
sota at St. Anthonv Park, St. Paul, .\fter leaving school he workeil with
the Nonuan count)- surveyor for about three summers. During the winter
months of that period he attended a business college in h'argo. In July, 1908,
Mr. Ramstad started in the retail lumber business and was associated with
the St. .Anthony & Dakota I'^levator Company for three years. He then
worked for J. J. Ceib at Morris, Minnesota, for eighteen months then spent
358 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
a year aiul a half at Tintali. in the employ of the Crescent I.uniher Com-
pany. He was then employed by the Xortz Lumber Company at Brecken-
ridge. this state, for six mtjnlhs ; then worked for the Knnk Sash and Door
t'()ni|)an\- at Aliiineapolis for eight months. In April, 191 5, he came to
I laker as manager of the Baker Lumber Company and has continued here in
tliis capacity ever since. He knows thoroughly the various phases of the
lumijer business, and has given eminent satisfaction to the firms with which
he has ]>een connected, being honest, faithful, industrious, reliable and cour-
teous to the trade.
Mr. Ramstad was married in 1914 to .Anna Marie Moebius, a native of
Minnesota, and a daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Ritter) Moebius, natives
of (iemiany. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramstad one child has been born, a son, Carl
( ). Ramstad. iMaternally, the subject of this sketch is a member of the
^ eiinien and of the Woodmen.
LARS L GRINA.
Lars L Grina. manager, secretary and treasurer of the Stenerson
Brothers Lumber Company, with head office at belton. Clay county, was
born at Pelican Rapids. Otter Tail county. Minnesota, June 2, 1876, a son
of iver O. and Olea L. (Ohe) Gerina.
Iver O. Grina has been a resident of Otter Tail county for more than
forty years. Lie was born in Hadeland, Norway, April i, 185 1, and is a
son of Ole H. and Martha O. (Moger) Grina, natives of the same country.
The parents of Iver O. Grina came to America in 1854, only a few years
after their marriage, .\fter crossing the Atlantic, a voyage that covered
fifteen weeks, the couple took up their residence in Clayton county, Iowa :
later the father bought a farm there on which he spent twenty years, then
mo\ed to Otter Tail count)', Minnesota, where he joined his son, Iver O.
Grina. Ole H. Grina bought two hundred and fifty acres of land, where
he lived till he died in 1908, he then being eighty-eight years of age. His
first wife died in 1874, and he subsequently married Betsey O. Hougtvet,
who is also now deceased. By his first wife the following children were
l)orn : Hans, who engaged in farming in Otter Tail county, and is now-
deceased; Ole, a retired farmer of Pelican Rapids, that county; Iver O..
father of the subject of this sketch ; Peter, a retired farmer of North Dakota ;
Martin, who is farming in North Dakota; Ellen, who died in Iowa; Edward.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 359
who lives in North Dakota ; Alary, the first, and A'lary, the second, both of
whom died in early life in Iowa, and another child, who died in infancy,
unnamed.
Iver O. Grina was reared on the home farm in Clayton county, Iowa,
and there attended the public schools. When twenty-one years of age he
came to Minnesota, settling in Trondhjem township. Otter Tail cottnty, pur-
chasing the homestead owned by his brother, Hans. The land, which was
only slightly improved, was cleared by Mr. Grina, and in years to come he
had one of the choice farms of his locality. He subsequently bought one
hundred and twenty acres of railroad land adjoining the home place. In
the fall of 1 9 14 he sold his farm there and bought the homestead originally
owned by his father in Norwegian Grove township, Otter Tail county, but
he never moved to the place, renting it to his son, Joseph. Mr. Grina
retired from active life in March, 1914, and moved to Pelican Rapids,
Minnesota, where he has erected a modern residence. In 1913 he helped
organize the Erhard State Bank, in which he is a director. Politically, he
is a Republican, and served as clerk of his school district and as road super-
visor while living on the farm. He and his wife are members of the
Lutheran church.
On July 17, iSjj. I\er O. Grina married Olena L. Ohe, a daughter
of Lars and Ingebor (Waterud) Ohe, who w'ere among the earliest settlers
of Erhard Grove township, Otter Tail county. The death of Mrs. Grina
occurred on February 22, 1914. She was the mother of the following chil-
dren: Ole, who has lumber interests in Halstad. Minnesota; Lars L., the
subject of this sketch ; Melvin, who deals in implements, hardware and lum-
ber in Erhard; Conrad, is manager of the local yard of Stenerson Brothers
Lumber Company at Borup ; Joseph, who died in infancy ; Joseph, the second,
who is operating his father's farm ; Inga and Theodore, who are employed
by their brother. .Mehin. and Emma, wlio is at home with her father in
Pelican Rapids.
Lars L. Grina. the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on tlie
home farm in Otter Tail county, and attended the public schools at Pelican
I'iapids. As a young man he started to work for the Stenerson Brothers
Lumber Company, and has Ijeen with this firm since 1895. or during the
past twenty-three years, starting in at Pelican Rapids, where he remained
until 1900, when he was transferred to Felton, Clay county, and has l)een
manager of the company's business there ever since, secretary and treas-
urer of the company since its incorporation in 1908. He is also the largest
stockholder in the companv and has been the principal factor in making
360 CLAY AXi) NORMAX forXTlKS. M 1 N N ilSDTA.
it one of the best-known and most successful luinl)ci" tirnis in this section
oi the state. Mr. Grina is a close observer and has thoroughly mastered
the various phases of the lumber business, keeping well abreast of the timo
in the same. He established branch yards some time ago at r«orui). Halsiad
and Erhard, Minnesota, but maintains the managing office at l-'elton. The
business at each place is rapidly growing under his judicious direction and
management, a large stock of lumber of all kinds. Icigethcr with the usual
accessories for builders, being carried. The firm also sells fuel, and farm
implements and does a large business in each de])artment. The c(jm])any
is also interested in farming lands, owning six hundred and forty acres of"
valuable land, on which general farming and stock* raising is carried <iu
(.■xtensively and successfully.
Lars 1. Grina was married to I'ansy M. Ciilbert, a native of South
Dakota. She received her education in the State Nonnal .school of Moor-
head, Minnesota, and taught school for a numlier of years before she was
married to Mr. Grina. She is a daughter of Louis and Dorothy (Oker)
Gilbert, of I'elton, Minnesota. To Mr. and Mrs. Grina three children ha\e
been born, namelv : Gordon O., .\del Dorothv and Iver F„
JOHN" 1..\I1EV.
John Lahey, a well-known farmer of h'elton lownshi]), Clav count), is
making a success of his chosen life work. He was born in .Allamakee countw
Iowa, on December ig, 1858, a son o£v Daniel Lahe\-, who followed farming
in that count)' for many years in the early days there .and who is now-
deceased.
John Lahey grew to manhood on the home farm in his native state,
assisting with the general work on the .same when a boy, and there he
attended the district schools. As a young man he turned his attention to
buying and shipping horses and cattle, being an e.\ce])tionally good judge
of live stock, and he continued successfully in this line for about fifteen
years, becoming widely known throughout the Northwest. He shipped large
numbers of horses and cattle into Norman county when this section of
the state of Minnesota was being settled and was quite successful in this
field of endeavor.
-\l30ut the year 1897 Mr. Lahey Ijought the farm on which he now
resides in Felton township. Clay county, and there he has made hi< liome
JOHN LAHEY.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
> ION?
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 361
since about 1905. He operates four huudred acres, a part of which he> in
Felton township. Clay county, and part in Winchester township. Norman
county. The excellent modern group of farm buildings, which he erected
himself, are in I'^elton township. The land was a bare prairie when lie
purchased it. but he has long had it all under a high state of culti\ati(jn.
He set out a large grove which is now a valuable asset. He has been quite
successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and has also given his
active attention to the general business affairs of the community in which
he lives, being a stockholder in the company which operates the co-operative
potato warehouse at Borup. a stockholder in the Felton Rural Telephone
Company and a stockholder in the Equity Packing Plants at Fargo, in
the affairs of all of which concerns he takes a warm interest. Mr. Lahev
was reared a Catholic. Politically, be is independent of party, reserving
his right to vote for the men and the measures he regards as most service-
;d)le to the public at large.
.ANDREW CHRISTIANSON.
Andrew Christiansen, a farmer of Egion township. Clay county, was
born in Norway in 1870. He is a son of Knut C. and Parnelia (Rassmusson)
Christianson, both natives of Norway, where the mother now resides, at the
age of eighty years. The father died in 1896, at the age of sixty-eight years.
He came to America about thirty-eight years ago and in the spring of 1880
bought railroad land in Eglon township. Clay county, Minnesota, the ])lace
on which his .son Andrew, now resides. Here he went to work with a will
and in due course (jf time had a good farm under culti\ation and a very com-
fortable home established. He was in the countv about a year before he
selected a site for his future home, finally buying the place on which he spent
the rest of bis life. He lived in a log house for a number of years. His
family consisted of six children, named as follow: Christian, who is mar-
ried and who lived in Clay county until the autumn f>i 19 16, when he remi>ved
to Detroit, .Minnesota; Seivert, who is married and lives in Eglon township:
Andrew, the subject of this sketch : Jacob, who lives on the home farm part
of the time: Oscar, who 'resides in North Dakota, and Peter, who lives on
the old homestead with the subject of this sketch.
-Vndrew Christianson was two and one-half years of age when his
l)arents brought him to Minnesota. He was reared on the home farm in
Clav countv. received his education in the district schools, has always fol-
362 CLAY AND NOKMAN COU XTIiCS. MINNKSOTA,
luwed farming and has kept the liome farm well improved and well culti-
vated. He built a new residence in 191 1. Mr. Christiansen owns two hun-
dred acres in section 21 and forty acres in section 7 of Eglon township. He
liuilt a large, modern granary in the summer of igij. lie raises a large
amount of grain and considcraljle li\c stock each year, lie planted a line
grove some years ago. He raises a large acreage of potatoes each \ear,
having had out fifteen acres in the summer of 19 17, his land lieing in liif
great northern potato belt. Mr. Christianson is unmarried. He is a mem-
ber of the Hesfland X'orweeian Lutheran church.
JOHN GEORGl'. lM';KKi.\S.
One of the progressive citizens of Hawley. Cromwell township, is John
(ieorge Perkins, who has long made his home in Clay county, the interests
of which he has ever had at heart and sought to promote. He was born
in I'linthan, Xottinghamshire, England, November 9, 1853. a son of Will-
iam and Ann (Long) Perkins, both also natives of NottingJiamshire, the
father born at Flinthan and the mother at Elston. They married in their
native land, and there they continued to reside until 1873, when they came
to Minnesota with the first English colony that settled at Hawley. in Clay
county. Here William Perkins, father of John G., took up a claim of
one hundred and sixty acres, in the spring of 1873, selecting a good trad
in section 30 of Cromwell township. He developed the land into a i)ro-
ductive farm, established a comfortable home and spent the rest of his
life there. He made all improvements on the place, erecting the buildings
.and planting a grove, planting the first trees in that neighborhood. He
also took u]) two tree claims. William Perkin^ harl been a soldier in tlie
old country, serving as a Yeoman cavalryman in a "Notts" (Nottingham-
shire) regiment. He was a Methodist and helped organize the first church
at Hawley. He also helped organize Cromwell township, and was for man\-
years a member of the township board. He was one of the influential
men in his locality, always active in public affairs, and was at one time a
candidate on the Peojjle's party for county commissioner. He was one
of the best-known and useful pioneers in Cromwell township, and highly
respected by all who knew him. His family consisted of five children, named
as follow: John G., the subject of this sketch: Mary Ann and Maria, who
are both living: Sarah, decea.sed. and Charles, who is living on the old home
])lace in Cromwell township.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 363
John G. Perkins grew u[) in England, there attended the puljhc schools
and Besthorp boarding school and was twenty years of age when lie came
t(j the United States with his parents. He helped his father start the family
home in Cromwell township, working hard, as did all sons of pioneer set-
tlers in those days. In 1876 he began life for himself by pre-empting one
hundred and sixty acres in section 18 of Cromwell township; later converted
eighty acres of it to a homestead, and still later homesteaded an adjoining
fifty-five acres. He also tree-claimed a quarter section in section 8 of the
same township and now has one of the choice farms of his locality, having
erected a modern and substantial group of buildings on it, placed it under
a fine state of cultivation and has set out a large grove, which is now very
attractive. He has met with much more than mediocre success, all along
t!ie line, as a general farmer and stock raiser as a result of his perseverance
and close application.
In 1884 Mr. Perkins was married to Sarah Jane Harper, who was
l»irn in Canada. She is a daughter of John Harper, now deceased, who
moved from Canada to Minnesota, locating at New York Mills, in Otter
Tail county, where he establi.shed the future home of the family. Thirteen
children were born to John G. Perkins and wife, namely : John William.
Elsie May, Annie Maude, Hazel, Eleanor, Frederick Lawrence, Earl, Pearl,
James, Blanche, all living, and George and Frederick, wlm died young. The
mother of these children died in 1910.
Politically, Mr. Perkins is a non-partisan. He was township assessor
a number of years ago and also was constable in the old days, when there
was considerajjle lawlessness and when the duties of such an officer were
much more strenuous than now. He has also served on the local school
board in various capacities.
ANDREW L. JELSING.
Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human
life and human activities is deserving of recognition, no matter what may
be the field of his endea\-or, for it is interesting to note the \arying con-
ditions that have compassed those whose careers are brought to the atten-
tion of the readers of history.
An enterprising merchant of the village of Dale. Highland Gros-e town-
ship. Clav countv. is .\ndrew L. Jelsing. who was born in Dodge county,
364 Cl..\V AND XOK.M.W C()T■^TII^S. MINNESOTA.
-Minnesota, March (>, 1870. He is a son of Lars I'ederson Jelsing and Maria
Jelsing, both natives of Norway. The tatiier came to America in i<S6i,
leaving liis wife in the old country until he could estahlisii the future home
111' the family in tlie Xew \\'()rld. After s]>ending two \-ears near .Madison,
Wisconsin, Lars I'ederson jelsing, in i8()3, returned to Norway, intending
not to return to America, l)ut he subsequently came back and located in
Dodge count), .Minnesota. He had not been there long until he was drafted
for ser\ice in the Civil War. but he iiired a substitute. He brought his
wife and three sons l^ack to .\iuerica with him. She was .Vnna Bang prior
to her marriage, and their three children were named as follow: I'eter,
who is li\ing, and .Martin and I'eder, deceased. The wife and mother died
in Dodge county, and later Lars I'ederson Jelsing ^married Maria Christensen
and to that union four children were born, all of vvhom survive at this
writing, namely: .\ndrew L., the subject of this sketch: Randine, Hannah
and Louis.i. riie father of these children continuetl farming in Dodge
county until 1871, when he moved his family t(j Clay coiuits' in a c(j\ered
wagon and bought railroatl land in Lglon township, on which he established
the future home of the family : but two years later bought a homestead
right, just across the line in I'>ecker county, of eighty acres, and li\ed there
until 1893, later adding to his original holdings until he had a total of three
hundred and twenty acres. He carried on general farming extensively and
brought his place up to a high state of improvement. He retired from
active life in i8()i, but continued to reside there until 1893, and thereafter
spent the rest of his life among his children. His second wife died in
1880. In 1883 he made anotiier trip to Norway. He helped organize Lake
I 'ark township, Becker county, and als(j helped to organize Solum Lutheran
church in Kglon township. His death occurred in Moorhead on .March
10. 1908.
Andrew L. Jelsing grew to manhood on the home farm. He attended
the district schools and was a student for three years in the State Normal
at Moorhead, living at home until he was twenty-one years old. He began
life for himself as a teacher, which profession he followed for five years,
in l^ecker and CIa\ counties, with marked success. He then took up grain
bu\ ing at Winnipeg Junction, Cla\ county I which place i^• no longer on
the map), and continued grain buying, for the most i)art, until the summer
of 1908. In the meantime he served as justice of the peace and village
recorder and also was a member of the school board. He helped incorporate
the village, but when t,he railroad was relaid through the county, missing
Winnipeg Junction by one mile, the town soon became extinct, its inhabit-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 365
ants moving to other places. Mr. Jelsing started the \illage of Dale, in
Highland Grove township, where he has since resided. He purchased the
townsite and laid out tlie town, huilt a store and began a general-merchandise
business, which he has conducted with ever-increasing success to the present
time, carrying a large and well-selected stock of goods and enjoying an
excellent trade with the jjeople of the surrounding country. He was actixe
in securing a postoffice for the town and was appointed postmaster when
the office was first established, in March, icjio, and has discharged the
duties of the same ever since. He is a notarv public and is clerk of the
local school board. He was formerly justice of the peace at Dale. As a
public servant he has discharged his duties in an able, faithful and acceptable
manner, always taking a great interest in the affairs of his locality. Politi-
cally, he is a Republican, and, religiously, he belongs to the Lutheran c!un-ch,
being active in the work of. the same.
On February 15, 1898, Mr. Jelsing was married to Lena L. Bjerke.
a native of Lake I 'ark township, Becker county. She is a daughter of
the late Lars C. Bjerke, and was liorn on January 29, 1873. Her father
was one of the early homesteaders of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Jelsing
have no children of their own, but the\ h.'t\ e ;ui adopted dau.ghter, June
Jelsing, whom they have had from infancy.
ED\V.\RI) ,\. TRONNLS.
Edward .\. Tronnes. a substantial and progressive fanner, and stock-
man of Hagen townshij), this county, owner of a fine farm of three hundred
and sixty acres in that township, chairman of the townshiji board and inter-
ested in public utilities, is a native son of Norway. l)ut has been a resident
of the Laiited States since he was twenty-two years old, having immigrated
in 1887. He was born on September 13, 1865, a son of Andrew and Carrie
(Tronnes) Tronnes, both lx>rn in Norway, where they spent all their lives,
Andrew Tronnes having been a farmer and engaged at that calling all his
life. They were the parents of the following children: Andrew. Haaken,
Edward .\.. Helge, Cornelius. Bertha. Carrie, Annie and an infant daughter.
They were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children
were reared in that faith.
Edward .\. Tronnes was educated in the schools of X orw ay and as-
sisted his father in the work of culti\aling the small farm of which the
366 CLAY AXD XORMAN Ci ir Vlll- s, \l I N N'KSnXA,
senior Tronnes was the owner. In 1887, at the age of twenty-two years.
H)(lward A. Tronnes immigrated to America and proceeded out to Min-
nesota on arrival, locating in Norman county, and bought a homestead rigiu
to one hundred and sixty acres of land in Home l.akc township and lived
there five years, hut did not prove up. .\t the end of the latter peri(Hl
he sold his right in the homestead and then took eighty acres of home-
stead land in section 20. in llagen township. Clay count\ , and ])ro\ed u|i.
He carried out manv \ahiahk' improvements and li\ed on that holding for
about ten vears. at the end of which time he sold out and bought two hun-
dred acres in liagen township, where he has since li\ed. Some time later
he added another (piarter section in .section i(). same township, and has
se\eral substantial buildings on the holdings, including a good barn, which
Mr. Tronnes erected. ?Ie has also set out a fine grove that adds consider-
ably to the appearance and value of the jjlace; He is engaged in general
farming and siuck raising and since the ver\- commencement of his opera-
tions has prospered, being now accounted one of the must substantial and
])rogressive farmers in Hagen township.
Immediately before leaving his native \'orwa\-, in 1887, Edward .\.
Troimes was united in marriage to Oleanna Olson, also a native of Norw ay
and a daughter of Ole and Carrie Olsou. who spent all their lives in that
country. To Mr. and Mrs. Tronnes the following children were born :
.\lfred, l-llla, Clara, Minnie. Inga. Melvin and .Amanda, all of whom arc
lixiiig. The Tronnes family are members of the Lutheran church, the
jewnagers Lutheran church having at its organization had valuable lielj)
from .Mr. Tionnes. although he was at the time living across the line in
.Vorman county.
Mr. Tronnes gives a good citizen's attention to public affairs and he
has now entered on his first year as township chairman and has been a
member of the township board for about thirteen years, serving the peojjle
witli tidelitx and abilitv. He is interested in the l'"armers store and also
in the Farmers creamery at Ulen. in the organization of which he proved
a valuable aid. He also assisted in the organization of the local telephone
company, known as the Ulen and Twin \'alle\- Telephone Company, and in
other wa\s he has given of his time and energies to the advancement f)f
all movements calculated to serve the jjublic interests.
All of Mr. Tronnes' brothers and sisters, with the e.Kcepti(jn uf .\nnie
and Haaken, remained in Norway. Annie is now Mrs. Martin Tronnes,
of Wisconsin, whose hu.sband was born in Norway, in which country they
were married. Haaken was the first of the Tronnes familv to come to .\mer-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. ^6/
ica. He located in Morris county, Minnesota, and in 1S84 came to Xorman
county and filed on a homestead tract in Home Lake township. Ixit ne\er
proved up. He later moved to Thief River Falls. Minnesota, and at the
present time is living in Montana.
HANS L. NORBV
c
Hans L. Norb\-, of Goose Prairie to\\n>hip. Clay county, has made a
success as a farmer very largely because he has been willing to give up many
of the old and anticpiated ideas of tilling the soil and has adopted such new-
ones as were practicable in this latitude.
Mr. Norby was born in Xorway in 1851, He is a son of Lars and
Martha Henson, both natives of Norway, where they grew to maturity, mar-
ried and established their home and where the mother died, in 1858, when
her son Hans L., was about seven years of age. The father finally came to
America and spent the last three years of his life at the home of his son.
the subject of this sketch, where his death occurred in 1907, he then being at
the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He ow^ned farming land in Becker
ounty. Minnesota, which he sold when old age incapacitated him for active
farming. The familv consisted of five children, namely : Hans L., the sub-
ject of this sketch, the eldest; Mary, a widow, who lives in Xorth Dakota;
Jens, who also makes his home in .Xorth Dakota; Carrie, deceased, and Ole.
a resident of South Dakota.
Hans L. Xorbv grew to manhood in Xorway and there attended the
common schools. When twenty-three years of age, in 1874, he immigrated
to the United States and began working out on farms near Mankato and
.\lbert Lea. Minnesota, .\fter his marriage he worked at the carpenter's
trade. He came to Cla\ comity and lived a year in Lake Park, then, in the
fall of 1879, he moved to his present farm in Goose Prairie township, taking
u]) a homestead of one hundreil and sixty acres in section 14. Mr. Xorljy
worked hard and applied himself closely and in due course of time had the
raw land under a fine state of cultivation. He made all improvements, in-
cluding the erection of a splendid group of buildings. During his residence
of thirty-eight years on this place he has accumulated a comfortable com-
petency and is now able to retire from active life, even now (191 7) planning
to sell or rent his place and move to Hawley. where he has long owned a
commodious home and a large lot, which has lieen rented out.
^6X C'l.AV AM) MiKMAN C( )r NTl KS, M 1 X ,\F.S( ITA.
In 1878. ill Mankato, .Minnesota. Hans L. Norby was married to Anna
'JlH)reson. wlio was born in Norway in 1852. and who came to America in
1876 with Mr. .Vorhy's father, two brothers and a sister. To Mr. and Mrs.
N'orI)v nine ciiildren iiavc l)een i)orn. namely: Theodore, who has a farm in
.\orth Dakota: Inga. who is married and hves in Colorado: .\ima. who <hed
in i88c), when four years of age: Albert, who lives at honie : .\lnia the sec-
ond, who works in North Dakota: Oscar. wh<i is at lionie : i.aura, who i^
married and lives in Montana: John, who is married and has a jewelry store
ill Clear I'.rook. Minnesota, and Nellie, who is at home.
Mr. Xorby has been supervisor of (loose I'rairie township at intervals
for twenty years. He belongs to the .Norwegian Lutheran ciiurch, of which
lie has been a trustee for fifteen years, and has ever given proper attention
to neighborhood good works.
k()l!i:kr 1.. SCOTT.
Some larmers who have cropi)ed their soils from year to year, taking
everything off and returning nothing, when their crops fall off in yield
until there are no profits, begin to realize that they will have to adopt ;i
new systeiu or else abandon their farm. Those who are wise look ahead
and lake proper steps to ])revent such a deplorable state of affairs from
ever coming. Robert L. Sc<Jtt is one of the young fanners of Viding town-
ship. Clay county, who believes in conserving the soil elements, in keeping
W\< land from ever wearing out.
.Mr. Scott was born at I'olo, in Ogle county, Illinois, I'ebruary (), 1881,
a son of |. W. and Bessie ( l.awson) Scott, who remained in Illinois, on
the home farm. He grew to manhood on the farm near I'olo, assisting
with the general work on the .same when he became of proper age, and
received his education in the schools of Polo, graduating from the high
school there. He remained on the farm with bis parents until he was
twenty-two vears old. then, in the spring of 1903, lie came to Minnesota
and located on a farm in Viding townshi]). Clay county, and here he has
remained to the ])resent time. He operates eleven hundred and twenty
acres, carrxing on general grain farming and potato raising -on an extensive
scale, specializing in Red River Valley seed potatoes, which he produces
in great quantities everv vear. He understands every phase of successful
CLAY AND NORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 369
potato raising and his tine tubers find a very ready market owing to their
superior quahty.
On December i8. igo2. Robert I-. Scott was married to Emma Eh'zabeth
Brantner. who also was born at Polo, in Ogle county, Illinois, and to this
union three children have been born, Bessie Mabel, Jasper Michael, and
Joseph Winfield. Mrs. Scott is one of the eleven childern, two sons and
nine daughters, born to Joseph M. and Anna (Nye) Brantner, both of whom
were born in Ogle county. Illinois, the former at Polo and the latter at
Mt. Morris. Mr. Brantner is now a prominent farmer at Lime Springs,
Iowa. Of the eleven children born trt him and his wife all are living.
Mr. Scott is an advocate of advanced farming methods and keeps well
read along these lines. He is vice-president of the Clay County Farm
Bureau and has done much to make that influential organization a pronounced
success. He was formerly township supervisor and has also held offices
on the school board. He is a mem1)er of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Politically, he is a Republican.
BERNARD F. TENNEY.
Bernard F. Tenney, cashier and general manager of the First State
Bank of Ada and for years one of the leading business men of Norman
county, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Min-
nesota practicailx all the lime since his childhood. He was burn in San-
<lusky, Ohio, May i. 1868. son of Major Luman H. and Frances D.
(.\ndrews; Tenney, natives of that same state, who later came to Minne-
sota and became prominent and iniluential residents of this part of the
state in pioneer days.
Major Luman H. Tenney. who took a very active part in the develop-
ment of this part of the state during the time of the earh' settlement of this
-section, was reared in Ohio and was little more than a boy when the Civil
War broke out. He enlisted as a private in the Secpnd Ohio Cavalry and
served with that command until the close of the war. being mustered out as
a brevet major. Upon the completion of his military service Major Tenney
ni;irried and made his home in Sandusky, Ohio, until 1869, when he came to
-Minnesota and located at Duluth, where he engaged in the real estate and
insurance business. In 1872. about the time of the organization of Clay
(24a)
3/0 CLAY AND NCIRMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
county as a civic entity, the Major came over to this ]iart of the state and
located at Glyndon, where he acted as the agent for a Philadelphia company
in the sale of lands thereabout and also took an active interest in promoting;
the English colony wiiich settled in that neighborhood. Major Tenney also
operated a general store at Gl}ndon and started the Xortliern Pacific elevator
there and at some other points along the line. Ui)on locating there he took
;i soldier's homestead and later considerably increased his personal land hold-
ings. In addition to his other and varied interests, Major Tenney gave much
attention to the general affairs of the community during the period of the
establishment of a proper social order in that section and served for some
time as superintendent of schools of Clay county, doing much in that capa-
city toward the organization of an effective school system in the pioneer
comnnniitv. His busv and useful career was interrupted in the very prime
of his life, his death occurring in 1880. he then being thirty-eight years of
age. Major Tenney was an active and earnest member of the Congrega-
tional church and was one of the leaders in the organization of a church of
that denomination at Glyndon. He was an ardent advocate of temperance
and his inlluence in that direction was fell far and wide throughout this sec-
liuii in an early dav. Maior -.wA Mrs. Tenney were tlie parents of four
children.
Bernard F. Tenney was but an infant when his parents came to this
state from Ohio and settled at Duluth, and he was but a small child when
thev presently moved over to Glyndon. There he spent his bo3'hood and
then was sent East to complete his schooling, attending Oberlin College in
Ohio and Amherst College in Massachusetts, from which latter institution he
was graduated in i8go, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. U])on comi)!et-
ing his schooling Mr. Tenney returned to Glyndon and for a time gave his
attention to farming interests there, but presently returned to Ohio, where
he remained until 1903, in which year he came back to Minnesota and with
his business associates bought control of the Eirst State Bank of Ada and
was elected vice-president of that concern, being installed as general man-
ager of the affairs of the bank. Mr. Tenney later was elected cashier of the
bank and ever since forming connection w'ith the bank has given his most
earnest attention to the same, long having been recognized as one of the
leading bankers 6f this part of the state.
In 1893 Bernard F. Tenney was united in marriage to Sadie A. Sned-
eker, of Melbourne, Florida, and to that union foyr children have been
born, namely: Mary Erances, Luman H., who is now (1917) a member of
the American Ambulance Field Service, serving "somewhere in the Balkans"
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 37I
in the great ^V(ll■l(l W'ar ; Edward .\., who is serving in the United States
Marine Corps, serving "somewhere in the United States,"' and William H.,
who is attending scliool at home. Air. and Mrs. Tenney are members of
the Congregational church, in the various beneficences of which, they take a
warm interest, as well as in the general social activities of their home cit}^,
ever helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement
of the common welfare hereabout.
OLE D. L.^RSON.
Ole D. Larson, present president of the village of Hendrum and the
oldest merchant in point of continuous service in that village, a well-to-do
dealer in hardware and agricultural implements, may also be regarded as a
pioneer of Norman county, having been actively identified with the afi^airs
of Hendrum and vicinit}- since 1882. He was born in Manitowoc county,
Wisconsin, February 11. i860, son of Lars and Martha ( Johanneson) Knul-
son, both natives of Norway, who were married in their native land and
shortly afterward, in 1852, came to the United States, locating at Port
Washington, Wisconsin, whence, a year later, they moved onto a homestead
farm in Manitowoc county, that same state, where they remained until 1883,
when they came over into Minnesota and located on a farm in the neighbor-
hood of Glenwood, in Pope count}', where they spent the remainder of their
lives. Mrs. Knutson died in 1906 and Mr. Knutson survi\ed until 191 1. he
being ninety-three years of age at the time of his death. They were earnest
members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared
in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this
^ketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being Knute (deceased),
Johannes (deceased), Bertha, Knute, who lives in Canada; Gabriel (de-
ceased), Lizzie, who lives at Xome, Alaska: Martin and Clara (deceased).
Reared on a pioneer farm, Ole D. Larson had little opportunity for
acquiring extensive schooling in his youth. As a young m;ui he learned the
carpenter trade and for twelve years was actively engaged in building opera-
tions. In 1882, he then being twenty-two years of age, he had come over
into Minnesota and up into the Red River Valley to take part in the then
tlourishing activities of this i)art of the state, and at Hendrum became en-
gaged as a carpenter. After his marriage in 1891 he established his home
there and for a while continued his building operations, but in 1892 started
in business there as a hardware dealer and has ever since been thus enga.ged,
37- CLAY AND NOKMAN COL' Nil KS. M I NNICSOTA.
lieing now the oldest mercliant in continuous business in that village. In
addition to his general line of hardware and agiicultural implements, .Mr.
Larson carries an excellent stock of furniture and is also the local agent fur
the sale of the Overland automobile. He holds a claim to a tract of one
hundred and twenty acres in Koochiching county. Mr. Larson for years
lias given his earnest attention to local civic affairs, has served as a member
ul die village council and as treasurer of the village and is now serving as
president of tlie village, in all his public service having e\ er had at heart the
best interests of the community which he has helped to build up. At live or
six terms of court he has served as a member of the jury in Norman countv.
It was on December 23, i8gi, that Ole D. Larson was united in mar-
riage to Emma Bye, of Spring Grove, Minnesota, and to this union five chil-
dren ha\e been born, Alva, lulmond (deceased), Edmond, Arnold and V'iola.
Mr. and Mrs. Larson are members of the United Lutheran church, in the
affairs of which they take a warm interest, and Mr. Larson has served as a
member of the board of trustees, as treasurer and in other capacities as an
ufHce bearer in the local congregation.
JOHN LUDWIG SCHEIE.
The late John Ludwig Scheie, one of the early settlers of Halstad
township, Norman county, where he was the owner of three hundred and
sixty acres of good farming land when his death occurred in 1904, was
born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, December 2; 1855, a son of Andrew and
Inger Sciieie, both of whom were born in Norway, where they grew up
and married and who came to America about 1839 or 1840. At first the
father, who was a cooper by trade, located in Rochester, New York, but
desiring to acquire some of the new land which was being opened up for
settlement in the West, gradually worked iiis way with his family in this
direction and settled for a while in M.cHenry county, Illinois, moving thence
northward into Wisconsin, settling in Muskego and later in Milwaukee,
where John Ludwig Scheie was born. The date of the family's residence in
the latter place was so early that only a few houses comprised the village
which later has grown into such a metropolis. After a few years of residence
in Wisconsin, the family moved into Minnesota and located in h'illmore
county, from which point they later came up into this part of the state and
settled in Halstad township. Norman county, where tiie parents spent the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 373
remainder of their lives. During his residence in Halstad township, Andrew
Scheie Hved the Hfe of the pioneer that he was, developing his farm and,
in his later years, preaching the gospel, as he was one of the first Lutheran
ministers in this section of the country. He and his \vife were the parents
of seven children, all of whom are dead but Anthony, a sketch of whose
life appears elsewhere in this volume, the others having been Ellen Christina,
.Anna, Hannah, Mehina, Caroline and John, the subject of this memorial
review.
John L. Scheie was only three years of age when his parents settled
in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1858, and when they decided to come
northward into Norman county, in 1876, he too, came to this county in the
same year, in company with B. B. Larson and others from Fillmore county,
and ' settled a quarter section in Halstad township, where he lived until
1892. In that year he moved to an adjoining place, where his family still
resides, and there died .on October 3, 1904, lamented by all who knew him
as an upright man, a good neighbor, an excellent citizen and a loving parent
and husband.
On November 4, 1876, John L. Scheie was married to Bessie Thomp-
son, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Knut and Bessie (Fossom)
Fossom, both natives of Norway, who came to America late in life and
located near Peterson, Fillmore county, Minnesota, on a farm where they
si)ent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of seven children,
nanio'y : Gilbert (deceased), Irvine, Tollef, Knut, Ole, Carrie, Ragnild (de-
ceased) and Bessie. To Mr. and Mrs. John Ludwig Scheie were born three
children, the eldest of whom is Emilie Bertina, who married Joseph For-
bra.gcl and has three children ; Lutie, Willis and Lenioine. Mr. Forbragd
now operates the old Scheie farm. The second in order of birth is Clara
Albertina, the wife of Ole Strom. They live in Newburg, North Dakota,
and are the parents of six children, Lester, Irvine, CHfiford, Walter, Morton
and Orland. The youngest of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Scheie
is Lottie Jeannette, who lives with her widowed mother on the old home
place.
Mr. Scheie, although a very busy man, found time to devote to the
interests of education in his community, as he served as school clerk for a
number of years. As a business, he followed well-drilling and for the most
part hired his farming done. Fie was always concerned with the further-
ance of the cause of Christianity, even out in the frontier districts of the
North, as he, in company with his father, who was a pioneer minister, and
a few others organized the Au.gustana Lutheran church.
374 CLAV AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
JENS FOSS.
Jens Foss, a well-known and enterprising merchant of Shelly, is a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this country
since he was nineteen years of age. He was born in the city of Drammen, a
seaport town of Norway, July 2, 1874. son of Erick J. and Rerthine (An-
derson ) h'ossen, natives of that same country, the former of whom was a
cari)enter. who spent all his life in his native land. Erick j. i'ossen and wife
were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was
the second in order of birth, the others being Caroline. Andrew. Bernhardt
and Anna.
Reared at Drammen, Jens Foss received his schooling in the schools of
that city and remained there until he was nineteen years of age. when, in
I.S93. he came to the United States and located at Portland, over in Traill
ccuntv. North Dakota, where he secured employment and where he presently
entered Bruflat Academy, perfecting there his somewhat limited knowledge
of English. After a while he engaged in the luercantile business at Port-
land, as a partner in a general store, and after two years, in 1902, catue over
into Minnesota and started a general store at Shelly, in partnership with
Carl llorte. also of Portland. In igi2 Mr. Horte sold his interest in the
store to h'oss Anderson and the latter and Mr. Foss have since been engaged
in partnership and have built up an excellent commercial establishment, hav-
ing a tlourishing trade. Mr. h'oss also owns a quarter of a section of land
in J'dlk countv and gives to his farming operations there considerable atten-
tion. He is an energetic, capable business man and is widely known in
business circles hereabout.
In 1907 Jens Foss was united in marriage to Josephine Flesjer. who
was born on a pioneer farm in the vicinity of Shelly, daughter of B. A.
l-"lesier and wife, pioneers of Norman county, the former of whom is still
living, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Foss at Shelly. B. A. Flesjer
was born at Stavanger. Norway. May 15. 1850. and when twenty years of
age. in 1870, came to the United States and located in P'illmore coiuity. this
state. There, in 1872. he married Olava Olson Holte and in that same year
he and his wife came up into the Red River valley and settled in .Shelly
township. Norman county, where they established their home and where
Mrs. Flesjer died in 1910. Mr. Flesjer was one of the organizers of the
Augustana (Lutlieran) church in that neighl:H)rhood and he and his wife took
much interest in church work. They were the parents of eight children, of
whom Mrs. Foss was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Emelia.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 375
Bernhardt, Albert, Orlando, Palmer, Melissa and Manley. In 1915 Mr.
Flesjer retired from the farm and moved to Shelly, where he since has
made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Foss.
To Jens and Josephine ( I'lesjer) Foss two children have been born,
Frances and Orpha. Air. and Mrs. I-"6ss are members of the United Luth-
eran church at Shelly and Mr. Foss has been a member of the board of
trustees -of that cons^rej^ation ever since it was organized. He is a member
of the local society of the Sons of Norway and of the local lodge of the
Woodmen of America and in the affairs of these organizations takes an
active interest.
IVER KLOKSETH.
Among the native-born Norwegians who ha\e come to America and
engaged in general farming, is Iver Klokseth, a well-known and progressive
farmer, former clerk of the district school board, and owner of a fine farm
in Moland townshi]). Clay county. He was born on October 30, 1868, in-
the kingdom of Norway, a son of Knut and Malena (Wold) Klokseth, also
torn in that same country, but who came to this country about thirty-nine
years ago.
Knut Klokseth, who followed the occupation of a farmer in his native
land, was born on October 17. 1825. He married in Norway to Malena
Woid and about the year 1878 decided to try his fortune in tlie land of op-
portunities at this side of the Atlantic. On his arrival in this country he
came on out to Minnesota, where so many of his countrymen had already
settled on farms, and located in Clay county. He became the owner of one
hundred and fifty acres of prime land, on which he farmed for the remainder
of his life, his death occurring on July 29, 1892. His farm, which was located
in section 4, Moland township, was sold about fifteen years ago and the
widow is now making her home with her son, Iver. Knut Klokseth was an
industrious and capable farmer, a good citizen in every respect, a kind and
indulgent husband ;ind father, and his death was generally regretted through-
out the community.
Iver Klokseth, at the age of about ten years, accompanied his parents to
America and lived on his father's farm in Moland township. Before com-
ing to this countr\- he had been attending school in Norway and continued
his schooling in the township schools of Clay county. In his boyhood and
376 Cl.AV AND NORMAN fOUNTIKS, MINNKSOTA.
young- iiianliood he was a valua))Ie a;.sistaiil to hi^ father in the labors of
developing and improving the home place. The other mem])ers of the fam-
ily are; Ingeborg (Emma in iMiglish), who is married: Ida, married:
( hristine, married, and Martin, married and living in Morken township.
Iver Klokseth bought his [iresent farm, which now consists of two hun-
dred and thirty-seven acres, about 1893. '^'"'^ land, which is of choice qual-
ity and well improved, is situated in section 7, Moland township, and thirty
acres are set out to the planting and cultivation of potatoes. Mr. Klokseth
is regarded as one of the progressive and energetic farmers of the town-
ship and he and his family are pleasantly housed in a comfortable dwelling.
Mr. Klokseth was married on January 2~, 1892, to Hannah Ilolte, who
was born on October 13th, 1871, in Houston county, Minnesota, and who
died on May 28th, 1913. Three children were l)orn to this unitm, namely:
Corinne. who is married, and Marie and Julia, who live at home with their
father. Mr. Klokseth and his family are earnest members of the Lutheran
church at Concordia, and he has served the congregation as trustee for sev-
eral years. He was clerk of the township school board for six years and in
cither \\a\s he has given of his time and energy to the public in behalf of all
projects ha\ing for their purpose the common good of the community.
LEVI THOKTXEDT.
To a \isitor from the East one of the most impressive features of life
here in the Red River valley is the sense of the amazing newness of things.
\^''hen it is considered that men still in the very jiriiue of life were witnesses
to and particijjants in the very beginning of a social order hereabout this
sense of newness is accounted for. That all the wonderful development of
this region has been accomplished within the life-time of persons still active
in affairs is one of the wonders of the great work of "empire building" that
has been carried on in the Northwest during the [)ast generation, and it is
difficult for the Easterner to reconcile himself to the thought th;it all this
has been accomplished during a single lifetime.
One of the men who has been a resident of Clay county since the days
of the early settlement of the same is Levi Thortvedt. a substantial farmer
and landowner on the banks of Buffalo river in Moland township, who has
been a resident of the place on which he is now living, in sections 28 and
29, since the summer of 1870, when his father pre-etnpted the place and
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENSX
TILDEN' FOUNDATIONS.
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LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX
TILDtN fOUNDAVlGNi
CLAY AXD XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. }^-J-j
there established his home, thus being one of the earHest settlers of Clay
county. Levi Thortvcflt was born in the kingdom of Norway on January
31, i860, son of Ole G. and Thone (SongedahH Thortvedt, natives of that
same country, who shortly afterward came to the United States with their
family and proceeded on out to Minnesota, locating in Houston county,
where Ole G. Thortvedt Ijought a tract of forty acres of land and estab-
lished his home, remaining there until he came up here into the Red River
country, leader of what came to Ije known as the Buffalo River settlement.
Ole G. Thortvedt was a good farmer and a man of push and energy
and had, besides, the true pioneer instinct. In the spring of 1870 he Ijecame
attracted to the good rejjorts that then were being heard regarding the possi-
bilities awaiting settlers in the Red River country, which at that time was
little known to white men save the Hudson Bay trappers and a few adven-
turous souls that had pushed on out beyond the frontier. He interested twO'
or three other families in his design, disposed of his interests in Houston
county, equipped a fleet of "prairie schooners" in company with the Skrei
family, H. Fendalstveit, O. G. Mid-garden" and George G. Muhle. O. G. Mid-
garden later married Jorand Thortvedt, sister of the subject of this sketch.
This party started out l3_\- ox-team in cjuest of a new home in the unsettled
lands to the north, taking its departure-on May 14, 1870. When they reached
Alexandria, where the lam! office then was located, the\- fell in with Ole
Stronval, who had previously visited the Red River country, and he con-
sented to accompany them on their trip north and to act as guide. By the
4th of Julv they were in the vicinit}' of the Hudson Bay post at Georgetown
and they spent the I-'ourth on the Dakota side — Dakota was then a territory.
Pitching camp there, (Me G. Thortvedt left the teams and most of the party
and with two of the other men struck south on foot, "spying out the land."
Reaching a point five miles south of the present site of Fargo they decided
that the land was too low and that tlie\- also were getting into somewhat too
close proximit}' to what niigiit pro\'e to l_>e hostile Indians, as they heard the\-
were on the "war-path." Returnin.g to their camp, which harl been pitched
on the Dakota side of the \\ii(\. they h.-iving crime up the west trail, they took
up the journey, crossing the river at Hutchinson's ferry, and set out south on
the J^Iinnesota side. Presently they encountered Propfield. who had been
employed here bv the Hudson Bav Company since 1858 and when he found
that tlieir chief difificultv was the belief that the land was too low for profit-
able settlement he advised them to seek lands on the banks of the Buffalo and
volunteered to guide them thence and if this proved not to be just the kind
of land thev wanted, thev had better go back home as it was the best in the
378 i.\..\\ AXO XOKMAN COUXTIKS, M I \ X i;S( ITA.
Xorthwest. In tluc time they pitched their camp 011 the banks of the river
and l)eheld before them a i'lne prospect of <^ood high gronnd covered with a
rank growth of prairie grass, and tliere tiie\- decided to settle. And tliis was
the l>eginning of the Bnfialo River settlement.
At first the bind was not snrveyecb One day our subject ;uid his sister
were atteiuhng tlieir muskrat traps at the river. .\11 of a sudden they heard
voices and saw men witli recb t)hie and yellow coats plunging into the river.
I'be frightened buy and girl left the traps and ran screaming to the house —
"Intlians are coming." The father came irom the woods and on investi-
gation he found it was the surve\'Ofs who had come to survey the land.
Ole G. Thort\edi pre-empted a quarter of a section in what presently,
when the county was surveyed, was found t(j lie in sections 28 and 29, the
site of the original cam]) of the Thortvedt party, and there put up a log shack
and established his home, determined to gi\e the new country a try-out for
ten \ears : with the reservation that if in tiiat lime other settlers were not
attracted to the scene he would return to llouston county. But it was not
long until the e.Kcellence of the location began to attract others and presently
a thri\-ing settlement was established in that part of the county, although
the first crops were destroyed by grasshoppers. bVoni the beginning Mr.
Thortvedt was regarded as a leader in the community and when the town-
ship was organized he was given the privilege of naming the same, which
be did by .giving to it the name of his old home parish, Moland, in Norway.
As he de\eloi)ed bis (|narter section, all of which was i)rairie land save for a
fringe of trees along the river bank, he erected new and more commodious
buildings and it was not long before he and his family had a comfortable
home. He later bought an adjoining "forty" of railroad land at one dollar
and twenty-tive cents an acre, and still later, when settlers began to come in
and land values began to advance, Iwnght an "eighty." paying for the latter
tract seven dollars and fifty cents an acre. When the Buffalo River settle-
ment was started the nearest real trading point was at Alexandria, one hun-
dred and forty miles away, and thence the .settlers were cotnpelled to drive
for their necessities, the nearer trading point at the Hudson Bay Company's
jjost at Georgetown charging such exorbitant prices for goods as to make
trading there pr.icticdly jirohibitive save on emergenc)". .\t that time there
wa-i a vehicle known as the Red River cart, a two-wheel rig, verv' clumsy,
drawn by oxen and driven by half-breed Indians. This was the only means
of transportation at that time. The creak and noise of the wooden cart
wheels could be beard for miles. Sometimes as many as ninety carts would
l)e seen in a train hauling furs for the Hudson Bay Company from Ft. Gary
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 379
to St. Cloud and touk supplio Ijack again for that company. Ole G.
Thortvedt antl lii.^ wife sjient the remainder of their lives in the home they
had established on the l)anks of the Buffalo river, honored and influential
pioneers of Clay count}-. They were members of the Lutheran church and
were among the organizers of the local congregation of that faith in the
community which they went through many hardships to help establish.
They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the third in order of birth, the others being jorand, Thone and Signe.
About 1905, at a grain growers' con\ention in l'"argo, James Hill, tlie
late great railroad magnate, was present and made a speech and at that time
said in April, 1871, he had stopped at a homesteader's cabin on Buffalo
river. Our subject was present and there was recalled to his mind the inci-
dent of two ])ilgrims stopping at his father's home. One of them was the
justly- famous great railroad financier.
Levi Thortvedt was but a babe in arms when his parents came to Minne-
sota from their native Norway and he was ten years of age when thev left
Houston count}' and came u\> into the Red River country. He therefore
has been a resident of this region since the days before Clay county was
organized as a civic unit and. has been a witness to and a jjarticipant in the
development of the county since pioneer days, a continuous resident of the
place his father i)re-empted here in 1870 and which was the social center of
that community in the days of the beginning of the Buffalo River settlement,
the date of the settlement of the Thortvedt family there having been July
9, 1870. Though his formal schooling necessarily was neglected b}' reason
of the lack of properly organized schools durin.g pioneer days, Mr. Thortvedt
has made up for that lack by wide and comprehensive reading and has long
been regarded as one of the best-in fonned men in his community, as well as
one of the most progressive and substantial farmers.. He is the owner of
a fine farm of three hundred and forty-two acres and the new set of buildings
he has erected on his place are electrically, lighted, the first buildings on the
Buffalo river thus to lie lighted, Mr. Thortvedt securing his current from a
water-power plant of his own invention erectecf some years ago on his farm.
Air. Thort\'edt carries on bis farming in accordance with up-to-date methods
and is doing very well. As one of the first settlers in that community, Mr.
Thortvedt has always taken an earnest interest in the development of the
same and has done his share in promoting public improvements,' ever taking
an interested part in such movements as have lieen designed to advance the
common welfare.
380 CI. AY AND NOK.MAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
In 1882 Levi Thortveilt was iiiiitctl in niarriajje to Ingeborg Mid-
.sjaarden Weum. wlio also was i^orn in tlic kin<((loni of Norway and who came
alone to this country in 1880. To this union ten children have Ijeen born.
Ole, Goodwin. l-21pha. Dora. .Stella. Adela. Orrabel. Eva. Morence and Nor-
man, all of whom are livin"'. The Thortvedts have a very pleasant home and
have ever taken an interested ]iart in the general social activities of the com-
munity in which they live. They are members of the Lutheran church and
take a proper interest in churcii work as well as in other neighborhood good
works.
JOSEPH (i.X.ARE.
Josefjh Gaare. cashier of the lirst State Bank of I'erley. is one of the
wideawake )oung business men of Norman county. He was born in Lee
township, this county. May 4. 1884, on the old liome farm, a son of John
O. and .Anna ( Kroshus ) Gaare. The father was iwrn in Norway, October
13. 1858, and the mother was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa. Ole Gaare,
the grandfather, was a native of Norway, as was also his wife, Sigrid. They
came to America in 1866. locating in .\llamakec county. Iowa, remaining
there until about 1880, when they came to Minnesota, accompanied by their
son, John O. Gaare, father of the subject of this sketch, and settled in Nor-
man county, where the grandfather spent the re.st of his life. He was a
fami. His family consisted of the following children: John O.. Peter
O.. Carrie, the wife of berdinand Baker, and Peder, who died when thirtv
years of age.
John O. Gaare was eight years of age when his parents brought him to
the New World, and he grew to manhood on the farm in Allamakee county.
Iowa, where he attended the public schools, .\bout 1880 he came to Minne-
sota and bomesteaded one hundred and si.\ty acres in Clay county. Later
he Ijought a farm in Lee township. Norman county, and operated lx)tli places
for many years, farming on an extensive scale and meeting with much suc-
cess, now l)eing the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of good farm
land. Por the past thirty years Mr. Gaare has lived in Lee township. Nor-
man count}-. His wife died in 1908. He has been in .some official position
in his school <listrict for the past twenty-five years, and is treasurer at present.
He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he is secretary
at this writing. His family consists of the following children : Clara.
Joseph, Oscar, Selmer, Peter. Josephine. Hilda. Alice. Alberta and Emil.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 381
Joseph Gaare, the ininietJiate subject of this sketch, grew to manhood
on the home farm and received his early education in the pubhc schools of
Lee township. Later he was a student in the State Normal School at Moor-
head and then took a course in the Metmjjolitan Business College at Min-
neapolis. After leaving school he taught one term in Norman county, then
spent six months in the office of the Ruber Threshing Machine Company of
Alinneapolis. In 1906 he took a position in the First State Bank at I'erley,
and in 1912 was appointed cashier of that popular and well-managed institu-
tion, and has continued to discharge the duties of this responsible position in
an able and satisfactory manner to the present time. Mr. Gaare is alsb pres-
ident of the Perley Trading Company and is secretary of the Perley Live
Stock Shipping Association. He served five years as recorder of the village
of Perley.
In 1911 Joseph Gaare was married to Anna Matilda Lee, a daughter of
Jens O. Lee, which union has iDeen without issue. Politically, "Mr. Gaare is
a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the local lodge
lit the Modern Woodmen, being clerk of the latter lodge at Perley. He
and his wife belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church.
HENRY MARSDEN.
Henry Marsden, a pi-ominent hardware merchani al Hendrum, is a
native of the Emerald Isle, but has lieen a resident of Minnesota and of Nor-
man county for nearly a quarter of a century. He was born at Cootehill,
County Cavan, in the north of Ireland, October 21, 1871. a son of John and
Catherine (Banner) Marsden, lx)th of whom were born in Manchester, Eng-
land, and the former of whom was a stock breeder and miller at Cootehill.
John Marsden and his wife were parents of six children, of whom the sub-
ject of this sketch was the last born, the others being Fred, Arthur. George.
Annie and Charles.
Upon comjjleting his schooling Henry Marsden became interested in the
work of his father's stock farm and remained at home until he was twenty-
two years of age, when, in 1893, he came to the United States, following his
elder brother, .\rthur Marsden, who had come to this country some years
before, and joined the latter up here in the Red River valley, locating in
Hendrum townshij), Norman county, where for the next few years he was
engaged on a farm. In the spring of 1898 he formed a partnership with
382 CLAV AM) XoKMAN L OU XTI K.>, M 1 N N'KSOTA.
James Materson in tlu- lianlwarc business at Hendruni, a partnership which
continued until the spring of igo6, when Mr. Marsden ])()ught his partner's
interest in the Imsiness and has since been conducting the same alone, one
of the leading merchants in the village. In addition to his general hardware
business, .Mr. .Marsden carries a full line of agricultural implements and
farm machinery and has done very well in his mercantile operations. Ever
since locating at Ilendrum Mr. Marsden has taken a good citizen's interest
in local civic affairs and served for one year as recorder of the village and
for three years as president of the village, giving to his official duties his
most i'ntelligent attention. In December, 1914, his wife. Mrs. Edith A.
Marsden, who had been assistant principal of the Hendruni public schools.
was commissioned postmistress of Hendruni. and the postoffice is now con-
ducted in Mr. Marsden's store, a central point for ihe people of the village
and surrounding country.
It was on June 20. 191 J, that Henry Marsden was united in marriage
to lulith .\. McXee. of Spring Valley. Minnesota, and to this union two
children ha\e been born, I'rederick John and Winston Craig. Mr. and Mrs.
Marsden are members of the Presb\terian church and take a warm interest
in ciuuch work. Mr. ^larsden having served as a member of the board of
trustees of the local congregation. They have a i)leasant home at Hendruni
;md are helpful in jiromoting all movements designed to advance the com-
mon welfare of the communitv in which thc\ live.
OTTO .\LJ(;USTU.S CHRISTI.-XNSON.
One of the w ell-known farmers of Oakport township. Clay county, who
is deserving of the success he has achieved is Otto .Augustus Christianson.
He was born in Clinton county, Iowa, on the site of the present city of
Clinton, July 29. 1851. a son of Abraham and Catherine (Anderson) Chris-
tianson. loth natives of Norway. In 1840 the mother went to France as a
nurse, later returning to Norway, but in a short time started to America.
single. On the same ship was Abraham Christianson. They made the long
voyage to New Orleans, then up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. Mis-
souri, where thev were married by a German Lutheran minister, through an
interpreter : and then came on north to Clinton, Iowa, having made the entire
trip from Norway by water. This w^as in the year 1844. They took up a
homestead of eightv acres in Iowa, which farm is now the site of the Sunny-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 383,
side Nurseries at Lvous, a suburb of Clinton. The place was cleared and
improved by the father of the subject of this .sketch and there he carried on
farming until about 1855, when he removed to Houston county, Minnesota,
where he pre-empted a large farm, on which he spent the rest of his life.
The place is now known as the Bjornstad farm. After his death his widow
remarried and located at Fulton, Illinois, across the Mississippi river from
Clinton, Iowa, and there her death occurred. The father of the subject of
this .sketch was t\\ice married before his marriage to Catherine Anderson.
By his first marriage a daughter, Anna, was born. The following children
were by his second marriage : Caroline, Katherine, Charles, who was a
miner in Colorado and who served in the Civil War in a regiment from that
state, and Matilda. By his third marriage two children were born, namely :
.\niv Josephine, who died in infancy, and Otto A., the subject of this sketch.
Otto A. Christiansen grew up on the farm and received his early edu-
cation in the early-day schools of Houston county, studying for a time in tire
Housion high school, and later was a student in the Caledonia Academy.
.\s a boy and young man he worked out as a farm hand, also on steamboats
on the Mississippi river and on railroads. In 1874 he came to Moorhead and
])resently took a position in a warehouse of the firm of Barnes & Tenny at
Ghndon, and later worked in the store operated by this firm, remaining with
the firm about nine months. During the following winter Mr. Christiansen
taught school in Moland township; in fact, taught two schools, alternately,
at the same time. He then followed various occupations until the next win-
ter, when he again taught school. He had clerked for a short time in the
store of James Sharpe, who was one of the first merchants in Moorhead. In
the spring of 1876 Mr. Christianson took up a homestead of one hundred
and sixty acres in Oakport township and there he has since made his home,
developing a fine farm from the wild prairie, being one of the early pioneers
of that localitv. Wr. Christianson has added to his original farm until he
now has a farm of five hundred and forty acres, all well improved and under
a high state of cultivation. He has erected a splendid group of buildings on
his land and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
He is a stockholder in the I'-armers" Elevator Company at Moorhead. which
he helped organize.
In 1878 Otto A. Christianson was married to Mina K. Juve, a daugh-
ter of Ole Juve, a pioneer settler of Kragnes township. Clay county, who
located there about 1877. To that union three children were born, Anna
Josephine (deceased), Oscar A. and Milton (deceased). Mr. Christianson
married for his second wife .\ndria Nel.wn, who was born in Denmark, a
3^4 CLAY AND NORMAX COUXTIES, MINNESOTA.
daughter of Ebbe Nelson, wlio H\ e<l and died in Denmark. To this second
union eight children were borr, all living at this writing, and named as fol-
low: Ruth, Alina, Daniel, who is a soldier ii> the Eighteenth Infantrv, reg-
ular army of the United States, and at this writing (1917) is with the
I'ershing expeditionary force in I'" ranee; Lillian, John, who is at this writ-
ing a member of the Third Regiment, Minnesota National (luard, and is
stationed at h't. .\dams; Clara, Milton aixl Catherine.
Mr. Ciiristianson has always been active in the affairs of Oaki)ort lown-
>iiili lie helped organize the township and was a member of the first town-
sliip board: in tact, has been a menil)er of the i)oard most of the time since
ihc township was first organized, being still on the same. He was formerly
township assessor. He helped organize the first Sunday school, also the
lirst church in his community, known as the Concordia Lutheran church,
and later helped build the ])resent edifice for this congregation.
GUSTAV O. LEE.
Gustav C). Lee. a well-known, prosperous and progressive farmer and
stockman, owner of a fine farm in Moiand township, Clay county, was born
in Houston county, this state, on December 2, 1864, but has been a resi-
dent of this county since 1871. He is the son of Ole and Asger Lee, lioth
natives of the kingdom of Norway.
Ole Lee was a farmer in Norway, where he was born in 1835. in
1854 he immigrated to the United States and on arriving in this countrv
came on out to the state of Minnesota and settled in Houston county, where
he engaged in the life of a farmer for some years. In 1871 he and his
family moved into Clay county and homesteaded a tract of land. I Ic
immediately proceeded to put the land into a slate fit for cultivation, and
there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1873. two
years after he had taken possession of liie farm. His wife, Asger Lee, also
was born in Norway, in 1841 : came to .\merica in 1853 '^"^ ^^'is married
in 1863 in Houston county, this state. She is now living with her sou.
Gustav O., on his farm in Moiand township. Ole Lee and wife were the
parents of the following children: Gustav O.. the first born, and Julia. Olaus
and Andrew, who are deceased.
Gustav O. Lee was but a boy of nine years of age when his father
died and as he was the eldest child of the family he had to commence early
to assist his mother in the work of caring for and supporting the family.
OrSTAV O. LKE AXI> FAMILY.
,.^ Lie LIBRARY
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 385
and in consequence liis opportunity for an extended education was limited.
He was married on Jidy 17, 1892, to Vila Swenkeson, who was born in
1875 in Clay county, and who died, after a few years of married life, in
1895. There were no children to the marriage.
Mr. Lee is the owner of one hundred and ninety acres of the choicest
<|uality of land, has between twenty and forty acres each year planted to
jjotatoes, and in his farming- operations is doing splendidly. He carries
on his farming according to modern methods of agriculture and is accounted
one of the substantial farmers of this section of the county. Mr. Lee has
effected many \aluable improx-ements on his holding and has remodeled and
o\-erhauled the old homestead hduse, which is still in use. He raises a nice
herd of Shorthorn cattle and his stock in this strain finds a ready market,
at .good prices.
JOHN T. REDLAND.
John T. Redland, one of the real pioneers of Norman county, who was
largely instrumental in the organization of the first school in Shelly town-
ship, where he now lives the life of a farmer, who was one of the original
organizers of Shelly township and one of its earliest officers, and who was
one of the first men in this community to materially aid the establishment
of a place of worship for the people of the neighborhood, was born in the
amt of Stavanger, Norway, on November 28, 1844. He is a son of Thors-
ton and Martha (Iverson) Johnson, who were both born on the Redland
farm in the amt of Stavanger, in Norway. In 1854 the father and mother
decided to bring their family to America, but that was no easy task in those
days before the day of the steamship in its perfected state. For two long
months they were at the mercy of the Atlantic in a small sail boat, but
finally they landed at Quebec and from there proceeded on up the St. Law-
rence by steamboat to Montreal. They then followed the different windings
of the Great Lakes b}- di\erse means of transportation until they arri\ed at
Chicago. The family remained in that city for only one month, owing to
an outbreak of cholera there, and then they started for La Crosse, Wis-
consin, by rail, horses and river boat, for at that time the railroad extended
only ten miles west of Chicago. After a short stay in La Crosse, the family
went to Coon Prairie. Wisconsin, where the father died and where the
family remained until 1871. There were nine children born to Thorston
(25a)
386 CLAV AND NORMAN COL'NTIES, MINNESOTA.
and Martha Johnson, of whom the subject of this sketch was the tiftli in
order of birth, the others being Ann Catherine (deceased), Annie (deceased),
Martha (deceased), Toletta (deceased), Carrie (deceased) and Iver (de-
ceased). Two died in Vernon county, Wisconsin, in the days of the early
settlement of that county, when tliere was no cemetery, and it was neces-
sary to cut the coffin with a broadax.
In 1 87 1 John T. Redland and his uKitlur st.irted Westward in a covered
wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen, driving their cattle before them, crossed
the Father of Waters by ferry at La Crosse and drove on northwestward
through Minnesota, carefull\- scrutinizing the land as they passed over it.
Finally, their wanderings had led them so far as what is now Norman
county and there they settled in Shelly township, where Mr. Redland ha-
since lived. One could not recognize in this populous and well-developed
section the Xorman county of fifty years ago, for at that time Moorhead.
in Clay county, boasted of only one house. No bridges spanned the streams
swollen by the spring thaws, for each spring Mr. Redland, with the other
settlers of the neighborhood, found it necessary to build a contrivance across
the Wild Rice river by which they could cross, and this bit of pioneer civil
engineering had to be repeated each spring, for when the river would start
in upon one of its spring rampages, it would crumble the puny bridge
like matchwood. Alexandria, which was one hundred and sixty miles away,
was the nearest point where the settlers could gel provisions, but it was
not reached by railroad, for Mr. Redland made the round trij) twice with
a team of oxen, the trip requiring two weeks.
W^hen Mr. Redland entered this section, it was a vast expanse of un-
broken and unsurveyed prairie land, hence he took a "squatter's" claim,
where he now li\es. Later, he pre-empted some land and purchased more
from the railroad. He made several trips to St. Paul to buy railroad land
for his neighbors, as their representative, thus exemplifying the spirit of
brotherhood which flourished on the American frontier. After he had i)ui
in his first crop, Mr. Redland was happy in the anticipation of a bountiful
harvest, but the grasshoppers had other designs and absolutely stripped his
fields of vegetation. Ere the next year, the railroad, w-hich had lieen creep-
ing along so slowly, finally reached Breckinridge, and after that the pioneers
did not find it necessary to make such long trips to their market. During
his then short residence in the county. Mr. Redland had built his house,
which undoubtedly was a settler's cabin, as the main tool he had at his
disposal was a broadax. With the same clumsy tools he performed the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 387
sorrowful task of making a cofifiin for his brother, Iver, who died soon after
I he famii)- had reached tlieir new home in the great Northwest.
Soon other settlers came in and the population of what is now Norman
county became sufficient to warrant its civil organization. Anthony Scheie
was the first assessor in this part of the county and Mr. Redland was the
second. At that time the assessor assessed a wide scope of territory in
the niirthwest part of Norman county, for the present townships were
not then organized. In this capacity, Mr. Redland served for eight years
until he became asses.sor of the present township of Shelly, which he helped
to organize.
Mr. Redland's education, which was limited, was received in Wiscon-
sin. Even though the schools of those days were rude as compared with
the splendid system now extant in Norman county, he readily saw the necessity
of giving the children of his neighborhod such educational advantages as
the community could afford. Thus it is that the credit for the organization
of the first school in Shelly township is due to Mr. Redland. In those days
the law prescribed that a community must provide for a school house and'
conduct a three-months term at its own expense before it could receive
public or state aid. Since ATr. Redland was very anxious to bring this about,
he hired a teacher at sixteen dollars a month and board and had the school
conducted in his own home. He, himself, at times boarded the teacher and
personally paid six dollars a month of the salary. In addition to this, he
made trips to Crookston on skis in the bitter cold on school business. All
of this was done by Mr. Redland that the education of the children of the
community might not be neglected. For many years he served on the school
board, but after the educational progress of the community seemed safely
launched, he resigned. Not only did the school interests of the community
demand Mr. Redland's time and resources, but he was also deeply interested
in the establishment of a religious society. He helped to organize the first
church in the community, the Marsh River Lutheran church, on August
2, i<S72, at the house of Engel Lovesness. The society is still extant, but
Mr. Redland has changed his membership to a church nearer his home.
There are few pioneer settlements which have not had an Indian scare,
and the one of which Mr. Redland was a member was no exception. It
was in 1883 that the Indians seemed to be restless and the settlers were
all nn the qui z'kr, for they organized a local comi)any for their own
defense. Ha]jpily this organization was never called into active service.
-Many Indians camped on the river near Mr. Redland's home to fish, but
he alwa\s treated them kindly and did not incur their enmity. On this
388 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
occasion, in 1883, he did nut feel so sure of liis safety. As he was on his
way to board a train near Ada, in order to go to Crookston on business,
he met thirty Indians. As they kept to their course and as Mr. ixedland
had no hostile intentions, no breach of the i)eace was effected.
On June 29, 1881, John T. Redland was united in marriage to Carrit'
Sophia Morrison, who also was a native of Norway, born. March 18, 1862,
a daughter of Mauritz and Sarah (Sorenson) Larson, natives of Norway,
who lived and died there. To this imion six children have been lx)rn, namely :
Mila Sophia (deceased), William Tenny, Stella, Rul)en, Ida and .Milton
(deceased). Mr. Redlantl has always lived on the same farm since he
came to Norman county ; however, he lived on different parts of the farm
until he had proved up on that which he had pre-empted. After lie liad
done this, he came to the tract which he had purchased from the railroad.
In all, he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well-
improved and valuable land, ha\ing built the valuable and substantial build-
ings incident to the plant of a successful fanner. In addition to his many
activities in behalf of the progress of this section, Mr. Redland has also
been interested in making available better facilities in the comnnmity for
the marketing of the farmers' grain. In doing this, he helped to organize
the farmers elevator at Shelly. His son Ruben is interested in the creamery
at Shelly and rents the home place.
AXDRKW T. AABVE.
The late .\ndrew T. Aabye, who was a well-to-do landowner in Lee
township, .\orman count), and for years engaged in the mercantile business
at Perley, in which i)lace he also had banking and other interests, had the dis-
tinction of having been the first white child born in Goodhue coimty, this
state. He was born on a pioneer farm in that county on October 24, 1854,
and died at his home in Xorman county in 191 1. His widow, who is now
living on the fine farm of four hundred and ei.ghty acres in section 29 of
Lee township, lias done much in the way of improvement on that place since
lier luisband's death, having erected a new set of substantial, modern build-
ings, and is verv comfortably situated there.
Andrew T. Aabye's father and mother were of Norwegian l)irtli but
were married in this country, where they spent their last days, prominent
pioneers of Goodhue count}-, this state. They came to diis country on the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 389
same ship. The vessel was destroyed by fire as it was approaching land and
although all hands were saved, the passengers were compelled to take to the
l>oats without their Ijelongings and thus the elder Aabye and the girl who
shortly afterward liecame his bride landed in this country practically penni-
less. The}- were enabled, however, to make their way out into the North-
west and settled on a farm in Goodhue county, this state, among the very first
settlers of that county, their eldest child, the subject of this memorial sketch,
having lieen, as noted above, the first white perst^n born in that county.
Despite the fact that he landed in this country destitute of world's goods,
the elder Aabye became a successful farmer, the owner of two hundred acres
of fine land in Goodhue county, and was worth thousands at the time of his
death in tliat county about J901. He was four years older than his wife,
who survived him about ten years, she being eiglity-six years of age at the
time of her death. Of the children born to this pioneer pair, three are still
living, Mrs. Ole I-'inney. of Georgetown township. Clay county: another
daughter in Goodhue county, and another daughter in Olmsted county.
Reared on the home farm in Goodhue county. Andrew T. Aabye grew
u\) tliere familiar with pioneer conditions in Minnesota and remained there
until 1SS2. three or four vears after his marriage, when he came up into the
Red Ri\er \alley and bougiit a quarter of a section of land in section 29 of
T.ee township. Xorman county, and there established his home, the place on
which his widow is .still making her home. He later bought two adjoining
(|uarter sections and ins widow is now the owner of fonr hundred and eighty
acres of fine land, well ini])rove(l and profitably cuUivated. In addition to
his extensive land interests. Mr. Aabye was one of the most influential
factors in the development of the village of Perley. He opened a store at
that place shortly after the establishment of tlie townsite and was engaged
in mercantile business there practically all the time of his residence in
.Xorman county. For ten years he was postmaster at Perley and in many
ways helped to bring about substantial conditions there, one of the organizers
of the First National bank and also active in promoting other local enter-
])rises. His widow now owns the brick store building which she built on
the same site on which he carried on Iiusiness and is continuing to operate
the store, which is now managed by Mr. Erickson ; and the bank shares are
now owned bv his son, Carl .Aabye. who is also managing the home farm.
It was on May 28, 1878, in Goodhue county, this state, that Andrew
T. Aabye was united in marriage to Inger H. \Tixland, who was born in
Wisconsin on December 13, 1859. Her parents were both natives of the
kingdom of Norway, but were married in Wisconsin, where the\- lived
390 CLAY AND NORMAN COUXTIKS, M INNICSOTA.
until moving to Cioodluie county, tiiis state, where the mother is still living,
lieiiig MOW past eiglitv-tvvo years of age. The father bought a small farm
ujion locating in Cioodhue county and added to the same luuil he became the
owner of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres, which is still in the
possession of the family. He died at the age of sixty-four. Mrs. .\abye
has six brothers ;ind one sister, the latter of whom, .Mrs. Judge .\ndrew
Hanson, lives in this part of the country, a resident of Fargo, North Dakota.
Mrs. Aabye has three children, Olena. who married Gust Rrickson, of Parley,
and has two children, Arthur and Mildred; Clara, who married Justus Berg,
of Hendrum, and has one child, John Vincent, and Carl, managing the home
faini. who married Stella Ness, and has one child. Susan Katrina. The
.\al)\es have ever taken an interested part in the general good works and
social activities of their home community and have done much to help pro-
mote the substantial upbuilding of that part of the county.
h:D\VARn T. STEXNES.
Ivdward T. .Steime-;. the proprietor of three hundred an<l thirty acres
of line farming land in llalstad township. Norman county, where he car-
ries on general farming, was born on November 7, 1876, on the old home
place where he still lives, the son of Theodore and Annie (Serum) Stennes,
Ixjth of whom were natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota and were
married in Norman county in the fall of 1873. The mother was the
ilaughter of Ole and Annie J. (Norby) Serum, both natives of Norway, the
latter nf whom sjicnt her last days in Minnesota, one of the pioneers of
Norman countv. Ole .Serum was a farmer in his native country, and there
he married .\nnie J. Norby. to which union seven children uere liorn.
nanielv : .\. ()., one of the real pioneers of Norman county and a well-
known resident of llalstad township: Ingeborg. Maret. Karen, Mollie, Annie,
the wife of Theodore Stennes and the mother of the subject of this review-;
and Ole. In 1862 the father. Ole Serum, was drowned while taking part in
a log drive on the river not far from his home, and five years later his widow
with four of her children, including .\nnie, came to the United States and
settled in Fillmore count), Minnesota. There she remained until 1872.
when she, accompanied by her son, A. O. Serum, and her daughter, Annie,
came up into this part of the state and settled in Halstad t<jwnshii), Nor-
man countv.
CX-AY AND NORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 39I
Theodore O. Stennes left his native land, Norway, and came to America
in 1868. locating in I'illmore county. Minnesota. When the party, which
inckided Annie Serum and her mother and brother, moved toward Nonnan
county, Theodore Stennes. feeling- that greater opportunities awaited him
in this then new countrx-, joined them. As soon as he arrived in Norman
count}- he located on a (|uarter section in Halstad township. Three years
later, he let his brother Hans have seventy acres of the first tract and they
both proved up their holdings as hotnesteads. Theodore Stennes, Ijeing of
the stufif of which real pioneers are made, immediately set to work to im-
])r<)ve his holding, which was of bare prairie, by setting out groves and
raising the necessar\- buildings. Soon his industry was rewarded and he
was enabled to a<ld another quarter section across the road from his first
tract and later a tract of timber land. Theodore O. and Annie Stennes
were the parents of four children, of whom Edward T. is the second in
order of birth, the others being a daughter, who died in infancy: Clara, who
owns a millinery store in Halstad. and Olin, who has a hardware business
at Wolf Point. Montana, and who married Alice Berger. Sometime after
the death of his first wife. Theodore Stennes married Elizabeth Flogstad,
who was born in Norway, the daughter of Ole and Gura Flogstad, and to
this union one child has been born, Theodore, who works for his brother,
Odin. Theodore O. Stennes anfl family were members of the Norwegian
Tutheran church. t<' which denoniinatioi-i they alw'ays consistently and con-
scientiously adhered, the father having helped to organize the Augustana
Lutheran church, of which he was an officer during the greater part of his
residence in Normai-i county.
luKvard T. .Stennes. who has always lived on the old home place in
Halstad township, received his common-school education in the district
schools of his home township. Later, he decided to supplement his early
training by attending Concordia College, at Moorhead, where he had one
term. Much of his vocational training, however, has been derived from
the school of experience here on his father's farm; that this has borne fruit
is evidenced bv the splenrlid crops which Mr. Stennes reaps from his well-
improved farm of three hundred and thirty acres.
On February 4. 191 5, Theodore Stennes, Jr.. married LiUie Peterson,
who was born in Halstad. Minnesota, January 21, 1895, the daughter of Sam
and Christinia ( Liaunet ) I'eterson. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Stennes are
the parents of two children. Lloyd and Philip. Edward T. Stennes is an
adherent of the Norwegian Lutheran denomination, being a member of the
Augu'Jtana Lutheran church of which his father was such an active member.
392 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Politically, Mr. Stennes is a stanch advocate of independent i)rinciples. He
has never been a seeker after office. Of all movements in the community
which are initiated for its moral and material betterment. Mr. Stennes is a
hearty exponent and loyal supporter.
WILHl-.I.M NICKEL.
Wilhelm Nickel, deceased, formerly a well-known farmer of Hagen
township. Clay cnuity. where he lived for several years, was a native of
Russia, but had been a resident of this countr\- since 1878, first settlinsj in
Cottonwood count}-, this state, and later becoming a prominent and inllu-
ential citizen of Cla\ county, where he spent the remainder of his life since
coming here in iSgcS. liis death, which was generally regretted, occui ring-
in 1901. He was born in Russia on July 29, 1843, a son of Henry :md
Katherine (Martins) Nickel, who were farmers in that country.
Henr\- and Katherine Nickel were natives of Prussia and wlicu chil-
dren, went with their respective parents to Russia, settling in the southern
part of that country, where they spent the remainder of their lives, respected
citizens of their home community. They were the parents of eight children.
Henry, Katherina, Jacob. Maria, John, Elizabeth, Wilhelm and Helena, all of
whom are deceased with the exception of Helena, who is living in Russia.
Wilhelm was the only one of the famil\- to come to this country.
Wilhelm Nickel was married on January 14. 1875, to Maria .Veufeld,
also a native of Russia, in which country the marriage took place. In
1878 they came to this country and located near Mountain Lake, Cotton-
wood county, this state, coming to that part of Minnesota with the second
Russian settlement. Wilhelm Nickel bought a tract of land in that place
and continued to farm the same until iSi)8. in wliich \-ear he moved to
Hagen township, Clay county, where he operated three hundred and twenty
acres of prime land up to the time of his death in 1901, the same being now-
in the jxjssession of his widow-. He carried out some substantial improve-
ments, including a line l)arn, the other buildings now- on the i)lace being
erected by his family. Wilhelm and Maria (Neufeld) Nickel were the
parents of the following children; Cerhart, wdio was Ijorn in Russia and
who died in that country at the age of two years; Maria, born in Russia,
who died in Cottonwood county, this state; Wilhelm. born in Cottonwood
county, who died in Clav countv ; Gerhart, born in Cottonwood countv, who
Ml!. .\.\1> MUS. WlLHKIvM NICKEL.
THE ^'"'
PUBLIC
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 39J
died in Clay cijiint}-; .Mrs. A. F. Toavs, living at Wolf Point, Montana, and
Henfy \\'., l>orn Seiittniher 7, 1886, in Cottonwood county, who came with
his parents to Clay county. He has always lived on the home place and
operates three hundred and twenty acres of land, one hundred and si.xty
of which he owns, and ^>n which he carries on general farmino;, being re-
garded as one nf the progressive and substantial farmers of Ha.gen tnwii-
ship.
On January 1, 19 12, Henr}- W. Nickel was unitetl in marriage to
Susie Evert, who was born in Cottonwood county, a daughter of Jacob
Evert and wife, natives of Russia. To Mr. and Mrs. Nickel three children
have been born, W'ilhelm, Orlando and Ruth. The Nickel famil)', both
sides, are meniljers of the Mennonite church. Mr. Nickel formerly was a
member of the school board and he and his wife take a proper Interest in
the .general social acti\ities of the comnuinitv in which they reside, factors
for good in all that appertains to the welfare of the township.
Mrs. Maria (Neufeld) Nickel was the daughter of T\e\-. fierhard
Neufeld and wife, natives of Russia. The former was born in that country
in iHjj. In 1878 he came to Cottonwood county with the Russian settle-
ment and there died on December 15, 1916. He served as pastor for thirty-
eight years at Mountain Lake. His wife, Anna Tiecroew, who also was
born in Russia, died in that country. The\' were the i)arent> of the follow-
ing children: Katherina, .\nna, li\ing in .North Dakota; Maria, who lie-
came the wife of ^Vilhelm Nickel : Gerhart, Peter and Henry. .\11 the fore-
going children, with .the exception of .\nna and Maria, are living in Cot-
tonwood county. Three other children, Susie, Henr\- and John, died
vouner.
HARRY RICHARDS.
Harr)- Richards, one of the most e.xtensive lantlowners and progressi\e
farmers of Norman count}- and chairman of the board of directors of the
First State Bank of Perley, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has
been a resident of this section of the Red River valley since 1879 and is,
therefore, very properly regarded as one of the real old settlers of this
region. He was born at Erie, Pennsylvania, in August, 1858, son of John
S. and Adelade P. (McAllister) Richards, the former of whom also was
born at Erie and the latter, near Watertown, New York.
394 CLAY AND NORMAN COUXTIICS, MINNESOTA.
John S. Richards, who (hed in 1898, at the age of seventy-four years,
was a successful coal operator at Erie,- engaged both in mining and johbing.
Avas a member of the board of directors of the Second National I'ank of
Erie and was for some years holder of the controlling interest in the Xnrth-
western l""uel Company, of St Paul, having bought James J. Hill's interest
in that concern. His widow died in 1912, she then being seventy-four
years of age. They were the parents of three children, the subject of this
sketch having two sisters, Mrs. Mary Metcalf, of Erie, Pennsylvania, and
Mrs. Adelade Michener, a widow.
Reared at Iirie, i'enns\lvania, I larry Richards completed his schooling
in the Erie Academy and when twenty-one years of age, in 1879, cairie
up into the Northwest country and located at Fargo, where he became en
gaged in the coal business, details of which he had learned under the careful
direction of his father, at that time one of the leadin.g coal men in tlie
country, b'or about five years he continued in that business at P'argo and
then, in 1884, he bought a tract of something more than a section of land
in sections 18 and ig of Lee township. Clay county, and proceeded to im-
prove and develop the same. When Mr. Richards took possession of that
six-hundred-and-fifty-acre trad it was whcjlly unimproved, but it was not
long before he had it under cultivation and had there erected a farm plant
that was widel\- regarded as one of the Ijest in the Northwest. He has
continued adding both to his land holdings and to the improvements on the
place until now he is the owner of a great farm of thirteen hundred and
five acres and a farm i)lant that is a model of modern convenience and
effectiveness, the buildings on the place carrying insurance to the amount
of twenty thousanil dollars. In addition to his general farming Mr. Richards
has long gi\en close attention to the raising of live stock and in the summer
of 1917 had ele\en thousand dollars worth of stock on the place. The
farm house, the center of this admirable farm plant, is a large, modern
house, ec|uipped throughout in strictly u])-to-date fashion, and Mr. Richards
and his famih are \ery pleasantly and \ery comfortably situated. .\'ot
only has Mr. Richards been successful in his farming operations, but he
has given close attention to the general business activities of the commimity,
helpful in many ways in promoting the various enterprises that have added
so much to the development of this region. He was the organizer of the
First State Bank of Perley and is chairman of the hoard of directors oi
the same.
In 1880, the year following his location at I'argo, .Mr. {Richards was
united in marriage, at Erie, Pennsvlvania, to Sarah M. Eliot, who was born
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 395
at that place in 1859, aixl tn lliis union two childrtni have Ikx-w Imrn, a
son, John EHot Richards, and a daughter. Ruth KHot Richards, the latter
of whom was graduated from a New Jersey college in the spring of i()i7,
and the former, of Dartmouth College. John E. Richards reni;iins im the
home place, aiding in the general management of the same. Marry Richards
i> a Mason of high degree, having attained the Scottish Rite (thirty-second
(le.gree) in that order, a charter member of the consistory of North Dakota
and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine,
affiliated with El Zagal Temple at Fargo. He also is a member of the
.Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in the affairs of that order
likewise takes a warm interest.
SAMSON N. PETERSON.
Samson N. Peterson, an enterprising merchant at Perley, Norman
county, was born at Calamus, Iowa, January 21, 1864. He is a son of
Nils and Kari (Hanson) Peterson, both natives of Norway, where they
grew to maturity and attended school, and they were married in their native
land in 1855. They came to America on their honeymoon and located on
a farm near Calamus, Iowa, buying raw land, which they improved by hard
work and perseverance, enduring the usual hardships and jMivations of
pioneer life. The father still lives on the home place there, which he has
now occupied for a period of sixty-two years, a record that tew men in
his state can equal. He owns one hundred and eighty acres. His wife
died on December 21, 1891. She was a member of the Norwegian Luth-
eran church, to which Nils Peterson also belongs. To these parents three
children were born, Hans, Samson N. and Cornelius.
.Samson N. Peterson grew to manhood on the iiomc farm at ('alamns.
Iowa, working hard during the croj) seasons, and in tlie winter attended the
district schools, later attending the high school at Dewitt, that state, and
was graduated therefrom. He began life for liimself as a teacher, in the
fall of 1881, and continued teaching for ei.ght years with success, giving
satisfaction both to pupils and patrons, and his services were in demand.
During this period he taught four years in Norman county, Minnesota, hav-
ing come here in 1886. In the fall of 1890 he began clerking in a store at
Ada, and the following year took a position as clerk in the store of .\. J.
Kroshus at Perlev, which |)osition he held two years, then clerked two years
3y6 CI.AV AND NOK.MAN COUXTIIIS, M 1 X N'KSOTA.
in the Aabye store there. He then went tu l'"argi). Xortli Dakota, and
clerked one year: then had charge of a store at llorace, that state, seven
years. In all these positions he gave his employers most satisfactory serv-
ice, being faithful, alert and courteous to customers. During his period
of clerking .Mr. I'eterson was a close observer and mastered the various
ins and outs of the mercantile business, at the same time saving his earn-
ings. Ui)on lea\ing Horace in 1904 he located in Perley, Minnesota, and
bought out a general merchandise business, which he has since conducted
with \ery gratifying results, carrying an extensive stock of well-selected
goods and enjoying a large and growing trade with the town and surround-
ing country. He has also been interested in the Lee l^levator Company
there and has discharged the duties of secretary of the company during the
past nine years.
On .March 21. 18SS, .Mr. I'eterson was married to Bertha Margaret
Johnson, who was born at Calamus. Iowa, antl who received a good educa-
tion in the jtublic schools of Dewitt. liwa. She is a daughter of George
and Bertha ( Christianson ) Johnson, natives of Norway, who were farming
])eo])le of Clinton county, Iowa. Three children ha\e been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Peterson, namely: Xils. Beatrice and Laura. Mr. Peterson is
a Republican and is a memlier of the village council of Perley and also
clerk of the local school board. He belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran
church in which he is a deacon, having held this office for many years, and
is actixe in church work.
ANDREW I. HAGEN.
.\lbert J. Ilagen. the well-known owner of one hundred and ei.ghty
acres of Heudrum township land, and director in the I'armers State Bank
of the village of Hendrum, was born in Norway. September 21, 1859, the
son of Johanas O. and 01a\a .\ndreasdatter ( Hagen ) Hagen, both born in
Norwa}', where the\' were reared and were married, coming to America
in 1867. I'\)r the first ten years after the family came to .\merica, they
lived in Houston county, Minnesota, and \\'inneshiek county, Iowa, where
the father worked as a farm hand, a carpenter and a tinner. In 1877
Johanas Hagen, following the example of manv of his countrymen who
had emigrated from the land of their nativity to this country, decided to
push northward into Minnesota, where he could become the owner of some
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 397
of the excellent land whicii was at that time being opened to settlement.
In the year mentioned abo\e, he started to Xorman county hy train, and
his family, with the hotisehold goods and a few farming in:plements, and
two teams, one of oxen and the other of horses, followed oxerland with
a party of settlers made up of three families, one of which was that of
Ole N. Tommerdahl. In 1878 or 1879 the family homesteaded a cpiarter
section of land in Hendrum township where Albert J. Hagen now lives, anfl
there the father and mother lived until their deaths.
The elder Hagen became a prominent pioneer in the township, for he
was ever in the forefront during his residence there in the opening of the
country to settlement. He helped to organize the township and the first
church in the community, called the St. Paul Lutheran church ; the first
postoffice of Hendrum was established -in the house on his homestead, two
miles north of Hendrum \illage, and he was the first postmaster. To Johanas
Hagen and wife were born eleven children, all of whom died young except
the following six: Greta (deceased), Ole, Nickoli A. (deceased), Albert
J., the subject of this review; John, who is lixing in Hendrum, and Martin,
who died at the age of thirteen years.
Albert J. Hagen recei\ed a very limited education in the common
schools of Houston county before he came here with his parents in 1877.
and has always lived in Hendrum township since he has resided in .Vorm.m
county. After remaining several years on the home place, where he in
dustriously applied himself to bringing the family's hokling under cultiva
tion, he started out on his own account, buying eighty acres of railroad
land in Hendrum township, and later he bought a pre-emption right to eightx'
more acres and li\ed on the same for two and one-half vears, proving it
up. After that he returned to the eighty-acre tract of railroad land and
remained there eleven years, froin 1885 to 1896. He then took up his
residence on his father's homestead, which he has improved by erecting
excellent farm buildings and has since made that his home. He now is the
owner of one hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land on which he
carries on general farming.
On July II, 1889, Mr. Hagen married Sophia Christianson, who was
born in Norway, the daughter of Johan and Nikoline Christianson, who
ne\'er came to America. To this union have been born the following chil-
dren, all of whom are living: Olga, Julia, Matilda, .Alfred. Christian, Clara.
Stella, Hilda and Margaret. The Hagen family are all members of the
Lutheran denomination, in the affairs of which church they take a deep
and serious interest. Mr. Hagen is "independent" in his political \iews
398 CI.AV AND NOKMAN COfKTlKS, MINNESOTA.
and takes a good citizen's interest in tlic welfare of liis coinnumiiv. liavin.t;
served the township as to\vnshi[) clerk and as a nienil)er of the townsliip
board for several years. Being- a jjrogressive citizen of his commnnitv.
Air. Hagen has ever been interested in bettering the business agencies of
iiis neighborhood and helped to organize tlie farmers ele\ator. tlie creamerv
and the Farmers State Bank, all of Hendrum, and of the last cntcr])rise
named, he has been a director since its organization.
.\. (.',. .\.\.\i;.\S().\.
A. G. Aanenson. manager and treasurer of the Fanners' Elevator Com-
pany at .Shelly, former member of the cimncil of that village and one of the
best-known grain men in Xorman county, is a native of the kingdom of
Xorway. but has been a resident of this country since shortly after reaching
his majority. He was born on July 26. 1865, a son of Aanen and Johanna
C. (Aslaksen) Gnnderson. also natives of Xorway, farming people, who
spent all their lives in their n;itive country and who were the parents of five
sons, those besides the subject of this sketch being .\nton. Ole, John and
Andrew S. Aamodt.
Reared on the liDUie tarm, .V. (i. .Aanenson received his schooling in
the schools of his native land and remained there until after he was of age,
when, in July. 1887, he came to the United States and l(X-ated at Millsboro.
Xorth Dakota, in the vicinity of which place he worked on a farm until the
fall of that year, when he came o\er the line into Minnesota and for aljout
two years thereafter was engaged in work on farms in the vicinity of Hal-
stad. Mr. Aanenson then entered Hope Academy at Moorhead and was at-
tending school there when Concordia College was established in that city.
He entered Concordia and after a comprehensive course there began teach-
ing school in X'orman county and was thus engaged for two or three years,
at the end of which time he Ijegan farming in Halstad township. Two \ears
later he left the farm and moved into the village of Shelly, where he ever
since has made his home. It was in 1897 that Mr. Aanenson located at
Shelly and until he became connected with the Farmers' Co-operative Ele-
vator Company he was engaged as a clerk in various stores in that village.
Some vears after the organization of the Farmers' Co-operative I^le\atnr
Company he was installed as treasurer of the same and two years later was
made manager of the company, as well as treasurer, and has since continued
CLAY AND XC1R\[AX COINTIES, MINNESOTA. 3gy
to serve in that responsible dual capacity, rendering an excellent service in
behalf of the farmers of that neighborhood. Mr. Aanenson also has gi\en
thoughtful attention to local civic affairs, has rendered service as a member
of the village council and for the past fifteen years has been a member nf
the local school board, performing a valuable service in behalf of the schuols
of Shelly, which have been raised to a high grade of excellence.
On November 3. r8c;4, A. G. Aanenson was united in marriage to
Martha Marie Olson, daughter of Knute Olson, and to this union seven
children ha\-e been born, .\rthur Rennett. Cora Olene. Hannah Christine.
Alma Charlotte, Alvin Morris, Rernice Jeroma and Ardell Arnot. all of
whom are living. The Aanensons have a very pleasant home at Shelly and
take an interested part in the village's general social acti\-ities. Mr. and
Mrs. Aanenson are members of the Lutheran church, in the various benefi-
cences of which they ever have taken an actixe interest, and Mr. .\anenson is
a member of the board of trustees of the local congregation. Fraternally,
he is affiliated with the local society of the Sons of Norway and takes a
warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
OI.AF SOLWOLD.
Olaf Solwold. a substantial and progressi\-e farmer of Keene lownsinp.
Clay county, owner of two bnndred and forty acres of excellent land ;inrl
raiser of a good grade of live stock, is a native of the kingdom of Norway,
but has been a resident of this countr)- since he was eighteen years old,
coming here in 1880. He was born in 1862, a son of Peter and .\nn;i Sol-
wold, natives of Norway, who immigrated to America in 1880, accom-
panied by their son. the subject of this .sketch. Peter Solwold is now
living in Keene township at the advanced age of three score ;uid ten. His
wife, Anna Solwold, died in rgof). They were the parents of the following
children. Andrea (deceased), Carrie, Olaf. Harold ( dece.-iscd in Xorwav),
Annie, Harry and Enger.
Olaf .Solwold was educated in the schools of bis nati\e .Xorway and'
at the age of eighteen years, in 1880, immigrated with his jiarents to this
country and on arriving in Alinnesota located on the homestead of one hun-
dred and si:-.ty acres in section 22. Keene townshi]), the latter being later
sold. He W.1S a valuable assistant to his father in the work of improving
and developir^ the liome place. He bought on his own account a homestead
400 CI.AV AM) XOKMAN COINTIKS, MINNESOTA.
trad of one 'nindred and sixty acres in section J4 and in conrse of time
lionght eighty acres in section 23. Mr. Solwold is now engaged in general
farming and .stock raising and is regarded as one of the progressive farm-
ers of this i)art of tlie townshi]). He raises oats and l)arlev as well as
other crops. He has carried out many suhstantial im[)r(jvements on his
holding and has made an addition to the dwelling house, and his agricul-
tural operations are conducted according to modern farming methods.
Olaf Solwold was united in marriage to Anna Marie Olson, born in
Norway in 1872, and who, at tlie age of eighteen, came to .\nierica in
company with Olaf Solwold. who went hack to .X'orway in the fall of iSSg.
returning in the spring with his hride-to-lx?. To this union the follow ing
children have been horn : Peter, who is married and rents the .Mbertson
place, in the south part of Keene township: Marion, who is married and
lives in the state of Washington; Susie, who is visiting with .Marion: Ida,
who is marrie<l and li\es on a farm east of Keene township: and Olaf.
Bernard. Hannah. Laura, .\gnes and Kdna. living at home. Mr Solwold
is a meml)er of the Synod church and is an earnest attendant on its services.
He and his wife take a i)roper part in the general sociaJ and cultural
affairs of the neighborhood in which they li\e. e\er ready to assist in all
worthy movements intended to promote the best interests nf the c(jmniuniiy.
O. (r hWRSUALE.
O. G. Farsdale. head of the I'ar^dale Land .\gency at Glyndon, a sub-
-slantial landowner and one of the best-known men in this section of the Red
River valley, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, hut has been a resi-
dent of this countr\- and of Minnesota since he was fourteen years of age.
He was born at Faersdalen, two Norwegian miles from the \illage of
Meraker, in the stift of Trondjhem, October 8, 185 1, son of Guttorm Olsen
and Ingeborg ( Kirkeby) Farsdale, the former of whom also was bom at
Faersdalen and the latter at .Meraker. who became pioneer residents of
Minnesota and in this state spent their last days.
Guttorm Olson harsdale was a road builder in his nati\e land, in
1865 he crossed the .\tlantic with his family, the voyage requiring seven
weeks in the making, and landed at Quebec, from which port he came to
this state and settled on a farm in Goodhue countv. where he spent the rest
of his life, one of the substantial and influential pioneers of that county.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENex
I riLD£^ f OU.^.-PATIONS
'J
d
OS
P5
FAMir.v or o. a, faijsdale.
Tni, NEW YORK
P"-nC LIBRARY
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4OI
His wife died in 1868, about three years after the arrival of the family
in this country, and he afterward married Helena Olson, who is still living,
now making her home in Spring Prairie township, Clay county. G. O.
Farsdale died in 1872. By his first marriage he was the father of three
children, those besides the subject of this sketch, the eldest, having been
Mollie, who married N. E. Lundgren, and Ole, who died in Norway. To
the second union one child was born, a son, Ole.
As noted above, O. G. Farsdale was but fourteen years of age when
he came to Minnesota with his parents in 1865. As a boy of ten he had
been employed at herding cattle and had been thus engaged for three years
before coming to America. He had not neglected his schooling, however,
and after coming here pursued his studies in the schools of Goodhue county,
taking advantage of the opportunity thus offered to perfect himself in
the study of English, and for five winters was in attendance on the local
schools, supplementing the same by attendance for one term at the Lutheran
College at Decorah, Iowa. The death of his father in 1872, however, inter-
rupted his college course and he returned home to look after the interests
of the farm. He married in 1876 and for two years thereafter was engaged
in the drug business at Cannon Falls. In 1877 he came up into the Red
River \'alley and homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in section 6
of Riverton township, Clay county, thus establishing himself as one of the
pioneers of that section of the county. In the following spring he moved
his family here and established his home on the homestead tract, which he
proceeded to improve in substantial shape, erecting a good house and farm
buildings tf> match, and there continued to make his home until 1909, in
which vear he retired from the farm and moved to the village of Glyndon,
where he established the Farsdale Land Agency and where he since has
continued to make his home, extensively enga,ged in the real-estate business.
In addition to his real-estate and other interests, Mr. Farsdale is the owner
of fi\e hundred and sixty acres of excellent land in this state and is accounted
one of the most substantial citizens of Clay county. It is probable that no
man in the county has a wider or more accurate knowledge of real-estate
\alues in and about Clay county than has Mr. Farsdale. Not only that.
Init he has a practical knowledge of the needs of the agriculturist, based upon
his \-ears of experience as a ])ioneer farmer, and he is thoroughl}- ;uid accu-
rately posted on soil conditions throughout this valley.
In 1882, when Riverton township came to be organized as a civic
unit of Clay county, Mr. Farsdale was one of the leaders of tliat movement
(26a)
402 CLAY AND NDRMAN COUNTIKS, MINNESOTA.
and for more than twenty years thereafter served as clerk of that town-
ship. For abont the same lengtli of time he served as justice of the peace
in and for that township and since his removal to Glyndon has served as
assessor and as justice of the peace. In i8yo Mr-i-'arsdale helped to orjjan-
ize the Populist party in his home county and in 1892 was that party's
nominee for the stale Legislature. In 1902 he wa- the parly's nominee for
state senator. Of late years Air. Farsdale has reserved to himself the ri^ht
of independence in his political views and votes for the man rather than
for the party, believing and maintaining that that way lies good citizen-
ship, as well as the better conservation of the interests of all the people.
In church and scho')l affairs Mr. h^arsdale has also given of his best and
was one of the most active promoters of all good movements hercaboul in
pioneer days. He helped organize the Riverton church and ihe Sprint;
Prairie church and for many years served as secretary of the former. He
was also one of the incorporators of Concordia College at Moorhead and
has ever taken an active interest in the affairs of that excellenl and intluen-
tial institution.
On February 10, 1876, in Goodlme county, O. G. Farsdale was united
in marriage to Inglew Alattson, who was born on July 27, 1855, and who
is still living, one of the best-known and most highly respected pioneer
mothers of Clav county, her influence for good in the days of the creation
of a proper social order hereabout having endeared her to a wide circle
of ac(iuaintances throughout ihe county. To that union eleven children have
been l)oni. namely: Gusta\-. who died at th.e age of seventeen years: Ida
Matilda, who married h>ank Johnson, of Dululh. this state, and has three
children, h'lorence. Frances and Grace: Oscar P., living at M(M)rhea(l. who
has been twice married, his first wife having been Ollie Ellingson and his
second, Mrs. Mabel Mc.A.bee: Hannah B.. who married Leslie Hennessy,
of Glenwood, and had one chiTd. now deceased: Helen L., who married
Oscar Thompson, of Dululh, and has three children. Virginia, Carson and
P)vron; .Anna Maria, wife of Rudolph Mans, of Glyndon: .\Ifred B., now
living at Great Falls, Montana, who married Mabel Rudlang and has one
child, a daughter. Eleanor: Inger Olivia, who married Elbert Rotto, also
of Great Falls, and has one child, a son. Donald: Edwin H., who died
at the age of one vear and twelve days: Edwin Gustav. now a traveling
salesman, and an infant daughter who died on July 21, 1898. The l-'ars-
dales are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and have ever taken
an interested part in church work, as well as in other local good works
and in the general social activities of the community of which they have
been a part since pioneer days.
CLAY Ai\D NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4O3
NELS T. ODEGAARD.
The latt Xels T. Odegaard, who for years was one of the best-known
citizens of Norman county, a substantial landowner, farmer and bridge
l)uilder, who died at his home in Lee township in the summer of 1917, was a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but had been a resident of this state
since 1872. He was liorn on August 4, 1849, and remained in his native
land until 1872, in which year he came tu ^Minnesota with G. I. Crosby and
settled in Goodhue county, later coming up into the Red River country,
where he spent the rest of his life. He was the second of the two sons
born to his parents, Tora and Ranhild Odegaard, both of whom spent all
their lives in their native country and both of whom died during the eigh-
ties. The other son, Andrew, also is deceased.
In 1879, the year of his marriage. Nels Odegaard bought the land on
which his widow is now living, a quarter-section tract in section 23 of Lee
'township, and there established his home. He later bought an adjoining
twentv-acre tract and also a tract of forty acres in Georgetown township.
Clay county. By original vocation Mr. Odegaard was a bridge-builder and
upon coming up here did nuich work in that line, many of the bridges in
this part of the state having been built under his skillful direction. Not only
was he a good farmer, but he gave his attention to the general business
affairs of the community, was one of the organizers of the local creamery
company at Perley and a stockholder in the same, and was a stockholder in
the l-armers and Merchants Bank of Perley, long being accounted one of the
substantial residents of that section of the county. For some time he.served
the public as township trustee and in other ways did his part in public
.affairs, as well as in the general affairs of the community. Mr. Odegaard
<lied on lulv 4, 1917. and his passing was much lamented in the community
of which he had been a part since pioneer days, for he had done well his part
in all his relations with his fellow men.
It was on Tune 5, 1879. as noted above, that Nels Odegaard was united
in marria-e on the old Crosbv place, to Anna Crosby, who was born in
Norwav on Februarv 7, 1859. and who came to this state with her brother,
G 1 Crosby in 1872, her mother having died in Norway when she was
three years of age. There were born seven children in the family of Nels
Odegaard. namelv : Th.eodore. who is married and \xho ,s now I'vng m
North Dakota, where he is engaged in the buying of gram : Inga. wife of M.
\ I arson of Perlev : Marv. who is home with her mother: Jens, who ,s
now farming a three-hun<lred-acre farm belonging to h,s mother m the
404 CLAV AND NORMAN COUXTIKS, MINNESOTA.
neisihborliood of \\ ahpton : and X'elius. John and Alma, at home. Mr.
Odegaard was an active meml)er of the Lutheran church, as is his widow,
and did much toward jjromotint^ the various beneficences of the same. He
was lon<,' a meml)er of the hoard of trustees of the local church, helped build
the same and was a liberal contributor to the cause of church work. The
l.iniily have a very pleasant home in Lee township and take an interested
])an in the iictieral social activities and good works of the comniunitv.
S. S. DALEN.
S. S. Dalen, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank at Perley, and
one of the leading business men of southwestern Xornian county, was born
in Goodhue county, Minnesota, in 1863. He is a son of Syvert .\. and
Synva ( Biekke ) Dalen, both natives of Norway, where they spent their
earlier years, immigrating to America about 1842 and settling in Goodhue
county. Minnesota, among the jjioneers. There thev developed a good f:irm
by hard work and perseverance and established a comfortable home, contin-
uing to reside there until the spring of 1882, when they removed to the
\ icinity of Georgetown in Clay county, buying a farm of about one hundred
and fifty acres along the Red river, and there they spent the rest of their
li\es. They were memiiers of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Their fam-
ily consisted oi nine children, namely; Bretha, who married Ole Finley;
Xels, Andrew, Louis, John. ."^. S.. Anna, Gertie and Ole.
S. S. Dalen spent his boyhood in Goodhue county, where he helped with
the work on the farm and attended the public schools, later attending Will-
mar College, at W'illmar. Minnesota, where he took a business course in
1N87. After leaving school he began life for himself as a merchant, hand-
ling a general line of goods at (jeorgetown. He enjoyed a good business
with the people of that town and the surrounding country for many miles,
and remained there until 1899. when he moved to Perley, where he has since
resided. He became cashier of the Bank of Perley and there continued for
seven years, at the end of which time he sold his interest in the bank and
went to Moorhead and engaged in the clothing business there four years. He
then went to the state of Washington and spent a year, then returned to
Xorman county and farmed in the vicinity of Perley for three years, during
which time he was also interested in a store at Hendrum. In 1914 Mr.
Dalen again turned his attention to the banking business, organizing the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 405
Farmers and Merchants' Bank at Perley, of which he has since been cashier.
The rapid .s^rowth of this popular and safe bank lias been due very largely
ti) his able management and conservative methods and his honesty, prompt-
ness and courtesy in dealing with his patrons. A general banking business is
carried on and the bank has modern fixtures and equipment.
Mr. Ualen is also connected with the First State Bank of South Haven,
.Miniiesnta. and has an interest in a general store at Georgetown. He has
been ver\' successful in a business way, being a man of sound judgment and
foresight, energetic and persevering. Politically, Mr. Dalen is a Republican
and while living at Georgetown served as treasurer of Georgetown township
for ten years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, which he
ser\'ed as trustee for about twelve years ; has always been a liberal supporter
of the church and other worthy causes, and is active in church affairs.
In 1890 S. S. Dalen was married to Bertha Ohnstad, a native of Nor-
way. She received a commr}n school education. She is a daughter of Mons
and Christine (Ohnstad) Ohnstad. natives of Norway. Three children have
been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Dalen. namely : Clara, Sanford, who died when
eight years of age, and Bernice.
NELS J. ENGER.
Nels J. Enger, a substantial farmer and well-known stock raiser of
Halstad township, Norman county, where he owns two hundred acres ')f
fine farming land, a present member of the Norman county board of county
commissioners and a man who has been and is deeply interested in local
business affairs, was born in Norway, August i6, 1859, a son of Jacob J.
and Martha (Christopherson) Enger. The father and mother, who were
both natives of Norway, decided in the early seventies that .America offered
ihem excellent opportunities to establish themselves comfortably, as had
been the experience of many of their countrymen, and immigrated to this
country in 1872. They settled first in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where
there were several of their friends, and awaited the oi^ening of some new
territory northward where they could acquire a holding of the rich, new
prairie .soil. In 1878 the parents, with some of their children, joined a party
of settlers who were driving through to what was later organized into
Norman county. It was on May 9 of that year that the little band of pio-
neers struck out northward behind their horse teams, driving their cattle
406 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
before llieni and tliey arrived at their destination on June y, their juurr.ey
requiring a little more than ;i month. The elder linger and wife were the
parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this review was the young-
est, the others being: Anna Elizabeth, who married and lived in Norway,
rearing a family; a daughter, who died in infancy; Christ; Olaus J., now
called Lewis J. ; Martha, who is dead, and Ellen. Jacob and Martha Enger
did not establish a home in Norman county, but lived among their children
until their deaths.
Nels J. Enger received his early education in the schools of Norway
and in Eillmore county. Minnesota. He was only seventeen years of age
when he accompanied his parents northward into Norman county, but the
buoyancy so characteristic of a youth of that age lent enthusiasm to his
efforts to establish himself in that new land, and soon after he arrived in
that territory, he plowed a furrow around the southwest quarter of section
ID, in Halstad township and bought that tract when it was placed on the
market as state land. Since this land was overgrown with small timber and
underbrush, he bad no little difficulty in clearing it and putting it into
condition for growing crops, but his ])ersistence trium])hed in the end and
where formerl)- was an expanse of wild land be has now a well-improved
.\nd carefully cultivated farm. On this, the home i)lace, lie has planted a
fine grove and has raised adequate and substantial buildings. His industry
has enabled him to add to his holdings and several years ago he bought the
west half of the northwest quarter of section 15. in Halstad township. In
addition to his general agricultural operations, he raises tlnjroughbred Aber-
deen-Angus cattle.
On March 29, 1887, Nels J. Enger was united in marriage to Bertha
Orvick, who was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, Deccmljer 8, 1868,
a daughter of Jacob and llertha (Tollefson) Orvick. She came to Norman
county with her parents in 1879, just one year after Mr. Enger came north-
ward with bis parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Enger twelve children have
been born: Edwin M., Selnia, Tenny, Nora. James, Ernest, Chester, Myrtle
and Sella, all of whom are li\ing at home, and Edwin, Selma and Ijcnnie.
deceased.
.\ \ery obvious thing about Mr. Enger"s career thus far has been his
marked activity in local civic and business affairs. He has served as town-
ship supervisor and as a member of the township school board most of
the time. His work in these capacities has so commended him to his nei.gh-
bors that he was elected a member of the county board of commissioner-
anfl is an incumbent of that office at the present time. He has also given
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 407
of his time to the business interests of the community, since lie helped td
organize the Halstad Farmers Lumber Company, the farmers ele\ator rmd
the creamery at Halstad. In politics, Air. Enger is a stanch adherent (it
the Republican party. He and his family are members of the Augustana
Lutheran church and in the affairs of the same thev take an active interest.
ELBERT A. MELDRUM.
Elbert D. Meldrum, one of Norman county's most extensive landowners
and most successful stock raisers, the owner of a splendidly improved farm
of more than thirteen hundred acres in Lee township and long accounted
one of the most progressive agriculturists in this section of the Red River
valley, is a native of the great Empire state, but has been a resident of this
part of the country since the early eighties and is, therefore, very properly
regarded as one of the real "old settlers" of this section. He was born in
the city of Buffalo, New York, in 1859, a son of Rol^ert O. and Julia Ettie
(Brown) Meldrum, the latter of whom is still living at Buffalo, being now
in the eighty-sixth year of her age. She was born at East Aurora, New
York, of old Colonial stock, one of her ancestors having come over in the
"Mayflower." Robert O. Meldrum was a native of Novia Scotia and came
to the States with his parents in the days of his youth. He was one of
the pioneer oil men in Pennsylvania and was quite successful in his opera-
tions, having investments both in that state and in New York, and was
also interested in land in this part of the country, his total real-estate invest-
ments being very extensive. He died at his home in Buffalo in 1884, he
then being seventy years of age. Robert O. Meldrum and wife were the
])arents of five children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was
the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : Charles H., who
is married and who now makes his home at Mt. Clemens, Michigan : Mrs.
Ettie M. Kurtz, New York; Mattie E., wife of H. C. Prox, of Terre Haute.
Indiana, and Robert O., J''-, who is married and continues to make his home
in Buffalo.
b'lbert D. Meldrum grew to manhood in Buffalo, receiving his school-
ing in the schools of that city, and early became engaged with his father
in the oil business, .'\bout 1882 he became attracted to the possibilities of
land investments up here in the Red River valley and with a \iew to develop-
ing property in this section located at Aloorhead, where he acquired consid-
4o8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, M I N XKSOTA.
erable interests and at the same time boiiglil land un which he i> now hvini,'
in Norman county. For several years after coming here he made his home
in Moorhead, but shortly after his marriage, in 1885. established his home
on his farm in Norman county and has since continued to reside there, hav-
ing developed one of the finest bits of farming property in this section
of the state. Mr. Meldrum is the owner of thirteen hundred and eightx-
four acres of excellent land in sections 36 and 30, 31 and 32, in Lee town-
ship, and has an admirable farm plant. In addition to his general farming
he has for years given close attention to the raising of pure-bred live slock
and his operations have been quite successful. In addition to his interests
here, Mr. Meldrum owns a handsome bit of residence property in Buffalo
and he and his wife spend their winters in that city.
It was on March 2y, 1885. at Buffalo, that Elbert D. Meldrum was
united in marriage to Grace Darrow. who was born in that city in i860,
and to this union one child has been lx)rn. a daughter, Mrs. Clarabelle
Metzger, who lives in Piuft'alo and has one child, a daughter, Grace E.
Mr. and Mrs. Meldrum have a delightful home in Lee township and have
ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of the community
of which they have been members since pioneer days. Mr. Meldrum is a
life meml)er of the Masonic order and takes a warm interest in the aft'aivs
of that fraternal organization.
JUSTL'S C. BERGH.
Justus C. Bergh, one of Norman county's best-known and most sub-
stantial farmers, the proprietor of a fine farm in the vicinity of Hendrum,
former justice of the peace in and for Hendrum township, president ot
the village school board, a director of the State P.ank at that place, a
director of the Equity Cooi)erative Grain Exchange of St. Paul, of the
Farmers Elevator Company at FTendrum, of the Hendrum Creamery Com-
panv. a member of the \illage park board and in other ways interested in
and identified with the progress of that village and \icinity. was born on a
farm in Vernon county, \\'isconsin. November i. 1869, a son of John J.
and Karia J. (Bergh) Bergh. natives of the kingdom of Norway, wh<i
later became residents of Norman county, where the former spent his last
davs and where the latter is still living.
CLAY AND NORxMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4O9
John J. Bergh was about ten years of age when his parents came
to this country from Norway, setthng in Vernon county, Wisconsin, wliere
he grew to manhootl and began farming on his own account, being thus
engaged at the time of the outljreak of the Civil War. In August, 1862,
he enhsted for service in behalf of the Union, a member of Compan\-
K, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Wisconsin \'olunteer Infantry, Fuller's Division,
and with that command served until the close of the war, being mustered
out in June, 1865. With the exception of six weeks, during which time he
was laid up in the hospital, Mr. Bergh was in active .service, participated
in all the engagements in which his regiment tnok part, including i^omt
of the most important actions of the war, and was with Sherman on the
march to the sea after the close of the Atlanta campaign. L'jjon the com-
pletion of his military ser\-ice Mr. Bergh returned to his home county in
Wisconsin, was married in that county and there continued to make his
home until 1880, when he came over into the Red river valle\' and entered
a homestead farm in Trail county. North Dakota. He settled there with
his family in 1881 and lived there until 1893, when he moved over into
Minnesota and located on a farm in Hendrum township, Norman county,
one and one-half miles east of the village of Hendrum, where he spent the
rest of his life, his death occurring in 1904, and where his widow is still
living. To John J. Bergh and wife fourteen children were born, of whom
the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being-
Emeline (deceased), Clara, Tinan (deceased), Ella (deceased), Hannah.
Manda, Otto, Casper (deceased), Karina (deceased), Edmond, Stephen,
Herman and Palmer.
Justus C. Bergh \\as about eleven years of age when his parents
moved from Wisconsin to North Dakota and he completed his elementary
schooling in the district schools of Traill county, that state, supplementing
the same by a course of two years of study in Willmar Institute at Willmar.
this state. His father had a tract of timber land in northern Minnesota
and after he left school he was for two years engaged in getting out the
timber there and then, in i8q2, settled in Hendrum township, Norman
county, where he has lived ever since, quite successfully engaged in farming.
In 191 3 be bought the home farm of tw-o hundred and ninety acres in
Hendrum township and is now very well situated there, having one of the
best-improved and most profitably operated farms in that part of the slate.
In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Bergh is interested in various
concerns of a local character and has done much to help develop the re-
sources of the comnnmity in which he lives. He was one of the incori)ora-
4IO CI..\^• AXf) XOKMAX COUXTIKS, MINNESOTA.
tors of the Equity Co-operati\e (iraiu I'Lxcliaiigc of St. I'aul and has
been a member of the board of (brectors of the same since its organization.
He also is a member of the board of directors of the Equity packing phmt
at Fargo ; is a director of the State Bank of Hendrum, a director of the
Farmers Elevator Company there and a member of the board of directors
of the Hendrum Creamery Company, in the affairs of all of which concerns
he takes an active interest. Mr. Hergh also is closelx' attentive to local
civic affairs and is a member of the village park board. Some years ago
he served for some time as justice of the peace in and for his home town-
ship and is now ser\'ing as president of the local board of educatif)n. giving
bis most intelligent attention to the interest of the schools.
On Feburary 19, 1913. Justus C. Bergh was united in marriage to
Clara Aabye, of Perley, a daughter of .\ndrew .Nabye. and to this union
one child has been born. .1 son, John Vincent. Mr. ami Mrs. Bergh aie
meml)ers of the Lutheran cliurch and take a projjcr i)art in church work.
as well as in other nei.gliborhood good works, ever helpful in advancing
the cause of the coninidu welfare in the commuiiit\' in wJiicb thev li\e.
loiix 1'. c.Rorii!':
One of the earliest settlers in Shelly and Halstad townships, Xorman
county, where he accumulated one thousand acres of good land, was John
I'. Crothe. who after many years of valuable serxice in wresting this wild
land from its primeval state and in developing this country to the point
where future generations can li\e without enduring the hardships and priva-
tions of pioneer life, has passed on to his reward. He was a native of
Norway, born on October 4, 1847, a son of John and Karen Grothe, also
natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota in 1867 and settled on rented
land in Fillmore county, the subject of this memorial sketch then having
been twenty }ears of age. Seeing that they had the opportunity to become
landowners in this country, the family joined a party with nine covered
wagons drawn by oxen, which had for its destination Norman county.
1"hey all dro\e tbrongb together, the journe_\- recjuiring five or six weeks,
as the}' were looking c>\er the land en route, since they considered it a
possibility that the\- could find a place to establish their home without hav-
ing to go so far into the wilderness. At first the elder Grothe took a
'■s(|uatter"s" claim in flalstad township, wiiich was at that time unsurve\ed
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4II
land, the party to wliicii the Grotlie family belonged being the second settlers
in that neighborhood. John (Irothe did not prove up his claim and in 1875
or 1876 removed to Hendrum township and took a homestead of one hun-
dred and sixty acres in section 18, and there he lived the rest of his life.
John and Karen Grothe were the parents of eight children, of whom the
subject of this review was the third in order of birth, tiie others being Berit,
Olena, Nickoli, Christ, Karen, all of whom are dead, and Peter and .\lbert
J., who are living in Hendrum township. The Grothe family were stanch
adherents of the Lutheran church, the father having helped to organize
the Marsh River church of that denomination, and during his residence
in Hendrum township was instrumental in the establishment of the St.
Paul Lutheran church.
John P. (jrothe recei\ed bis earlv educati(jn in Xor\va\' and aftei' be
caiue to America, when he was twenty years old, he bad to spend some
time in learning the English language. He located with his parents in
Fillmore county, Minnesota, and. in 187 1, he drove through with a yoke
of oxen to Norman county and settled at once on Marsh river, where he
homesteaded a (|uarter of section of land, and there his famil\- still lix-es.
The land was all new then and nothing but vast stretches of the fertile [irairie
.greeted the eyes of the sturdv settlers. By dint of unflagging industry and
great perseverance, he succeeded in bringing his holding under cultivation.
As the years passed and as prosperity smiled upon his efforts, he was enabled
from time to time to extend his holdings and when his death occurred he
was the owner of one thousand acres of excellent. well-impro\-ed land in
Shelly and Halstad townships, the home place being in the latter civil
division.
On Januarv 4, 1883, John P. Grothe was united in marriage to Bertha
Marie Christopher, who still survives her husband. She was born in Fill-
more countv, Minnesota, a dau.ghter of Bartel and Serena (Olson) Chris-
topherson, nati\es of Norway, who decided to immigrate to the United
States. At first thev settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota, but later the\-
drove through in covered wagons to Norman county and settled on ;i liome-
stcad in Halstad townsbii). There they remained the rest of their lives,
the death of the mother occurring two years after that of the father. The_\-
were the parents of twelve children, of whom onl\- four grew to maturity:
Bessie Marie, the widow of the subject of this review; Olaus Holm, Marie
and Serena. Bartel Christopherson and family were desoted members of
the Norwegian Lutheran church, the father having helped to or.ganize the
Au'Tustana Lutheran church.
412 CI,AV AND XOU.MAX COT XTI KS, MINNESOTA.
To Ml", and Mrs. John I', (irotlu' si.\ chiltlren were \ntrn. all of whoin
are livino', namely: Cornelia, wife of Theodore Osterson : Charles !'>..
I'aliner ()., Minnie, Jose|)h B. and Clarence. The Grothes are nienihers of
the Norwegian Lutheran denomination and the father helped to organize
the Augustana church of that creed. .\lr. Crothe also was always deei)ly
interested in the advancement of die ci\ic and industri;d wcll-heinii of his
neit;hl)orhood.
JOSI'.I'II W. C. .WDF.KSOX.
Joseph W. G. Anderson, well-known hanker of Norman county, presi-
dent of the State Bank of Shelly and a stockholder and director in eight
banks in this part of the state. North Dakota and Montana, former presi-
dent of the village of Shelly and who also has extensive lumber and real-
estate interests hereabout, was born in the neighboring state of Wisconsin,
l)ut has been a resident of Minnesota for the past twenty years and during
his residence here has come to be recognized as one of the real "live wires"
of this part of the state. He was born on a farm in X'ernon county, Wis-
consin, March ii. 1871, son of Ole and Rachel .Xnderson, the former a
native of .Sweden and die latter of Norwa\', who were the parents of nine
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth,
the others being A. ().. Olaus (deceased). Caroline, Norton, Bennett (de-
ceased), James, Albert anil Josephine. Ole .\nderson was but a lad when
he came to this countrx- with his parents, .\ndrew Anderson and wife, from
his native Sweden, the family settling in X'ernon county. Wisconsin, where
he grew to manhood, married, engaged in fanning and there spent the re-
mainder of his life, a substantial and useful citizen. He and his wife were
members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared
in that faith.
Reared on the home farm in X\ isconsin. Joseph W. G. Anderson re-
ceived his early schooling in the schools of that neighlxDrhood and completed
the same in the high school at Hillsboro, North Dakota. Upon completing
his schooling he was given a position in the First National Bank of Hillsboro
and remained thus employed for ten years, becoming thoroughly familiar
with the details of the banking business. He then went to Caledonia, North
Dakota, where he was further engaged in banking for a period of three years.
at the end of which time, in 1898. he came over the line into Minnesota and
at Shellv helped to organize the First State Rank of that village. Upon the
organization of this bank Mr. .Vnder-^on was made cashier of the same and
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4T3
served in that capacity until the fall of 1916, when he was elected president
of the bank, which position he now holds, one of the best-known bankers
in this part of the state. North Dakota and Montana. In addition to his
banking interests at Shelly Mr. Anderson is a stockholder and a nieniljer of
the board of directors of seven other banks and has been a large influence
in the work of developing the resources of this section, ever helpful in pro-
moting movements designed to advance the common welfare. He also has
extensive luml)er and real-estate interests and is one of the well-to-do men
of Norman county. Mr. Anderson also has ever given a good citizen's at-
tention to local civic affairs and has served as president of his home village.
In 1901 Joseiih W. G. Anderson was united in marriage to Caroline
Tronnes, who was born in the Red River valley. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson
have a very pleasant home at Shelly and take a proper part in the general
social activities of the community. They are members of the Lutheran
church and, fraternally, Mr. Anderson is affiliated with the local lodges of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of .\merica.
GLINERIUS I. CROSBY.
Gunerius I. Crosby, the hrst homesteader in Lee townshii). Norman
county, where he carries on general farming and stock raising on his fine
farm of four hundred and forty acres, is a native of Norway, born in March,
1856, a son of Iver Jenson and Anna Christina Crosby, both of whom were
natives of Norway. The former came to America with his son, Gunerius,
with whom he li\ed, helping with the farm work on the old homestead until
he died at the age of sixty-eight years in 1889. The mother died while
the family lived in the old country, when the subject of this review was
only six years of age. The elder Crosby and wife were the parents of
five children: Jens, who died at Minneapolis in 1873: Gunerius 1.. the sub-
ject of this sketch; yViina, the widow of Nels Odegaard ; Johannah, who lived
with her brother, Gunerius I., until her death in 1883, and another lirother,
who died in Norway, the last two being twins.
Gunerius I. Crosby spent the early years of his life at the old home
back in Norway, where he received his early schooling; but early missed
the guiding counsel of his mother, who died when he was a child of si.\
vears. Soon after he had reached man's estate he decided to cast his lot
with others of his countryiuen who were coming to America, and in 1872
he and his father landed and came directly out to Minnesota, settling in Good-
414 CLAY ANJ) NOUMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA.
hue counly, where some of their friends were Kieated. 'I'here the)- remained
on a farm for six years, at the end of which time they removed to Rice
county. Minnesota, ii\in^" there on a farm for a period of tliree years.
Hearing tiiat excellent opportunities awaited settlers up in the Red River
country, they came on up into Xornian count\- and there the son home-
steaded one hundred and sixlv acres in section 34, nf l,ee township, which
land at that time was nothing more than a part of the vast expanse of raw
prairie whicii stretched off in the distance. For the first few years of farm-
ing on his new holding, Air. Ooshy's equipment was clumsy, since he
had onlv a \(jke of oxen and a few of the most essential implements, hut
as the years passed he was enahled to increase and perfect his equipment
until he had developed on the spot which was formerly a wilderness of
])rairie an excellent farm plant. He remainetl on his homestead until 189J,
in which _\ear he sold his hdlding and hought four hundred and forty acre■^
in sections 15 and 2j. Lee townshi]), which tract he has continued to own.
In the fall (jf iHyg Mr. Croshy went to Oregon and there hought land,
which he later sold when he returned to his place in Lee township. On his
home place here he has made suhstantial improvements, including a new,
modern, cumfortahle farm house. A good harn. erected in iS!^2, was on
the place when he hought it and is still standing.
On June K). i88i, Mr. Croshy was unitol in marriage to Sophia Lar-
son, who was horn in Xicollet county, Minnesota, on .\pril 6. i860, a daughter
of h'lias and Ingehorg ( Selland ) Larson. To this union eight children have
heen hum. nameh' : Ida, wlio died in 1915. at the age of thirty-two years;
Julia, the wife nf j. M. Olson, now living in .Montana; Emma, a teacher,
who li\es at home; James and Gilhert. both married and living in Montana;
LUa. a nurse at Grand Forks; Agnes, who is studying music at l\irgo,
and Xorman, at home. .Mrs. Crosby's father and mother died on the old
homestead in .VicoUet counly, ten miles west of St. Peter. Elias Larson was
the first postmaster of .Xorseland, Minnesota. He and his wife had nine
children, of whom two sons and two daughters are still living and four
daughters aiul one son are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Crosln- are members of the
Xorwegian Lutheran church, in the faith of which denomination thev have
reared their children.
Mr. Crosby has been and is a ver\ active man in his community, lie.
with the other progressive farmers of this section of the country, have left
behind the old system of exclusive grain farming and he carries on a scien-
tific kind of dixersified farming along with his ratlier extensive stock raising.
In the civil atYairs of the township he has taken an active part, having
served as a member of ihe lioard of township su])er\-isors and as treasurer
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 415
of the local school board. He also is a participant in the business interests of
this vicinity, being a director of the F'armers Elevator Company at Perley,
which he helped to organize, and holding stock in the First State Rank of that
place. Politically, Mr. Crosby is independent.
HALVOR O. RASK.
Halvor O. Rask, the owner of five hundred and forty acres of Hendruni
township (Norman county) land, where he lived, a banker and well-known
business man, was born in Norway, November 15, 185 1, the son of Ole
C. and Ingeborg (Vermager) Rask, both natives of Norway, who came to
America in 1857 and settled in Houston county, Minnesota, where the\-
bought a farm and where they remained until their deaths. When the
elder Rask bought this tract, which contained eight}- acres, it was cov-
ered with grubs and stones, a condition which did not permit its being
speedily brought under culti\-ation. Nevertheless, the family set to work to
improve the farm, and eventually bountiful crops repaid them for their
labors. Ole C. Rask and wife were the parents of six e»liildren, namely:
Christ, now dead, who served in a Minnesota regiment during the Ci\il
War; Peder, deceased, also a member of a Minnesota regiment and a
\eteran of the Civil War; Carrie: Petter; Halvor O., and Halvor J.
When Halvor O. Rask first breathed the air of America, he was not
yet six years of age, and when he v/as only ten years of age, his older
brothers, Christ and Peder, showed their true American spirit In- heeding-
the call of their adopted ccnmtry and marching away for service during
the Civil War. Until he was past twenty years of age, Mr. Rask worked
on the home place, contributing his efforts to the making of the improve-
ments necessary to the bringing of the land under cultivation: but in kS/J
he struck out for himself. Ha\-ing inherited part of the home farni he bought
the rest and farmed there until 1877, when he came to Norman county and
iKJught three hundred acres of Hendrum township land. However, he
did not come here to live until |88_'. In that year he began the in-iprove-
ment of his holding by planting groves and raising good, substantial farm
buildings. As the years of his industry passed, he extended his possessi(ins
until now he owns five hundred acres of well-improved land, on which he
carries on general farming.
Nellie Bye, who was born in Houston county, Minnesota, in Ma\-.
1857, the daughter of Andrew and Sophia (Sownes) Bye, became the wife
4l6 CLAY AND NOKMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of Halvor O. Rask on May 20, 1878. To Mr. and Mrs. Kask eii^ln chil-
dren have been born as follow: Oliver. Ida, Alma, Arthur and Stella, all
of \vhom are dead; Oliver, now living- in Xorth Dakota: and Stella and
Ruby, living at home with their parents. The Rask family are members
of the Lutheran church, in the affairs of which they take a deep and active
interest. Mr. Rask is a Prohibitionist, and in the civil affairs of his township
takes a g;ood citizen's interest.
Mr. Rask has been and is deeply interested in furthering the liusines^
interests of his community, since he helped to organize at Hendrum the
creamery, the farmers elevator, the local telephone comjiany and the State
Bank. At present he is a director of the elevator and the telephone cc.ni-
l^anies, and has been president of the State r>ank since its Drganization.
LOUIS r. LARSOX.
One of the farmers of Spring Rrairie township, Clay county, who has
found life on the farm desirable in every way is Louis T. Larson, who
was born in Norway on December 25, 1864. He is a son of Lars and
Gesene .\ndria ( Torkelson ) Larson, both natives of Norway, where they
grew to maturii)-, married and established their home. The father died
there in 1915 and the mother is still living at the old home there. i'o
these parents nine children were born, Trena, Maria, Louis, .^nna, Tonnis,
Louise, Amelia, Adolph (deceased) and Lena.
Louis T. Larson grew to manhood in Xorw ay and there he attended tiie
common schools. He heard of the tine opportunities for the yoimg man
of grit in the vast Xorthwest of the .\nierican continent and when but a
hoy, resolved to try his fortune there, so he made the long trip from his
native laml to Minnesota, reaching Clay coimty in April, 1884, w-here he
joined his sister, Trena Torkilson, who had come here the year previouslv.
He worked in Glvndon township on farms, also in Xorth Dakota a few-
years. In 1890 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section _'8
of Spring Prairie township, Clay county, and there he has since made his
home. He has developed an excellent farm, putting up all buildings and
making other necessary improvements, and is carrying on general farming
and stock raising successfully, having made a sjjecialty of Shropshire sheep
ever since he began farming for himself. He is now owner of four hun-
dred acres of \alual)le land, constituting one of the choice farms of Spring
s
50
•:EW YORK
: LIBRARY
ASTOP, LENBX
TTLDKN FOUNDATIONS
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES^ MINNESOTA. 417
Prairie township. He devoted his attention exckisively to his large fann-
ing interests and has no inclination to political affairs whatever, other than
to perform a good citizen's part in his community, assisting in whatever
makes for the general upbuilding and good of the same.
On March 29, 1890, Mr. Larson was married to Jennie Lindahl, a
nati\'e of Sweden and a daughter of John Lindahl, whose biography appears
elsewhere in this volume. John Lindahl was born in Sweden in 1833 and
there he married Sarah Johnson in 1857. They continued to reside in their
native land until 1882, when they immigrated to America, locating first
in Cass county. Xorth Dakota; then came to Minnesota about a year later
and located on a homestead in Spring Prairie township. Clay county, which
they developed into a good farm and where they have since resided. They
are both now well advanced in years, Mr. Lindahl being eighty-four vears
of age. His family consisted of sixteen children, as. set out in the biographi-
cal sketch of this pioneer which apjiears on another page of this volume.
To Louis T. Larson and wife thirteen children have been born, four
of whom are deceased. Adolph, the eldest son, joined the United States
navy and died of sickness, while in the service. The nine living children are
Lena, Esther, Theodore, Fred. Ray, Louisa, Joseph, Alma and Norman.
Politically, Mr. Larson is a Republican. He has been treasurer of S])ring
Prairie township for many years and also for many years has been a mem-
ber of the school board, still continuing active in these ofifices. Formerly
the entire township constituted one school district and Mr. Larson helped
organize the same.
K. M. DANIELS.
K. M. Daniels, one of Clay county's well-known farmers, was born
in Jackson county, Iowa, September 3, 1867, a son of K. C. and Emeline
(Rose) Daniels, both of whom were born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania.
The father of our subject went to Jackson county, Iowa, when a yoimg
man, and after a few years spent at that place he went to Ida county, Iowa.
In the fall of 1880 he came to Minnesota and located on a homestead in
Humboldt township, about three miles north of Bamesville, in Clay county.
In this homestead there were about one hundred and eighteen acres which
he improved and farmed until his death, which occurred in 189 r. at the
age of sixty-seven years. His wife died in T0T3, at the age of eighty-four
(27a)
4t8 clay and NORMAN COUNTIICS, MINNESOTA.
years. They had five children: Saiali, Mary. [\. .M.. Cinderella and Xancy.
the latter of whom died at the age of sexenteen ycar.s. The father of our
subject was a member of the Baptist church: the mother was a i'resbyterian.
K. M. Daniels was educated in the public schools of Iowa and in
the schools of Clay county, which latter he attended after coming to this
county, and while a boy worked on his father's farm. .Mxnit 1890 he took
a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres located in lilkton townshi]).
Clay county, and lived on that farm for about five years. In the fall (if
1901 he bought one hundred and eighty-seven acres, tiie farm which he
now owns, and has there carried on general farming ever since.
Mr. Daniels has been twice married. Mis first wife was Anna lUuk-
ingham. After her death 'he married l^ura Shave, in 1901. She is a
sister of Walter Shave, whose personal sketch a()])ears in another pl.acc in
this work. Argall is tVje only child by the first marria.ge ; the children by
the second marriage are: W'innifred, Lucilc, Dorotha, Ruth. Murrell and
Lester.
Mr. Daniels is a member of the Presbyterian clnirch and has serxed
as trustee of the church, ^^''hile living in Humboldt township he was town-
ship supervisor.
ANDREW HAALAND.
The late Andrew Haaland, who died on his well-kept farm in Lee
township, Norman county, in February, igio, and whose widow is still liv-
ing there, was a native of the kingdom of Norway, as is his widow, and
they were married in that country, the latter being nineteen years of age
at the time. She was born, Gertrude Moran. on October 8, 1863, and is
the elder of two daughters liorn to her parents, she having a sister. Lillie.
now living in Minneapolis. Her father died in the old country and her
mother later married Nels Norvick and came to this country, settling on ;i
forty-acre farm west of where Mrs. Haaland now lives. Mr. Norvick died
in 1903 and his widow later disposed of her farm and has since made her
home with Mrs. Haaland, where she is now lixing at the age of ninety
years. Andrew Haaland's parents never came to this country and their
last days were spent in their native Norway, .\ndrew was the last-born
of the six children born to them, the others being Lars, Johannes, Golick.
.\nna and Malinda. all of whom still li\e in Norwav.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4ig
Andrew Haaland was twenty-six \ears of age when lie and his wife
came to the United States. Three years after their arrival in this cmmtrx
they became residents of the Red River conntr)' and bought a farm of one
hundred and sixty acres in section i of Lee township, Norman county, on
which they established their home. Mr. Haaland was an industrious and
progressive farmer and as he prospered in his undertakings made substan-
tial improvements on his place and bought an additional tract of forty acres
HI Hegne township, and bought later tjie southeast ciuarter of the south-
east quarter of section i, township of Lee, making his holdings two hundred
and fortv acres of fine land, which his widow now owns. He was an
enterprising citizen, ever interested in such movements as would aid in the
development of his home community and was one of the organizers of the
local creamery company at Perley and a stockholder in the same. He died
in February, 1910, he then being fifty-eight years of age, and his passing
was much lamented in the community, for he had done well his ])art in all
his relations with his fellow men.
To Andrew and Gertrude (Moran) Haaland were born ten children,
namelv : Andrew, who is married and is now making his home at Moor-
head ; John, who also is married and who is making his home at Perley,
where he is proprietor of the hotel ; Selmar, who is at home ; Odin, who alsn
is at home and who is managing the farm for his mother: Oscar and Paul,
also at home: Mrs. Anna Enger, of Hendruni, and Hannah, Gina and
Mable, at home. The Haalands have a verj' pleasant home in Lee town-
ship and have ever given their interested attention to movements ha\in.g
to do with the advancement of the common good thereabout and to the
various social activities and good works of their home community.
ALBERT L GROTHE.
Albert J. Grothe, member of the board of county commissioners of
Xorman county and a substantial farmer living in Hendrum township since
he came to Norman county, is a native of Norway, born on November 7,
1856, the son of John and Kare Grothe, both natives of Norway, who came
to America in 1867 and settled on rented land in Fillmore county, Minne-
.sota. Seeing that they had the opportunity to become landowners by set-
tling' in the Red River valley, the family joined a party with nine covered
wagons drawn by oxen, which had for its destination somewhere in the Red
4-'0 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
River valle)-, and the\' all drove through to<jether. the journey requiring five
or six weeks, as the}- were looking over the land en route. At first the elder
Grothe took a "squatter's" claim in Halstad township, Norman county, which
at that time was unsurveyed land, the party to which the Grothe family be-
longed being the second group of settlers in that township. John Grothe
did not prove up his claim and in 1875 or 1876 removed to Hendrum town-
ship and took a homestead of one hundred acres in section 18, and there he
lived the rest of his life. His widow lived with the children until her death.
The elder Grothe and wife were the parents of eight children, namely: Berit,
Olena, John, Nickoli. Christ, Karen, all of whom are dead, and Peter and
Ali)ert J., bodi of whom are living in Hendrum townshi]). The Grothe fam-
ily were stanch adherents to the Lutheran faith, the father having helped
organize the Marsh River Lutheran church of Halstad township, and during
his residence in Hendrum township was instrumental in the establishment
of the St. Paul Lutheran church there.
Albert J. Grothe was only eleven years old when his parents brought
him to America and his later education was very much limited, there being
then but few schools in Fillmore county, where he spent his boyhood, and he
had to work hard. When his ])arents moved to Hendrum township, Norman
countv. he came with them and there he has continued to live. For six
years .ifter his parents became permanently settled, he remained on the home
place contributing his share of industry to its improvement, but in 1882 he
started out for himself and bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad
land in Hendrum township, and on this i)lace he has continued to live. He
immediatelv began to im])rove his farm, which was wild prairie land, by put-
ting its stubborn sod under cultivation and by raising good farm buildings,
around which he planted groves. His earnest eflforts enabled him soon to
reap where he had so carefully sown, for he extended his holdings at times
until he now has a place of two hundred and sixty-five acres, on which he
carries on general farming.
lust after he began farming on his mvn account, Mr. "Grothe was
united in marriage, in May, 1883, to Karen Snustad, born in Norway.
October 15. 1865, the daughter of Ole and Karen (Troan) Snustad. who
came to seek a home in the New World in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Grothe are
the parents of the following children : Oliver, James. Chris, Carl, Bennet,
Olena. Alma, Nora, all of whom are living. Mr. Grothe and family are
members of the Lutheran church, of which denomination they are zealous
and conscientious adherents.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 421
Mr. Grothe is independent in iiis political views. He has been called
upon by his neighbors to serve the community in public office; was township
supervisor for several years and is now serving as county commissioner.
He has also taken a keen interest in the common business agencies of his
coninumity, for he helped to organize the companies operating the farmers
elevator, the creamerv and the Farmers State Bank, all of Hendrum.
ALBERT CARLSON.
Among the nati\e-horn Swedes who have come to America anrl en-
gaged in farming and stock raising, is Albert Carlson, well-known and ex-
tensive farmer and stockman of Glyndon township. Clay county. He was
born in Sweden in 1872, a son of Charlie and Oleana Anderson, who were
also born in that country.
Charlie Anderson, who was a farmer in Sweden, was born in 1852 and
died at the early age of thirty-one years in 1883, having spent all of his life
in his native country. His wife. Oleana Anderson, was born in 1848 and
died at the age of sixty-one years, in 1909. They were the parents of seven
children: Hanna. who is married and living in Sweden; Albert Carlson, the
subject of this sketch, and Emma. Andrew, Anna, Anthony and Andrew,
all deceased. Charlie Andersdii and his wife were menil)ers of the Swedish
Lutheran church.
Albert Carlson was educated in the schools of Swetlen and thereafter
spent some few years at farming work. .\t the age of nineteen he immi-
grated to the United States and since i8<ji has been a resident of Clay county.
He has been engaged in farming ever since and has in a comparatively short
peri(jd advanced to a position which places him in the front rank among the
farmers and stockmen of the county. He bought his first tract of land in
1898 and has since been gradually adding to his holdings and is now the
owner of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, in addition to which
he rents and farms eleven hundred and sixty-eight acres, and has one hun-
dred acres planted to potatoes. His live stock is coiuprised of grade Short-
horn cattle, thoroughbred stallions and Poland China hogs, and in all his
farming o])erations he has done very well, being recognized as one of the
progressive and modern-method farmers of the district in which he lives.
.Mr. Carls(jn carried out a systematic series of improvements on his farms
and employs tractors and steam engines to assist in taking care of his exten-
^22 CLAN' AND NOKMAX COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
sive tarniinij- interests, his farm iiKu-iiiiierv alone bein^' valued at five thousand
dollars.
In f8g6 Albert Carlson was united in marriage to Christina Mattstni.
who was born in Sweden, in 1873, and wlio came to the United States in
i8<)2. They are the parents of the following children: Hugene Carl. Alice
\iola. Mildred Irene. Loraine Doris and Leah Evelyn, twins, and Inez
Catherine. Thev are members of the First Presbyterian church, which Mr.
Carlson serves as a trustee and as an elder and in the affairs of which con-
gregation the Carlson family take a proper interest, as well as in the general
social activities of the community in whicli they reside, helpful factors in
the promotion of all causes having for their object the common gootl of the
township and neightorhood.
EDWARD H. STEXNES.
A natural-born American citizen, in whom is combined ihc linift ol
his parents' native land and the enterprise of the American spirit, is ivlward
H. Stennes, who was born on the old homestead in Halstad township. Nor-
man county. September 21, 1881, the son of Mans O. and Ingeborg ( .\ess)
Stennes. The elder Stennes and wife were natives of Norway, who lieeded
the call of the New World and came to America about 1870 and settled
in Eillmore county, .Minnesota, where they remained until 1875. b'eeling
that they could lind a better opportunity to establish their home in the new
land farther north in the state, in the year mentioned above they came up
into the Red River country and homesteaded eighty acres in Halstad town-
ship, Norman county, where their son, Edward, now lives. At that time
the land comprising the homestead was bare prairie, but by their indomit-
able perseverance and consummate thrift, the family improved their hold-
ing bv planting a grove, raising strong and substantial buildings and bring-
ing the stubborn sod of the rolling prairie under cultixation. The natural
consetiuence was that the family prospered and finally the father was enabled
to extend his holdings by the acrpiisition of anf)ther eighty acres, which
he bought. The elder Stennes and wife were the parents of seven children,
namely; Olena, the wife of John D. Henry, living in Grand Forks, North
Dakota; Edward H., the subject of this review: Marie and Emma, who live
on the home place with Edward H., and Clara, Ole and Henry, who are dead.
Hans Stennes and tamilv were members of the Lutheran church, of which
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 423
taitli he and his good wiie remained strong adherents until their deaths
occurred on the old home place.
Edward H. Stennes received his early education in Halstad township,
Norman county, during his boyhood days on the old homestead. As he
grew to manhood, howe\er, he received the training of the skilled agricul-
turalist, as he is, behind the plow in his father's field. After he had arrived
at man's estate, he did not leave the parental rooftree, but remained on
the home farm, looking after his parents' agricultural and business inter-
ests, during their decline. Since their deaths he has remained on the home
farm with his sister, carrying on general farming and stock raising. Air.
Stennes is a stock breeder of note and deals in thoroughbred Shorthorn
cattle.
Mr. Stennes is a devout, consistent and conscientious member i)f the
Lutheran church, which denomination has in him a stanch adherent. He
is an advocate of sound political principles, but has never sought after office.
If any movement is started in the communit}', the state or the nation
which gains the attention of good citizens, such a movement will find among
its ardent supporters Edward H. Stennes.
PATRICK DULLARD.
Patrick Dullard, president of the water and light commission of the
city of Ada aufl one of Norman county's best-known retired pioneer farmers,
is a native of Ireland, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was
eighteen years of age. He was born on November 6, 1852, son of John and
Julia ( Rine ) Dullard, also natives of Ireland, who spent all their lives in that
country. There Patrick Dullard learned the carpenter trade as a boy and
when eighteen years of age came to the United Etates and proceeded at once
on out to Minnesota, locating in Faribault county. That was in 1870. There
he found ready employment at his trade and presently became engaged on the
Iiridge-construction force of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, in
1872 moving to St. Paul in that employ. While thus engaged, in 1877, Mr.
Dullard, who was married in that year, was sent out to this part of the state
to superintend the erection of railway stations and he was so greatly taken
with the apparent jiossibilities of this part of the state that he homesteaded a
quarter of a section of land in section 30 of what later came to be organized
as McDonaldsville township, Norman county, and some time afterward
established his home there.
424 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
For three years after coniiiiij to tliis part of tlie state Patrick Dullard
retained his connection with the railroad work and then he hegan con-
tracting on his own account, as a hridge huilder and general carpenter, in
the meantime continuing to develop his homestead tract, and as he pros-
pered added to his land holdings until he hecame the owner of two hundred
and eighty acres of well-improved land, engaging there in general farming
and stock raising until his retirement from the active lahors of the farm and
remo\-al to Ada, where he since has made his home and where he and his
family are very comfortably situated. .Since retiring from the farm .Mr.
Dullard has sold his land and has made other investments. During his resi-
dence on the farm he for some time served as a member of the board of
lown.shii) su])ervisors of McDonaldsville township and is now serving the*
public as presitlent of the water and li.ght commission of the city of Ada.
As noted above, it was in 1877 that Patrick Dullard was united in mar-
riage to ICllen Mclaughlin, who was born in \'ermont. a daughter of Patrick
McLaughlin and wife, and to this union five children have been born, Edward
Henry, .Arthur James, Katherine, William Raymond and Joseph Benjamin,
all of whom are living. .\Ir. Dullard is a member of the local lodge of the
Independent Order of Odd h'ellows and of the Modern Woodmen of Amer-
ica and in the affairs of these two organizations takes a warm and active
interest.
THE GILBERTSOX 15ROTHERS.
The Gilbertson brothers, Albert and Cornelius, well-known farmers
and stock raisers of Halstad township, Norman county, where they ojierate
jointly the old Gilbertson homestead of five hundred and three acres, are
the sons of Ole and Christie ( Monson) Gilbertson, both natives of Norway.
Ole Gilbertson, one of the pioneers of Halstad township, was a son of
Gilbert Klemmer and wife, the latter of whom died in her native Norway.
In 1861, bringing with him his aged father and his two children, .\nna
and Gilbert, whose mother had died in Norway, he came to the United
States and settled in Richland county. Wisconsin, where h.e met and married
Christie Monson, who had followed her parents to America, two years
after they had left their native country and settled in Grant county. Wiscon-
sin. Her parents later removed to North Dakota and settled with some
of their children who resided there, where thev sjjcnt the rest of their
lives. Years after their marriage Ole Gilbertson and wife left Richland
i^^i
-
V
THE NEW
PUBLIC LIbrvn:
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 425
county, Wisconsin and came to Minnesota, settling in Halstad townsliip,
Xorman county, where the former bouglit land and farmed until his death,
at which time his holdings had been increased to five hundred acres of
improved farming land. Ole Gilbertson, who was tlie father of fourteen
children, was married three times, and Christie Monson was his last wife.
By his first wife he had two children, Gilbert O., and z\nna, wife of Peter
Hagenston ; by his second wife, Janie, who married Stev Nelson; by the
third wife, Christie Monson : Magnus O., a well-known resident of Anthony
township; Olaf; Albert and Cornelius, the subjects of this review; Gust;
Clara, who married Anton Orvick ; Oscar; Andie; Tilla, wife of Ole Orvick:
Clarence and Marie, all of whom are still living.
Albert Gilbertson, who was born in Richland county, \\'isconsin, August
8, 1877, attended there the public schools and worked on his father's farm.
When he was fourteen years of age, his father decided to take his family
to Norman county, Minnesota, anrl there young Albert in 1891. got his
first real taste of pioneer life oii the home place in Halstad township, where
he now lives with his brother, Cornelius. The Norwegian thrift which
he inherited from his parents, together with his inborn American spirit
of enterprise have made him one of the most successful farmers in Halstad
township. Mr. Gilbertson is an adherent of the Norwegian Lutheran creed,
and, is a member of the Marsh River Lutheran church, in the affairs of
which he takes a warm interest. Politically, he is a standi advocate of
independent policies. He has never sought after public oftice : withal, how-
ever, he is verv much alive to the social and business j^rogress of his com-
mtmity.
Cornelius Gilbertson, too. was born in Richland county. Wisconsin.
Ajiril 2. 1879. somewhat less than two years after the birth of his brother.
.VIbert. Tliere. in his native county, he attended the public schools and
acquired some very valuable experience on his father's farm, which stood
hiiu in good stead when his jiarents came to Norman county, in i8qi.
and settled on their holding on the vast, unbroken prairie. On the date
of his parents' removal he was only twelve years of age, but being a son
of pioneer parents, he readily api)lied himself to tiie great task, which
confronted the family, of improving their holdings and bringing the stub-
Iiorn ]:)rairie under cultivation. Growing up under these conditions. Mr.
Gilbertson is now one of the most' successful farmers in Halstad town-
ship (where he and his brother, Albert, operate jointly the old home place),
having received his training in the hard school of experience. Mr. Gilbert-
son is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and is deeply con-
426 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
cerned with the furtherance of its various beneficences. He also takes an
active interest in local civic affairs, and is now serving his community as
township supervisor. When any meritorious undertaking is launched in
his community, it is sure to find in Mr. (iill)ertson a stanch supporter.
In addition to their general farming, the Gilbertson brothers are breed-
ers of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. The}- find time in their
extensive farming operations to interest themselves in the work of bettering
the market facilities of the township, and helped to organize the cre;mier\-
and the farmers elevator at Halstad.
Old-: (). llll.l)!-:.
Successful farming calls for the best of judgmeni. It means good crops,
.good live stock, well fed and handled, and a thoroughly balanced business in
every way. No Inisiness, in fact, needs better management all around than
farming. So niany chances fcjr failure are present that it is the exceptional
farm that is strong in every |)articular. One of the best-kept farms in Hagen
townshi]). Clay county, is that owned and operated by Ole O. Hilde, who
seems to have mastered the various ins and outs of the business.
Mr. Hilde was born in Norway in 1864. He is a son of Ole and Margit
(jnhuson) Hilde, both natives of Norway, where they spent all their lives.
The father was a blacksmith by trade. To these parents si.x children were
born, all of whom are living at this writing and who are named as follow:
Aase. who lives in Norway: Ingeborg, the wife of Ole Halverson, of Stearns
county, Mimiesota: Ragnild, the wife of Tom Peterson, who lives in North
l^akota ; Ji)hn. who li\es in .Norway, and Ole O., the subject of this sketch.
Ole O. Hilde spent his boyhood in Norway and there attended school.
He came to Minnesota in the spring of 1883 and located in Stearns county,
where he worketl out as a farm hand until 1887, then came to Clay countv,
locating in 1 iagen towiishi]), where he h:is since resided. Upon his arrival
here he tijok up a tree claim right of one hundred and sixty acres. He lived
on it three years then sold out and moved to his present farm, taking up one
hundred and sixt\- acres as a homestead. He broke up the wild prairie .sod,
fenced it, set out a grove and erected suitable Iniildings. Prospering with
advancing years he added to his original purchase until he now owns a fine
farm of two hundred and eighty-three acres, one of the choice farms of the
township, and has lieen \er\- successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 427
Air. Hilde was ni.-irried in 1886, in Stearns count v, this stale, to (luri
Anderson, who was Ijorn in Norway, a daugliter of Andres and Anna
( Tolefsdatter) Christianson, who hved and died in Norwa}-. The father
was employed on a large farm there. His family consisted- of the following
children: Mrs. Maria EUing, who lives in 'Norway; Christian, who also lives
in Norway; Guri, wife of the subject of this sketch; Anna, the wife of L.
Dahl, of Norman county, Minnesota, and Tolef A. Green, who lives in Ha.gfen
township, ~Clay county.
lught children, all living but one, have been born to .Mr. and Mrs. Hilde,
namely: Matilda, who is the wife of 1. B. Klevgard; Anna, who married
Theodore Tweeton ; Oscar, next in order of birth: Theodore, the fourth
child; Alfred, deceased, and John, Carl, Inga and Melvin. Politically, Mr.
Hilde is a Republican. He is a member of the school board in his district
and has been treasurer of the same for many years. He and his family are
meml>ers of the Norwegian Lutheran church, which they attend regularh-.
KKV. O. A. TH. SOLEM.
The Rev. (J. .\. Th. Solem, a retired minister of the Norwegian
Lutheran church and the present owner and operator of a well-appointed
fruit farm and nursery, in Halstad township, Norman county, was born in
Norway, on March 6, 1835, the son of Thomas and Andrea ( Stuphoug)
Solem, both of whom left the land of their l)irth in 1870 and came to Amer-
ica. Here they settled in Union county. South Dakota, near the ])ostoffice of
Spink, Llk Point then being their nearest railroad station. Soon the elder
Solem bought a farm near where the family first settled, and there he lived
until his death in ign. His wife died on the same place in 1915, surviving
her husband only four vears. To Thomas and Andrea Solem were born five
children, the subject of this review being the first in order of l)irth. and the
others, as follow; Andrew, who lives on the old farm in South Dakota;
Maria ; Llenry, a Lutheran minister at Garretson, South Dakota, and
Hannah, who still lives on the old home i:)lace with her jjrother, .\ndrew.
O. A. Th. Solem spent his Ijoyhood in Norweiy, the land of his nati\ity,
where he attended the public schools and at the same time studied English
in a private educational institution. After he had reached the estate of man-
hood, he came to .\merica with his parents, he then being about twenty-five
\ears of age. He remained with his parents on their farm in Union county,
South Dakota, for three vears, in which time he had seen them become com-
4^8 CI.AV AND XDK.MA.X COL' Nil K>, MI N \ KSOTA.
lortalily ^ituaticl u|)<in their hcjldings. Almut 1873, feeling' that he liad been
called to preach the gos])el for the Lutheran denomination, he left his pioneer
home, the more completelx' to ])repare himself for his lofty calling at the
Augustana Seminary, near Decorah, Iowa, where he studied for one year, at
the end of whicli time the institution was mo\-ed to Marshall. Wisconsin,
and there Mr. .Solem pursued his studies until he was graduated in the
sjjring of 1H77. IJeing thus thort)Ughly fitted for his work, he was ordained
a minister in tlie -uuuner of that year and was called to minister to the
spiritual needs of the .\orwegian Lutheran congregation in Chippewa county,
Minnesota, where he remained for four years. In the summer of 1881 he
Ijecame the pastor of the Augustana .Vorwegian Lutheran church in flalstad
township, .\orman couut\. and there he assiduously applied himself to his
duties as nu'nister of this pioneer congregation until 1904 or 1905, when he
resigned, thus completing here an e.xtraordinariiv long ])astorate of tvventv-
two or twenty-three years. Since then Mr. Solem has Ijeen engrossed alto-
gether in Ids agricultural purhuits. finding that the soil embraced a field for
his ministerial eiideaxors as did the cluu\-h. for in the growing things he
could see the clear manifesiation of the ])ower of the .Mmighty.
After his resignation, .\li-. .Solem. who had farmed along with his pas-
toral duties, the congregation having furnished its pastor with forty acres
of land, remained in Halstad townshi]), where he purchased a well-watered
antl fertile tract for his own purposes, on which he has continued a fruit
farm and mnser\-. Since he relin(|uished hi> ministerial duties, Mr. Solem
has given his undivided attention to fruit farming, and the generations to
come will bless him as one of the men who made ])ossible the growing of the
luscious apple, the jiink-cheeked peach and the juicy plum, where formerly
>t retched away the trackless prairie.
On January 7. 1877, the year after he was graduated from Augustana
Seminary, at Marshall. Wi.sconsin. the Rev. O. .\. Th. Solem was united in
marriage to Johannah Sylte, who was born in Norway, on September 17.
1859, the daughter of Knut Sylte and .\larit (Sylte) Sylte. To this union
no children were horn, ])ut one child was adopted, Miimie Roksvaag. .\fter
the death of his first wife, in January, i88j, Mr. Solem married Ella Sylte,
born on I'ebruary 1. 1857, a .sister of his first wife. By his second wife. Mr.
Solem is the father of five children, namely : Johannah. Thomas. Minnie,
1 'ergliot ( deceased ) , and Knut.
-Mr. Solem finds time during his engrossing work on the fruit farm to
give a good citizen's attention, to the affairs of his community, and any
movement, .agitated for the material or social betterment of his neighborhood.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA, 429
finds in him and his family hearty supporters. He and his wife remain mem-
bers of the Augustana Lutheran church, in the creed of which denomina-
tion they have reared their children. Politically, Mr. Solem is a stanch Pro-
hibitionist, but he has never sought after public office.
CONRAD H. EVJE.
After thirty-eight years of hard work on his farm of one hundred and
sixty acres in Shelly township, Norman county, which bears eloquent testi-
mony to his tireless industry during the years of his ])rime, Conrad 11. Evje
lives now in retirement on the original tract which he homesteaded years
ago when he first came to Norman county. He is a son of Hans G. and
Gertina (Christophersdatter) Evje and was born in Norway on Octo1)er
28, 1856. Both his father and mother were natives of Norway, but the
inducement of coming to America did not lure them from their fatherland,
where they remained until their deaths, the father being a farmer. Hans
G. Evje was married twice and by his first wife he had seven children, all
of whom died in infanc\- except Tolak who lixed ;uk1 died in Norway.
His second wife, the mother of Conrad H. Evje, born him ten children;
three of whom died young, the others being : Christopher, John Chris-
tian (deceased), Tobias (deceased), Martina, Conrad H., (labriel and
Christina ( deceased ) .
Conrad H. Evje received his early education in Norway and when he
had reached the buoyant age of eighteen decided to come to America. It
was in 1874 when he first set foot on these shores and in that same year
he located near LaCrosse, Wi.sconsin, wdiere he remained for fi\e years,
working at difl:'erent occupations, including lumbering in the woods in winter
and rafting in the summer. The spring of 187Q saw him leave the lumber
camps and strike out into Minnesota toward the then newly opened Red
River countrv. settling in Norman county, where he iiomesteaded one liun-
dred and sixtv acres in section 2 of Shelly township. Tliere he has since
lived, continuous owner of the original homestead until the .spring of 1917,
when he sold out to his son-in-law, John P.usse. Though no longer owning
the farm, Mr. Evje and wife continue to live on the old home i)lace in
well-earned retirement, enjoying the later years of their lives on the farm
which the\- (le\eloped from the raw prairie into a tract of well-cultivated
land.
430 CLAY AND NORMAX COUNTIES. MINNKSOTA.
Mr. Evje was united in marriage with Carolina Regina Langhus. who
was Ijorn in V^ernon county, Wisconsin, on Sei>teni)x;r t, 1866, a daughter
of :Miclie1 and Serie Christine I.anghus. To this union six children have
been born, namely: (iertina Christina, Clara Marie, Hans Ciabriel
(deceased), Constance Louise, Ricka and Josephine Mathilde. Mr. and Mrs.
Evje are both consistent and conscientious meniV)ers of the Xorwegian
Lutheran church, and in the creed of this denomination they have reared
their children. Mr. Evje helped to organize the Zion Lutheran church.
Iking a progressive farmer, he along with several of his neighbors some
years ago recognized the need of better facilities for the marketing ni iheir
dairy products and accordingly organized the creamery at Shell). I'.xen
though Mr. ICvje has the interest of a good .\nierican citizen in tiie civic
atYairs of his communitv, he has never sought after office, but any move-
ment in his neighborhood which has for its jnirpose the material and social
l)Ctternient of the community linds in him hearty and loyal support. Mr.
Evje is a member of the Republican party, and is a strong a<lvocate of its
princi])les and policies.
CHARLES R. KALL.
Charles R. Kail, a well-known contractor at Moorhead, who gives his
particular attention to house-moving, although he also engages in car])e!iter-
ing, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, but has been a resident of Minne-
.sota since he was two years of age. He was born in 1877, son of P. J.
and Caroline Kail, also natives of Sweden, who came to this country in the
spring of 1879 and proceeded on out to the Red River valley, arriving at
Moorhead on May 2 of that }-ear.
In his native country P. J. Kail had been engaged as a l)ricklayer, but
upon coming here he determined to become a farmer and with that end in
view presently homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres over the
river in Cass county. South Dakota, about twelve miles southwest of Eargc
IHoods arose, however, sweeping away what ciirly improvements he made
on that place and he presently moved over onto the Minnesota side of the
river and was there engaged in farming until about twenty years ago, when
he gave up the farm and engaged in mason contracting at Moorhead, where
he ever since has been thus engaged, doing a general business in brick masonry
and cement contracting. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Mis-
sion church and to them six children have been born, those besides the sub-
ject of this sketch, the second in order of birth, being Elizabeth (deceased),
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 43 1
one who died in infancy, Axel (deceased), Ella (deceased) and Oscar.
As noted above Charles R. Kail was but two years of a,s^e when his
parents came to this country and he thus has spent all his active life in and
about Moorhead. Upon completing his schooling in the schools of that city
he continued working on the home farm for a few years and then became an
assistant to his father in the brick-laying way. About twenty years ago
he equipped himself with an outfit for the moving of houses and has since
then been a general contractor in that line, doing the bulk of the business
done in a house-moving way in and about Moorhead. He also is a carpenter
and works at that trade during the jieriods not engaged in house moving.
In 1908 Charles R. Kail was united in marriage to Blanche L. Piper,
of Minneapolis, and to this union three children have been born, George,
Evelvn and Robert.
HANS P. OTEN.
Among the well-knf)wn citizens and substantia! landowners in the imme-
diate vicinity of Shelly, in Norman county, is Hans P. Oien, ])rn])rietor of a
fine farm on Marsh river near the village. He also has interests in the local
elevator and lumber conipanv at Shelh- and in other ways has displayed his
public spirit in promoting the development of that community. Mr. Oien
is a native of the kingdom of Norwa\-, born on August lo, 1850, a son of
P. A. and Gertrude (LilledahH Oien, who came to the United States with
their family in i86c> and settled in Houston county, this state, where both
spent their last davs. P. A. Oien was eighty-three years of age at the time
of his death. He and' his wife had five children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Ole, Renet W..
Margaretta and Rogna.
Hans P. Oien was eighteen years of age when he came tn Minnesota
with his parents in the spring of t86q and he became a valuable aid in the
labors of develo])ing the home place in Houston county. Tn 1876 he was
united in marriage there to Gunil Wdker and later came up into the Med
River countrv and bought the land on Marsh river on which he estaiilished
his home and where he is still living, one of tlie real ])i<meers of tiie north-
western part of Norman coimty. He planted a grove ui)on settling there
and the same is now an attractive feature of the landscape in that section.
Mr. Oien has a well-improved farm and has done well in his ojierations. In
addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the
43- CI.A'i- Axn XOR.MA.N' C'OU NTIK.S, MINN'KSOTA.
tlevelopnieiU nf local business affairs at Shelly and mvns an interest in ilie
elevator and lumber vard there.
Mr. and Mrs. Oien have six children. Sophia, Hannah, .\lattic. lienrv.
Larl and Gerhart. all of whom are at home. The Oiens are members of the
Lutheran church at Shelly and Mr. Oien helped to orjjanize the same. Thcv
have a pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in llie ,y;encrai
social actixities of the village and of the communit\- at lartre.
FRED GRUHL.
For more than thirty years Fred Grulil has been a citizen of Clay
county, during- which period he has seen the country transformed from the
wild plains to a fine farming locality, himself a pioneer of Cromwell town-
ship, where he has worked his way up irom a motlest beginning to a posi-
tion of intlependence and comfort. He is one of the large landowners and
leading farmers of the county.
Mr. (jruhl was born in (iermany, October 2, 1S49, a son of bred and
bredericka (Ulicb) (irubl. both natives of Germany, where they lived and
died. The father was a common laborer, a liard-working, honest man. He
and his wife were members of the Evangelical Lutlieran church. 'i"o these
])arents, four children were born, namelv : b'rerlericka, who is living;
Paulina, deceased: Herman, who is living: and bred, the subject of this
review.
Fred Gruhl grew to manhood in Germany and there attended school.
He immigrated to America in 1S84 and located in i*"au Claire, Wisconsin,
wheie he spent one year, then went to Bismark, North Dakota, for a
short time: later moving to Fargo, where he worked until 1885, when
be came to Clay comity and began farming south of Hawlev on rented
ground in Cromwell townshi[), remaining there seven years. In 1892 he
lx)ught f(jur hundred and eighty acres in section 20 of Cromwell town-
ship and here he has remained ever since. When he took possession of
the place only a few old shacks stood on it and only a small part of the
I.ukI bad been broken. Mr. Gruhl worked hard, persevered and managed
well and he soon had a fine farm under cultivation and in a high state of
imjirovement. putting up a commodious residence and substantial outbuild-
ings, including rm elevator. He set out a large grove which is now a valuable
asset to his place. He has prospered with the advancing years and now
owns a total of over twelve hundred acres of valuable land in one bodv in.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 433
Cromwell township, and fifteen hundred and twenty acres in all. He farms
on an e.xtensixe scale, keeping a large number of employes. He raises great
quantities of grain and potatoes and large herds of live stock. At times
he plants two hundred acres in potatoes, being in the famous potato belt,
his land being well adapted to their culti\ation. He keeps thoroughbred
Shorthorn cattle, bringing them in in carload lots for his farm. For many
years his fine cattle have been readily bought at fancy prices whenever they
were offered for sale. He owns the large modern potato warehouse and the
elevator at Muskoda, in Clay county.
On October 25. 1874, Mr. Gruhl was married to .\ugusta Schmidt,
who was born in Germany, where she grew to womanhood, attended school
and was married. She is a daughter of Robert Schmidt, who lived and
died in Germany. To this union four children have been born, namely :
Fred, who married Fflith Burr.son and died on October 25, 191 5, without
issue : Richard, who married Emma Horner and is living on the home farm,
which he manages; Lena, wife of James Lewis, of Dilworth, and Anna.
Politically, Mr. Gruhl is a Democrat. He was at one time township
su])erv-isor and treasurer of the school district in which he lives. He is a
member of the Lutheran church and helped organize the first church in
his locality, and has always been a liberal supporter of the same. He has
forged his way to the front over obstacles and he is known as a useful,
helpful and honorable citizen.
MAfrnX STROMST.\D.
Martin Stromstad, one of the early settlers of Xorman countv and a
retired farmer, now living with his son Theovald on the old home place in
.Shelly township, was born in Norway in December, 1836, a son of Tonger
and Jnger ( Stromstad ) .Stromstad, both of whom were natives of Norway,
where they married and reared their family of eleven children. The mother
was one of a familv of sixteen children, and both she and the father lived in
Xfjrwav all their lives.
.Martin .Stromstatl received his education in the land of his nativity and
there lived until he reached the age of forty-three years. As his father was
a farmer, Mr. Stromstad during his boyhood and early maturity found ample
room to e.xpend his energy and to contribute his efforts to the cultivation
of bis father's holding. When he had reached the age of twenty-eight he
(28a)
434
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA,
decided to establish a home of liis own and in 1864 he was married. About
fifteen vears after his marriage, he coiichided tliat tiie Xcw World held for
him greater opportunities than did the land of his birth, and in 1879 he and
his family immigrated to America and settled in \'ernon count). Wisconsm.
where they remained during the winter of 1879-80. in the spring of 1880
he came to Minnesota and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of raw
prairie land in section 4. Shelly township. Xorman county, where he has
since lived. Immediately he began the hard task of bringing his holding
up to a state of ctiltivalion and eventually his industry was rewarded by the
bountiful crops which he wrested from the stubborn prairie land. He im-
proved his holding by planting a grove and raising excellent and substantial
buildings and now the homestead is one of the best improved of the com-
munity.
While Mr. Stromstad was .still living in Norway, in 1864. he married
Ingeborg Tollcfson. a daughter of Tollef Tollefson, who, as well as his wife,
lived his whole life in Norway, both dying when their daughter Ingeborg
was ([uite voung. Mr. and Mrs. Stromstad are the parents of seven chil-
dren, namely: Thorvald, Christina. Marie, inger. Theodore. Anna and
.\manda. It was in 1905 that the mother died on the old home place in Shelly
township. She was a devout member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as
is Mr. Stromstad. and the latter helped to organize the Zi'>n church nf tlint
denomination.
Thorvald Stromstad, the oldest chikl of Martin Stromstad, was born in
Norway. .Ai^ril 21. 1865. He received the greater part of his early education
in the land of his nativity, for he was about fourteen years of age when he
accompanied his parents to .\merica and with them settled on the farm m
Norman countv. There he had the common experiences of a pioneer boy.
receixing ;i valual)le preparatory training which has proved invaluable to him
since he has farmed on his own account. He had just reached the a,gc n\
twenty-one when he started out for himself in 1886. and in that year took a
tree claim in section 4, Shelly township: later, however, he proved u\) his
holding as a homestead. There he remained for fourteen years, at the end
of which time he sold his farm and moved to Hubbard townshi]), Polk
countv, this state, where he rented land for five years. .At the end of that
])eriod he returned to Norman county, buying the old homestead from his
father and has since lived there.
In 1889 Thorvald Stromstad was united in marriage to Wilhelmina
Oskelson, who also was born in Norway, a daughter of Oskel Oskelson, who
came to this countrv with his familv. To Mr. and Mrs. Stromstad have been
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4:55
born fourteen children, two of whom died unnamed, the others beintr Inee-
borg, Marie, Sehna. Martina, Abigal, Alfred ( who died at the age of eleven
years), Martin, Tillie, Edwin, Severt, Christian and Anton. Mr. and Mrs.
Stromstad have always been members of the Lutheran church, in the afifairs
of which they have a deep and abiding interest. In addition to his farming
interests, Mr. Stromstad helped to organize the Farmers Elevator Compan\-
at Shelly, since he felt that adequate marketing facilities for agricultural
products are absolutely necessary to the well-being of this community. Mr.
Stromstad takes a proper interest in local civic affairs, but has never sought
after public office.
HALVOR ANDERSON.
.Among the sturdy pioneers who Ijrought about the development of
Norman county few are better known or have lieen more active in that
development work than Halvor Anderson, one of the most substantial land-
owners of the Perley neighborhood and one of the most progressive and
])ublic-spirited citizens of tliat part of the county. In addition to his large
land holdings Mr. Anderson is a member of the board of <lirectors of the
First State Bank of Perley, a member of the board of directors of the
Farmers Elevator Company at tiiat place, for many )e;irs has been c<jn-
nected with the public service in his home township and has been one of
the leaders in all worthy enterprises affecting the (le\el(>pmenl and pros-
])erity of that section of the county, as well as of the county at large. .
Halvor Anderson is a native son of Minnesota, born in Houston countv
on June 5, 1853, son of John and Carrie (Snugro) .Anderson, earl\- resi-
dents of Winneshiek county, Iowa. John .Anderson was one of the real pio-
neers of Minnesota and later of Iowa, having moved to that state wiien our
subject was one year of age, and was thus among the early arrivals of that
plucky band of Scandinavian settlers which made possible the si)€edy devel-
<ipmcnt of the great Northwest country. He grew to manhood in his native
Norway and was there married. In 1850 he came to the United States and
located in Rock county. Wisconsin. There his first wife died. In 1852 he
married Carrie Snugro and in the next year ]iroceeded on out to the then
Territory of Minnesota and settled near the southern border, in Hou.ston
county. By the first marria.ge was born one child, a daughter, Olenna. now
deceased, who was the wife of B. O. Lee, of the state of Washington. John
Anderson, as stated, later married Carrie Snugro. who died ten years ago at
436 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIKS, MTNNF.SOTA.
tlie age of eighty-four years. To that union live ciiildren \\ ere born, of wliom
the subject of this sketch was the lirst-born. the others being Mary, Anna,
Albert and Panhna : of these latter Paulina being now the only survivor.
John Anderson died in 187Q, in Winneshiek county, Iowa, he then being
fifty-seven years of age.
Reared on a pioneer farm, llahor Anderson recei\ed his schooling in
till.- [uiblic schools of \\'iimeshiek countw over the line in Iowa, and early
became a practical farmer. In 1874 he married and in the summer of 1878
came up into the Red River country and homesteaded a tract of one hundred
and thirty-seven acres in section 30 of what later came to be organized as
.Mary township, Norman countw arriving here on June 13. of that year.
.\t the same time lie entered a tree claim to an adjoining (|uarter section and
in due time "proved up" both his homestead and his tree claim. Upon his
.irrival here .Mi'. Anderson erected a log cabin on his homestead tract and
there established his home, living in that cabin, which is still standing, for
six years. He then liought the half section on which he is now living in
section 29 and moved onto the same, erecting there more comfortable i)uild-
ings. and has e\er since made that his place of residence. As he prospered
in iiis early farming operations, Mr. .\nderson bought more land and is
now the owner of one thousand three hundred and seventy-two acres of land
ill iIk vicinity of his home, besides a valuable farm in North Dakota. His
home jjlace is imjjroveii in admirable shape and the dwelling house has been
added to and remodeled until it is one of the most commodious and com-
f(jrtable in that section, the house having a .steam-heating plant and all the
modern conveniences of an up-to-date home. The farm buildings are in
keeping with the house and .Mr. Anderson's farm plant is regarded as one
of the best in that part of Norman county. He has for years given his
chief attention to wheat farming and has done well. In public affairs Mr.
.Anderson has ever taken a warm and active interest. For twenty-six years
he was a member of the town Ijoard, from the time the town was organized.
has l)een treasurer of his home township and since 1884 has also been the
treasurer of his local school Ijoard. In the general l)usiness affairs of the
communit}' he also has for years been regarded as one of the leaders, is
a director of the First State Bank of Perley. a director of the Farmers
Ele\ator Company of that place and in other ways has done his part in
de\eloping the business interests of the community in which he has lived
since pioneer days.
On May 18, 1874, at Bicknow, Iowa. Halvor .\nderson was united in
nianiaee to Christe Melbostad. who was born in \\'inneshiek coimtv. that
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 43/
State. February 21, 1854, and to this union fourteen children ha\e been
l)orn, namely : John, who is married and is the owner of a farm east of
his father's place ; Anna, deceased ; Caroline, deceased ; Gustav and Christina
(twins), the former of whom is married and lives on a farm in the vicinity
of Ada and the latter of whom is deceased ; Henry, who is married and
li\es on a farm in I^ee township; Mary, wife of Lars Olson, now living' in
Montana; Tilda, deceased; Clara, who is living at St. Paul; Martin, wlm
is married and who lives at Perley, where he is the proprietor of a garage :
O.scar. who is married and is farmin.g that part of his father's place north
of the home place: Joseph, who is married and H\es in North Dakota; Will-
iam, who remains on the home place, and Emma, also at home. The
.\ndersons are members of the Betania Lutheran church and have ever taken
a ])roper part in the various beneficences of the same, Mr. Anderson being
one of the trustees of the church. They have a very pleasant home and
take an interested part in the community's general .social activities and good
works, helpful in many ways in promoting all movements having to do with
the advancement of the common good thereabout. Mrs. Anderson is a
dau.ghter of Gilbert and .Vnna (Dahl) Melbostad, natives of Norway, who
came to America on the same ship with the Anderson family and located
in Wisconsin, where they were married, and lived there until 1853. when
thc\- moved to \\^inneshiek countv, Iowa. Both are now deceased.
JORLS C. NORBY.
The history of Xorman county in the making would be incomplete with-
out fitting mention of the late Joris C. Norby, former clerk of the district
court, former county auditor, and one time editor and owner of the Norman
Coitiilx Herald, a substantial landowner, mill man and lumberman, who died
at his home in the city of .\da, in December, 1902. Enterprise, honesty and
the conscientious discharge of ])ublic duties placed him at the highest station
among the citizens and business men of Ada and at the time of his death he
was in the enjoyment of the ample rewards of a well-spent life.
.Mr. Norby was a native of the kingdom of Norway, born on a farm in
Trondjliem. October 22. 1857. His father. Joris Norby. who was a merchant
and farmer in his native land, came to America with his family in 1871 and
settled in Fillmore county. Minnesota. Joris C. Norby was the tenth child
and the youngest son in a family of twelve children. He was given a liberal
4^8 CLAV AND NOUMAN COUNTIES. MIXNKSOTA.
education in his native land, supplemental by attendance at the schools of
I'"illniore county and Decorah, Iowa. In 1878, when twenty-one years old,
lie came into the Red Kiver country and located in Xorman county, where he
taught school and also worked at his trade, that of a carpenter, until i88_v
He filed on a tract of government land, as a permanent place of residence.
In 1882 Mr. Norby was elected clerk of the district court. He was re-elected in
1886, but owing to impaired health did not serve out his second term, resign-
ing in January, i88g. Acting upon die advice of his physician, Mr. .Vorljy
made a trip to Europe and upon his return to Minnesota engaged in farming
a few years. In Jaiuiary, 1892, he purchased tlie Noniian County Herald,
published at Ada, and continued its publication until he disposed of his in-
terests in .\ugust, 1900. This paper was established by O. H. Phillips, as a
Democratic jiaper. in 1888, and in the following year was purcha.sed by a
local stock company, which converted its columns to the Prohibition cause
and were so conducting it when .Mr. Xorby hecauK* the owner. He trans-
formed the paper into an (jrgan of the Populist party and it became the recog-
nized organ of that party in Norman county. In 1892, the year in which he
purchased the Herald. .\Ir. Xorby was elected county auditor and his popu-
larity thnjughout tile county ami the faithful manner in wliicli he discharged
his official duties in that capacity are attested by the fact that he was re-
elected to that office in 1894, :i™l ^h"* served two terms as auditor. In 1895
lie liecame interested in the lumber business, in partnership with C. C. Allen,
and held his interest in that business at the lime of his death. He al.so
built a fiouring-mill at Halstad, retaining a half interest in the business. In
addition to his interest in Uiese industries, Mr. Norby owned and operated
five hundred and twent\- acres of valuable land and also helped organize
and was secretarv of the Xornian County Telephone Company and was other-
wise interested in the industrial and commercial life of the commimity of
which he had been an active factor since pioneer days. Upon the decline of
the Populist part\ .Mr. .Xoiiiy put in his lot with that of the Republicans and
for some time served as a member of the Republican county central commit-
tee. For thirtv years or mcjre he had been an active member of the Odd Fel-
lows fraternity. When called upon to serve his fellow man in various offices
of trust he proved his abilit\- and faithfulness and to the end enjoyed the
confidence and the esteem of those among wliom he had chosen t<i make his
home.
In i88c) Joris C. Xorby was united in marriage to Valborg Schriver, a
nati\e of the kingdom of Norway, who was born in the city of Christiania,
coiuiny to this Cduntrv in 1888. To that union, four sons were born, all born
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
439
in the city of Ada. In 1906 Mrs. xXorby married Dr. Walter B. Holmes, of
Ada. a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume.
Joris C. Norby, Jr., late of St. Johns Military School, is now an act-
ing corporal in the United States Marine Corps stationed at Mare Island,
California, having enlisted at tiie first call for recruits after the declaration
(jf war. Of his brothers—the firm of Norby Brothers, of Great Falls, Mon-
tana— Erling Norby stands subject in the second call to arms. Frithjof
Norby stands subject to the third call. Offsprings of a worthy sire, they go
without fear or trembling, to the end that libert)^ and the rights of man
nia\- not perish from the earth.
W. C. LEE.
W . C. Lee, register uf ileeds fur Norman count}- and the proprietor of
the T-a'tii I 'alley Times at Twin Valley, is a native of the neighboring
state of Iowa, but has lived in Minnesota, a resident of Norman county,
since the days of his infancy, his parents having settled here in pioneeer
days. He was born at Decorah, Iowa, November 22, 1881, son of K. G.
and Susan (Burshani) Lee, buth of whom also were born at Decorah and
the former of whom was a sun of G. K. Lee and wife, natives of Norway,
who came to this country and were among the early residents of Decorah.
K. G. Lee grew to manhood at Decorah, married there and engaged
there in the general mercantile business, remaining thus engaged until in
March, 188 J, when he disposed of his interests at that place and came
up into Minnesota, [jutting in his lot with the early settlers of the new
criunty-seat town, Ada, where he spent the remainder of his life, one of
the useful and influential citizens of that city, his death occurring in 1905.
K. G. Lee was an ardent Republican and early became one of the leaders
(if that party in Norman county. F"or six years he served as sheriff of
the countv and there were few men in this part of the •^tate who had a
wider acquaintance than he during the days of his activity. He and his
wife were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children
were reared in that faitli. There were eight children, of whom the subject
of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow:
May, who married A. J. Johnson: George, of Idaho: Alice, wife of Rev.
H. Schliesser; Emma, wife of P. Simonson : Raymond, of Twin Valley,
and Kenneth, of Twin Valley. A daughter, Kyle, died when only six months
old.
440 CI.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
As noted above, VV. C. Lee was but an infant when Ins parents nin\cil
up here from Iowa in 1882 and he grew to manhood at Ada. recei\ing bis
schooling in the schools of that city. When fifteen years of age he began
learning the printing trade in the office of the Ada Index and remained
with that paper for twelve years, becoming thoroughly familiar with all
details of the newspaper business. He then, in June, 1909, bou.gln ihc
Twhi Valley Times at Twin Valley, a flourishing \'illage over in the eastern
part of the county, and was conducting that sprightly newspajier in kju.
when he was elected register of deeds for \orman county and returned
to Ada, the county seat, where he since has made his home, continuing,
however, to retain his ownership of the Ti\.'in J 'alley Times. So satisfactory
did Mr. Lee's serxices as register of deeds prove that he was re-elected to
that office and is now serving his second term. Mr. Lee is an earnest
Republican and has ever taken an active interest in local political affairs.
During the years 1907-08 he served as assessor of the city of Ada.
In May, 1905, W. C. Lee was united in marriage to Florence Andrist.
daughter of Fred Andrist, of Gildford, Montana, and to this union i>nc
child has been born, a daughter. Anna.
MADS LARSOX.
Mads Larson, a well-kn.own landowner and early settler of Hendrum
township, was born in Norway, June 4, 1854, the son of Lars and Anna
(Noe) Nilson, both natives of Norway, where they remained their whole
lives, the former being a school teacher and landowner. They were the
parents of seven children, Nels. Jacob, Johan (deceased), .Anna (deceased).
Peter, Hansena and Mads.
Mads Larson, who spent his boyhood and early manhood in the land
of his nativity, decided, in 1876. that his opportunity lay in the New World
across the Atlantic, and in that year came to America, locating for two
years in \\'inneshiek county. Iowa. Seeking to better him.self, he decided
to come northward into Minnesota. Driving a team of horses hitched to
a covered wagon, he attached himself to a party of two hundred settlers,
and they all started from Ossian, ^^'inneshiek county, Iowa, for Norman
county, Minnesota. As Mr. Larson and Hans Larson, now a resident
of Ada, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, drove horses and their
companions oxen, they soon out.stripped the slow-er moving settlers and
arrived at their destination first, the journey taking them about two weeks.
.Mi;. A.\T> MKS. .\IAI)S r.ARSOX.
CLAY AND .XORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 44I;
Mads Larson went imniediatel_\- tu Hendruni township and homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres in section 34 and there he h\ed until 1907.
During the time of his residence on his homestead, lie vastly improved
it by planting groves and erecting excellent farm buildings ; moreover, the
original quarter section soon grew until he became the owner of six hundred
and forty acres, practically all in one piece, one-half of which la) in Lcc
township. In the year mentioned above he sold the old homestead and
removed to where he lives at present. Now he has a fine farm of three
hundred and sixty acres, which he has impro\e(l by erecting a comfortable
house, excellent barns and other necessary buildings. .\t this time he
carries on general farming and is also engaged in the raising of graded
Shorthorn cattle.
In 1880 Mr. Larson married Jula Johanson, who was born in Norway,
the daughter of Johan Ta.gness, and to this union the following children
were born : Anna, Lars, who died at the age of one year. Matilda, Lars
and Gilma. For his second wife Mr. Larson married Jula Olson, wlm
also was a native of Norway, and who died without issue. On March
I, 1914, Mr. Larson married Mrs. Hilda (Redal) Unerlee. Mr. Larson
and familv are strict, conscientious and consistent adherents to the Luth-
eran faith, and in the affairs of this denomination they take a deep interest,
he having helped to organize the Emanuel Lutheran church. In addition
to his activity on his farm. I\Ir. Larson has helped to organize the farmers
elevator, the creamery and the State Bank, all of Hendruni. He is inde-
pendent in his political views and has never aspired to public office; however,
he has always given his heartiest ,su])i)ort to any mo\ement which has
for its object the betterment of the community.
PAUL VAN VLISSTNGEN.
Among the active and iuHuential pioneers of Cla_\ county who ha\c
passed from earthly scenes of labor after having done well their work in
the development of tins part of the Red River \alley. few have left a
better or more enduring memory than did the late I'aul Nan V lissingen,
who died at his home in Hitterdal in March. 191 1. He was one of the
])ioneers of 1H71. having thus been a resitlent of fla\- county before thc
days of that county's formal organization as a civic entity. One of the
earliest landowners in Goose Prairie township, he from the very beginning
442 tl.AV AND XOK.MAX CorXTIES, \riXNESOTA.
of the days of a social order in thai pari of the count} took an active
interest in the affairs of the community and at one time and another ser\e(l
as township clerk, as supervisor and as a memljer of ihc school Ixiard.
He was the organizer of the Securit\- State Bank of Hitterdal and was
for years cashier of that institution, and was besides the owner of seven
hundred and sixty acres, now owned by his widow, the owner of consider-
able bank stock and shares in other business enterprises.
Paul Van Vlissingen was a nati\o of the kingdom of Holland, born
in the city of Amsterdam in June, if^.^o- •' ■'^"" ^^ ''■'"' <-orne!ius and
Valberge (Agandens) Van Vlissingen, the former of wIicmu wa> born in
East India and the latter in the city of Christiania, in the kingdom of Xorway,
who came tcj .Minnesota in 1870 and became pioneers ot Clay couni\ . but
who later returned to Holland, where their last days were spent. I pon
coining to this country in 1870 witli iiis family I'aul lornelius \'an \lis-
-singen proceeded on out to .Minnesota and after a sliorl stay in .Minneapolis
came on over into the \\e:(.\ River valle_\ and bought land in what later came
to be organized as Goose I'rairie townshij). C'iay county, in the \icinity of
Hitterdal. lie was one of the organizers of the township and became a
member of the township board and of his local school board. About twelve
year?, later he and his wile returned to Holland and there tlieir last days were
s]jenl, bis death occurring there in 1905. lie then being sixty-nine years ol
age: an<l hers, in igu, she then being seventy-eight \ears of age. They
were the ])arents of four children: .Magda. who is married and lives in
Switzerland: Marie, who is married and lives in Holland: (ieorge. who
died at Minneapolis, when sixteen years of age. and I'anl. the snl)jecl of
this memorial sketch.
When he canie into the Red River valley with his parents in 1871
Paul \'an X'lissiugen w-as eighteen years of age and he at once |)rocee(led
to take his part in the develoimient of the new country. He l)ought ;i hall
section of land in the \icinitv of the place his father had ixnigiit in the
Hitterdal neighborhodd. and entered u])on the streiuions task of developing
and imjjroving the same. In i88_^ he married and settled down on his
f.irm. and :is be pros])ered there added to his holdings until he became the
owner of a fine farm of seven hundred and si.xty acres. .As noted above.
Mr. Van Vlissingen took ;ui active interest in local ])ublic afifairs and served
his home townshij) in xaridus official ca])acities. being clerk of the township
at the time of his death. In additinn to his banking interests at Hitterdal.
mentioned abo\e. he was a stockholder in the local creamery company and
in the local telephone companv and was one of the organizers of the latter.
CLAY AND XOKMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 443
He died in March, 1911, and his widow has since transferred her hanking
interests to Moorhead, wliere she now hves and where she (jwns a very
comfortable liome and a business building- on Front street. She retains
ownership of the extensive home farm in Goose Prairie township, renting
the same to two tenants who operate it, her son, I'aul L'orneliu<, acting as
general overseer of the operations.
It was in February. 1883, at Aloorhead, that Paul \'an Missingen
was united in marriage to Elizabeth Smith, who was born in March, 1857,
in England, and who came to this country with kinsfolk in 1873. -'^Irs.
\'an Vlissingen's father was for years superintendent of police in his home
cit)- in England and lived to be eighty years of age, his death occurring
about t\venty-fi\e }-ears ago. His widow survived him for ten years ant!
was eighty-three 3'ears of age at the time of her death, licjth were born
in England and spent all their lives there. Mrs. Van Vlissingen has tw
brothers and a sister still living in England, none of the other members of
immediate family having come to this cx)untrv. To Paul and Elizalieth
(Smith) \'an Missingen three children were born, namely: Paul Cornelius,
the owner of a farm of one hundred and seventy acres in Oakport township
antl the overseer of his motlier"s large estate: George F., deceased, and
Henry, deceased. Paul C. Van Vlissingen w-as united in marriage at Hit-
terdal in igo2 to Clara Anderson and has four children. Elizabeth, (ieorge,
Ernest and Violet. He has a very pleasant home on his farm iu Oakport
township and he and his wife take an interested part in the genera! social
acti\'ities of their home comnumitv.
o
MARGARET E. G. RICHARDS.
Margaret E. G. Richards, of Moorhead, Minnesota, is a member of a
well-known and respected family, who ha\'e been residents of Clav county
since 1882. She was born in Calumet, Michigan, in 1879 and accompanied
her parents to this part of the state of Minnesota at the age of three years.
She is the daughter of Robert and b^llen (Giffin) Richartls, the latter of
whom was born in Belfast. Ireland, in 1844 and died in iQi.V
Robert Richards was born in Cornwall, luigland, in 1844 and died in
1912. He came to .\merica in 18O4 and proceeded t(j Calumet. .Miciiigan.
in which place he worked in the copper mines. In 1882 he moved to Clay
county, this state, and in Kragnes township embarked in general farming
444 CLAY AND NOKMAN COTNTIKS, M [NNKSOTA.
and stock raising- up to the time of his dcalli. l"o Ivoiiert Richards and
wife seven children were Ijorn, of whom Marj^aret is the fourth in order
of birth, l^'urther and extended reference is matle in another jjart of this
voknne to Robert Richards and otiier memliers of liis family and to these
sketches the attention of the reader is inxited.
Margaret Iv Ci. Ivichards was educatetl in the schools of this county
and remained at home for some years hel[)ing in the domestic routine of
the family home. .\t the death of her father she inherited one hundred
and si.xty acres of land in section <), Kraj^nes township, which land is rented
from her by her brother, Tom. Siie inherited this land about four years
ago. Three years ago she became the owner of a .si)lendid corner lot and
house in Moorlicad and has given am])le evidence of her capacity to conduct
business with ])rofit and advantage. She now and for some time ])ast has
been conducting a rooming house, to the management of which she has
brought keen business judgment.
. Miss Richards is an earnest member of the Congregational church and
warmly interested in all its good works. She lakes a proper part in the
social and cultural activities of the neighborhood in which she resides, ever
desirous to assist in matters calculated to elevate communitv conditions.
ILLIL'S T. LL'X1)P:R.
"Through struggle to triumph" seems to i)e the ma.\in) which holds
sway with the majority of the Scandinavian- who ccjnie to Minnesota;
that is, those who attain to a successful goal at all, find it after arduous
effort. But this class of men enjoy their success after it does come much
more than the man who has inherited a competency or gained it with but
little or no effort.
One of the farmers of Highland Grove township. Clay county, who
has won a definite degree of success after a strenuous effort is Julius T.
Lunder. He was l)orn in Xorway, March 2, 1874. He is a son of Thorsten
Xelson and Dorthea ( Granavold) Lunder, both natives of Xt)rwav. where
they grew to maturity, where diey married and made their home until the
spring of 1877, when they immigrated to .Vmerica, coming direcdv to Min-
nesota, where the father took up a homestead of one himdred and sixty
acres in Highland Grove township. Clay county, which is the place on which
his son. Julius T. Lunder. now resides. He was one of the pioneers here
CLAY AND XORMAN COUNTIES, MIXNESOTA. 445
and he developed the jilace trum a wild prairie to an excellent farm, [)lanted
a large grove of fine trees, erected a comfortahle dwellini; and nnmenms
outbuildings, fences, etc., and here he engaged in general farming and stuck
raising with very gratifying results until his death, which occurred in the
year 1907,
Nine children were born to Thorsten X. Lunder ;ui(l wife, named as
follow: Nels, the eldest; Rande. deceased: I\er, living: Olavus. deceased;
Nickolie, living: Segred, deceased: Thorvald and Dorthea, living, and [uliu>
T., the subject of this sketch.
Julius T. Lunder was three years old when his parents Ijrought him
from Xorway to Clay county and he grew up on the home farm in Highland
Grove township, where he has !i\ed e\er since. He received his education
in the district schools of his \icinity. He has kept the old farm well impro\ed
and under a fine state of cultivation and has carried on diversified farming
with success. He has kept the buildings well repaired and erected a new
barn, thirty-four by seventy feet.
In July, 1905, Mr. Lunder was married to Hilda C'arlscjii, who was
born near Lake Park, Becker county, Minnesota. She grew to womanhood
on the home farm and attended the public schools. She is a daughter of
Carl G. and Sanne (Ebeltoft) Carlson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere
in this volume. Foiu' children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lunder,
namely: Vivian Gladys, Rov, Howard Joseph and Lsther Inez. Politically.
Mr. Lunder is a Democrat.
OLE LARSON.
Ole Larson, farmer of Humboldt township. Clay county, was born in
Scott county. Minnesota. April 16, 1867. He is a son of .\iidrew and
Mary ( Engen ) Larson, l)otb natives of Xorwa}'. from which country they
immigrated to America, single, in 1850, making the voyage on the same
boat, landing at Quebec, Canada, where they were married. .\f'ter spending
three years in that city, they removed to Chicago. Illinois, and lived there
eight years: then went to Muskego. \\"aukeslia county. Wisconsin, where
thev remained until 1862, when they came to Scott county. Minne.sola. Mr.
Larson had worked as a laborer all these years, but b\- li\ing economicall\-
he had saved enough to buv land, which he developed and farmed, being
one of the pioneer settlers in .Scott county. Remaining there until the spring
446 CLAV AM) NCIRMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of 1879, he moved to Clay county, making ihc trip with team and wagon.
He secured one hundred and sixty acres in Hunil)ol(h townsliip, wliicli lie
inade into an excellent farm, where he still resides. Me set out a large
grove and put up a residence and numerous other Imildings. His wife died
in Scott county. Andrew Larson has always heen a puhlic-spirited man
and helpful in his community. He helped organize the first church in his
locality in Humholdt township, the Lutheran church, and he helped organ-
ize the townshiii. While living at Muskego. Wisconsin, he also helped
organize the first church there. He worked on the construction of the first
railroad which was Iniilt west from Chicago. He mi)ved from that city on
account of an outbreak of cholera, walking to .Muskego, a distance of six
hundred miles, later sending l)ack for his family. He worked as a farm
hand there until he came to Scott county, Minnesota, making the long journey
with his familv and household effects in an old-fashioned covered wagon,
the trip re(|niring six weeks. His family consisted of nine children. Six
of these died in Scott county, l.ar^ died in Clay county. Ole, the subject
of this sketch, and jo.se are the only ones now living, the latter keeping
liouse for her father and brother, the three having remained togetlier.
( )le Larson attended tin early district schools of Clay county. He
has worked bard all hi^ life, assisting his father, who is a typical pioneer,
with the general work of de\eloi)ing farms in a new country. The son
has added one lumdred and twenty acres to the homestead and also owns
some woodland. He raises grain, potatoes and live stock, specializing in
graded Shorthorn cattle. He has kept the |)lace under an excellent state
of im])rovement and cultivation. He was one of the organizers of the
banners Rlevator C^onipany at Harnesville and is still a heavy stockiiolder
in the same, lie was its first president, is now vice-president, and has done
much to make the undertaking eminently successful. He is also a stock-
holder and director in the Park Mutual Fire Insurance C'ompany, with which
he has been connected since igio and in which he has carried insurance
for twcntv-fi\e years.
Air Larson was married in 1897 to Caroline Rlegen, a native of Nor-
way and a daughter of Peter and P>ertha (Tingelstad) Blegen, both natives
of Norwax. where thev grew up. married and established their home; Inil
brought their familv to .\merica man\- vears ago, locating among the early
pioneers of Humboldt township. Clav countw Minnesota, where they became
\ery comfortably established through their industry, buying railroad land
in section 13. .\fter living there a number of years they moved to Beltrami
county, this state, where the\' still li\e. Six children, all surviving, were
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 447
born to Mr. and Mrs. Blegen, namely : Caroline, Xettie, Gilljert, \'ent,
Peter and Henry.
The following children have been ixjrn to Oie Larson and wife: .\rthnr,
Peter. Ida Lonisa (deceased), Lars (deceased), Clara, Anna and Sever.
Politically, Mr. Larson is independent. He has held all the offices in Hum-
boldt township, being assessor five or six years, and chairman of the board
of trustees ten years. He is an active member of the Grong Lutheran church
of which lie has been a trustee for many years. He has always taken an
interest in local public affairs and is a well-known and highlv respected
citizen of Humboldt township.
HANS O. LEE.
Hans O. Lee, a substantial landowner and progressive farmer, of Lee
township, Norman county, which township was named in honor of his father,
was born in the kingdom of Norway on April 22, 1863, and was not )et
si.x years of age when his parents, Ole J. Lee and wife, came to this country,
the famil}- presently locating at Fargo. He was eight years of age when
the family located at Fargo and he grew to manhood there, receiving his
schooling in the schools of that city and in the college at Xorthfield. In
iSjr nie J. Lee pre-empted a claim one mile south of the Xorthern Pacific
track, where a part of the city of Fargo now stands, the city waterworks
plant l)eing now located there, and remained there until 187S. in which year
he came up into what then was a part of Polk county (now Xorman) and
settled in the township which now bears his name and which he helped
to organize. In 1884 he returned to his native Norway, bought a farm
there- and there spent the remainfler of his life, his death occurring about
rQ05. His wife, also a natix'e of Norway, was Anna Johanna Akiestrom
before her marriage. They were the parents of eight children, five of
whom are still living, all citizens of the United States.
When twenty-one years of age Hans O. Lee bought a tract of eighty
acres of land in section 26 of Lee township. Norman county, and after his
marriage in 1890 established his home in that township and has ever since
resided there, long ha\-ing been regarded as one of the most substantial
and influential residents of that section of the county. .\ year after his
investment in Lee township he bought a (piarter of a section in section 22
and in the fall of i8cj2 moved onto this latter place: later trading that
c|uarter section for two hunrlred acres in section 34, where he since has made
448 CI.AV AXD XOKMAX COUXTIKS, MINNESOTA.
his lioiiie. I'roiii lime to time Mr. Lee ha.s added t(j his laud hcildins^s until
now he is the owner of six hundred and forty aeres in sections 3 |- and 35
and has one of the best farm plants in that part of the county. In addition
to his oeiieral farming he has given consideral)le attention to the raising
of live stock and has done well in his operations, l^'or sume time .\lr. Lee
was treasurer of the local school board and also served for some time as
overseer of highways in his district. He helped to organize the local cream-
ery and the local elevator and in other ways has contributed of his time
and his energies to the advancement nf the material interests of the com-
munity in which he lives, at the same time acti\ely concerned with the work
of building up tlie interests of the local churches and schools.
On ]\larch 1, 1890, at Perley, Hans O. Lee was united in marriage
to .Vnna Lar.son, wlu> was born on February Jb. 1871, and to this union
six children have been born, namely: Laura, wife of Selmer Gaare, who
lives on a farm a mile and a half north of the Lee place: Olga, wdio is at
home; John, who is niarried and lives on a I'arm a half mile south of the
home place, and Arthur, 1 Iclnier and b-dward, at home. The Lees are
earnest members of the Lutheran church, in the affairs of which they take
a warm and active interest, Mr. Lee being a member of the hoard of deacons
of that chinch and superintendent of the Sunday school.
BENXIE J. GUXDEkSOX.
Bennie L (iimderson, a prosperous and progressive young farmei',
owner of two hundred and seventy-eight acres of choice land in Moland
township. Clay county, was born on a farm in section 20 of that town-
ship, January 18, 1886. He is a son of Gunder B. and .\nna Ciunderson,
natives of the kingdom of Norway, the former cjf whom was born in
1854 and the latter in 1865.
(iunder B. Gunderson came to the L'nited States in 1861 in com-
pan\' with his father, Benedik Ciunderson, who homesteaded one biuidred
and eighty acres of land in section 28, Moland township. Clay count), in
1871. On this tract Benedik Gunderson farmed for the remainder of his
life and died in .March, 191 1. Gunder B. Gunderson subsequently acquired
land in section 20, Moland townshi]), and in 1892 moved to a farm in
section 19. where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring
in 1908. His wife. .\nna Gunderson, also a nati\e of Xorwav, came to
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
aSTOR, LEN9X.
-JLDiTN' fOUND.'.TlONt
BEXXIE J. GUXDERSON.
P.-VUNS OX Gl'NDERSOX FARM.
THE NEV' YtJ.>,-
PIJ BUG LIBRARY
. ." LENOX
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 449
America in 1882 and they were married in 1884 and settled on the farm
in section 20. Mrs. Gunderson is still living. Gunder B. Gunderson and
wife were the parents of the following children: Bennie J., the subject
of this sketch: Allen D., Agnes G., George C., Andrew H., William E..
Henry J., Dora J. and Mabel E., all of whom are still living. Mr. and
Mrs. Gunderson were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and
always took a proper interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in the
general social activities of the district in which thev lived, helpful factors
in the promotion of all causes ha\'ing for their object the common good
of the community.
Bennie J. Gunderson was educated in the public schools of Moland
townsliiji and was reared on his father's farm. From boyhood he was an
able assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place.
Mr. Gunderson ^old, in the spring of 1917, the old homestead place,
which his grandfather had entered in 1871. to Torgus Langley. Mr. Gun-
derson is now the owner of two hundred and seventy-eight acres of prime
land, about sixty-fi\e acres of which is given over to the cultivation of
potatoes, and he is doing very well in his farming operations. The value
of the machinery on the farm is about two thousand dollars.
In 1913, Bennie J. Guntierson was united in marriage to Lenora Filland,
who was born Marcli 26, 1885, in Oakport, Minnesota. To that union was
born one child, a daughter. Lenora Carolina. Mrs. Gunderson died in 1914.
She was a member of the Xorw egian Lutheran church at Concordia, as is Mr.
Gunderson, and in which he served as trustee and was treasurer to the con-
gregation for six years. Mr. Gunderson takes a good citizen's interest
in the public affairs of his township and district and has served as town
clerk for the past six vears, and in many other w:iys has shown an active
desire to further the civic affairs of the communitv.
B. M. OIEN.
One of the substantial and ijrosperous pioneer farmers of Shelly town-
sbi]). Norman county, where he is the proprietor of two hundred acres of
fertile and well-improved fanning land, is B. M. Oien, who is a native of
Norway, born on January 10, 1852, a son of P. .\. :md Gertrude Oien, both
of whom were natives of Norway, and fitting mention of whom is made
elsewhere in this w^ork.
(29a)
450 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Born and reared in the kingdom of Norway, where he received his
early education, B. AI. Oien accompanied his [jarents to America in 1869
when he was seventeen years of age, an energetic young man in a new and
busthng country. He did not directly come to Norman county, Minnesota,
where he has lived lor forty-three years, but moved from place to place, all
the while keeping his face toward the west where lay the opportunity to
acquire a substantial holding of fertile land. In 1874, when he had reached
the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Oien decided to come to the newly ojiened
Red River country, and to reach this section, he had to take a roundabout
route, going by train fro!n Minneapolis to Duluth and thence by train tt)
Moorhead. Upon his arrival in these [jarts he did not immediately take a
homestead, but worked on farms in Norman (then I'olk) county, until he
decided upon a tract of laud to homestead, it was in 1876 that be took a
l)iece of land in this way, a quarter-section in Shelly township, a portion of
the vast expanse of the prairie, on which he has continued to make his home.
When he first took his homestead, the land was all wild and raw. and the
task of putting it under cultivatinn was no easy one. but, nothing daunted
by the extent of his difliculties, he planted a grove and erected the rude
temporary buildings which were so characteristic of the homesteader's claim.
Later, he replaced these buildings by larger, more sulistantial and comfortable
ones, and now has one of the best-equipped and most highly improved farms
in his neighijorhood. Since he has beeti very successful in bis agricultiu-al
pursuits. Mr. Oien has been enabled to extend his holdings by purchasing
a tract of forty acres of railroad land just across the road from his home-
stead. He now carries on, with the help of his children, a general type of
diversified farming and raises graded Shorthorn cattle.
In June. 1879. just three years after he located on his homestead, Mr.
Oien was united in marriage to Paulina M. Nelson, a native of Norw-ay, born
on January 7, 1859, a daughter of Alexander and Thale Nelson, the former
of whom brought his family to America and settled in Norman countv in
1879. To this union three children were born, all of whom are at home:
Julia P., John and Marie. The death of Mrs. Oien occurred on July 17,
1916. at Bethestla Hospital, Crookston. Minnesota. She w^as a consistent
and conscientious member of the Norwegian Lutheran church as is Mr. Oien,
and in the faith of this denomination they reared their children.
In politics. Mr. Oien has part of the time l)een a Republican and is a
strong advocate of the principles and policies which he thinks are right
and according to his oath of allegiance. He has frequently been called
to serve his community in ofiicial capacity, having been for two or
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 45 1
three years township clerk; from 1880 to 1882 township assessor,
and for some time a school officer. In addition to his activity in
the local official life of the comnumity, Mr. Oien has been interested in
one of the co-operative marketing concerns of Shelly, the Farmers Elevator
Company, which he helped to organize, and in other ways has done well
his part in the general affairs of the community whose development he has
aided in all good ways ever since his arrival here back in the days of the
pioneers.
MARTIN O. SOLUM.
Martin O. Solum, farmer, of Tansem township, Clay county, was born
on the home place, the farm he now lives on, July 8, 1874. He has been
contented to spend his life in his native community, never desiring to seek
uncertain fortune in other and distant fields of endeavor. He is a son of
Ole H. and Kari ( Stadum ) Solum, both natives of Norway, where they
grew up and married, later immigrating to the United States and locating
among the pioneers of Tansem township. Clay county, Minnesota, where
they developed a good farm through hard work and perseverance, A com-
])lete sketch of these parents will be found on another page of this volume,
to whidi the reader is respectfully referred.
Martin O. Solum grew to manhood on the home farm and assisted his
father with the general work on the same; attending the district schools
in the winter time, and later studied at Park Region College at Fergus Falls.
With the exception of working in a store in Barnesville a few years he
has always lived on the home farm in Tansem township. He has operated
it entirely on his own account for the past sixteen years and has been very
successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He owns tuo hundred
acres of well-improved, productive and well-cultivated land. He raises mucli
grain, the major portion of which he feeds to live stock. Fie makes a
sjiecialty of raising full-blooded Shorthorn cattle, which, owing to their supe-
rior quality, always find a very ready market. He has a good home and
numerous substantial outbuildings. He helped organize the Farmers Elevator
Company at Barnesville, of which he is a stockholder, and he has been
treasurer of the company since its organization.
Mr. Solum was married in igoi to Sanna Solum, who was born in
Tansem township, this county, where she grew to womanhood and attended
school. She is a daughter of P. P. and Bergetta Solum, who came to Clay
_^C2 CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
t)Ul
county in pioneer days and took up a honicstcatl. which lliey developed
a good farm. Mr. and Mrs. Sohini have no cliildren of their own.
have adopted two children, Jorgen and Ciena. Politically, Mr. Solum is a
Republican. He has been active in iiuhlic affairs for many years and is
now serving his fifth year as county commissioner. He is also treasurer ol
his township, which position he has held for twelve years. As a pulilic
servant he has discharged his duties in an able, faithful and highly accept-
able manner. He is a memter of the Lutheran church.
MARTIN L. MIKKELSON.
Martin L. Mikkelson, a farmer of liglon township, Clay county, was
born in 1864 in Norway. He is a son of Lars and Beret Sophia Mikkel-
son, both natives of Norway, where they grew up. married and established
their home, immigrating to .America in 1870. The mother died on Sep-
tember 18, 1899, at the age of sixty-seven years. The father brought hi-
family to Minnesota in 1871, taking up a tract of one hundred and sixty
acres of railroad land in section 22, Eglon township. Clay county, the place
now occupied by bis son. Martin [.. Here the father worked hard anc
l)ersevered and established a comfortable home and he is still living oi'
the place, being now (1917) in his eighty-eighth year. He has lived to
see many changes in Clay county during his residence here of forty-sevei
years ;md is one of our honored and venerable pioneers. He has not been
actively engaged in farming for the past fifteen or twenty years. Some
time after buying his original tract he bought (jthcr land — forty acres in
section 23 of Eglon township, and eighty acres in sections 15 and 29 of
the same township, but sold the "forty" five years later. He has held many
local offices and has been a good and helpful citizen. To Lars Mikkelson
and wife ten children were born. n;nnely : b'.ngebore. who is a widow and
lives in the state of Washington; Mekel. who i^ married and lives on a
farm near Ffitterdal: Lars, w^ho died in the fall of 1916, after a life on
the home farm; Berret, who is married and lives in Canada; Martin I...
the subject of this sketch; Sophia, who lives at home; Nels, who is mar-
ried and IS farming in Eglon township; Louisa, deceased; Josephine, al.so
deceased, and Mathilda, who is married and lives in Staples. Minnesota.
Martin L. Mikkelson was six years of age when his parents brought
him to America and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Eglon tow n-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 453
ship, receiving liis etliicatiun in the district schools. In 1904 lie and liis
brother Lars bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 22, Eglon town-
ship,. and in 1906 the)' purchased the homestead of two hundred acres.
L'pon the death of Lars, Martin L. became sole owner of the entire three
hundred and sixty acres and is operating the same in a highly successful
manner, carrying on general farming and stock raising. He sows a large
acreage to wheat each year. His land is in the rich potato belt and he has
planted as high as fifteen acres in the tubers. He raises large numbers of
cattle and hogs for the market each year, specializing in Shorthorn cattle
of an excellent grade, the head of his herd being a fine registered animal.
The father made the first improvement on the place, but these have given
away to more modern impro\ements made by Martin L. and Lars Mikkelson,
including new buildings, fences, etc. The first home on the land' was of
logs and was built by the father in the early frontier days. A part of this
])rimitive residence is still standing, a priceless relic of pioneer days.
In 1906, in Eglon town.ship, Martin L. Mikkelson was married to
Bertha Erickson, who was burn in 1881 in that same township, where she
grew to womanhood and attended the public schools. Three children have
been born to this marriage, namely: Myrtle, Ludvig and Milton.
Mr. Mikkelson is a Republican and was a member of the town board
for six years. He was once president of the Young People's Association,
is treasurer of the school hoard in district No. 15 and is a member of the
Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he is treasurer.
MICHAEL HIGGINS.
Michael Higgins, a substantial farmer of Clay county and the owner
of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 31 of Kragnes townshi]), is
a native of the old Ihickeye state, but has been a resident of this section
of the Red River valley since he was eighteen years of age, having come
over here from Wisconsin in 1878. He was Ixirn at Joimstown, Ohio, in
r86o, a son of Michael and Anna (Hannay) Higgins, who were the parents
I if six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in nrder
of birth, the others being as follow : Mary, wife of Con Keefe, a member
of the Fargo police force; Maggie, who is married and lives in Wisconsin:
;\lartin; Patrick, deceased, and Thomas, who is married and lives in Min-
neapolis.
454 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Mr. and Mrs. Keefe have a daughter, Mrs. Anna McOuat, who h\cs
in Winnipeg. Mr. Keefe, who has been a member of the Fargo poHce force
for the past twelve years, has resided in that city since 1881. His parents
died at Detroit, Minnesota. He was reared at Hastings, this state, and
there received liis schoohng, later becoming engaged in railroad service, and
was married to Mary Higgins at Fargo in 1884. Mrs. !\.eefe received lier
schooling near Ontario, Wisconsin. .Mr. Keefe has four brothers and live
sisters. He is the owner of a fine bit of residence property in Fargo and
is one of the best-known men in that city. He is a member of the local
council of the Knights of Columbus, of the local aerie of the l-'raternal Order
of Eagles and of the local branch of the Switchmens L'nion of Xorth
America.
The elder Michael Higgins was born in Ireland and died at the home
of his daughter, Mrs. Con Keefe, at Fargo, in August, 1909, he then l)eing
eighty-four years of age. His wife had preceded him to tlie grave about
four years, her death having occurred in Wisconsin when she was si.xty-
live years of age. The elder Michael Higgins was twenty years of age
when he came to this country from Ireland and for a time after his arrival
here he worked on railroads in Penn.sylvania and Ohio. He then moved
to Johnstown, Ohio, antl then to Steubenville, (^hio, and after some years
of residence there moved to Wisconsin, where he homesteaded a farm in
the \ icinity of Ontario and there spent the rest of the active days of his
life. After the death of his wife he sold his farm and thereafter, until
his death, made his home with his daughter, Maggie, and his daughter,
Mrs. Keefe, at Fargo.
The younger ^lichael Higgins was but a child when his [jarent'^ moxed
from Ohio to Wisconsin and he grew- up on the homestead farm in lite
latter state, receiving his schooling in the school in the neighborhood of
his home, in the vicinity of Ontario, in Vernon county. When eighteen
years of age, in 1878, he came over into the Red River valley and located
at JMoorhead, where for eighteen years thereafter he was engaged in the
employ of Lamb Brothers. He then bought a quarter of a. section in section
31 of Kragnes township and on that farm established his home. He later
bought an adjoining "forty" and now has a well-improved and profitably
cultivated farm of two hundred acres and a comfortable liome, where he
and his family are veiy pleasantly situated. During the summer of 1917.
Mr. Higgins had out tw-enty-five acres of potatoes on his place, in addiiion
to the customary crops. He has a good stand of live stock and is doing-
well in his farming operations.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 455
During the time of his residence in Moorhead Michael Higgins was
united in marriage to Agnes Peterson, who was born in the kingdom of
Xorway in i86j and who came to America when twenty-five years of age
and who was married the year after her arrival here. To that union seven
children have been born, Alice, Myrtle, Francis, Mabel, Edna, Howard
and Alta, all of whom are at home. The Higginses are members of the
Catholic church and take a proper interest in parish affairs. Mr. Higgins
gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and is a director »n
the school board in district No. 78.
AUGUST JULIUS LUEDKE.
August Julius Luedke, one of Norman county's pioneer farmers and
landowners, now living retired at Ada, the county seat,' is a native of Ger-
man}-, but has been a resident of Alinnesota since 1882, in which year he
came with his bride and established his home on a homestead farm in Wild
Rice township, Norman county, later settling on a farm which he bought
in section 36 of Lockhart township, where he lived until his retirement and
remo\'al to Ada. He was born on July 16, 1856, a son of Gottlieb and
Christina Luedke, who were the parents of five children, of whom the sub-
ject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being VVil-
helmina, Martin, Paulina and Othelia, the first two of whom are still living
in Germany and the two latter of whom are married and living in Minne-
sota. The mother of these children died in lier native land and the father
afterward came to this country a-nd here spent his last days.
Reared in Germany, August J. Luedke received his schooling tliere
and remained there until after his marriage. He was married on June 7.
1879 to Pauline Andree and straightwa\- he and his bride took their depar-
ture for America. They proceeded on out into Minnesota and in 1882.
settled on a homestead farm in Wild Rice township, Norman county. I-ater
Mr. Luedke bought a farm in section 36 of Lockhart township and m(;ved
onto the same, creating there a fine ])iece of farming jjroperty, on which
he made his home until his retirement from the active labors of the farm
and removal to Ada, where he and his wife now- reside, their second ^on
now managing the farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Luedke have six children, Wanda, Jennie, .\lbert, August,
Lizzie and ^^'illie. the last-naiiied of whon-i is working in a garage at Atla.
4S6 CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Wanda is married and the others remain on the home place. Mr. Luedke
formerly had an interest in the creamery at Green .Meadow and during ihe
days of his active labors took an interested [tart in the work of develop-
ment along all lines in the neighborhood in which he lived for sn many
vears. Mrs. Luedke is the daughter of Christian and Iilizabeth (Arnt)
.'\ndree, the former of whom was a laborer in Germany. After Mr.
Luedke had settled here in Norman county he .sent for his wife's parents
and. in 1884, they came to this country and spent their last days with their
daughter, the father dying in 1893, at the age of seventy-live years. The
mother lived to the remarkable age of ninety-one years and died at her son's
])lace in Green Meadow township, I'cljruary i, 1917. They were earnest
members of the Lutheran church, to which Mr. Luedke and his family also
belong.
P. S. VISTALNKT, M. D.
Dr. P. S. Vistaunet, well-known physician at Shelly and one of the
best-schooled practitioners in Nomian county, is a native of the kingdom
of Norway, but has been a resident of this country since shortly after
reaching his majority. He was born on November 9, 1868, son of Sivert
P. and Louisa ( Petersdatter) Vistaunet, also natives of Norway, both of
whom were born in .August, 1843, and the latter of whom is still livings
in her native land. Sivert P. Vistaunet was a farmer in Norway. In
1898 he and his wife came to this countr\- with those <jf their children
who had not preceded them here, and presently located at Fargo, with the
intention of making his [)ennanent home -in this country, but in 1907 be
and his wife returned to their old home in Norway and there he spent
his last days, bis death occurring in 1916. His widow is still living there.
They were the parents of twelve children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Marie Magdalinc
(deceased), Peter L., .\nton (deceased). Laura, Mary Ann (deceased).
.\nthonie, Signe, Gunder, Magnus. Johnson and Olaf, who died in infancy.
Reared on the home farm in his native Norway, P. S. \'istannet
received his early schooling in the schools of that country and remained
there until after reaching his majority, when, in 1891, he came to the
United States, locating at Lake Park, in Becker county, this state. In
that vicinity he worked on a fann for about two years, at the end of
which time he went to Fargo, where he remained from 1893 until 1901,
I', s. visTAixiri-, ^[. d.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 45/
spending several winters in the meantime in attendance at Concordia Col-
lege, from the classical department of which institution he was graduated
in 1901. The next year he entered the medical department of the University
of Minnesota and was graduated from that institution in igof). Upon
receiving his diploma Doctor Vistaunet was appointed an interne in the
St. Paul city hospital and after thirteen months of very valuahle practice
in that institution became engaged in the office of Ouain & l\am>tad, i>hysi-
cians, at Bismarck, North Dakota, where he remained three months. He
then opened an office at Lake Park, this state, and was engaged in practice
at that place for five months, at the end of which time he foriued a con-
nection with his brother in the practice of his profession at Thief River
r'alls, but three months later, in 1908. moved to Badger, up in Roseau
county, where he practiced for six months, the first half of 1909. at the
end of which time he came down to Norman county and located at Halstad.
In the spring of 1910 Doctor Vistaunet moved from Halstad to Shelly,
where he ever since has been quite successfully engaged in practice. The
doctor is a member of the Red River Valley Medical Association, in the
deliberations of which organization he takes an active and an earnest inter-
est, and ever keeps fully abreast of the wonderful advancement that is
being made in his profession. He is a member of the Lutheran chnrcli
and takes a proper interest in church affairs, as well as in the general
good works of the community in which he lives.
JENS ANDERSON.
Jens Anderson, one of the pioneers of Cla\- and Xornian tounfies.
and now a retired farmer, who owns four hundred and eight)' acres of Min-
nesota land, one-half section in Lee township, Norman county, where he
lives, and a rpiarter section near Thief River Falls, Minnesota, is a native
<jf Norway, bom on February 7, 1840, a son of .\ndrew and I'ethrina
(Strand) Anderson, both natives of Norway, where ihey grew up, married
and reared their family. The former, who' was l>orn in i8o-'. carried mi
agricultural pursuits during the summer on the farm, which he owned, and
in the winter, as a fisherman, gathered oi the wide harvest along the deeply
indented coast of his native country. After his death in 185J the old farm
was sold. The mother, wdio was born in 1820, remained in Norway and
there died in 1895, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents
of two children, the one besides the subject of this sketch being Peder,
who is married and is li\-ing in northern Minnesota.
458 CLAY AND NOR.MAX COCNTIKS, M I N NKSOTA.
Jens Anderson spent his boyhood days on the old home farm back
in the land of his nativity, where he received the valuable training which
has been so useful to him since he began farming in this country. In the
puljlic schools of tiial countrv he received his elementary education. Until
he was sixteen years of age he remained with his mother, helping and
aiding in the cultivation of the old home farm. Immediately after his
marriage, in i860, he and his bride decided to come to America, the land
of opportunitv, and here estal)lish iheir home. The voyage across the .Atlan-
tic was uneventful, and, after their landing, they came on out to Minnesota,
locating for a short time with an uncle of Mr. .\nderson, who lived in
Houston count}-. The} remained there for Hve montiis looking over the
land, and in the early winter of the year of their immigration to this
(iiuntrv took a homestead of one hundred and si.xty acres in sections 19 and
_'o of Moorhead township. C'la} county, where they lived for eleven years,
impro\ing the land. At the end of that time. .Mr. .\ntlerson bought a
half section of land in Lee township, Xorman county, in section 9, to which
the familv removed, renting his homestead in Clay county until three years
ago. when he sold it. With his characteristic industry and thrift he began
the im])ro\cment of his new holding in Lee township, and now. included
with his .splendid farm plant, has a beautiful farm home, which is equipped
with the modern farm-house conveniences. He carried on general diversified
farming until four \ears ago when he retired and has since rented out his
farm. In the early years of the settlement of this country, oxen comprised
the chief draft animals, and for five or six years. Mr. .\nderson worked
two yokes: he also was a dealer in oxen and fcnnid a ready sale for the
animals in those early days of the Red River country.
It was on June 28. 1869. that Jens .\nderson was married to Pethrine
Eliason, who was born on July i, 1836, a daughter of Klias Jensen and
Dorothea Pedersen. She came to .America with her husband in the year of
their marriage and died in 1892. To that union were born four children,
three of whom are li\ing and one who died in infancy. .\nna and Kathinka
have both proved n\) homesteads in Montana. Einar is married and lives
in Perley. Mr. .\nderson has ahvays been a devoted and active member
of the I^utheran church, as was his wife, and he bel])ed to organize two
churches of that denomination in pioneer days, and is at this time a trustee
of one of them.
Mr. Anderson has also been \ery active in the civil affairs of the com-
munities in which he has lived. While he was a resident of Clay county
he was a member of the Moorhead township board, and since his renio\aI
CLAY AND XORMAN COTXTIES, MINNESOTA. 459
'to Norman coiint\- lie ha^ served in the same capacity on the board of Lee
township, which he helped to organize. He also served for some \ears on
the Norman county board of commissioners, and throughout his official
career has discharged his duties in a manner befitting his own sterling in-
tegritv and with complete satisfaction to everyone concerned. The edu-
cational progress of the community has come in for some of Mr. .\nderson's
time and attention, for he helped to organize school district No. 26, and
has served on the school board for six years. In addition to his activities
in the civic and educational affairs of the community Mr. Anderson has
shown himself to be a progressive farmer by helping to organize better
marketing facilities for the farmers of the township, the creamery and the
farmers elevator at Perlev.
ADNA H. BREILAND.
Success as a general farmer has attended the efforts of Adna H. Brei-
land, of Moorhead, Clay county, to the extent that he is now permitted to
si)end his declining years in retirement. He was born on March 31, [846.
in Norway. He is a son of Hans S. and Tona Breiland, both natives of
Norway, where they grew up. attended school, married and established their
home and there they spent their lives, never coming to America. The father
owned what was considered a fairly large farm for that country, much of
his land being in timber. He was an intfuential man in his coninunuty and
was popular because he was always helping others and was obliging and
neighborly. His death occurred in iSqo, at the age of seventy-five. I-Iis
wife preceded him to tlie grave in [SS7. at the age of seventy-seven years.
T(i lhe.se parents the following children were born: Edward, who died
when two years old: Knut, wlio died in Norway in 1914. at the age of
fiftv vears: Adna H., the sulijecl cf this sketch: Gone, whcj died in Norway
at the age of seventy years: Ashia. who came to America and established
his home in Wisconsin, where he died at the age of sixty years, leaving
seven children, and Anna, who died in Norway at the age of sixt}'-three.
Adna H.- Breiland grew in manhood in Norway and there attended
school. He came to Minnesota when twenty-one years old and presently
located in Clay county, taking up a pre-emption claim, in 1871, in Moland
township. After spending two years on it he gave it up. the grasshoppers
having destroyed his crops. He was one of the pioneers of the county and
460 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTI l-'.S, .\I I NNESdTA.
endured many hardships and privations. His ncigiibors were tew and trad-
ing posts were far away. He went Ijack to Houston county, where he liad
first located, and spent two years there, ilien left Minnesota and returned
to Norway, spencHng six months there in [875. After his visit he retiu-ned
to Houston county, Minnesota, married, and returned to Clay count}-. In
\^// he bought three hundred and twenty acres in section J3. Kragnes
t(n\iiship. It was wild land and he broke up the sod. made ;dl improve-
ments, including the erection of suitable buildings and there he carried on
general farming and stock raising with \'ery satisfactory results until 1914.
when he retired fr<im active life and has since made his home in Moorhead.
renting out his farm. He owns a nice luime in (he county seat and is
very comfortably situated.
Mr. Rreiland was married in ii>j() tu (iro Teh^rken, who was born in
Wisconsin, in Deceiuber. [853. He took his wife on a trip to Norway
with him in 1 Sgf). Iler |);irents finally came to llouston county. Minnesota,
where they owned a good farm. They are l)oth now deceased. Two of
their sons still live on the iiomestead there. Mr. and Mrs. Breiland ha\e
no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, l^ena. who is now
.Mrs. Clarence K. I'ergland and is h\ing .it Colimibus, Montana. Politically.
Air. ]')reiland is a Reiiublican and has tilled public offices in Kragnes town-
ship. He was a member of the first township board and served as super\i.sor
for many years, and was also treasurer of the school board. He belongs
tt) the Xorwegian Lutheran church. ;md while lixing on the farm was a
trustee of the same.
l.F.O I. ROLLK
Leo J. Rolle. one of the prominent residents of I'orup, .Vorman County,
Minnesota, was born in Helling, Luxemburg, Europe, on April 18. 1873,
and is the son of Joseph and .Vnna (Boever) Rolle, also natives of Lu.xem-
burg, who were there educated in the local public schools. They were of
the farming class and were reared on the f;irm. .\fter their marriage they
established their home in the land of their nativity, where they continued
to live until the year 1881, when they felt that they could better their
condition by coming to America. That year they arrive<l in Minnesota, and
purchased railroad land in Mary tow-nship, Xorman county, and began the
tlevelopment of their future home. The fami was increased to four hun-
<lred and eighty .icres of si)lendid land, much of which had been put under
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 461
cultivation and imprrned Ijefore the death oi Air. l-iolie in the year i<S8S.
After the death of her husliand. Mrs. Rolle moved tu Ijorup, wiiere she
died in 191 1. Both Air. and Mrs. Rolle were most excellent people, and
hrought with diem, from their native land, the Luxemburger spirit of progress,
economy and patriotism. They soon entered into the s\nrh ui the new-
life of their new home and were among the prominent residents nt the
new district, with the general development of which the\' had so much
to do. Air. Rolle was A member of the local school hoard, a position he
was well fitted by training and education to fill, and to him and such as he
was due much of the success uf the early schools of his home township.
Mr. and Airs. Rolle were members of the Catholic church, reared their chil-
dren in the faith of the church and were ever devoted to the cause of
Christianity. They were the parents of eight children, Joseph, Eugene J.,
Baptist J., Prosper. Leo. J., .Adolph J., Sophia and Lillie Helena.
Leo L Rolle received his early educational training in the schools of
his native land and completed his schooling in the early schools of A'lary
township, Norman county, Minnesota. He was reared on the home farm
in that townshij) and earlv in life became impressed with the independent
life of the farmer. He remained on the home farm, with the exception of
two years that he spent on a farm in Canada, until 1913. when he came to
Borup, where he has since made his home. During his acti\e life on the
old home place of four liundred and eighty acres, he placed much of the
tract under cultivation. Tlie family had settled on the tract when it was
all raw prairie, and had transformed it into well-cultivated fields, and im-
proved the .same with sjilendid buildings. Since locating in the town ot
Borup, Mr. Rolle has devoted his time to some farming .'it the edge of the
town, and does an extensive business in contract team work.
On October 30, 1900, Leo J., Rolle was married to Lena Schmitknecht,
a native of the state of Wisconsin and the daughter of Andrew and .Mary
(Salvey) Schmitknecht. Her parents were born in Germany and were there
educated and there they grew to maturity. Andrew Schmitknecht was mar-
ried twice: first, in Rochester. New York, and moved to Wisconsin, where
his wife died. Then he married Mary Salvey and lived in Wisconsin until
the year 1879, when they came to Norman county. Minnesota. Here the
father homesteaded a farm in Hagen township, and at once began the de-
velopment and improvement of their ucm- home. The mother did no| live
long to enjoy her new home on the [irairie farm, she having died m the
vear 1881. The father lat^-r <Iie(l in the state of Wisconsin.
4()J n.AV AND XiikMAX COUXTIES. M r N'XI' SDTA.
To Air. and Mrs. Rolle, have been born the following children: Leona,
Sophia, Ella, Helena, Clara, Grace and Walter, all of whom are living with
the exception of Grace, who died at the age of two years and six months.
Air. and Mrs. Rolle arc de\'Out members of the Catholic chnrch and ha\c
reared their children in that faith. They have ever taken an active interest
in the social and educational life of the town, and Mr. Rolle has served as
constable since coming to Borup. Political!)-, he is a Republican.
ANDREW .\. 1!R.\ ri.AXl).
In the memorial annals of Norman county there are few names hekl
in better memory llian that oi the late .Vnch^ew .\. r>ratland, former merch-
ant, flanker nnd leader of local enterprises at Hendrum .and later a well-
to-do landowner and farmer in Lee town.shi]j, who died in tiie summer, of
1903 and whose widow is still making her home on the farm in Lee town-
ship, where she and her familv are \cry Comfortably aud very pleasantly
situated, .\ndrew .\. Bratland was born in the state of Wisconsin ()n January
4, 1853, ;md was but two or three years of age wiien his parents movetl
with their family into Minnesota and settled on a farm in the neighbor-
hood of Minneapolis, where he grew to maniiood and where he remained
until after his marriage in 1874, when he came up here into the Red River
Aalle^- and settled in Norman county, where he spent the remainder of
his life, a man of helpful influence in the pioneer days of this section. He
was one of nine sons born to his parents. Of these sons four are still living,
two being residents of Norman county, Ole Bratland being a well-to-do
farmer living east of Hendrum and Michael Bratland lieing a well-known
lawver at Ada, the count\- seal.
L'pon coming to tliis section, Andrew A. Bratland bought land in Lee
township and later added to his holdings there until he became the owner
of a fine farm of four hundred and sixty-four acres in section 12, now
o\\ned by his widow. L'pon the establishment of the townsite at Hendrum
Mr. Bratland became a storekeeper there and continued in the mercaiuile
business at that place for twelve years, his brother Ole, who had an interest
in the farm, meanwhile farming the Lee township place. Andrew .\. Brat-
land then bought his brother's interest in the farm and moved from the
\illage onto the same and there established his home, spending the rest of
his life there, his death occurring in June, 1903. Air. Bratland, from the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 463
very beginning of his residence iiere, was regarded as one of the most influ-
ential factors in the development of the region in which he settled, ever
helpful in assisting those who were less fortunately placed than himself.
He helped organize the bank at Hendrum and his widow is still the owner
of shares in that bank. He also helped to organize creameries at Hendrum
and at Perley and was a leading stockholder in these enterprises. His
activities in local ci\ic affairs were also, intelligently directed and for some
time he served as a member of the local school board and was treasurer
of the same, and in other ways gave of his time and his energies to pnimoting
all causes designed to advance the common welfare. He \\as a menil)er of
the local lodge of the Foresters.
On June 19, 1874, in the vicinity of Minneapolis, Andrew A. P>ratland
was united in marriage to Nettie Olson, who was born in the kingdom of
Norway on May 16, 1859, ''"^ ^^'^o was fifteen years of age when slie came
with her parents to this country, her parents spending the rest of their
lives in Minnesota. Mrs. Bratiand has two brothers and two sisters. To
Andrew A. and Nettie (Olson) Bratiand eight children were born, namely:
Inge, deceased ; Michael, who is married and is now living in Canada ;
Olin, who lives in Montana: Albert, who is at home, in general direction
of the home farm, and Teluf, F.dgar, Chester and Andrew, also at home.
CHARLES H. HAMMERUD.
.\nother industrious farmer of I-Iumboldt township. Clay county, is
Charles H. Hammerud, who owns a good farm near Barnesville. He was
born in Norway, November 10, 1878. He is a son of Halvor and Jessie
(Grimesrud) Hammerud, both natives of Norway, where they grew to
maturity, married and settled, Init in the spring of 1879 they immigrated
to the United States. Coming on West they selected for their future home
a farm in Lake Park township, Becker county, Minnesota, and there, by
hard work and perseverance, they became very comfortably established.
The father spent the rest of his life there, dying some time ag(i, and the
mother is still living in that comity. He bought eighty acres when he
arrived there and was active in the affairs of his township. He helped
organize the first Lutheran church in his locality and was active in the work
of the same. His widow is also a member of the Norwegian Lutheran
church. To these parents eleven children were born, namely: Ole, Hans,
464 Ci.AV AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA.
Christina (who died in tiie spring of 1916). FvtT, Mary. Andrew. Charles
H.. Ilenrv. George. Albert and Rudolnl!.
Charles 11. Hammerud was hut a few months old when his parents
lirought him to America. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Becker
county, Minnesota, and there he attended the district schools of Lake Park
township. .\l)out 1902 he Ijegan farming where he now lives in Humboldt
townshijj. Cla\ county, and he has remained here ever since, carrying on
general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He now operates
two hundred acres, one hundred and twenty of which he owns. His land
is well imi)roved and under an excellent state of cultivation. He has a
comfortable home and such outbuildings as his needs reciuire. The rest of
the land — eight v acres — belongs to his father-in-law He Iniilt the fine barn
now to be seen on the place.
Mr. Hammerud was married in 1906 to Gene Olson, who was born in
(hant county, Wisconsin, and whose parents moved during the days of her
childhood to Humlxjldt township, Clay county, locating on the place where
the subject of this sketch now lives'. Mr. and Mrs. Hammerud have two
children, Agnes and Helmer. Politically, Mr. Hammerud is independent
and he and his wife i)elong to the l.utheran church.
JACOP. HADLKR.
Jacob Hadler, a former lueniber of the Ijoard of commissioners of
Norman county and a well-known and well-to-do retired merchant of Ada,
a landowner in Pleasant View township, secretary of the Farmers Elevator
Company at Ada and in other ways actively identified with the affairs of
this section, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of Minnesota
since he was fifteen years of age and of Norman comity since 1879, having
been a homesteader there in the days before the formal organization oi
the county as a civic entity. He was born in the village of Neuenfelde.
near the city of Hamburg, on March 5, 1S34, son of Jacob and Marget
(Hadler) Hadler, natives of that same \illage. who died when he was a
child. The elder Jacob Hadler was a farmer and he and his wife were
the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is now
the only survivor.
Orphaned at the age of seven years, Jacob Hadler was reared b\-
a maternal aunt and remained in his native Germany until he was fifteen
Ti
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 465
years of age, when, in 1869, he came to the United States, proceeding
on out to Minnesota and locating at Red Wing, in the vicinity of which
city he remained ten years, working on farms, and during the last three
years of which period he operated a threshing-rig. In 1879 Mr. Hadler
came over to this part of the state and settled in Norman county, enter-
ing a homestead claim to a quarter of a section of land in section 14 of
what later was organized as Pleasant View township. The next year he
married and established his home there and presently bought an adjoining
quarter section of railroad land, thus acquiring a half section of land,
which he still owns. From the very beginning of his farming operations
here Jacob Hadler prospered and after a while bought another tract of
two hundred acres in section 1 1 and eighty acres in section 24 of Pleasant
View township, but later sold one hundred and twenty acres of the two-
hundred-acre tract. In 1902 Mr. Hadler engaged in the business of selling-
binder twine and in 191 1 engaged in the sale of -agricultural implements
at Ada, continuing in that business until just recently, now continuing
only the sale of twine. Though still giving some attention to the man-
agement of his farming interests, Mr. Hadler for some time has been
living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, his son, Albert
E. Hadler, operating the home farm.
Ever since taking up his residence in Norman county Mr. Hadler
has taken an active interest in local political affairs and during his long
residence on the fami served in nearly every township office save those
of treasurer, constable and justice of the peace. In 1906 he was elected
a member of the Ijoard of county commissioners of Norman county from
his district and served in that important public capacity until 1915. Mr.
Hadler was one of the organizers of the Farmers Elevator Company at
Ada and has been a member of the board of directors of the same almost all
the time since its organization. He formerly was president of the company
and is now secretary of the same. He also was formerly secretary of the
Green Meadow Creamery Association. When the railroad came through
Mr. Hadler secured the establishment of a station about two miles from his
home and the same v.^as given the name of Hadler in his honor.
It was in January, 1880, not long after entering his homestead claim
in Norman countv, that Jacob Hadler was united in marriage to Wilhelmina
Henrietta Bauer, who was born at Evansville, Indiana, a daughter of Con-
stant Bauer and wife, who came to Minnesota and settled in Goodhue
county, not far from Red Wing, where Constant Bauer spent the rest
(30a)
466 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of his life as a farmer. Mrs. Hadler died in 1908, leaving six children,
namely: Benjamin H., who is a grain buyer at Arndt, North Dakota:
Ida C, wife of William A. Grieve, of Ada; Walter G., a merchant an<I
grain buyer at Hadler; Jacob J., an attorney at Big Falls; Wilhelmina
M., a member of Norman county's excellent corjjs of public school teachers,
and Albert E., who is farming the old home place in Pleasant View town-
ship. Mr. Hadler is an earnest memlier of the Lutheran church, as was
his wife, and their children were reared in that faith. Mr. and Mrs.
Hadler were among the most active of the organizers of St. John's Lutheran
church in Green Meadow township and Mr. Hadler was elected a memlx-r
of the first board of trustees of the same, a position he held for many
years. He is now a member of Emmanuel Lutheran church in Pleasant
View township and takes an earnest interest in church work as well as
in the general good works of the community in which he has lived since
pioneer days, and the general interests of which he has done so much t"
promote.
ED. O. THORSTAD.
Of the prominent and successful merchants of Lockhart, Norman
county, Minnesota, it is well to mention Ed. O. Thorstad, who was born
in Mitchell county, Iowa, in 1884, a son of James O. and Elizabeth (Erick-
w)n) Thorstad, both of whom were born in the United States. The par-
ents lived on a farm in Mitchell county for many years after their mar-
riage and there met with consideraljle success in their chosen work. They
were niem])ers of the United Lutheran church, and they were greatly ad-
mired by the j^eople of their home district for their many qualities of pure
manhood and womanhood. In 1905 they left their home in Iowa and moved
to Pennington countv, Minnesota, where they established their home on a
farm and where thev still reside, and where the father is successfully en-
gaged in general farming and stock raising.
Ed. O. Thorstad was educated in the schools of Iowa, and there he
was reared on the home farm and was taught the principles of agriculture
1)\- his father. As a young man he engaged in farming in his native county,
where he remained until his jiarents came to Pennington county. Minne-
sota, at which time he accompanied them. There he engaged in farming
for a time, and in 19 10 entered the mercantile business at Thief River Ralls.
Minnesota. There he successfully conducted his business until 1916, when
he came to Lockhart, where he has since continued in the business. On
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 467
going to Thief River Fails, he was employed by others in management of
their stores. Having met with unusual success he came to Lockhart as
manager of the general store of Theo. Salverson. Here by his courteous
manner and business-line methods he has won the confidence of the
proprietor of the concern and the honor and respect of the public.
Being a man (jf ability and possessed of a most progressive spirit, he
is able to know his customers and to cater to their wants. Honest, upright
and industrious, he has won for himself an enviable place in the estimation
of the people among whom he lives. Few men in public life have a higher
regard for the duty they owe to the community in which they live and
transact business than has Mr. Thorstad.
On June i, 191 1, Ed. O. Thorstad and Elma Beckken were united in
marriage. To this union two children have been born, Jordan and Har-
riet, who are now reaching the age when they are of much comfort and
pleasure to their parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thorstad are active members
of the United Lutheran church, to the support of which they are liberal
subscril>ers and in the services of which they take the greatest interest.
ANUND K. STRAND.
.Anund K. Strand, a prosperous and well-known farmer, owner of a
splendid body of land consisting of seven hundred and twenty acres, breeder
of Shorthorn cattle and Shropshire sheep, former treasurer of Norman county
and for forty years a member of the local school board, was born in Norway
on November 27, 1846, a son of Kittel B. and Asjer Olson (Strand) Strand,
also natives of the same country.
Kittel B. Strand, father of the subject of this sketch, was educated in
the schools of Norway and at an early age commenced at the work of a
farmer, which he continued throughout his active life. He was married to
Asjer Olson Strand and they became the parents of six children as follow:
Anund K., Bjorguf, Aase, Olaf (deceased), Eglef (deceased), and Halvor.
The parents of these children spent all then- lives in their native land and
were respected residents of the place where they reared their family. They
were active and influential members of the Lutheran church and their children
were l)rought u]) in the faith of the same congregation.
Anund K. Strand was educated in the schools of his native land and
later became a valued assistant to his father in the operation of the home
farm. .\t the age of thirty-five years he decided to try his fortune in this
country, where so many of his countrymen had preceded him, and in 1871
468 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
he arrived in the United States and proceeded to Wisconsin, settling in
Vernon county, that state, living there for ten years, engaged at various
occupations, including clerking and teaching school. In the fall of 1880 Mr.
Strand came to Ada, Norman county, where he spent two years, engaged at
clerking and other occupations. In 1882 he came to Lake Ida township and
homesteaded sixty acres of land, part of his present holding of seven hundred
and twenty acres, and here he has remained ever since, actively engaged in
general farming and stock raising. He is generally recognized as one of
the most progressive and extensive agriculturalists in this part of the
county and his farm, to which he has added an excellent grove, ranks among
the best in the county. In addition to his land holdings he is interested in
the raising of Shorthorn cattle, I'ercheron horses, Poland China hogs and
Shropshire sheep, and in this branch has been eminently successful.
On January 4th, 1878, Anund K. Strand was united in marriage to .Anna
Ramstad, a daughter of Lars and Marie Ramstad. who were born in Xor-
way and there spent part of their lives and where Lars Ramstad was a
farmer. In 1865 Lars Ramstad came to the United States with his wife and
nine children and settled at Coon Prairie, Wisconsin, where his wife died in
1894. He returned in 1895 to his native land and there spent the remainder
of his life, his death occurring there in 1898. He and his wife were the
parents of twelve children, of whom but two are now living, Mrs. Strand
and her sister, Mrs. Karie Llandey. The Ramstads were all members of
the Lutheran church. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Strand the following
children were born: Carrie, Olaf, Kittel (deceased), Nordahl, Elmer,
Laura and Silas. The Strands are active members of the Norwegian Luth-
eran church and are warm supporters of all its good works, as well as of all
community movements having for their object the betterment of the township
and county.
Air. Strand has always been actively connected in the public affairs of
his home neighborhood, serving the public with zeal and fidelity. In the fall
of i88j he was elected treasurer of Norman county, being the first to fill the
duties of that important office, and served the people for six consecutive
years, living on his farm and attending to the duties of his office every day,
walking to and from Ada for that purpose. While in office he planted the
big Cottonwood tree which is to be seen in the courtyard, and which is now
the largest tree in the yard. He has served for the unusually long term of
forty years on the local school board and during that period has been one of
the most regular attendants at the board. He and Anton Shea helped to
organize and name the county and they are the only two men now living of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 469
those who were originally connected with the early official work of Norman
county. Mr. Strand is now in his seventy-first year and is honored and
respected throughout the county by a large circle of friends, who recognize
his worth and the value of his works to the community at large.
BENNIE BREMER.
Bennie Bremer, a well-known and energetic farmer living in Pleasant
View township, Norman county, was born on his father's homestead on
December 29, 1882, a son of Peter and Anna (Tomhove) Bremer, natives
of Germany, who came to this country in the early seventies.
Peter Bremer was born about 1831 and died in 1894, at the age of
sixty-three years. He was a farmer in his native land and on coming to
this country he proceeded on out to Minnesota and settled in Norman county,
where he homesteaded a farm of one hiuidred and sixty acres in section 6,
Pleasant View township, in 1877. Some years later he bought a quarter
section in section 28, Pleasant View township, and immediately commenced
the task of putting the place into a state of cultivation, engaging in general
farming, and from the beginning of his operations met with marked success.
He carried out a number of valuable improvements, erected substantial
buildings and was generally regarded as one of the progressive agricultural-
ists of this part of the township. Mr. Bremer died on this place, where he
had been living for two years before his death.
Peter Bremer was twice married. He was married to his first wife in
Germany and they became the parents of three children as follow : Peter,
who is married and lives near Lockhart; Henry, who is married and lives in
Montana ; and Dick, who is living in Seattle, Washington. Following the
death of his first wife Mr. Bremer was married to Anna Tomhove, a native
of Germany, and who is still living at the age of seventy-two years. By his
second union Peter Bremer became the father of six children, namely : Katie,
who is married and is living in Fosston: Willie, married and living in Da-
kota; Anna, married and living in Fosston; Fred, living in section 6, Pleas-
ant View township; Bennie, tlie subject of this sketch, and Clara, married
and living near the old homestead. Peter Bremer helped to organize and
was a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Ada. While taking
a good citizen's interest in all matters tending to the welfare of the public,
he was not an aspirant to public office.
470 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Bennie Bremer was educated in the schools of Norman county and was
reared on his father's farm, where he became a valuable assistant in the labors
of developing and improving the home place and where, under his father's
guidance, he learned the rudiments of practical husl)andry. On the death
of his father he inherited a portion of the estate and later bought additional
land friim liis sisters and brothers, and is now the owner of one hundred and
and sixty acres of prime land, on which he carries on general farming. Mr.
Bremer has effected many improvements to the existing farm buildings and
is regarded as one of the energetic farmers of the township. In addition to
his farming operations he also has a herd of high-grade stock.
In 191 3 Bennie Bremer was united in marriage to Fredia Ollroth. who
was born in 1885 on a homestead farm in Green Meadow township. Her
parents now reside in Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Bremer take a proper part in the
general social activities of the neighborhood in which they reside, ever hcl])-
ful in all good causes designed to promote the community welfare.
FRED HABERLE.
Fred Haberle, former chairman of the boar<l of supervisors of Skree
township. Clay county, and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and
forty acres in that township, where he has lived since pioneer days, he having
been one of the homesteaders there, is a native of Germany, but has been a
resident of this country since 1880. He was born on September 12, 1848.
son of John Melchior and Fredericka (Casemann) Haberle, also natives of
that country, farming people, who spent all their lives in their native land
and who were the parents of five children, Fred, Fredericka, Katherine,
Henry ^^^ and Elizal^eth, all of whom are still li\ing. John Melchior Ha-
berle and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and their children
were reared in that faith.
Reared in Germany, F"red Haberle received his schooling there and
grew up a practical farmer. He married in 1874 and after his marriage con-
tinued to make his home in his native land until 1880, in which year he
came to the United States with his little family, arriving at the port of New
York on October 30 of that year. Not long afterward he came on out to
Minnesota, and after staying awhile at St. Paul proceeded on out here to
tlie Red River country, arriving at Barnesville on July 9. 1881. After pros-
pecting a bit Mr. Hal>erle homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 4/1
Skree township, built a house on the same and there established his home and
proceeded to improve and develop his place. In 1902 he bought an adjoining
"eighty" on the north and moved his buildings onto the same, erected addi-
tional buildings, and has since made his home there, he and his family being
\ery comfortably situated. Mr. Haberle has a well-equipped farm plant
and has done well in his farming operations. He also has given close atten-
tion to local civic affairs and was for three years a member of the board of
supervisors of Skree township and one year chairman of the board.
In 1874, while living in Germany, Fred Haberle was united in marriage
to Gottliebin Loenhardt, who also was born in that country, daughter of Fred
Loenhardt and wife, the latter of whom was a Miller, who spent all their lives
ill their native land, and to this union have been born eleven children, Gott-
lob, William, Fred, Mary, Katie, Herman, Anna, Charles, Jacob, Henry and
George, all of whom are living save Katie, who met her death in the dread-
ful prairie fire in the ncighljorhood of her home in 1887. The Haberles are
members of the Lutheran church.
LOUIS POSSEHL.
L(juis F. Possehl is one of the painstaking farmers of Felton township.
Clay county. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, November 2, 1876, a
son of Fred and Minnie (Scheide) Possehl, natives of Germany, from which
country they emigrated to America when young, locating in Cook county,
Illinois. Later they moved to Dupage county, Illinois, after which the fam-
il\- removed to Franklin county, Iowa, where the father remained until 191 1,
in which vear he located at Baker, Clay county, Minnesota, where he has
since been living in retirement. By his own efforts and untiring industry he
became very comfortably established, although his early environment was un-
promising. l'"red and Minnie Possehl were the parents of the following
children : Sophia, lininia, Herman, H. C, Fred, Jr., Martha, Louis and
Minnie. The mother of these children is deceased.
Louis F. Possehl spent his childhood in Illinois, but received his early
education in the rural schools of Franklin county, Iowa. He assisted his
father with the work on the home farm as soon as old enough, and began
farming for himself in Franklin county, Iowa, in 1891, becoming the owner
of a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he continued
general farming and stock raising until 1910, when he disposed of this farm
and removed to the village of Baker, Minnesota, where he engaged in the
472 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
general merchandise and hardware business, wliicli he carried on with ever-
growing success until in October, 1916. He carried a large and well selected
stock of goods, everything wanted by a farming community, and his cus-
tomers came from over a wide territory. Upon the last mentioned date he
traded liis store for his present farm in section 28, l'"elton township, Clay
county. He is the owner of the entire east one-half of the section. ;uid has
a valuable and well-improved farm, on which he is carrying on general
fanning and stock raising successfully. He raises large numbers of live
stock which he prepares for the market, and he is also engaged in a dairying
business antl finds a very ready market for his products. His property
adjoins the town of Felton. and is admirably located for dairy pur]x)ses.
j\lr. f'ossehl has a family and a cozy home and good and substantial build-
ings for farm and dairy work. He has a large silo and commodious barn
and is well ecuiipped for handling stock. .
THOMAS ].. TODD.
Thomas L. Todd, the owner of four hundred acres of fine land in
Hendrum township. Norman county, where he raises stock and carries on
general farming, was born on July 25, 1876, in Montreal, Canada, the
son of Samuel and Eliza (Ligget) Todd, the former of whom was born
in the province of Quebec, Canada, where he received his education and
married Eliza Jane Ligget in 1869. While he lived in Canada he ^\■as
a farmer, but the opportunities for men in such work Ijeing better farther
West, he moved with his family to Minnesota, and bought land in section
30 of Hendrum township, Norman county, becoming an important land-
owner and grain farmer, having eight hundred acres in the home place,
four hundred elsewhere and at one time was the owner of about two thou-
sand acres. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, namely:
John A., a grain dealer in Duluth, Minnesota: Koxana Margaret, who
lives in Minneapolis: Samuel F.. living at Seattle. Washington: Thomas
L., a farmer of Hendrum township, Norman count\ : William Thornton,
deceased: Chester A., of Seattle, ^\'ashington, and Victor Charles, who
lives on the old home place. The family are members of the Presbyterian
church, in the affairs of which they have always taken an active and cnn-
scientious part. On the death of Samuel Todd, in January, 1907, his widow
removed to ^Minneapolis, where she has since lived, leaving the care of her
holdings to her sons.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 473
Thomas L. Todd spent the early years of his childhood in the province
of Quebec, Canada, and was four years of age when his parents came to
Minnesota and located s6uth of the village of Hendrum, where he attended
the local schools. Later he entered Fargo College, and after he had finished
his schooling there returned to the home place and began his very success-
ful career on the farm. Soon after he began fai^ming on the home place,
where he deri\ed much useful experience in wresting the treasures from
the soil, he decided to extend his operations by purchasing some land on
his own account. He has increased his holdings until now he has four
hundred acres of fine land, which he has improved by skillful cultivation
and by the erection of modern farm buildings; he also farms four hun-
dred acres for his mother. At the present time he is a breeder of Shorthorn
cattle and thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs, in addition to bis general farm-
ing pursuits.
On May 2t,, 1901. Mr. Todd was united in marriage to Lillie M.
Vanstrum, w-ho was born at Kirkhoven, near Willmar, Minnesota, May 14,
1879, t'l^ daughter of C. W. and Ida (Bunting) Vanstrum, natives of
Ohio, who came to Minnesota and located at Dassel, where both died,
he being eighty years of age at the time of his death and she, eighty-two.
To this union have been born the following children : Earl, who died :
Arnet, Kenneth, Glenn and Lester. Mr. Todd and his family are members
of the Presbyterian church, in the afifairs of which they have been active.
Politicall}' he is independent. In addition to his most successful efforts
in up-to-date farming, Mr. Todd gives a goorl citizen's attention to the
local afifairs of his community.
JENS N. LANDRO.
Jens N. Landro, the proprietor of two hundred and forty acres of well-
improved land in Hendrum township, where he carries on general fanning
and stock raising, was born on his father's homestead in this township, Feb-
ruary 8, 1880, the son of Nels J. and Anna (Stordahl) Landro, both natives
of Norway, where thev grew up and married. In 1876, one year after the
latter's father and mother, John O. and Janetta (Beckdahl) Stordahl. came
to America, Mr. and Mrs. Landro decided to follow their example am
located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they remained three years.
Learning what opportunities awaited them in Norman county where Mrs.
474 CLAY AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Landro's parents, Mr. and Airs. Stordahl, had located two years before, Nels
Landro and wife loaded their household goods and farming implements into
a wagon and pushed northward behind their slow-moving ox-team toward
Xorman county. They reached the end of their journey after a few weeks
and immediately took a homestead of eighty acres in section 22, where they
livefl until they retired from farming to the \illage of Hendrum, where they
now live. During his residence on the farm, Mr. Landro was variously
connected with the different movements of his neighborhood, having helped
to organize the Pontopidan Lutheran church and various local corporations.
When he left the farm, it contained one hundred and sixty acres. To the
elder Landro and wife eight children were horn, namely: John, Ole, Johanna.
Nels, Jens, .Mljcrt, Julia and Martin, the latter of whom died at the age of
two years.
Jens N. Landro has always lived in Hendrum township and there he
received his comm()n-sch<K)l education. Until 1903 he remained on the old
home place where he contributed his zeal and industry to the material bene-
fit of the famil\ and at the same time acquired .some valuable practical
experience, which was of great use to him when he began farming on his
own account. In the year mentioned above he left the parental roof tree
and began farming on the place wheie he now lives, having been there all
of this time except the three years which he spent on his father's place. His
unllagging industry has enabled him to extend his holdings until now he is
the owner of one of the best improved farms in Hendrum township. He
is a very progressive farmer and believes in the use of modern improve-
ments on his farm as soon as he is convinced that they will be of substan-
tial benefit to his business. In 19 13 he erected his well-appointed farm
house, where he and his family are delightfully situated: and in 1915 he
made another valuable improvement when he built his large circular barn,
which is seventy feet in diameter. .\t this time, in addition to his general
farming, he makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Holstein cattle, and
ha> thus contributed much to raising the standard of stock in his com-
numity.
Jn addition to his farming operations. Mr. Landro is interested in the
betterment of the marketing and credit facilities of his community. He
helped to organize the creamery and to reorganize the Farmers' Elevator
Company of Hendrum. being a member of the board of directors of the
latter institution ; and in addition to these, he is interested in the Farmers'
State Bank of Hendrum. Politically, Mr. Landro adheres to independent
ininciples. He has been called upon by his neighbors to serv^e the town-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 475
ship's interests on its board, of which he has been a member for seven years,
two of which he has served as chairman. He has also performed an esti-
mable service for the educational progress of the community while he has
Ijeen a member of the township school board for the last three years.
On November 26th, 1903. Mr. Landro was united in marriage to Mary
Ingberg. who was born in Hendrum township. November 5, 1877. the
daughter of P. O. and Emma (Neuland) Ingberg, of whom mention is made
elsewhere in this volume. To this union four children have been born.
Ingwald, Alice, Ida and Palmer, all of whom are living. Mr. Landro and
family are memliers of the Pontopidan Lutheran church, and in the affairs
of the same they take an active interest.
OLE N. BJORNDAHL.
&
One of the painstaking farmers of Skree townsip. Clay county, is Ole
N. Bjorndahl, who was born in Norway, March 23, 1876. He is a son of
Nels and Turgen (Ulvick) Bjorndahl, both natives of Norway, where they
grew up and married. They came to Minnesota in 1878, locating in Parke
township. Clay county, and during the following year the father bought a
homestead right of Amund Olson for his eighty acres, and later he home-
steaded an additional eighty, improved his land and there carried on general
farming until his death. His widow still lives on the homestead. He pros-
pered with the advancing years and added twenty acres of timber land, eighty
acres of railroad land and forty acres of prairie land, making in all a large
and excellent farm, on which he erected suljstantial buildings and made other
important improvements. He set out a large grove, embracing several acres,
the government paying him tor the work. He helped start the Grong Luth-
eran church. His family consisted of ten children, namely: Nellie, the wife
of Nels Olson; Vina, the wife of William .Shaver: Nels N., Mrs. Carrie
Jaques, Ole N., Mrs. Inge Robinson, Adolph. who is at home, Mrs. Louisa
Markel, Knut N. and Nina, who is teaching school and lives at home.
Ole N. Bjorndahl grew to manhood on the home farm and attended the
district schools. W'hen a young men he bought one hundred and twenty
acres of railroad land in Eglon township. Clay county, which he cultivated,
although remaining at home. In igoo he went to McHenry county. North
Dakota, and filed on one hundred and sixty acres. He lived there seven
vears, making all improvements, building a house and outbuildings, fences,
setting out a grove, etc. He still desired further educational advantages and
476 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
he then went to Highland Park College. Des Moines, Iowa, for a short time,
after which he went to Colorado, where he spent a year and a half, then
came back to Minnesota. Six montlis later he went to North Dakota again,
hut after selling his homestead there he returned to Clay county, Minnesota,
and bought two hundred and forty acres in Skree township. A year later,
in 1908, he married Betsy Julia Hanson, who was born in Skree township, a
daughter of Kittle Hanson and wife.
The subject of this sketch has continued to reside on his farm in Skree
township, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and cul-
tivation. He has eighty acres of the one hundred and twenty of railroad
land which he first bought in Eglon township, having sold forty acres to his
father. He has kept the land well improved and well cultivated and has one
of the choice farms of the township. He believes in modern improvements
and modern methods of agriculture. He has a fine, large grove, which was
planted in the early days by Peter \\'ilson. the first owner of the land. He
has experienced many "ups and downs," especially as a homesteader in
North Dakota, l)ut by persevering and bearing his vicissitudes courageously,
he has become well establi.shed and is in comfortable circumstances.
To Ole N. Bjorndahl and wife two children liave been born, namely:
Tilda Bertina and Clifford Norman. Mr. Bjorndahl is a member of the
Lutheran church.
PETER O. FISKUM.
Peter C). b'iskuni. a farmer of Tansem township. Clay county, was born
in Norway. October 9, 1836. He is a son of Ole Olson and Bertha Maria
(Svensdatter) Fiskum, both natives of Norway, where they spent their lives
on a farm. They were parents of five children, three of whom, Hannah,
Tver and Oie Olson, remained in Norway, and Marin and Peter O., twins.
Marin came to America in 1866 and located in Iowa, where she married Ole
H. Larson, and there she spent the rest of her life, dying .some time ago.
Peter O. Fiskum spent his Iwyhood in Norway, where he attended
school. He came to America in 1858, locating first in Houston county, Min-
nesota, where he went to school one month. He worked on a farm there.
After spending one winter in that county he went to Mononie, Dunn county,
Wisconsin, where he worked in a saw-mill and there he worked until in
April. 1861. when he enlisted in Company K. Fifth Regiment Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry. He was sent South and saw considerable service, but
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 477
was taken sick before Richmond, \'irginia. He spent some time in the gov-
ernment hospital at Philadelphia and when released was discharged from the
service on account of disability. After his experience as a soldier he went
back to Spring Gro\e, Houston county. Minnesota, later to Fillmore county,
this state, where he resided until 1871. when he removed to Clay county,
bringing his wife and child in a prairie schooner, drawn by an ox-team, the
trip requiring a month. He located on his present farm in Tansem town-
ship, taking up a homestead, one-fourth of section 12. He began life here
in typical pioneer fashion, broke the wild prairie sod with his oxen, put up a
group of buildings and planted crops. After living on the place eight years
he bought one hundred acres of railroad land, on which he has erected his
present home, barn and other excellent buildings, which land adjoins his
original homestead. He has brought it all up 10 a high state of improve-
ment and cultivation and has been very successful as a general farmer and
stock raiser. He is one of the best-known residents of his township, having
lived here since the early pioneer days, or during a period of forty-five years,
during which time he has lived to see the country develop from the wild
plains to one of the foremost farming sections in the state. He helped or-
ganize Tansem townshij) and was the first clerk of the township. Later he
served as justice of the peace and as assessor several years, and also served
as county commissioner for eight years. As a public servant he gave entire
satisfaction to all concerned, being prompt, able, painstaking and courteous.
He has always taken an abiding interest in the affairs of his township and
has helped promote its welfare along general lines from the first. He is a
stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Pelican Rapids. He has
l>een very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial men of
his community.
In 1869, in Fillmore county, this state, Mr. Fiskum was married to
Sophia Bertilson, who was born in Norway, from which country she came
to America with her parents when young, the family locating in Fillmore
county, Minnesota. Her parents were Berthel and Ragnal Thorson, both
natives of Norway, where they grew up and married, immigrating to the
United States in i860 and establishing their home in Fillmore county, Min-
nesota, where they resided until 1876, when they removed to Otter Tail,
county, spending the rest of their lives there. The following children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fiskum: Betsie M., Ole B., Sven R., Peter A.,
Olive, Magnus, Petra, Otto, Georgia and Adolph, all of whom are living.
Politically, Mr. Fiskum is a Republican. He has never been a seeker for
political ofifices. He helped organize the Grong Lutheran church. Mr.
4/8 CLAY Ai\D NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Fiskuni recalls many interesting reminiscences of the early days in this local-
ity. The first time he took wheat to mill to have ground into flour, he was
compelled to go to Alexandria, making the long journey in a wagon drawn
by oxen, the time required being eight days.
HANS RASMUSSEN.
A pioneer of Norman county, where he owns a line farm of two hun-
dred and forty acres on which he carries (in an advanced type of diversi-
fied farming, is Hans Rasmussen, born in the kingdom of Norway on De-
cember 5, 1852, the son of Martin and Helena (Halvorson) Rasmussen.
His parents were both natives of Norway, where they grew to maturity and
married. Since several of their children iiad cast their lot with the agri-
cultural interests of the New World, they, too, in 1877, came to America
and located in Dodge county, Wisconsin, where they lived with their son.
Matt. In the spring of 1882 this son brought his father and mother to
Norman county, Minnesota, where they li\ed for a time with their son,
Simon. Later, however, they made their home with the son who was men-
tioned above, and with him they remained the rest of their lives. Martin
and Helena Rasmussen were the parents of five children, Hans, the subject
of this re\iew being the second in order of birth; the others are: Matt,
now living in Anthony town.ship, Norman county ; Amund, living near
Bemidji, Minnesota; Simon, of Norman county, and John, who is also a
resident of Norman cotmty.
When he was only seventeen years of age, after having received his
common-school education in the land of his nati\ity, Hans Rasmussen, with
no capital save rugged health and an indomitable spirit for making good
in a new country, came to America and first located in Dodge county, Wis-
consin, to which his brother. Matt, had preceded him. There he remaineil
for twelve years, accustoming himself to the institutions and the ways of
doing things in the New World, by working out for se\en or eight years
and farming the rest of the period. Finally, after he had accumulated
sufficient resources to permit his acquiring a holding of his own. he came
to Minnesota, in 1881, and bought two hundred and fortv acres of land
not far from Halstad in Anthony township, Norman county. Dominate<l
by the desire to make the best of his farm, he immediately .set about ini-
]3roving it, and now it is one of the best improved farming plants in all
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 4/9
Anthony township, Ijeing supphed with excellent and ]>ractical farm build-
ings, around which he has planted a grove.
On January 17, 1887, Hans Rasmussen was united in marriage tcj
Bertha jenson, also a native of Norway, daughter of Gunder Jenson. To
Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen have been birn eleven children, Rmlie, Martin,
(huida, Minnie. Helen. Ida. Gladys. Martha. Lillian and lu-alyn. ,dl of whom
are living, and Gun(hi, who died at the early age of two years. INfr. and
.Mrs. Rasmussen are mem))ers of the Lutheran church, the former having
helped to organize the East Marsh River church of that denomination, and
in the teachings of this creed they have reared their children.
Aside from his activity on bis fine farm, Mr. Rasmussen has wisely
seen fit to connect himself with a \ery important co-operative business in-
terest of his community, the farmei-s elevator, at Halstad, which he helped
to organize; wdiich interest indicates that he is alive to the needs of his
neighborhood in better marketing facilities. He has been chosen by his
neighbors to represent their interests as a member of the township board.
GILBERT KITTILSON.
Eroni far-away Xorvva\- has come to the United States some of our best
citizens and most successful men of affairs. \\'e find former subjects of this
peninsular kingdom occupying positions of honor and trust in nearly every
]jart of our great domain. They have entered into the vocations common to
our people, have made good in the same and are today honored and substan-
tial men. Educated as they are to battle with the difficulties of life, they
have come to a new country and amid new conditions with the determination
to succeed in their life's work. Having lived in a land where the horizon of
their opportunities is limited, they have come to a land where the field is
broader, and have accepted the situation as an omen of success if rightfully
used. Honest, frugal and industrious, quick of apprehension and possessed
of a strong business acumen, they have succeeded where others have failed.
Of this noble class of people who have left their native land and sought their
future success in the state of Minnesota, it is well to mention Gilbert Kit-
tilson, a successful banker of Borup, Norman county. He was born on
November 3, 1876, and received his education in the schools of his native
land, where he was reared amid the picturesque scenes of the homes of the
early Norse navigators. He remained in the land of his birth until the year
1892, when he bade farewell to the scenes of his boyhood and sailed for
&
480 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
America, the land of opportunity. On his arrival in this country he pro-
ceeded at once to Trail county, North Dakota, where he worked as a farm
hand and attended school in the winters. In 1897 he left the farm and came
over into Minnesota and began working in a store at Ada. Here he made
good and was presently appointed deputy register of deeds, which position
he held for eight years, to the entire satisfaction of all. .\fter completing
his term of office he entered the First State liank of Ada, and there remained
for two years, at the end of which time, in the spring of 1915, he became
cashier of the Security State Bank of l!orn[). This institution does a gen-
eral banking business and writes insurance. In his position as cashier of the
bank Mr. Kittilson has demonstrated his ability as a man of Inisiness acumen
and of the highest integrity.
In 1903 Gilbert Kittilson married Hannah Mofifatt, the daughter of F.
Mottatt and wife, highly respected people of the county, and to this union
have been Ixjrn three children, Mildred, Fayette and Luicine. Mr. and Mrs.
Kittilson are (jrominent members of the Congregational church and are pop-
ular in the social life of the town. Mr. Kittilson is a member of the Free and
Accepted Masons and of the Modern Woodmen of America and has always
taken a keen interest in the civic life of his home communitv.
JAKOB OLSON DRAGELAND.
One of the later settlers of Norman county, where he owns a half
interest in a hne farm of two hundred acres of fine farming land in Halstad
township, is Jakob Olson Drageland. He is a native of the distant Norway,
born there on January 17, 1861, a son of Ole and Karen (Stole) Drage-
land, both of whom were Ijorn in Norway, there grew to manhood and
womanhood, married and raised their family. Back in the old home land
across the Atlantic, the father, who was a steady farmer, was laid to
rest. The widowed mother, on the invitation of her son, the subject of
this review, came to Minnesota in 1894 to share with him the comfort
and conveniences of his home in Norman count)', where she has since
resided. Ole and Karen Drageland were the parents of six children, Jakob
Olson being the fifth in order of birth, and the others as follow : Gabriel,
Severin, Gertie. .\nna and Lena, who married John Aamodt and died in
1906 on the farm where her brother. Jabok Drageland, now lives. The
subject of this sketch is the only one of his father's children living, all
the rest, except Mrs. John Aamodt, dying in Norway.
qfc#>
.TAKdl! I). DKACKI.A.XD.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 481
Jakob Olson Drageland spent his boyhood and youth on the old home
farm back in Norway, where he attended tlie public schools, and had just
reached man's estate when he arrived in America, the land of opportunity,
in 1S82. He spent the summer of that year in Blue Earth cotmty, Min-
nesota, and then until 1884 lived the rugged life of a lumberjack in and
around Duluth, this state. Feeling that he had a better chance to become
independent, financially and industrially, in farming, as he had already had
much valuable experience in this line back in the land of his nativity, he
came o\er to Norman county and began working on farms, including the
Grandin farm, just acro,ss the Red river, on the North Dakota side. Finally,
in 1898, he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, John Aamodt,
and together they bought two hundred acres in section 9, Halstad town-
ship, where they now carry on general farming, both making this place
their home. The holding is now a well-improved one, the owners having
recently erected a fine l>arn.
Air. Drageland has ne^er married. He is a member of the Norwegian
Lutheran church and lias always been an active, consistent and conscien-
tious adherent to that creed. Politically, he is a stanch advocate of inde-
pendent principles, but has never sought office : nevertheless in all the aff'airs
of his community- wliicli have for their aim the common weal, he has
e\er been active.
THOR GILBERTSON.
The late Thor Gilbertson, for years one of the best-known and most
progressive farmers and stockmen of McDonaldsville township, Norman
county, the proprietor of a fine farm of five hundred and sixty acres and
for about thirty years a resident of that township, was a native of the king-
dom of Norway, born on June 24, 1850, a son of Gulbrand and Bergit
(Peterson) Thorson. His parents were also born in that country, where
the father died, the mother coming to America some time after the son,
Thor, had immigrated, and here she died in February, 1898, while living in
Norman county. They were the parents of the following children : As-
tred, Anna, Turi, Thor. the subject of this memorial sketch, and Ragnil, all
of whom are deceased.
Thor Gilljertson was educated mostly in his native Norway and at the
age of twenty-one, in 1871, he came to this country and proceeded on out to
(31a)
482 CLAY AND XORMAN COVXTIKS, MTXXESOTA.
the State of Minnesota, locating in Spring Grove township, Houston county,
where, and in Fillmore county, he worked for the neighborhood farmer'^
until 1878. In the latter year he came to Norman county, making the
journey by ox-team and also drove cattle, the trip occupying over one
month. On arriving in this county he immediately homesteaded a cpiarter
section of land in McDonaldsville township and i)roceeded to get the place
in a state of cultivation and presently had things going in fine shape, car-
rving on general farming and adding to his holding as he prospered m his
agricultural operations, linallx- becoming the owner of live hundred acres
of prime land, on which he erected a number of substantial buildings and
set out a fine grove, which enhanced the value of the place. Mr. Gilbert-
son died on Julv 28. \()(X). leaving to his family, in a<ldition to bis valuable
propertv, a good name, the l)est of man's possessions.
On April 26. 187^). in Fillmore county, this state. Thor Gilbertson was
imited in marriage to Anna i'A'ans. a sister of Edward Evans, mentioned
in another part of this work. W'lien Thor Gilbertson was coming to settle
in \orman county, his wife walked the greater part of the way, helping to
drive the stock, and the Gilbertsons were accompanied on the journey by
Olaf Anderson and family. To Thor Gilbertson and wife the following
children were born: Kachael. Gilbert. Xellie. Rcrgina. .\nna. Nels. Clara,
luiiil. Carl, Albert .and l-lsther. all of whom are living. Thor Gilbertson
was a member of the Lutheran cluirch and helped to organize the first church
in the comnnmity, the West Wild Rice congregation. an<l in other ways gave
of his time and energy to all movements calculated to promote the general
welfare of the township and county.
Gilbert Gilbertson. second born of the eleven children Ijorn to his jiar-
ents. was born on his father's homestead in McDonaldsville township on
October 12. 1878. He was educated in the public schools of the township
and hel])ed his father in the labors of the farm, a valuable assistant, and con-
tinued to live on the old home place until 1912. In the latter year he moved
to his present farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres and is actively en-
gaged in general farming, success having attended his labors since the very
beginning, and he is accounted one of the most progressive farmers of the
township, his farming operations being carried on according to modern
methods.
On December 11, 1913. Gilbert Gilbertson was united in marriage to
Faura Strand, a daughter of A. K. Strand, of Lake Ada township, Nor-
man countv. further reference to whom is made in another part of this
v<ilume. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson are the parents of one child, a son. Thor
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 483
Anund. They are members of the Lutheran church and are warmly inter-
ested in all its good works, also taking an active part in the general social
affairs of the community, helpful factors in the promotion of all causes hav-
ing for their object the common good of the community.
JOHN CORNELIUSON.
Among the native-born Norwegians, who have come to the United
States and engaged in general farming in Clay county, is John Corneliu-
son, owner of a well-kept farm of two hundred and ninety acres in Kurtz
township. He was born in Oestre Toten, Norway, June 2, 1863, the second
eldest child of Carl A. and Emilia Theolinia (Evenson) Corneliuson, also
natives of that same country.
Carl Corneliuson, who was born in 1835, was educated in the schools of
Norway and was reared to the life of a farmer in that country. He was
united in marriage to Emilia Theolinia Evenson and, in 1885, he and his
wife and family immigrated to America. On arriving in this country Carl
Corneliuson came on out to Minnesota and settled in Clay county, where he
resumed the life of a farmer. He and his wife were members of the Nor-
wegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in the same faith.
There were nine of those children born to Carl Corneliuson and his wife,
namely : Karen, John, Martinus, Maren, Even, Anton, Oluf, Clara and
Olga, all of whom are alive, as are the parents.
John Corneliuson was educated in the schools of his native land .ind
worked for some time at farm labor before coming to this countrx . In
1883 l""^ decided to chance his fortune in this country, where so man\' of
his compatriots had already established themselves. He came on to this
state and settled in Clay county. He commenced to work on farms and
saved his money with the view to acquire a holding of his own. After the
lapse of about twenty years he was able to gratify his ambition and. in
1903, he bought his present place of two hundred and ninety acres of prime
land near Moorhead, in Kurtz township. Clay countw 1 le is actixely en-
gaged in general farming, devoting portion of his land to potatoes and corn
and small grain, and has met with much success, and is now recognized
as one of the substantial and prosperous farmers in this part of tJie count\-.
He carried out several costly improvements on the farm and his outbuildings
and dwelling are among the best in the county. His home is modern in
every wav and is equipped with a fine electric light plant.
484 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
On Januar)' 25, 1894, at St. Peter's church, Yellow Aledicine countv,
Minnesota, John Corneliuson was united in marriage by Rev. O. Gulliran-
son, to Marie Petterson, also a native of Norway, and to that union the
following children have been born: Carl, deceased: Egbert, Emilia, Ma-
tilda, Corine, Teckle, Charlotte, Carl, Theolinia and Lillian. Mrs. Cor-
neliuson is a daughter of Petter Larson and Josephine Bergerson Havk-
loen, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1867. locating in Win-
neshiek county. Iowa, eight miles east of Decorah. In 1875 they moved
to Yellow Aledicine county, Minnesota. He died when Mrs. Corneliuson
was ten years of age. The mother now lives in Montevideo, Minnesota.
The Corneliuson family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church
and are earnest in their support of all its good works, as well as all com-
munity affairs having the well-being of the public for their purpose. Mr.
Corneliuson is a warm advocate of the Best township schools and was a
memljer of the school board . for some time, and- in many other wavs he
lends his support to the interests of the' community in puljlic matters.
RHINEHART P. IDTSE.
Rhinehart P. Iiltse, a well-known and energetic farmer, who has been
a resident of Hegne township since the date of its organization for civic pur-
poses, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this
country since 1872 and of Norman coimty since 1878. He was born on
November 15, 1849, a son of Peder and Anna Idtse, both of whom were
born in Norway and there spent all their lives, respected and earnest mem-
bers of the farming community in which they lived.
Rinehart P. Idtse was educated in the schools of his native Norway and
was reared on his father's farm, which was situated on an island one and
one-half miles east of Stavanga. the family being thus compelled to make
their trips to market by boat. He helped in the labors of cultivating the land
on this island farm imtil he was fifteen years of age, when he went to sea on
a sailing vessel, beginning his life as a seafarer as a cook. He later became
a sailor and was thus occupied until he came to America. At the age of
twenty-three years, in 1872. he immigrated to the United States and on
arrival in this country, proceeded on out to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and
made that place his home until 1878, in which year he came to Norman
county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hegne
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 485
township and has since Hved there, one of the oldest residents in the locality.
He commenced immediately to prejjare the land for crops, meeting with
success from the very beginning of his farming operations and has erected
some fine buildings on the farm, his place being regarded as one of the best
kept in the township. He is now the owner of two hundred and seventy-five
acres of prime land and is engaged in general farming, his operations being
carried on according to modern methods of agriculture.
In 1880 Rhinehart P. Idtse was united in marriage to Rachael Quam,
who was born in Fillmore county,, this state, a daughter of Thor Quam and
wife. To this union have been born nine children, Anna, Marth, Dora, Ellen,
Richard, Ruby, Fred and Constance, who are still living, and Peder T., who
died at the age of one year. Mr. Idtse has been active in the afifairs of his
home community since the commencement of his residence in Norman county.
He helped to organize Hegne township and has served as township super-
visor and was a member of the first township board, to the duties of which
he brought a ripe intelligence. He also helped to organize the first church
in the neighborhood and in other ways he has given of his time and energies
to the advancement of all good causes calculated to benefit the township and
county.
ALEXANDER HOLDEN.
Alexander Holden, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the
real pioneers of Norman county, now living retired a,t his pleasant home in
Ada, is a native of the Emerald Isle, but has been a resident of this country
since he was eighteen years of age. He was born in the north of Ireland,
June 24, 1844, son of Dr. Alexander and Margaret ( Woodside) Holden, both
natives of Ireland, who spent all their lives there. Dr. Alexander Holden
was a college graduate and in addition to following the practice of medicine
was a landowner and farmer.
At the age of ten years the junior Alexander Holden began clerking in
a general store in the city of Belfast and was engaged there and in a bakery
in that same city until he was eighteen years of age, when, in 1862, he came
to the United States. The vessel on which he took passage struck a sandbar
on the south side of Long Island, some miles from Sagg Harbor, and went
to pieces, but the passengers and crew were saved and young Holden finally
landed safely at port. That was in May, 1862, and in July of the same year,
in St. Lawrence county, New York, Alexander Holden, the Irish lad, less
486 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
than three months in this country, enlisted for service in the Union army as a
private in Company B, One Hundred and Fortx-second Regiment, Xew
York \'ohmteer Infantry, and served valiantly with that command until the
end (jf the war. Upon the completion (jf liis military service Air. Holden
took uj) the carpenter trade at Rochester, I'ennsylvania, and was thus engaged
at that place and in the neighboring town of New Brighton for three or four
years, at the end of which time he became employed as a pattern-maker in
the fire-brick factory of Barnes & Company, in the latter place, remaining
there until 1870, when he returned to New York state, locating in Franklin
county, where he remained until the spring of 1872, when he decided to trv
his fortunes in the great Northwest. By way of the Great I.akes to Duluth,
Mr. Holden made his way to Minnesota and thence on out to Detroit, then
the frontier of this section of the state. From there he pushed on west and
located on a homestead tract on the west line of what later came to be organ-
ized as Lake Ida township, in Norman county, his nearest neighbor there
being ten miles distant. Upon proving up his claim to that tract of one hun-
dred and eighty-seven acres. Mr. Holden pre-empted an "eighty" in McDon-
aldsville township and after living there four or five years bought a half
section in section u of that same townshi]), adjoining his homestead tract
and there, in 1S78. est;il)lished his home, fariuing there quite successfully for
twenty-five years, at the end of which time he retired from the active labors
of the farm and mo\ed to Ada. where he built a comfortable home, where he
now lives. In IQ04. becoming dissatisfied with a life of inaction, Mr. Holden
left Ada and went over to Mahnomen, where he engaged in the retail meat
business and was thus engaged there until 1913. when he again retired and
returned to Ada, where he since has made his home. Mr. Holden still retains
the greater part of bis old homestead place and the half section cornering
the same and is quite well circumstanced. For years Mr. Holden took an
active part in farmers" movements in this i)art of the state and during the
days of the People's party movement was one of the local leaders in that
party. During his residence in Mahnomen he was three times elected presi-
dent of the council of that city, though never an aspirant for the office. Dur-
ing the early years of his residence here he was for three vears carpenter for
the Great Northern Railroad Company between Fisher's Landing and
Barnesville. and while thus engaged did nuich to promote settlement out here.
inducing many settlers to put in their fortunes with the i)ioneers of Norman
county.
On January 10. 1867, Alexander Holden was united in marriage to Ada
Jackson, who was born in Franklin countv. New York, and to this union six
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES^ MINNESOTA. 487
children have been born, Eva S., Agnes J., George, Lucretia, Ada and GHsa.
Mr. and Mrs. Holden have a very pleasant home at Ada and take a proper
interest in the general affairs of the city, interested in all local good works.
Mr. Holden is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the
Repnblic and has for years taken a warm interest in the affairs of that pat-
riotic organization. He also is a veteran member of the Independent Order
of Od<l Fellows, and takes much interest in the affairs of that order.
MARTIN O. DAHLEN.
Martin O. Dahlen. a farmer of Tansem township. Clay county, was born
in Norway, January 22. 1872, a son of Ole and Carrie (Englen) Dahlen, both
also natives of Norway, where the\- grew up, married and spent their lives
on a farm, both dying there many years ago. Four children were born to
them, namely: Peter, who died in Norway: Gilbert, who also died in the
old country; Martin O., the subject of this sketch, and Anna, whose death
occurred in Norway.
Alartin O. Dahlen spent his boyhood in his native land and there attend-
ed the common schools. When twenty years old, in 1892, he immigrated to
the L'nited States, coming directly to Minnesota, where he worked out as a
farm iiand in. the neighborhood of Barnesville, Clay county, for about ten
years. He saved liis wages and in 1900 bought one hundred and si.xty acres
in Tansem township. The land had been only slightly improved and had no
liuildings on it except a granary. The following year he began active work
on the place and has since resided on the same. He has brought it up to a
fine state of cultivation and has built a comfortable residence and good out-
liuildings, fences, etc. He carries on general farming and stock raising. He
is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Barnesville, which he
helped organize. He also helped or,ganize the Rollag Telephone Company
and has been a stockholder in the same ever since.
Mr. Dahlen was married in Clay county, in 1901. to Carrie Johnson, who
was born .Vu.gust 11, 1874, in Norwegian Grove township. Otter Tail county,
this state, where she grew to womanhood and attended the public schools.
She is a daughter of Nels and Anna (Erickson) Johnson, natives of Norway,
where tiie}- grew up and married and made their home until 1869, when
they came to Minnesota. In 1870 they took up a homestead in Norwegian
township. Otter Tail county, improving the land and establishing their future
488 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
home, spending- the lest of their lives there, both dying in 1916, the father in
August and the mother in January. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born five
children : Alice, Carrie, Albert, Emma and Nettie, all of whom are living
at this writing. Nels Johnson was an influential man in his township. He
helped organize the Norwegian Lutheran church there and was a useful man
in his neighborhood.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dahlen, namely : Cora,
born in 1903; Melvin, 1907, and Nellie, 1909. Politically, Mr. Dahlen is a
Republican. He has held the office of tow nship supervisor for the past four
years and is also a member of the township school board, which position he
has held for a number of years. Mr. Dahlen has worked hard to get a start
in the new world, and by perseverance has succeeded in becoming very com-
fortablv established.
OLE T. AASEN.
Ole T. Aasen, one of the pioneer farmers of this section of the Red
river valley and the owner of a fine farm and a comfortable home in
Lee township, Norman county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but
has been a resident of this country since 1870, having come here when
about twenty-five years of age. He was born on November 17, 1845, ''"'l
grew to manhood on a farm in his native land, receiving his schooling
there and remaining in that country until 1870, in which year he came to
the United States. His parents spent all their lives in Norway. They
were the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom
are living save two. One of the daughters is a resident of Minnesota,
living in Houston county.
In 1878 Ole T. Aasen decided to settle in the Red river valley. With
that end in view he homesteaded a tract of eighty acres on the Dakota
side of the Red river, across the river from his present home in Norman
county, and after his marriage in 1881, established his home there, but
later moved across the river to his present place of residence in Lee town-
ship, where he since has made his home. Mr. .Aasen prospered in his
farming operations and as he prospered added to his holdings until he
became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres on the Dakota side of
the river and three hundred and forty-five acres on this side of the
river. The former tract he has divided among his children and continues
to make his home on his Lee township tract, a fine farm of three hundred
MR. AND MKS, OLE T. AASKX.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 489
and forty-five acres in section 13. Mr. Aasen not only has been a suc-
cessful farmer, but he has found time to give his intelligent attention to
various business enterprises in the neighborhood of his home. He was
one of the organizers and a director of the company which established
the "Famous" elevator at Perley and has shares also in the Farmers and
Merchants Bank at that place. Mr. Aasen also has ever taken an interested
part in the general civic affairs of the community and was for years a
member of the local school board and treasurer of the same.
It was in May, 1881, at Fargo, that Ole T. Aasen was united in
marriage to Mary Christinia Lein, who was born in Norway in 1853 and
who was but four years of age when her parents came to this country, the
family settling in Iowa, wliere she was reared and «here she received
her schooling. Her parents spent their last days in Iowa. They were
the parents of seven children, of whom but three now survive. Mrs.
Aasen has a sister living in the- neighboring countv of Becker. Mr. and
Mrs. Aasen have six children, namely: Mrs. Clara Johnson, who lives in
North Dakota ; Theodore, w ho is married and also lives in North Dakota :
Paulina, who is at home with her parents; Mrs. Christina Grady, who
lives in North Dakota; Mrs. Matilda McMasters, who also li\-es in North
Dakota, and Charles, who remains at home, taking practical charge of
the home farm. The Aasens have a \ery pleasant home in Lee township and
have ever taken an interested part in the community's general social activi-
ties, helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement
of the common welfare.
ASKIl.D T. BEKKERUS.
Among the native-born Norwegians who have come to America and
who have become successful farmers, is Askild T. Bekkerus, who was born
in the kingdom of Norway, but who has been living in this country since
1882. He is a son of Torjus and Ingeborg (Skriosen) Bekkerus, also
natives of Norway, who were married in that country many years before
immigrating to this country.
Torjus Bekkerus was born in Norway in 182 1 and had been a farmer
in that country before coming to the United States. His wife, Ingeborg
Skriosen. was also born in Norway in 1837 and came to this country
with her husband and other members of the family. She has been li\'ing
490 CLAV AXD NORMAX COUNTIES, MINXESOTA.
with her son, the subject of this sketch, since the death of her Inislxincl.
Torjus Bekkerus left his native Norway in 1890 and on arriving in this
countrv canic- i)n out to Minnesota and settled in Clay county. In 1896
he homesteaded a tract of land in section 18, Moland township, and here
he and the other members of the family made their home. Mr. Bekkerus
immediately proceeded to tlevelop his land and presently had ii under cul-
tivation, and he came to be regarded as one of the go-a-head farmers oi
the district and he and his wife were among die active and influential resi-
dents of the township. Torjus liekkerus died at the advanced age of eighty-
seven years, his death occurring in 1908. To Torjus Bekkerus and wife the
following children were born: Soren, who lives in Norway and is married;
Drong. living at Grygia, Minnesota, also married; Signe, married and living
at Webster, North Dakota: Hah or, married and living near Barnesville:
Ole, married and living at Hurdsfield, North Dakota, and Askild T., the
subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Bekkerus were members of the Nor-
wegian Lutheran church and took a proper interest in the affairs of the
same, as well as in the general social activities of the community in which
they lived.
A.skild T. Bekkerus. who was the first of his family to come to .\merica.
was educated in the schools of his native land and helped his father on the
farm up to the time he immigrated to this country. He left Norway in
1882 and on arriving in tiiis country he started for Minnesota and settled
in .Moland township. Clay county. He immediately began to work at farm
labor .-md after the lapse of some time he had paved the way to ac(|uire
land and commence farming on his own account. His efforts have met
\\ith notable success and he is now the owner of three hundred and forty
acres of prime laud in section 18, Moland township, fifty acres of which
are allotted to the cultivation of potatoes. His place is well improved and
he is accounted one of the substantial and progressive farmers of that
section of the county. The machinery on the place for use in agricultural
work is valued at two thousand five hundred dollars.
In March. 1883, .\skild T. Bekkerus was united in marriage to Tone
Kle\en. who was born in Norway on I'^ebruary 12. 1858, and to this union
the following children have been born : Sophia Geline, who died ;it the
age of two years : Sophia, who married -\. J. Mittararden : Theodore, married
and farming in Oakport township : Cilberl, who lives in the state of Mon-
tana : Edw ard, also in ?iIontana : Tilda, Mabel. Alfred and William, the
fovH- latter being at home with their parents. The Bekkerus family are
members of the Concordia Lutheran church and take a proper interest in
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 49 1
the affairs of the same, as well as in the general social activities of the
community in which they live, helpful factors in the promotion of all causes
hax'ing for their ohject the common good of the community. Mr. Bekkcrus
gives a good citizen's attention to public affairs and is at present the chair-
man of the township hoard and also supervisor, and in these representati\c
positions has given an excellent account of himself.
LARS A. BAKIs:EN.
Lars A. Bakken, a well-known and substantial farmer, owner of a com-
pact and well-kept farm of two hundred and twenty acres of choice land
in McDonaldsville township, Norman county, is a native of this same count\-.
born on the farm on which he is now residing on Januarv ^, iSJ^.v a son
of Ole A. and Ella (Ramstad) Bakken, both of whom are natives of the
kingdom of Norway, but who have been residents of this country since the
early seventies.
Ole A. Bakken immigrated from Norway in 1870 and on arrixing in
this country went out direct to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and remained
in that place for nine years and was married in that neighborhood in I1S79.
In the latter year he moved to Norman county and took a quarter section
of land as a tree-claim and on this holding he still lives. He proved up
on his claim as a homestead, and although he went to Becker county, this
state, to work in the early years, his permanent home has been in Norman
county. Mr. Bakken is engaged in general farming and since the very com-
mencement of his agricultural operations he has met with more than aver-
age success, the work on the farm being carried on according to modern
methods. He has put some excellent buildings and set out a fine grove on
what was originally bare prairie, and purchased an addition;il eighty acres
adjoining the first farm. His wife, who came to this country in 1873,
is still living and both rendered valual)le assistance in the work of organ-
izing the Lutheran church at West Wild Rice, which was the first church
of the community. The carl}- structure was built of logs and this was
replaced later by a more substantial Imilding. .Mr. Bakken also helped
to organize the school district and in other ways has given of his time for
the public good. He and his wife are the parents of three children. Emma,
deceased: Lars A., the subject of this sketch, and Emma, deceased. The
paternal grandparents were .\ndrew and Emma (Nyegaard) Bakken. who
492 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
were born in Xorvvay and there spent all their lives, farming people. The
maternal grandparents were Lars and Ella (.Lynggy) Ramstad, who also
were born in Norway and died in that country, and were of the farming
community.
Lars A. Bakken was educated in the public schools of Xorman county
and later spent one year at Concordia college, Moorhead. He has been a
valuable assistant to his father on the farm of the latter, up to the time
he commenced farming on his own account. He is now the owner of a
fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres of prime land on the home
place and also manages his father's place, the two living- together. Lars
A. Bakken is engaged in general farming and is accounted one of the sub-
stantial farmers of this part of the township, ever alive to the most skillful
methods of agricultural activity that prevail to help the farmer.
In January, 1904. Lars A. Bakken was united in marriage to Nellie
Gilbertson, born in McDonaldsville township, a daughter of Thor Gilbert-
son and wife, further mention of whom is made in another part of this
volume ; Thor Gilbertson is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bakken are the parents
of the following children : Emma, Agnes, Wilfred, Alice, Thelma, Grace
and Ruth. The Bakkens are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Bakken
is now and has been for the past five years a member of the township board
and is and has been a member of the school board. gi\ing earnest attention
to the . duties of these important positions.
OLAF C. OLSON.
Olaf C. . Olson, a well-known farmer of Lee township, Norman
county, where he operates a farm of five hundred and thirteen acres, which
he owns with his sister, and a man closely affiliated with the business inter-
ests of the connnunity in which he lives, was born in Becker county, Minne-
sota. August 28, 1871, a son of Christian and Marie (Rask) Olson, both
natives of Norway, who grew up in that country and there married in
1866. The former was born in 1844 and the latter on Januarv 6. 1843.
Soon after their marriage. Christian Olson and wife decided that thev
would permanently establish their home in America, and accordingly they
set sail in the year of their marriage and landed in this country, June 23,
1866. Lnmediately they started westward to the new land and settled in
Winneshiek county, Iowa, remained there until 1870. when thev drove up
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 493
into Minnesota witli a team of oxen to claim a portion of the line land
which the government was opening up for settlement and in that year
homestead one hundred and sixty acres in sections i8 and 19, Audubon
township, Becker county. After years of prosperity on his farm the father
added to his holdings until he acquired much land, which he later sold to
his children. He was also closely connected with the business interests of
Lake Park, Becker county, where he still lives. He helped to organize the
Lutheran church and orphans' home and helped to organize the Becker
County State Bank at Lake Park and is now president of the same. He
was also an organizer of the creamery and of the farmers elevator at Lake
Park and is still interested in them. To Christian Olson and wife the fol-
lowing children have been born : Christian, who lives in Lake Park, Becker
county; Hannah, the wife of Peter Rutser, living in Crosby, North Dakota;
Julia, who married O. W. Davis and lives two miles out from Lake Park,
Minnesota; Olaf, the subject of this review; Josephine and Caroline, both de-
ceased ; Helen, who married Edward Ingebritson and is now living nn the
old homestead: George, also on the home place; Minnie, who is living with
her parents, and four daughters and one son, deceased.
Olaf C. Olson was reared on the old hf)me farm in Becker county, and
there attended the pui)lic schools. Later he supplemented his elementary
education by courses in the academy and at Concordia College at Moor-
head. He then remained on the old homestead, lending his assistance to
the development of his father's holdings until 1891, in which year he came
to Lee township. Norman county, to care for the farm there which be-
longed to his father. When the latter sold his land to his children, Mr.
Olson and his sister. Mrs. Peter Rutser, bought this farm, which has been
so extended under the careful management of the former that it now com-
prises five hundred and thirteen acres of fertile and well-improved farm-
ing land, which lies in sections 24, 12, 13 and 20. Here Mr. Olson car-
ries on general diversified farming and stock raising, having on his place
at this time forty-five head of high-grade cattle and one registered bull.
On January 2T, 1915, Mr. Olson was married to Dorothy Otilda
Schow, who was born in Cass county. North Dakota, .\ugust 12, 1877, a
daughter of Martin and Dorthea L. (Bjerke) Schow. Mrs. Olson died on
November 4, 19 15. To that union two children were born, twins, Dorothy
Marie and Hulda Charlotte. Mr. Olson, as was his wife, is a member of
the Lutheran church, of which he at this time is a trustee. Politically, h,e
is a member of the Prohibition party, in the affairs of which he takes a deep
interest. For sixteen vears he has been a member of the township board
0
494 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of supervisors, nine years chairman of the same, ami has always dis-
harged his duties in a manner befitting the ujiright man that he is, and
with com])lete satisfaction to his neighbors. Mr. Olson is also closely con-
nected with the local co-operative business interests of his community, being
a director of the creamery company at T'erley. of which he was at first
president and secretary.
GEORGP: J. \'. -MAYKR.
Among the young business men of Lockharl, .Xorman county, Minne-
sota, who have met with success and are known as among the prominent and
highly respected people of the town, is George J. \'. Mayer, a well-known
grain buver, who was born in T.ogan county, Illinois, in the year 1890 and
is the son of George and T.ouisa ( Unger) Mayer, who were born in Ger-
manv. and who had come to America during childhood with their respective
parents, .\fter his marriage George Mayer remained in Illinois until 1904.
He had early entered into the spirit and life of his new surroundings and he
and his wife were identified with the social, civic and religious affairs of their
Illinois home. Mr. Mayer identified himself with the Republican party and
became an influential member of the county central committee, in w-hich posi-
tion he rendered efficient service. He was elected road commissioner for
his district and his ability in this line of endeavor was of much value to the
district in which he lived. Roads were built and improved in a manner in
keeping with his high regard or his duty to the ])eo[)le and his ability in this
line of ]nil)Hc service. He also was for some years village alderman and
likewise rendered good service as a member of the local school board, a
position for which he was well suited, o^ving to his education and training.
On leaving their home iu the state of Illinois, the Mayer family came to
Minnesota and here George Mayer operated the I.ockhart farm in Norman
county, until the year 1912, when he mo\ed to the farm where he now lives,
two miles west of .\da. where he is still engaged in general farnung and
stockraising with success. He is progressive and a firm believer in tin ir-
ough cultivation of the soil and the keeping of good stock, and is today rec-
ognized as one of the substantial and successful men of the county. He and
his wife are active members of the Lutheran church and are known as among
the most highly respected people in the district. The}- are the parents of the
following children: ^laria. Dora, George J. V., Lucia, Gertrude, Ethel,
John, Clyde, Agnes and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer have long been mem-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 495
bers of the Lutheran churcli and are ])rominent and active in the work of
tliat denomination.
George J. V. Mayer received his education in the schools of lUinois
and was reared in the family home. In 1904 he came, with his parents, to
.Minnesota and later en.^aged in genera! farming five miles east of Lockhart,
where he remained for a time, after which he moved to a farm
west of Ada. where he continued to engage successfully in agricultural work
until January i. i9]6. at which time he became manager of the J. S. Cuisick
elevator at Lockhart. which position he is still filling with entire satisfaction.
Being a young man of excellent judgment and possessed of abilitv and integ-
rit_\', he has won the confidence of his employer and the community in general.
In 191J George J. \'. Ma\er was united in marriage to Wilhelmina
Kreun, who was born and reared in Norman county, daughter of Mr, and
Mrs. John Kreun, who are well known and highly respected people of the
county. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer are among the prominent and popular young
people of their home town and take a proper part in the social life of the
comniunit\-.
CllARLLS M. AAGAARD.
Charles M. .\agaard, a well-known farmer and stock raiser of Hendrum
townshi]). .Vnrman count\'. and organizer and director in the progressive en-
terprizes of the community, was born in Norway, April 28. 1862. the son
of Carl and Johannah Aagaard. both natives of Norway where they grew
up and were married. Soon after the birth of Charles M.. the mother died,
and later the father married again, and he with his family left the land of
their nativity, came to America, and settled on a farm in .Mlamakee county,
Towa. in 1866. where his second wife died. After farming in Iowa for four-
teen vears, the family came northward into Minnesota, in 1880. and settled
in Polk count V. where Carl .Aagaard took a homestead of one hundred and
sixty acres of the wild prairie land, and remained there until his death on
.\ugust 22. 1895. Bv his first wife he had nine children, namely: Albert.
John. Mattie. Olena. Gustava, Joh;inas, Stenus. Lewis and Charles M. : and
to the second union was born one child. Johannah. The Aagaard family
were devoted members of the Lutheran church, the father having helpetl to
organize the first church and the first school in his community in Polk county,
Charles M. .Aagaard helping to haul the lumber for each building from
Crookston.
496 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA,
Charles M. Aagaard was four years of age when he settled with his
parents in Iowa, and later came with them to Polk county, Minnesota, living
on the old home place until March 15, 1907. At that time he moved down
into Xorman county and purchased two hundred and forty-six acres in
Hendrum township, which he has since improved by the erection of a fine
barn and granary. Mr. .Aagaard is a very successful grain farmer, and in
addition to this line of agriculture is a breeder of a good grade of Short-
horn cattle and thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs.
On June 8, 1887. Charles M. .Aagaard was united in marriage to
Elizabedi Christianson, who was born in Norway on March 30, 1863, the
daughter of Christianson and Ellen CJacobson) Christianson, both natives
of Norway, where the\- married, lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. Aagaard
are the parents of live children, all of whom are living: Johannah, Alfred,
Ella, Josephine and Alviu. The family are devout Christians, being active
and consistent members of the Lutheran church.
While 'Mr. Aagaard lived in Polk county he served as member of the
board in the township in which he lived. Later, when he came to Norman
county, he as a progressive farmer, became interested in better facilities
for the marketing of agricultural and dairy products and helped to re-
organize the Farmers Elevator Company at Hendrum, of which at this
time he is a director; and he also has an interest in the creamery at lien-
drum. No community is complete without adequate credit facilities and
especially is this true in an agricultural section, and Mr. Aagaard, who is a
wide-awake farmer, helped to organize the Farmers State Bank and is a
director of the same.
CARL J. STORDAHL.
Carl J. Stordahl, a well-to-do farmer of Hendrum township, Nor-
man county, where he owns three hundred and thirty-nine acres of improved
land, and pioneer of Hendrum townshii), was born in Norway, April 29,
1853, the son of John O. and Janetta (Beckadahl) Strodahl, both natives
of Norway, where they were reared and married. In 1875 the family
decided to leave the land of their birth and cross the Atlantic to the land of
opportunity; accordingly, in the year mentioned above, the}' immigrated
to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they remained two years. Hearing
that the land in the Red river valley was being opened to settlement, the
family left their temporary home in Fillmore county and traveled north-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 497
ward in a covered wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen. They arrived in
Xornian connty, after a journey of three weeks and one day, with the other
settlers of the party, and the elder Stordahl took a homestead in the same
year where the Pontopidan churcli now stands, a quarter section of Hen-
drum township land, where he and his wife remained until his death about
1907. The wife had passed away in 1895.
John O. Stordahl was deeply imbued with the spirit of industry and
he immediately began to improve his holding by planting a grove and
erectuig substantial farm buildings. He also had time to enter into the
activities of the neighborhood, for he helped to organize Hendrum town-
ship, along with his son, Carl J., the subject of this review. He and his
wife were the parents of eight children, namely: Lewis: Conrad, deceased;
Ole, who did not come to America with the rest of the family and died
in Norway; Anna, Carl J.. Jens (deceased), Peter, who died after com-
ing to this country, and Christina. The elder Stordahl, as was his family,
was a devoted member of the Lutheran church, and performed a valuable
service in the establishment of that denomination in Hendrum township,
for he helped to organize the Pontopidan Lutheran church, the site of
which he donated to the society.
Carl J. Stordahl. who was educated in the common schools of Norway,
came to America with his parents when he was twenty-four years of age
and settled with the family in Norman county. Losing no time after he
arrived in these parts, he took a homestead, in 1877, the northwest quarter
of section 28 in what later came to be organized as Hendrum township,
and lived there until 1897. During his residence on the homestead he
improved the same by erecting buildings and planting a grove. After
twenty years of industry in bringing his farm up to an excellent state of
improvement, he built his comfortable home across the road in section 29,
where he has since lived. As the years went on he had the opportunity
to extend his holdings until now he is tiie owner of three hundred and
thirtv-nine acres of well-improved land, which includes all his homestead
except what he gave as a cemetery for the Pontopidan church.
Mr. Stordahl has, during his residence in the township, ever been
actively engaged in furthering the civil and business interests of the com-
munity. As was stated before, he was one of the organizers of Hendrum
township, on the board of which he served for a number of years, and is
now serving his neighbors in the capacity of township treasurer. He has
also been actively engaged in furthering the educational progress of the
(32a)
498 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
township, having served as school clerk for twelve years and having helped
to organize school district No. 40. Mr. Stordahl was one of the organizers
of the creamery, the Farmers Elevator and the Farmers State Bank at
Hendrum.
On April 9, 1883, in Hendrum township, Norman county, Carl J-
Stordahl was united in marriage to Hansene Nygaard, who also was horn
in the kingdom of Norway and who had come to this country with lu-r
parents, Peter and Eunetta (Moen) Nygaard, both natives of Norway. 1 In-
family arriving in 1882. Three years before the father had come to Min-
nesota and had bought a tract of land in Xorman county, where he matle
preliminary preparation for the coming of his family and had then gone
back to Norway and had brought his family here, establishing his home
on his new possessions. Peter Nygaard was trained as a carpenter in his
nati\e land atid even after coming to this state did much carpenter work,
in addition to carrying on his farming (iperations. lie is still living, now
making his home with his son in Halstad township. His wife died in Feb-
ruary, 191. S- They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom arc
still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Stordahl nine children have been bom, namely :
John O., who is cashier of the State Bank of Shelly: Joseph, who, since
he was ten years of age had t)een working for (j. T. Ingiierg and others
at Hendrum and who recentl}- moved with his family to Montana : Gilma,
wife of Halvor Skag)-. ca.shier of the State Bank at Tyler, North Dakota;
Olga. wife of Anton Opgrand, a merchant at Halstad; Cora, who is en-
gaged as a professional nurse at Bismarck : Hilda Josephine, who is at
home, and Arthur. \'ict()r and F.ddie. also at home.
PETER AMBUEL.
The little mountain republic of Switzerland was the native land of
many of the sturdiest settlers who have come to this country to establish
their homes in a larger democracy, and among these is Peter Ambuel. a
prosperous farmer living in Mary township, Norman county, and the owne
of four hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land, two hundred acres
of which lies in Mary township, forty in Wild Rice and one hundred and
eighty in Hegne township. He was born on October 3, 1854, a son of
David and \'ema (Held) Ambuel, both of whom came to America, bring-
ing their family with them, and settled in Wisconsin. For a number of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 499
years the former lived in Wisconsin, but he sold his holdings there when
he came out to Norman county, Minnesota, where he made his home with
his son, Peter, the subject of this review. The father's death occurred
about eleven years ago, after he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-
three years, a substantial and valuable pioneer of the great Northwest.
After the death of David x\mbuel, the mother then went to live with her
daughter in North Dakota, where her death occurred in 191 2, when she was
eightv-four vears of age. To these parents were born five children ; those
besides the subject of this sketch, who is the second in order of birth,
being: John L., living in Borup, Norman county; Davie, single; Martin,
married and living in Polk county, Minnesota; Paul, married and a farmer
in North Dakota; Anna, the wife of Henry Puhler, living in North Dakota,
and Lizzie, who married .\ugust Netting and is also living in North Da-
kota.
Peter Ambuel was reared in the old home in his native land of Switzer-
land, and when he was but seventeen years of age accompanied his parents
to the new world. Here he settled with the family in Wisconsin, where he
gave of his time and his best effort to the development of the farm which
his father acquired in that state until 1879. In that year after he had
reached the age of twenty-five years, he left the parental roof and went
westward into Minnesota, settling in Norman county. Immediately after
he arrived in these parts, he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres in Mary township. Since the land was all new and uncultivated, his
Swiss thrift and industry stood him in good stead in adding the needed im-
provements to his holding. In the plowing he used oxen for one year, but
now he uses the most recently improved farming machinery in his agricul-
tural operations; is remodeling the old farm house and is replacing all the
original buildings by modern, substantial new ones. Mr. Ambuel has been
.so .successful in his farming that he has been enabled at various times to ad ■
to his holdings until they now comprise four hundred and twenty acres of
as good farming land as can be found in the county.
On December 17, 1882, Mr. Ambuel returned to Wisconsin to claim as
his l)ride Barbara Engel, who was born in Wisconsin, September 28, 1858,
a daughter of Anton and Christain (Weber) Engel, Iwth of whom are now
dead, the former having been a landowner and farmer in that state. To
Mr. and Mrs. Ambuel nine children have been born, namely: Christina,
deceased; Verena, the wife of George Shaffer, who lives one mile east of
the old home place; David, who is married: Anna, deceased; Anton, at
home ; Lizzie, deceased, and Lizzie, Martin and Arthur, at home.
500 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Air. and Mrs. Ambuel are devoted nieinbers of the Lutheran dnircli,
and according to the precepts of this denomination they have reared their
children. Politically. Mr. Ambuel is independent. Despite his very busy
life on the farm, he has had time to devote some of his energies to the
civic affairs of the community, and has served as township supervisor for a
numljer of years.
JOHAX MATHIAS MALME.
Johan Mathias Malme. a well-known and substantial farmer of Halstad
township, Norman countv. where he owns and operates a fine farm of two
hundred and ninety acres, was I)orn in i^omsdalen, Norway, on September
II, 1862, a son of Knut Olson and I^llen Arniesdatter (Malme) Malme. Roth
of the parents were born on the Malme farm, near the point that later was the
birthplace of their son, Johan. in Norway, and there they grew to maturity,
married and reared their family. -The mother died in Norway, and the
father, wishing to spend the rest nf his days among his children in the
New World, came to America in 1903 and made his home with his son,
Johan, until his death occurred in 1915. Knut and Ellen Malme were the
I)arents of nine children, namely: Ole, who has remained living in his native
Norway, in Trondjhem ; Andreas and Gertina, who are dead; Johan M., the
sul)jecl of this review : I'>erit Martha, who still lives in From, Romsdalen.
Norway; Karen, Knut A. and Carl, all living in Norman county, Minne-
sota; and Karen, who is deceased.
Until he was twenty-five years of age, Johan Mathias Malme remained
on the old home i)lace in Romsdalen, Norway, where he acquired a common-
school education and later attended an educational institution eciuivalent to
the American high school for six months. During this time he learned the
carpenter's trade, which stood him in good stead when he came to this
countrv. The fact that so many of his countrymen had come to Minnesota
and had here l)ecome comfortably situated, induced in him the desire to
follow them, and in 18S7 he came. In the latter part of February of the
vear of his arrival he located in Ada, the county seat of Norman county,
and there began working at the carpenter trade. Three years later, in i8t)o,
Mr. Malme, in partnership with Knut Strain, bought one hundred and
sixt) acres of land which was not very well improved, since the tract had on
it only a log house and a small grove of poplar and willow trees, but they
began to improve the holding. In i8q2, Mr. Malme bought his partner's
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
501
interest, and since then has extended the borders of his farm until it coni-
l^rises two hundred and ninety acres of well-cultivated land, on which he
has raised excellent buildings and to which he has added the modern equip-
ment of a farm plant. As a side line to his agricultural activities, Mr.
Malme has been operating a threshing outfit. All the prosperity which Mr.
Malme has enjoyed here, has not made him forget his old friends and rela-
tives in distant Norway, and to which he has made three voyages back to
his old home, one in 1890, one in 1912 and another in 1914, just before the
outbreak of the World War.
( )n December 30, 1890, Johan M. Malme was united in marriage to
Berit Anna Aura, who was born in Norway on August 17, 1870, the daugh-
ter of Ole Anderson and Karen Sande, and to this union five children have
been Ixjrn, namely: Emma, who married Stanley Holte. and has four chil-
dren, three of whom are Alva, Eunice and Morlan, and Alga. Charles. Clara
and Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. Malme are devoted members of the Augustana
Norwegian Lutheran cluirch. in the faith of wliich denomination they have
reared their children.
'Mr. Malme is a stanch Republican and has for seven or eight years
served as township treasurer. In the co-operative agencies of his commu-
nity Mr. Malme has evinced his great interest by helping to organize the
b'armers Elevator Company at HaLstad.
JOHN W. JACKSON.
Among the well-known and prominent residents and business men
of Lockhart, Norman county, is John W. Jackson, who was bom in the
state of Illinois on March 13, 1868. the .son of Andrew and Lydia (Cooper)
Jackson, natives of England and of the state of New York, respectively.
They in time located in Illinois, where they resided on a farm until 1882,
in which year they decided to locate in the state of Iowa, where they felt
that they would have a better opportunity to make' a home for themselves
and those dependent on them. On their arrival in the state of Iowa they
purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Webster county, and
there thev established their home amid pioneer conditions. A house was
erected -and there the parents felt that they were to make a home in a new
land. The farm was later developed and improved and in time became
an ideal countrv home. Mr. Jackson met with much success in his ven-
502 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ture, and engaged in general farming and stockraising for many years, at
tlie end of which time he retired to Cass, Lake county, Iowa, later going
to Baker City, Washington, where he died. His wife died some vears later
at Lake View, Iowa. The\- were a most excellent couple and had much to
do with the physical development of the territory in which thev had settled
as pioneers. During their time and with their assistance, the wild plains
and woodetl tract were transformed into hlooming fields of golden grain,
with .splendid homes and thriving villages. Schools and churches were
established, roads built and improved and the moral and social conditions
raised to a high standard. To those people who, as did Mr. and Mrs.
Jackson, enter into the precincts of the forest or scan the wild prairie for
a home, and by their efforts and a life nf hardship, tran.sform all into one
(if the finest farming districts of the United States, is due all the honor and
praise of the present generation. To them the state and the nation owe a
lasting deljt of gratitude for the noble work that they have done. Their
life was not an easy one. and well did they know that to them wduld not
come the fullest measure of success. Their greatness is demonstrated by
the fact that they knew that they were building and preparing for a future
generation.
John W. Jackson, one of a family of six children, received his educa-
tion in the schools of the states of Illinois and Iowa. He grew to manhood
on the home farm, where during his life as a lad and young man he worked
as a farmer. On reaching manhood he entered the livery business at
Govvrie, Iowa, where he remained for two years, after which he retired
from the livery business and for the next two years lived in Pipestone
county, Minnesota, where he worked on a large horse farm. He then re-
turned to Gowrie, Iowa, where he ran a dray for two years, after which
he engaged in general farming in Noble county. Minnesota, and operated
a hotel for five years. He then came to Norman county, where he engaged
in general farming for twelve years, after which he established a livery
and garage at Lockhart, in connection with the hotel business, where he has
met with much success.
On December 29, 1888, John W. Jackson was united in marriage to
Mary DeLong, a woman of high ideals and one who is held in the highest
regard by her many friends. To this union two children have been lx)rn,
Glenn and Brant. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are active members of the Pres-
byterian church and are prominent in the activities of the town.' Thev
have long been prominent in the social, civic and business affairs of the
place. Mr. Jackson is a business man of ability. His genial disposition and
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 503
pleasing address have made for him many friends among his business asso-
ciates. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of
the Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of •both of which orders
he takes a keen interest. His life has been a busy one and he is known as
one of the hustlers of his home town.
HALVOR BEKKERUS.
Halvor Bekkerus, a substantial and progressive farmer, living in Hum-
boldt township. Clay county, owner of a fine tract of two hundred acres of
choice land in that township, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has
been a resident of this country since he was twenty years old. He was born
on September 23. 1866, a son of Tor jus and Ingeborg (Sorenson) Bekkerus,
who came to .\merica some years after their son.
Tor jus Bekkerus was educated in the schools of Norway and was mar-
ried in that country, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. On his
.irrival in .\nierica lie came on out to Minnesota and settled in Moland town-
shi]). (lay county, and about 1905 he took a homestead claim of eighty acres —
the last homestead tract that was open for entry. On this holding he com-
menced the active life of a farmer and made a success of his labors, being
recognized as tme of the best small landholders in the vicinity. Torjus
Bekkerus died al)Out 1907 in Clay coimty and his widow still lives in Moland
township. Thev were the parents of six children, namely : Soren, living in
Norway, originally a mechanic, now a farmer : Drang, of Marshall county,
Minnesota; A. T., of Moland township; Sena, living at Devil's Lake, North
Dakota: Halvor. the subject of this sketch, and Ole, living in Herdsville,
North Dakota. Torjus Bekkerus and wife were members of the Lutheran
church and their ciiildren were reared in the same faith.
Halvor Bekkerus was educated in the schools of his native land and
was reared on his father's place. At the age of twenty, in 1886, he decided to
try his fortune in America and left Norway in that year. He came to Min-
ne.sota and commenced to work on farms in the Glyndon neighborhood ; he
took up carpentry work, which he had partly learned in the old country, and
followed that trade for about ten years in the vicinity of Glyndon. Mr.
Bekkerus then bought a quarter section of land in Humboldt township, and
has lived there ever since, engaged in general farming, and has added to liis
holding until he is now the owner of two hundred acres of excellent land. He
504 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA.
has carried out many valuable improvements on liis place, iiKludiui,^ a well-
laid-out grove, and :dso operates a small apjjle orchard.
In 1896 Halvor' Bekkerus was united in marriage to Karen Arntson,
who was horn in Norway, a daughter of Arnt and Karen (Sletten) Hanson,
natives of that country, who immigrated to Minnesota in 1883 and located
in Tansem township, Clay county. Arnt Hanson bought a tract of land
and farmed during the remainder of his active life, his death occurring in
1914. and his widow is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
They were the parents of six children, namely: Theodore, who is living
in Tansem township: Rundena, deceased; Hookeu, deceased; Karen, wife
of Halvor Bekkerus: .\nna, deceased, and Knut, deceased. To the union
of Halvor and Karen (.\rntson) Bekkerus the following children have been
born: Albert, Hilhert, Inge. Rudoljih. Clara. Hilda and William. Mr. I'.ek-
kerus has always given much attention to public affairs and by appointment
has filled the position of township chairman to finish an une.xpircd term. He
is interested in the cause of education and was a member of the local school
board for nine years, and in many other wa\s he has given of his time and
talents to movements intended to benefit the comnumitv at large.
VV. E. CASSKI.M.W.
W. h. Casselman, one of the real pioneers of Xornian count v and one
of the most extensive landowners hereabout, has been a witness to the
development of this section since the days of the verv beginning i>\ it^
-settlement. He was the first permanent settler in .Spring Creek township
and upon the organization of that township was elected clerk of the same.
his wife being elected treasurer of the .school district in which thev lived
upon its organization and continuing to ser\e in that capacity as long a<
they remained there. Mr. Casselman broke the first furrow turned in
Spring Creek township and his first-born child was the first white child
born in that township. From the time of the organization of the town.sliip
until he left the farm he was continually in public office, having served
his township in various capacities, and did much to develop the interests
of that part of the county. Since the day he filed a pre-emption claim to a
tract of land in what later was organized as Norman county, back in 1879.
Mr. Casselinan has been successful in his operations and is now the owner
of eleven hundred acres of land, long having been regarded as one of the
mi;. AM) .\n;s. \v. i:. casski.max.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 1505
most substantial citizens of this part of tiie slate. He is now living retired
from the active labors of the farm and lie and his wife are very comfortaijly
situated in their pleasant home at Ada.
Though born and reared in the old Keystone state, \X. E. Casselman
has been a resident of the Northwest since the days of his \oung manhood.
He was born in Crawford C(junty, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1856, son
of Daniel T. and Harriet (Durfee) Casselman, the former a native of the
state of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. Daniel T. Casselman
was a son of Jonas Casselman, who was a soldier during the War of
1812 and who man}' years later left his family in the F-ast and started
for Wisconsin on a prospecting trip. He started his journey by way of
the Great Lakes and never again -was heard from by his family, the pre-
sumption Ix-ing that he was lost on the lakes. His wife, who was Ijorn
.'^arah Horn, spent her last days on the old home farm in New York.
Daniel T. Casselman was a soldier of the Union during the Civil War,
serving in a Pennsylvania regiment, and for .some time during that service
was confined in a Rebel pri.son pen. Some time after the war he came
up into the Northwest and located in Dane county, Wisconsin, but presently
returned to Penn.syl\'ania and spent his last days at his home in Crawford
county, that state. His widow is now making her home, at a ripe old
age, at Farmington, in Whitman county, Washington. They were the par-
ents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second
in order of birth, the others being F'rank, Percy E., .Mice, Otis Leonard
(deceased), Herman (deceased), Bessie, Jessie, Edna (deceased), and Mar\
(deceased).
Reared on the paternal farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, W.
E. Casselman received his schooling in the local schools there and remained
at home until he was twenty years of age when he went to Wisconsin
and remained there, farming in Dane and Portage counties, until the spring
of 1879, when he came over into Minnesota and proceeded on out to this
])art of the state with a view to pre-empting a farm site. That was before
Norman county had been organized as a civic entity, Init the prospects for
settlement out in this section cf the state were then very encouraging and
Mr. Casselman came on out to this section and filed a ))re-emption claim to
a quarter of a section in what later was organized as Spring Creek town-
ship, in Norman county. In the sjiring of 188 [ he married and in that
same spring filed <in the northwest (|uarter of section 30 as a tree claim,
walking the fifteen miles to John Wri.ght's place, \\'ri,ght then being the
only notary in these parts, to file his claim. He did not •'prove up" on
5o6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
his tree claim, but instead filed on the same as a homestead and on that
half section established his home, he and his wife remaining there until
their retirenient from the farm and removal to Ada on January 7, 1914.
As noted above, Mr. Casselman was the first settler in Spring Creek town-
ship and his was the first farm put under the plow. He took an active
part in the organization of the township when settlers had arrived in suf-
ficient numbers to effect an organization and was elected first clerk of the
township, a position he held for twent\ years. He was later elected lo
other offices of trust and responsibility in the township and was a con-
tinuous office-holder there from the time of the township's organization
until his removal from the farm. When the school district was organized
Mrs. Casselman was elected treasurer of the same and held that position
until she left the farm, her daughter-in-law now holding the position. In
addition to his general farming Mr. Casselman early began to give his
attention to the raising of cattle and horses and as he prospered in his
undertakings added to his land holdings until now. as noted abo\e. he is
the owner of eleven hundred acres of excellent lainl.
It was on March 30, 1881, a couple of years after coming to this
section, that W. E. Casselman was united in marriage to Laura Bullock,
who was born and reared on a farm in Dane county. \\'isconsin, daughter
of William and .\ancy (Bacon) Bullock. i)ioneers of that county, whose
last days were s])ent at Ada, and to this union six children have been born,
namely : Edna, the first w hite child lK)rn in Spring Creek township, who
married Roy Nichols and is now deceased : Carrie, who died unmarried at
the age of thirty-two years ; Harold and Roy, who are carrying on the
operations of the home farm; Lulu, who is a trained nurse, and Ruth,
who is at home with her parents. Mr. Casselman is a Mason, a member
of the lodge of that ancient order at Ada. and is a inember of the local
lodge of Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of both of which
organizations he takes a warm interest.
ANDREW AANEXSON.
.\ndrew Aanenson. a well-to-do farmer of Shell}' township, Xorman
county, where he owns three hundred sixteen acres of well-tilled and well-
improved land, was born in Eillmore county, Minnesota, February 6, 1881,
a son of Soren and ^Martha ( Peterson ) Aanenson. The parents were both
natives of Norwav. who caine to Minnesota one vear before the birth of
■CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 507
their son, Andrew, and located at once in Fillmore county, where they re-
mained until their deaths, substantial farmers and excellent citizens of their
neighborhood. They were the parents of five children, those besides the sub-
ject of this review, who was the first-born, being Bertha, Cecelia (who died
young), Peter and Elias.
Andrew Aanenson spent his boyhood days on the old home farm in
Fillmore county, and, as he approached manhood, gave valuable aid in the
development and improvement of his father's holdings in this new land. His
parents, who readily understood the value of education, saw to it that their
children enjoved the advantage of the schools of their neighborhood, and
after young Andrew had finished the elementary schools of the community,
he was sent to the high school at Preston, Minnesota. Later he wished to
.supplement his primary and secondary training by a course in a higher insti-
tution of learning, and accordingly entered the Decorah (Iowa) Institute.
Feeling that he could find his career successful in the tilling of the soil, he
came to Norman county and here bought a part of the farm on which he
makes his home at present. As the years passed and prosperity smiled upon
his efforts, he was enabled to extend his holdings from time to time and now
is the proprietor of three hundred and sixteen acres of well-tilled farming
land, on which he has placed all the modern improvements that are the char-
acteristics of a well-appointed farm plant.
On December 21. i8gi, Andrew Aanenson married Lettie Sharpe, who
is a native of Norway, born on September 10, 1870, a daughter of Peter
P. and Bertha (Grosfield) Sharpe. Her parents, too, were natives of Nor-
way and there the father died. The widowed mother, with the rest of her
family, accompanied her son, Tollef, to America in 1871. The family first
located in \^ernon county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1876, and
in the autumn of the following year, came to Minnesota. In the spring of
1877. Tollef Sharpe liomesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section
^o, range 48, Shelly township, Norman county, where the mother lived until
her death in 1891. To Peter and Bertha Sharpe were born seven children,
namely: Jacob, Carrie (deceased), Sarah, Tollef, who is a farmer in Shelly
township; Peter. Lettie, the wife of Andrew Aanenson, the subject of this
review, and Bertha, who died at the early age of fourteen years. To Mr.
and Mrs. Aanenson eleven children have been born, of whom Mabel, Mabel,
May and Sophia are deceased; those living being Bella, Tilda, Arnold,
Richard, Esther, Henry and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Aanenson are devoted
members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and in the creed of this denom-
ination tliev have reared their children.
5o8 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIKS, MINNFSOTA.
In the business and civil affairs of the community, Mr. Aanenson has
been and is quite active. He helped to organize the Farmers Elevator
Company and the local creamery company at Shelly, and since their organi-
zation he lias been secretary of the former and a director of the latter. He
has also served his township as justice of the peace, as clerk and as super-
visor. In politics, Mr. Aanenson is a stanch advocate of Republican prin-
ciples, and in the affairs of his political party he takes a deep interest.
AUGUST GKRMOLUS.
A progressive farmer of Mary township. Xonnan county, where he
owns a quarter section of well-improved and scientifically cultivated land,
is August Cjermolus, wiio was born in Germany. January 15, 1878, a son
of John and Emelia (Oshwald) (iermolus, natives of Germany, who came
to this country in 1883, bringing their family with them, and located at
Ada, Norman county, Minnesota, on March 18 of that year. Soon after
the family arrived at Ada the father bought one hundred and sixty acres
in section 24, Mary township, Xorman county, for seventeen hundred dol-
lars. The tract was all wild land, but with his characteristic thrift he set
about improving the holding, which is now worth about ten thousand dollars.
In the early years of his residence on the home place the father used from
four to eight oxen as draft animals. He gave his whole attention to the
improvement of his farm, where be carried on general farming and stock
raising, and gave little time to politics. The mother, who was born on
June ID, 1850, now lives on the old home place. Roth the father and mother
remained on their original farm until Xovemlier 13. 1913. when they mo\e<l
to Patterson. California, where they were the owners of an im])roved farm
of twenty acres. There the former died on .\pril 10. 1015. and in llie
August of the following year, the latter returned to the old home place
where she still resides. Mr. and Mrs. John Germolus were the parents of
seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the
others being: Samuel, who is married and is living in California: Herman,
married and li\ing at Twin \'alley, Minnesota: Fred, who lives in North
Dakota with his sister, Augusta; Augusta, the wife of Herman Milbrath.
living in North Dakota; Frank, married and living in California, and Lydia,
tiie wife of Rudolph Kurpjuweit.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. , 509
August Gerniolus was only five years old when \u> parents lirought
him to America and settled in Norman county, where he received his ele-
mentary education in the puhlic schools. Reared on the old home farm,
to the improvement of which he gave his best effort, Mr. Germolus re-
ceived a very valuable training in agriculture, which he found \ery usefid
when he started out on his own account, in 1903, on the farm of one hun-
dred and sixty acres, south of the old home place, which his father had
bought in 1894. In 1903, when he began an independent career, Mr. (iermo-
lus purchased this farm from his father, and has since li\ed there, making
all the improvements. Now he has one of the best-equipped farm ])!ar,ts
in his neighborhood. In addition to his farming interests, he has been
active in local business affairs and now holds shares in a potato warehouse
and a packing plant at Fargo. >
On June 24, 1906, August Germolus was united in marriage to Amalia
i-vurpjuweit, a native of Germany, born on February ~, 1886, and who came
to America when she was 1 twenty years of age with her lirijlher. hred,
who now lives in Canada. She is a daughter of Gotfried and Amalie
rSiedelmann) Kurpjuweit. who were both natives of Germany, the former
being a farmer and dying in the land of his nativity ten years ago. The
mother now lives with her daughter, the wife of the subject of this review,
at the age of seventy-two years. Mrs. Germolus has also another brother
in America, Rudolph, who married Lydia. a sister of August Germolus, and
is now living on his farm in Norman county. Mr. and Mrs. Germolus are
the parents of six children, Gustav, Edna,. Albert. Emil, Clara and Emma.
Mr. and Mrs. Germolus are members of the Methodist church and in the
faith of this denomination they are rearing their children. In politics, Mr.
Gennolus is independent and has never sought public office.
ADOLF ANDERSON.
Farming has been considered a game of chance too long and the lui-
certainties of the elements have been overcome to such an extent by intelli-
gent study and use of fertilizers, irrigation and drainage, also by intensive
cultivation, that day by day agriculture is becoming more and more an exact
science. One of the leading farmers of Tansem township. Clay county, is
Adolf Anderson, who was born in Norway. October 23, 1868, a son of
Anders and Karen ( .\rnesdatter) Tonneson, lx)th born in Norway, where
5IO CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
they grew to maturity, married and established their home. There the
lather died, after which the mother was again married, her hist husband
being Andrew EHason. They came to Minnesota in 1878, and located in
Norwegian Grove township, Otter Tail county, among the pioneers of that
community. They came by train to Barnesville. There was no railroad
station there at the time, only a jjlatform. The only hotel in the village
could not accommodate them, so they spent tlieir first night there in a store.
They went on U< Otter Tail county overland and took up a homestead on
which they lived about three years, then bought railroad land in section 35,
Tansem township. Clay county, where Andrew I'^liason still lives, now own-
ing an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres. The mother of the
subject (if this sketch died there in 1914. Her only child by her first mar-
riage was .Vdolf, who.se name introduces this review. By her second mar-
riage .she was the mother of seven children, four sons and three daughters.
Of these daughters, but one, Mrs. Sam Norton, of Norwegian Grove, is now
living. Of the sons. Charles. Ole and .\xel are living in Canada and John,
who was for some time located in Montana, is now living with his father in
Clay county.
Adolf Anderson was ten years old when his mother and stepfather
brought him to .\merica. He received some schoolingf in his native land, and
later attended the district schools in Tansem township. Clay county. lie
worked on the homestead there and as a young man worked on a big ranch
near Hillsboro. Xorth Dakota, for seven years. He then returned to Clay
county and located on the farm he now occupies in Tansem township. The
jjlace consisted of two hundred and eighty acres in section i. Tansem town-
ship. He later added another eighty acres, making his farm now three-
fourtlis of a mile scjuare. It is under a fine state of cultivation and improve-
ment. He has erected a large modern barn and remodeled the other build-
ings. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He
farms on an extensive scale, shipping a large amount of grain and a good
deal of live stock to the markets annually. He was one of the first settlers
in the northern part of Tansem township, which he has been instrumental
in developing, having taken an active interest in the general affairs of his
locality from the first.
I\Ir. Anderson has been twice married: first, in 1899. to Aleda Thor-
son, of Parke township. Clay county, and to that union six children were
born, four of whom are still living, namely : Clara .\lphena. Alma Gurene.
Ole Rudolph and Albert .\rnold. Two sons, Carl and Edwin Arnold, are
deceased. In 1911 Mr. Anderson married Petra Josephine Egge, a native
CLAY AND N'dKMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 5II
of Tansem townshi]). where she grew to womanhood and attended tlie public
schools. ' She is a dau.ijhter of l^rik J. Egge, who located in Tansem town-
ship in 1887.. He now lives in Skree township, hut owns land on both sides
of the town.ship line. .V biographical sketch of Mr. Egge appears elsewhere
in this volume, h'our children have l)een born to Mr. Anderson and his sec-
ond wife, namely: (arl Meh-in, lilmer Oliver, Emma Josephine and Hilda
Annette, all of win mi are living. The .\ndersons belong to the Rollag Luth-
eran church and give proper attention to the neighborhood good works.
.\D()LI'H HfORNDAHL.
Xo matter what line ot work one is engaged in he should strive to be-
come an expert in it. which will not only result in better remuneration but
a greater degree of satisfaction and ])leasure all around. If one goes at his
work in a half-hearted, slipshod manner very little good will be accom]j-
lished and little satisfaction gotten out of it. In fact, it is not too much to
say that poor work should nevei' be dcjne, for it is very often worse than
nothing — detrimental. .\dolph iijorndahl, one of the enterprising young
farmers of Parke townshi]), ('lay county, realized these facts when he started
out in life for himself, and he has tried to do well whatever he undertook.
Mr. Bjorndahl was born on the farm where be still resides, in section
(>, I'arke township. Clay count\, in iSSo, and be has been contented to spend
his life at home, fully ajipreciating the opportunit\-. He is a son of Nels and
Torgen (Ulvig) Bjorndahl, both natives of Norway, where they grew to
maturity, were married and established their home, continuing to reside
there until the spring of 1878, when thev immigrated to the United States,
and came to Minnesota, jjresently locating on and homesteading the farm
where their son .\(lolph now li\es in Parke township. Clay county. They
had lived a short time on another place nearby upon their arrival here. The
father worked bard in developing the raw land and in making a home for
his familv in the Western frontier and, by perseverance and good manage-
ment he succeeded. He made most all the improvements, putting up good
buildings, etc., and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1914, at the
age of seventv-nine years. His widow is still living on the homestead. To
these parents ten children were born, namely : Ragnil, Vil, Nels, Carrie, Ole,
Inga, Adolph, Louis. Knut and Nina. The first five were lx)rn in Norway
.and the others in Clay county, Minnesota. They all attended the public
512 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
j-choob and they arc all married with the exception of Xina. the youngest,
who makes her home with her motlier when not out teaching school.
Adolph Bjorndahl grew up on the home farm and assisted with the
general work on the same when he l^ecame of proper age. He was married
in 1914 to Hilda Christianson, who was horn in 1886 on the liome farm in
section g, Parke township, Clay county, and here she grew to womanhood
and attended school. She is a daughter of Xels Christianson and wife, who
came here in the early settlement of Parke township and established their
future home on the farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Bjorndahl have been born two
children, Xorman and Dagny.
Mr. Bjorndahl now owns the home place, which consists of three hun-
dred and twenty acres. He has kept it well improved ami under a fine state
of cultivation. On the place is to be seen an admirable group of farm build-
ings and everything is kejit in its proper ])lace. He also owns a quarter sec-
tion of land anrl which he homesteaded in Perkins county, Sc)Uth Dakcjta.
He carries on general farming, making a specialty of potato raising. This
year (191 7) he has forty-five acres in Ohio potatoes, his land being well
adapted for this business. He keeps good graded live stock, cattle and
horses and full-blooded Duroc hogs and feeds a great deal of his grain to
his live stock. Politically, I\Ir. Bjorndahl is a Democrat. He is a member of
the Hegland Free Lutheran church, of which he is treasurer, and is active in
the affairs of the congregation.
HENRY ECKHOFR
Henry Eckhoff. an enterprising general farmer, classed as one of ilie
most prosperous agriculturists of Pleasant View townshij), Xorman county,
owner of five hundred and si.xty acres of prime land and breeder of high-
grade stock, is a native of the German emjjire, but has been a resident of the
United States for the past fort}--six years and of Xorman county for thirty-
seven years. He is the son of John" and Anna Eckhoff and was born in
Germany on March 27, 1S43. In that country his parents spent all their
lives, both being now deceased. They were the parents of the following
children: William, deceased: Henry, the subject of this sketch: Mrs. Kattie
Poppe and Mrs. Grenda Merkins, of Ada.
Henry Eckhoff was educated in the schools of Germany and at the age
of twenty-eight years, in [871, lie immigrated to .\merica and first settled in
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CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 5I3
Red Wing, Minnesota,' and in that place he worked on farms for some
years, saving his earnings with the object of making a purcha:se for him-
self. In 1880 he came to Norman county and homesteaded a tract of eighty
acres in section 8, Pleasant View township, later buying a tree claim that
had been proved up b}- his wife's father. As Mr. Eckhoff prospered in his
farming operations he continued to add more land to his holdings and is
now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of prime land, and here he is
engaged in general farming and stock raising, success attending his labors
from the very beginning. He has carried out many excellent improvements,
laid out groves and fences, and in 1894 he erected a new dwelling house
to replace the old house that had done duty for several years and in 1913
he added to the other improvements a new and substantial barn. He is
now accounted as one of the progressive and energetic farmers of the town-
sliip, his farming operations bein.g carried on according to modern agricul-
tural methods.
On March 12. 1880, Henry Eckhofif was united in marriage to Angel
Ergus, who was born on January 22, 1853, in Germany and who, when
about twenty years of age, came with her parents to America, locating at
Red Wing, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Eckhoff are the parents of the follow-
ing children : Mary, who is a nurse in Ohio ; John and Henry, at home ;
Ella, married and living four miles south of her fatlier's place ; Lizzie,
married and living in Lockhart. and William, living on the home farm.
The familv are members of the Lutheran church.
AUGUST POPPE.
August i'uiJpe, a well-known farmer and stock raiser, of Pleasant
\iew township, Norman county, owner of- a compact and well-kept farm
of two hundred and forty acres of choice land in that township, treasurer
of the township board and of the local school board, is a native of Germany,
but has been a resident of the United States for the past forty-five years
and of Norman county since 1878. He came to this country alone in 1872.
lie is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Poppe, natives of Germany, who Hved
and died in that country, and a half-brother of Heine and Louis Heindricks,
also of Norman county. The parents of these children were earnest mem-
bers of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in the same faith.
.\ugust Poppe was educated in the schools of his native land and at the
age of twenty-four \ears immigrated to America, going to Fond du Lac,
(33a:)
514 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
^Vi.sconsin, where he obtained employment on the railroad in the winters
and on farms during the summers, remaining in that jilace about two years,
At the end of that period he moved to Goodhue county. Minnesota, and
worked on farms, later renting land, which he operated for about four years.
He came to Norman county in 1878 and homesteaded eighty acres of land
in section 8, Pleasant View township, the place where he now resides, and
presently started to prepare the land for crops and ever since he has been
engaged in general farming, marked success attending his labors froin the
ver\' beginning. Air. Poppe is the owner of an additional two hundred and
forty acres, located near his original holding, and is also engaged in raising
a high grade of stock. He has carried out man\ substantial improvements
and he has one of the most compact and l)est-kept farm places in the town-
ship, his operatinns l)cing conducted according to modern methods of agri-
culture.
In 1880 August I'oppe was united in marriage to Kattie Eckoff. a
native of German}-, born in 1851, who came to America in 1874, locating
in Red Wing, this state. To this union two children were born. .Anna, now
deceased, who left a son, Alfred Uslick. now aged sixteen years, who re-
sides with .\lr. I'oppe. and ("arrie. who i,s married and lives east of her
father's place. .\Ir. Poppe is a memjjer of the Lutheran church, of which
lie served as trustee and as deacon for three years. He gives a good citizen's
attention to ])ublic affairs and is now in the twentv-fourth year of office as
treasurer of the township board and has acted in a similar capacity for twen-
ty-six years to the local school board. Ik- helped to organize and is a stock-
holder in the Farmers Elevator Company at .Ada and in various other ways
he has given of his time and energy to the promotion of movements in-
tended to serve tlie ])ublic welfare.
HERBERT CLAYTOX.
The young lad who has parents who are in a position to assist him in
getting an education and prepare him for the future responsibilities of life
can scarcely realize the responsibility of the lad who must go out into the
world and battle alone with the difficulties that inevitably will confront him.
Yet we find the lad of this kind in every clime and in every age. Many of
these boys thus situated have been made of the right kind of stuff and have
succeeded where others have failed. Knowing that their success or failure is
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 315
the result of their own efforts, they are perhaps more prone to look with
favor upon what they can do under ordinary circumstances. Such a lad as
this, who, at the age of eleven years, started life's work unassisted, is Herb-
ert Clayton, of Lockhart township, Norman county, Minnesota, who was
born in England on September 8, 1867, and is the son of Isaac and Ann
( Darbyson) Clayton, natives of luigland, in which country they were mar-
ried and lived their lives, they having died some years ago. They were of
the farming class, hard working and industrious and highly respected, mem-
bers of the Church of England. They were the parents of the following
children : George. William. Sarali, Herbert, Mahalah, Anna, Arthur, Nellie
and Levina.
Herbert Clayton received his meager education in the schools of his
native land, and at the age of eleven years started in life for himself, working
as a farm hand, and remained in England until he was twenty years of age,
when, in 1887, he decided to come to America, where he might have a
Ijetter opportunity to make a home for himself. It was with some misgiv-
ings that he bade farewell to the home folks and the scenes of his childhood
and sailed for the new land. He had but limited funds and he fully real-
ized that his future success depended upon his own efforts. On his landing
in the United States he proceeded to near Jacksonville, Illinois, where for a
time he worked as a farm hand, and where he later purchased a farm of his
own. By hard work and close economy he succeeded in obtaining two hun-
dred and twenty acres of splendid land. This he developed and improved
and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising with success until
1913. He then disposed of his interests and his farm near Jacksonville and
went to North Dakota, where he purchased five hundred and thirty acres of
land in Grand Eork county and was there engaged in farming until the spring
of H}i6, in which year he came to Minnesota and purchased section 21 of the
old Lockhart farm in Lockhart township, Norman county. Here he has
made extensive improvements and is engaged in general farming and stock-
raising and is much interested in Shorthorn cattle, a thorough farmer and
an e.\i)erienced stockman. He is a thorough believer in the systematic and
modern methods of the ojaeration of the farm of today, and in the manage-
ment of his home place he has met with much success, today being recog-
nized as one of the most successful and substantial men of the county.
On .\ugust 26th. 1890. Herbert Clayton was united in marriage to Alice
Parkin, daughter of Richard and Sarah (Robinson) Parkin, natives of Eng-
land, who came to the United States and located in the state of Illinois, near
Jacksonville. It was in Illinois that Alice Parkin Clayton was born, and
5l6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
there she was educated and married. To Mr. and Mrs. Clayton have been
born the following children : Sarah, .Vlbert, Ada, Leota. Genevieve. Rich-
ard, Ruth, Lena, Frank, Howard and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton are
active members of the Presbyterian church, take much interest in church
work and are liberal supporters of the local societv. The\ are a most esti-
malile couple and are held in high regard.
OLAF ANDERSON.
The late Olaf .Xndersim, for years one of the best-known and most
progressive farmers of McDonaldsville township, proprietor of a line farm
in that township and on which he had resided for about thirty-six years,
was a native of the kingdom of Sweden, born in that country in 184J. a
son of .Anders .Anderson and wife, who lived and died in that countrv.
Olaf Anderson was educatetl in the schools of Sweden, after whicli he
worked at farm labor until he was twenty-nine years old, at which time,
in 1871. he came to the United States and proceeded directly to Fillmore
county. Minnesota, where he farmed until 1879. In the latter year he
moved to McDonaldsville township. Norman county, the trip, which was
made 1)\' o.xen. occupying about four weeks. Mr. .\nders(in homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres of land and commenced the task of preparing
the ground for tillage and presently had things going in a satisfactory man-
ner, his farming o])eratioiis proving a success from the very beginning.
As he prospered in the labors of the farm he continued to add to liis hold-
ings, finally getting together three hundred and twenty acres of as fine
land as is to lie found in the county, and here he spent the remainder of his
life, his death occurring on November 26, 1903, he then being in the sixty-
tirst year of his age. He put up all the buildings to be found on the place
today and laid out a grove, which adds considerably to the appearance of
the farm.
In Fillmore county, this state, Olaf .Anderson was united in marriage
to Turie Gilbertson, who was born in Norway, a sister of Thor Gilbertson,
mention of whom is made in another part of this work. Mrs. .Anderson
came to America in 1870 and went to Fillmore county, this state. She died
on December 29, 1916. To Olaf Anderson and wife the following children
were born : Mrs. John J- Running, living in Winchester township, Norman
county : Gilbertson and Belle, both living on the old home farm, which
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 517
Gilbert Anderson has been operating since his father's death, being recog-
nized as one of the progressive and substantial fanners of the township,
conducting his agricultural operations on modern lines and achieving com-
mendable success.
The late Olaf Anderson was ever an active and zealous member of the
Lutheran church, the first church of wliich congregation he helped to
organize at West Wild Rice, and he was an earnest supporter of all good
movements designed to improve the general social conditions of the town-
ship and neighlxirhood in which he had lieen for so many years a resident.
TOHN 1. SMITH.
John 1. Smith, a well-known and prosperous farmer and stockman, chair-
man of the township board, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but has
been a resident of Moorhead, Clay county, for about forty years, and has
thus been a witness to the community development of this part of the state
of Minnesota during that time. He was born in the province of Ontario on
November 26, 1867, a son of Moses and Mary f Heath) Smith.
Moses Smith was born in Canada in 1839 and came to Moorhead about
the vear 1879. Mary Heath was also born in Canada, in 1841, and came to
Moorhead with her husband, they having been married in Canada. Both are
still living in this county. On coming here Moses Smith took up farming
and lias been following that occupation ever since. He and his wife are well
known throughout the comnnmity as excellent citizens and are warmly es-
teemed Ijy a large circle of friends. To Moses Smith and wife the following
children were born: John, the subject of this sketch; James, deceased; Mary,
who is married, and Emma, also married. These parents are members of
the Methodist church and are interested in all neighborhood good works.
Tohn I. Smith left Ontario, Canada, in December, 1879, and came with
Jiis parents to Moorhead. He received his early education in Canada and on
coming to this county assisted his father with the work on the farm. After
the lapse of some years he commenced farming on his own account. He has
lieen living on his present farm in Kurtz township for the past twenty-six
years and during that period has carried out many valuable improvements on
his land and buildings. He is now tlie owner of three hundred and twenty
acres of excellent land and is engaged with the cultivation of his tract for
mixed farming, and has been very successful. He also raises a good strain
5l8 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of cattle and contemplates adding Red Polled cattle to his herd. By IkirI
work and the exercise of a wise economy Mr. Smith has been enabled to
attain to his present position as one of the substantial and progressive farmers
of Clay county.
John I. Smith was united in marriage to Nettie Brown, wIki was born
in Minnesota in September, 1869. and to that union the following children
have been born : Howard, who lives in Bismarck, North Dakota ; Harold,
Lister, Ethel and Jennette, all living at home with their parents. The Smith
family are Presbyterians and are earnestly interested in all local good works.
In politics, Mr. Smith is a supporter of the Republican party. He has
served as township supervisor for eighteen years and is chairman of the board
at present. He is also a director of the school board, and in many other ways
has given of his time and energy to all good causes calculated to improve the
condition of the public in the communit}- in which he has resided for so man\-
rears.
FRANCIS EDWARD SHAIDE.
Francis Edward Shaide, a recent settler in Mary township, Norman
county, where he owns a quarter section of well-improved land, on which
he carries on general farming and stock raising, was born near Clifton,
Illinois, December 2. 1881, a son of Jacob and Mary ( \\'iersbeck) Shaide.
the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Prussia, both coming
to America in 1856, and settling near Clifton, Illinois, on a farm, well-
known and respected citizens of the community. Jacob Shaide was born in
March, 1832, and died on the home place in Illinois in 191 5, at the advanced
age of eighty-three years. The death of his wife occurred in 1906 when
she was fifty-six years old. she having been lK>rn in 1850. To these parents
se\en children were born, those besides the subject of this review, who is
the sixth in order of birth, being: Emma, deceased; Louise, wife of Matt
Bannon and living in Chicago; Julia, who married Charles Schultz and now
resides in Clifton, Illinois; William, who is living here in Mary township,
where he is the proprietor of one hundred and sixtv acres of land in sec-
tion 23 ; Bertha, the wife of Edward Trevis, now living in New York state,
and Walter, who lives on the old home place in Illinois.
Francis E. Shaide was reared to manhood on the old home place in
Illinois, where he received his common-school education in the district
schools of the community, and he remained on the old farm rendering valu-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 519
aljle assistance in the cultivation of the same until he reached the age of
twenty-six years. In 1905 his hrother, William, came northward into Min-
nesota, where he bought a quarter section in Mary township, Norman
county, and his success in farming up here in the Red River valley country
exerted no small influence in the coming of his brother, the subject of this
review, into this section in 1907. When he arrived in Norman county,
I'Vancis E. Shaide made his home for a short time with his brother
William, but soon he bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 22,
Mary township, not far from his brother's holding. At first the tract was
entirely unimpro\e(l. bearing a close resemblance to the land which greeted
the eyes of the earliest settlers in this county, as it had never been plowed
and was not supplied with any kind of farm buildings, but the task con-
fronting this voung man of twenty-six years merely whetted his industry
and the reward for his efforts is his present excellent farm of one hundred
and sixty well-improved acres on which he carries on general mixed farm-
ing and stock raising, owning two registered stallions and one blooded bull.
On October 23, iqw. b^rancis Edward Shaide was married to Hattie
A. Schaefer, ou this farm. Mrs. Shaide was born in Des Plaines, Illinois,
July I, 1891. a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Cook) Schaefer, the latter
of whotn was a native of Germany, who came to this country with her pa-
rents when she was three years of age. Henry Schaefer was born in Illinois.
.Mr. and Mrs. Shaide are the parents of three children, Treinain, Lovell and
an infant. The\- are members of the St. Mary's Catholic church and in the
affairs of the local parish they take a proper interest. Politically, Mr. Shaide
is a member of the Republican party, and is serving as chairman of the town-
ship board, which official position he has occu])ied for seven years, with coni-
iilete satisfaction to his neighbors.
TORGER OLSON SUNDET.
Torger Olson Sundet, one of the early settlers of Norman county, living
here for thirty-seven )ears. the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres
in Bear Park township, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born in that
country on October 20. 1836, but has been a resident of the United States
since 1867. He is a son of Ole Olson and Ingeborg ( Halvorsdater) Simdet,
also born in Norway and who lived and died in that country. They were
the parents of the following children : Marit. Ole, Halvar, Krjerste, Peder,
.\nne and Torger.
520 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MI N NKS( ITA.
Torger O. Siindet was educated in the schools of Norway and was reared
to manhood on his father's place. At the age of thirty-one, in 1867, he
decided to try his fortune in America and in that year immigrated to l-'ill-
more county, Minnesota, where he worked on farms until 1880. In the
latter year he moved via horse team to Xormau count) and took one hun-
dred and sixty acres of homestead land in section j8. Bear Park toivnship,
on which he erected some log huildings and carried on general farming until
1903. He then moved to his present place in section Ji. Hear I'ark tdwii-
ship, where he has two hundred acres of excellent laud, which is set out
to general crops and from the very l)eginning of his operations he has met
with a large measure of success, being considered one of the best husband-
men in the farming community.
Torger O. Sundet has been three times married. His first wife was
Olena Guansta, a native of Norway ; no children were born to that union.
His second wife was Mrs. Marie (Jelleberg) Jelleberg. the widow of Her-
man Jelleberg, who died soon after their arrival in l-'illmore county.
Minnesota. By her marriage to Mr. Jellel)erg she was the mother of one
son, Olas H., lx>ru on I""ebruary 2, 1868, and who came with his parents
to America the following year, 1869. Mr. Sundet's third marriage was
to Jodda Johnsdatter Senue])pen. who is still li\iug. Mr. Sundet is a mem-
ber of the Ness Lutheran churcli, which he helped to organize and in whose
good works he is actively interested. He also assisted in the organization
of Bear Park Mercantile Company. Mr. Sundet is not the father of au\'
children, but his stepson, Olaus H. Jelleberg, has taken the name of Sundet.
and all live together on the home farm.
KDWARn M. FA^\NS.
Edward M. Evans, a well-to-do and progressive farmer, owner of three
hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, connected with various town-
ship offices and with the local telephone and creamery companies, is a na-
tive son of Minnesota, born in Fillmore county, Julv 11. 1838. He is a
son of Nels and Gunhild (Tostensen) F.vans, both of whom were born
in Norway, the former coming to America, while yet a single man, in 1846,
and, in 1856, settling in Fillmore county, where they were married some
time later. Gunhild Tostensen came with her parents. Tostensen and \stri
(Sverie) Larson, in 1857, and who also settled in Fillmore countv.
P9
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.MK. AM) MltS. KDWAKIi M. KVANS.
CLAY AND NORMAN COl'NTIES, MINNESOTA. 52I
On arriving in l-'illmore count}' Xels Evans pre-empted a tract of land
proceeded immediately to get it into a state of cultivation and engaged in
general farming up to the time of his death in iSjj, being regarded as
one of the most energetic and practical farmers in that part of the county.
His wife, who survived him, is still living in Fillmore count)-. Nels Evans
served as a soldier on behalf of the maintenance of the L nion of his adopted
country, joining Company V. h'ifth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer In-
fantry, and saw much ser\icc, finally being mustered out, after which lie
resumed his farming operations. Nels Evans and wife were the parents of
seven children as follow : lulward AI., the subject of this sketch; Anna;
Henry C. ; Anton, deceased : Caroline, deceased ; Charles, and James, deceased.
They were members of the Lutheran church and earnest advocates of all
its good works. They helped to organize the first ciuu-ch of their com-
munity in Fillmore count}- and were ever among those who aimed at helping
in all causes calculated to promote the best interests of the uei.ghborhcKjd and
township in which they lived.
Edward M. l^vans w;is educated in the scli>)ols of l-'illmore county
and worked on his father's f;u-ni. a \aluable assistant in the labors of im-
proving and developing the land. In iSXi, at the age of twenty-three years,
he came to Norman countv and bought a tract of railroad land in Afc-
Donaldsville township ;ind is still residing (jn that place, en,<;a.ged in general
farming. He put u[) some substantial buildings on his holding and set
out a fine grove of trees, which adds considerably to its general ai)pearance.
He is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of prime land, which
he cultivates according to modern methods of agriculture and is regarded
as one of the |)rogressi\-e farmers of the township.
On December lo. 18X5, Edward M. Evans was united in marriage to
Tensena Erickson, \\ho was born in X(jrway and at the age of six months
was brought to this countr\- by her jiarents, Anton and Guro (Anderson)
Erickson, who are now living in Lake .\da townshiij, Norman county.
Their first place of residence was in Clay county, where, in the early
seventies they homesteaded a tract of lantl on which they lived imtil 1883
when thev moved to the farm in Norman county, and where Anton Erick-
son is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the parents of the following
children: Gena, Nels. Josie. Edwin and Albert, all of whom are living.
The Evans family are members of the Lutheran church and are earnest
supporters of the church and all neighborhood good works, excellent factors
in the afYairs of the communit}- and township.
s
522 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
j\Ir. Evans has e\er given a good citizen's attention lo public affairs
and for fifteen years served as township assessor, in which ofhce he ser\ed
with fidelity and ability. He helped to organize the local school district
and served on the school board for a considerable time. He also helped
in the organization of the local telephone and creamery companies and has
held official positions in both, and in other ways he has given of his time
and energy to the public welfare.
ANDREW HUSEBV.
Andrew Huseby. a farmer of Tanseni townsliip. Clay county, was lx)rn
in Norway, April 19, i860, and, like man\- of his countrymen, he came to
the great Northwest with no capital: but with plenty of courage and grit,
consequently he has succeeded. He is a son of Andrew and Anna (Husein)
Huseby, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, married and established
their home, never coming to the United States. 'Ihe elder Andrew Huseby
was a shoemaker 1)\' trade. To these parents eight children were born, named
as follow: Gilbert and F.rick. who are still living in Norway; Ragna and
Sarah, both of whom died in Norway : Gertrude, who came to America and died
in Wisconsin; Andrew, the subject of this sketch, and Ole and Knut. who are
1)1 uh engaged in farming in Tansem township. Clay county.
The junior .\ndrew Huseby spent his boyhood in Norway and there at-
tended the common schools. When twenty-five years of age, in 1885, he
came to .America, and almost immediately thereafter started on the long
journey directly to C'iax' countw .Minnesota. He secured empk)vment as a
f;u"m hand in Tanseni township, where he worked for some time, then
bought railroad land, which he improved int(j a good farm, on which he has
since resided, owning one hundred and sixty acres in section 15, Tanseni
township. He has put on all the improvements on the same, inckiding a com-
fortable residence and numerous outbuildings, and is carrying on general
tanning and stock raising.
Air. Husel)\' was married in Norman countx in 1890 to Alarie Narum,
who was born in that county. She grew up on the farm and attended the
district schools. She is a daughter of John and Caroline Narum, both
natives of Norwa\' where they spent their earlier vears. Thev came to
America and took u\) a homestead in Norman county, Minnesota, about 1874.
being among the first settlers there. The\" endured many hardships, as did
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 523
most of the pioneers, but l)y perseverance they estabhslied a good home.
Their family consisted of eight children.
To Mr. and IMrs. Huseby twelve children have been born, namely:
Albert, Clara, Julia, Ella, Clifford, Rena, Selma, Cora, Delphin, Esther,
Emil (deceased), and Oliver. Air. Huseby and his family belong to the local
Norwegian Lutheran church, which he helped organize. The building was
erected in 191 7. There had never been a church of this denomination in
their vicinitv before.
MALKER O. VALEN.
Malker O. Valen, an energetic and substantial farmer of Kurtz tow-n-
ship, Clay county, owner of nineteen hundred and twenty acres of prime
land, as well as raising hogs on an extensive scale, was born in Trondjhem,
Norway, in 1871. He is the son of O. O. and All>ertina Valen, the former
of whom, born in 1823, has been dead for some years and the latter of
whom died about five years ago at the advanced age of eighty-one years.
The parents were natives of Norway, where O. O. Valen farmed for many
years before coming to the United States.
O. O. Valen and wife were the parents of the following children: Anna,
deceased; Ove, living in Norway; Nicholi, in this country; Julia, Ergania
and Mary, all in Norway; Andrew, Odin and Anna, all deceased, and
Malker, the subject of this sketch, and Lina, in this country. The parents
were members of the Lutheran church and earnest supporters of all its good
works.
Malker O. Valen was educated in the schools of Norway and on com-
ing to this country commenced to work for himself as a farmer. He bought
a tract of land after the lap.se of some time, and as he prospered in his farm-
ing operations he continued to add to his holdings until he is now the owner
of nineteen hundred and twenty acres of land, four huntlred acres of which
he set out to the cultivation of potatoes in 19 17. In addition to his general
farming he is also engaged in the rai.sing of Duroc-Jersey hogs and all his
agricultural efforts have been attended with success. He is now known to
be one of the largest and most substantial landowners in this part of the
county. His outbuildings and dwelling house are in excellent shape and
all the improvements on the holding have been placed thereon at consider-
able expense, Mr. Valen's entire farming equipment being modern in all
details.
524 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
On December 18, 1895, Malker O. N'alen was united in marriage to
Laura Larson, who was born in Rustad, Clay county, Minnesota, in 1877,
tlie flaut;"hter of Gilbert and Mathia Larson, natives of Norway. Mr. and
]\Irs. ^"alen are the parents of the following children: Tina, Lillian, Anna
and Grant, all of whom are at home with their parents. The Valen family
are members of the Lutheran church and are earnest supporters of all its
good works. In addition to his farming interests Mr. \'alcn is also inter-
ested in the general welfare of the public. For many years he has given
attention t(j the educational affairs of the townshiji and served as a member
of the school board for some time. He also served as township supervisor
for six years, and as a supporter of the Republican party he has rendered
valuable service to the public interests with which that party are identified.
HON. JOHN L. WOLD.
'I'lie Hon. John L. W'o'd, former representative from the sixty-first
di.strict in the Minnesota state Legislature, former president of the village
council at Twin Valley, vice-iiresident of the Security State Rank of that
place and for years actixely engaged in the hardware business there, one
of the best-known merchants in Xorman county, is a native son of Minne-
sota and has lixed here all his life. He was born on a farm in Sibley count)'
on July 13, 1877, son of Xels and Cecilia Wold, natives of the kingdom
of Norway, who came to this country and after a while became pioneers
in this section of Minnesota, remaining here imtil 1900, when tliex' went
U) the Pacific coast, where their last days were spent.
Nels Wold was born at Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, and there grew to
manhood and married, later coming to this country by way of Canada, .\fter
a A'ear spent in Quebec he moved to Chicago and after a few years spent
there came to Minnesota and settled in Sibley county. Tn 1880. about the
time this section of the Red River valley was beginning to be systematically
settled, he came up here and homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty
acres in section 21 of what later came to 1;e organized as Wild Rice town-
ship, Norman county, and after developing the same moved his family here
and establisheil his home. On that pioneer farm he continued to make his
home until 1890, when he left the farm and moved to Twin A'allev, where
he l)ought the V^alley Hotel and was for ten years tiiereafter engaged in
the hotel business. In 1900 he disposed of hi^ interests at Twin X'allev
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 525
and he and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon, presently moving thence
to Everett, Washington, where their last days were spent, her death occur-
ring in 1905 and his, in 1907. They were members of the Lutheran church
and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine nf these
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of
birth, the others being Trine, Christian, Anna, Lizzie, Bella. Theodore, Oscar
and Bernhard.
John L. Wold grew up on the home farm in Wild Rice township, thor-
oughh' familiar with pioneer conditions of living there. He recei\ed his
elementary schooling in the schools of that township and supplemented the
same by a two-years course at Red Wing Seminary and a course of two
years at Concordia College at Moorhead. Upon leaving college Mr. Wold,
in igo2, became engaged in the mercantile business at Twin Valley in
partnership with J. K. Meium and was thus engaged until after his service
in the Legislature, when, in 1907, he engaged in the real-estate business,
continuing thus engaged until 1910, when, in partnership with .\. H. Fro-
shaug, he again engaged in the mercantile business at Twin Valle\ , his line
this time being general hardware. In 1914 Mr. Wold bought his partner's
interest in the store and has since conducted the same alone, for years one
of the best-known and most energetic merchants of that village. In addi-
tion to his mercantile business Mr. Wold has other business interests in the
\illage and has long been regarded as one of the "live wires" of that place.
He was one of the organizers of the Security State Bank of Twin Valley,
a member of the board of directors of the same since its organization and
since 1915 has been vice-president of the same. He also was one of the
organizers of the Twin Valley Auto and Supply Compan\- and in other
ways has taken an active part in the general business affairs of his home
town. Mr. Wold also has been for years actively interested in local jjolitical
affairs and, in 1906, was elected representative from the sixty-first Minne-
sota representative district in the state Legislature, serving with distinc-
tion in the House during the session of 1907, He also has served as presi-
dent of the village council and in other ways has given of his time ;nid
energies to the public service.
In the year 1904 John L. Wold was united in marriage to .Matilda
Aaker, daughter of Ole Aaker and wife, of Flandrau, South Dakota, and to
this union five children have been born, Carmen E., Otis L., Johan L..
Delta L. and Arnt H. Mr. and Mrs. Wold are members of tiie Hauges
Lutheran church and take an active and interested part in church work.
Mr. Wold having served for many years as secretary of the local congre-
:;26 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
gation and is tlie present superintendent of the Sunday schuijl. riic Wdlds
lia\e a very pleasant home and ha\e ever taken a proper part in the cnm-
nninitv's general social activities, helpful in promoting all m<i\-ements ha\-ing
to do with the ad\'ancement of the comnKm welfare.
OLE M. ],.\XGEL.\ND.
A ]jrosperous farmer and weil-kmnvn stockman of McDonaldsvi'.le
township, \orman county, is Ole M. Langeland, who was horn in Winneshiek
county, Iowa. May ,^. 1857. a son of .\Iagne H. and Gertie (Rjorg) T.ange-
land. hoth of whom were natives of Norway.
Magne H. Langeland came with his wife and two children from tlu-ir
home in .Norway to the United States ahout 1850. locating first in Dane
county, Wisconsin, where they lived for five years, engaged in farming.
They then moved to Winneshiek countv, Iowa, driving overland hy o.x-team,
the tri]) re(|uiring three weeks, in this latter county Magne T-angeland en-
gaged extensively in farming, and hecame the owner of two hundred and
eighty acres of land there, which he improved and hrought to a high state of
culti\ation. He and his wife were the parents of the following children :
Rachel. Helge. Knut (lust), r,ar>. Kiiut (second), Magne, Ole and Martha,
all hut three of whom are still living. The mother of these children died in
A\'inneshiek count)', Iowa, and the father passed away at the home of his
son, Magne. in Otter Tail county. Minnesota.
Ole M. Langehuid received his education in the rural schools of Win-
neshiek count). Iowa, and assisted his father with the work on the home
farm until 1883, when he came to Xorman count)', Minnesota, where, for
the first \'ear. he worked on the farm of A, L. Hanson, of Winchester town-
ship: after which, for the next two years, he worked on various farms in the
county. He engaged in farming on his own account h)- jiurchasing eight)'
acres of land in Hegne township, which he cultivated and im])roved. later
adding eight)- acres more to the tract. He ))uilt a new harn on this place,
hesides making other improvements, and lived there until 1905, when he
sold it and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in McDonaldsville town-
ship, where he has since lived. Here he has made many substantial improve-
ments, erecting good buildings and otherwise adding to the appearance and
vakie of the farm. He is engaged in farming and stock raising, and ranks
high among the stockmen of his community as a breeder of thoroughbred
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. tJJ-
Shorthorn cattle, of which he makes a specialty, and is verv successful in
his farming operations.
On June lo. 1883. Ole M. Langeland was united in marriage to Tsahel
Jacobson, who was born in .Mamakee county. Towa, the daughter of Andrew
Jacobson. To this union two children have been horn: Minnie, the wife of
Peter- Larson, and Geneva, living at home with her parents. The family are
all earnest and consistent niembers of the Scandinavian Lutheran church,
which Mr. Langeland helped to organize in McDonaldsville township.
Mr. Langeland has always taken an active interest in the social and
civic welfare of his community, and while living in Hegne township served
on the township board as chairman, and also filled a like position on the
township board in ]\lcDonaldsville township.
HANS C. TUFTE.
Hans C". Tufte, a well-known general farmer, who rents two hundred
and twenty acres of prime lantl in section 29, Mary township, Norman
county, is a native of tlte kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of
the state of Minnesota for the past twenty-five years. He was born in Tons-
burg in that country in 1865, a .son of Frederick and Maren ( Raniners)
Tufte. both also natives of \(^rway. where they spent their entire lives,
h'rederick Tufte was born in 1824 and died in 1910. having reached the good
old age of eighty-six years, and Maren Ramners was born in 1831 and is
still living in the old country at the advanced age of eighty-six. To Fred-
crick Tufte and wife the following children were born: John, Mathevv and
Jens, all deceasefl : .Selma. married and living in Norway : hTederick, who
lives in Mary town.ship: Hans, the subject of this sketch; Ole, who lives in
Oregon; Martine, still in Norway; Inxalg. also in that country, and Ludwig,
living in Canada.
Hans C Tufte was reared on his father's place in Norway and was
educated in the schools of the district in which he resided, continuing to
reside with his parents until 1892. in which year he decided to try his for-
tune at this side of the Atlantic. On arriving in the country he came on nut
lo Minnesota and worked on farms in Norman county for about two years,
at the end of which time he became empktyed in a sawmill at Ada and remained
thus occupied for a period of twenty years. He then moved to his present
place in section 29. Marv townsln'p. and is now renting two hundred acres
528 CLAY AND NORMAN COUN'TIES, MINNESOTA.
of land on which he carries on general mixed farming and has done very
well, his farming operations, which are carried on according to modern re-
quirements, proving profitable.
On April 21, 1898, at Ada, this state, Hans C". Tufte was united in mar-
riage to Marie Ramnes. a native of Norway, horn in that country on January
29, 1874. To this union the following children have been born; hred.
Matthew, Lillie, Henry, Esther jjnd Ray, all ui winiui are at Imme with their
parents. The Tufte family are earnest members of the Trinity Lutheran
church and arc zealous attendants on its services, helping likewise in all com-
munity movenients calculated to serve the best interests of the district and
township.
HANS PETER Hl-.NRICKSON.
Hans Peter Henrickson of Goose Prairie township. Clay county, is one
of those farmers who never loses sight of the fact that the soil must be
well supplied with organic matter; that humus is absolutely necessary to
the soil to make plant food available; that if one practices cro[) rotation, one
must not fail to include one or more of the legumes. These and many other
similar ideas of successful farming have long been well known to him and
he has therefore met with success.
Mr. Hendickscm was born in Denmark on June i, 1866, a son of
Henry J. and Anna Margaret Jacobson, both natives of Denmark, wh<i
came to America in 1873 and established their home in Iowa, where the
mother's death occurred in 1897 at the age of about seventy years. Henry
J. Jacobson was born in 1818. He was a laborer in the old country, but
after coming to America spent most of his time at the homes of his children,
Plis death occurred at the unusual age of ninety-six years. His family con-
sisted of the following children ; Catherina, a widow, who conducts a
boarding house at State College, Iowa; Sine, a retired farmer, who lives
at Humboldt, Iowa; Caren, who lives in Denmark: Maren, deceased; Jens.
a stock buyer and retired farmer, who lives in Iowa, and Hans P.. the sub-
ject of this sketch.
Hans P. Henrickson grew to manhood in Denmark and there attended
school. He was eighteen years old when he came to America, in 1874. He
located in Cla} county, Minnesota, in 1906 and bought his present farm of
four hundred and eighteen acres in sections 9, 10 and 11, Goose Prairie
township. The place was run down, only a few- buildings on it. but he now
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CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 529
has it under a fine state of cultivation and well improved in every way.
He has a substantial dwelling and in 191 7 built a modern barn, forty- four
by ninety-two feet, at a cost of forty-five hundred dollars. He has been
\ery successful in his diversified farming operations and carries on general
farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, making a specialty of
raising blooded Angus cattle for the market, for which he finds a very
ready sale owing to their superior quality. He raises great crops annually
of corn, potatoes and clover hay.
On February 26, 1888. Mr. Henrickson was married to Anna Margaret
Bendixen, who was born on January 18. 1870. in Pocahontas county, Iowa.
Her parents were natives of Denmark, from which country they came to
.America and establisbed their future home in Iowa, where they engaged
in fanning. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Henrickson,
as follow : Carl, who is in a Minnesota light artillery regiment, having
enlisted in 191 7 from Clay county for service in tbe European War: Elmer,
who is married and lives at home, assisting his father with the work on
the farm ; Josie. who is married and lives on a farm in Becker county, this
state; Harry, who is at home; Alice, also at home, who is studying to be
a trained nurse, and Helen, who also is at home with her parents.
Mr. Henrickson is an independent voter, a member of the Non-partisan
Eeague. He has served as clerk of his local school district. No. 28. He
attends the Congregational church. He is a member of the Clay County
Safety Committee and is also a member of the Clav Count\- Farm Bureau.
ANDREW J. VOJE.
Andrew J. \'oje, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Hendrum
township, Norman county, where he is the proprietor of three hundred and
sixty acres of good farming land, was born in Norway, March 24, 1855,
the son of John K. and Anna (Voje) Voje, both natives of Norway, where
the\- were reared and married. Some six years after the Ijirth of Andrew
[. Voje. his parents hearing of the great opportunities for industrious and
thriftv persons, as they were, to become prosperous landowners luider the
protection of the Stars and Stripes across the Atlantic, bade their friends
and relatives in the land of their nativity goodby and came to America in
1861. locating in \\'aupaca county. Wisconsin, two miles west of Scan-
dinavia. By dint of thrift and perseverance John K. Voje soon acquired a
(34a)
530 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
tract of new land which he speedily brought under cultivation, and there
he and his wife remained until their deaths. The>- were the parents of
seven children, as follow: Kjerster. deceased: Knut. who died at the age
of eleven years; Bertha Helen, who died at the age of seven or eight years;
Andrew J., the subject of this review: Bertha. Knut and ]\Iary. The elder
Voje and family were all members of the Lutheran church, which had in
them loyal and consistent adherents.
When .\ndrew J. \'oje first I>reaihed the air of free America, he was
only six years of age and during his residence in Waupaca county, Wis-
consin, where his parents had settled, he attended the common schools, thus
receiving his early education. He remained on the old home place with his
parents, contributing a goodly share of his efTort to its improvement, until
he had reached the age of twenty-three, when, as a single man, he came
directly to Norman county. Minnesota, having lieard that there was ample
opportunity in that section for a young man of determination and spirit to
successfully establish himself, and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres
of section 24 in Hendrum township, but proved it \\\> as a homestead. From
1878 to i8qj he remained there, improving his farm and successfully cul-
tivating the same, until his resources permitted tlie addition of forty more
acres. In 1892 he decided to change his residence from section 24 to sec-
tion 2^. where he has since lived, in Hendrum township, having added one
hundred and sixty more acres to his holdings. M his last location he has
added improvements with his wonted diligence until he has one of the best
improved farms in the town.ship, on which he carries on general farming
and makes a specialty of breeding graded Aberdeen .\ngus cattle.
On September 13, t88i, Mr. Voje married Mary Moirah, who also
was born in Xorwav. the daughter of Peter Han.son. who emigrated to this
countrv in 1869, settling in Winneshiek county. Towa. To this union have
l)een born six children, all of whom are living, namely : Hans, Ed. Mary.
Andrew and Gust (twins), and Christina. Mr. \'oje and family, as were
his father and his family, are active and conscientious members of the
Lutheran church, and he helped to organize the Concordia Lutheran church.
Mr. Voje has also found time, when he has not been busily engaged on
his farm, to take an active part in the civil and business affairs of his com-
munitv. When he came to this township, it was not organized, but when
its population reached the requisite numl)er, he. among others, organized it
into the present Hendrum township. His industry, integrity and capability
so commended him to his neighbors that they conferred upon him local
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 53I
official trusts, and he has served as township assessor for twenty-four years
and is now the incumbent of that office. Being a progressive farmer, Mr.
Voje has been deeply interested in the establishment of adequate market-
nig and credit facilities in the community, and has helped to organize the
creamery, the farmers elevator and the Farmers State Bank, all of Hen-
drum. Politically, Mr. Voje is a Republican. Whenever any deserving
movement is started in the community for its social, civil or material bet-
terment, it finds in him an ardent and wholesouled supporter.
PETER THOMAS.
Peter Thomas, a well-known and prosperous farmer, owner of two
hundred and forty acres of prime land in Mary township, Norman county,
and former member of the school board, is a native of the state of Minne-
sota, born in the city of St. Paul, May 12, 1857, a son of Jacob and Mary
(McLean) Thomas, for the latter of whom the township of Mary was
named. Jacob Thomas was a farmer, originally entering a homestead tract
containing one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and developed,
and as he prospered in his farming operations he added to his land hold-
ings, finally becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Mary
township, on which he carried on general farming for many years. He died
at Minneapolis, where he had lived retired, in February, 1912, at the age
of eighty vears. The land is now owned by his daughters. His wife, Mary
McLean, died in 1913, also aged eighty years. They were devout mem-
bers of the Catholic church and earnest advocates of all movements de-
signed to forward the best interests of the community in which they resided.
They were the parents of the following children: Mary, married, and living
in Minneapolis, this state; Peter, the subject of this sketch: Melissa, Alice
and Fannie, residing in Minneapolis: Emma, married and living in Ken-
dall, North Dakota: Helena, unmarried, who also is living in Kendall, and
Bertram, a banker, living in Hansboro, North Dakota. Jacob Thomas
was ever active in matters relating to the public welfare and served for a
number of years on the school board and also on the town.ship board.
Peter Thomas was educated in the schools of his home district and at
the age of twenty-one, in 1878, he homesteaded one hundred and sixty
acres of land in section 14, Mary township, later buying eighty acres, and
is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of as good land as is to
532 CLAY AND NORM AN COUNTIKS, MINNKSOTA.
be found in the township. In tiie early stages of his fanning operations he
used oxen to carry on the work, hut as he progressed in his labors he grad-
ually employed modern methods and has now one of the best farm plants
in the district in which he resides. Mr. Thomas carried out manv substan-
tial improvements and erected several good buildings, and is now engaged
in general farming and has been very successful.
Peter Thomas was united in marriage to Regina House, who was birn
in Canada in 1862. Her father owned a farm of three hundred and twenty
acres north of Mary township and sold it in 1886. then going to Michi-
gan, where he died in 1895. Her mother died in Missouri in 1878 at the
age of sixty-one years. She has twn brothers and one sister living. To
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas the following children were born : Harrv, married
and living in Delavan. Wisconsin: \lrs. Annie Sorsen, married and living
in Mary townshij); limma, married, living in Racine, Wisconsin, and Eliza-
Ijeth and luhia, who live in Mary townshi)). The family are members of
the Catholic church and are earnstly interested in all its good works, as
well as in the good works of the community at large. Mr. Thomas served
on the school board for about twenty years and he helped to organize school
district No. 36. He is a shareholder in the Telephone Companv of Parley
and also holds shares in a potato warehouse at Boru]). and in many other
directions gives of his services to advance the general welfare of the dis-
trict and township.
JOHN A. MERKINS.
John A. Merkins. a substantial and well-known farmer of McDon-
aldsville township, Xorman county, renter of three hundred and twenty
acres of his father's choice laml, and who has lived in this count\- all of
his life, was born on his father's homestead in Pleasant \'^ie\v township,
Norman county. January i, 1879, son of John and Mary (Ackaff) Merkins.
well-known farming people, who are now living retired at Ada.
John and Mary Merkins were both natives of Germanv. wliere lliev
were educated and reared. They immigrated to the L'nited States in 1887
and spent a short time in Red Wing, Minnesota, and then moved to Pleas-
ant View township, Norman county, where John Merkins homesteaded one
hundred and sixty acres of land. He immediately commenced tlie task of
preparing the land for crops and in time was well under way. success at-
tending his efforts from the very beginning. As he prospered in his agri-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 533
cultural activities he added to his land holdings, finally getting together twelve
hundred and forty acres, whicli he still retains. On the original home-
stead he planted a grove, erected suhstantial buildings and carried out other
improvements on modern lines and he is generally regarded as one of the
most progressive and well-to-do farmers of the community. Mr. Merkins
retired from the active labors of the farm in 1901 and has since, with his
wife, been living at Ada. They are the parents of the following children :
Henry, John A., Anna, Lewis, Benjamin, Clara, Martha, Walter and Arthur,
all of whom are living. John Merkins, his wife and the members of liis
family arc affiliated with the Lutheran church and the elder Merkins hehted
to organize the first church of that congregation in his community.
John A. Merkins was educated in the schools of Norman county and
was reared on his father's farm, where he became an al)Ie assistant in the
work of improving and developing the homestead. He now resides in .Mc-
Donaldsville town.ship and is actively engaged in general farming on hi.,
holding, which consists of three hundred and twenty acres of prime land.
which is operated with a view to the best obtainable results, and he' is
recognized, as was his father before him, as a progressive agriculturist
(Jn August 5, 1909, John A. Merkins was imited in marriage to .Amanda
Trickel, who was born at Lockhart, Norman county, a daughter of Albert
Trickel and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Merkins are the parents of four children,
.Vlyrtle, Esther, .Annie and Minnie, all of whom are living. Mr. .Vlerkins
and family are members of the Lutheran church and are ardent supporters
of all its works and of all neighl)orhood good works.
PETER LARSON.
Crop management is a scheme, not a lot of practices. An important
jjart of it is the rotating or alternating of crops on given areas. In other
words, prearranged, permanent plans must be carried out in order to obtain
the best possible results. One of the fartners of Hawley township, C'lay
county, who understands and practices rotation of crops with gratifying re-
sults is Peter Larson.
Mr. I^rson was born in Norway in 1869. He is a .son of Seviert and
.Anne Larson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, married and
established their permanent home, and where the mother still lives. The
father died about thirteen years ago, at the age of seventy-two. They never
534 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
came to .\merica. He devoted his active life to farmiiisj and to commercial
fishing: in fact, he was known as a great fisherman in his locality. To these
parents four children were born, namely : Dora, deceased : Lena, a widow,
who lives in Norway: Bertenia. who has also remained in the old countr)-.
and I'eter. the suljject of this sketch.
i'eter Larson spent his boyhood in Norway, assisting his father with
farming and fi.shing, and in the winter time he attended the common schools.
When nineteen years old he immigratetl to .\merica, first locating in Polk
county, Minnesota, where he spent ten months, then came to Fargo and
Moorhead and worked on farms in the vicinitv of those cities for two vears.
He then accepted a position with the B. & R. Lumber Company in F^'argo
and remained with that concern for eight years, his long retention indicating
that he gave entire satisfaction. He saved his wages and n|ioii leaving the
firm rented a farm, operating rented land until IQIO. when he bought his
present excellent farm oi one hundred and sixty acres in section 35. in
FTawley township. Clay county. He has made some improvements on the
])Iace. although it was already fairly well improved when he took possession./
He is carrying on general farming and stock raising. s])ecializing in potato
growing, having had a fine field of twelve acres in tiie summer of u;]/.
In 1897, twenty miles southwest of Fargo. North Dakota, Mr. Larson
wa., married to V^ine Engen, who was born in Norway in 1871 and who
came to America when twelve years old. To this union five children have
lieen born, namely: Alma, Sophia, Victor, Henry and Banhard, all of whom
livt. at home. Mr. Larson belongs to the Sons of Norwav.
HENRY O. SKAURUD.
Henry O. Skaurud, one of Norman county's substantial farmers and
the proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred acres in Lake Ida town-
ship, where he and his family are very comfortably situated, is a native
son of Iowa, but has lived here in the f^ed River country since 1881. the
year in which Norman county became fonnally organized as a count\ . lie
was born on a farm in Winneshiek county. Iowa, not far from Decorah,
March 2, 1874, son of John O. and Martha (Monsonj Skaurud, both na-
tives of the kingdom of Norway, who were married in Iowa and whose
last days were spent on their pioneer farm in Norman county.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNB60TA. 535
John O. Skaurud came to the United States in 1848 and made his
\\ay into the Xorthwest. locating at St. Paul, which then was but a village
made up of a scattering group of log houses. For a time he was engaged
in the work of construction of the Minneapolis & Peoria railroad and then
made his way down into Iowa and settled in Winneshiek county, in the
vicinity of Decorah, and there began farming; being, at one time and an-
other during his residence in that county, the owner of three dififerent farms.
There he married .Martha ]\Ionson, who was born in Norway in 1840 and
who was thirteen \'ears of age when .she came with her parents. Mons and
Katherina Monson, to this country, the family settling in the neighborhood
of Decorah, Iowa, where Mons Monson and his wife spent the remainder
of their Ii\es. In 1879 John O. Skaurud came up here into the Red River
country and Ijought a (|uarter of a section of railroad land in what later
came to be organized as Lake Ida township, Norman county, and in i88i
moved with his family to that place, there establishing his home and de-
veloping an excellent farm. He planted a grove, erected substantial build-
ings and as he pro.spered added to his land holdings until he became the
owner of fi\e hundred and sixty acres of well-impro\ed land. On that
pioneer farm lie and his wife spent their last days, she dying at the age
of f(jrty-seven years. They were members of the Lutheran church, were
active participants in the work of organizing the Synod church at Twin
Valley and their children were reared in the faith of that church. There
were six of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
fifth in order of birtii. the others being Christian, Mary, Albert (deceased),
k'red L. and Joseph.
Kent"}' (J. Skaurud was seven years of age when his parents moved
from Iowa to Xorman county and his schooling was completed in the early
schools of this count\. When thirteen years of age he was taken into
the home of his sister at Sabin and for ten years made his residence there.
He then started farming on his own account, renting a place in Wild Rice
township after his marriage, and was thus engaged there until the spring
of igoi, when he moved to the place he now owns in Lake Ida township
and has ever since resided there. Upon taking possession of that place he
found a bare tract of land, which he has improved and brought up to a
high state of development, erecting on the same substantial l)uildings and
otherwise bringing the place up to the status of a modern, Avell-kejit farm
plant. Mr. Skaurud has increased his original holdings there to four hun-
dred acres and is doing well in his operations.
536 CLA^ AND NORMAN CCJUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
On December u, 1896, Henry O. Skaurud was united in marriage to
Nettie Erickson, wlio was hoTn in tlie neighborino- connty of Becker, a
daughter of Anton Erickson, now a resident of Lak^ bla township, Nor-
man county, and to this union have been born three ihildreu. Grace Mvrtle.
Florence Emiha and James Arthur. The Skauruds are members of tlic
Lutheran church and take a proper ])art in church work, as well as in the
general social acti\ities and good W(jrks nt the communitv in which the}'
li\e and in which the family has been honorably rci)rcsente(l since the tlavs
of the beginning of permanent settlement there.
AXUN G. A.\Di';KSO.\.
The mind of the farmer must be as well balanced as to farm affairs.
With a good mental grasj) on the situation a farmer should be enabled to
get enjoyment and much ])r()tit out of his .specirdties without interfering
with the known necessit\- for dixersilied farming. One of tiie farmers of
Goose Prairie township. Clay county, who is making a success of diversi-
fied farming is Anun G. Ander.son. who was born on l'"ebru;ir\ 4, 1858, in
Norway. He is a son of Gunder and Oslog ( Torbens<jn 1 Antlerson. both
natives of Norway, where they grew to maturity, married and estalilished
their home, but brought their family to .\merica in 1873, coming on West
to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they remained until 1881. when thev
located in Clay county, on the farm on which their son, the subject of
this sketch, now li\es. and liere these parents s])enl the rest of their lives.
However, the father never owned any land, working as a laborer all his
active life. His death occurred in 1908, at the advanced age of eighty-seven
years. The mother's death occurred in 1896, at the age of seventy-seven
years.
Eight children were born to Gunder and Oslog Anderson, namely:
Mrs. Tona Erickson, who lives on a farm in Goo.se Prairie township:
Torben, who died in Highland Grove townshi]), leaving a widow and a
large family: .Mrs. Carrie Olson, who lives on a farm in Goose Prairie
township: Mrs. Christine Storsely, who lives in the state of Washington:
Anun, the subject of this sketch : .Aslake, who is engaged in buying and
sellings hops in Silverton, Oregon; Anna, who is the wife of a farmer
and lives in Fillmore county. Minnesota, and Mrs. Anluge Torgerson, of
Moorhead, this state.
AXUX O. AXDKUSOX.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENeX
ILDEN fOCNDATIONS
CLAY AND XOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 537
Anun G. Anderson spent his boyhood in Norway, coming to America
when fifteen years old, in 1873, witli his parents, two brothers and two
sisters. He Hved in Filhnore county, this state, until 1881, when he came
with the rest of the family to Clay county. As a young man he worked
on the farm and in 1879 li^ homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres
in section 28, Goose Prairie township, later adding eighty acres in section
21 of that township, and now owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable
and well-improved farming land, on which he has been very successful,
carrying on general farming and stock raising. He has brought the land
up to a high state of cultivation during his residence here of thirty-eight
years. He made all the improvements on the place, including the erection
of suitable buildings, fences, setting out a grove, etc. ; has lived to see
the community developed from a wild, sparsely settled prairie to one of
the choice farming sections of the state and has played well his part in
this transformation. He now rents his land, but still lixes on the place.
He sells all his stock to his renter. Wheat, oats and flax are the jjrincipal
crops. Mr. .Anderson used oxen in his first farming o])erations on this
place, paying the sum of one hundred and forty-five dolku-s for a team.
Politically. Mr. Anderson is independent and has never l)een particularlv
active in public affairs, nor has he held office. He belongs to the Svnod
T.utheran church and was a trustee of the same for several vears. Mr.
.\nderson has remained unmarried.
GEORGE TOHNSON.
George Johnson, a substantial farmer and landowner and a well-known
citizen of Lake Ida township, Norman county, where he was one of the
early settlers. \\as born in Norv.'ay on June 11, 1847, the son of Jens Jorgan
and f'dsie Katherina (Olsdatter) Knutson, both natives of Norway where
the}- lived and died in the same community, the father being a farmer and
landowner. Besides George Johnson, they were parents of eight other chil-
dren, namely : Knut, Ole, .\nna, Margareta and Ole Bijou, all of whom died
in Norway : John, of Possum township, Norman county ; Jens, of Alberta,
Canada ; and Elsie Marie, who married Elwig Clausen and now lives in
Alberta, Canada.
.After George Johnson had received his education in Norway and had
.grown to maturit\ , the opportunities in the New World beckoned him to
538 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIKS, MINNESOTA.
leave the land of his birth for the conquest of new fields in America. Ac-
cordingly, in 1869, he with a party of his countrymen, in which number was
his sweetheart, came direct to Leland, Illinois, and settled in Rrwald. a
town near the aforementioned city. Soon after his arrival in l'>wald, he
married and began working on the farms of that vicinity, where finallv bv
dint of his industry he l:)ecame the owner of four acres of land, .\fter a
three-year residence in Erwald. he and his wife went to h'aribault, Rice
county, this state, where he worked at the mason's trade and at other occu-
pations for four years: but soon the call of the s<iil and the opportunitv to
become an extensive landowner .sent him with a grouj) of his neighbors and
brothers northward toward Norman county. It was in the spring of 1872
when they started in covered wagons drawn by oxen, driving their stock
before them toward the land of the Red river: and (ieorge Johnson, with
his three brothers, John Jenson, Jens Morland and Henry Benson with their
families and personal eFl'ects in three covered wagons, driving a large liuncli
<if cattle, arrixed at their destination in I'ossum township, alxjut five miks
east of Twin \ alley, after a long journe\- of three or four weeks.
Soon after Cleorge Johnson arrived in Fossuni township he pre-empted
one hundred and sixty acres of land which comprised the southwest quarter
of section _>S. and tlure he raised log buildings and lived two or three years,
at the end of which time he homesteaded the southeast (|uarler of section
i.( in Lake Ida township, where he has since lived. When Mr. Johnson ar-
rived in this coinmunity. there were very few settlers and conditions would
not have been promising except for one i)ermeated with the true pioneer
spirit, there being no roads or bridges: but Mr. Jnhnson immediately set
ai)out to improve his holding by setting out trees and raising buildings and
putting the virgin soil under cultivation. Xow he has to show for all these
years of toil one of the best improved farms in the township, where he raises
.grain, vegetables and hogs.
In 1869. the year in whicii .Mr. j(jhusi)n came to .\nierica. he married
I'.ergitta Olsdatter. wIk) was born at Hvitsol, Xorway, the daughter of Ole
Oba, who, as did al.so his wife, lived. and died in Xorway. To this union
were born the following children: Alfred, Rmma Katherina (deceased),
Karen Olena. Knut J. and Hannah Margareta (deceased).
Mr. Johnson's family are all stanch menil>ers of the Lutheran church,
five churches of which he has helped to organize since he has been in Amer-
ica, one in Rice county and four in this part of Norman county. Especially
instrumental was he in the organization of the West Wild Rice Lutheran
congregation, as he picked out the location of the church building. Mr.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.' 539
Johnson has also been active in local affairs, for he was present at the organi-
zation of Fossum and Lake Ida townships, the latter of which was named
after a little lake which lay within the territory of the township and which
was named for the first white girl born here or the first one to come here to
reside. Mr. Johnson's activity locally did not cease with the organization of
the townships, because he has ser\ed Ida Lake township as supervisor.
A. P. HEINEN.
Banking, one of the most important business and economic enterprises
of a community, is the clearing-house process of any town or community.
Throughout the portals of the bank passes the business of whatsoever na-
ture that is conducted in a progressive and up-to-date business center. The
men who have invested their capital and devote their time and best efforts
to this branch of business are entitled to the highest commendation of
the people of any section of the country. To successfully operate a bank,
any man must have special training and be possessed of the best judgment
and of the highest integrity. He is the confidential adviser of the business
community and to him are submitted many personal propositions on which
he must give his earnest and candid opinion. He must be a man who knows
human nature, apt, able and quick of comprehension. In his hands are
placed, not alone the funds of many an individual ; but to him do they look
for advice and counsel. He is the maker of loans of the funds of others
and the guardian of their all. The successful banker must be all of this
and more, for in him the community puts its trust and faith; more, perhaps,
than in any other man in the community. He knows the social standing
of the people and their ability to do things, better, in many cases, than
they do themselves. Such a man, with these qualifications, is A. P. Heinen,
the cashier of the State Bank of Lockhart. Norman county, Minnesota, who
was born in Brown county, this state, in 1892, the son of P. J. and Mar-
garet (Schwerzler) Heinen. both of whom are natives of Brown county,
Minnesota.
The paternal grandparents of A. P. Heinen were natives of Germany,
where thev received their education and grew to manhood and womanhood
and married. Early in life they decided to come to America, where many
of their friends and relatives had located, and where they felt that they
might the better have an opportunity to make a home for themselves and
540 CLAY AXIJ NOKMAN COLNTIES, MINNESOTA.
those dependent upon them. On their arrival in the United States, they at
once came to the state of Minnesota and settled in New Uhii in the early
hfties. That section of the state at that time was well on the frontier of
civilization in this country and was subject to attack by the Indians. The
Heinens were at New Ulm at the time of the general outbreak of the In-
dians in 186.2, when the entire settlement came near being destroyed. These
early arrixals in the new coiuury were among the number who assisted in
the defence of the town and surrounding country at the time. They estab-
lished their homes there and there the grandfather died, and there the
grandmother still resides at the age of eighty-seven years, and yet able to
recite many of the early adventures of herself and luisi)and in the strange
and new land. Their early life was a hard one, as is the life of all pioneers,
but they were determined to win in their struggle for a home for themselves
and their children. In later years they became iimminent and substantial
residents of the community and had much to do with the development of
that section of the country. They were eilucated and highly refined people,
whose inhuence had nnich to do with the general social and moral condition
of their home district. The maternal grandparents were also natives of
(lermany. where they too had been educated, and had later left the land of
their nativit\- to seek a houie in America. They were among the earl}^ set-
tlers of New Ulm and had much to do with the general development of that
vicinity. They \\ere a most estimable people and soon became identified
with the interests of their new home. The grandfather was drowned, many
years ago. in the ri\ er at .\'ew L'lm while getting lumber from the water.
I'. J. ,ind Margaret Heinen received their education in the schools of
iheir home county, where they grew to maturity and were later married.
The marriage ceremony was performed by I-'ather Berkholz. who had also
baptized them when they were children, blather Herkholz was a man of
more than ordinary ability and influence and had much to do with the moral
and social life of his charge. His kindly disposition and commanding man-
ner were sources of inspiration to many and he was the guiding force for
good in the new settlement. Protestant and e'atholic alike honoring and
res])ecting him. The interests of the people of New Ulm and of the sur-
rounding country were his interests, and he entered into the pleasures and
the sorrows of the pioneers with more than a passing feeling. He had much
to do with the general jirosperity and development of that section of the
state and many a man and woman who knew Father Berkholz still call him
blessed. His life was a model of Christian fortitude and of good and noble
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 54 1
deeds, and to hiin, perhaps as much as to an\- otlier man, was due the suc-
cess and prosperit}- of the new settlement.
As a young man F. J. Heinen engaged in the grain business, aiifl in
this he has successfully engager! during his life. He is now located at
Wabasso, Redwood county, ]Minnes<ita, where he and his estimable wife
reside and where they are held in high esteem. Their lives have been spent
in the state of their nativit\- and they have seen much of the wild waste of
land transformed into beautiful farms, with well-cultivated fields and splen-
did homes. Where once the primeval forests covered the territory is now
seen fields of golden grain and herds of the finest of cattle and droves of
the best of hogs. The territory, once the haunt of wild animals and the
dwelling place of the sa\age redman is today the home of a happy and
[jrosperous people. Highly developed schools and colleges now take the
place of the pinneer school held in the old log school house. Roads are
now seen where once was but a winding trail, over which the o.x-team
slowlv plodded along. Today automobiles course along the well-built roads
at the speed of a passenger train. In all this development the families of
both Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Heinen had an important part. Mr. and Mrs.
Heinen are devout members of the Catholic church and their lives are
evidence of a careful Christian training. They are the parents of two chil-
dren, the subject of this .sketch having a sister, Minnie, the wife of Val
P. Jennings.
A. P. Heinen received his education in the schools of Comfrey and in
the high school at Springfield, Minnesota. After completing his work in
the high school he entered a drug store, where he remained for three years
as a clerk. He then entered the business college at Mankato, Minnesota,
where he completed the commercial course. Thus equipped, he then entered
the State P.ank of Felton, as assistant cashier, and after two months in that
institution was promoted to the teller's window. He later became teller
at the First National Bank at Ada, Minnesota, where he remained for three
and a half years, at the end of which time he assisted in the organization
of the First State Bank of Lockhart, which was opened for business on
.\ugu.st ]. 1915. At a meeting of the board of directors Mr. Heinen was
selected for the important and responsible position of cashier, which posi-
tion he now holds. This bank, in addition to doing a general banking busi-
ness, is also engaged in the real-estate business. As cashier of the new
institution. Mr. Heinen has met with a marked degree of success and has
won the confidence and respect of the entire community by reason of his
54^ CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
courteous attention to the patrons of the bank, and his business-Hke methods.
Under his guiding hand the institution has shown a marked increase of busi-
ness, and is today recognized as one of the substantial business institutions of
tlie county.
On Jul)- 7, 191 3. A. P. Heinen was united in marriage to Julia Remark,
of Ada. Minnesota, the daughter of Andrew Remark and wife, prominent
people of that community. Mrs. Heinen received her education in the schools
of her liome town and is a woman of refinement and culture. Mr. and
Mrs. Heinen are the parents of two children. Marvel and Howard.
Mr. Heinen is chairman of the sch(«l board of T,ockhart and is an
ardent adx'ocate of good schools, it being due to liim, prol)al)ly more tliaii
to anyone else, that the recent consolidation of schools in that district
was effected, thus giving to Lockhart a system of schools second to none
in the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Heinen are ])rominent in the social
life of tlie town and have manv friends there.
EMU. [^.AUER.
Kniil liauer, well-known farmer and stockman, owner of a compact
farm of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Pleasant View town-
ship, Norman county, was born in the state of Indiana, in the city of Evans-
ville, in i8(>4, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was ten years
old. He is a son of Ceaunsandt Bauer and wife, who came to the state of
Minnesota in an early day.
Ceaunsandt Bauer, father of the subject of this sketch, lived in Evans-
ville, Indiana, for a considerable period, working at his trade as a carpenter,
following the same occupation when he went to reside at Red Wing, this
state. .\t the latter place he also Ijecame the owner of a tract of land, which
was sold sul)secjuently. He died about 1875, at the age of forty-two years.
His widow died in 1880, at the age of fifty-two years. They were the parents
of the following children : .\lbert, deceased ; Ben, who is married and lives
in Alinneapolis; Yetta, deceased: Lizzie, who is married and lives in Wis-
consin; George C, referred to in another part of this volume, and Emil, the
subject of this sketch.
Emil Bauer was educated in the schools at Red Wing, this state, and was
reared on his father's place, working at farm labor for some time. In 1880
he moved to Norman county and continued farming work. In 1889 he ac-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 545
((uired a holding of his own and is now the owner <jf one hundred and sixty
acres of choice hind in section 16, Pleasant View township. He immediately
set to work to improve thi'- place, fenced it and erected outhuildings of a sub-
stantial character, and is actively engaged in general farming and stock
raising, the stock being of high grade, and he is generally recognized as one
of the well-todo farmers in this part of the township. His farm plant is oi
the most modern character and includes a tractor. .\ number of fine horses
are to be found on the farm and a blooded bull is among the stock.
In 1894 Emil Bauer was united in marriage to Frances Mackel. who was
born in 1875 at Red Wing, this state, and whose jjarents are deceased. To
this uni(jn the following children ha\e been Ijorn ; Winifred, living at home;
Mrs. Florence Trichel, living north of her father's place, and Alice, Bertha,
Helen and Irene, all at home. The Bauer family are members of the Ger-
man Lutheran church, of which congregation Mr. Bauer was for some years
an ofificer. He is now treasurer of the school boarfl and has served as a mem-
ber of the board for many years, his interest in educational matters being'
the sul>ject of praisewortln- comment in the community in which he has re-
sided almost fort\- years.
HENRN' DAHL.
Henry Dahl, one of the well-known and substantial farmers of Shelly
township, Norman county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has
been a resident of this country since he was fourteen years of age. He was
born on .Vpril i, 1861, son of Iver and Bertha ( Steelin ) Dahl, both also
natives of. that country, who spent all their lives there, her Dahl was a
farmer and fisherman., his home having been Ity the sea. He and his wife
were the parents of eight children, Cornelius, Bertha. Henry. Gina. Andreas.
Iver. Rasmus, and Anne. Cornelius Dahl was a contractor and captain of a
sailing vessel in Norway. Bertha Gurina is still living in her native lanil
and is now a widow.
When he was fourteen years "of age Henry Dahl was Ijrought to this
country by kinsmen and before coming to Minnesota worked on farms in
Illinois and in Iowa. For seven years also he was engaged in driving a mail
route. About 1887 he came to Minnesota and has ever since been a resident
of the Red River country, long having been the owner of the farm on which
he is now living in Shelly township. In 1889. in Traill county. Nortli
544 < l.AV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, AIINNESOTA.
Dakota, just before that then territory was admitted to statehood, he mar-
ried Lena Hatige and later estabhslied his !iome in Xorman county, where
he ever since has resided and where he and iiis family are very comfortahlx-
situated. In addition to his general farniin<;; he has given considerable .itten-
tioti to the raising of Holstein cattle and has done well in his operation-^.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dahl three children have been born. One daughier.
Bertina, died when she was fifteen years of age. 'I'wo sons. Ilartvig and
Edwin, both are at home, valued assistants in the labors of the home farm.
Mr. Dahl also has a step-daughter. Airs. A. R. Laurie, who li\es now in
Montana.
AUGUST MAAS.
Among the worth}- natives of (jermany wiio settled in liiis country was
the late August Maas, who was born on April 2. 1857. He received his
education in the land of his nativity and, after reaching his maturitv, de-
cided to come to America, where he felt there was a better opportunity
for the young man without financial backing. On his arrival in this countr\ ,
in 1879, he located near \iii(\ Wing, Minnesota, where he worked until
i<S<Si, when he came to Xorman county, and here worked on the I.ockhart
farm for a time. In 1886 he established a general store at Rolette, one
and a half miles north of Lockhart. His was the only store that was
ever there, and he was also the postmaster of the place. He remained in
business there until 1901 and met with a large degree <if success. In the
fall of that year he moved to Lockhart and there established a general store,
which he oi)erated until the time of his deadi on January 15, 1915.
In addition to attending to his business duties. Mr. .Maas took much
interest in the affairs of his home town, and being a man of education, abilitx
and excellent judgment, his advice and counsel were often sought on mat-
ters that pertained to the welfare of the community in which he lived, and
with which he had so much to do and in which he took so much interest.
Few men in the district were better able to cojie with the matters pertaining
to the interests of the public than was Mr. Maas. His earlv training, his
education and his lifelong interest in public affairs made him a leader and
an ad\iser. in whom all had the greatest confidence and respect. He was
a hard worker and one who paid strict attention to his business affairs and
the affairs of the public while holding the offices to which the people had
elected him. He gaAC the same careful care and attention to his official acts
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 545
that he gave to his own business, feeHng that to the public he owed a duty
that could only be fulfilled by giving his best efforts.
.August Maas and wife were the parents of two children. Carl F. and
Olive A. Mrs. Maas was a most estimable woman, who was held in the
highest regard and esteem by her associates and those who knew her. Her
death occurred on August 13, 1914, five months before that of her husband.
She was a devoted mother and a loving wife, whose only thought was of
the happiness of her home and the good that she might do to others. Mrs.
Maas was a devout member of the Catholic church and reared her family
in the faith of that denomination, her life ha\ing been lived in the true
Christian spirit and in well-doing.
Olive A. Maas received her education in the home schools and now
lives in Lockhart, where she has many friends who appreciate her pleasing
manners and womanly traits. Carl F. Maas also received his education
in the schools of Xorman county and in the business college at Grand Forks.
After completing his schooling he returned to his home town and entered
into business with his father, and since the latter's death he has conducted
the extensive business with much success. On March 23, 1914, he was
appointed postmaster of his home town and has since filled that position with
much ability. In his store he has a large and complete line of groceries,
hardware and implements. On May i, 1916, Mr. Maas was "united in
marriage to Anna Schmitz, of Grand Forks, North Dakota. She, as well
as her husband, is an active member of the Catholic church at Ada and both
are active in the social life of the community.
OLE L. GARDEN.
Ole L. Garden, one of the l)est known and largest landholders of Bear
Park township. Norman county, where he is the owner and operator of six
hundred and eighty acres of excellent land and where he is closely connected
with the religious, educational and co-operative business interests of the com-
munity in which he has lived ever since he came to this county, was born in
Norway. September 5. 1841, a son of Lars and Regena (Kjolseth) Garden.
They were both natives of Norway, where they grew to maturity, married
and reared their children. They immigrated to America in 1870 and first
located in St. Peter, Nicollet county, Minnesota, where the father's death
(35a)
546 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
occtirretl. Tliere he worked on the raih-oad, rented land for farming and
(Hd anything he conld find to do. After his death, his widow came with lier
son, Ole L., to Norman count}', Minnesota, where she took a homestead of
one hundred and sixty acres in Waukon township, in 1878. She hved here
for a time and later she died at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Ole Ottes.
in Polk county, this state. The old homestead, which the mother took, is
now occupied by her son, John Garden. She and her husband, Lars Garden,
were the parents of four children, all of whom are still living: John, Ole.
Martha, the wife of Torger Havelson, and Lena, who married Ole Ottes.
Ole I.. Garden acquired his early education in the schools of Norway,
and in that countrx he remained until he reached the age of twenty-eight
vears. At that time he decided that America held for him the long-awaited
opportunity to become the holder of considerable land, .\ccordingly, he im-
migrated to this country in 1869 and settled at St. Peter, Nicollet county.
.Minnesota, where he remained until 1878. In that year he joined a small
party of settlers whose destination was the same as his and. driying his
plodding oxen, which he had yoked to his covered wagon, he arrived in Nor-
man county after a tiresome journey of live weeks. On June 16 of that
vear he located on his present farm in P.ear Park town.ship. He immediately
filed a honK>lead claim for the (me hundred and sixt)' acres, which has con-
tinued to -be his home since. .Mr. Ganlen's farming (iperations have been
very successful and he has, from time to time, been enabled to add to his
holdings until now he is the owner of six hundred and eighty acres, all im-
proved with fine buildings and a comfortable farm house. Here he carries
I in a scientific form of diversifieil agriculture.
On Jul) 3. 1871, seven years before he came northward into Norman
county. Mr. (jarden married, at St. Peter. Nicollet county, Marie O. Dahl.
who was born in Norwa\ , .August 13, 1846, "a daughter c)f Ole and Kary
Dahl. the former of whom is a brother of Nils O. Dahl. mentioned else-
where in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Garden are the parents of seven chil-
dren, namely: Lewis. Christina. I-iegena, Olaf. John, Osvold ;ind Martin.
Mr. and Mrs. Garden are active in the church work of the community,
being members of the St. Peter Lutheran church of Strand township. The
former helped to organize this congregation before it had a church edifice,
meetings being held in the homes of the members and in school houses. Later,
the church was permanently located where it still stands in Strand township.
Mr. Garden has always been a prominent participant in the civil and com-
mon business affairs of the community. He was a meml^er of the meeting
convened for the purpose of organizing Bear Park township into a civil unit
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. t;47
of the county. He has held seyeral local offices of trust, being for many
years township supervisor, treasurer of the township for some years and
school treasurer for eighteen years. He was a member of the first township
board. He was a leading spirit in the organization of the Farmers Elevator
Company at Gary and also heijjed establish the Bear Park Mercantile Com-
pany.
Osvold Garden, a son of. Ole L. Garden, the subject of this review, was
born on the home place, where he now lives, December i6, 1881. He received
his formal educaticjn in the local public schools and has alwavs lived on the
home place. Here he carries on general farming, and has important inter-
ests in the co-operative business agencies of this locality, being a stockholder
in three stores, the Waukon. Bear Park and Sundahl mercantile companies.
FRED L. SKAURUD.
Fred L. Skaurud, one of Norman county's most progressive farmers and
stockmen and the proprietor of a fine farm in the township of Lake Ida,
was born on a farm in Winneshiek county, Iowa, but has been a resident of
Xorman county since he was thirteen years of age, having come here with
his parents in 1881, and therefore very properly may lie accounted one of the
real pioneers of the county. He was born on May 10. 1868, son of John O.
and Martha (Monson) Skaurud, natives of Norway, who were married in
Iowa and who became pioneers of Norman county in 1881, settling on a
(juarter of a section of land in Lake Ida township which Mr. Skaurud had
bought in 1879, a part of the place now owned by the subject of this sketch,
who has resided there ever since he came to the Red River country with his
parents in 188 1, the year in which Norman county became a separate civic
unit. On another page in this volume there is set out at some length the
story of the coming of John O. Skaurud and family to Minnesota and that
story need not be repeated in this connection, the reader being respectfullv
invited to refer to the same fnr further jiarticulars of a genealogical nature
relating to the Skauruds.
.\s noted above, I*"red L. Skaurud, the second of the surviving sons of
John O. Skaurud and wife, was but thirteen years of age when he came up
into this part of the countrv with his parents and his schooling was com-
])leted in the earlv schools establisherl in the neighborhood of the Skaurud
home in Lake Ida township. After his father's death he continued the man-
J48 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
agenient of the home farm and in time Ijecame the (jwner of tlie same. .\s
time passed and as he prospered in his operations he further improved the
place, hringing it up to modern requirements, erected new and excellent
Iniildings, installed a waterworks and electric-light plant and in other ways
improved the place until he now has one of the hest farm plants in the county.
1m )r the past twenty years Mr. Skaurud has made a specialty of the hreeding
of Percheron horses and in that connection has done much to improve the
strain of draft animals throughout this part of the state. For the past ten
years or more he also has given nuich attention to the raising of Shorthorn
cattle and has a fine herd, while for the past five years he has gone in also
rather heavily for Poland China swine and has done well in that line. For
nearly thirty \ears Mr. Skaurud has heen a member of the local school
hoard, witli brief intermissions of service, and also was treasurer of his home
township for some time. In the general business affairs of the community
he also has taken an active and influential interest, helped organize the Lake
Ida harmers Telephone Company, in which he still is a stockholder; helped
organize the Twin \alle\ Creamery Association, in which he also is a stock-
holder, and is interested in the iupiity packing plant at I"'argo and in the
Equity Co-operative Exchange at St. Paul. He and his family are members
of the Lutheran church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as
in the general good works and social activities of the community of which
the\- iiave been a part since pioneer days.
On October 26, 1889, Fred I-. Skaurud was united in marriage to Eliza
Erickson, daughter of Anton and Goro (Anderson) Erickson, pioneers of
this part of Minnesota, and to this union have been Iwrn ten children, all of
whom are living, namely: Minnie, wife of Henry Lein; Mary, wife of Ole
M. Undeland, and Francis, lunnia. Anton. Ruby, .\lbert. Freddie, Martin
and Adaline, who are at home.
Anton Erickson, father of Mrs. Skaurud. is a native of Norway, as is
his wife. He married in 1864 and in 1868 came to this country and settled
in Rice county, this state, where he remained until 1874. in which year he
moved up here into the Red River country and became one of the first settlers
in the Swedish Grove settlement, taking there a quarter-section homestead.
In 1882 he bought a tract of forty acres in Lake Ida township. Norman
countv, and two years later moved onto this latter place, where he and his
wife are still living. To that original "forty" Mr. Erickson later added an
adjoining tract of one hundred and twenty acres and is now the owner of a
well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is being farmed
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 549
by his youngest son, Peter. Mr. and Mrs. F.rickson have nine children,
namely: Jensena, wife of Ed. Evans; Adolph, of Greenbush, this state; An-
drew, of Uphani, North Dakota; Mary, wife of Erick Erickson; Eliza, wife
of Mr. Skaurud: Ida, wife of John J. Lindback; Nettie, wife of Henry O.
Skaurud; Gilbert, of Upham, North Dakota, and Peter, who is iarm'm^ the
home place.
FREDERICK F. TUFTE.
I'Vederick F. Tiifte. who came to this country with no capital except
rugged health and the determination to make good in tliis new land, and is
now the proprietor of two hundred acres of fine farming land in Mary town-
ship, Norman county, where he lives, was born in Norway, July 17, 1863.
a son of Frederick and Maren ( Ramners) Tufte. both natives of Norway,
where they spent their entire lives. The father was liorn in 1824 and died
seven years ago at the rijie old age of eighty-six years, and the mother was
born in 183 1 and is now living in her native land, at the advanced age of
eighty-six. The senior Frederick Tufte and his wife were the parents of ten
children, namely: John, Mathew and Jens, deceased; Selma, who is married
and is living in Norway: Frederick, the subject oi this review; Hans, who
is married and rents land in Mary townshi]). Norman county; Ole, who is
working in Oregon; Marline, who is residing in Norway: Invalg, who is
living in Norway on the old home place, and Ludwig, who is living in
Canada.
Reared on the old home place in his native land across the Atlantic,
l^rederick V. Tufte received his early education in the common schools of
Norway. After he had reached the age of twenty-two years, he decided to
leave tlie home of his fathers and come to ./\merica where lie could give full
play to his bounding aml)ition. Accordingly, in the year 1885, he landed at
New York City alone and there soon found employment as a sailor in the
coastwise trade. In the following year he came to Minnesota, where lie
worked as a farm hand in the neighborhood of Ada, Norman county, for a
period of five vears, after which period he returned to Norway to claim his
1)ride. Tmmefliately after his marriage he returned to .\merica. bought prop-
erty in Ada, where he did teaming and worked on the railroad for seven
years. By this time he had acquired enough capital and liad chosen this sec-
tion of the country as the site of his farming operations, hence he and his
family moved out to the farm which he owns at present in Mary township.
550 CLAV AND NOKMAX COUXTIKS, M 1 X N'KSOTA.
renting the same for seven years. At the end of this time he decided tliat tliis
tract of land was suited for liis farming purposes and he Ixiught it. after
selling his property in Ada. Here he has improved the land, erecting new
huildings and improving the old ones until he has one ol the best farming
plants in the neighborhood.
It was on March 26th. iHgi. when .Mr. Tuftc was united in marriage
to Tora Bey after he had returned to his native laml. and to his union one
child was born, a son, Harold, who is married and is living in section 9, on
land which he rents from Nels Hagen. Tora (Bey) Tufte was born in Xor-
wav. May 18. 1867, a daughter of Olans Berg. Sometime after her death at
.\da on ."Xpril 6, 1898. Mr. Tuftc was married to .\nna Krohsus. who was
born in Minnesota, November 22, 1875. a daughter of Halvor .\nderson.
whose biography appears on another page. By his second wife, Mr. Tufte
was the father of six children, namely : Frederick, at home : Herbert, living
with his half-brother. Harold; Clara. Martin. Hans and Merkle. all at home.
On October 16. 1914. occurred the death of Mr. Tufte's second wife and
since that time he has remained on the home place with his children. He is a
devoted member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and in this faith he has
reared his children. Mr. Tufte is a member of the Nonpartisan League, and
although he takes a deep interest in the civic afifairs of his community, he has
nc\er sought office.
S. P. ANDERSON.
The Anderson family, of which S. P. .\nderson, well-known farmer and
business man of Tansem township. Clay county, is a most creditable repre-
sentative, has been one of the influential and highly esteemed families in CAzy
county for a number of decades, and their commendable record is worthy of a
place within these pages.
The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch, was born
in Winneshiek count) . Iowa. December 28. 1870. He is a son of Brede and
Ellen iMartha ( Berri ) .\nderson Stromnes. both natives of Norway, where
' they grew up. married and made their home until 1868. when they came to
America and located in \\'inne.shiek county. Iowa. In 1872 they made the
overland trip from there to Clay county, Minnesota, with an ox team and
covered wagon, the trip requiring three weeks. They located in section 8.
Tansem township, and there pre-empted forty acres and homesteaded one
hundred and si.xtv acres. They developed a good farm there by hard work
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
.■).■)'
and perseverance. The mother's death occurred on the home place there in
IQ03. The father returned to Norway in 1910 and is still living- there. He
hecanie the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, on which
he put the first buildings. He helped organize the township of Tansem, also
helped organize the Grong Lutheran church, was at one time township super-
visor, and was one of the useful and influential men in his locality during his
residence here. He became the father of eleven children, the first two of
whom born in Norway, the next two in Iowa, and the others on the home-
stead in Tansem town.ship, namely: Brent Edvin, Andrew, Erick (deceased),
Solomon Peter, Albert Julius, Marie (deceased), John August, Emma,
Petra Marie (deceased), Elias and Tideman (deceased).
S. P. Anderson was two years old when his parents brought him to
Clay county and he grew to manhood here on the home farm. He received
his education in the rural schools of Tansem township, then studied one year
at Hope Academy at Moorhead and two years at Concordia College in that
city. After leaving school he located on the farm on which he still resides in
Tansem township. In 1902 he went to North Dakota and took up a home-
stead of one hundred and sixty acres, but he changed the homestead to a
]jre-emption title and, after residing on his land eighteen luonths, returned
t(i (.'lay county and now owns a well-improved and valuable farm of two
hundred and forty acres in Tansem township. He has put on all the im-
j)rovements himself. He has a large, comfortaltle farm house and a splendid
group of outbuildings. He raises a large quantity of grain, much of which
he feeds to live stock. He is a breeder of full-blooded Red Polled cattle.
Mr. Anderson is one of the substantial men of Tansem township and
besides his large farming business he is interested in various industries. He
assisted in organizing the Farmers Elevator Company of Barnesville, of
whicii he is now president. He also helped organize the Barnesville Co-
oj^erative C'reamery Company, of which he is now secretary. He has been
interested in its success, as he is in all co-operative efforts among farmers,
and does his best, in a small way, that the\- may become successes. He also
assisted in organizing the Rollag Telephone Company and was secretary of
the same during the first five years of its existence. He has just retired from
the presidencv of the Park Mutual h'ire Insurance Company, which ofifice he
held for fourteen vears. He has been a stockholder in the last two compa-
nies and has done much to make them what they are today.
Mr. .Anderson was married in 1899 to Marie Erickson, who was born
Mil the Hanson homestead in Tansem township, where she grew to woman-
55-^ CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
hood, receiving her education in the local puhlic schools. She is a daughter
of Erick Hanson, who was one of the early settlers in Tansem town.ship,
where he honiesteaded land and where he l:)ecame very comfortably estab-
lished thrinigh his industry. The following children lia\e lieen born to Mr.
and Mrs. .Vnderson : Ellen Martha, Edgar Berge and Alfred Nordal. Mr.
Anderson is a member of the Xon- Partisan League. He has served as justice
of the peace and also as township assessor, filling both offices in an able, faith-
ful and highly acceptable manner. He belongs to the Rnllag Lutheran church
at Rollag.
J(}hn A. Anderson, brother of the subject nt this sketch, although not
now at present a resident of Clay county, is deserving of mention in these
pages. He is one of the successful scientists of the West. He was educated
in Concordia College at Moorhead, later attended the State Normal School
in that city and later was a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School
(now the University of Valparaiso). He then took a course in Johns Hop-
kins University, Baltimore, Maryland, from which he received the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy, specializing in astronomy and i)hvsics. He became
widely known as an expert in these branches and for some time was head of
the dej)artment of these sciences in Johns Hopkins University, and is now
employed at the Wilson Solar Observatory at Pasadena. California'.
NELS BECKMAN BAGNE.
The kingdom of Norway has given to Norman county, Minnesota,
some splendid men and women who have had much to do with the social,
religious, financial and civic life of the state as well as the county. To the
sturdy Norwegians who have left their native land and e.stablished their
homes in a new land and amid new conditions and among str;inge pe<)])le. is
due much honor for the success that they have attained. They have jjlaved
a conspicuous role and have had a large jiart in the development of the
great state of Minnesota. The examples of their thrift and energy, the
sturdiness of their race and the fervor of their religious belief, have been
beneficially scattered throughout the state, whose growth and development
are marvels. Among the worthy sons of Norway who represent those ele-
ments in the industrial and "financial life of Norman countv that count for
high purpose and great achievement, is Nels Beckman Bagne, cashier of
the First State Bank of Gary.
iin. AND MRS. XKI.S I!. IIACJXF,.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNl^SOTA. 553
Xels Beckiiian Bagne was born on May 14, uSiSo, tlie son of Knut and
Gjertina Bagne, who were also natives of Norway and were there educated
in the public schools, grew to manhood and wnmanhood and were there
married. For some years after their marriage they continued to live in the
land of their nativity, but being of a progressive and energetic class, their
fondest hopes were liased on the jrassession of a substantial hoiue for them-
selves and those dependent upon them, and in the year 1881 they decided
that they would lea^•e the land where the\- had spent so many happy years
and seek a home in faraway America. On their arrival in the United
States in June, 1881, they at once ])roceeded on out to .Mimiesota and
remained for a few months at .\da, after which they moved to Heiberg,
also in Norman county, where Mr. liagne was employed in the mills for
two years. Having by this time become acquainted with conditions in tlie
country, Mr. Bagne iire-empted one hundred and si.xty acres of land twi>
miles west of the village of Gary, which he developed and improved and
there remained engaged in general farming until IcSqO. He then moved to
Waukon township, eight miles east of Gary, where he successfully engaged
in farming until 1903, in which year lie and Mrs. Bagne mo\ed to Vern-
dale, Minnesota, where Mr, league engaged in the Hour-milling business
for about three years, at the end of which time he disposetl of the mill
property and located at Mahnomen, countv seat of the adjoining countv of
that name, where he is engaged in the meat business.
To Knut and (jjertina Bagne the following children have been born :
Sever. Nels, Alfred, Gena. William, John, Anna, an infant, Martha, Sarah,
Clara and Joseph, all of whom are still living with the exceptions of Sever
and the infant. Martha and Sarah are twins. Mr. and Mrs. Bagne are
acti\e members of the Lutheran church and have ever taken much interest
in all religious work. They are a most estimable couple and because of
their sterling worth and pleasing personalities they have won for themselves
manv friends who hold them in the highest regard and esteem. Their lives
have been active ones and they have devoted their best efforts to the inter-
ests of their family and the commimities in which they have lived. Mr. Bagne
has always taken an interest in the civic life of his home community and
while he has not been a seeker after office his best efforts have been exerted
in behalf of the selection of the best men to administer the affairs of the
public, and is todav recognized as one of the prominent and substantial men
of his home city.
Nels Beckman Bagne received his schooling in the schools of Norman
countv and was reared on the home farm. He early engaged in teaching
c;54 CI.AV AND NOR^rAN COUNTIES, M I NNESOTA.
in his home county and for seven years was one of the most successful
teachers in this section of the state. FeeHng the dignity of his calHng and
tlie need of his service to the county, he gave liis best efforts to his work.
His success as a teacher attracted the attention of llie officials of the First
Slate Bank of Gary to his excellent work and in 1907 he entered that insti-
tution as assistant cashier. In 1913 he became cashier of the bank, which
position he now holds. His business-like management of the bank and In--
courteous treatment of the general jniblic have won for him tlie confidence
and praise of the people of the county, in addition to hi,s duties as cashier
(if the bank, Mr. Piagne is also treasurer of the (lary Creamery Company,
treasurer of the I'eoples Supply Couijjany and treasurer of the Gary Tele-
phone Company. His interest in tlie civic life of the town won for him the
ofhce of treasurer of the village and in this official capacity he is giving
the people a splendid administration. Mr. Bagne"s life is a busy one, yet
he finds time to give the closest care and attention to all the duties that
have been imposed upon him. He is conscious of the honor and trust that
have been given him and feels that his l^est efforts should be given in
return. To him is due much of the fine financial spirit of the town, and
his best efforts are e\er directed toward a better and lar,ger Gary. Local
civic pride has been strengthened by his activities and today the schools,
churches, business institutions and public improvements of Can,' are second
to none, for a place of its size in this part of the state.
On May 14. 191 3. Xels Beckman Bagne was united in marriage to
I'ella Georgina Knutson and to this union two children ha\e been born.
.\nlith Geraldine and Kermit Kasson. Mr. and Mrs. Bagne are prominent
members of the L'nited Lutheran church and are liberal subscribers to the
support of the local society. They have long been active in the social lifi'
of the communit\- and are held in the highest regard bv all.
REIXFLART W. WTLKl.XS.
One of the native sons of Xornian county, who have met with success
in their chosen profession and have won- distinction in the local business
\\(irld. is Reinhart W. W'ilkins. a well-known grain buyer of Lockhart, who
was ijorn in Pleasant township. Xorman countv. in 1885. the son of William
and Augusta ( Treichel ) W'ilkins. who were born in Germany and who came
to the United States as young man and woman and settled in Goodhue
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 555
county, Minnesota. There they were married and estalilislied their Ixjiiie in
the new land. They remained in Goodhue county until the year 1881, when
they came to Norman county, Ijeing among the first settlers on the hroad
prairies and wooded tracts. The}' knew that tlie life would be a hard one,
yet they were determined to olitain a home fi>r themsehes in the rich farm-
ing and grazing country. Mr. Wilkinson honiesteaded one hundred and si.xty
acres of land and built a small house in which the famil\- li\ed for a num-
ber of years. The place was in time developed and improved and what was
once a useless waste was transformed into a highly cultivated tract, where
grows the golden grain and where roam herds of the finest of cattle and
droves of splendid hogs. All this required much work and patience, but with
it all came success and the knowledge that much had been accomjjlished.
As he prospered, Mr. Wilkins made many substantial improvements to the
farm and added to the original tract eighty acres, making him an ideal farm
of two hundred and fort}- acres, where he and his wife still reside, enju}'ing
many of the comforts of life to which their hard work and econom\- have en-
titled them.
In their struggle for a home in a new land and among strangers and
amid new conditions, William and Augusta Wilkins, were never forgetful
of their duty to society and their church, h'rom childhood they were reared
in the faith of the Lutheran church and in their new home they were faithful
to the teachings of their youth. From the time of their entry into the life of
the county they were ever solicitous regarding the establishment of good
schools and churches, wherein their children might be educated and worship
God. They were energetic, frugal and industrious and early entered into the
spirit of their adopted country, becoming patriotic and highly respected resi-
dents of Norman county. They are the parents of seven children, namely:
Bertha, Reinhart W., John, Anna, Tena, Fred and Lillian.
Reinhart W. Wilkins received his education in the public schcjols of his
home county and was reared on the home farm. He remained at home until
he reached manhood and for two years engaged in general farming. His
desire from boyhood had been for a business career and' when the opportu-
nity presented itself for him to take charge of the elevator at Hadler he
accepted it. He remained there for two years and met with much success,
becoming thoroughlv conversant with the management of the business. In
1914 he moved to Lockhart to become manager of the St. .\nthon\- & North
T3akota Elevator Company and still holds that position.
Tn the same year in which he moved to Lockhart, R. W. Wilkins was
united in marriage to Ottela Bartz, daughter of Julius Bartz and wife, prom-
-56 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
iiient people of the county. Mr. and Mrs. W'ilkins are active members of the
Lutlieran church and take a deep interest in the social, religious and educa-
tional life of the town, where they are held in high regard and esteem. Mr.
Wilkins has always taken a keen interest in the civic life of his home commu-
nity, as has his father, who has served as assessor for many years, and has
given efficient service on the school hoard. R. W. Wilkins is now a memljer
of the local school hoar<l and is one of the progressive and prominent mem-
bers. To him is due much of the credit for the establishment of the consoli-
dated high .school and for the erection of the .splendid modern building which
is the pride of the town and the surrounding country.
OSCAR STADUM.
One of the most progressive and promising of the younger farmers of
Clay county is Oscar Stadum, of Tansem township, who has been con-
tenled to remain "under the roof that heard his earliest cry," which the poet
Tennyson says is a privilege that we should all highly appreciate, for there
are pleasures about the old home place that we canncjt find elsewhere in
the world.
Mr. Stadum was born on the farm on which he now lives in Tansem
hnvnshi]). Clay count). .August 23. 1888. He is a son of .\ndre\v and Marie
( liin eland) .Stadum. both natives of Norway. The father came to America
when voung in vears and locateil in Fillmore county, Minnesota, his parents
accompanving him. Marie Hoveland was also young when her parents
lirought her t(^ .\merica, the family locating in Iowa, later removing to
Otter Tail county. ^Minnesota, where her parents still reside. The Stadum
family removed from l-'illmore county to Clay county, the parents locating
on the farm which is now owned by their grandson. Oscar, the subject
of this sketch, and here they spent the rest of their lives, dying many years
ago. Andrew Stadum helped develop this farm and here he spent the rest
of his life, dying some time ago. He was the father of two children,
Matilda and Oscar. After his death his widow remarried, her last husband
lieing Ole Stoen. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Peter and Marin Stadum. the paternal grandparents of the subject of
this sketch, were natives of Norway, where they resided until about 1875.
when they brought their family to Minnesota. They remained about two
vears in Fillmore countv. then came to the farm of one hundred and sixty
CLAY AND NOKMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 557
acres which the subject of this review is now occupying. Thev developed
the land from the wild prairie to a good farm, erected buildings and set out
a large grove. Peter Stadum helped organize the local Norwegian Lutheran
church.
Ole and Anna Hoveiand, the maternal grandparents of the subject of
this sketch, were natives of Norway, where they grew up and were marriefl.
They came to America in the seventies and after spending a few years in
Iowa came to Minnesota, locating in Trondhjem township, Otter Tail county,
where they took up a homestead etnbracing a quarter section, and there Mr.
Hoveiand died. His widow is still living in that township. They were
parents of fourteen cliildren. They helped organize the Norwegian T.uth-
eraii church there.
Oscar Stadum grew to manhood on the home farm where he has always
lived. When he became of proper age he assisted with the general work
on the farm during the crop seasons, in the winter time attending the district
scliools. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres and he has
kept the same under a fine state of cultivation and improvement, carrying
on general and mixed farming, raising grain and live stock for the markets.
In 191 2 Oscar Stadum was married to Ella Solum, who was born in
Norway. She is a daughter of Hans Hendricksnn and wife, natives of
Norway, froiu whicii country they came to Minnesota when their daughter
Rlla was a child, and settled in Tansem township. Clay county. Ella later
became the adopted daughter of Ole H. Solum, a biographical sketch of
whom appears on another page of this work. Three children have been
born to Oscar Stadum and wife, namely: Arnold, Margaret and Stella.
Mr. Stadum is a Republican and is clerk of the school Ixjard in his district
at this writing. He belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church.
OLE JENSON OLIN.
Before settling down to the orderly life of a farmer, Ole Jenson Olin
had a varied career at various occupations in several states, inckuling Illinois,
Iowa, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Montana, and this notwithstanding that
lie is a native-born Swede, but has been a resident of the United States since
he was twentv-one years of age. Mr. Olin was born in the kingdom of
Sweden on February 8, 1862, a son of Jens and Buel (Han.son) Olson, both
born in that same coimtry, where they spent all their lives and where Jens
5^8 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Olson was a farmer during his active life. They were the parents of the
foUowini^ children; .\nders, Marie, Ole J., Hans and l^lna, all of whom are
livin.t^', and two other children who died young.
Ole J. Olin was educated in the schools of Sweden and was reared on
his father's farm, where he assisted in the work of cultivating the land until
he was twenty years of age, when, in 1S83. he decided to seek his fortune in
the United States. On his arrival in this country he proceeded directly to
Xaporsetii, Illinois, and worked in that place for four months at harness-
making, which trade he hail learned in Sweden, lie .also had learned the
shoe-making trade. He then moved to Geno, Nehraska, and worked durin.g
two summers at railroad construction. Heathen went with three companions
to Siou.x City, Iowa, driving their mules to that city and selling them there.
His next mo\e was U> (ilvndnn. Minnesota, to visit his hrother, Andrew; fol-
lowing which he went to .\da, where he worked on farms and on the river in
Lake Ida township, remaining in that place for two years. He then crossed
to South Dakota and worked at railroad grading, .going thence to Black
l\i\er. Wisconsin, antl worked hauling logs in the lumher woods. The next
move was to Minot. Xorth Dakota, where he worked on the construction of
the Great Northern railroad, and from .Minot he proceeded to (ireat l'"alls,
Montana, linaJK returning to Benson, Minnesota, and worked near that jilace
on railroad construction.
hinallv, Mr. Olin came hack to Norman county, where he had a few
years jirevioush' hought one hundred and sixty acres of land, and com-
menced to farm. Later he rented a tract of land near his one hundred and
sixty acre farm and lived <in the rented land. He then huilt a dwelling house
and has since resided here. He is now the owner of four hundred and eighty
acres of jirime land and is engaged in general farming, meeting with much
success. He has put up some tine huildings on the iiome place and has laid
out a grove, whicli enhances the value and appearance of the holding to a
consideral)le extent. He is also the owner of one hundred and sixty acres
near W'healville and is regarded as one of the suhstantial and progressive
farmers of tlie district.
About 1891 Ole J. Olin was united in marriage to Mamie Hopkins, who
was horn in AMsconsin, a daughter of Frank Hopkins and wife. Mr. and
]\Irs. Olin are the parents of the following children : Ray, who is now serv-
ing in the United States navy ; Jay, al.so in the United States navy : Russell,
serving in the marines, and Lawrence, Irene, Ellen, Ellis and Elsie, who are
at home with their parents. Mr. Olin is a member of the Lutheran church
and his wife is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Olin formerly
CLAY A\n XIJkMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. c;59
served on the school board. In April. 1914, he made a trip to his old hdine
in Sweden and spent three months in that country, returning on the "Mauri-
tania," which was the last I)oat to leave England before the outbreak of the
European war.
ALB[':RT ANDERSON.
Albert .\nderson. a substantial farmer and landowner living in Hen-
drum township, Norman county, was born three miles south of Scandinavia.
Waupaca county, Wisconsin, November i, 1861, the son of Andrew An-
derson and Mary ( Hanson ) Rustad, the latter being the .second wife. Both
parents were natives of Norway, and came to America about 1850, settling
in Muskego. Wisconsin, where they married and lived for about three
years. In 1853, they moved to Waupaca county, Wisconsin, where thev
bought .government land and lived until 1877, in the meantime their son,
.Albert, the subject of this review, having been born. Feeling that better
opportunities in farming awaited them over in Minnesota, the familv
started for the Red River country on June 14, i^yy. in a covered wagon
drawn by four horses, and arrived after ;i journey of some time at their
destination in Hendrum township, in what later came to be oi-ganized as
.Norman county. There they settled on school land in section 36, township
144, Norman countw range 49. where their son Martin now lives, and
there the\- remained the rest of their lives. As prosperity smiled upon the
endeavors of the family, the elder Rustad added to his holdings until he
owned three hundred and sixty acres, which he improved by the erection of
substantial farm buildings. To these parents were born the following chil-
dren: Carrie, Bertha M. (deceased). Christ, Albert, Clara. Tvlwin, Martin.
Gena. and W^illiam f deceased). The famil\ were active members of the
Eutheran church and the father helped to organize tlie Emanuel church at
Hendrum.
.\lbert Anderson, who has lived in Hendrum township since he came to
Norman countv. in 1877. was educated in the common schools of Wis-
consin and in the [jioneer schools of Hendrum township, where he sjjent
his youth and early manhood on the home place. In 1886 he left the paren-
tal roof and started for himself, and his operations were so successful that
eventuallv he Iiecame the owner of >~i.\ hundred acres of land. This area
was all raw j)rairie. but, nothing daunted, he began to improve it by erect-
ing good farm buildings and planting groves. As the opportunity presented
560 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
itself, he sold from his holdings until now he has two hnndred and fifty
acres on which he raises stock and does general farming.
On June 14. 1887. All)ert Anderson married Anna Stevens, who was
born in Norwa\- on September 22. 1863. the daughter of Stev and Mary
.Stevens, who came to .\merica in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. .Anderson have no
children of their own. but they have one adopted daughter, ['"velyn.
Mr. Anderson, being a farmei. is desirous of good roads, and did
much to establish antl keep the same in repair when he served the com-
munity as road overseer. In atldition to this commendable work, he has
been interested in extending the credit facilities of llendrum townshi]), by
helping to organize the Farmers -State B:uik. Moreover, he is numbered
among the progressive farmers of the townshi]) who are interested in the
farmers elevator and creamerx .
HANS J. HELLERUD.
Hans J. Hellerud. a retiretl pioneer farmer of Xorman county and for
the past ten years engaged in the clothing business at Twin Valley, one
of the best-known and most i)rogressive merchants of that \illage. is a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota
since he was sixteen years of age and of Norman county since 1877, thus
being very properly regarded as one of the real "old settlers" of this section
of the state, he having located here three or four years before Norman
county was organizd as a civil unit. He was born at Haakadalen, in Nor-
way. January 2^, 1855, son of John and Marie ( (.runimenson) Hellerud,
also natives of Norway, who came to the United States with their family
in 1 87 1 and settled in Fillmore county, this state. There John Hellerud
developed a good piece of farm property and continued to make that place
his home until his retirement in old age and removal to Norman county,
where his last days were spent. He and his wife were members of the
Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in the faith of
the same. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the other being Olena, Gustav,
Andrew, Bertha. Johanna. Nettie, Carl and Jens.
As noted above. Hans J. Hellerud was sixteen years of age when he
came to this country with his parents and his .schooling was completed in
the schools of Fillmore county, this state. He took an active part in the
'^^*^4B
I jHE MEW VuKK
ARY
ASIOR, i-ENSX
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS j
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES,, MINNESOTA. 561
work of developing and improving the home farm in that county and remained
there until 1877, in which year he came up here in the Red River valley and
homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in section 4 of what later came
to be organized as Hague township, Norman county, where he established
his home and proceeded to develop and improve the place. From the very
beginning of his operations here Mr. Hellerud prospered and he gradually
added to his land holdings until he became the owner of an entire section
of land. In 1906 he traded four hundred acres of that place for a clothing
store at Tw^in Valley and in 1908 moved to that village and has since
made his home there, acti\ely engaged in business. Mr. Hellerud has ever
given his earnest attention to local civic affairs and during his residence on
the farm served for some time as a member of the board of supervisors,
for two years chairman of the board, and also served for some time as
treasurer of the township.
On February 20, 1882, H. J. Hellerud was united in marriage to Thora
Olson, also a native of the kingdom of Xorway. and to this union four
children have been born. John, Oswell, Mary and Henry. The Helleruds
are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and ha\e ever taken an
interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works of the
community of which they iiave been residents since pioneer days.
JOHN JACOBSON.
John Jacobson, a successful merchant and a prominent resident of
Eorup, Norman county, was born in Marshall county. Iowa. June 22. 1882,
the son of Severen and Julia (Peterson) Jacobson, both of whom were
natives of Norway, the former having come to the United States at the age
of eighteen and the latter at the age of four years. Severen Jacobson re-
ceived bis education in the schools of his native land, and as a lad engaged
as a sailor. Tiring of the sea at an early age. he decided to seek his future
home in America. On his arrival in the United States he at once proceeded
on his journe\ to Iowa, and there he located in Marshall county, where his
future wife had settled with her parents some years before. There he
worked as a farm hand for some years and was later married, and soon there-
after he and his wife moved to Palo Alto county, Iowa, where they established
their home on a farm and where Mr. Jacobson engaged in general farming
(36a)
562 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
for twelve years. In the year 1903 they came to Minnesota and settled
on a farm just west of the town of Borup, in Norman county. Severen Jacob-
son has met with much success in his chosen work and is the owner of two
hundred and forty acres of splendid land, all of which is well under cultiva-
tion and well improved.
Severen and Julia Jacobson are the parents of the following- children:
Anna, Jennie, John, Lena, Martha, Clara and Peter. They are active mem-
bers of the Lutheran church and are among the most highly respected people
of the community. Their hospitality and pleasing address have endeared
them to a large circle of friends. Mr. Jacobson is a man of strong person-
ality and possessed of much business acumen. His splendid home and farm
are the results of the work and planning of himself and his estimable wife.
Coming to this country a mere lad, alone and without funds, he has risen to
be one of the substantial and influential men of the community in which he
lives. He has taken a keen interest in all local affairs, and is a strong advo-
cate of substantial public improvements and of the maintenance of good roads
and good schools. To his mind these two are great factors in determining
the future greatness of both the county and the state.
John Jacobson received his education in the public schools of the
state of Iowa and was reared on the home farm in that state. On reaching
manhood he began work for himself, as an employe of the Great Northern
railroad, at Barnesville, Minnesota, by working in the yards. After a time
he resigned his position with the railroad and entered a harness shop at
Fargo, as an apprentice, and after learning his trade he followed it for two
years. He left Fargo and came to Borup, where he worked for six months
as a clerk in the general store of Torske Brothers. He then entered the gen-
eral store of E. K. Xaftalin at Borup and there he worked for nine months,
at the end of which time he and J. J. Bowln purchased the business. This
was in the year 1915 and they have since continued the business with success,
under the firm name of Bowln & Jacobson. They carry a complete and up-to-
date line of general merchandise and have built up an extensive trade
throughout the surrounding territory. These men are progressive and their
store is an evidence of their ability as business men and merchants. They
cater to the wants of the general public and their increased trade is evidence
of the appreciation with which their business methods are received.
On June 23, 1910, John Jacobson was married to Emma Anderson, of
Borup, daughter of A. J. Anderson and wife, prominent and well-to-do people
of this communitv. To this union tliree children have been born, Angeline
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 563
Levina, Silas Philis and Pearl Berdell. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church and have ever taken much interest in all church
work, and Mr. Jacobson has always been active in the civic affairs of the
town.
Severen H. Jacobson, the father of John Jacobson, was born on No-
vember 6, 1849, 3^nd is the son of Jacob and Anna (Quaam) Jacobson, both
natives of Norway, where they lived and died. Jacob Jacobson was a farmer
and a small landowner. He and his wife were highly respected people and
rt-ere the parents of eight children. The son Severen came to the United
States in the year 187 1 and for a time worked on a farm in Marshall county,
Iowa. He later rented and then purchased eighty acres, which he later sold
and moved to Palo Alto county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres. Here he lived until 1903 when he came to his present home west of
Borup. He was united in marriage in 1875 to Julia Peterson, the daughter
of Peter and Gurnelia (Quaam) Peterson, who came to the United States
from their home in Norway in 1861. They first located in Lee county,
Illinois, and then in Marshall county, Iowa. Mr. Peterson died in Illinois,
and after the marriage of her daughter, the widow made her home with Mr.
and Mrs. Jacobson and moved with them to Palo Alto county, where she
died. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were the parents of five children. To Severen
and Julia Jacobson have been born the following children : Anna, Peter, John,
Lena, Martha, Clara and Peter, all of whom are living with the exception of
Peter, who died some years ago. Mr. Jacobson has held many of the local
offices and has given to his official duties the same careful attention that he
has given to his own affairs.
JORGEN F. HEIBERG.
Jorgen F. Heiberg, veteran miller and owner of the electric-light plant
at Heiberg (old Twin Valley), and for the past twenty years or more
clerk of Wild Rice township and one of the best-known and most sub-
stantial pioneers of Norman county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway,
but has been a resident of this country since he was nineteen years of age
and of Norman county since 1881, having settled there the year that county
was organized as a civil unit. He was born in the city of Bergen, one of
the most important of the Norwegian seaports, July 4, 1861, a son of
Andreas and Elsie (Faye) Heiberg, also natives of Norway and both born
564 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in tlie vicinity of Bergen. Andreas Heiberg became a substantial mercliant
in Bergen and there he and liis wife spent tlieir last days, 'i'hey were tlie
parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sexenth
in order of birth, the others being Christen, Severen. Catherine. Magdeline,
Sophia, Cecelia. Elsie and Camila.
Reared in the city of Bergen, J. ¥. Heiberg receixetl his schooling in
the schools of that city and remained there until 1880. when he came in
the United States and proceeded on out to Wisconsin and for a \car there-
after was engaged working in a mill in the neighborhood of SlDUghtnn.
that state. The next year, 1881, he came up into this part of .Minnesota
and became a factor in the settlement then known as Twin Vallev , in \or-
man county. Upon his arrival there Mr. Heiberg bought an old log grist-
mill that had been established in that settlement and in the following year
built to replace the same a new mill, which, with additions and improve-
ments, he is still conducting and which is said to be the oldest mill in con-
tinuous operation in Norman county. When the new townsite of 'l\\ in
Valley was platted and the town moved bodily to its new location -Mr.
Heiberg was left pretty much alone for a time, but his mill continued to be
the center of trade for the farmers bringing their grain lo mill ,ind tlu-
settlement that was maintained around the old mill became known as Hei-
berg, which name it still holds. Mr. Heiberg has an excellent mill and has
for years done general merchant milling, though when he started there his
trade was all custom grinding. In 1907 he installed an electric-light plant
at his mill for the convenience of himself in the mill and store, and for the
few families in that settlement and a year later increased the cajjacity of
the plant and began to furnish light for the village of Twin \'alley. In
191 7 he made further extensions to his plant and is now also furnishing
light for the people of the \illage of Gary. Mr. Heiberg is not only one
of the best-known pioneers of Norman county, but one of the most active
and progressive, and has always taken an active interest in local civic affairs.
He has been clerk of the Heiberg school district since the day it was organ-
ized and for the past twenty years or more has served as clerk of the town-
ship of W'Wd Rice, which position he still occupies. He formerly operated
a grain ele\ ator at Twin Valley, but some years ago sold the same to one
of his sons, who is now operating it.
In January, 1885, J. F. Heiberg was united in marriage lo .\ugusta
Slettebak and to this union have been born twelve children, all of whom
are living, namely: George S., Martin A., Elsie, Christen, Andrew, Rasmus.
Marie, Olaf, Magdaline, Joseph, Augusta and .Anna. The Heibergs are
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 565
members of the United Lutheran church at Twin Valley and have ever taken
an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works of
the community, Mr. Heiberg being a member of the lioard of trustees of the
church and one of its most active su])porters.
JOHN G. INGBERG.
America is a gigantic melting pot of peoples. Into this great cnicibk
opportunity leads a cosmopolitan concourse of peoples, with whom are mixed
the wonderful natural rescjurccs of this wonderful land, and in a few years
emerges a distinct t}pe of man, the American. He has the sense of justice
in government of the Englishman, the quick and artistic aptitude of the Latin
and the tireless industry and indomitable perseverance of the Scandinaxian ;
and, in addition to this, he has ac(]uired a distinctly new characteristic, which
is American, that of enterprise. Such a man is John G. Ingberg, a well-
known and prosperous farmer of Hendrum township, Norman county, where
he owns two hundred and fifty-three acres of well-improved land. It was on
September 23, 1849, the year when the California gold fever was raging in
the United States, that John G. Ingeberg first saw the light of day in the land
of his nativity, Norway. He was the son of Gilbert and Karen (Olson)
Ingberg, both natives of that country, where they grew up, married and
reared their family, the father being a farmer. They were the parents of
five children, as follow: Thomas, John G., the subject of this review; and the
following three, Mary, Olena and Andrew, who are dead.
John G. Ingberg spent his boyhood on the old home place in the old
country, where he grew to manhood, helping his parents on the farm until
he was thirtv-two years of age. At that time the spirit of enterprise entered
his beine and he decifled to come to America, which meant to him a wonder-
o
ful field of opportunity for a young man of industry, perseverance and pur-
pose. Accordingly, he gathered his personal effects together and came to
this country in 1881 and located at once among his countrymen, who had
preceded him, in Hendrum towaishi]), Xorman county, Minnesota. Not ha\-
ing much capital after he arrived upon the scene of his operations, nothing
daunted he set to work with zest on the neighboring farms and after three
years his resources enabled him to buy a tract of land, which he imme-
diately began to im]3rove and cultivate. As the years passed and his re-
sources grew , he has been enabled to add to his original tract until now he is
566 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the proprietor of two hundred and fifty-three acres, on which he has raised
good substantial farm builcHngs and has planted a grove.
About tlie time he began farming on his own account, Mr. Ingberg
married Andreva Ormsrud, who, Hke himself was born in Norway, the
daughter of I.ars Ormsrud, who came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Ingberg
are the parents of eight children, namely: George, who died; Lawrence,
Alfred, Clarence. Josie, Martin, Olga and Adolph. He and his family are
devout and conscientious members of the Lutheran denomination, and in the
affairs of that church they have ever been active i)articipants, Mr. Ingberg
having helped to organize the Concordia Lutheran congregation. He has
also been interested in the co-operative business agencies of his community,
having helped to organize the creamery, the farmers elevator and the Farm-
ers State Bank, all of Hendrum; and any movement which has for its
aim the social or material betterment of the community receives from him
his heartiest support.
HENRY C. SCHROEDER.
Henry C. Schroeder, well-known and progressive farmer and the
owner of three hundred and sixty acres of prime land in Pleasant View town-
ship, is a native of the German empire, but has been a resident of the United
States since he was si.x years old. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, in
i860, a son of John and Catherine Schroeder. also natives of the same
country.
John Schroeder was educated in the schools of his native land and in
1866 came with the other members of his family to this country and in 1879
moved to Norman county, where he homesteaded a quarter section of land
in section 18, Green Aleadow township. At a later date he bought a tract of
land in Pleasant View township, engaged there in farming, and met with a
large measure of success. He carried out many important improvements on
his holdings and was generally regarded as one of the prosperous and pro-
gressive farmers of the district in which he lived. Mr. Schroeder gave a good
citizen's attention to local civic afifairs and served in a representative capacity
on the school board and township board for many years. In 191 5 he sold
the homestead tract and moved to Ada, where he bought a house and lot, and
his death occurred in the latter place in 1916. His wife, Catherine Schroeder,
is now living in Ada at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. They were
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 567
the parents of four children, three boys and one girl, Henry C. being the only
one now living.
Henry C. Schroeder received his early education in the schools of this
country, having come out here with his parents at the age of six years, arriving
in the United States in 1866. In 1881 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty
acres of land in section 12, Pleasant View township, and as he prospered in
his farming operations he added to his land holdings and is now the owner
of three hundred and sixty acres of prime land, on which he carries on gen-
eral farming and has l>een doing very well. Mr. Schroeder finds time apart
from his farming interests to devote to matters of public interest and has
served for some time on the school and township boards and has shares in
the local creamery.
In 1884 Henry C. Schroeder was united in marriage to Annie Butchman.
Mr. Schroeder and family are members of St. John's church, in which he
served for some years as an ofificer. The Schroeder family take an active
part in the general social affairs of the district and township in which they
reside, ever desirous to assist in all movements calculated to promote the
welfare of the community.
J. J. BO WEN.
Among the well-known and prominent citizens of the village of Borup,
Norman county, is J. J. Bowen, the present postmaster and one of the sub-
stantial men of the town. He was born in Ontario, Dominion of Canada,
in the year 1874 and is the son of John and Anna (Lashay) Bowen, both
of whom were natives of Canada and who were there educated in the schools
of that country. They were well known in the community in which they
lived and were held in the highest regard and esteem by all who knew them.
They were of the farming class of their native country and later located in
northwestern Minnesota, where they spent their last days.
J. J. Bowen received his education in the schools of northwestern Min-
nesota and in the high school at Pembina, North Dakota. Soon after com-
pleting his schooling he engaged in railroad work at Grand Forks, where
he remained for some time. Even before he had worked for the railroad
he had been engaged with a threshing outfit for two seasons, in the farming
district of the state. After working for the Great Northern for a time at
Grand Forks he was transferred to St. Vincent, where he remained for one
568 CI.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
year, and in 1902 he was transferred to BoruiJ, where he was employed as
station agent until 19 16, in which year he resigned and engaged in the mer-
cantile business in that village. He formed a partnership with John Jacoh-
son anil with him lias since conducted the business, under the lirm name of
Bowen & Jacobson. The members of this firm have a complete and up-to-
date establishment and by their pleasing personalities and honest business
methods have built up a large trade and today have the confidence and the
respect of the entire communitv. Since they first engaged in the Imsiness
their trade has continued to increase and they are recognized as one of the
sulistantia! and progressive business firms of the ccjunty.
J. J. Bowen has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the town
and tlie county, and lias been interested in the general development of the
district ever since locating here. Being a man of ability and educati(jn. he
has !)een much iiUercsted in the schools and has likewise been devoted to
the general interests of his home community, those enterprises that have
bad to do with the general development of the district having received his
hearty co-operation and 'supi)ort. Mr. Bowen was for a time assistant
postmaster of the town r>f Borup and recently was appointed to the posi-
tion of postmaster, which ])osition he is tilling to the entire satisfaction of
all. He feels his responsiljility to the postottice department and his duty
to the ])atvons of the office and is at all times accommodating and coiu'-
teous to the general jniljlic. in conse(|uence of which he receives the hearty
sui)])ort of tJie community.
OTTO J. GROVliR.
Otto J. Grover, an energetic and substantial young farmer of Molaud
township, Clay comity, proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty
acres, breeder of i)ure-bred Holstein-Fresian cattle, clerk of district school
board No. 6 and in other ways interested in public affairs, was born on a
farm in Moland ttnvnship in 1878. He is the son of Targe A. and Galena
( Ivassenburg) Grover. natives of X^orway, the former born in 1830 and
the latter in 1834.
Targe Grover, at the age of fifteen years, left his native Norwa\- and
came to the United States in 1846. On arriving in this country he startetl
straight out to ^Minnesota and settled in the southern ])art of the state, where
he was engaged at fanning work for several years. He moved to Clay county
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. • 569
in 1874 and settled on a farm in ^loland township, where lie continued to
reside up to the time of his death in 1895. He was an active and industrious
farmer and improved his holding in a manner that made it profitable to
work. Targe Grover devoted a portion of his time to public affairs and
was one of the first board of county commissioners in Clay count)-. His
wife. Galena Kassenburg, was also a native of Norway, who came to America
at the age of fifteen, in 1849. ^"'1 went to the southeastern part of Minne-
sota. She worked in St. Paul about the year 1853, and spent a few years
in that city. Her death occurred in May. 1909. at the advanced age of
seventy-five years. To Targe Grover and wife the following children were
born: Gustav A., Alexandria T.. who is the owner of three hundred and
twenty acres in Moland township, is married and has two children, Clarence
and Elmer; Tilda X., who is married; Otto J., the subject of this sketch;
Edward G., Christian A., Mary A., and Lizzie A., who are deceased. Targe
Grover and his wife were earnest members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church and were active and influential residents of the district in which
they made their home.
Otto J. Grover was educaterl in the public schools of Moland township
and was reared on his father's farm. From bfiyhood he was an able assistant
to his father in the work of developing and improving the home place, and
remained thus engaged for some \ears. He then started farming on his
own account and is now the owner of four hundred and ei.ghty acres of
|)rime land, on which he carries on general farming and stock raising and
on which he has set out se\enty-five acres to the cultixation of potatoes.
Mr. Grover has an excellent herd of registered Holstein cattle and at the
head of the herd has a registered Plolstein bull, out of the lirst thousand-
dollar butter cow in the state; the products of bis herd finding a ready market,
the qualitv of the strain being known throughout the county and outside
it. He has carried out many costly improvements on his place and conducts
bis farming operations according to modern methods of agriculture, using
the best machinery, the present \alue of which is about six thousand dollars.
Mr. Grover has also erected a modern dwelling house on his farm, wbicli
is one of the most u])-to-date in the town.ship. The house is furnished w ith
electric li.ght, hot and cold water and hot-water plant, and an excellent
svstem of sewerage. Here he and the members of his family are very
nicelv and jileasantly .situated. All the farm buildings are also electrically
lighted.
In 1901 Otto I. Grover was united in marriage to Hulda Nicholson,
who was born in Sweden in 1877 and who at the age of seven years, in
570 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
1884, came to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Peterson,
who settled in Clay county, where they resided until 1902, when they moved
to Chisago county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Grover are the parents of
six children. Iva L., Marion G., Elvina A., Eugene F., Wilford V. and
Francis E. Tlie Grover family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church and are active in all its good works. Mr. Grover is a trustee of the
church, and in addition to his active life on the farm he gives a good citi-
zen's attention to public affairs. He served as township assessor for four
years and is now the efficient clerk of district school board No. 6, and in
the fulfillment of the duties of these positions has always given a good
account of himself.
FRANK GRAY.
Frank Gray, a well-known and extensive landowner, holding eight
hundred acres of land, located in Wild Rice and Home Lake townships,
Norman count)-, also breeder of full-blood Shorthorn cattle, is a native son
of the state of Michigan, born in St. Joseph county, that state, in 1858.
He is the son of Barbar H. and Sarah (Alger) Gray, natives of the state
of New York, the former born in 1813 and the latter in 1818. Barbar H.
Gray died in 1898 at the age of eighty-five years and his widow survived
until 1905. her death occurring in that year at the age of eight\--seven years.
Barbar H. Gray and his wife left the Empire state and went to Michi-
gan, where they settled in St. Joseph county, where the father became a
farmer and continued at that occupation to the end of his life. Frank
Gray, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of St.
Joseph county, Michigan, and worked out at farm labor for about five years
in that place. In 1880 he went to Spink county, South Dakota, and home-
steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he immediately pro-
ceeded to put into a state of cultivation and later made a purchase of one
hundred and sixty acres of prime land, which he set out to the growing of
grain. In that neighborhood, in common with many others, he suffered from
the disadvantage of having no local market, the nearest place being Water-
town, which was eighty miles distant. Nevertheless, Mr. Gray succeeded
in his agricultural operations and in that state laid the foundations of his
present prosperity.
In 1910 Mr. Gray decided to tempt fortune in Norman countv. this
state, and commenced his investments in land by the purchase of a full sec-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 57I
tion, located in Wild Rice and Home Lake townships. In 1914 he-came to
live in Wild Rice township and since taking up his residence in that place
has added another quarter section to his original holding, being now the
owner of eight hundred acres of land, the equal in quality of any other in
the county. Since coming to live here he has remodeled the dwelling house
and has built a substantial barn, and is now engaged in general farming, a
large portion of his land being devoted to the cultivation of grain. In addi-
tion to his agricultural operations he is also interested in the raising of full-
blood Shorthorn cattle, of which he has many fine specimens on his place,
and he is generally regarded as one of the most substantial and progressive
farmers in Norman county.
In 1888 Frank Gray was united in marriage to Levina Cahill, born in
Crawford county, Wisconsin, a daughter of James Cahill and wife. To
this union six children have been born, namely: Mrs. John McLeese; George,
who operates the farm; John, Lloyd, Fred and Helen, all of whom are living.
Mr. Gray has always taken a good citizen's interest in public affairs and
while living in South Dakota he served as a member of the township board
of Jefferson township, Spink county, that state, for a period of ten years.
Mr. and Mrs. Gray are interested in the social and cultural activities of
the community in wiiich they live, ever ready to assist all good causes having
for their object the advancement of the public welfare.
J. J. MEIGHEN.
J. J. Meighen, postmaster at Twin Valley and a veteran school teacher
in the counties of Xorman and Clay, is a native of the great Empire state,
but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was nine years of age and
of this part of the state for more than thirty years, being thus very prop-
erly recognized as one of the "old settlers" of this section. He was born
in the state of New York on February 27, 1848, son of John and Sophia
(Wells) Meighen, both of whom were of European birth, the former born
in the north of Ireland and the latter in Lincolnshire, England, and who
had come to this country in the days of their youth, their marriage taking
place in New York, in which state they first met.
John Meighen was nineteen years of age when he left his native Ire-
land and came to the United States, locating in New York state, where he
married a few years later and where he made his home until 1857, when he
572 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. i
came with his family to the then 'I'eiTitory of Minnesota and settled on a
farm in the vicinity of Lake Washington, in Bine Earth c<Junty, one of the
pioneers of tiiat part «f the state, and was thns an active participant in the
defensive strnggle of the people of that section during the period of the
.great Sioux rchellion in 1862. John Aleighen hecame a substantial farmer
of the Lake Washington neighl)orhood and on his pioneer farm there he
and Iiis wife s])ent their last days, honored and influential residents, lie
living until i<;o7- lie was reared as a Catholic and she as an adherent of
the Church of iuigland. They were the parents oi ten children, of whoni
the subject of this sketch w^as the second in order of birtii, the others l)eing
Catherine, Alice, Christiana, Jacob. May. Celia. Xellie. Jacob (who died
in childhood), and Jacob Wells.
As noted abo\e, J. J. Meighcn was l)ul nine years of age when he
came to Minnesota from New^ ^'ork with his parents and his elementarv
schooling was continued in the jjrimitive schools of his home neighborhood
in Blue Earth county, upon completing which he entered the Normal school
at Mankato. the second such institution started in the state of Mimiesota,
the school at the time he entered the same being conducted in the base-
ment of tlie Alethodist church at Mankato and the greater part of the at-
tendance being confined to young women, but few young men at that time
preparing themselves for the profession of teaching. Upon completing his
normal course .Mr. Meighen began teaching school and continued actively
engaged in that honorable and useful profession until he received his com-
mission as postmaster of Twin \'alley in the spring of 1915, a period of
forty-six years and five months, thirty years of which time was spent as a
teacher in the schools of Xornian and Clay counties: a record of continuous
service in the school room believed to be unexcelled bv any other teacher in
the state of Minnesota. Mr. Meighen received the appointment as post-
master of Twin \';dley in .March. 1915, and upon the comi)letion of bis
last term of school in the following May entered upon the active duties
of the office and has since lieen thus engaged, his services in that connec-
tion pro\ing \ery accejDtable to the entire community. Mr. Meighen is a
Democrat and ever -ince taking up his labors as a teacher in tliis part of the
state, back in pioneer days, has given his earnest and intelligent attention
to local civic and political affairs, long having been regarded as one of the
leaders of his ])arty in this section. It w-as in 1887 that Mr. Meighen set-
tled at Twin X'alley and in that village and in the vicimtv of the same he
has ever since made his residence, one of the best-known men in Xorman
and adjacent counties.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 573
On April 21. 1874, J. J. Meighen was united in uiarriagL- to Catherine
ATcGraw, who was born in LeSueur county, this state, daughter of Patrick
McGraw and wife, iiioneers of that county, who liad settled there about
1858, and to this union three children have been born, Philip J., Alary
Sophia and Alice Gertrude. Philip J. Meighen is now a prosperous prac-
ticing attorney at Minneapolis and the Misses Meighen, both of whom
were graduated from the State Normal School at Afankato, are teaching
school. The Meighens have a very pleasant home at Twin X'alley and ha\e
ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of
that place and of the communitv at large.
AUGUST DURLING.
August Durling, proprietor of the Twin Valley Roller Mills, president
of the village of Twin Valley and otherwise an active participant in the
affairs of that village and of Norman county in general, is a native of the
kin.gdom of Sweden, but has been a resident of this country since he was
nineteen years of age. He was born at Parup, in Skone, September 19,
1863, and grew up in his native Sweden, receiving there a high-school edu-
cation and remaining until he was about nineteen years of age, when, in 1882,
he came to the United States and proceeded directly on out to MiuTiesota, his
objective point being Ada, county seat of Norman county.
For three or four years after his arrival at Ada, Mr. Durling worked on
farms west and south of that place. During the following years he worked
a two-hundred-acre farm in Winchester township, south of Ada, which he
owned, and also farmed some rented land, and continued farming, spending
portions of the winters in the pineries at I'Vazee and at Cromwell, until the
spring of 1889, when he went farther west and became engaged working in
the mines and smelters in Montana and Utah. He then proceeded on out to
the coast and after a comprehensive tour of the cities of Seattle. Spokane,
Portland, San Francisco and points in Colorado, he returned to Ada, in
1891, and there became engaged in the insurance business, continuing thus
engaged for about a year, at the end of which time he was employed by the
Thorpe Elevator Company as grain buyer for that company at Lee Station,
in Polk count}-, where he remained until in July. 1894, when the company
transferred him to their elexator at Twin Valley and he continued engaged
as buver for the Thorpes at that ])oint until 190T. in which year he rented the
574 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Farmers elevator at Twin \^alley and began buying; grain on his own account.
A year later the Farmers Elevator Company resumed direction of that ele-
vator and Mr. Durling continued as manager, in behalf of the company,
for another year, at the end of which time he became engaged in the agri-
cultural-implement business at Twin Valley and remained thus engaged for
two years, or until the Twin Valley Roller Mills were Iniilt in 1903, he l)eing
part owner of the same, after which he gave his attention t(j the management
of the mill. The next year, 1904, Mr. Durling became the sole owner of the
mill and has continued to own and operate the same, having made it one of
the most widely patronized mills in this part of the state. Mr. Durling has
other business interests in Twin X'alley and is one of the most enthusiastic
"boosters" of that village. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens
State Bank of Twin Valley and for about two years was a member of the
board of directors of the same. He also has extensive farm-land interests
in Norman county and is looked upon as one of the substantial citizens of
that comnuinity. For several years he has served as president of the village
council and in 191 7 was again elected to that office, and has in other ways
given of his time and energies to the public service.
In the year 1894 August Durling was united in marriage to Bertha
Bergeson. daughter of Halvor Bergeson and wife, and to this marriage two
children have been born, Arthur and Malvin. The Durlings are members
of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a proper interest in church
affairs, as well as in the communitv's general social activities.
HERBRAN ERICKSON.
Herbran Erickson, a farmer of Tansem township. Clay county, was
born in Norway, October 11, 1859. He is a son of Erick and Sigri
(Herbrandson) Hanson, both natives of Norway, from which country
they came to America in 1870, locating first in Winneshiek county, Iowa,
remaining there one year. In June, 1871, they came up into Minnesota,
driving an ox-team overland, bringing their household effects in a prairie
schooner. The family of P. P. Solum came along with them, and these
two families were the first to settle in the northern part of Tansem town-
ship. Clay county. Erick Hanson, the father, took up a homestead of one
hundred and sixty acres, the place on which his son Ole now resides, and
there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. The father later bought
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 575
another quarter section here. He developed his land into a fine farm and
erected a good group of buildings on his homestead. He helped organize
Tansem township and the first church of the township was organized in his
home, meetings being held there and in other homes in the vicinity for some
time ; then in the school house and finally a church edifice was erected at
Rollag — the Grong church.
To Erick Hanson and wife seven children were born, namely : Hans,
who resides in Parke township; Regnil, the wife of S. Thompson, of Parke
township; Herbran, the subject of this sketch; Segri, the wife of O. H.
Rierson, of Tansem township: Tosten, who lives in Becker county; Mary,
the wife of S. P. Anderson, and Ole, who lives on the old homestead. These
children were all born in Norway but the last two, whose births occurred
on the home farm in Clay county.
Herbran Erickson was eleven years old when his parents brought him
to America. He had attended school in Norway and his schooling was com-
pleted in Iowa and Minnesota. He has remained in Tansem township since
the family first came here and he therefore grew up amid pioneer condi-
tions, the locality having been a wild prairie and sparsely settled when the
family settled there. He worked hard when a boy, assisting his father
develop the homestead, and as a young man began farming for himself on
the farm on which he still resides, which adjoins his father's farm. He
owns three hundred acres of productive and well improved land on which he
has erected excellent buildings and has a pleasant and attractive home. Mr.
Erickson has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He
makes a specialty of raising Hereford cattle, and prepares large numbers of
cattle and hogs annually for the market. In 1904 he helped organize the
Rollag Telephone Company, the early success of which was due to his able
management as president, which position he occupied for six years in a man-
ner that was eminently satisfactory to all concerned. He was again elected
president of this company in the spring of 191 7. He has been a heavy
stockholder in the same since it was first organized. He is also president
of the Parke Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
In 1885 Mr. Erickson was married to Celia Anderson, who was born
in Norway, a daughter of Andres and Hannah Solberg, natives of Norway,
from which country they came to America about 1868, locating in Rock
county, Wisconsin, where the father died shortly after locating there. The
widow came to Minnesota in 1880, locating on a farm in Tansem township,
Clay county, with her children. Andres Solberg and wife were the parents
of six children, Lena, Christina (deceased), Oli, Hans, Celia and Alma.
576 CI.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Five children have been born to ]\Ir. and Mrs. Erickson, namely: Elsie,
.Mbert, Henrv, Elmer and Roy, all of whom are living^ at home.
Mr. Erickson is non-partisan in his political views, l)ut has always been
active in local public atitairs. He has served as township assessor and was
treasurer of the township for years. He also served as chairman of the
township Ixiard for fifteen years, and was for some time justice of the peace,
ever dischars^ing his duties as a public ofticial in an ai)le and satisfactory
manner.
JOHN P. LORENTZ.
John W Lorentz, a prosperous farmer iixing in .Mary township, Xor-
man countw where he is the proprietor of the old home place, was
burn in the province nf Ontario, Canada, Xovemliev 4. 1S71. a son ul
John K. and Maria Rachel ( Berringer ) Lorentz, both natives of Ontario,
the latter born, October 20, 1831, and the former, July 29, 1833. Reared
in their native province, where they married, the elder Lorentz and wife
Ijrought their family to Minnesota in 1S7C1. and remained four years at
Georgetown, Clay county. Feeling that better opportunities were to be
had for establishing their home northward in Xorman county, they came
to this county in 1880 and lx)ught one hundred and si.xty acres of land in
section 2(), Mary township. There the father and mother spent the rest
of their lives, the former dying on May 3, 1889, and the latter on March
29, 1901, resi)ected and well-known residents of the neighborhood,
the father being a member of the school board for five or six years. They
were members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in
that faith. John K. and Maria Lorentz were the parents of eight children,
namely: Maggie, the wife of W. C. Dalrimple and now living in Castleton,
Xordi Dakota : Rachel and Catherine both deceased : Mary, deceased :
Susanna, who married W . H. White and now resides in Milwaukee, Wis-
consin : Lizzie, who lives here on the home place with her brother, the
subject of this sketch; Joseph, married and residing in Moorhead. Clay
county, and John, the subject of this review.
John r. Lorentz was only five years of age when he came from Ontario,
Canada, the land of his nativity, with his parents, the family settling in
Georgetown, Clay county, Minnesota, where he received his elementary
education in the public schools. Later, when he was only nine years old.
he accomi)anied his parents to Mary township. Xoriuan county, where they
2!
O
V,
S
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 57/
established their home pemianently. Here on the old home place he spent
his late boyhood and has lived ever since, devoting himself to the develop-
ment and cultivation of the farm. After his mother's death in 1901, he
purchased the home place frum the estate and has kept the old farm up to
its former high state of improvement, adding several buildings and much
modern farming machinery, which have materially increased the agricultural
efficiency of the tract. Mr. Lorentz now carries on diversified fanning ac-
cording to the latest methods of scientific agriculture, and is considered
one of the up-to-date farmers of the community. He has not married and
his sister, Lizzie, li\es with him on the home place, keeping house.
In addition to his agricultural actixities, \h. Lorentz is interested in
the credit facilities which are extended to the farmers of the township,
and is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Perley. In
politics, he is a stanch advocate of Republican policies and principles, and
he is keenly interested in the civic affairs of his neighborhood, having
served Mary township seven years as assessor. The educational progress
of the community has come in for some of Mr. Lorentz's time, as he served
as director on the school board for many years, now in his sixth term.
In all of his activities in private business or in the discharge of luiblic duty,
Mr. Lorentz has always shown himself to be a man of sterling integrity and
shrewd business sense. He and his sister. Lizzie, are members of St. Mary's
Catholic church in Mary township and take a' proper interest in parish
affairs.
C.\RL BJORKQUIST.
Carl Hjork(|uist. u well-knuwn contractor of Mo(jrhead, was born in
Sweden. October 5, 1854. He is a son of Lars Johnson and Marie (Erick-
son) Johnson, lx)th natixes of Sweden, where they grew up, married and
resided until 1885. when they emigrated to America, coming directly to
Minnesota and locating at Moorhead, where the_\- spent the rest of their
li\es. The father was contracting mason and also owned some excellent
fanning land. He was born in 1809 and died in Moorhead on .\ugust i_',
1902. His wife was born in 181 7 and died at iMoorhead in 1905. To
these parents nine children were born, namely: Sophia, born in 184 r ; Mary,
1843: Anna, 1845. who died in 1872 in Sweden; John, 1848. who was a
general contractor and died in Moorhead; Magnus, 1849; Helen, 1832;
(37a)
578 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Carl, the subject of this sketch; Edward, 1857, who was postmaster at
Moorhead for a period of twelve years, and Augusta, 1859. These chil-
dren were all educated in the public schools in Sweden.
Carl Bjorkquist grew to manhood in his native land and there attended
school. As a young man he learned the trade of mason under his father
and others. Two of his brothers also took up this line of work. He came
to America in 1881, coming on directly to Minnesota and locating at Moor-
head, where he has since made his home. His brother John, for whom he
began working upon his arrival here, was the first contractor in Moorhead,
where he had settled in 1878. Carl became his foreman, remaining with
him until 1898, when he began contracting for himself and has continued
thus successfully engaged until the present time, enjoying a large and grow-
ing business. He is an expert workman and a close observer as well as a
student of all that pertains to his line and has therefore kept well abreast
of the times in the same. He has erected many public buildings, business
houses and residences in Moorhead and elsewhere.
Mr. Bjorkquist was married in 1884 to Hulda Anderson, who was
born in Sweden, where she grew to womanhood, attended school and mar-
ried, Mr. Bjorkquist returning to his native land for her. After their
marriage they remained there about two years, coming back to Minnesota
in 1886. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bjorkquist,
namely: I^irs Gunnar, Plildur Elizabeth, Oscar William and Herbert
Hjalmar.
Politically, Mr. Bjorkquist is a Republican. He has always taken an
active interest in the affairs of Moorhead and is a member of the Commer-
cial Club, also of the Builders Exchange at Fargo. He belongs to the
Swedish Ludieran church.
JOHN E. LEDING.
The late John E. Leding, who was a prosperous farmer of Bear Park
township, Norman county, where he was the owner and operator of a fine
farm of two hundred acres and where he was the first settler, was born at
Sundahl, Norway, a son of Erick and Marit (Mahle) Leding, both of whom
were natives of Norwaj', where they grew up, married, reared their family
and died, the father a farmer there.
John E. Leding was reared on the old farm in Norway and there he
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 579
received the common school advantages which the time and place afforded.
Some years after he reached manhood, he married Inger Mahle, who was
born in Norway, where her death occurred, and she bore him three children,
all of whom came to America with their father ; they were : Syneva, deceased ;
Erick and Marit, deceased. Before he left Norway, he was married to Helge
Mahle, and they were the parents of four children, namely : Lars, born in
Norway; Edward, who now lives on the old home farm in Norman county;
Ole and Inger.
Some years after his second marriage, Mr. Leding decided upon leav-
ing the land of his birth and he brought his entire family to Winneshiek
county, Iowa, in 1872 or 1873, and they remained in their first place of
settlement until 1879, when they came to Norman county, Minnesota, in
the spring of that year, he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres
in section 32, Bear Park township. He remained there until his death
occurred, August 2, 1909, and his widow still makes her home on the old
place. Being a thrifty and industrious farmer, his operations were suc-
cessful, and he was enabled to add to his holdings by the acquisition of
forty acres in section 31, Bear Park township, where he was the first settler.
As the years passed, he improved his farm, which he brought up to a high
state of cultivation, by erecting excellent farm buildings, until he was the
owner of one of the best farm plants in the neighborhood.
The late John E. Leding was an ideal pioneer, since he was a partici-
pant in the establishment of all the institutions of civilization in the town-
ship, including the religious, social and co-operative business interests. W'hen
the time came to organize Bear Park township into a bona-fide civil division
of the county, he was a member of the meeting convened for that purpose.
He helped to organize the St. Peter Lutheran church of Strand township.
Mr. Leding was also a leading spirit in the establishment of the Bear Park
Mercantile Company and the Farmers Elevator at Gary.
Edward Leding, tiie second son born to John Leding by the latter's
second wife, has always lived on the old home farm, in Bear Park township.
since he came here with his parents from Iowa, where he was born. Here
he and his mother make their home and are comfortably situated. He
began operating the farm in 1903 and continued to do so during his father's
declining years, and under his careful management, the farm has continued
to produce most bountifully. Like his father, he has continued the former's
activitv in the civil and business affairs of the community. For six years he
580 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
served the township as supervisor, and during his incumbency, he discharged
his duties with strict fidehty to his official trust. The co-operative business
interests of the county have demanded more of his time than have the ci\il
interests, for he is connected with the creamery and mercantile companies
at Sundahl and with the mercantile companies at Bear I 'ark and W'aukou.
S. M. LEE.
S. M. Lee, manager of the extensive establishment of the Peoples Sup-
ply Company at Gary, dealers in general merchandise, and one of the best-
kiiown young business men in Norman county, is a native .son of that county
and has lived there ])racticaliy all his life. He was lx)rn on a pioneer farm in
Hear Park township on Octol>er 21. 1883. son of the Hon. S. J. and Marie
(Heglie) Lee, both natives of the kingdom of Norway and pioneers of Nor-
man county, who are still living on their old homestead farm in Bear Park
township.
The Hon. S. J. Lee, former member of the Legislature from his district.
.IS noted above, is a native of Norway, where lie was born on June 12, 1859,
and he was about eight years of age when his parents came to the United
States and settled in Fillmore county, this state, among the pioneers of that
countv. There he grew to manhood and remained until 1882, when, shortly
after his marriage, he came up to this part of the state and homesteaded a
cpiarter of a section of land in section 22 of Bear Park township, Norman
county, where he established his home and where he ever since has made his
residence, having one of the best-improved farms in that part of the county.
From the very beginning of his residence in Norman county, S. J- Lee took
an active part in general local civic affairs, served for seven or eight years as
assessor of his home township, for ten or twelve years as clerk of the same
and in 1894 was elected to the lower house of the Minnesota Legislature as
a representative from the fifty-first legislative district, and served in that
important and responsible capacity during the sessions of 1895 and 1897.
having been re-elected in 1896 to succeed himself. In 1908 he was elected
as a member of the board of commissioners of Norman county from his
district and b\- successive re-elections is still occupying that position, for the
past two or three years having been chairman of the board. S. J- I-ee and
wife are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Lee for some time having
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 581
served as clerk of the local congregation, and their children have been reared
in that faith. There were twelve of these children, of whom the snbject of
this sketch was the first-born, the others being Tillie. Maggie, Julia, Sidney,
William, Alice, Ida. Norman, Henry. Alfred and Agnes, all of whom are
living save Sidney, who died in 1916.
S. M. Lee was reared on the home farm in Bear I 'ark townshii), on
which he was born, and upon completing the course in the common schools
attended business college at Crookston for three years. He then, from 1900
tb 191 1, was employed with tlie Bear Park Mercantile Company and in
1912 went over into North Dakota, where he was engaged at Clifford for
one year, at the end of which time he returned to this state and for about
three years thereafter was in the employ of a business concern at Waupon.
In the fall of 1916 he became engaged as manager of the store of the Peoples
Supply Company at Gary, which position he now occupies and in which con-
nection he has done much to extend the business of that enterprising con-
cern. Mr. Lee is the owner of an eighty-acre farm in section 22 of Bear
Park township. He served a term as clerk of that township while living
there and has ever given his earnest attention to the general affairs of his
home community.
On January 13, 191 2, .S. M. Lee was united in marriage to Clara Sveve.
daughter of Eric O. Sveve and wife, and to this union three children have
l)een born, Edgar S., Manville and Lyle Roger. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are
members of the Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in church
work, as well as in the general good works of their home town and the
community at large, ever helpful in laromoting all agencies having to do
with the advancement of the common welfare hereabout.
HELMER N. BENTLEY.
Helmer N. Bentley, local manager at Twin Valley for the Bertram
Lumber Company, former member of the board 'of trustees of that village
and former president of the council, is a native of the adjoining state of
Iowa, but has been a resident of Minnesota and of Norman county since
he was a babe in arms, his parents having settled here back in pioneer days,
in the days before Norman county was organized as a civic unit, and he
thus has been a witness to the development of this region almost since the
beginning of organized settlement here. He was born on a farm in the
582 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
vicinity of Northwood, in western Iowa, August 14, 1878, son of Ole S.
and Anna (Bergeson) Bentley, natives of tlie kingdom of Norway, who
came up into the Red River valley in 1879 and settled in Norman county,
where they are still living, now substantial residents of Wild Rice township.
Ole S. Bentley was born in Norway on February 2, 1850, and was nine
years of age when his parents, Ole B. and Mary (Olson) Olson, came with
their family to the United States and settled in western Iowa, among the
earliest pioneers of that region, where he grew to manhood and married.
After his marriage he remained in the vicinity of Norwood until 1879,'
when he came with his family up into this section of Minnesota and located
on a homestead farm in the eastern part of Norman county, where he re-
mained until 1896. in which year he moved to a farm in section 30 of Wild
Rice township, where he still lives, one of the most substantial and influen-
tial residents of tiiat neighb<jrhood. Ole S. Bentley has served as a mem-
ber of the board of supervisors of Wild Rice township and has in other
ways contributed of his time and his services to the general civic affairs of
the community of which he has been a resident since pioneer days. He and
his wife are members of the Norwegian (Synod) Lutheran church and
their children were reared in that faith. There were eleven of these chil-
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth,
the others being Clarence, Minnie. Ollie f deceased). Julia, Sidney, Sophia.
Henry. Olga, Melvin and Laura.
As noted aliove, Helmer N. Bentley was but an infant when his parents
came up from Iowa and settled in Norman county and he grew up on the
pioneer home farm, receiving his schooling in the schools of district 41, in
Wild Rice township. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued as-
sistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place and he
remained at home until 1901, when he entered the employ of the Wilcox
Lumber Company and was made the manager of that company's yard at
Audubon, where he remained until the summer of 1903, when he trans-
ferred his services to the Ballard & Trimljle Lumber Company and was
made the manager of that company's plant at Twin Valley and continued
thus engaged until that plant was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1907.
Air. Bentley spent the following summer on the road for the Ballard &
Trimble Company, making collections in North Dakota, and then entered
the employ of the Monarch Elevator Company, being made grain buyer for
that company at Twin \'alley, and was thus engaged until the spring of
1909. when he bought an eighty-acre farm in Wild Rice township, in the
vicinity of his old home, and was engaged in farming during the following
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 583
summer. In the fall of that same year he sold his farm and resumed busi-
ness pursuits, for a year thereafter acting as manager of the establishment
of the Twin Valley Implement Company. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Bentley
resumed his former connection with the Ballard & Trimble Lumber Com-
pany and was made manager of that concern's plant and yards at Red Wing,
this state, where he remained until tiie spring of 1912, when he returned
to Twin Valley to accept the position of manager of the local plant of the
Anchor Lumber Company and was thus engaged when, in the spring of
1 91 6 that yard was sold to the Bertram Lumber Company. Under the
new management Mr. Bentley was retained as manager of the plant and
has continued to occupy that position since, one of the best-known lumber
men in this part of the state. Mr. Bentley has not only been active in busi-
ness, but has done his part in the public service and has ever been a con-
sistent and intelligent "booster" for his home town and the community at
large. In 191 5 he served as a member of the board of trustees of the vil-
lage of Twin Valley and in 1916 was president of the council.
In the year 1903 Helmer N. Bentley was united in marriage to Lena
Waller, daughter of Ole Waller and wife, and to this union three children
have been born, Lillian, Oris and Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley are mem-
bers of the Norwegian (Synod) Lutheran church and take a proper interest
in church work. They have a very pleasant home at Twin V^alley and take
an interested part in the community's general social activities.
OSWALD S. HELLERUD.
Oswald S. Hellerud, assistant cashier of the Citizens State Bank of
Twin Valley and one of Norman county's most active and influential young
business men, is a native son of that county and has lived tiiere all his life,
with the exception of the time spent in college at Mooriiead and at Fargo.
He was born on a pioneer farm in Hegne township on October 9, 1883,
son of Hans J. and Thora (Olson) Hellerud, natives of the kingdum of
Norway and pioneers of this part of Minnesota, who are now living at Twin
Valley, where Hans J- Hellerud, further and fitting reference to whom is
made elsewhere in this volume, has for the past ten years been engaged in
the clothing business, one of the best-known and most substantial merchants
of that thriving village.
584 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Reared on tlie home farm in Hegne township, Oswald S. Hellerud
received his early schooling in the district schools in the neighborhood nf
his home and supplemented the same by a course in Concordia College at
Moorhead and at Aaker Business College at Fargo. Upon completing his
business course he became employed with the local branch of the Interna-
tional Harvester Company at Fargo and was thus engaged for a year, at
thfe end of which time he returned to Twin Valley and for five years there-
after was actively engaged in his father's clothing store in that village. In
March, 1914, Mr. Hellerud became emploxed as a bookkeeixr in the Citizen>
State Bank of Twin Valley and in January, 1916, was ])romoted to the
position of assistant cashier of that l>ank, which position he now occupies, one
of the best-known young bankers in Norman county. Mr. Hellerud is one
of Twin Valley's most enthusiastic and ])ublic-spirited "boosters" and is
actively interested in all movements designed to advance the general com-
mercial and social interests of the place and of the community at large. He
also takes an earnest interest in local civic affairs. He was reared in the
faith of the United Lutheran church and takes a proper interest in cIuutIi
work and in other local good works.
ERNEST PINSKE.
Ernest Pinske, the owner of si.x hundred acres ol Wild Rice township
land, who has always imseltishly considered the well-being of his neighbors
as well as that of himself, was born in West Prussia on February 19, 1855.
a son of l-"erdinand and Morentina ( Schaffierus ) , both natives of Prussia,
the former of whom died in the place of his nativity and the latter in Nor-
man count\ . Minnesota, some years after she came to .America to make her
home with her son. Eniest. The elder Pinske and wife were the parents of
si.x children, as follow: Gust, now dead: Ernest, the subject of this review:
Theodore; Augu.st ; Hulda. still in Germany, and .Matilda, who died in Ger-
many.
Ernest Pinske received his early education in (iermanv and. on reachin.g
the age of eighteen, came to .\merica and located in l-"aribault, Minnesota,
where he was a laborer for a few years. Hearing the call of the soil and
seeitig before him the opportunity to become an agriculturalist, Mr. Pinske.
in 1881, loaded his personal effects and a few farming implements into a
wagon drawn by a team of horses and pushed northward into Xorman countv.
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TILDEN FOUNDATION-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 585
where he homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Wild Rice
township, wliich he has Ijroiijfht up to a fine state n{ cultivation and has im-
proved with fine farm huildinjjs ar.mnd which he has planted a heautiful
grove of trees. His perseverance, industry and <^(hh\ mana.tj-enient j,'avc him
the right to extend his holdings until now he is the ])n)prietor of six hundred
acres of land, on which he carries on general farming and raises stock. Mis
holdings are divided into two parts, "Oak Grove i-'arm." the name of the
home place, well improved with excellent farm huildings, and ''Kim Grove
Farm," the name of a tract which lies one-half mile east and is operated liv
his oldest son, Henry Pinske. When Mr. Pinske first came to this countrv.
his land was in great i)art heavily timhered, and in all he lias cleared two
hundred and fifty acres, nnich of it averaging eight) cords of wood to the
acre.
On h'ehruary i.;. 1881, h>nest I'inske married Johanna .Sanken, who
was horn in McLeod county, the daughter of Henrv Sanken. Tf) this um'on
have been born the following children : Bertha, Charlev. Lizzie, Clara. Seva
and Herman, all of whom are dead, and .\nna, Wilhelmina, Henry and Otto.
Mr. Pinske and his family are members of the Lutheran church, being always
active in the atifairs of that denomination, .Mr. Pinske ha\ ing lielped organize
the Green Meadow Lutheran church.
Mr. Pinske is a very valuable citi/en to his community, for he has given
much of his time and money to one of the greatest agents for opening up a
new countr\- — mads, l-'or nian\' \-cars he was road overseer, establishinsr and
super\ising the thorou.gh fares for a district which is now divided into three.
While serving the public in this ca])acity, he did much to improve the roads
in this part of Wild Rice township, .giving mone\' from his own pocket often-
times for the work. I'or many years the OTily roads by which his neighbors
could gain access to the ])ublic roads were through Mr. Pinske's farm.
OTJ-: K. OL.SON.
Ole K. Olson, the son of one of the early pioneers of Halstad townsliip,
Norman countv, antl one of the well-known farmers and stock raisers in
.Anthony township, where he owns two sections of excellent arable and
pasture land, is a native-born Minne.sotan, born in Fillmore county, this
state, on Christmas Eve, 1868, a son of Knut and Olena (Hellerud) Olson.
His parents were natives of Norway, and were numbered among the large
586 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
numbers of their countrymen who severed the ties which bound them to the
land of their birth to go forth in quest of new and better homes in the New
World. It was in 1867 that they bade goodby to their relatives and friends
back home and set sail for America, presently locating in Fillmore county,
Minnesota, where they remained seven years, during which time their son,
Ole K., was born. Hearing that a party of settlers in their community were
making preparations to "set sail" in their prairie schooners for the newly-
opened land in the Red river valley in 1874, Knut Olson loaded his family
and their household and agricultural appurtenances into a covered wagon and
drove through by ox-team to the region that was later organized as Norman
county, the journey requiring about three weeks. As soon as he arrived in
these parts, he took a homestead in what later came to be organized as Hal-
stad township, thus becoming one of the pioneers of that civil division of
the county, and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on Decem-
ber 22, 1916. His wife still survives him. Among his other pioneer activ-
ities, Knut Olson helped to establish the first Norwegian Lutheran church in
the community. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, Ole K.,
John K., Mar\-. Albert, Karen, William, Bertha, Emma and George (de-
ceased). ^Ir. and Mrs. Olson reared their family according to the precepts
of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Ole K. Olson was only six years old when he was ushered into the
pioneer conditions of Norman county. Here he received his common-school
education in the primitive district schools of those days, and his training for
his future agricultural pursuits in which he has proved himself so success-
ful. There he remained on the old homestead helping his father, bringing
the farm up to an admirable state of cultivation, until he reached the age
of twenty-five years. At that time, in 1895, he married and left the parental
roof-tree and located on his farm in Anthony township, which he had bought
two or three years previousl}'. There he has ever since remained, improv-
ing and cultivating his land. As the years have passed, prosperity has smiled
upon his efforts to such an e.xtent that he has been enabled to extend his
holdings until his farm now comprises three hundred and twenty acres, which
he has improved by raising fine farm buildings and adding modern agricul-
tural improvements. In addition to his general farming activities, he makes
a specialty of breeding Percheron horses and Shropshire sheep.
On June 22, 1895, O'e K. Olson was united in marriage to Laura
Westby, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Hans and Grurne (Scheie)
^Vestby, who came to Minnesota in 1892 and located in Norman county. Mr.
and Mrs. Olson are the parents of eleven children, Bennie, Harriette,
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 587
Orlando, William, Harvey, Pearl, Ordin and Gladys (twins), Kenneth,
Martin and Inez, all of whom are living. The Olson family are consistent
and conscientious members of the Lutheran church, in the affairs of which
denomination they take a deep interest. Mr. Olson is independent in his
political views and has never been a seeker after public office, but whenever
any movement is set on foot in the community for the social and business
betterment of the people, it always finds in Ole K. Olson unstinted support.
PETER LARSON.
Peter Larson, a substantial and progressive farmer, part owner of
the "Larson & Johnson Farm," in McDonaldsville township, Norman
county, is a native son of Minnesota, born in Norman county, where he
has lived all his life with the exception of one year spent in North Dakota.
He was born at Ada on August 24, 1881, a son of Hans and Helena
(Peterson) Larson, both of whom were born in Norway.
Hans Larson received his education in the schools of Norway and in
1863 immigrated with his parents, Lars and Maria Knutson, to the United
States, working for some years later on his father's farm in Iowa. At
the age of twenty-eight years, in June, 1880, he came to Ada, Norman
county, a horse-team being employed to cover the journey, which occupied
about two weeks. He made Ada his home for two years, engaged in run-
ning a feed barn, and at the end of that period he bought land in Hegne
township, his holding consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of land,
on which he carried on general farming for ten years. He then moved to
McDonaldsville township, this county, and purchased a parcel of land,
which he has operated with considerable success and on which he has con-
tinued to reside ever since, the holding consisting of two hundred and sev-
enty-four acres. He is also interested in the raising of Shorthorn cattle,
some excellent specimens of which are to be found on his farm. A more
extended account of Hans Larson appears in another part of tliis work,
to which the reader is referred for additional information respecting the
Larson family generally.
Peter Larson was educated in the schools of McDonaldsville town-
ship and later helped his father in the work of improving and developing
the home farm. Some time later he homesteaded a farm in Benson county.
North Dakota, and remained there during the year 1903, proving his claim
588 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
up with money, lie then returned to McDonaldsville town.ship and here
he and hi.s partner. Mr. Johnson, own two hundred and forty acres of
prime land, known as the "Johnson & I^rson Farm." an excellent holding,
kept up to all modern requirements demanded for agricultural purposes, on
which they have erected fine farm buildings and are engaged in carrying
on diversified farming, with satisfactor\- results. In addition to their farm-
ing operations tlie\ also have a choice herd of full-I)loo(l .Shorth<:)rn cattle,
and the farm buildings inckule a substantial l)arn and silo.
In the fall of 1913 Peter Larson was united in marriage to Minnie
Langeland, who was Ixjrn in the state of Iowa, daughter of Ole Langelanfl
and wife, and to this union one child, Orval, has been born. ]\Ir. Larson
and family are mem])ers of the Synod church and are active in all neigh-
borhood good works, earnest ;id\ocates of all movements calculated to
advance the general welfare of the communitv. -Mr. Larson takes a keen
interest in public affairs and for the past two years has served as township
treasurer and in the e.xecution of the duties of that iniportant office has
given general satisfaction.
1)A\ ID COLSTON I.K illTBOL'RX.
David Colston Lighthourn. editor and publisher of the Norman County
Index at Ada, chairman of the i-iepublican county central committee of
Xorman county, former insurance commissioner for the state of Minnesota,
former mayor, former member of the council, former recorder and member
of the school board and former judge of probate of Xorman county, a
pioneer of this county and one of the oldest newspaper men in point of
continuous service in the Red Kiver valley, is a native son of Minnesota
and has Ii\ed in tliis state all his life, witli the exception of parts of two
years spent in Winnipeg years ago and one summer spent at Grand Forks,
North Dakota. He was born in the city of St. i'aul on January 30, 1858,
a fon of Edward S. and Susan Samantha (Murray) Lighthourn, the former
a native of the Bermuda Islands and the latter of the state of Illinois, both
of whom are now deceased.
The Lightbourns are of English stock and the branch of the family
from which the subject of this sketch descended became establi.shed in the
Bermudas more than three hundred years ago and has ever maintained a
prominent part in the affai^^• of the English colony there. Edward S. Light-
CLAY AND NORMAN COTNTIKS, MINNESOTA. 589
bourn was born in 1831 and some time after awning to the United States
from the fair island of his birth estabhshed his home in the city of St. Paul.
His death occurred in 1908. His widow survived him for several years,
her death occurring in 1913. She was born in lllimiis in 1832, daughter
of D. C. Murra}- and wife, both of Colonial stock, whose ancestors fought
in every war in the history of diis countr\-. lulward S. Lightbourn and
wife were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Mrs. Leni I..
Shire, E. T. I.ightbourn and Mrs. George W. Harding, of St. Paul; Mrs.
M. Tyllia, of Minneapolis; Mrs. Emma Van Home, of Morris, this state;
Charles Lightbourn, of Willits, California; Mrs. A. G. Kulander, of
\\'alker, Minnesota, Mrs. Ernest Hopwood, of Portland, Oregon, and Mary
Lightbourn. deceased.
Reared at St. Paul, the city of his birth, David C. Lightbourn received
his schooling iheie ;ind was graduated frnm the high school in that city.
He early became interested in newspaper work and after spending parts
of two years at Winnipeg and a summer over at Grand I'^orks. North
Dakota, came to Ada in the spring of 1883 and established the Noriiian
County Index at Ada, and has ever since been the publisher of that sterling
newspaper, he for years having been widely recognized as one of the old-
est newspaper men in point of continuous service in this part of the state.
Mr. Lightbourn is an ardent Republican and his newspaper has ever reflected
his views with relation to the [irinciples nf that party, having long been
recognized as one of the ablest expounders of those ])rinciples in Minnesota.
During many campaigns in the past Mr. Lightbourn has served as
chairman of the Republican central committee in Norman county and is
now serving in that cajiacity. In 1890 he was elected judge of probate for
Norman county and served one term in that capacity. He also has given
much of his time and attention to the service of the state and served for
some time as insurance commissioner of the state and as deputy insurance
commissioner, serving thus from 1892 to 1897 and during 1901-05, serving
as deputy insurance commissioner during these ])eriods with the exception
•of the term including the year 1896, when he served as insurance commis-
sioner. In local civic affairs he also has been active, taking an inlluenti;d
and useful part in the general political affairs of Ada and of Xorman
county, and has served as mayor of Ada, as a member of the city council,
as recorder of the city and as a member of the school board, to all of these
various public duties bringing his most thought fid and intelligent attention.
Mr. Lightbourn also has ever given his earnest attention to the general
S90
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
business affairs of the comnnuiity and has done much to help promote the
same. He not only is editor and publisher of the Index, which has ever
been a faithful and consistent "booster" of the interests of this section of
the state, but he is a stockholder in the I""irst State Bank of Ada and in the
Farmers and Merchants Bank of Ada. and likewise has stock in and is a
member of the board of directors of several other local concerns. During
the time that Company I. Third Regiment, Minnesota National Guard, was
stationed at Ada, Mr. Lightboiirn served for five years as an officer of the
same and was a lieutenant at the close of that service.
Mr. Lightbourn has been thrice married. In 1887, at Ada, he was
united in marriage to Emily Ginsberg, who died in 1902, leaving three
children, namely: Mrs. Arthur M. Mueller, of Ada; Alice Fay Lightbourn,
who is the teacher of domestic science in the schools of Ada, and Blanche
Lily Lightbourn. who is now (1917) a student in Carleton College. In
1908, at Denver, Colorado, Mr. Lightbourn married Carrie Louise Welley,
who died three years later, without issue. On April 3. 191 5, Mr. Light-
bourn was united in marriage to Ragna Welley, sister of his second wife.
Mrs. Lightbourn was born in Strand township, Norman county, on March
27, 1887, a daughter of .\. J. Welley and wife, pioneers of this county,
who were the parents of (luite a family of children, ten of whom are still
living, those Ijesides Mrs. Lightbourn being John Welley, Lewis Welley.
Elert Welley, Carl Welley, Ida Welley, Mrs. Leslie Barnes, Anna Welley,
Hjalmer Welley and Malvin Welley. Mr. Lightbourn was reared as an
Episcopalian, but he antl his wife are now affiliated with the Congregational
church at Ada. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the
Knights of Pythias and the Modern Samaritans and takes a proper interest
not only in church and lodge work, but in the general social activities of
the conununity of which he has been a part since pioneer days.
PETER H. AAMOTH.
Peter H. Aamoth, a retired farmer who owns one thousand acres of
Minnesota land, living in Twin Valley, Wild Rice township, was born in
Norway on September 18, 1847, the son of H. P. and Karen (Clair) Aamoth,
both born in Norway, who came to America in 1871 and settled in Rock
county, Wisconsin, where they remained one year. In 1872 the elder
Aamoth and his family decided to move into Minnesota and located in Fos-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 59I
sum township, Norman county, where he homesteaded one hundred and
sixty acres in section 22 and improved the same. Here the parents remained
until their deaths. Seven children were born to H. P. Aamoth and wife,
namely: Annette, Peter H., Lars, Hans, Nels, Olena and Engwold. All
of the children are living in Fossom township except Nels, who died in 19 "..
The elder Aamoth was one of the first settlers in Possum township, which
he helped organize within its present boundaries; and he was also a lead-
ing spirit in the establishment of the East Wild Rice Lutheran church, of
which he and his family remained active and consistent members.
Peter H. Aamoth spent his childhood and early manhood in Norway,
where he attended the common schools; and when he was twenty-two years
old came alone to America and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin. His
parents came one year later and when the family determined upon establish-
ing their home in Minnesota he, with his cousin, Andrew Olsen, came on
ahead of his parents by train to Benson, then by stage until they reached
Alexandria and walked the rest of the way to Norman county. There Mr.
Aamoth settled in what is now Possum township and sent for his parents
and the rest of the family, after he had taken a homestead of one hundred
and sixty acres in section 22, which he improved by erecting substantial
farm buildings and by planting a grove, the land being raw prairie when he
got it. In 1903 he retired and moved to Twin Valley, where he lived only
two years, his industrious disposition and thrift causing him to withdraw
from his retirement and move back to his homestead, where he remained
active in agricultural pursuits until 1913, when he moved back to Twin
Valley, where he remained one year. Mr. Aamoth's success in general farm-
ing and business has enabled him to extend his holdings repeatedly, for in
1913 he bought two hundred and forty acres in section 22,, Possum town-
ship, where he has since lived, and later he added to his homestead until
it now comprises four hundred and eighty acres, all of which he still owns.
His acquisition of farm land has not been confined to Norman county alone,
for, in all, he is the owner of one thousand acres of Minnesota land.
Mr. Aamoth. in addition to his farming interests, has been active in
business afifairs and in acquiring: and inipro\ing urban real estate. He has
a house and five lots in Twin Valley, which bid fair to be a good investment ;
and in 1892, with Christ Woler. he established a general store in this village,
but he sold out after being in business a few months. He has also been
interested in the extension of credit facilities in the new country, for he
helped organize the Pirst National Bank and the Citizens State Bank of
Twin Vallev, and was a stockholder in the Pirst National Bank at Mahnomen.
592 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Minnesota, but he is at present not connected witli any of these hnancial insti-
tutions. Even though Mr. Aamoth has been a conspicuous man in tlie affairs
of his community and has ever been active in all movements for the better-
ment of social and business conditions, he has never aspiretl to political
office.
On January 3, 1878, Peter H. .Vamoth was unitetl in niarria,L;c. on Jiis
own homestead, to Eliza Ovidea Olson, who was l)orn in Winneshiek count) .
Iowa, the daughter of P. S. Olson, a pioneer of Wild Rice township. .\or-
man county. To that union were born the following children, all of whom
are still living: Julia, Helmer, Theodore. Alfred. Emma. Cora, b'rancis
and Sidney. Mrs. Aamoth died on November 28, lyoj. Mr. Aamoth and
family are devout, conscientious and acti\e members of tlic Lutherrm cluircii.
lielonging to the Maniesta congregation at i-'aith ; howe\er, they w ere mem-
l>ers formerly of the Wild Rice Lutheran churcli, which he helped to organize,
\vlien thev lived on the other farm.
MARTIN A. HEIBERG.
Martin A. Heiberg, former proprietor of the Heiberg elevator at 1 win
A'alley and a well-known general dealer in tlour. feed, grain and seeds at
that place, was born in Norman county and has lived there all his life, with
the exception of some years spent in North Dakota and several years spent
homesteading in Montana. He was born in the village of Heiberg (old
Twin Valley) on March 16, 1887, son of J. !•". and Augusta (Slettsback)
Heiberg, early and influential residents of that i)lace. who are still living
there and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this
volume in a biographical sketch relating to J. ]\' Heiberg, the well-known
\eteran miller and electric-light i>roducer at Heiberg.
Reareil at Heiberg, M. A. Heiberg received his schooling in the schools
«)f tiiat village and from the da\s of his youth was a valued assistant to his
father in the labors of the hitter's mill. When si.xteen years of age, in 1903.
he w ent to ^'alley City, Nortli Dakota, and was there engaged until 1908
working in the mills of the Russell Miller Milling Companv. He then went
over into Montana, meantime having married, and entered a homestead claim
to a quarter of a .section of land ami there made his home. [)roving up his
claim, until U)i2. in which year he sold his claim and returned to Norman
county, locating at Twin \'alley. where he bought the elevator of the Heiberg
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 593
Elevator Company, and took charge of the same, maintaining the proprie-
torship of that thriving business until September i, 1917, when he sold out
to the Twin Valley Grain Company. Mr. Heiberg still carries on a general
wholesale flour, feed, hay, potato and seed business and is also the jobber,
for the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, for the Packro "seedtape,"
maintaining a force of men on the road for the sale of his products, besides
an ample force of men in the ofhce and warehouses. He also has a feed-
grinding mill and in addition to his other activities has built up an extensive
business in the real-estate line, being recognized as one of the most energetic
young "hustlers" in this part of the state. Mr. Heiberg takes an active inter-
est in the community's general affairs and as secretary of the Twin Valley
Good Roads Association has done much to advance the cause of better roads
hereabout. His petition for the improvement of forty-six miles of road in
the territory adjacent to Broadview, Montana, was granted and the road
bears his name. During his residence in Musselshell county, Montana, Mr.
Heiberg was the organizer of school district No. 37 in that county and was
clerk of the school board, doing a fine work for the advancement of the in-
terests of the schools in that pioneer community.
In the year 1904 M. A. Heiberg was united in marriage to Matilda
Peterson, daughter of Henry Peterson and wife, of Heiberg, and to this
union have been born six children, Arthur B., Viola M., Francis E. W., Irene
L., Ruth M. and Inez B. Mr. and Mrs. Heiberg are members of the Nor-
wegian Lutheran church and take an interested part in local cliurch work,
as well as in tlie general social activities of the community and are helpful in
promoting such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare.
TRON RISHOF.
The state of Minnesota has many men of prominence who are of for-
eign birth and who have risen to their present high standing in the conv
munity in which they live by dieir own efforts. Among the number who
have thus won their way to success and influence it is well to mention Tron
Rishof, who is now living in retirement in Gary, Minnesota, and who was
born in far away Norway in the year 1848 and is the son of Tron Rishof
and Gunhild Haugerud, born in Tlaskerud.
The parents of our subject, Tron Rishof, received their education in
the schools of their native country and there grew to manhood and woman-
(38a)
594 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
hood and were married. After their marriage thej- estabHshed their home
in the northern country where they were born and there they spent the rest
of their Hves, highly respected and held in the highest regard by their
friends and those who knew them. They were the parents of six children,
Torkeld, Erick, Tron, Marie, Gunhild and Kriste, all of whom are now
deceased save the subject of this sketch and Gunhild, the latter of whom is
a resident of Litchfield, Minnesota. The family were members of the
Lutheran church and always took an active interest in church work.
Reared to manhood at the old home and completing his schooling in
the local schools of his native land, Tron Rishof decided, in the year 1869,
that he would seek his fortune and his home in America, where many of
his countrymen and friends had located, and where they were meeting with
success in their various operations in life. On his arrival an this country
he came at once to Minnesota and for a year worked at St. Paul, moving
thence to Pelican Rapids in the year 1870. He took a homestead of one
hundred and si.xty acres in Otter Tail county and at once Ijegan tiie prep-
aration of his future home. He built a small house, and after his marriage
in 1874 established his home there, occupying that pioneer dwelling for
some years, entered with spirit into the task of developing the tract that he
had homesteaded. For ten years he battled with the difficulties that con-
fronted him and during this time succeeded in putting much of his land
under cultivation and making many valuable and substantial improvements.
He then moved up into Norman county and here he started a general store
three miles east of what later became the town of Gary, his store having
been the first business enterprise in the place that later was known as Strand.
In 1883 the town had reached such proportions that a postoffice was estab-
lished there and Mr. Rishof was named the first postmaster, which position
he held until the year 1899, when he disposed of his store and resigned his
position. His sons Theodore and Olaf, with Louis Garden, then estab-
lished a general store at Gary, which they operated until the year 1901, when
Mr. Rishof purchased the interests of the son Olaf and Mr. Garden, .\fter
having made the purchase the business was continued by him and his sons
Theodore and Ed, until the year 191 5 when they sold to the Farmer's ]\Ier-
cantile Company, which has since conducted an extensive business in the
town. After having sold his business Mr. Rishof retired from the activities
of life and has been living in his well-established home in the town of Gary.
Mr. Rishof has always been interested in the agricultural affairs of
die county and is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of splendid
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 595
land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved.
He is also interested in the State Bank of Gary antl has long been recog-
nized as one of the prominent and influential men of the county. Since
coming to this part of the state of Minnesota Mr. Rishof has seen many
changes in the general aspect of the country. The wild prairie and the
wooded tracts have been transformed into splendid farms, with well culti-
vated fields and beautiful homes; and where once grew the tall prairie
grass and forest trees are now to be seen broad fields of growing grain and
splendid herds of cattle and droves of hogs. Beautiful and substantial
houses and well-equipped barns have taken the place of the log shack and
the dug-out. Splendid schools and churches have been erected and the gen-
eral aspect of the country is one of progress and prosperity. To those early
settlers is due much honor and credit for their untiring efiforts in the devel-
opment of one of the greatest farming districts in the United States.
In the year 1874 Tron Rishof was united in marriage to Marie Holt,
also a native of Norway and the daughter of Ole and Martha (Risberg)
Holt. Her parents were also natives of that country and there they were
educated and grew to maturity and were married. After their marriage
they established their home in the land of their nativity, where they C(jn-
tinued to live for some years, at the end of which time they decided that
they would seek their home in America. Upon coming to the United States
they proceeded on out to Minnesota and were among the early settlers in
Fillmore county, where they settled in the year 1869. They remained in
Fillmore county for two years and then moved to Otter Tail county, locat-
ing near the town of Pelican Rapids, where Mr. Holt homesteaded the farm
which he later developed and improved. The wife and mother had died
while the family were living in Fillmore county. In those days the near-
est market was at Alexandria, and there the settlers had to go for their
household supplies. This trip was not an easy one, for there were no roads
and the means of travel were not as they are today. To Mr. and Mrs. Holt
were torn eight children, those besides Mrs. Rishof, being, Arne, Ole (de-
ceased), Martin, Breda (deceased), Haakon (deceased), Alete and Johana.
Mr. and Mrs. Holt were active members of the Lutheran church, took great
interest in the development of the district in which they had settled and they
were ardent advocates of the establishment of good schools and the erection
of churches. After having developed his farm, the father engaged success-
fullv in general farming and stock raising f(M- a number of years, and there
he spent the remainder of his days.
596 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
To Tron and Marie (Holt) Rishof have been lx)rn the following chil-
dren: Theodore, Olaf, Godfred, Edward, Oliver, Abel, Gena, Emilie and
Clara, all of whom are living with the exception of the last named. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Rishof are prominent members of the Lutheran church, in
the faith of which they have reared their children. They have always been
libera! subscribers to the support of the local church and have been much
interested in the various benevolences of the organization. Having come
to the state in an early day, ^Ir. and Mrs. Rishof have witnessed the tran-
sition of the territory from the primeval state to one of the finest sections
of the Union. To all this work they have given their best efforts, and to
them is due much of the honor for the present condition of things.
Not alone has Mr. Rishof looked to his own interests, but he has ever
taken a keen interest in the general affairs of the county in which he has
lived for so many years and where he is held in sucii high regard and esteem.
His life has been a worthy one and he and his wife are today recognized as
among the influential persons of the district in which they live. Mr. Rishof
has in no sense been a seeker after after office, yet he has had much to do with
the civic life of his liome communitv.
ALBERT E. MOLL.
Albert E. Moll, farmer of Humboldt township. Clay county, was born
in Hennepin county, Minnesota, in 1867. He is a son of John and Katherine
( Baners) ;\Ioll, both natives of Alsace, who came to the United States
single, the modier before the Civil War, accompanied by her parents. Her
father homesteaded land near Fairbault, Minnesota. He was a soldier in
the Civil War and died in the service. John Moll came to America after the
war and located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was married, and
later took up farming in Hennepin county, south of that city, remaining
there until about 1882, when he came to Clay county and took up a home-
stead of one hundred and sixty acres in HumLoldt township. He developed
the land into a good farm and established a comfortable home, spending the
rest of his life there, dying .some time ago. His widow is living in Idaho.
She is a member of the Lutheran church, but he was a Catholic. To these
parents the following children were born ; Albert E., Sophia, John, Louise,
Clara. Arthur, Maggie, Louis and Philomin.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 597
Albert E. Moll grew to manhood on the farm and attended the public
schools, principally in Wilkin county, just across the line, for there was no
school in his district in Clay county when he was a boy. When a young
man he began life for himself by buying one-half of section 26, Humboldt
township, but later sold out and bought his father's homestead, on which
he has since made his home. He has made many important improvements
on the same, has erected modern buildings, anrl has been successful as a
general farmer and stock raiser. In 19 14 he bougiit back one hundred and
sixty acres of his former half section and has since farmed on a large scale.
In 1 89 1 Mr. Moll was married to Lona Sounier, who was born in
Serwomoni, France, in which country her parents lived and died. She came
to America about 1889. She is one of three children, namely: Guest, who
came to America with his sister Lona and is now a rural mail carrier out
of Barnesville, Minnesota ; Lona, who was second in order of birth, and
Emil, who served three years in the French army in his young manhood,
later moved to Mankirk, Switzerland, entered business there and has since
operated a cafe there. The following children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Moll: Nellie, Edward, Elizabeth, Adolph, Walter (deceased), Eugene,
Lawrence and Harold.
Mr. Moll helped organize the Farmers Elevator Company at Barnes-
ville and has since been a stockholder in the same. He also assisted in
organizing the first creamery in Barnesville, known as the farmers cream-
ery. Politically, he is independent. He is serving as road overseer at this
writing, and for the past four years has served as a member of the school
board in his district. He and his family are members of the Lutheran
church.
LEWIS GARDEN.
Lewis Garden, editor of the Gary Graphic and mayor of Gary, one of
Norman county's most influential men, was born at St. Peter, in Nicollet
county, Minnesota, February 20, 1872, and is the son of Ole L. and Maria
( Dahl) Garden, both df whom were born in Norway, where they were
reared. The former came to the United States in the year 1868 and the latter
in the year 1870, both locating in Nicollet county, Minnesota, where they
were later married. After their marriage they established their home in
that county and there they resided until 1878. During his early residence in
the countv, Ole L. Garden worked on the railroad and later as a farm hand.
598 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
After his marriage he devoted his time to farming and in the year 1878
he and his wife moved to Norman county, becoming- the first settlers in what
later came to be organized as Bear Park township, ahhough one man had
hied for a tract (^f land previous to this time. On coming to the county, Ole
L. Garden homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. There Iieing
no .settlers in the territory at that time, the Httie family estabhshed their
iiome on the isolated plains, and there erected a house in which they lived
for some years. The task of developing the tract was a hard one and the
family experienced many of the hardshijis of the early life on the plains,
their early life in their new home l>eing lonely and hard. There they experi-
enced all the hardshi]5s and privations of the early settlers in their endeavors
to make a home for themselves and their family. The land in time was
broken and die crops planted and the harvests gathered and the little family
became, in a way, prosperous. The farm after a time was improved and
]ilaced under cultivation and there Mr. Garden engaged in general farming
and stock raising with success. He is still living on the place at an advanced
age and continues to take much interest in the management of the place and
the affairs of the community. His wife died in the year 1887 and her death
was mourned by a large circle of friends, w-ho held her in the highest regard
and esteem. She was a woman of pleasing personality and one who took
great interest in all the activities of the district in which she lived. Mr.
Garden also took great interest in local affairs, was one of the influential
men who assisted in the organization of the township, was a member of the
first township board and later served as township treasurer. He and his
wife were the parents of the following children: T^ewis, Christina. Regena.
Olaf, John. Oswald and Martin. Regena is the widow of H. B. Lawager
and lives at Crookston. Minnesota. Olaf is a resident of Billings, Montana;
John lives at Wolf Point, Montana: Oswald is on the old farm, and Martin
is the manager of the farmers general store at Waukan. Mr. and Mrs.
Garden were long members of the Lutheran church and were prominent in
all the services of the local society, to the support of which they were lil)eral
subscribers. Mr. Garden was one of the organizers of the local church and
had much to do w^ith its early success. Both Mr. and Mrs. Garden were
active in all the affairs of the early settlement and had-much to do WMth the
growth and the development of the community in which they lived and
where they were always held in the highest regard and esteem by all. Mr.
Garden is possessed of much force of character and his interest in the town-
ship as well as the county is evidence of his patriotism and his high regard
for his home communitv.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 599
Lewis Garden was but a lad when he came to Norman county and he
received his primary education in the schools of Norman county. During
the first six years the family lived in Norman county there were no English
schools. Then the schools were in a measure established and tlie first year
they had a school term of one month and the next year they had two
months, continuing thus until district No. 56 was in time organized and
there Mr. Garden attended school and later at the Academy at Willmar.
After spending one term at the academy he attended Park Region Lutheran
College at Fergus Falls and was graduated from the business department of
that institution. Upon leaving college Mr. Garden became bookkeeper in
a store at Gary and remained thus engaged for nearly two years, at the end
of which time he and his brothers-in-law. Theo. and O. T. Rishof, built
a store building at Gary and entered into the general merchandise business.
For the next five years Mr. Garden remained in the store, he and his part-
ners conducting the business successfully. At the end of that time, in 1890,
Mr. Garden was appointed postmaster of his home town, which position he
held for fifteen years with entire satisfaction to all the people of the dis-
trict, always giving the same careful attention the business of the office that
he gave to his own affairs. In the year 1909 he purchased the Gary
Graphic and since then has been the editor and publisher of that sprightly
and locally popular journal. Through the columns of his paper, Mr. Garden
has wielded a large influence, both in the political and the moral
development of the county. He is a recognized writer of force and his edi-
torials carry much weight in the community in which the Graphic circulates.
Not alone with matters of morals and politics does he deal in the columns
of his paper, but devotes much space to the general matters of interest to
all the people of the count)-, and in this manner he has exerted a marked
influence on the general growth and development of the entire community.
In 1899, Lewis Garden was united in marriage to Gena Matilda Rishof,
who was born in Norway, the daughter of Tr6n and Marie (Holt) Rishof,
the former of whom was the first postmaster at Gary and further and fitting
mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, the Rishofs having
been among the earliest settlers in this part of Minnesota. To Lewis and
Gena Matilda (Rishof) Garden have been born three children, Bernice
Evelyn, Raymond Emory and Clarice Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Garden are
members of the Lutheran church and have long taken an active interest in
the affairs of the community in which they have lived for so many years,
having had much to do with the advancement of the schools and the moral
and social conditions of their home town. Mr. Garden has always been a
600 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
leader and adviser in the political party with which he is identified and is
recognized as one of the substantial and influential men of the county.
He has served as village clerk and is and has for some time been mayor of
the city. During a recent session of the Legislature he was the assistant
engrossing clerk and in that position he gave most efficient service. He has
devoted much of his time of late years to the handling of real estate and
in this line also has been quite successful.
REV. T. A. HAGEN.
Among the mountains and valleys of southern Norway, along Langesund
Fjord and back of Nordsjo, skien of Kragero, lies the ancient province
of Telemarken. In Telemarken the oldest church is known as Hitterdal
church and its history dates back to 1180 — to the time of St. Olaf. It
was from Telemarken that some <jf the earliest settlers of Minnesota came,
and they have proved to be an enterprising, thrifty people. Among these
Telemarkens is the Rev. T. A. Hagen, pastor of the United Lutheran
churcli at Hendrum and in spiritual charge of three other congregations
of that communion in that vicinity. He was born at Saude, Telemarken,
March 12, 1863, son of Anders and Bergete (Naset) Hagen, also Tele-
markens, who came to Minnesota in 1885 and located on a farm in the
neighborhood of Ashby, in Grant county, where they spent the remainder
of their lives. Anders Hagen and his wife were members of the United
Lutheran cliurch and their children were reared in that faith. There were
thirteen of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
first-born, the others being as follow : Ingeborg, who married Ole Olson ;
Anna, who married Andrew Eken ; Margaret, deceased ; Bergete, deceased ;
Ingeborg, who married B. B. Schmidt, and Halvor, Torsten A., Ole, Andrew.
Tillia, Louis and Hulda.
T. A. Hagen remained in his native land until he was twenty years
of age, when, in 1883, he came to the United States and proceeded on
out to Minnesota, locating at Ashby, in Grant county, where he remained
until 1887, in which year he moved up into the valley of the Red river
and for ten years thereafter was engaged in teaching school in Norman
county, meanwhile sedulously pursuing his studies with the design, enter-
tained from boyhood, of entering the gospel ministry.' In 1898 he entered
the seminary of the United Lutheran church at Minneapolis and upon
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 6oi
completing the course there was ordained to the ministry of that church,
the ordination ceremony taking place at Minneapolis on June 17, 1900.
Following his ordination the Rev. T. A. Hagen was stationed in charge
of a congregation in Kittson county and remained there for thirteen years,
during which time he organized three congregations and before he left
had three ministers in charge of a large field originally covered by his
ministrations. It was in 1913 that Mr. Hagen was transferred to the
charge at Hendrum, a change which brought him back to Norman county,
the scene of his earlier endeavors as a school teacher, and he since has
been located there, doing an excellent work. There are four churches
attached to Mr. Hagen's pastorate, those besides the church at Hendrum
being the church at St. Pauli (north), the church at Concordia (east), and the
church at Pontopidan (east), his earnest personal influence and power for
doing good thus being directed over a wide territory. During this long
period of ministry Mr. Hagen has held several offices in the United Luth-
eran church. By appointment he, for some time, held the office of visitator
for the Crookston circuit and was then elected to that office, serving thus
for four years. He also, for four years, was a member of the mission
board of the church.
On January 2, 1884, the year after his arrival in America, the Rev.
T. A. Hagen was united in marriage to Anna Lee, daughter of Ole Lee
and wife, also Telemarkens, and to this union nine children have been born,
namely : Clara, wife of the Rev. C. B. Runsvold ; Bertha, wife of J. A.
Emanuelson. a farmer, and Anna, Alfred, Olga, Esther, Olaf, Valborg
and Alice. Mrs. Hagen's parents, both of whom are now deceased, spent
all their lives in their native country, their home being on a farm.
OLE L RINDAHL.
Ole L. Rindahl, a well-known retired farmer of Bear Park township,
Norman county, owner of six hundred and eighty acres of land, is a native
of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this county since
1880. He was born in the county of Faaberg, in Norway on August 23,
1845, a son of Lars O. and Olia (Rise) Rindahl, natives also of that country.
Lars O. Rindahl and his wife immigrated to the United States in 1858
and located first in Clayton county, Towa, where they lived with relatives
for two years. In i860 they moved to Nicollet county, Minnesota, by ox-
6o2 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
team, the journey occupying three weeks, and in that county Lars O.
Rindahl settled on a tract of school land on which he farmed during the
remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1865, his widow surviving until
1879, in which year she died. At the time of the Indian outl)reak resulting
in the massacre at New Ulm, in 1862, Mr. Rindahl and his family with
many others hurried for protection to St. Peter, his son, Ole L. going to the
defence of New Ulm, where he remained in defence of the white people
until the Indians were finally dispersed and order restored. Lars O. Ran-
dahl and wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch
having a sister Elie, who married Johan Lar.son, of Polk county, Minne-
sota, and who lived across the Norman county line.
Ole L. Rindahl had opportunity for but little education in his native
country. In 1880 he came to Norman county from Nicollet county, where
the parents had previously been living, in that county having been the owner
of a tract of land. He settled on the farm which he still owns, pre-empting
one hundred and sixty acres of land directly across the road from his present
dwelling, proved up on the same and proceeded at once to improve and culti-
vate it. He also homesteaded a quarter section where his present home is
located and here he has been living ever since. In the aggregate Mr. Rindahrs
land holdings amount to six hundred and eighty acres, all but one farm of
pne hundred and sixty acres being in one body. He is also the owner of a
quarter section of pine land in St. Louis county, Minnesota, and one hundred
and sixty acres of pine land in Cook county, Minnesota. Mr. Rindahl put
some fine buildings on the home farm, including two good houses, and during
his active life was engaged in general farming. For the past four years he
has been living retired on the home place, having rented his other land, and
is regarded throughout the township as one of the most prosperous retired
farmers in the community.
In 1869 Ole L. Rindahl was united in marriage to Karen Hoveland.
who was born on December 10, 1850, a daughter of Jens and Cherstie
(Rindahl) Hoveland, natives of Norway, who immigrated to Wisconsin in
1857 and remained there until 1862, living in Rock county. In the latter
year they, in company with twelve other families travelling by ox-team,
moved to Goodhue county. Minnesota, driving eighty head of cattle through,
where they settled down, except Jens Hoveland and family, who proceeded
to Nicollet county, arriving there at the time of the Indian outbreak result-
ing in the New Ulm massacre in 1862. Jens Hoveland died in Goodhue
county, and his wife died in Nicollet county. They were the parents of eight
children as follow : Bertha, deceased : Lars, deceased ; Ole, deceased ; Simon,
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 603
deceased; Johanali, living; Johan, deceased; Amund, deceased, and Karen,
the wife of Ole Rindahl. Of the foregoing children, Lars Hoveland served
with a Minnesota regiment during the Civil War, going from Goodhue
county, where he had been living. Ole, Simon and Johan Hoveland enlisted
in 1861 in Wisconsin and served until the close of the war, having re-enlisted
at the end of their first term of three years, serving throughout with the
Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rindalil the following children have been born: Law-
rence, deceased ; Laura Christina. Jens Oluf . Alexander, Oscar Benjamin,
Carl Laurence and Albert Christian. The Rindahl family are members of
the Lutheran church and are warm supporters of all its good works. Mr.
Rindahl helped *to organize the Faaberg congregation of the first Lutheran
church at Rindahl, the organizing meeting being held on a pile of logs on
Mr. Rindahl's farm. He assisted in the organization of Bear Park township
and served on the first township board, and has held township and school
offices from time to time. The first postoffice at Rindahl was located in an
addition to ]\Ir. Rindahl's claim shanty. He also has been energetic in the
promotion of mercantile undertakings and helped to organize the Rindahl
Mercantile Company when the farmers bought it of Jens and Carl Rindahl,
who had been operating the store as Rindahl Brothers for about eleven years.
Mr. Rindahl helped to organize the Rindahl Creamery Company and has
held office in that corporation, and he assisted in the organization of the
Farmers Elevator Company at Fertile and has been on the board of directors
of the same almost from the beginning. Mrs. Rindahl was overseer of the
Wild Rice Orphans Home for several years.
MARTLN FREDERICK HANSON.
Among the native sons of Minnesota who have lived their lives in the
state of their nativity and are today among the prosperous business men of
Gary, is Martin Frederick Hanson, who was born in Freeborn county, this
state, July 3, 1876, the son of Hans and Carrie Olson (Kernvold) Hanson,
natives of Norway, where they received their education and were married.
Hans Hanson was born on January 2"], 1827, and his wife first saw the light
of day on December 24, 1829. For a time after their marriage they con-
tinued to live in the land where they were born, and in the year 1853 they
decided to seek a home in America, where they might the better have an
604 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
opportunity to obtain a home for themselves and their family. Following
their arrival in the United States they established their home at Round
Prairie, Wisconsin, where they lived for a short time before locating at
Kamrar, Iowa. In the latter place Mr. Hanson worked at his trade, that
of a tailor, which he had learned in Norway, antl remained there until 1858,
when he moved with his family to Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he estab-
lished the first tailor shop in the place. He later located on a homestead
near that town and there he carried on his trade, in connection with his
work on the farm. His homestead consisted of one hundred and sixtv
acres of splendid land, although it was for the most part wild prairie when
the family established their home on the tract. The farm was in time
developed and improved and there the father died on February 25, 191 1,
and his widow on July 2-j, 1916. xMr. and Mrs. Hanson were active, hard-
working people, and until within a few years before his death Mr. Hanson
was active in the management of his farm and continued at work at his
trade. They were the parents of the following children : .Anna, Helen, Marie
Ole, Charles, Peter, Bertha Louisa, Adoipli Wilhelm. Bertha Louisa (sec-
ond), Hans Thomas, Caroline Marie, Emma, Sophia Randine, Albert and
Martin F., of whom Helen, Charles, Peter, .Adolpii. Hans. Emma, Sophia,
Albert and Martin are still living. Mr. and i\lrs. Hanson were active mem-
bers of the Lutheran church and took much interest in all religious work.
Martin Frederick Hanson received liis education in the schools of Free-
born county, Minnesota, and tliere he grew to manhood. For a time he
worked in a drug store at Albert Lea and at Hartland, after which he came
to Norman county, where he worked, as a farm hand, for his brothers,
Charles and Peter, from 1895 to 1898, in which latter year he was then united
in marriage to Randa Sulerud, the daughter of Carl Sulerud and wife, highly
respected people of the county. After his marriage he returned to Freeborn
county and there purchased the half of his father's old farm and engaged
in general farming until the year 1901, when he returned to Xorman countv
and purchased a farm, which he operated, in connection with the farm of his
father-in-law, for three years. He then sold his farm and purchased an
mterest in tlie Gary Mercantile Company and at the same time became man-
ager of the Wilcox Lumber Company, which later position he still holds,
having not only given satisfaction to his employers but by his business meth-
ods has won the confidence and the respect of the entire public. He has
always taken a keen interest in such enterprises as have had to do with the
general growth and prosperity of the district, is one of the interested stock-
holders of the Farmers State Bank of Gary, a stockholder in the Wilcox
Lumber Company and also does quite a business in the real-estate way.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 605
Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have two children, Mertle C. and Harrold C.
The family are active members of the Lutheran church, have long been
identified with the social and the religious life of their home community and
are held in the highest regard by all who know them, their interest in the
moral and educational development of the community having much to do
with the high standing of their home town. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson are
stanch supporters of the public schools and are liberal supporters of the
local religious institutions. They have a fine home, nicely located, and their
generous hospitality is widely recognized by their many friends.
Mr. Hanson is a worthy member of the local lodge of the Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons and has had much to do with the success of the local
organization, and is a member of the American Geographical Society, Wash-
ington, D. C. He has always taken a keen interest in the civic affairs of
'his home city and his worth and ability have been recognied by the voters
of Gary. For a time he served as village clerk and also during his residence
on the farm served as township clerk. He has also served on the village
council and was for a time president of the local school board, to all his
official duties giving the same careful thought and attention that he gives
to his own business.
P. A. OTTERSON.
P. A. Otterson, well-known and enterprising young dealer in agricul-
tural implements, threshing-machines and tractors at Twin Valley, was
born on a farm in Worth county, Iowa, March 19, 1885, son of Peter A.
and Regina (Serspet) Otterson, natives of Norway, who came to the
United States about 1879 and settled in Iowa. Peter A. Otterson developed
a good piece of farm property in Worth county and there spent the re-
mainder of his life, his death occurring in 1900. He and his wife were
members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that
faith. There were eight of these children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being Clara, Nicholas,
Ottalie, Olaf, Ruth, Christine and Ida.
Reared on the home farm in Iowa, P. A. Otterson received his school-
ing in the schools of his home district and remained at home until he was
eighteen years of age, when, in 1902, he came up into Minnesota and
located at Audubon, in Becker county, in the vicinity of which place he
for two years thereafter was engaged working on farms. In the fall of
6o6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
IQ04 he went up into the Dominion of Canada and homesteaded a quarter
of a section of Saskatchewan land, which he "proved up" and on which he
remained until the spring of 1909, when he returned to Minnesota and
located at \ oss, in Becker countv, wliere he opened a general store. In
1912 he disposed of his interests there and moved over into Norman
county, locating at Mom, where for a year thereafter he was engaged as a
clerk in a general store. He then resumed farming and was thvts engaged
until the spring of 19 14, when, shortly after his marriage, he located at
Twin Valle}" and there became one of the organizers of the Big Four Im-
plement Company and engaged in tlie general agricultural-implement busi-
ness. In the following spring (1915) Mr. Otterson became sole owner of
the establishment created by that company and has continued the same,
handling a full and complete line of farm implements, threshing-machines,
tractors and the like, and is doing a good business, one of the best-known
merchants in that part of the county.
On January 15, 1914, P. A. Otterson was united in marriage to Jennie
Knutson, daughter of Martin Knutson and wife, and to this union two
children have been born, Mildred and Pearl. Mr. and Mrs. Otterson have
a very pleasant home at Twin Valley and take a proper interest in the gen-
eral social activities of the village. They are members of the United
Lutheran church and take an interested part in church work, as well as in
other neighborhood good works.
PETER O. INGBERG.
In a local work published about 1901 having to do particularly with the
lives and the works of the men who had up to that time contributed so much
to the development of the farms and farming interests of Norman county
there was presented the following biographical sketch relating to the late
Peter O. Ingeberg:
"One of these fine estates is owned and operated by Peter O. Ingberg,
who resides in section ^2 (Hendrum township), and has accumulated a
good property by dint of his own efforts. He was born in Norway on
October 31, 1852, and was a son of Ole H. and Emma (Olson) Ingberg,
both of whom were natives of Norway. The father died in Norman county,
Minnesota, in 1892: the mother, in Norway in 1872.
&
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 607
"Our subject received a common-school education in iiis native land,
and then assisted his father on the home farm and received good training
in this vocation. At the age of twenty years he decided to try his fortune
in the New World and, accordingly, left his native country and landed in
America, locating at once in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where he continued his
residence four years. He went to Norman county, Minnesota, in 1876, and
settled on section 32, in Hendrum township, taking eighty acres of govern-
ment land as a homestead. He built a log house and a log barn and used
oxen for the work of his place for the first six years. His trading point
nearest to his farm was Moorhead, thirty miles distant, and the trip there
and return took three days. Mr. Ingberg traded to some extent with the
Indians and he endured many hardships and privations in the early days
there. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of land, all of which is
improved. He has erected a good residence and commodious barn, in which
he has ample hay room, and the other buildings of the place supply all shelter
necessary for products and stock. He has a flowing well on the farm and
the land, being located on the bank of the Wild Rice river, affords native
timber and is admirably adapted to general farming. He keeps about six
head of horses, forty head of cattle, thirty sheep and other stock, from which
a good income is derived.
"Our subject was married in 1879 to Emma Johnson, who was born in
Norway, January 18, 1852. The following children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Ingberg: Ingvald, Mary, Joseph, Helen, Bernhart, William,
Albert, Samuel, Oscar (deceased), and Mai-y (deceased). Mr. Ingberg
is a gentleman of active public spirit and he has served four years as county
commissioner, and has also served as chairman of the town board, clerk of
the school district, and is the present treasurer. He is a man of advanced
thought and studies the topics of the times, and in political sentiment is
identified with the Populist party. He and his family are members of the
Lutheran church."
To the above may be added the information that Mr. Ingberg remained
on his homestead farm until his death, which occurred on December 20,
1915. After the abo\-e statement of his material possessions had been made
he continued successful in his farming operations and became the owner
of eight hundred and forty acres of land. One of his specialties was the
breeding of Angus cattle and his sons continue successfully engaged in that
line. Mr. Ingberg helped to organize what is now the State Bank of Hen-
drum and was vice-president of the same from the day of its organization
until the time of his death. He also helped to organize the Farmers Ele-
6o8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
vator Company and the local creamery company at Hendrum and was other-
wise active in local business affairs, ever giving of his time and his energies
to the promotion of such enterprises as were calculated to advance the
common good. In addition to his public services, mentioned above, he also
served for some time as township clerk and in other ways did his share in
advancing the civic interests of his home township and county. He helped
organize Hendrum township when it was erected a civic unit of Norman
county and also helped to organize Emmanuel Lutheran church, in the affairs
of which he ever took a warm interest. Mr. Ingl>erg's widow is still living
on the old home place. His children, Joseph B., William and Helen, consti-
tute the firm of Ingberg Brothers and together they continue to operate
their father's estate.
MEKKEL O. LEE.
Mekkel O. Lee, a well-known stock raiser and grain farmer of Hen-
drum township, Norman county, where he owns three hundred and twenty-
eight acres of well-improved land, was lx)m in Norway on August 27,
1863, the son of Oie Olson and Christie (Osen) Lee, both natives of Norway,
the former being a farmer there. The father died in Norway, but the
mother came to Minnesota with her son, Mekkel, and here died in Norman
county. The elder Lee and wife were the parents of eight children, namely:
Lev, who died in New York when the family were coming out to Minnesota
after they had arrived in America ; Ole, living in Norman county, Lee town-
ship ; Gunder, Ole and Ingeborg, all of whom died in Norman county ;
Christopher, who died in Norway before the family emigrated: Mekkel.
the subject of this review, and Nels, living in Lee township, Norman county.
The family were members of the Lutheran church, in the affairs of which
they took a deep interest.
Mekkel O. Lee, who attended the common schools of Norway during
his boyhood, grew to manhood on the old farm back in the land of his
nativity, but when he reached the age of eighteen he accompanied his mother
and her family to the New World where they had decided to set up their
home. After they arrived on American soil, in 1881, they came directly
to Minnesota and settled in Lee township, Norman county. In that same
year Mekkel Lee went to Hendrum township where he bought eighty acres
of railroad land, on which he placed improvements and where he lived
for thirty years. As the years passed, he e.xtended his holdings out into
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 609
the bare prairie which he speedily improved with the erection of good build-
ings, and brought under cuUivation. Now he has three hundred and twenty-
eight acres on which he carries on general farming and raises graded Hol-
stein cattle.
On April 7, 1888, Mekkel O. Lee was united in marriage to Anna Nels-
datter Caldevand, who also was born in Norway, daughter of Nels and
Ginneye (Birka) Caldevand, both also natives of Norway, the former of
whom died there and the latter of whom is still living there. To Mr. and
Mrs. Lee fourteen children have been born, namely : Nels, who is farming
in the Peace river valley in Canada; Selma and Clara, twins, both of
whom are married and now living in Canada ; Melvin, deceased ; Orlando,
owner of a fann nine miles east of that owned by his father; Ingval, who
enlisted for service in the European War, December 18, 191 5, and went
to the front with a Canadian regiment and is still serving with honor and
bravery with that regiment, despite the fact that he has been twice wounded
during his service ; Martin, Rachel, Fritjof, Sarah, Hilda, Theodore, Inga
and Ingman. Mr. Lee and family are devoted members of the Lutheran
church and he helped to organize the Concordia Lutheran church. He has
also had a good citizen's interest in the common enterprises of the com-
munity, as he helped to organize the creamery company, the Farmers Ele-
vator Company and the Farmers State Bank at Hendrum.
MAX RICHARDS.
Max Richards is another member of that family who is prominently
identified with tlie farming life of Kragnes township. Clay county, although
he has been living in North Dakota for several years. He was born in
Calumet, Michigan, in 1874, a son of Robert and Ellen (Giffin) Richards, the
former of whom was born in Cornwall, England, in December, 1844. and
the latter in Belfast, Ireland, in August of the same year. Mrs. Richards
came to the United States early in Hfe and died in 1913. Robert Richards
attended the public schools of his native place and there grew to manhood.
At the age of twenty years, in 1864, he immigrated to America, his first
place of residence being Calumet, Michigan, where he worked in the copper
mines for some time as foreman. In 1883 he moved to Minnesota and set-
tled on a farm in Kragnes township. Clay county, and engaged there in
(39a)
6lO CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
general farming and the raising of stock up to the time of his death in Feb-
ruary, 1912; his death, however, occurred in Fargo, North Dakota. Robert
Richards and wife were the parents of seven children, as follow: John,
deceased; Tom; Alax, the subject of this sketch; Alexandria; Margaret;
Will and Gill. Of these children, Tom, Gill, and Margaret, are noticed in
other parts of this volume, and to these reviews the reader is referred for
further particulars respecting their individuality.
Max Richards was educated in the schools of Calumet, Michigan, and
of Clay county, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. In common
with his other brothers and sister he inherited land in Clay county, about
three years ago, his share being eighty acres, located in Kragnes township,
and on this land general farming is carried on. Mr. Richards has a house
and two lots in Moorhead, this county. He lives in Fargo, North Dakota,
where he is deputy sheriff and jailer, of Cass county. He has been living
there for about fifteen years, for more than eleven years of which time he
has occupied his present position Mr. Ricliards has money invested in the
Calumet mines in Michigan.
On Februar}' 18, 191 5, Max Richards was united in marriage to Jennie
Gravell, who was born in 1892 in Watertown, South Dakota, the marriage
taking place in Fargo. Mrs. Richards' parents live in Fargo, where they
are the owners of house property in the town and are also engaged in the
wholesale paint and wall-paper business. They lived originally in Grand
Rapids, Michigan, but have been residents of Fargo for the past twenty
years, and are well known in the business life of the community.
BERNT ANDERSON.
Bernt Anderson, a well-known retired farmer, living in Spring Creek
township, Norman county, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, born in
that country on November i, 1846, a son of Andrew and Anna Bright, both
natives of Sweden, who came to America some years after their son, Bernt,
had settled in this part of Minnesota. Andrew Bright homesteaded a quarter
section of land in Spring Creek township and there spent the remainder
of his life. His widow died at the home of her son, Bernt Anderson. By
a fomner marriage Mrs. Bright was the mother of one son, Ole Lofgren.
who died. By her marriage to Mr. Bright she was the mother of three chil-
dren, Carj-ie, Ole and Bernt.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 6l I
Bernt Anderson immigrated to America in 1865, going on arrival to
the state of Wisconsin and there married Johanah Stephenson. He went
west to Pembina county, North Dakota, and took a homestead tract, and
during his absence in that place his wife died. They were the parents of
one child, Albert, also deceased. Later, in Wisconsin, Mr. Anderson married
Anna Stephenson, sister of his first wife. In 1881 they moved to Norman
county and located at Rindahl and there he operated the first store the place
ever had ; later he gave up the store and bought a relinquishment right of
one hundred and sixty acres in a homestead in Spring Creek township. He
was one of the early settlers there and having proved up on the holding,
proceeded to get the place improved and ready for crops, in a short time
having everything going in good shape. As he prospered in his farming
operations he added more land, finally acquiring four hundred and twenty-
one acres of prime land. In 1902 Mr. and Mrs. Anderson left the farm,
first making a trip to old friends in Wisconsin, and established themselves
in the follow^ing year in Fertile, this state, where they have since lived retired
from the active affairs of farm and business life.
By his second marriage Mr. Anderson became the fatlier of two chil-
dren, Julia and Bilof , the latter of whom lives in North Dakota. Mr. Ander-
son for years had given close attention to local civic affairs and was chair-
man of the township board while living in Spring Creek township and also
was clerk of the school board and treasurer of the same for many years.
He helped organize the first school district and helped build the first scliool
house, which is still standing. He helped to organize the Sundahl Lutheran
church, assisted in the work of promoting the creameries at Fertile and
Betcher and during his active years was regarded as one of tlie most pro-
gressive citizens of the community with which he has been identified almost
from the days of its first settlement, he and his wife carrying with them
in tl:eir retirement the good wishes of all.
In 1 90 1 Julia Anderson was married to Hans Hemming, who was born
in Norway, a son of Knut and Martha (Stockland) Hemniingstad. farming
people, the former of whom died in that country, where the widow still lives.
Hans Hemming, on coming to this country, settled in Norman county in
1900 and started farming in Spring Creek township. After his marriage
in 1 901 he moved to Nobles county, Minnesota, and farmed there for three
vears, at the end of which time he returned to Spring Creek township and
farmed for two years. His next move was to Adams county. North Dakota,
where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, remaining there
for two vears, at the end of which time he moved to Polk county, Minne-
6l2 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
sota, and farmed for five years. In 1913 Mr. Hemming moved onto his
father-in-law's old homestead, on which he has since resided and where he
contemplates making his permanent home. To Mr. and Mrs. Hemming the
following children have been born: Alice M., Gladys B.. Helen E., Harry
L.. Kermit R., .Vrnold (deceased), Ernest G. and Leona M. The family
are members of the Lutheran church and are warmly interested in all its
good works Mr. Hemming was one of the organizers of the Farmers
Elevator Company at Fleming and is also interested in the Peoples Supply
Company at Gary.
CHESTER S. PILOT.
One of the promising young business men of Clay county is Chester
S. Pilot, cashier of the bank at Baker. He was born in Kent, Minnesota,
October 20. 1887, and is a son of Sidney S. and Louisa (Kruger) Pilot.
The father was born at Osseo, this state, and the moUier was born in
LeSueur county, Minnesota. Sidney S. Pilot teamed for the government
across the wild plains of the Northwest in the early days. He was a team-
ster in the army of General Custer for some time prior to the massacre at
the Little Big Horn in Alontana. in 1876, and he was at Ft. Abercrombie
when the Indians were disarmed by Captain Potter. .\l)out 1880 he came
to Minnesota and took up a homestead in Roberts township, Wilkin county,
which he developed into a good farm and which he operated with grati-
fying results until 1900, when he retired from active life and moved to
Moorhead, where his death occurred on November 4, 1907. His widow is
still residing in Moorhead. She belongs to the Congregational church, of
which he was also a member. To these parents the following children
were born : Ruby, Chester S., Arnold, Eckly, Alvin and Catherine.
Chester S. Pilot grew to manhood on the home farm in Wilkin county,
^Minnesota, where he worked during vacation periods. In the winter time
he attended district school No. 9, in Roberts township; later was a student
at the McCauleyville school, then studied awhile in the schools of LeSueur
county, in 1899. After 1900 he went to school in Moorhead and was
graduated from the high school there in 1907. During the two vears fol-
lowing he worked for a grain company under Colonel Morton, of Fargo,
then was in the railroad service with the Northern Pacific, stationed at Dil-
worth. His services with both the above named companies were eminently
satisfactory. The bank at Baker, Clay county, was organized in 191 1 by
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 613
L. A. Huntoon and on February i6, 1912, the bank was opened for busi-
ness, with Mr. Pilot as cashier. He has continued to discharge the duties
of this responsible position ever since in an able and creditable manner,
being alert, faithful and courteous to the patrons of the bank. The growth
and prestige of this sound and safe institution have been gradual and satis-
factory from the first.
On October 20. 1914, Chester S. Pilot was married to Pearl Brunner.
a daughter of Charles Frederick Brunner, of Meadvjlle, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Pilot is a member of the Congregational church at Moorhead. Fra-
ternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Daughters of Rebekah. He is the present treasurer of Alliance township.
MARTIN G. LEE.
Martin G. Lee, a well-known farmer of Hendrum township, where he
has lived for thirty-three years, the owner of two hundred and eighty acres
of well-improved land, was born in Norway on May 30, 1863, the son of
Gulbrand and Marit (Overbee) Lee, both natives of Norway where they
were born, reared, married and died, the father being a farmer. They were
the parents of eleven children, namely : Gulbrand, who was for fifty years a
member of the fire department in Christiania, Norway, and is now pen-
sioned; Iver, whose death occurred in Norway; Abraham, now living in
Stevens county, Minnesota; Halstan, still living on the old home farm in
Norway; Ole, who died in Polk county, Minnesota; Martin G., the subject
of this review; Inger, still living on the old farm in Norway; Bertha, living
in Stevens county, Minnesota: Carrie, who lives in Kent, Washington;
Marit, who died in Crookston, Minnesota, and Andrew, who died in Morris,
Minnesota. The family were all members of the Lutheran church.
Martin G. Lee spent his boyhood and reached maturity on the old
fami in Norway, where he received his early education; but in 1883, when
■ he had reached the age of twenty, he decided to become an adopted son of
America, and accordingly emigrated to Minnesota in that year, settling in
Stevens county, where he was a farm hand for one year. In 1884 he left
Stevens county for the county of Norman, where he has continued to live.
He first worked there on farms, where he gained a livelihood and much
experience in American farming methods which was very valuable to him
when he began farming for himself. In 1889 he decided to seize the oppor-
6l4 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
tunitv to become a landowner in his own right and bought one hundred and
sixty acres of Hendrum township land, on which farm he has since lived.
As his holding- was nothing but the bare prairie, much labor was entailed to
make the needed improvements arid to place it under cultivation, Nothing
daunted by the size and difficulty of the task, he set to work, planted a
grove and erected excellent buildings and now has a well-kept and profitably
cultivated farm, where he carries on general farming.
On November 30, i88q, IMartin G. Lee was united in marriage to Gun-
hild Brown, who was born in Wisconsin, May 3, 1871, the daughter of
Ole and Olia Brown, natives of Norway, the former of whom emigrated to
America in 1S52, and the latter in i860. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have nine
children, all of whom are living, namely : Gena, Oscar, Lawrence, Adolph,
Gilmer, Clili'ord. ]\linnie, Ida and George. The family are stanch adher-
ents to the Lutheran ciiurch, of which denomination they are active and
earnest members.
.Mr. Martin is a member of the Socialist party and has been deeply
interested in the civil affairs of his community, being a member of the
Hendrum township board for nine years. In addition to his interest in
the government of the township, he is also closely connected with the busi-
ness interests of the community, having helped organize the Fanners Ele-
vator Company at Halstad, a similar company at Hendrum and the cream-
erv and the Farmers State Bank at Hendrum, and is also connected with
the State Bank of Hendrum.
ANDREW HOLES.
The memorial annals of Clay county carry no more interesting and
far-reaching account of any one of its citizens tlran is to be found in a brief
recital of the life of the late Andrew Holes — teacher, farmer, gold pros-
pector and real-estate man. He was born in Ithaca, New York, February
10, 1836, and died at Moorhead, this county, August i, 1903, a son of James ■
and Mary (Hibbert) Holes, natives of England.
James Holes was educated in the schools of his native England and in
1834 he and his family immigrated to the United States, going to Bradford
county, Pennsylvania, where he later became the owner of a farm of land,
which he operated for some years. He later moved to Tioga county. New
York, where he died some years later. His wife. Mary Hibbert, also a
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 615
native of England, died about eighteen years ago while living at Fargo, North
Dakota. They were the parents of the following children : Sarah, who
died in England at the age of two years; Samuel, who died at the age of
fifty-one years in St. Cloud, Minnesota; George, who died at Owego, New
York; Andrew, the subject of this memorial sketch; William, now living in
St. Cloud at the age of seventy-five years, and James, deceased.
Andrew Holes was educated in the schools of Pennsylvania and on going
to New York state he continued his studies there, finishing at an academy in
New York. In 1853, at the age of seventeen, he moved to LaPorte, Indiana,
and taught school twelve miles out of that place for one winter tenn, later
returning to New York, where he remained until 1857. He then spent a short
period in St. Cloud, this state, after which he took a claim of one hundred
and sixty acres in Kandiyohi county, Minnesota, which he proceeded to
improve, living there for some time and returning to New York in 1859.
In the fall of i860 he went to Michigan, where he trapped for pine mink
and marten for seven months and in which enterprise he was successful,
selling the hides at good prices in Detroit, that state, and again returned
to New York. On the next trip to Minnesota, Mr. Holes went to St.
Paul, taking the stage to Georgetown, Clay county, going thence with three
hundred Canadians to the Pacific slope by ox-team and mules, the journey
occupying six months. The party bought a claim and operated it success-
fully, hiring sixty-five men at seven dollars per day. Mr. Holes acquired a
gold claim in British Columbia, going there through Yellow Head Pass, and
in 1865 took the gold dust to mint at Philadelphia, where it was coined.
In the following year he returned to St. Cloud, where he embarked in the
real-estate business, having spent two winters in a business college at St.
Paul.
In 1871 Mr. Holes moved to Moorhead, tliis county, where he later
died. Some time after his arrival he bought one hundred and seventy-three
acres of land of the only settler who was there at that time, later selling
the tract and purchasing other land. He built the first ice house in Moor-
head. During the remainder of his active life in Moorhead Mr. Holes
dealt extensively in farms and real estate, his speculations in these two fields
proving very successful, at the time of his death in 1903 being accounted
one of the most prosperous men in the community. During his early days
in this part of the county he lived in a tent on the spot where Fargo now
stands. He donated liberally to various enterprises in and about Moorhead
and was generally regarded as one of the most farseeing citizens in this
part of Clay county. Mr. Holes was the first county commissioner and
6l6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
served as chairman of the board of supervisors and vi^as a memljer of the
board of school trustees. In the business Hfe of Moorhead he was identified
with many commercial undertakings, including being a stockholder in the
Moorhead National Bank. He was a splendid type of man physically, stand-
ing six feet two inches, and as a citizen he helped to build this part of the
great Northwest, living to see it developed from a raw state to a well-
established section of the commonwealth. He was a man of dependable
habits, temperance being a prominent feature of his whole life, and his death
in 1903 at the age of sixty-seven was a matter for very general regret through-
out the entire county.
Mr. Holes was married to Conie Conant in 1870 at St. Paul. She was
born in Warren, Pennsylvania, in 1834. She is still living in Moorhead,
her parents and brothers and sisters being all deceased. Mrs. Holes is the
owner of considerable property in Moorhead, as well as a quarter section
of land in Brown Valley, a quarter section in Breckenbridge, property in
Crookston and Ada, this state, farm land in Clay county and property in
Alexandria. During the many years of residence in Moorhead Mrs. Holes
has taken an active part in the many social and cultural movements that
have passed since she settled here in 1870, doing her duty as a citizen and
a neighbor with credit and earnestness of purpose, an example to the whole
communitv.
JOHN MALAKOWSKY.
John Malakowsky, a prosperous and energetic farmer of Lockhart
township, Norman county, wliere he cultivates four hundred acres of land,
two hundred and fort)- of which he owns, is a native of Germany, born on
February 8, 1863. His parents were both natives of Germany, where tiie
father died when the son, John, was quite young. The mother, feeling that
America promised more to her family than her native land, brought her
son, the subject of this review, and her two daughters to this country in
1879, her other sons having preceded her to America some years before.
The mother brought her family on out to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where
they remained for three years, and in 1881 she brought her two daughters
on up into Norman county, joining her son, Julius, who had homesteaded
in Lockhart township in the year preceding. After some years residence in
this county, the mother died.
John Malakowsky did not accompany his mother up into Norman
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 617
county, but in the following year, 1882, he followed her here and this
county has practically been his home since. Since he was under age when
he came up to the Red River country, Mr. Malakowsky could not take a
homestead ; instead he worked out in northern Minnesota, gathering funds
in preparation for the time when he could start farming operations for him-
self. This he did in i88g when he began the improvement of the homestead
which his mother took for him in his minority by planting a grove and
erecting the necessary farm buildings. Since he has Ijeen fortunate in his
operations, Mr. Malakowsky has been enabled to add to his original quarter
section and is now the owner of two hundred forty acres. In addition to
farming his own holdings, he rents another quartersection ; in all there are
four hundred acres on which he carries on general farming.
In 1892, Mr. Malakowsky was united in marriage with Katie Wolf,
who was born in Rochester, New York, a daughter of Michael Wolf, who
now lives in Ada, this county. To this union ten children have been born,
all of whom are li\'ing-, as follow : Ida, Edward, Helen, Amie, Esther,
Raymond, Westley, Ruth, Irene and Harold. Mr. and Mrs. Malakowsky
are consistent and conscientious members of the Methodist Episcopal church,
the former helping to start the first church of that denomination in the com-
munity. Mr. Malakowsky formerly served as chairman of the township
board, and is now township treasurer.
ALBERT H. JOHNSON.
The career of Albert H. Johnson, a farmer of Skree township. Clay
county, is a splendid exam])le of what many of the thrifty sons of Norway
have accomplished in tiiis great western republic, after landing within our
borders with little capital and being compelled to start out in a strange
environment without assistance from anyone.
Mr. Johnson was born in Norway, August 24, 1871, a son of Hans
and Margaret (Polgrud) Johnson, both natives of Norway, where they
grew up, were married and established their home, but in the early part of
1872 they immigrated to America, locating at St. Peter, Minnesota, but
remained there only a short time, then came on to Becker county, this
state, and were pioneer settlers there, taking up a homestead in the early
seventies, which they developed into a farm and lived there until they retired
6l8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
from active life on account of old age, coming to Clay county i.o make their
home with their son, Albert H. Here they spent the rest of their days,
dying a number of years ago. Eight children, one of whom died in infancy,
unnamed; were born to Hans Johnson and wife, namely: John, deceased;
Anna, deceased; Lars, Julia and Tilda are all three living; All^ert H., «f
this sketch, and Sena, deceased.
Albert H. Johnson was a small child when his parents brought him
from his native land to America. He grew to manhood on the home farm
in Decker county, Minnesota, and there he attended the early-day district
schools.' He farmed there until about 1890, when he came to Skree town-
ship, Clay county, where he has since resided. He owns a valuable and well-
improved farm of two hundred acres, and is carrying on general ^farming and
stock raising successfully. His land was a wild prairie when he came here.
He has not only erected a splendid group of buildings, fences, etc., but has
set out a large grove, which is now of much value.
Mr. Johnson was married in 1903 to Mary Hanson, of Parke township.
Clay county, and a daughter of Andrew Lee and wife. To this union two
children have been born, namely: Lena and Anna. Mr. Johnson is a
member of the Gran Lutheran church.
EVEN N. QU ALLEY.
Even N. Oualley, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Hendrum
township, Norman county, former member of the board of supervisors of
that township and for years actively interested in the general affairs of the
Hendrum neighborhood, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has
been a resident of this country since he was eight years of age and of Nor-
man county since the year 1881, when he came over here from Wisconsin,
He was born on October 9, 1859, son of Nels and Mary (Haverud) OuaJ-
ley, both of whom also were born in Norway and who came to the Unitecl
States with their family in 1867 and settled on a farm in Manitowoc cotinty,
Wisconsin, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Nels Oualley
and wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Berit, Erick (deceased),'
Nels (deceased), Thomas (deceased), Thora (deceased) and Emma.
As noted above. Even N. Qualley was but eight years of age when his
parents came to this country and his schooling, which had been begun in
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 619
his native Norway, was completed in the schools of Manitowoc county,
Wisconsin. He remained in that county until he was past twenty-one years
of age, when, in 1881, he came over into Minnesota and located in Nor-
man county, having been for some time attracted by the possibilities then
offering to the industrious settler in this section of the Red River valley.
The next year, in 1882, he bought a tract of two hundred and forty acres
of school land in section 36 of Hendrum township, as an investment ; renting
the same to a responsible tenant and working "out" until 1887, when he took
charge of the place himself and after his marriage in the following year
estabHshed his home there and has ever since made that his glace of residence,
he and his family being very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. Mr.
Qualley has a fine grove on his place, has made extensive and substantial
improvements on the place and in addition to his general farming gives con-
siderable attention to the raising of Holstein cattle. He has added to his
original land holdings by the purchase of an adjoining tract of ninety acres
and is now the owner of a fine and well-kept farm of three hundred and
thirty acres. Mr. Qualley has ever given a good citizen's attention to local
civic affairs and for some time rendered excellent public service as a mem-
ber of the board of township supervisors. He also has been active in local
business affairs and was one of the organizers of the local creamery company
and of the Farmers Elevator Company at Hendrum, in the affairs of both
of which thriving concerns he has taken a warm interest.
In 1888, at Perley, Even N. Qualley was united in marriage to Emma
Ingberg, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Hans O. and Christine
(Olson) Ingberg, both natives of Norway, the former born on March 10,
1844, and the latter, in October, 1839, who came to the United States in
1881 and proceeded on out to Minnesota and settled in Hendrum township,
Norman county. Hans O. Ingberg, who is now living retired at Perley, is
the third in order of birth of the six children born to his parents, Ole Han-
son and Ingberg Olson, natives of Norway, the former of whom was
born in 1810 and the latter, about one year later. She died in her native
land in 1872 and in 1880 Ole Hanson came to Minnesota, his last days
being spent in the home of -his son, P. O. Inglierg, near Hendrum, where
his death occurred in 1892. He and his wife were the parents of six chil-
dren, namely : Agnet, who is married and is living in Norway ; Bertha,
deceased ; Hans O., father of Mrs. Qualley ; Olena, who is married and is
still living in Norway ; Peter, who established a home in the Hendrum neigh-
borhood in Norman county and there spent his last days, his death occur-
ring some years ago, and Julia, deceased. Hans O. Ingberg married on
620 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
August I, 1867, and continued to live in Norway until 1881, when, as
noted above, he came to Minnesota with his family and bought eighty
acres of land in section 35 of Hendrum township, Xorman county, where
he established his home and where his wife died in January. 1905. He pros-
pered in his farming operations and became the owner of a fine farm of
two hundred acres, which he sold two years ago and since then has been
making his home with his daughter at Perley. He helped to organize the
creamery company, the elevator company and the telephone company at
Hendrum and still holds stock in these concerns. To him and his wife
were born eight children, six in Norway ahd two in this country. Of ihese
children, Mrs. Qualley was the third in order of birth, the others being as
follow: Ole, who is married and living in Canada; Oluf, deceased: Mrs.
Lizzie Kirkersether, of Hendrum ; Simeon, who is married and living in
Chicago ; Mrs. Bertha Ellef son, of Hendrum ; Oscar, who is married and
living at Hendrum, and Mrs. Clara Haaland, of Perley.
To Even N. and Emma (Ingberg) Qualley have been born twelve chil-
dren, namely: Nora Christina. Martin, Hans (deceased) Helma, Ida,
Martha, Olga (deceased), Henry, Chester (deceased), Alvin, Neal and Vic-
tor. The Oualleys have a very pleasant home and take a proper i)art in
the community's general social activities. They are members of the Lutheran
church, Mr. Qualley having been one of the organizers of the Concordia
church of that denomination, and take an interested part in the affairs of
the churcli and other local good works, helpful in many ways in promoting
the best interests of the communitv in which thev live.
OSCAR M. WESTLIN.
Oscar M. Westlin, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Flom, treasurer
of the Flom Creamery Company, manager of the Flom Implement Company
and justice of tlie peace in and for Flom township, Norman county, is a
native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born
on a pioneer farm up in Marshall county on December 14, 1889, son of
Matt J. and Helen (Windedahl) Westlin. natives of the kingdom of Norway,
who are still living in Marshall county, and to whose union four children
were born, the subject of this sketch having three brothers, Clarence, Arthur
and Roy. Mrs. Westlin has been twice married, her first husband having
been Ole Natwick. by whom she was the mother of four children, John,
Edward, Tillie and Ida. Upon coming to the United States Matt J. Westlin
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 621
first located at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, later coming to this state and becoming
a pioneer farmer in Marshall county, where he is still living, one of the
substantial residents of that part of the state.
Reared on the home farm in Marshall county, Oscar M. Westlin received
his schooling in the public schools and early turned his attention to com-
mercial pursuits. He was married in 1910 and in 1913 became associated
with the First National Bank of Twin Valley, with which concern he remained
for a year, at the end of which time, in 19 14, he was made cashier of the
Farmers State Bank of Flom and has since occupied that position, a resi-
dent of the thriving village of Flom and one of its most enthusiastic and
enterprising "boosters". Mr. Westlin also is the manager of the Flom Imple-
ment Company and for the jiast two years or more has been the treasurer
of the Flom Creamery Company. He takes an active and interested part
in the civic affairs of the community and for the past year or more has
been serving as justice of the peace in and for the township of Flom.
In the year 1910 Oscar M. Westlin was united in marriage to Hannah
Hagen, daughter of Erick O. Hagen and wife, and to this union one child
has been born, a daughter, Evelyn. Mr. and Mrs. Westlin are members
of the Lutheran (Synod) church and take a proper part in church work,
as well as in other local good works and are helpful in promoting such
agencies as are designed to advance the common welfare in their home
community. They have a very pleasant home and take an interested part
in the general social and cultural activities of their home village.
ERICK J. EGGE.
Erick J. Egge, a well-known and substantial farmer, owner of a compact
and well-kept place of one hundred and sixty acres in Skree township.
Clay county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident
of the United States since he was twenty-three years old and of Clay county
for the past thirty years. He was torn in Norway on July 7, i860, a
son of Jorgen and Kari (Olson) Egge, both also natives of Norway and
who immigrated to this country some years after their son, Erick J., had
settled here. Their first location was near Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county,
Minnesota, where they lived for a time, later moving to Skree township.
Clay county, where Jorgen Egge died while living with his son Erick.
Mrs. Carrie Egge died while residing in Rosa county, Minnesota. They
622 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
were the parents of the following children : Ingeborg, who lives in South
Dakota; Erick J-, the immediate subject of this sketch, and Ole, who lives
in North Dakota.
Erick J. Egge was educated in the schools of Norway and was reared
on his father's place, where he helped in the work of the farm. In 1883,
at the age of twenty-three, he immigrated to this country, leaving his
parents in the old country, and first located in Pelican Rapids. Otter Tail
county, Minnesota, to which place his parents subsequently came. In 1887
Mr. Egge moved to his present place in Skree township, where he has a
compact and well-developed farm of one hundred and si.xty acres of prime
land, on which he has erected some substantial buildings and has laid out
an attractive grove, which enhances the value and appearance of the place.
Mr. Egge is actively engaged in general farming and is accounted one of
the well-to-do and progressive farmers of that part of the county, and is
doing very well in his farming operations.
In 1886 Erick J. Egge was united in marriage to Ellena Peterson, the
ceremony being performed in Norwegian Grove township. Otter Tail county.
Mrs. Egge was born in Norway, a daughter of Peter and Ragnild (Erick-
son) Iverson, also natives of Norway, in which country they all spent their
lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Egge the following children were born: Carolina,
John, Inga, Ella, Petra, Annie and Mary (twins) Gena, deceased, Gunvold
and Ole, and two others who died in infancy. The Egge family are earnest
members of the Lutheran church, which Mr. Egge helped to organize and
in the good works of which they take a warm interest, as well as in all
good works of the community in which they reside.
CHARLES C. ALLEN.
Charles C. Allen, mayor of the city of Ada and head of the firm of C. C.
Allen & Company, one of the most extensive lumber dealers in this part of
the state, is a native of the old Green Mountain state and was reared in
Michigan, but has been a resident of the great Northwest ever since he was
seventeen years of age and is thus thoroughly familiar with conditions here
since pioneer days. He was born on ]May 29. 1863, and was but a child when
his parents, Lewis J. and Ellen (Kent) Allen, also natives of Vermont, left
that state and went to Michigan, settling at Battle Creek, where he was reared
and where he received his schooling in the public schools of that city. .As a
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 623
boy he spent one year on a farm in Michigan and then, in 1880, he then
being seventeen years of age and a strong, husky lad, came up into the
Northwest and has ever since been a resident of this part of the country.
Upon coming to the Northwest Charles C. Allen located on a farm in
Lamoure county. North Dakota, where he remained for seven years, or until
1887, when he went to Ransom county, that same state, where he was engaged
in a lumber yard, tlioroughly familiarizing himself with the details of the
lumber business, until 1890, when he came over into Minnesota and located
at Ada, where he ever since has made his home, for years having been
regarded as one of the leading citizens of that city. Upon his arrival at
Ada Mr. Allen took employment in a lumber yard there and was thus
engaged, perfecting his acquaintance with the lumber business as applied
to this region, for five years, or until 1895, when he formed a partnership
with J. C. Norby and the two bought the lumber yard and plant in which
he had been working, continuing the business under the firm name of C. C.
Allen & Company, which firm style has since been maintained. In 1902
Mr. Norby died and in 1909 Mr! Allen bought the interest in the business
held by the Norby estate and continued as sole proprietor of the lumber
plant until 191 5, in which year he admitted to partnership in the business
his son, Fred K. Allen, which mutually agreeable arrangement continues.
During his many years of connection with the lumber trade at Ada Mr.
Allen has created a fine and growing business there, his plant and yards
being one of the best-equipped lumber concerns in northwestern Minnesota,
handling, in addition to lumber, a general line of builders supplies.
Ever since taking up his residence at Ada Mr. Allen has given his
earnest attention to general business and civic affairs and has done well his
part as a citizen of that flourishing county seat. Since 1906 he has been
secretary and treasurer of the Norman County Telephone Company, for
many years has been a director of the Norman County Fair Association and
for some time sei^ved as president of the latter organization. From 1897
to 19 1 5 he served as a member of the board of education of the city of Ada,
part of the time serving as treasurer of the board and later as president of
the same, and also has served as city auditor. In 1914 Mr. Allen was
elected mayor of Ada and by siKcessive re-elections is still serving in that
important executive capacity, giving his earnest attention to local civic affairs,
his efforts in his public, as well as in his private, capacity ever being directed
toward the advancement of the material and social welfare of the community
of which he has been such an active factor for more than a quarter of a
century.
624 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
On October 29, 1884, while living in North Dakota, Charles C. Allen
was united in marriage to Nellie S. Crawford, who was born in Michigan,
daughter of S. A. and Ellen J. Crawford, pioneers in the Dakotas, and
to this union four children have been born, Charles C, Marguerite, Florence
and Fred K.. all of whom are living. The Aliens have a very pleasant
home in Ada and take a proper part in the general social activities of the
city. They are members of the Congregational church and for a number of
years Mr. Allen has been the chairman of the board of trustees of the local
congregation of that church.
HANS LARSON.
Hans Larson, a well-known and prosperous farmer of McDonaldsville
township. Norman county, owner of two hundred and seventy-four acres
of prime land and former member of th^ township and school board, is a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been living in this country since
he was twelve years old, having come with his parents to America in 1863.
He was born near Dramen, Norway, in 185 1, a son of Lars and Maria
(Helgeson) Knutson, also natives of the same country.
Lars Knutson, father of Hans Larson, was educated in the schools
of his native land, there grew up and was married, following farming up
to the time he immigrated to .America in 1863. On his arrival in this
country he proceeded on out to Iowa and located near Decorah, Winneshiek
county. Later he acquired a parcel of land in Lincoln township, that state,
and farmed there for the remainder of his life. Lars Knutson and wife
were the parents of the following children : Serena, deceased ; Christina,
deceased ; Knut, deceased ; Hans, the subject of this sketch : Marin, deceased,
and Larvis, still living on the old home farm in Iowa. The parents were
members of the Lutheran church and their family were reared in the same
faith.
Hans Larson was educated in the schools of Norway and in 1863 he
accompanied his parents to the United States and worked on his father's
farm in Iowa, a valuable assistant in the labors of the improving and culti-
vating the land. When he was twenty-eight years old, in June, 1880, he
moved to Ada. this county, the journey being made by horse team and
occupied two weeks. He lived in Ada for two years, where he ran a feed
barn. He then started farming on his own account and bought land in
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 625
Hegne township, this county, where he had a quarter section of excellent
land, which he set out to general farming and continued at the same for
ten years. At the end of the latter period he moved to his present place
in McDonaldsville township, buying a tract of land, and he has continued
to reside here ever since, being generally regarded as one of the substantial
farmers of the community. His holding contains two hundred and seventy-
four acres of prime land, on which he is actively engaged in the production
of general crops, conducting his agricultural operations according to modern
methods. Mr. Larson has effected many valuable improvements on his
property and has erected some fine farm buildings. In addition to his
farming operations he also has had for many years an excellent strain of
Shorthorn cattle.
In July, 1876, Hans Larson was united in marriage to Helena Peter-
son, who was born near Christiania, Norway, and came to this country
at the age of two years with her parents. The marriage took place in
Iowa. They are the parents of the following children : Leonard, Peter,
Henry, Maria, Christian, Emma, Selmar and Ella, all of whom are living.
The Larson family are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Larson
and his brother, Knut, were active in organizing the first Lutheran church
at Ada. Hans Larson has ever given a good citizen's attention to public
affairs and served in many township offices. He served on the township
board in both Hegne and McDonaldsville townships and on the school board
when living in Hegne township, and he is recognized as one of the progres-
sive men of the communitv in which he lives.
PETER SHEETS, JR.
Peter Sheets, a well-known extensive landowner in Xorman county,
owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of land, is a native of the state of
Ohio, born in Delaware county, that state, August 17, 1862, a son of Peter
and Mary Ann (Russell) Sheets, the former a native of Virginia and the
latter of Ohio. They moved to the state of Illinois and there Peter Sheets
died and his wife died in Iowa. He operated a flour-mill in Ohio for some
years. Ancestors of Peter Sheets fought in the War of the Revolution and
were of German descent, while Peter Sheets' wife, Mary Ann Russell, was
of English descent, and the ancestors on both sides were early settlers in
(40a)
626 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
this country in Colonial days. Peter and Mary Ann Sheets were the parents
of four children, Frank, Carrie, James and Peter.
Peter Sheets, Jr., received part of his education in Illinois and comi)leted
the same in Iowa, to which state he went with his mother when he was ten
years old, settling in Franklin county, that state. Mr. Sheets lived in Iowa
until 1898, the last seven and one-half years being spent in Hancock county,
the entire earlier part in Franklin county, and he was actively engaged in
farming in both places. In 1899 he moved to Ada, Xorman county, and for
the greater part of the time since he has lived on a farm in Spring Creek
township, where he is now extensively engaged in general farming and
raising full-blood Galloway cattle, for the latter finding a ready market at
all times. He is now the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of as fine
land as may be found in the county, eight hundred and eighty of which is
located in Spring Creek township. When Mr. Sheets took the land it was
in a raw state and he immediately set out to improve and develop it, in a
short time having a large portion planted to crops, his agricultural opera-
tions proving a profitable investment. For the past four years his family
has been living in Ada for the convenience of having the children educated,
but Mr. Sheets spends most of his time on the farm, esjjecially in the sum-
mer months.
On October 14, 1891. Peter Sheets was united in marriage to Hattie
Starks, born in New York state, a daughter of Palemon Starks and wife,
and to this union the following children have been born : Russell, Nellie,
Fred, Harold and \'era, all of whom are still living. Mr. Sheets has always
given close attention to civic affairs and has served as supervisor of Spring
Creek township, and in other ways he has been interested in promoting all
movements designed to promote the general welfare of the community.
BENNIE BAKKE.
Bennie Bakke, cashier and managing officer of the Security State Bank
of Twin Valley, is a native son of Nomian county and has lived there all his
life with the exception of a year or two spent as clerk in a bank at Mahno-
men, over in the neighboring county of that name. He was born on a pioneer
farm in Wild Rice township. Norman county, October 26, 1887, son of
Ole E. and Cecelie (Braaten) Bakke, the former of whom was born in
Fillmore county, this state, and the latter, over the line in the neighboring
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 627
county of Winneshiek, in the state of Iowa, and both of whom are still liv-
ing, honored residents of the Twin Valley neighborhood, where they have
made their home since pioneer days.
Ole E. Bakke was reared on a pioneer farm in Fillmore county, this
state, and there received his schooling, remaining there until he was about
sixteen years of age, when he started out on his own account and began
working on the construction of the line of the Northern Paciiic railroad
through Montana. After some preliminary pioneering with a view to set-
tling on a farm in a newly-developed section, he decided to settle in the Red
River valley and about 1880 located in Norman countv, where he ever since
has made his home, still residing on the quarter-section tract he bought in
section 34 of Wild Rice township upon locating here. Long ago he added
an adjoining eighty to that tract and now has a very well-improved and
profitably cultivated farm of two hundred and forty acres, where he and
his family are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. In addition
to his general farming. Mr. Bakke has given considerable attention to the
extension of the dairy interests of this part of the state and has done very
well in his operations. He has ever taken an active interest in the general
civic affairs of his home township and has given considerable of his time and
energies to the public serxice, having served as treasurer of the township and
for about ten years as president of the local school board, of which for the
past three years or more he has been the treasurer. He and his wife are
earnest members of the Synod Lutheran church, the local congregation of
which he has served as a member of the board of trustees, and their children
have been reared in that faith. There are eight of these children, of whom
the subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth, the others being
Edwin, Lottie, Ida, Norman, Clifford, Orvald and Edva.
Bennie Bakke was reared on the home farm in Wild Rice township
and received his schooling in the Twin Valley schools. When seventeen
years of age, in 1905, he became engaged as a clerk in the Security State
Bank at Mahnomen, over in the neighboring county of that name, and was
thus engaged at that place until January i, IQ07, when he became engagci
as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Twin Valley. Four years later
he was made assistant cashier of that bank and remained thus engaged until
Januarv i, 10T4. Tu March of that year he became one of the organizers
of the Security State Bank of Twin Valley and was installed as cashier
and managing officer of the same, which responsible position he still occu-
pies, long having been recognized as one of the most energetic and enter-
prising voung bankers in this part of the state.
628 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
In 1910 Bennie Bakke was united in marriage to Hilda Hagen, daughter
of G. J. Hagen, of Detroit, this state, and to this union has been born one
child, a daughter, Donna. Mr. and Mrs. Bakke are members of the Synod
Lutheran church and take a proper interest in local church work, as well as
in the general good works of the community in which ihey live, helpful in
promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the connn<in
we
Ifare.
JOHN J. AREXDS.
John J. Arends, one of the well-to-do and progressive farmers of Mary
township, this county, owner of a quarter section of prime land, present
town clerk and member of the school board, is a native of the state of
Illinois, born in Chicago on November 15, 1873, a st)n of Xicolas and .Mice
(Klason) Arends, natives of Holland. These parents came to the United
States in 1866 and lived in the city of Chicago for ten years, at the end
of which period they moved to Will county, Illinois, where Nicolas Arends
farmed and where his son, the subject of this sketch, was reared. To
Nicolas and Alice (Klason) Arends the following children were born:
Bernard, John J., William, Xicolas and Henry, all of whom are living
and with the exception of John J., who lives in Norman county, are engaged
in farming in Ottawa county, Michigan.
John J. Arends was educated in the schotjls of Will county, Illinois,
and was reared on his father's farm, where he became a valuable aid in
the labors of developing and improving the home place. In 1902, three
years after his marriage, he moved to Norman county and has lived here ever
since, having been in occupation of three different farms in the vicinitv of
his present place. He is the owner of one hundred and si.xty acres of prime
land in section 10, Mary township, but rents the place on which he has been
living for the past eleven years. He has put up some excellent buildings
on his place, including a granary and machine shed, and is generally recog-
nized as one of the progressive and up-to-date farmers of the district in
which he resides. He has purchased a tractor for the better accomplishment
of his agricultural work, w^iich includes crops of a general character, potatoes
and corn being among the products.
On May 15. 1899, at Kankakee county. Illinois, John J. Arends was
united in marriage to Mary Schmitt. a native of Germany. To this union
the following children have been born: George, Alice, Nicolas, Christina,
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 629
Eva, Agnes, John, Mary and Rose, all of whom are living with their parents
on the farm. Mr. Arends takes a warm interest in township and general
community affairs and is now ser\-ing as township clerk and is also a mem-
ber of the township school board, his interest in educational matters being
recognized throughout the township, and in other ways he has contributed
of his time and energy in various directions tending to the public good.
JACOB LERUD.
Jacob Lerud, another of the substantial farmers of Home Lake township,
is a native of the Kingdom of Norway, who came to America in search of
fortune and found it. He was born in 1864 in that country and at the age
of nineteen years immigrated to the United States, going on arrival to
Lansing, Iowa, near which place he worked on farms for about si.K or
seven months. He then came to Ada and worked for his brother Anton
during the winter and in the spring on farms in North Dakota. The ne.xt
winter he attended school in Ada, the following summer again finding employ-
ment at farm work in North Dakota, returning the next winter to Ada and
resuming school work. In another part of this volume is published an
extended account of Anton Lerud, brother of the subject of this sketch,
the notice appearing under the caption of Emil Lerud.
Jacob Lerud commenced farming operations on his own account bv
the purchase from Austin Hanson in 1887, of eighty acres in section 8.
Home Lake township, later adding forty acres in section 7, same township,
and still later another forty in the same section — the total being one hun-
dred and sixty acres in the foregoing sections and a further forty acres in
section 20. Mr. Lerud has carried out some valuable improvements on his
different holdings, including the setting out of groves and fences. For the
first years of the farm life he used oxen in the work. He is now engaged
in general farming and stock raising, the oxen have long since been dis-
carded and all his operations are conducted according to modern methods.
In 1885 Jacob Lerud was united in marriage to Johanna Monson. a
native of Norway, born in 1867, who at the age of nineteen years came to
America with two sisters. Her parents are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs.
Lerud the following children have been born: Carl, Helmer and .Alfred,
owning two hundred and eleven acres of land in sections 5 and 6, north
of their father's place; Alma, who keeps house for these brothers; Albert,
630 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Julia, Clara, Alvin and Emil, all at home, and Clara, deceased. Mr. Lerud
is a member of the Synod church and served as trustee to the congregation
for some time. He has always taken an active and intelligent part in the
affairs of the township and served on the township board and also on the
school board, bringing to the duties of these offices a ripe intelligence. He
acted as assessor for five or six years. He helped to organize the local
creamery and is a stockholder in the same with a seat on the board of direc-
tors. He al.-o is a stockholder in the l-^armers Telephone Companv of Ada,
and in many other directions has given of his time and energ>' to projects
calculated to serve the best interests of the communitv in which he resides.
THOMAS T. XATWTCK.
Thomas T. Xatwick, a substantial farmer of Wild Rice township and
member of the board of commissioners of Norman county, was born in Nor-
way on February 20, 1863, the son of Thomas George and Christina (Offer-
dahl) Natwick, both nati\-es of Norway who emigrated to America with
their son, Thomas T.. in 1878, proceeding directly to Iowa, where they set-
tled in Shelby county, farming there for four years. .. While residents there,
Thomas T. Natwick supplemented the education he had received in Norway
by attending the schools in Iowa.
In the spring of 1882 the family pushed northward into Minnesota,
and arrived at their destination, the town of Ada, in Norman county, on the
9th of March. The family settled at once in Wild Rice township, where
the subject of this review still lives, his parents having lived with him until
their deaths. The title to the tract of land whereon Thomas T. Natwick
settled, which contained about one hundred and fifty acres, was at first
disputed, l)ut eventually he won out in the controversy and now for years
has had undisputed possession, impro\ing the land by the erection of fine
farm buildings and by planting groves. By tireless industry and good man-
agement Mr. Xatwick has been enabled to extend his holdings by the acqui-
sition of eighty acres of land, thus he is now the owner of two hundred and
thirty acres, whereon he raises grain and stock, specializing in Shorthorn
cattle.
On December 5. 1895, Thomas T. Natwick married Beatte Hagen, who
was born in Norway on September 30. 1875, the daughter of Hans and
Serena (Peterson) Hagen: and to this union six children have been born.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 63 1
namely : Hilda, Theressa, Arthur, Edwin, Clarence and Theodore, all of
whom are living. Mr. Natwick and his family are devoted members of the
Lutheran church, he and his father having helped to organize the North
Wild Rice Lutheran church, of which congregation Mr. Natwick and his
family are now members.
Mr. Natwick has not limited himself to his agricultural interests, for
he is also active in local civic afTairs, since he is now serving his first term
as county commissioner and has been a member of the township board for
fourteen years, most of which time he has been chairman of the board. In
addition to his civic and farming interests, he has been active in business,
for he helped to organize the Gary and the Wild Rice Telephone companies
and has been a director in the latter since its organization.
OLE M. UNDELAND.
One of the enterprising and successful young farmers of Norwegian
birth in Lake Ida township, Norman county, is Ole M. Undeland, the owner
and proprietor of a line farm of two hundred and sixty acres, well improved
with good and substantial buildings, presenting the appearance of the home
of a scientific and up-to-date farmer. Mr. Undeland was born in Norway,
the son of Martin O. and Gertie (Olson) Undeland, both of whom were
also natives of Norway, who came with their family to America in 1880.
After arriving in this country they spent one year in Wisconsin and then
decided to move to Minnesota. The father drove over with a team to
Norman county, the family following by train. Here the father homesteaded
a farm of one hundred and ten acres in section 24, Lake Ida township, and
on this farm the family lived for seventeen or eighteen years, at the end
of which time Martin Undeland retired from active farm labor and moved
with his wife to a timber lot which he had purchased in the same township,
and on which he built a house, and here he lived the rest of his life. His
widow is still living, now making her home with a daughter in Wild Rice
township.
Martin O. Undeland was one of the pioneers of this part of Norman
county and took an active part in the community life of the early days. He
helped organize the West Wild Rice Lutheran church and was one of its
prominent and active members while he lived. He and his wife were the
parents of seven children : Ole Martinson. Martha Burg, Ole M., Carrie
Anderson, Inga Johnson, Anna Hadal and Andrew M. L^ndeland.
632 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Ole M. Undeland received his education in the schools of his native
land and came with his parents to America in 1880. He remained on the
farm with his father until about 1890, when he began life for himself by
working as a farm hand on the neighboring farms in Norman county, which
he continued for several years, with the exception of one year, which he
spent in North Dakota. He then rented a farm in section 15, Lake Ida town-
ship, where he lived for four years, after which he lived for two years on a
rented farm in the northeastern part of McDonaldsville township. He then
purchased the farm of two hundred and sixty acres where he is now living,
and here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and that he
has met with success in his chosen calling is attested by the fact that he has
made most of the improvements on his well-kept farm, and has erected all
of the excellent buildings on the place.
In March, 1916, Mr. .Undeland was married to Mary Skaurud, the
daughter of Fred Skaurud and wife. Mrs. Undeland is a native of Norman
county, her parents li\ing on a farm in Lake Ida township. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Undeland are earnest members of the Lutheran church, and take an
active part in the social and religious life of their community. Mr. Unde-
land has served his township for the past nine years as township treasurer,
and no one in his community stands higher in the esteem and respect of his
neighbors than he.
HENRY O. IIERMANSON.
Henry O. Hermanson, the proprietor of a well-improved farm of two
hundred and forty acres which he has operated very successfully for many
years in Waukon township, Norman county, a man whose public interest
reaches out farther than the immediate present, believing that one of the
best investments a community can make is by expending money for educa-
tion, was born in Houston county, IMinnesota. December 6, 1869, a son of
Ole and Bertha (Tangen) Hermanson, both natives of Norway, who came
to America several years before the Civil War and settled in Houston county,
Minnesota, pioneers of that county. He took government land there, a tract
of one hundred and sixty acres, whereon he and his wife spent the rest of
their days. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Nels, now
in Norway ; Anna, Mary, deceased ; Julia, Arne, deceased ; Halvor, deceased,
and Henry. The father and mother were devout members of the Lutheran
church, and in the early days they were largely instrumental in sowing the
seeds of Christianity in the new county of Houston.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 633
In those early days, the schools of Houston county were quite rude
and the elementary education that Henry O. Hennanson received there was
limited, a fact which probably causes him to champion every sensible expen-
diture which is made in the community in the interests of the public schools.
After he reached manhood, he and his brother, Halvor O. Hermanson, pur-
chased the general merchandise business of C. F. Peterson at Rindahl,
Norman county, but after they had operated the enterprise for about five
years, they sold it to their brother, Arne. Then Henry O. Hermanson invested
his money in farm land, two hundred and forty acres in sections 8 and 5,
Waukon township. Here he has industriously improved his holding, perfect-
ing his farm plant until it is now comprised of excellent and capacious farm
buildings and a fine grove, most of which he planted. His agricultural
operations are chiefly along the line of general farming.
Mr. Hermanson was married on March 14, 1896, to Anna Sundeth,
who was born in Houston township, June 13, 1872, a daughter of Cristand
and Isabelle (Ellingson) Sundeth, and to this union eight children have been
born as follow : Clarence, Benora, Cora, Arnold, Grant, Sadie, Viola and
Bernice, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Hermanson are sincere and
consistent members of the United Lutheran church at Ness, and they are
rearing their children according to this faith. Mr. Hermanson has never
sought after public office, but takes a good citizen's interest in the local, state
and national phases of his affairs. His community interests are very strong
and he supports ardently any movement which has for its purpose the social
and moral betterment of the community in which he lives. He helped to
organize the creamery at Waukon and also the Waukon Mercantile Com-
pany, in the latter of which he is still interested.
INGVALD H. AAMOTH.
Ingvald H. Aamoth, manager of the well-established horse market at
Twin Valley and one of the best-known horsemen and breeders in this part
of Minnesota, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a riesi-
dent of this country since he was six years of age and of Norman county
since 1874, he having been but a child when his parents settled in this part
of Montana, among the very first settlers of the Fossum neighborhood.
He was born at Guldbrand Dahl, Norway, June 16, 1867, son of Hans and
Karen (Peterson) Aamoth. also natives of that county, who came to the
634 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
United States with their faniihes in 1873 and proceeded on out to Wisconsin,
a year later coming on over to this part of Minnesota and setthng in what
later came to be organized as Norman county, where they spent the remainder
of their lives, substantial and useful pioneers.
It was in 1874 that Hans Aamoth drove over from Rock county, Wis-
consin, with his family up into the Red River valley, the journey consuming
about six weeks. Upon his arrival here he bought a tract of railroad land
in what is now Fossum township, Xorman county, and there established
his home, one of the very earliest settlers in that part of the country. That
was before Ada had a place on the map and settlers hereabout were few and
far between. It was not long until he had his place under improvement and
as the years passed and he ])ros]KM-ed in his pioneer undertakings he added
to his holdings until he came to be recognized as one of the most substan-
tial residents of the Fossum neighborhood. He and his wife spent their
last days on that pioneer farm. They were members of the United Lutheran
church and were among the organizers of the Fossum congregation of that
communion, ever taking an earnest interest in church work and in other
neighborhood good works. They were the parents of seven children, of
whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being Agnete
Peter, Lars, Hans, Olena and Xels.
As noted above, I. H. Aamoth was but a lad when he came up into
the then practically imsettled valley of the Red River with his parents and
he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in the Fossum neighborhood,
receiving his schooling in the local schools and from the days of his bovhood
was a valued help in the labors of developing and improving the home
place. L^pon reaching his majority he began farming on his own account
and was thus engaged for about three years, or until 1890, when he became
engaged in the livery-stable business at Twin Valley, contiiniing thus engaged
at that place until he sold his stable in 1910, in the meantime developing
an extensive business as a dealer in horses, which he continued after selling
his livery stable and in 1914 erected his present well-equipped sales barn
at Twin Valley. He also conducts a breeding stable, making a specialty
of pure-bred Percherons, and the products of his stables are in wide demand.
Mr. Aamoth is the owner of two-thirds of the stock of the Twin Valley
horse market and is the general manager of the same, doing an extensive
business in the buying and selling of horses, the Twin Valley market cover-
ing a wide territory throughout Norman and adjoining counties.
In the year 1899 I. H. Aamoth was united in marriage to Mina Chris-
tianson, daughter of Ole Christiansen and wife, and to this union five chil-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 635
dren have been born, Selmar, Clifford, Cora, Alta and Ila. The Aamoths
have a very pleasant home at Twin Valley and take an interested part in
the general social activities of the community. They are earnest members
of the United Lutheran church.
E. N. BJERKE.
E. N. Bjerke, a well-known and prosperous retired farmer, now living
in the pleasant village of Twin Valley, Xorman county, is a native son of
the kingdom of Xorw'ay, but has been a resident .of the United States since
he was seven years old. He was born on October i, 1856, a son of Nels and
Chestin Bjerke, also Norwegians, who came to this country in 1S63.
\Vhen Nels Bjerke arrived in this country he proceeded out to the state
of Alinnesota and settled near Spring Grove, Houston county, in which
place he resided for three years engaged in farming. At the end of that
period he moved to Fillmore county, this state, and located near Spring
Valley, where he lived for ten years, following his occupation as a farmer.
His next move was to I\Iower county, also in Minnesota, and there he and
his wife spent the remainder of their lives. In all his movements from one
to the other of these places, he carried out the journey with the assistance
of an ox-team — a mode of conveyance practically unknown to the present
generation. Nels Bjerke was a skilled farmer and conducted his agricultural
operations with advantage and profit. To Mr. Bjerke and wife the following
children were born : Helena, Johanah, Christina, Petro, Caroline, Clara,
Lars, Nels and E. N., the subject of this sketch. They were memliers of the
Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith.
E. N. Bjerke was seven years old when he accompanied his parents to
this country and he was educated in the schools of Fillmore county, later
helping his father in the labors of the farm. He moved with his parents
to Mower county and in that county started farming on his own account,
remaining thus engaged for three years. In 1882 he moved via ox-team
to Hagen township. Clay county, and took one hundred and sixty acres of
homestead land and immediately commenced to get it into a state of culti-
vation, continuing to operate the holding for fourteen years. He carried
out many substantial improvements and had one of the best-kept and most
profitable farms in the part of the township in which he lived. Mr. Bjerke
then bought another place nearby, known as the old Dudray place, which
also contained a quarter section of land, on which he lived as a general
636 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
farmer until the fall of 1908. His next move was to another quarter section
in Wild Rice township, Norman county, and he continued his farming opera-
tions in that township until he retired from the active labors of the farm
in the fall of 1914. He bought a fine home near the edge of Twin Valley,
just outside the village limits, and there he is pleasantly situated. During
his active career as a farmer Mr. Bjerke was recognized as a progressive
agriculturist, who carried on his operations according to modern methods.
On March 15, 1878, E. N. Bjerke was united in marriage to Sophia
Johnson, a native of the state of Wisconsin. To this union the following
children have been born : Nora, Albert, Edwin, Helmer, Inga, Oscar, Mal-
vin, Clarence, Selma and Hardean, all of whom are living. The Bjerke
family are members of the Lutheran church and are warmly interested in
all its good works, as well as in the welfare of the community at large. Mr.
Bjerke has always given a gcjod deal of time and attention to public affairs,
served as chairman of the township board for some time, was also clerk
of the school board in Hagen township, and in other ways had demonstrated
his earnestness in the public interest.
OLE S. BENTLEY.
Ole S. Bentley, one of the oldest farmers now active in Wild Rice
township, Norman county, owner of two hundred acres of prime land,
known as "Riverside Farm", first assessor of Fossum township and for
several years having held an appointment as justice of the peace, is a native
of the kingdom of Norway, born in that country on February 2, 1850, a
son of Ole B. and Mar}' (Olsen) Olsen, both natives of Norway, who came
to the United States in 1858. They settled in Winne.shiek county, Iowa,
where Ole B. Olsen Ijought a tract of government land, for which he paid
one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre and on that farm he lived for the
remainder of his life. Ole and ]\Iar)' Olsen were the parents of eight chil-
dren.
Ole S. Bentley, at the age of eight years, accompanied his parents to
America and went with them to \\'inneshiek county, Iowa, in the schools
of which county he was educated and reared on his father's farm. He
worked as a clerk in Decorah, that county, and in Worth county was a
clerk and deputy postmaster in the town of North wood. In the spring of
1879 he paid a visit to Norman county and looked it over for the purpose
of selecting a place to settle on. In the fall of that same vear he came to
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 637
Fossum township and homesteaded a quarter section of land located in
section 30 and on that farm continued to live until 1896, engaged in general
farming. In the latter j-ear he moved across the township line into section
25 of Wild Rice township and settled on his present place, where he has
continued to reside ever since. He is now the owner of two hundred acres
of prime land known as "Riverside Farm", and here he carries on general
farming and also breeds graded Shorthorn cattle, of which he keeps some
choice specimens. From the commencement of his agricultural operations
Mr. Bentley has had a considerable share of success and is recognized as
one of the progressive and substantial farmers of that part of Norman county.
On March 26, 187 1, Ole S. Bentley was united in marriage at Decorah,
Iowa, to Anna Bergeta Bergeson, who was born in Norway in 1854, a
daughter of Soren Bergeson and wife, who settled in Wild Rice township
on June 3, 1871, being generally regarded as the first to settle in that part
of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley are the parents of eleven children
as follow: Clarence O., Minnie S., Anna O., Helmer N., Julia R., Sidney
O., Henry C, Sophia B., Olga, T. Melvin and Laura Selina. The Bentley
family are members of East Wild Rice Lutheran church and are warm sup-
porters of the same. Mr. Bentley has the distinction of having been the
first assessor of the present Fossum township, having been appointed by the
auditor of Polk county when this place was a part of Polk county. He held
the office for twelve years, the consecutive order of tenure being broken
only for one year, and he served as justice of the peace for eight years. Mr.
Bentley was one of the most active of those engaged in the organization
of school district No. 41, which takes in part of four townships, the build-
ing being located in the southeast corner of Wild Rice township. He was
the first clerk of the local school board, serving in that capacity for the long
period of twenty-four consecutive years. He takes an acti\'e and practical
interest in all local afi^airs.
OLE E. BAKKE.
Ole E. Bakke, an enterprising and energetic farmer, living in \\'ild
Rice township, Norman county, a member of district school board No. "/"],
in that township, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been living
in the United States since he was six years old. He was born in that countrj
on Februaiy 26, 1861, a son of Andrew and Breta Bakke, both of whom
were also natives of Norway.
638 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Andrew and Breta Bakke were married in their native land prior lu
immigrating to this country, to which they came in 1867, and proceeded
to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they resided for two years, and where
Andrew Bakke worked on a farm. They then moved to Filhnore count}',
this state, and in tliat place Mrs. Bakke died. In 1883 Mr. Bakke moved
to Twin Valley, Norman county, and here he spent the rest of his life living
retired, spending the remainder of his life with liis children. During his
residence in Fillmore county he worked out and throughout his entire life
in this county was regarded as a citizen of industrious habits and progressive
ideas. Andrew and Breta Bakke were the parents of seven children as follow :
Olena, who died in Norway ; Andrew ; Breta, who died in I-"illmore countv ;
Carrie; Peter; Gertie, and Ole E., the subject of this skctcii. Mr. and Mrs.
Bakke were earnest members of the Lutheran church and reared their chil-
dren in the tenets of that faith.
Ole E. Bakke. at the age of six years, accompanied his parents to this
country and on coming to the state of Minnesota, was educated in the schools
of Fillmore count)-. In 1881 lie went to Montana and worked in that state
for eighteen months engaged in the construction of the Northern Pacific
railroad when it was being put through that place. In the fall of 1882 he
moved to Ada, Minnesota, and immediately purchased a homestead right to
the southwest quarter of section 34, Wild Rice township, and in the following
spring he moved to this holding and has since been living on that place,
engaged in general farming and from the commencement of his agricultural
operations he has been very successful. He erected several substantial build-
ings on the homestead, which had no building of any kind on it except a
house constructed of logs, at the time Mr. Bakke acquired it. In addition
to the erection of the buildings, he also has set out a fine grove of trees,
which add considerably to the value and appearance of the place. Since
taking possession of the original homestead tract, he has bought a further
eighty acres in the same section, the whole being given over to general farm-
ing, and Mr. Bakke is regarded as one of the progressive farmers of that
part of the township.
On December 12, 1884, Ole E. Bakke was united in marriage to Cecila
Syverson, a native of Norway and daughter of Syvert Syverson and wife.
To this union the following children have been born : Edwin, Bennie,
Lottie, Ida, Norma, Clifford, Orval and Edva. all of whom are living. The
Bakke family are members of the Lutheran church and are earnestly inter-
ested in all its good works, as well as in all neighborhood good works. Mr.
Bakke helped to organize the first church in Twin \"alley, now known as
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 639
the Twin Valley Synod. During his active lifetime he has given a good
citizen's attention to public affairs and was a member of the township board
for several years in Wild Rice township. He helped to organize school dis-
trict No. "^j in 1903, when the community became an independent district,
and he has been a member of the school board ever since. Air. Bakke
helped to organize the Farmers Co-operative Creamery of Twin Valley and
is still interested in that undertaking, and in many other ways he has given
evidence of his ability to assist all projects designed to forward the mate-
rial interests of the communitv.
CHRISTIAN BREDEMEIER.
Christian Bredemeier, a substantial farmer of Humboldt township, this
county, was born in the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of this county
since he was twenty-three years of age. He was born in 1857, a son of
William B. and Sophia Bredemeier, both of whom were natives of Germany,
but who came to this country in an early day.
William B. Bredemeier was born in Germany in 1825 and was edu-
cated in the schools of that country, subsequently following the life of a
farmer. He immigrated to America in 1845, at the age of twenty, and
commenced to work on farms in Illinois and later became the owner of a
tract of land, which he too continued to operate for the remainder of his
active life, his death occurring in 1893 at the age of sixty-eight. His
wife, Sophia Bredemeier was also a native of Germany, born in that country
in 1826, and when twenty years of age, in 1846, came to America and in
the following year, 1847, '"^^ and married Christian Bredemeier at Chi-
cago. They were the parents of the following children: William, John,
Fred, Herman, Christian, Mary, Sophia, Louisa, Emma and Amelia. The
mother of these children is still living in Cleveland, Ohio. William Brede-
meier and his wife were active and influential residents of the district in
which they made their home and were warm supporters of all good causes
tending to the welfare of the community.
Christian Bredemeier was educated in the schools of Illinois and was
reared on his father's farm where he was a valuable assistant in the labors
of developing and improving the home place. In 1880 he moved from Illi-
nois to Clay county and in May of the same year he bought a holding con-
taining two hundred and forty acres of choice land, located in section 16,
Humboldt township, fifty acres of which he gives over to the cultivation
640 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of potatoes. He carries on general farming and since the commencement
of his operations he has been successful, everything about his farm being
in excellent condition. Since acquiring this holding Mr. Bredenieier has
been to considerable expense in carrying out substantial improvements, and
his place is ranked among the best in the township. He is also the owner
of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Wilkin county.
In 1884 Christian Bredenieier was united in marriage to Marion
Fankhanel, who was born in Germany in 1864 and came to America in 1882.
To this union the following children were born Cecelia, who is married;
William, married; Alfred, a farmer, also clerk of district school board No.
31; Thelma, married; Lilly, Martha and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Brede-
meier take a proper interest in the general social activities of the community
in which they live. heli)ful factors in the promotion of all causes having
for their object the common good of the neighborhood and township.
BORRE HOVEN.
Borre Hoven, a substantial and energetic farmer and breeder of high-
grade stock, owner of three hundred and twenty acres of prime land in
Winchester township, Norman county, chairman of the local school board
and otherwise identified with the public life of the township, is a native of
Gudbransdalen, Norway, born in 1857, but has been a resident of this
country for thirty-five years, having immigrated in 1882. He is a son of
John and Mary Hoven, also born in Norway, the former a farmer, and
both of whom are deceased, Borre Hoven being deprived of his mother
when he was but eighteen months old.
In 1882, Borre Hoven, who had been married in the previous year,
came to this country with his wife and proceeded to the state of Minnesota,
locating at Crookston, where he remained for six months. He then home-
steaded a quarter section of land in section 10, Winchester township, and
later bought another quarter section in section 9, same township, and here
he is engaged in general farming and stock raising and since the commence-
ment of his agricultural operations he has been uniformly successful. Mr.
Hoven has effected many substantial improvements on his holdings and
his farm buildings are well built, his fences being one of the well-kept fea-
tures of the place, and his farming operations are carried on along modern
lines.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 64I
In 1881, before leaving Norway, Borre Hoven was united in marriage
to Anna Wange, also a native of Norway, born in 1863. They are parents
of the following children : Ole, married, in Montana ; Mary, married, living
in North Dakota; Bennie, in Montana; Gilbert, who works on the home
farm; Alfred, married, living in Montana; Sylvester, also in Montana;
Gena, a school teacher ; Otto, farming at home ; Anna, a school teacher, and
Tena, Edwin, Ella and Olga, all living at home. The Hoven family are
members of the United church and earnestly interested in all its good works,
Mr. Hoven being a trustee of the church and has served the congregation
in other capacities. He helped to build one church.
Mr. Hoven gives a good citizen's attention to public affairs and for
years has been identified with the progress of education in the township
and neighborhood and has helped to build two of the district schools and
has served on the school board in various capacities. He has also served
on the township board and helped to organize the Lake Ida Telephone Com-
pany, of which he is a stcx:kholder, and in other ways he has given his
active support to all movements designed to serve the public good.
LARS BJORNSON.
Lars Bjornson, local manager at Twin Valley for the Wilcox Lumber
Company, treasurer of the local creamery company, former treasurer and
councilman of the village, former newspaper editor and merchant there and
for years one of the most energetic "boosters" of the affairs of that thriving
village, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of
this country and of Minnesota since he was twenty-one years of age. He is
a Telemarking, born in the parish of Saude on July 20, 1869, son of Bjorn
and Ingeborg (Olson) Johnson, farmers and natives of that same place,
who spent all their lives in their native land and who were the parents of
six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of
birth, the others being John, Kjersti, John (second), Aasta and Ingeborg.
The parents were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and the
children were reared in that faith.
Reared on the home farm. Lars Bjornson received his schooling in the
village schools and remained at home until he was nineteen years of age,
when he came to this country, in 1890, and proceeded on out to Minnesota,
(41a)
642 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the village of Twin Valley being his point of destination. Upon his arrival
here he secured employment as a farm laborer in the summer and attended
school in the winter, and for three years thereafter was thus engaged. He
then, in 1893, began clerking in a general store at Twin Valley and was
so engaged for about six years, at the end of which time he began the
publication of tlie Tzuin Valley Times, continuing in the new.spaper business
for two years and six months, at the end of which period he sold the Times
and entered the service of the McCormick Harvester Company, with local
headquarters at Grand Forks, and a year later, in the spring of 1902, trans-
ferred his services to the Wilcox Luml)er Company and was made local
manager of that company's office and plant at Twin Valley, a position
he ever since has occupied, one of the best-known lumber men in Xorman
county. For about eleven years Mr. Bjornson also served as secretary of
the local creamery company and is the present treasurer of that company.
He likewise has for years taken an active and intelligent interest in local civic
affairs, has served as a menif)er of the village council, for two years as
treasurer of the village and for the past thirteen years or more has Ijeen
clerk of the local school district.
In the year 1896 Lars Bjornson was united in marriage to Gena Her-
reid, daughter of P. O. Herreid and wife, and to this union five children
have been born, Inez, Bert, Gladys, Josephine and Louis. The Bjornsons
have a very pleasant home at Twin Valley and have ever taken an interested
part in the general social affairs of the community. They are members of
the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a proper interest in church work,
as well as in other local good works.
JACOB N. ERSTAD.
Jacob N. Erstad. a well-known and substantial farmer, owner of two
hundred and ten acres of prime land in Sundahl township, Norman county,
has been a resident of this part of Minnesota for a long period, but is a
native of the kingdom of Norway. He was born in that country on Janu-
ary 2, 1843, ^ son of Nels and Renog (Severson) Erstad, also natives of
Norway and who came to America in an early day and spent the remainder
of their lives in Nonnan county, dying on the farm of their son, Anton.
Nels Erstad was a farmer and trained his son in the labors of the farm,
imparting to him the true principles of good husbandry. Nels Erstad and
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. / 643
wife were the parents of the following children: John, Randi, Anton, Mar-
tinus, Sivert, Guro and Jacob N., the subject of this sketch. All these chil-
dren are living here except Randi, who lives in Norway, and Guro is deceased.
Jacob N. Erstad took up his residence on a homestead farm in Sundahl
township upon coming to Norman county and immediately set to work to
get the place into a state fit for the planting of crops. He succeeded in his
operations and is now the owner of a fine tract of two hundred and ten
acres of land, ten acres of which is in timber, and is actively engaged in
general farming and stock raising, being recognized throughout the neigh-
borhood as one of the practical and painstaking farmers of the district.
When Mr. Erstad acquired possession of this holding he commenced his
fanning operations with a pair of oxen for which he paid one hundred and
thirty dollars and lived for some time in a log cabin. Later he erected a
good dwelling and some substantial outbuildings and he and his family are
comfortably and pleasantly situated. At the age of thirty years, in 1873,
Mr. Erstad was united in marriage to Cecelie Anderson, who came to this
country at the same time as her husband, and since his marriage he has
continued to reside on the original homestead farm. They are the parents
of one child, a daughter, Randena, who is marrierl and lives on a farm in
this county. Mr. Erstad takes ^ good citizen's interest in all matters apper-
taining to the welfare of the community in which he resides. He is a stock-
holder in the creamery at Sundahl, Minnesota, and also has an interest in
the elevator.
ADOLPH J. FRIDLUND.
Adolph J. Fridlund, a well-known building contractor and architect of
Moorhead, former member of the city council and now a member of the
charter commission of that city, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden,
but has been a resident of Minnesota for more than a quarter of a century,
during which time he has done much to help build up the city of Moorhead,
of which he has been a resident since the year 1891. He was born on April
23, 1864, son of John M. and Johanna (Carlson) Fridlund, also natives
of Sweden, who spent all their lives in their native land and who were the
parents of nine children, those besides the subject of this sketch, the sixth
in order of birth, being as follow: Ingre Marie, deceased; Carolina, who
continues to make her home in her native land ; John, who came to Minnesota
and is now living at Hawley ; Otto, who also came to the Red River Valley
644 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
and is now living at Fargo; Albertina, deceased; Ida, who continues to
make her home in Sweden ; Elof, a well-known resident of Moorhead, and
John Edward, who remained in his native land and is still living there.
John M. Fridlund and wife were members of the Lutheran church and their
children were reared in that faith.
John M. Fridlund was a carpenter and his sons were trained to that
trade. It was in 1891 that Adolph J. Fridlund came to this country after
having worked for some years as a carpenter in his native land, and after a
brief stay in Alichigan, to which state he had gone after arriving in port,
came on up into this part of Minnesota, arriving at Moorhead on June 2
of that year and has ever since made his home in that city. Immediately
after his arrival in Moorhead Air. I'Vitllund began working at his trade,
having been engaged by a contractor across the river in Fargo and later
worked for other builders, meanwhile spending some time at the high school
and in attendance at the Hope Academy in Moorhead putting a polish on
his then somewhat limited knowledge of the English language. At the same
time he continued his study of mechanical drawing and architecture and
presently became quite proficient in these lines. After a while he and his
brothers. Otto and Elof, formed a partnership, under the firm name of Frid-
lund Brothers and engaged in general building contracting on their own
account, that connection continuing for seven years, at the end of which
time Elof Fridlund withdrew from the fimi. Three years later Otto Frid-
lund withdrew and since then Adolph J. Fridlund has continued the business
alone, one of the best-known and most successful building contractors in
Moorhead. The first public building erected by him, then in partnership
with his brothers, was the second ward school building at Moorhead and
since that time he has done a large amount of work on public buildings
as well as on many of the other distinctive buildings in and about Moorhead.
Ever since becoming established at Moorhead Mr. Fridlund has taken an
active interest in the general affairs of the city, has served as a member
of the city council, alderman from his ward; as a memljer of the board of
education, and is now a member of the city charter commission ; a director
of Clay county Building Association for five years and a director of the Fargo
Builders and Traders E.xchange seven years.
On Noveml>er 14, 1897, Adolph J. Fridlund was united in marriage to
Nellie Sater, daughter of Amund Safer, of Carlisle, in the neighboring county
of Otter Tail, and to this union eleven children have l)een born, Allx;rt Julian,
Anna Jeannette, Esther Florence (deceased), Ethel Florence. Victor Ferdi-
nand, Adolph Harold, Evelyn Mildren, Carroll Reuben and Carl Rudolph
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 645
(twins), Marian Bernice and Dorothy Vivian, born in July, 19 17. Mr. and
'Mrs. Fridlund are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and they and
their family take a proper interest in church work. Mr. Fridlund takes an
active interest in lodge work and is a member of the local lodges of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of the Knights of Pythias, of the Ancient
Order of United Workmen, of the Mutual Benefit Association, of the Royal
Arcanum, the Order of Yeomen, and the Modern Brotherhood of .America.
ALFRED ANDERSON.
Alfred Anderson, one of the real pioneers of the village of Twin Valley,
for years a merchant there, former recorder of the village, formerly and
for many years postmaster and now assistant to Postmaster Meighen, is a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota
since he was twenty-one years of age and of Norman county since 1884, tiius
very properly being regarded as one of the old settlers hereabout. He was
born at Toten on August 22, i860, son of Christian and Marie (Paulson)
Anderson, the former a steamboat engineer, who spent all their lives in their
native Norway and who were the parents of eight children, those besides the
subject of this sketch being Helen, Carl, Annie, Nettie, Christian, Anton
and Johannes.
Reared in his native town in Norway, Alfred Anderson received his
schooling in the public schools and remained at home until he was past
twenty-one years of age, when, in 1882, he came to the L'nited States and
proceeded directly on out to Minnesota, beginning work on a farm in the
vicinity of Rushford, in Fillmore county. In 1884, attracted by the possibili-
ties then awaiting settlers up in the Red River valley, he came up here and
located in Norman county, spending his first winter here as a clerk in a store
at Faith. He then went to Lake Park and was there engaged until in
October, 1885, when he became engaged as a clerk in the store of Thorpe
Brothers at Ada and was there thus engaged until Christmas time in that
year, when he was transferred to the store the Thorpe Brothers had opened
at the old Twin Valley townsite. In the fall of 1886 that store was moved
to the new Twin Valley townsite and Mr. Anderson continued connected
with the same, in the employ of Thorpe Brothers, until the spring of 1888,
when he transferred his services to D. Swenson and was employed by the
latter for a year, or until the spring of 1889, when he received his first com-
646 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
mission as postmaster of Twin Valley. Entering- upon the duties of that
office in the spring of 1889 Mr. Anderson remained postmaster until in
November, 1893, after which he engaged in the drug business at Twin Valley
and was thus engaged until 1896. He then became employed in the store
of J. K. W'eisem and after a year or two transferred his services to the
hardware store of Froshaug & Myron and was there employed when, in
1899, he was again appointed postmaster of Twin Valley. Under his second
commission as postmaster Mr. Anderson served for more tlian fifteen years,
or until May i, 191 5, since which time he has continued in the postoffice,
acting as assistant to the present incumbent. J. J. Meighen. Mr. Anderson
has for many years taken an active part in the civic affairs of his home town
and of the county at large and for sixteen years served as recortler of the
village of Twin Valley his records being kept in a fine clerkly hand.
In the year 1887 Alfred Anderson was united in marriage to Keren
Undelincl, also a native of the kingdom of Norway, born near Bergen in
1866, and to this union eleven children have been lx)rn, Gena M., Clarence,
Arnold, Nettie. .Mettc. Harold (deceased), Oscar, Howard, Elmer, Ernest
and Morris. The Andersons are members of the United Lutheran church
and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in other local good
works. Mr. Anderson w,as one of the organizers of the local congregation
in i8qi and has been an officer of the same ever since the church was organ-
ized, at jiresent serving as clerk of the congregation.
JOHN A. LIBOK.
John A. Libok, one of Norman county's substantial farmers, the owner
of a fine farm of three hundred and eighty acres in Good Hope township
and who also is interested in the grain and lumber business at Shelly, is a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota
and of the Red River country since the days of the pioneers here. He
was born on December 19, 1858, a son of Andrew and Anna (Olson)
Anderson, also natives of Norway, who were the parents of four children,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others
being Margretta, who is now living in Canada, and Gunil and Katrina, who
are living in North Dakota. In 1881 Andrew Anderson and his family
came to the United States, arriving here on May 23, of that year, and came
up into the Red River country. In 1884 Andrew Anderson homesteaded
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, , MINNESOTA. 647
a tract of land in Nelson county, North Dakota, and later he and his wife
returned to Norway, where their last days were spent.
John A. Libok was about twenty-three years of age when he came to
this country and upon his arrival here engaged in farming and has ever
since been thus engaged, having become one of the well-to-do farmers of
Good Hope township, where he has a fine farm of three hundred and eighty
acres and one of the best farm plants in that neighborhood. He established
his home there a year after his marriage in 1890 and has since made many
valuable improvements to the place, planting trees and erecting all the build-
ings that now stand on the place. In addition to his extensive farming
operations, Mr. Libok has other interests, having shares in the company
operating the elevator and lumber yards at Shelly and stock in the bank
at Lockhart. He has ever given a good citizen's attention to the civic affairs
of his home community, having served as a member of the board of town-
ship supervisors, as a member of the school board in his home district and
in other local official capacities, in all giving his most thoughtful and intel-
ligent attention to the needs of the public.
On December 15, 1890, John A. Libok was united in marriage to
Christina Flikka, also a native of Norway, who came to this country in
1886, and to this union two children have been born, Albert and Clara,
both of whom are living on the home farm with their parents. The Liboks
have a very pleasant home in Good Hope township and have ever taken
an interested and helpful part in the community's general social activities.
EDWARD E. BJORGE.
Edward E. Bjorge, a well-known and substantial farmer, owner of a
compact farm of one hundred and sixty acres of prime land in Spring Creek
township, Norman county, for years assessor in the same township and also
serving on the school board, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born in
Gudbrandsdalen, December 4, 1867. He is a son of Engbrit and Moren
Bjorge, natives also of Norway, who came to America and died at Maple-
bay, Minnesota. They were the parents of five children, namely, Hans, who
lives in Canada; Tver, deceased; Karen, living in Canada; Cecil, deceased,
and Edward E., the subject of this sketch.
Edward E. Bjorge, who came to America in 1886, is the only member
of his family to settle in the United States. He has followed farming all
648 CI. AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of his life and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land
in Spring Creek township and on which he is actively engaged in general
farming, his labors having been always helped by the use of horses in the
work. Mr. Bjorge has by his own labor erected a substantial dwelling house
on his place ; also a barn and other buildings have been put up. The appear-
ance of his holding has been much improved by a grove which he set out.
the farm originally being bare of timber. From the commencement of
his operations Mr. Bjorge has made a success of his undertaking and is
regarded throughout the community as one of the progressive farmers of
the township.
On December 28, 1895, Edward E. Bjorge was united in marriage to
Maria Norby, born in Norway and who came to this country at the age of
five years. To this union the following children have been born : Minnie,
Maria (deceased). Oscar, Louise, Palmer, Elmer (deceased), Ida, Alice,
Clarence, Clara, Oliver, Ella and Ernest. Many of these children assist in
the work of the farm. Mr. Bjorge for several j^ears has been giving close
attention to local civic matters and has served as assessor of Sfjring Creek
township for many, years and has also been on the school board for a con-
siderable period. He is a member of the Lutheran church and warmly
interested in all its good works. He is a stockholder in the Gary Telephone
Company at Gary, this state, and otherwise has been identified with the
progress of the community in which he resides.
GEORGE C. BAUER.
George C. Bauer, one of the most energetic and progressive farmers
of Pleasant View township, owner of four hundred and forty acres of the
best of land in that township, was born in Evansville, Indiana, in 1867, but
has been a resident of Minnesota since he was six years old. He is a son
of Constant Bauer and wife, who came to the state of Minnesota in an
early day.
Constant Bauer followed the trade of a carpenter, working at that
occupation for forty years in Evansville, Indiana, and at Red Wing, Min-
nesota, when he took up residence at the latter place. While living at Red
Wing he acquired a tract of land, which he later sold. He died about 1875
at the age of forty-two years. His wife died in 1880 at the age of fifty-
two years. They were the parents of the following children : Albert, de-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 649
ceased ; Ben, married, living in Minneapolis, this state ; Yetta, deceased ;
Lizzie, married, living in Wisconsin; George C, the subject of this sketch,
and Emil, married, who owns land in section i6, Pleasant View township.
George C. Bauer was educated in the schools of Red Wing, this state,
and was reared in his parent's home in that place. In 1880 he same to Nor-
man county and worked on farms for some time. About 1889, in part-
nership with his brother, Emil, he bought land and later acquired a hold-
ing on his own account, gradually adding to the place, and is now the owner
of four hundred and forty acres of prime land, residing in section
14, and also owns land in sections 11 and 15. Mr. Bauer made many val-
uable improvements on his holdings and is recognized as one of the pro-
gressive farmers of the township, carrying on general farming according
to the most approved modern methods.
In 1891, at Fergus Falls. Minnesota, George C. Bauer was united in
marriage to Bertha Duenow, born in Wisconsin in 1871. To this union
the following children have been born : Minnie, Dora, Herbert, Martha
and Walter. The Bauer family are members of the Lutheran church, of
which Mr. Bauer was at one time a trustee. He takes a general interest
in the commercial welfare of the district in which he resides and is a stock-
holder in the local creamery and elevator and in the Farmers and Mer-
chants bank at Ada. At the present time he serves on the township school
board, his interest in educational matters being well known to the people
of the township.
JOHANNES PEDERSON LIEN.
Johannes Pederson Lien, a prosperous farmer and well-known citizen
of Twin Valley, Fossum township, Norman county, was born in Norway
on May 3, 1846, being the only child I)orn to Peter and Maret (Arnes-
datter) Ingebrightson, the latter having been married before. The parents,
both natives of Norway, heard the call of opportunity in the New World
and came to America, settled in Goodhue county, Minnesota, and remained
there until 1872. In that year they yoked a team of oxen to a covered wagon
in which they had loaded their household goods and a few farming imple-
ments, and came overland from Zumbrota township, Goodhue county, to
Fossum township, Norman county, the journey taking thirteen days. In
the party of immigrants there were, besides the Ingebrightson family, Hans
Aamoth and familv and a Yankee farmer who left the settlers in Otter
650 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Tail county. As soon as the Ingebrightson family arrived in Fossum town-
ship, the father pre-empted one hundred sixty acres, where the subject
of this review now lives, but he did not prove it up. The son, however, let
the quarter section of section 34 which he had pre-empted, revert
and took over his father's place where the family immediately took up tlieir
residence until the death of the parents.
Johannes Pederson Lien spent the days of his youth and early manhood
in Norway, where he attended the common schools, and when his parents
decided to emigrate to America, he gave the change his hearty consent and
came over with them when he was twenty-four years of age. Three years
before his coming to the land of opportunity, he was united in marriage with
Agnethe Hansdatter, born in Norway, a daughter of Hans P. Aamoth, of
whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. As is shown above, he
allowed his first pre-empted holdings to revert in order to take over his
father's place, and' there he and his family have since lived. With dili-
gence and marked industry he set about to improve the holding by erecting
substantial farm buildings and by planting a grove since the land was cut
out of the bare prairie. Later he extended his holdings by the purchase
of one hundred twenty acres of state land in section 31, Fossum township,
but he sold this in 1915. By dint of liard work and careful management
on his farm, where he has carried on general agriculture, Mr. Pederson Lien
has become very comfortably and pleasantly situated on his fine, well-
improved farm.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pederson Lien have Ijeen Ixjrn the following children :
Peter, Carrie, Emiline. Nels, Sebert and Lewis, all of whom are living;
however there are three children who are dead : John, Isal^ell and Anna.
Mr. Pederson Lien and family, as were his parents, are firm and very active
members of the Lutheran church. He and his father helped to organize the
East Wild Rice church and were especially instrumental in the construc-
tion of the first church building, for they cut logs and liau.led them to the
site of the present edifice and there helped to construct a log meeting house.
Moreover, the father and son, being among the first settlers of Fossum
township, helped to organize the township as it stands today. Mr. Peder-
son Lien has always been deeply interested in furthering the educational
interests of the community, for he not onlv has been a member of the town-
ship board but has also served as a school board director and at different
times as treasurer. WHien the time came to organize the eleventh school
district, the meeting \\'as held in Mr. Pederson Lien's home, when he served
as director on the first school board. Obviouslv, Mr. Pederson Lien has
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 65 1
been a strong asset to his conitmmity, for every movement for bettering
social, educational and business conditions has met with his marked approval
and his hearty co-operation ; thus he stands among his neighbors as an
example of good citizenship.
HANS O. SOLUM.
Hans O. Solum, the well-to-do proprietor of a two hundred and eighty-
seven acres and formerly a well-known grain buyer of Barnesville, Clay
county, was born in Hadeland, Norway, in 1862, a son of Ole FI. and
(Kari) Stadum Solum, the former of whom was a laborer in the old country,
but some years after settling in Minnesota became a prosperous farmer.
In 1868 the Solum family immigrated to the United States and on
arriving in Minnesota, settled in Fillmore county, where they acquired a
homestead tract on which they resided for four years, during this period
laying the foundations of the success which subsequently they achieved.
The elder Solum was among the first to settle in Tansem township, Clay
county, and began his farming career with a wagon, a yoke of oxen and
three cows. He built a log cabin with a sod roof, and in that the family
lived for several years. The elder Solum, on one occasion started to Alex-
andria with oxen to get a (juantity of wheat ground into flour, but while on
the journey, at Fergus Falls, he traded the wheat for flour and returned.
The children of the Solum family were: Hans O., Andrew, Sever, Martin
and Peter.
Hans O. Solum was reared on a frontier farm and was educated in
the common schools, remaining at home until he was twenty-three years
old. He assisted his parents in the labors of improving and developing the
farm and his boyhood days were full of hard work, mingled with experi-
ences common to boys in a new country. After his marriage in 1885, Mr.
Solum bought land in Tansem township and began farming operations with
a team of oxen, remaining for three years on that farm, at the end of
which time he moved to Barnesville and bought grain for the Minnesota and
Dakota Elevator Company, remaining with the company for two years. For
several years he was in partnership with S. F. Packard in the grain-buying
business at Barnesville, having warehouses in that place and in Lawndale,
and for six years did a very successful business. Mr. Solum disposed of his
interest in the grain business in 1895 and became connected with the Min-
652 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
neapolis & Northern Elevator Company, and was thus engaged for ten
years or more.
In 1885 Hans O. Solum was united in marriage to Engehorg Haugen,
who was born in Norway and who came to this country with her parents,
who were numbered among the earlier settlers of Otter Tail county, this
state. To tiiis union the following children have been born: Peter (de-
ceased), Hilda, Emma, Carl, Mabel, Norman and Eddie. The parents of
Mrs. Solum, Peter and Kari (Loftingmo) Haugen, were natives of Norway
and on coming to Minnesota took a homestead near Erhart, Otter Tail
county, and there spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Solum has ever
given a good citizen's attention to public affairs and has served on the city
council for four years and is also a member of the school board, and for
some years was treasurer of the same. Upon his retirement from the grain
busmess he bought an interest in the concern of Norby & Solum, general
merchants, Barnesville, and was in the company for four years. He bought
his father's homestead and has lived on it since 1913. This was originally a
tract of eighty acres, to which he has added and is now the owner of two
hundred and eighty-seven acres. Mr. Solum is also engaged in breeding
full-blooded Shorthorn cattle and is regarded throughout the township as
one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of the community in which
he resides.
NIKOLAI NELSON.
Nikolai Nelson, one of the well-known and substantial farmers of
Good Hope township, Norman county, is a native of the kingdom of Nor-
way, but has been a resident of this country since he was fifteen years of age.
He was born on March 16. 1877, ^ son of Nels and Engbor (Aslock)
Larson, farming people, natives also of Norway, who are still living in
that country and who are the parents of seven children, all of whom are
still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being .Anna, Louritz,
Emanuel. Bertina, Martina and Maria. Of these children, the three sons
are all farming in Norman county. Of tlie daughters, one, the first-born,
Anna, widow of Ludwig Nilson, came to this countr\- and is now living
in the village of Lockhart, in Norman county. The other daughters con-
tinue to make their homes in their native land.
In 1892 Nikolai Nelson was brought to this country and he was reared
in Minnesota, receiving here his schooling and being trained in the way
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 653
of practical farming. He married in 1904 and established his home on
his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Good Hope township,
where he has continued to reside and where he and his family are very pleas-
antly and very comfortably situated. One of the first moves Mr. Nelson made
upon taking possession of his farm was to plant trees, which are now beginning
to form a most attractive feature of the landscape there. He erected the
buildings which form his well-kept farm plant and all the improvements
he has made on the place bear the marks of substantiality. In addition to
his farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful, Mr.
Nelson gives proper attention to the general business affairs of his home
community and is a shareholder in the Halstead Telephone Company. He
has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, serving as
treasurer of school district No. 83.
On December 10, 1904, Nikolai Nelson was united in marriage to
Carrie Stuhaug, who was born on October 13, 1885, at Norway, daughter of
Ole and Berte Stuhang, and to this union have been born five children,
Manda, Oscar, Clifford, Garfield and Stanley. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are
members of the Lutheran church, which Mr. Nelson helped to organize,
and take an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good
works of the communit}- in which they live, and are helpful in promoting
all movements designed to advance the common welfare not only of that
community, but of the county at large.
R. iM. LEE.
R. M. Lee, a prosperous and extensive farmer, part owner of six
hundred and forty acres of choice land in Spring Creek township, Norman
county, chairman of the township board and otherwise connected with the
public life of the community, is a native of the state of Iowa, born in Webster
City, Hamilton county. October 28, 1888. He is a son of P. W. and Nettie
(Selder) Lee, natives of the state of Ohio, who are .still living in Webster
City, Iowa. They are the parents of four children, namely, Bessie F., J. W..
R. M., and R. S.
R. M., the third-born of the children of P. W. and Nettie Lee, was edu-
cated in the schools of Iowa and in 1907 came to his present farm. He is
part owner of si.x hundred and forty acres of excellent land, on which he
carries on general farming on an extensive scale, and in addition he operates
654 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
a Stock farm, the principal line in this connection heing cattle, which also
he handles on a large scale, and it is generally recognized that ISIr. Lee is
one of the most prosperous farmers in the county.
In 1912 R. M. Lee was united in marriage to ]\Ial)el Lindom, horn in
Larimore, Nortli Dakota, but reared in Norman county. To this union the
following children have been born: Paul W., Russel E., Robert and Ruth,
all of whom are living. :\Ir. Lee gives a good citizen's attention to public
affairs and is now serving as chairman of the township board, of which" he
has been a member for three years, and in other ways he has given of his
time and energv to the interest of the community at large.
ALBERT HEGLIE.
One of the progressive and prosperous farmers of Bear Park township,
Norman county, where he owns and operates eighty acres of excellent land
and where he is interested in the important common business enterprises of
the community, is Albert Heglie, who was born in Fillmore county, this state,
November 10, 1870. a son of Michael O. and Augusta (Heganstrom) Heglie.
They were both natives of Norway, from which they immigrated to this
country in 1867 or 1868, and settled in iMllmore county, .Minnesota. They
came from the Atlantic seaboard as far as Rushford, that county, by rail,
and from diere they drove overland to Lane-sboro, Fillmore county, where
they located. There the father soon obtained employment on the farms
surrounding the little city, but later he worked in a llouring mill within the
confines of the town. As the real-estate interests seemed to promise well
for the future, he invested his savings in a six-acre tract within the city limits.
His death occurred there in 19 14 and his widow still makes her home in
the citv. They were the parents of eight children, as follow: Caroline,
Marie, Ole, deceased, Albert, Anker, Marie, deceased, Martin and Oscar.
The father and mother were devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church and they reared their children in this faith.
Albert Heglie spent his boyhood and grew to maturity in Lanesboro,
where he received his early schooling, but after he reached the age of seven-
teen years, he left his father's home and came northward into Norman county,
this state, making his home with his brother-in-law, Svevre J. Lee, until the
autumn of 1888. In that year he returned to Lanesboro, where he remained
until 189 1, in which year he returned to Norman county, remaining there
employed in various capacities until 1897. In that year, he started out
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 655
independently in farming and settled where he now is on his farm of eighty
acres. Since the land was new, much labor was entailed to bring it up to
the standard of cultivation and improvement. Doing almost all of the work
himself, he erected the necessary farm buildings and planted a grove, and
now he has a well-appointed farm plant. In his general farming operations,
he has experienced marked success.
In 1897, the year in which he settled on his own place, Mr. Heglie was
united in marriage to Marie Westerdahl, who was born in Norway, Novem-
ber 4, 1873, ^ daughter of Peter and Brita Westerdahl, and as a result of
this marriage, four children have been born, all of whom are living: Hilda,
aged thirteen years; Paul, who is seven years old; Gustave, five years of
age, and Anker, aged three. Mr. and Mrs. Heglie are members of the
Norwegian Lutheran church at Ranum, and they take interest in all the
good works of the community. Although Mr. Heglie has not sought after
office, he takes a good citizen's interest in the civil and political affairs of
the community in which he has been a continuous resident for twenty years.
He is connected with several of the important co-operative business enter-
prises of the vicinity. He is interested in the mercantile companies of
Rindahl and Bear Park, both of which he helped to organize, and in the
Gary Telephone Company. Furthermore, he helped to organize the creamery
at Rindahl.
PETER WOUTERS.
Peter Wouters, a well-known and substantial farmer, owner of a fine
farm of three hundred and sixty acres of prime land in Cromwell township.
Clay county, is a native of the kingdom of Holland, born in that country
in 1863, a son of John and Jeanetta Wouters, also natives of that country,
who came to America in 1873.
Peter Wouters, at the age of ten years, in 1873, accompanied his parents
to this country and began early to work on farms, his education being largely
the result of study and reading. He rented in 1889, renting land for about
three years, the place containing two hundred and forty acres, which he
subsequently bought. As he prospered in his farming operations he added
to his holding and is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of
prime land, on which he carries on general farming and on which he has
carried out most of the present improvements, being generally recognized as
one of the prosperous and progressive farmers in the township.
656 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
In 1892 Peter Wouters was united in marriage to Margaret Dinsmore,
a daughter of Jacob Dinsniore and wife. To this union the following chil-
dren have been Ixjrn : Arthur, John, Richard, Margaret and Gordon, all of
whom are living. Mr. Wouters has been living on the farm most all his
life since coming here. He has always given a good citizen's attention to
public affairs and served as chairman of the township lx>ard for nine years.
He is interested in the Farmers Co-operative Creamery at Hawley and also
in the State Bank at Hawley. He has been an active member of the .Ancient
Order of United Workmen for about twenty years, and in the affairs of
that fraternal organization he takes a warm interest.
MARTIN JOHNSON.
Martin Johnson, a well-known and substantial farmer of Pleasant View
township, Norman county, now living retired, owner of several tracts of
land, aggregating some five hundred and sixty acres of prime land, former
township supervisor and otherwise widely known for his activities in regard
to public affairs, is a native son of the kingdom of Norway, but has been
a resident of this country since he was seventeen years old. He is the son
of John and Johannah Johnson and was born in Norway on December 4,
1850, coming to the United States with his parents in 1867.
John Johnson was born in Norway about the year 1800 and was edu-
cated in the schools of that country and in later life worked as a farmer,
continuing at that occupation after settling near Red Wing, Minnesota,
where he lived towards the end of his life with his son, Tullaf, and died
in 1897, having reached the advanced age of ninety-seven years. His wife,
Johannah Johnson, also a native of Norway, came with her husband to this
country. She died in 1901 at the old age of ninety-three years. They were
the parents of the following children : Tullaf, married, lives at Red Wing,
this state; Helena, married, also living in T^ed Wing; Nicholina, believed
to have died in Norway, and Martin, the subject of this sketch. John
Johnson and his wife were earnest members of the Lutheran church and
their children were brought up in the tenets of the same faith.
Martin Johnson was educated in the schools of Norway and at the age
of seventeen years, in 1867, immigrated to America, accompanying his
parents to this country and proceeding on out to Red Wing, Minnesota,
where the family settled and where the subject of this sketch helped in the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. C57
labors of the farm, a valuable assistant to his father. In 1885 he moved
to Ada. but in the preceding years held a rented farm near Lake City,
Minnesota, and on coming to Norman county he settled in Pleasant View
township, where he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in
section 17, and as he prospered in his agricultural operations he added to his
holdings, and is now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of excellent
land, located in different sections, and is accounted one of the substantial
farmers in this part of Norman county, his farming operations being con-
ducted according to modern methods. He now lives retired.
In January, 1875, at Red Wing, Minnesota, Martin Johnson was united
in marriage to Martha Hoef, a native of Germany, born in 1850, and who
came to America in 1868 with her mother, her father Iiaving preceded them
a few years earlier. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of the following
children: John, Gustav, Clara, Kattie (deceased), Martha. Charlie, Ella
and William. The mother of these children died in 1905. Mr. Johnson's
son-in-law, Fred Riehl, who married Clara Johnson, works the farm and
carries on mixed farming and raises blooded stock cattle. Mr. Johnson is
a member of the Lutheran church and in former years served as trustee.
He gives a good citizen's attention to public affairs and was elected to the
township board and also served as township supervisor. He helped to
organize the Farmers Elevator Company at .\da and in various other ways
he has given of his time and energies to the promotion of all movements
designed to promote the general welfare of the township and county.
JOHN JENSEN.
John Jensen, a well-known and prosperous farmer, owner of two
hundred and eighty acres of prime land in Fossum township, Norman county,
is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of the United
States for nearly fifty years and of Norman county since 1872. He was
born in Norway on September 28, 1849, a- son of Jens Jorgen and Elsie
Katherine (Olson) Knutson.
Jens Jorgen Knutson and his wife were born in Norway, and they
spent all their lives in that country, each dying in the same year, their deaths
occurring in the summer of 1859. Jens J. Knutson was educated in the
schools of his native land and in his early years taught school, after which
(42a)
658 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
he engaged in farming and continued at that occupation to the end of his hfe.
They were the parents of nine children, as follow: Knut (deceased), Ole
(deceased), Annie (deceased), Jorgen, John, the subject of this sketch;
Jens, Alargareta (deceased), Elsie I\Iarie and Ole Bjorn (deceased). Jens
Knutson and wife were members of the Lutheran church anil were earnest
supporters of all its good works, and were regarded as among the most
esteemed citizens of the locality where they resided.
John Jensen was educated in the schools of N^orway and at the death
of his parents, when he was a boy of ten years, he went to live with and
work for his uncle, John Morland. who was his uncle on his father's side.
John Jensen early displayed an inclination for the life of a sailor and when
he was sixteen years old he signed onto a ship for a period of two years,
at four dollars per month. His ship went to Havana and almost all the
crew took yellow fever, with the result that the ship was ordered back to
Norway and in consequence, Mr. Jensen's term of service did not extend
bevond sixteen months. He left the life of the sea for a life on land and in
the spring following his change of occupation, he and his brother, Jens,
immigrated to America. On arriving in this country they proceeded to the
state of Illinois and remained in Leland, that state, for about two months,
moving thence to Rice county, Minnesota, and remained there until 1872.
In the latter year they moved to Norman county, the journey being accom-
plished by ox-team, their goods being conveyed in covered wagons, the
journey occupying three weeks. The party consisted of Henry Benson,
George Johnson, Jens Morland and John Jensen, the three latter being broth-
ers. The four members of the party either took homestead claims or pre-
empted land in Possum township. John Jensen took the southeast quarter of
section 20, in that township, where he carried on general farming until
1912, in whicli year he sold out and came to the farm in section 8, which
he has since occupied. Here he is the owner of two hundred and eighty
acres of excellent land, on which he has erected a number of fine buildings,
and is regarded throughout the township as one of the progressive and sub-
stantial farmers. W^hile li\ing on the homestead tract he improved the
place ; his first residence was a log house and in time this was replaced by a
good frame building.
In 1873 John Jensen was united in marriage to Emilia Larson, a native
of the state of Iowa, and a daughter of ^^^ Larson and wife. To Mr. and
Mrs. Jensen the following children were born : William, Carl 0., Edward,
Lizzie, Clara, who died at the age of two years; Clara (2), Alma. Birdie.
who, died at the age of fourteen years, and Nile. Mr. Jensen has ever
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 659
given a good citizen's attention to the general affairs of his neighborhood
and township, and helped to select the location of the East Wild Rice church
and has been a member of that congregation ever since. At the date of the
organization of Possum township he took a practical part in the work of
farming the township and has served as township supervisor. He also has
been a member of the local school board and for many years was a road
boss, and in these several public positions acquitted himself with advantage
to the interests he represented. Mr. Jensen was one of the organizers of
the Farmers Elevator at Twin Valley, and also lent his aid in the formation
of the Twin Valley Creamery Company, and in many other ways he has
given evidence of his capacity to help in all useful projects and is regarded as
one of the progressive citizens of the township and county, of which he has
been a resident for the past fortv-five years.
HANS HALVORSON.
Hans Halvorson, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Home Lake
township, owner of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, in
that township, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident
of this country since he was seventeen years old, coming with his parents,
three brothers having jjreceded him some time before. Hans Halvorson was
born in 1862, a son of Halvor and Christina (Johnson) Peterson, also natives
of Norway.
Halvor Peterson was educated in the schools of Norway, later working
at farm labor for some years, when in 1879 he decided to immigrate to
America, where three of his sons preceded him, the reports sent home by
these boys on farming conditions in this state being of a favorable character.
After arriving in this country Halvor Peterson spent two years in Fillmore
county, Minnesota, and in 1881 he moved to Norman county and homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 24, Rockwell township, later
acquiring one hundred and sixty acres of a tree claim in the same section,
the latter not being now in possession of his survivors. Halvor Peterson
was engaged throughout the active years of his life in carrying on general
farming and met with success in his agricultural operations. He died in
1896 at the age of seventy-three years and his widow survived until 1915,
when she died at the fine old age of ninety years, while living in Twin
Valley. They were the parents of the following children : Peter, married.
66o CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
is the owner of land in Rockwell township; John, married and living in
Valley City, North Dakota; Ed, deceased, as also his wife, left a daughter
who married Severn Walsted and lives in Rockwell township; Christ, liv-
ing in Norway; Hans, the subject of this sketch; Seifert, married and living
in Valley City, North Dakota, and Julius, who died in 1901 in Twin Valley.
Hans Halvorson was educated in the schools of Norway and at the age
of seventeen years he accompanied his parents to America, going first to
Fillmore county, this state, and later coming to Norman county with his
parents. He worked at farm labor for some years, finally buying land on
his own account and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres
of prime land in section 6. Home Lake township, where he is engaged in
general farming and stock raising, being recognized as one of the substantial
and progressive farmers of the township. Mr. Halvorson carried out many
improvements on his holding since acquiring it and has nne of the well-kept
places in the neighborhood.
Hans Halvorson was united in marriage to Mrs. John Hall, who was
born in Fillmore county, this state, and whose parents are dece:ised. The
following children have been born to Hans Halvorson and wife: John,
deceased; Clara, at home; Edwin, married; and Adolpb and Mabel, both at
home. Mr. Halvorson has ever given a good citizen's attention to public
affairs and helped to organize the first school district and served on the school
Ixjard for many years. He helped in the organization of the creamery at
Twin \alley, holding stock in that progressive undertaking, and in other
wavs he has demonstrated his ability to serve the general community welfare.
JACOB E. MILSTEX.
Jacob E. Milsten, a well-known and substantial farmer and stock rais-
er of Fossum township, who, during his residence in this state, has given
evidence of a versatile and keen business instinct, is a native of tbe king-
dom of Norwav, but has been living in the United States since he was twenty
vears old. He was born on July 28. 1858, a son of Erick Christianson and
Kari (Storhugeni Milsten, also natives of Norway, who immigrated to
America in 1878.
Erick C. ^lilsten arrived at Albert Lee, Minnesota, in July, 1878, and
worked in that place for two years. He then moved to Norman county via
ox team, supplied by his son, Jacob E., and by which the parents and the
CA.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 66l
Other members of the family travelled to their new liiime. 'I'lie father Icxjk
a homestead tract of eighty acres in Bear Park township and on this land
he carried on farming during all the active years of his life, later retiring
to Gary, where they lived for a time, finally taking up residence with their
daughter, Kari, in Sundahl township, Norman county, in which place they
died. They were the parents of nine children as follow ; Christian, de-
cea.sed ; Anna, deceased; Jacob E., the subject of this sketch: Ingeborg, de-
ceased; Eliza, deceased; Carrie; Martha; Mary, and Rangdina, deceased.
Carrie, Martha and Mary are living. The Milstens were members of the
Lutheran church and their children also were reared in that faith.
Jacob E. Milsten was educated in the schools of Norway and at the
age of twenty years came with his parents to America, in 1878, and brought
them and the other members of the family to Norman county lay ox team.
During the same year he homesteaded a c|uarter section of land in Sundahl
township, Norman county, and on that place he lived for some years, en-
gaged in general farming, having improved the holding with buildings and
also set out a fine grove. He then moved to Bear Park town.ship and pre-
empted one hundred and sixt}- acres of land, which he placed under im-
provements and on which he lived for a time. During his residence there
he filled the office of township supervisor and served as a director of the lo-
cal school board. His next move brought him to Gary, where he conduct-
ed a general store for a time and then organized the Gary Mercantile Com-
pany, of which he was the cashier for about two years, making in all about
four vears as a merchant in Gary. Mr. Milsten. at the end of his mercan-
tile connection with Gary, came to Faith, Possum township, and bought a
flour-mill, operating the same alone for about one year, at the end of which
time he .sold a half interest to his cousin, Nels Kjos. The partnership con-
tinued until the death of ;\Ir. Kjos, following which Mr. Milsten continued
to carry on the business for a further period of two years, when he sold it
to his son, Alfred, and Christ N. Juhl. Mr. Milsten then moved to his pres-
ent farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 12. Possum townshii).
and has cleared over one hundred acres of that place, having the same in
an advanced state of cultivation, and on which he is now carrying on gen-
eral farming and stockraising, having from the beginning of his operations
met with a large measure of success. The holding has been improved' by
the addition of good Iniildings and the entire farm jircsents evidence of care
and attention.
In i8S_' Jacob E. Milsten was united in marriage to Hannah ^'e-^cn,
who was born in Norvvav, a daughter of Nels Yesen and wife. To this un-
662 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ion the following children were born: Clara, Ella (deceased), Edwin. Al-
fred, Eda, Hiilda, Anton (deceased), Emma, Anna, Olga and Bernhard.
With the exception of Ella and Anton, the other children are living. The
Milsten family are members of the Lutheran church and are warmlv in-
terested in all its good works. Mr. Milsten has .ilways given a good cit-
izen's attention to public affairs, Init has never been a seeker after office.
MADS ROBERTSON
Mads Robertson, one of the best-known and most progressive farm-
ers of Lockhart township, Norman county, and the owner of a line farm of
three hundred and twenty acres there, is a native of the kingdom of Denmark
and has lieen a resident of Minnesota since the year 1900. He was born
on a farm in the vicinity of Fyn, Denmark, March 13, 1881, the last in or-
der of birth of the eleven children born to Rasmus and Maren Roljertson, na-
tives of that same country, who spent all their lives there, the others of these
children being Nels. Christ, Hans, Jorgen, Christopher, Frederick, .\nna.
Cherry, Cena (deceased) and Kirsten. Of the.se children, but two besides
the subject of this sketch came to America, these two being Nels and Christ,
the latter of whom is engaged in the railway service, in the employ of the
Great Northern Railroad Company. The others are engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits in their native land.
It was in 1900, as noted above, that Mads Robertson came to the Uni-
ted States. He lost little time in making his way to Minnesota and in due
time became the owner of the tine farm of three hundred and twenty acres on
which he now lives in Lockhart township, Norman county, and where he and
his family are very comfortably situated. Mr. Robertson has made ex-
tensive impro\ements on his farm since taking possession of the same, in-
cludnig substantial farm Imildings. In addition to his general grain
farming, Mr. Robertson has given considerable attention to the raising of
potatoes and has been quite successful. He is a man of method and keeps
a careful .-iccount of outgo and income, as well as applying up-to-date prin-
ciples to his farming, and has thus been able to figure that since taking pos-
session of his farm the same has paid him almost a clear ten per cent, on
the investment.
On July 31, 1907, Mads Robertson was united in marriage to Lizzie
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 663
Lewerenz, who was torn in this country and whose parents have a farm in
the vicinity of Paynesville, in Stearns county, this state, and to this union
two children have been born, Chester and LilHan. Mr. and Mrs. Robert-
son are members of the Lutheran churcli, and take a proper part in tiie
general good works of the community in which they live. They have a
pleasant home, the surroundings of which have been beautified by the plant-
ing of shade and fruit trees since they entered upon the possession of their
place, and have made for themselves a substantial place in the community.
EDWARD C. SCHROEDER.
Edward C. Schroeder, farmer, of Glyndon township, Clay county, was
born on the home farm in Elmwood township, this county, June 14, 1880.
He is a son of Henry Schroeder, a sketch of whom appears on another
page of this work.
The subject of this sketch grew up on the home farm, where he -worked
during the crop seasons, attending the district schools in the winter time,
and later was a student in Concordia College at Moorhead. He also attended
the Dakota Business College at Fargo. In 1902 he began farming for
himself on his present farm in Glyndon township, and he is owner of one
of the choice farms of Clay county, consisting of five hundred and seventy
acres, which is regarded as one of the best improved farms in the county.
It is in a fine state of cultivation and everything denotes thrift, ]3rosperity
and good management. Mr. Schroeder has an attractive modern home in
the midst of beautiful surroundings, and also a large group of substan-
tial convenient outbuildings, all modern in arrangement. He is not only
a close observer and a man of original ideas, but is a diligent student of
the best literature relating to advanced agricultural methods. He raises a
vast quantity of grain, a large part of which he feeds to live stock, pre-
paring a number of carloads of cattle and hogs for the market annually.
He is a breeder of registered Holstein cattle, and he keeps a dairy herd that
is unsurpassed in the northwest. He has bred several cows which have
won first honors in world tests. He has been offered and refused twenty
thousand dollars for the male Holstein that heads his fine herd. His stock
always bring fancy prices when offered for sale, owing to their superior
qualities and are greatly admired by all who see them. He is widely
664 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNKSOTA.
known over the country for liis herd of thoroughbred cattle, and also for
his first-class potato seed. He raises a large acreage every year of Red
River valley seed potatoes. He built an extensive potato warehouse on his
farm near the Northern Pacific tracks, which road runs through his farm.
However, the warehouse is reached I)y a private siding. His potatoes are
shipped to many states and find a good niarket everywhere. He has made
a special study of this line and understands ever}' phase of raising and
handling Irish potatoes. Mr Schroeder employs on an average of about
twenty men on his farm, all of whom are housed and fed on the place, whose
homes together with the dwelling of the proprietor, barns and other out-
buildings constitute a little village. The dwelling of Mr. Schroeder is
in the midst of a large attractive grove and lawn.
Mr. Schroeder was married in 1902 to Magdelina J. Kuehl, a daughter
of Denis Kuehl, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume.
To this union five children have been born, namely: Irene, Edward, Carl,
Elenora and Ruth.
\Ir. Schroeder is president of the Dilworth Dairymens Association, and
takes an active interest in its afifairs. He has done much to encourage
better dairying and better stock raising in this section of thel country.
He is a member of the Lutheran church. He is public-spirited, neighborly,
a man of progressive ideas and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
TVER O. HAGEN.
Another son of the kingdom of Norway is Iver O. Hagen, owner of
two hundred acres of fine land in Bear Park township, Norman county, and
identified with the business life of the township for several years. He was
born in Norway, a son of Ole G. and Kari (Lovenstuen) Hagen, natives
also of Norway and who came to America in 1869.
When Ole G. Hagen arrived in this country he pushed on out to Minne-
sota and settled in Freeborn county, where he worked on farms and in 1882
moved to Norman county, where he has been living ever since. He home-
steaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Bear Park township,
where Iver O. Hagen. his son. is now living and where Mrs. Kari Hagen
died some years ago. They were the parents of one child, Iver O., the
subject of this sketch. During his active life Ole G. Hagen was a good
farmer and a good citizen, ever concerned for those things best calculated
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 665
to promote the general welfare of the coinnumity. He helped to start the
first church in Sundahl.
Iver O. Hagen had but a brief educational training in his native country
and availed of the opportunity to complete his school course in America,
where he attended school for some years. He came to Norman count\- in
1882 with his parents and has lived on the home farm ever since, having
added an additional forty acres of railroad land to the original homestead
tract which his father entered. He has erected some excellent buildings on
the place, which he keeps in fine shape, and is regarded as one of the pro-
gressive and substantial farmers in the part of the township where he resides.
He is engaged in general farming and has been doing vei"y well.
In 1887 Iver O. Hagen was united in marriage to Marthia Hanson.
born in Norway, a daughter of Hans Brohelden and wife, also natives of
Norway, and to that union the following children were born : Ole, Helmer
(deceased), Hans, Caroline, Ingvald and Gilbert. Following the death of
the mother of these children, Mr. Hagen was married in 1901 to Caroline
M. Hornshagen, born in Norway, a daughter of Michael Hanson and wife,
and to this second union four children have been born, Iver, Manford, Melvin
and Clarence. The Hagen family are earnest members of the Lutheran
church and warmly interested in all its good works. Mr. Hagen helped to
organize the Sundahl Mercantile Company and the Sundahl Creamery and
to the business affairs of these two undertakings has given considerable
attention.
ANTON NELSON.
Anton Nelson, a well-known and well-to-do farmer, owner of a com-
pact farm of one hundred and seventeen acres of choice land, is a native
of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of the United States
since 188 1 and of Norman county since the following year. He was born
in Norway on January 18, 1858, a son of Nels and Renog (Severson) John-
son Erstad, both born in Norway and who came to America in 1883, the
year after Anton Nelson arrived, and proceeded directly to Ada, Minnesota,
later living at various places with their children, their last days being spent
on Anton's place in Sundahl township, Norman county. They were the
parents of seven children who grew to maturity, as follow: Jacob N., Johan
N., Randi. who remained in Norway; Svert, Martinus. Anton and Guro.
deceased.
666 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Anton Nelson was educated in tlie schools of Norway and in x88i came
to Winneshiek county, Iowa, remaining there until March, 1882, when he
moved to Norman county and worked on farms for two years. In 1884 he
went to Montana and was married in that state in the summer of the same
year, and worked with his father-in-law on a farm, remaining there until
the spring of 1885, when he returned to Xorman county. In 1887 Mr.
Nelson bought eighty acres of land, which was in a raw state, and put up
some buildings on same. For the next three years he rented land of P. H.
Hanson and lived on the rented place, meantime being engaged in clearing
and building on his own farm, which was mostly in timlier. In 1890 he
moved onto his own land and has Hved there ever since. He is the owner of
one hundred and seventeen acres of prime land on which he erected a fine
house in 191 3. He is engaged in general farming and breeds graded Short-
horn cattle, doing very well in his agricultural operations from the Ixgin-
ning. His farm plant and place are well kept and he is regarded as one of
the energetic and painstaking farmers in that part of the township.
In 1884 Anton Nelson was united in marriage to Betsie C. Peterson,
born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, a daughter of Peter H. Peterson, who
came in an early day and settled near Halstad, Norman county, going later
to Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of the following children:
Nels M., Peter H.. John R., Albert B., Ella B., Lena C. (deceased), Gilbert
W., Lewis M., Mabel C. and Clarence S. The Nelson family are members
of the Lutheran church and warm supporters of all its good works. Mr.
Nelson has long been giving close attention to local civic affairs and served
on the townshi]) board for ten years, for one year being chairman. He
helped to organize the Sundahl Creamerv and the Sundahl Mercantile Com-
pany, and in other ways has given of his time and energy to the advance-
ment of the interests of the commimitv.
ROBERT H. PETTING.
Robert H. Petting, the owner of one hundred sixty acres of well-
improved land in Mary township, Noniian county, where he carries on a
scientific form of diversified agriculture, was born in Wisconsin on ]\Iarch
8, i860, a son of Ludwig and Henrietta (Krause) Petting, both natives of
Germany where they were reared, married and moved to America in 1856.
The familv settled in Wisconsin and there the father and mother lived the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 667
rest of their li\'e.s on the old home farm, where the former carried on mixed
farming, the father dying when tiie subject of this sketch was about fourteen
years of age and the motiier about twenty-hve years ago. They were the
parents of six children, the youngest of whom is Robert H., the others being:
Amelia, deceased; Otto, married and living in Wisconsin, a retired farmer;
Albert, married and also living in Wisconsin, a retired farmer, and Charlie
and Rudolph, deceased.
For si-x years after the death of his father in 1874, Robert Petting
remained on the home farm aiding his widowed mother to develop the home
farm where he had spent his boyhood, receiving his common school educa-
tion in the district schools of the neighborhood. In 1880 he decided to
cast his lot with the settlers in the new country which had recently l:)een
opened in Norman county, Minnesota, and accordingly he came out here and
homesteaded one hundred sixty acres in section 14, northwest quarter, and
section 15, southwest quarter of southeast (|uarter, Mary town.ship. where he
still lives. He immediately set aI)out putting his holding under cultivation
and raised temporary farm buildings. As he prospered in his operations,
he replaced the old shacks of his homesteading days with new and up-to-date
farm buildings, it being only six years ago that he built his fine new farm
house, where he and his family are very comfortably situated. He now
carries on a scientific fnrm of diversified agriculture and is very successful
in all his operations.
In 1882 Mr. Petting was united in marriage to Mary Sontag, who was
born in Missouri, in 186.2, a daughter of John and Barbara Sontag, and to
this union was born one child, a daughter, Otillie, who is married and living
in North Dakota. Some time after the death of his first wife in 1894, Mr.
Petting married Sophia Kreier, who was born in Wisconsin, in 1875, a
daughter of Herman and Johanna Kreier, the former now living in Montana
and having once resided in Borup, this county, and the latter being deceased.
Mrs. Petting has four brothers in Montana and one, Paul Kreier, the pro-
prietor of a transfer business, in Pargo, North Dakota, and two sisters. By
his second wife Mr. Petting is the father of eight children, namely: x'\rthur,
at home: Psther, the wife of Chester Miller, now living in McDonaldsville
township, this county; and Pddie, Janet, Martha, Hulda, Robert and Melvin,
all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Petting are consistent and conscientious members
of the German Lutheran church and in the affairs of this denomination they
take a proper interest.
In addition to his very busy operations on his fine farm, Mr. Petting
has found time to devote to the civic and co-operative business affairs of his
668 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, .MINNESOTA.
community. He was township assessor for a number of years, treasurer
of the school board for fifteen years and is now director of the same. Being
interested in bettering the marketing faciHties of the farmers of tiiis neigh-
borhood, he is interested in the Farmers Elevator at Perley and in the potato
warehouse at Borup. In politics Mr. Petting is an ardent advocate of the
Democratic party and fraternally, he is a member of Camp No. 2881, Mod-
ern Woodmen of America, at Ada. Minnesota. Religiously, politically, fra-
ternallv and socially Mr. Fetting is ever striving not only for the good of him-
self and fauiilv, but also for the betterment of the community in which he
has made his home for so many years.
ALFRED R. Ol.SOX.
Alfred R. Olson, a prosperous farmer of Waukon township, Norman
county, was born on the farm, where he still lives in Waukon township,
April 25, 1886, a son of Asle and Randi (Wermager) Olson, both of whom
arc natives of Norway. He operates five hundred acres of farming land, one
hundred and si.xty of which belong to him and he is well-known in die
local civic and business interests of the community in which he lives.
Asle Olson, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born on Janu-
ary 2, 1849, a son of Ole and Ingeborg (Aslesdatter) Knutson, both of
whom were bt)rn in Norway, where the mother died. The father came to
.America late in life, after he was seventy years of age, to make his home
with his children who had preceded him t(j this country, and his death
occurred at the home of his grandson, Ole Olson, in Waukon township,
.\orman county, at the age of ninety-three years. Ole and Ingeborg Knut-
son were the parents of several children and the seven who grew to matur-
ity are, as follow: Kari. who did not leave her native .Norway, where she
died in 191 4; Knut, who lives on a farm in Waukon township, Norman
county: Kristi, Barbro, .\sle, the father of the subject of this sketch; Svend
and Gunild, both still living in Norway.
Asle Olson received an elementary academic training in the local schools
in his native land, and there he gave valuable assistance in the farming
operations of his father. \\'hen he reached the age of twenty years, he
decided to immigrate to the New World and here established his home on
some of the fertile soil in the great W'est, of which he had heard so much
from his friends and acquaintances who had friends and rel.'itivcs in this
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 669
country. He set sail in the early part of 1869, landed on American soil
without mishap, and located first in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he
spent two years working as a farm hand on the holdings of the farmers
of the vicinity. He left there in 1871 for South Dakota, where he remained
for one summer and then in the autumn of that year he came to Houston
county, Minnesota, where he lived for a period of seven years, working as
a farm hand; thus it was that he gained much valuable training in farming
operations peculiar to the Northwest, which stood him in good stead when
he began farming on his own account. It was not until the spring of 1878
that he came to Norman county, which has since been his home, and took
a homestead of a quarter section in Waukon township. After Asle Olson
had filed the claim for his homestead in 1878, he returned to Houston county,
Minnesota, and in the winter of that year he was married to Randi
Wermager. She was born in Norway, April 29, 1853, a daughter of Ole
and Christie (Hufton) Wermager, who immigrated to this country in the
spring of 1869, settled in Houston county, Minnesota, where they lived
until 1 88 1, in which year they drove through to Norman county and home-
steaded in Waukon township. He died at Gary, Norman county, at the
advanced age of ninety-four years and she on the old homestead. Asle
Olson lived on the farm until the spring of 19 15, when he removed to Gary
to look after his business interests. In the year preceding, however, he
returned to Norway for a visit with his relatives and old friends who still
live in that country. It was in February, 1916, that he formed a partner-
ship with George Martinson, his son-in-law, for the purpose of establishing
a hardware business at Gary, in which enterprise he has experienced much
gratifying success. As the years have passed, Asle Olson has added to his
holdings in Waukon township until he now is the proprietor of three hundretl
and forty acres of fine land, on which he has erected excellent buildings
and planted a grove. Here, before he entered the hardware business, he
carried on general farming and was a breeder of thoroughbred Holstein
cattle.
To Asle and Randi Olson were born ten children and the five who
are living as follow: Ida, Alfred, the subject of this review; Ole, Ohert
and Mary. The father has been very well-known in the local civil affairs,
having heli)ed to organize Waukon township, which he served as supervisor,
treasurer and assessor for many years.
Alfred R. Olson was reared in the old home farm, where he still lives,
and in the neighboring schools of Waukon township received his common-
school education. During the summers, he gained a valuable agricultural
670 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
training while helping liis father in the development of the homestead. Since
a business education is a valuable asset to an intelligent and progressive
farmer, Mr. Olson entered Concordia College at Moorhead, from which he
graduated in the commercial course in the spring of 1906. He then returned
home and took up his farming operations on the home place. He now
operates five hundred acres, one hundred and sixty of which belongs to
him and the remainder he rents from his father. He carries on general grain
and stock farming, raising thoroughbred Ilolstein cattle and Duroc-Jersey
hogs. Mr. Olson was the first man in Waukon township to build a silo.
On November 24, 1915, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Nora
Lee, who was born in Pope county, Minnesota, on September 12, 1892, a
daughter of Ole T. and Johanne (Hellen) Lee, well-known residents of
Waukon township, Norman county, further mention of whom is made else-
where in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents of one child, a
daughter, Ruth. They are devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church at Waukon, taking a proper interest in the affairs of this church
society. In politics, Mr. Olson is a progressive, and has been frequently
called upon to serve the citizens of his township in official capacity, wdiich
he has done with credit to hiinself. He has held many of the township
offices, and for the last seven years he has been an incumbent of the important
official trust of township treasurer. One of the local co-operative distribut-
ing agencies bears the impress of Mr. Olson's personality, the Waukon
Mercantile Company, of which he is now secretary and treasurer.
OSCAR PETERSON.
Oscar Peterson, one of the younger and progressive farmers of Possum
township, Norman county, clerk to the township board and clerk to the
school board, is a native son of Minnesota, born on his father's farm in
Fossum township, where the Faith store is now located, on September 10,
1885. He is a son of Olaf and Carolina (Paulsdatter) Pederson, natives
of Sweden and Norway, respectively.
Olaf Pederson was born in Sweden on May 9, 1851, a son of Peder and
Katherina (Olsdatter) Larson, both natives of Sweden and where the former
was a farmer. They were the parents of seven children as follow: Lars,
Anna Maria, Katherina, Liza, Olaf, father of the subject of this sketch, and
Annetta and Andres, deceased. Peder Larson and wife were earnest mem-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 67I
bers of the Lutheran churcli and tlieir children and their children's children
have been reared in that faith.
Olaf Pederson was educated in the schools of his native Sweden, later
going to Norway, where he lived for ten years, during nine years of which
lie was a sailor and traveled to all the countries of Europe during that time.
He married Carolina Paulsdatter in Norway and in 1882 immigrated to
America, coming on out to Minnesota, and located in Faith, Fossum town-
ship, Norman county, and has since been living in this vicinity, one of the
best-known farmers in the township. Mr. Pederson's first purchase of land
was in section 14, Fossum township, where he acquired eighty acres, which
He immediately proceeded to clear and improve and in a short time had it
in a state of cultivation. As he prospered in his agricultural operations he
added to his holding and is now the owner of two hundred acres of prime
land, of which one hundred and forty acres have been cleared, and he is
here actively engaged in general farming and stock raising, being regarded
as one of the practical farmers in this section of the county.
On February 7, 1875, Olaf Pederson was united in marriage to Carolina
Paulsdatter, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Paul and Paulina
(Larsdatter) Johnson, the former of whom is deceased and the latter is now
living near Faith, Norman county, at the great age of ninety years. To
Olaf Pederson and wife the following children were born: Olaf, Peter,
John, Lydia, Olga, Oscar and Clara. He is a member of the Lutheran
church and is a warm supporter of all its good works and is interested in
all matters calculated to benefit the community at large.
Oscar Peterson was educated in the schools of Norman county and
later helped his father in the labors of the farm, a valuable assistant in the
work of developing and improving the home place, and he has made Fossum
township his place of residence ever since. Li 1907 he commenced farming
on his own account and he is now the owner of two hundred acres of choice
land in sections 10, 15 and 14. In addition to his farming opera-
tions he is also a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs and is
doing very well in these lines, being recognized as one of the modern-
method farmers of this part of the county, his outbuildings and other farming
equipment being of a most substantial character.
In October, 1906, Oscar Peterson was united in marriage to Anna
Hanson, born in Fossum township, a daughter of Andrew Hanson and wife.
To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson four children have been born, namely: Adaline,
Laurence, Hazel and Olaf, all of whom are living. The Peterson family
are members of the Lutheran church and liberal contributors to its upkeep,
672 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
and Mr. and Mrs. Peterson take a proper part in the general social life ot
the community in which they live. :\Ir. Peterson gives a good citizen's
attention to public affairs and has been serving as township clerk for the past
two years, still being in office, and has been clerk to the local school board
for six years, and in tliese important positions is giving general satisfaction.
He is interested in the Faith Creamery Compaiiy and fills the office of treas-
urer of that company. He helped to organize the Faith Milling Company
and in many other directions he has given evidence of his ability to serve
the best interests of the community.
CARL T.\LL
Among the younger generation of farmers in Clay county who have
come to this country from Sweden, is Carl Tall, a substantial and progres-
sive farmer, owner of a fine tract of land in section 28, Hawley township.
He was born in that country in 1875, a son of Anders and Emma Tall, also
born in that country, the former of whom is now deceased and the latter
is living with her son. Xels, who came to Clay county in 1906.
Anders Tall was born in Sweden in 1845 and was educated in the
schools of his native land. He was brought up to the life of a farmer and
continued thus occupied during his active life. He died in Sweden in 1902.
His wife, Emma Tall, also was born in Sweden and is now living with her
son, Nels, and is in her se\enty-third year. They were members of the
Swedish Lutheran church and their children were brought up in the same
faith. Anders Tall and his wife were active and influential residents of the
district in which they lived. They were the parents of the following chil-
dren : Nels, married ; Alban, who lives in Sweden ; Anna and Tilda, who
are married, and Carl, the subject of this sketch.
Carl Tall was educated in the schools of Sweden and for a short time
thereafter helped his father in the work of the farm. At the age of six-
teen years he immigrated to the United States, in 1891, and on arriving in
this countrv he came on out to Minnesota and settled in Clay county. He
immediately commenced to work on farms and some time later he lx)ught
land and l>egan farming on his own account. At the end of ten years,
in 1901, he came on to his present farm of four hundred and eighty acres
of prime land in section 28, Hawley township. He carries on general farm-
ing and since the commencement of his operations he has been most sue-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 673
cessful, everything about his place being in excellent condition. Part of
his land, to the extent of about thirty acres, is planted to potatoes. His in-
dustry and activity in his farm work entitle him to be classed as one of the
progressive and substantial farmers of Hawley township. He has remodeled
all his buildings.
In 1896 Carl Tall was united in marriage to Ida Krauz, who was born
in Sweden in 1876, and whose death occurred in 1913. To Mr. and Mrs.
Tall the following children were born : Olivia, Elvira, Sigrid, Rudolph,
Hilding, Hulda, Augusta and Florence, all of whom are living. Mr. Tall
is a member of the Lutheran church and is an earnest supporter of all its
good works. He gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and
has served as a director of the township school board and in other ways has
given of his time and energy to help causes having for their object the com-
mon good of the community.
HUBERT ZERVAS.
Hubert Zervas, well-known retail meat dealer at Moorhead, a member
of the Commercial Club and of the Retail Merchants Association in that
city and for a longer time connected with the retail meet trade than any
other person in Moorhead, is a native of Germany, but has lived in this
country, a resident of Minnesota, since he was nineteen years of age. He
was born on April 4, 1868, son of Hubert Zervas and wife, also natives of
Germany, who spent all their lives in their native country and the former
of whom was a butcher by trade.
The junior Hubert Zervas remained in his native country until he was
nineteen years of age, receiving his schooling there and learning the butcher
trade under the direction of his father. In 1887 he came to the United
States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, locating at St. Paul, where he
remained until in March, 1889, when he came out to this part of the state
and started to work in Hansen Brothers' meat market at Moorhead, remain-
ing with that fimi until August 16, 1894, when he and L. H. Levitre engaged
in business for themselves. A year later Mr. Levitre withdrew from the
partnership and Bruno Kippels became a partner of Mr. Zervas, that con-
nection continuing until 1911, since which year Mr. Zervas has been con-
ducting the business alone, the oldest meat dealer continuously engaged in
(43a)
674 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
that line in Moorhead. He has an excellent trade and his establishment
is conducted along modern lines, conforming to the most approved methods
in the sanitary handling of meats. Mr. Zervas is a member of the Moorhead
Commercial Club and of the Retail Merchants Association of that city and
takes an active part in the general business affairs of the city.
On January 2y, 1891, Hubert Zervas was united in marriage to Emma
Levitre, a daughter of Peter Levitre, a pioneer farmer near Felton, now
deceased, and to this imion have been born six children, namely : John, who
is now serving in the United States navy, at present attached to the Atlantic
fleet; Mary, who is cashier in her father's meat market; Anna, who is now
in school at St. Benedict's .Academy at St. Joseph, this state ; Hubert, who
is in school at Aloorhead, and Emma and Cecelia. Mr. and Mrs. Zervas
are members of the Catholic church ajid their children have been reared in
that faith. Mr. Zervas is a member of the Holy Name Society of his local
parish. For twenty-five years he has been a member of the church choir
and is now the leader of the same. He is a member of the Knights of
Columbus and of the Catholic Order of Foresters and in the affairs of these
organizations takes a warm interest.
GEORGE K. SIRJORD.
George K. Sirjord, a well-known farmer of Bear Park township,
Norman county, where he is the proprietor and operator of a well-appointed
farm of one hundred and sixty acres and is connected with several important
co-operative business enterprises of that and neighboring communities, was
born in Norway, May 26, 1868, a son of John and Mary (Anderson) John-
son, both of whom were born in Norway, where they spent their whole
lives, the former there a farmer. They were the parents of fifteen children,
and the nine who grew to maturity were : Sverup, deceased ; Jorgen, John
Tormela, deceased; Bergita, .Anna. Mary, deceased; Hannah and George K.,
the subject of this review.
George Sirjord received his formal education in the public schools of
his native land, and his agricultural training behind the plow on the old
home farm there. In 1890. when he was twenty-two years of age, he
immigrated to America, journeyed on out to Norman county, Minnesota,
where he had friends, and there worked out on farms for several years, in
order to acquire the necessary capital for starting out for hiinself. It
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 675
was in 1902 that he started farming where he now hves in Bear Park
township, this county, and he operates one hundred and sixty acres, carrying
on a scientific form of diversified agriculture. The farm plant is comprised
of excellent buildings, around which is a beautiful grove, partly planted
by Mr. Sirjord.
On November i, 1908, George K. Sirjord married Mrs. Petra (Leines)
Holmvik, and to this union two children have been born, Morris Gifford
and Pearl Judie. Mrs. Sirjord was first married to John Holmvik in 1894,
a year after she came to America. Air. Holmvik had immigrated to this
country with his mother and stepfather, who were early settlers of Nor-
man county. By her first husband, Mrs. Sirjord had three children, Clara,
Ada and Norman. Her parents, Cornelius and Petrena (Sahl) Leines,
were natives of Norway, where they lived and died. Mrs. Sirjord had four
brothers and two sisters, namely. Bang, Oluf, Kornelius, Ole, Nekoline and
Ane. Mr. and Mrs. Sirjord are active workers in the Norwegian Lutheran
church, rearing their children in that faith, and are zealous participants and
hearty supporters of all the good works of the community in which they live.
In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Sirjord has important busi-
ness interests. He helped to organize the Bear Park Mercantile Company
and the Farmers Elevator at Bijou : he is also interested in the creamery
at Rindahl. While he takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs of
the same, however, he has never sought office.
JOHN CHRIST DESING.
John C. Desing, well-known lumberman, former justice of the peace in
and for Elmwood township and otherwise identified with the public life
of the community, is a native son of Clay county, born in Baker on December
29, 1886, a .son of William and Fredericka (Wright) Desing, both natives
of the German empire, and who came to America single, later marrying in
Clay county.
John and Mary Desing, the paternal grandparents, came to America in
an early day and were among the first homesteaders in the vicinity of Baker.
Clay county, in which place they spent the remainder of their lives, honored
and respected pioneers. The maternal grandparents also were among the
early settlers, probably in the seventies, and likewise settled in the neighbor-
hood of Baker, where thev continued to reside to the end of their lives.
6/6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
William Desing, father of the subject of this sketch, iiiunigralccl to this
country in the early seventies and in 1874 came to Norman county and
homesteaded a tract of land in Elmwood township, where he engaged in
general farming for several years. Mr. Desing, who also learned the trade
of a carpenter and was an expert workman, is now living in Roseau, Minne-
sota. His wife died some years ago. They were the parents of four chil-
dren as follow: Mrs. Mary Peterson, who lives at Dalton, Minnesota; John
C, tiie subject of this sketch; Manda, who lives in Rochester, Minnesota,
and David, living with John C. Tlie parents and sisters of the family belong
to the Advenlist cJuirch. while John C. and David .'ire members of the
Lutheran church.
John C. Desing was educated in the schools of Clay count\- and was
reared on his father's farm, later acciuiring a thorough knowledge of the
carpenter trade while with D. W. Tulley, of Barnesville. In 191 1 he moved
to Downer and started out as a contractor on his own account, and for
the next four \ears continued at that branch of activity and met with a con-
siderable share of success. In 1915 Mr. Desing joined the Interior Lumber
Company at Downer and from the beginning of this connection he has held
the responsible ])osition of manager. He also is engaged in the buying of
potatoes for Louis .Altenbrcnd during the past two years.
In June, 19 16, John C. Desing was united in marriage to Clara Xelson,
of Rollag, Minnesota, a daughter of C. E. Xelson, a pioneer of that place
and who now resides in Osakis, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Desing have Ix-come
the parents of two children, twins, Floyd and Florence. Mr. and Mrs.
Desing take an earnest interest in the social and general activities of the
community in which they reside, ever desirous to assist in all movements
calculated to benefit the people. In 191 7 Mr. Desing built a handsome
stucco residence, and here the famih' are comfortably situated.
LUDWIG B. LARSOX.
Ludwig B. Larson, well-known and substantial farmer, owner of a fine
farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Bear Park township, former
township assessor and former school clerk, is a native of the kingdom of
Norway, but has been living in this country since he was three years old. He
was born in Norway on July 4, 1869, a son of Severt and Ranch (Peters-
datter) Larson, also natives of Norwav.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 677
Severt Larson immigrated to the United States in 1871, going on arrival
to Ispheming, Michigan, his wife and child following from Norway in the
following year, and a month after their arrival, Severt Larson died. While
living in that place IVIrs. Larson married for her second hushand E. T.
Krogstad, a native of Norway, and who came to this country in 1872. In
1875 they moved to Stillwater, Minnesota, and worked at various occupa-
tions, coming some time later to Goodhue county, this state, and there owned
a farm, which they worked for a few years. In 1881 they moved to Norman
county and immediately homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land
in Strand township and lived there until 1892, in which year they came to
Bear Park township and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and
here Mr. Krogstad died in the fall of 1916, and his widow is still living on
the farm. Mrs. Krogstad, by her first marriage, was the mother of one
child, Ludwig B. Larson, the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Krogstad
were the parents of the following children: Peter, Eddie (deceased), Eddie,
Ole, John, Bennie, Mary, Albert and Richard. Mr. Krogstad served as
supervisor in Strand township and served on the school board there and in
Bear Park townsMp, bringing to the execution of these duties a ripe intel-
ligence.
Ludwig B. Larson obtained but a limited education in the schools of
Norman county. He left home at the age of sixteen and went to Huron,
South Dakota, and worked on the railroad construction of the W'atertown-
Huron branch. During the winter for six or seven years he worked in
the woods of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in the summer he was engaged
in a saw-mill. In the winter of 1892 he suffered the loss of a leg while
working in the woods and has since made artificial legs for his own use.
following a walking plow and drag. On retiring from tlie labors of the
woods, Mr. Larson worked on farms around Bear Park township until
1898, in which year he married and started farming on the place where
he now lives. He bought out the land and is now the owner of one hundred
and twenty acres of prime land, on which he erected all the present buildings
with the exception of a portion of the house, and is engaged in general farming
and stock raising and is doing very well.
In 1898 Ludwig B. Larson was united in marriage to .\nna Johnson,
born in Nicollet county, a daughter of Iver Johnson and wife, and to this
union the following children were born : Esther, Ruth, Alma, Mabel, Ernst.
Bennie, Clarence, Selmer, Palmer, Florence and Lowell. Mr. Larson and
the members of his family are afifiliated to the Lutheran church and arc
678 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
earnestly interested in all its good works. Mr. Larson has served as town-
ship assessor and is now township constable; he served on the school hoard
for fifteen years, during that period being clerk, and has l)een an auctioneer
in that locality for a nuniljer of years. He has an interest in the P>ear I'ark
Mercantile Company.
PETER P. OLSON.
Peter P. Olson, a well-known merchant and scientific farmer of .\n-
thony township, Norman county, was born in Worth county, Iowa, June
24, 1866, a son of Peter and Aaget (Olson) Olson, who were both natives of
Norway. Along in the fifties the elder Olson, who was a farmer and teach-
er in his native land, came to America and located first in Wisconsin, then
in Worth county, Iowa, where Peter P. was born, and later moved to h'ill-
more county, Minnesota, where he died in 1866. Peter Olson, Sr., taught
school and farmed after his coming to America until his death, after which
his wife and children, feeling that the soil promised them a better future,
joined a party of forty settlers whose destination was Norman county to
which they traveled overland in horse drawn covered wagons. Soon after
their arrival in .Xornian county in 1878 the eldest son, Ole, homesteaded
in Anthony township, and there the family first located. While living on
this farm, the mother's death occurred. To her and Peter Olson were born
the following children: Gena, deceased; Ole, deceased, the eldest son who
homesteaded the tract in Anthony township; Hans, Carrie and Peter P., the
youngest child and the subject of this review.
Peter P. Olson, who is a native-born American, was twelve years of
age when his mother and her family came overland to Norman county.
He received a fairly good education in his early years, when the facilities
for such at that time are considered, for he finished the common school
and was for one year a student in the high school at Rushford, Minne-
sota. Having had ambitions to enter a business career, he began by ac-
quiring some very valuable experience by working as a salesman in a gen-
eral store at Ada, where he was thus engaged for thirteen years. In 1901
he decided to enter the mercantile business on his own account and opened
up a general store, called the "Anthony Store" in .Anthony township. He
erected a fine business room, being the first one on the site, but his busi-
ness expanded to such an extent that it has been necessary for him to make
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 679
additions to his store since. In addition to his mercantile interests, Mr.
Olson finds further occupation on his small, modern farm of twenty acres
in Anthony township, which he operates for experimental purposes.
Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Josie Dalvey on May 15, 1889.
She was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, April 13, 1867, the daughter
of Ole and Sesila Dalvey, who emigrated from Norway, the land of their
nativity, in 1856, and settled in Fillmore county. The Lutheran church
has in Mr. and Mrs. Olson, devoted members, and in the affairs of this
denomination they take a deep and zealous interest. Mr. Olson's family
were valuable acquisitions to the community, especially in its early days,
for they helped to organize the East Marsh River Lutheran congregation
when the homes of the settlers were thrown open for services. Later the
family was largely instrumental in the organization of the public schools
of the township.
LARS O. NESS.
Lars O. Ness, a substantial and energetic farmer, owner of a prime piece
of land in Hegne township, Nonnan county, is a native of the kingdom of
Norway, but has been a resident of this country since he was nineteen years
old, coming here with his widowed mother in 1879 and ever since has been
living in Norman county. He was born on January 3, i860, son of Ole and
Marit (Ness) Ness, both born in Selbn, Norway, where the former died
and where Lars O. Ness lived up to the time of his coming to the United
States. There were two children in the family, the subject of this sketch
having a sister, Ligeborg, who came to this country with her brother and
married Hans Stennes ; she is now dead.
Lars O. Ness was educated in the schools of his native Norway and at
the age of nineteen accompanied his mother and sister to America, landing
at New York, coming thence to Norman county in 1879. He bought forty
acres of railroad land on which he erected the farm buildings and as he
prospered in his farming operations he added to his holdings and is now
the owner of eighty acres of prime land, which is well covered with natural
timber and trees which Mr. Ness planted. Mrs. Marit Ness, mother of the
subject of this sketch, is now living with her son. having reached the advanced
age of ninety-one years.
Li 1879 Lars O. Ness was united in marriage to Dorthea Moslath, a
native of Norway and daughter of John Olson, who came to America in
68o CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
1883 and located in Elk Point, Union county, South Dakota. Mr. Olson
lived there for six years, at the end of which time he moved to Norman
county and lived with I\Ir. Ness for a further period of six years, when he
died. His wife was Sophia Hosta, who came to this country with her hus-
band and died while living with Mr. Ness, at the great age of ninety-three
years and four months. To Mr. and Mrs. Ness the following children have
been born : Sophia, who became Mrs. John Paulson, living at Crookston,
this state, and Albert Ness, who died in 191 1, leaving three children, Lloyd,
Alma and Dora, all of whom are living. John Paulson and wife are the
parents of five children as follow : Paul, Louis, Alice, Earl and Sylvia, all
of whom are living. The Ness family are members of the Lutheran church
and are active in all its good works, as well as in all community affairs
designed to promote the common good. Mr. Ness gives close attention to
public affairs and was a helpful factor in bringing about the organization
of Hegne township. John Olson and wife, parents of Mrs. Ness, were the
parents of six children, those besides Mrs. Ness being Ole and John, who
live in Norway; Ellies and Jonas, who both died in Norway, and Marit, who
died at Elk Point. South Dakota.
WILLLAM H. RABE.
William H. Rabe, assessor of Green Meadow township and one of the
best-known and most progressive farmers of Norman county, was born in
the village of Nicollet, in Nicollet county, this state, May 11, 1877, son and
only child of Charles and Henrietta (Carsten) Ralie, natives of the state of
Illinois, who located at Nicollet in 1875. Charles Rabe was a merchant
and was engaged in the mercantile and milling business with his brother
August at Nicollet for eight or ten years, at the end of which time he dis-
posed of his interests there and moved to the cit\- of Chicago, where he spent
the remainder of his life, being engaged there as a collector. His wife
died when the subject of this sketch was but three weeks old.
Having been but about eight years of age when his father moved to
Chicago, William H. Rabe received his schooling in the schools of that city
and was graduated from a business college there in 1894. For two or three
years thereafter he was engaged as a bookkeeper at branch I of the United
States Brewing Company at Chicago, but wearied of the life of the city
and began to long for the free life of the farm. "Back to the land" was
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 68l
an appeal which carried with it a strong urge in his case and with a view
to carrying out his ambition along this line he came up here into the Red
River country to look about for a bit of farm land. So well pleased was
he with the outlook here that he presently bought a cjuarter of a section of
land in Green Meadow township, Norman county, and settled down as a
real tiller of the soil. After his marriage in 1900 he established his home
on that place and he and his family are now very comfortably and very
pleasantly situated there, Mr. Rabe having many reasons for continuing to
congratulate himself upon the decision which prompted him to leave the
city. He has erected excellent buildings on his place and his farming is
carried on in accordance with up-to-date methods. In addition to his gen-
eral farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of pure-bred
Shorthorn cattle and has done well in his operations. Ever since locating
here Mr. Rabe has given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and
for the past eleven years or more has been serving his township in the capacity
of assessor.
On September 26, 1900, William H. Rabe was united in marriage to
Emma Eichler, who was born in the township in which she is living, a
daughter of August Eichler and wife, pioneers of that township, and to
this union two children have been born, Verna and Raymond. Mr. and Mrs.
Rabe are members of the Green Meadow German Lutheran church and take
a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works and
social activities of the community in which they live and in which Mrs. Rabe
has lived all her life, helpful in many ways in promoting movements designed
to advance the common welfare of that neighborhood.
AMON OLSON.
Amon Olson, a prosperous and substantial farmer of Home Lake town-
ship, Norman county, where he owns two hundred acres of good land, nearly
all of which is under a high state of cultivation, was born in Norway, April
20, 1849, a son of Ole and Cena (Olson) P.rakeat, both of whom were natives
of Norway, and whose deaths occurred in this country. They had seven
children, as follow: Knut, a resident of North Dakota; Amon, the subject
of this review, and Ole, living in Washington state, and four girls, Mary
and Kari, in North Dakota; Annie, in Washington state, and Hannah, who
is dead.
682 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Anion Olson attended the common schools of his native land, where
he acquired an elementary education such as the time and place afforded. As
he was just entering manhood, his parents decided to immigrate to America,
where they thought they could better the material w-ell-being of the whole
family. Accordingly in 1866. the father and Knut, the eldest son, came to
this country to select a location, and in the following year, 1867, the modier,
the youngest child and Amon, who was then eighteen years of age, joined
the father and elder brother. It was thirteen years after he had set foot
on American soil that Amon Olson came to these parts. He had heard that
land could be acquired cheaply in Norman county, and he removed here in
1880, settling on one hundred and sixty acres of school land in section 36,
Home Lake township. I^ter he rounded out his holding by the purchase of
an additional tract of forty acres in the same section. Here he began the
improvement of his farm under pioneer conditions, for the land was in a wild
state. Fortunately, however, there was a natural grove on the place, hence
he did not find it necessary to set out an artificial one. Soon he erected a
substantial log house and barn, which sufficed until recent years, when he
replaced the original structures with larger, more substantial, commodious
and convenient ones. It was in 1903 that he constructed his comfortable
farm home, and his farm plant is now all in an excellent state of repair. He
now carries on a scientific form of diversified agriculture, which includes an
excellent system of crop rotation, and also raises some cattle, generally feed-
ing about twenty-five head. His farm plant is well stocked with modern farm-
ing machinery, a marked contrast with the conditions under which he worked
when he used o.xen for draught animals.
In February, 1883, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Hannah Waller,
who was born in Norway, June 4, 1847, ^ daughter of Ole Olson and Olea
(Peterson) Waller, with whom she came to this country when she was
twenty years of age. The father and mother died here on her husband's
farm. By her first marriage, Mrs. Olson has two children, Fred and Clara.
Her marriage to Mr. Olson resulted in the birth of seven children, as follow :
Sam, living in Montana : Oscar, living here in Norman county ; Sena, a resi-
dent of Montana; Alice, living in North Dakota; Helmer, living here in
Norman county, and Tina and Hannah, both residents of North Dakota.
Mr. and -Mrs. Olson are devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church
at Flom, and they take a keen interest in the church w'ork of this denomina-
tion. Mr. Olson takes a deep interest in the local, state and national phases
of his party's activity. Mr. Olson is active in furthering the educational
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 683
progress of the locality, and rendered valuable service to this cause when he
was a member of the local school board. Even though Mr. Olson has never
been much given to seeking after public office, he takes a good citizen's
interest in the betterment of his community in the educational, moral, religious
and civil aspects of its existence.
H. O. ELLEFSON.
H. O. Ellefson, postmaster of the village of Syre, in Norman county,
manager of the Thorpe elevator and a well-known merchant of that place,
is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this coun-
try since he was three years of age. He was born on June 21, 1869, son
of Austin and Annie (Hanson) Ellefson, also natives of Norway, who
came to the United States with their family in 1872 and settled on a home-
stead farm in Dunn county, Wisconsin, where they spent the remainder
of their lives, the latter dying in 1887 and the former surviving until 1907.
Austin Ellefson and his wife were members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of
these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the si.xth in order
of birth, the others being lileck. Hans, Nellie, Louis, Ole, Carl. Knute,
Martin and Henry.
As noted above, H. O. Ellefson was but three years of age when he
came with his parents to this country, the family settling in Wisconsin,
and when two years of age he went to live with his sister, Nellie, wife of
Nels Swanson, in St. Croi.x county, that same state, and in that county
attended school until he was nineteen years of age, when, in 1888, he came
up into this part of Minnesota, being attracted to the possibilities then open-
ing irw the valley of the Red River, and began farming in the vicinity of
Gary, in Norman county. .After his marriage he settled on a farm in
Waukon township and was there engaged in farming until after the death
of his first wife in 1899. Two years later, in 1901, Mr. Ellefson became
engaged as a grain buyer in the Thorpe elevator at Syre and eighteen
months later was transferred by the Thorpes to their elevator at Flaming
and for two years and a half was engaged as their buyer there. The com-
pany dien put him in charge of their elevator at Gary and a year later trans-
ferred him to their elevator at Leeds, North Dakota, where he remained
for eighteen months, at the end of which time, in 1908, the company sent
684 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
him back to Syre and he ever since has been the manager of their eleva-
tor at that place, one of the best-known grain men in Norman county. Up-
on returning to Syre in 1908 Mr. Ellefson became interested, in associa-
tion with B. L. Bjerkness, in a genera! store in that village and has ever
since been manager of the same, looking after the affairs of the store in
addition to his managerial connection with the elevator. .\ year after he
located at Syre he was appointed postmaster of the village, in 1909, and
has ever since occupied that position. Mr. Ellefson has ever taken a good
citizen's interest in political affairs and for three years during his residence
on the farm in Waukon township served as assessor of that township.
Mr. Ellefson has been twice married. His first wife, who was Mar-
tha Knudson, died in 1899, leaving five children. Annie, Ovedia, Clara,
Mabel and Jennie, and he later married Annie Hermanson. Mr. and Mrs.
Ellefson are members of the Lutheran (Synod) church and take an earn-
est interest in church work, Mr. Ellefson being treasurer of the local con-
gregation at Syre.
CARL O. JENSEN.
Carl O. Jensen, owner of a compact and well-kept farm in section 9,
Possum township, Norman county, former chairman of the township board,
and presently a member of the local school board, is a native son of Norman
county, born on his father's homestead on September 18, 1877, a son of John
and Emilia (Larson) Jensen, well-known residents of the township.
John Jensen, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Norway
in 1849, a son of Jens Jorgen and Elsie Katherina (Olson) Knutson, who
spent all their lives in that country, where they were of the farming class.
John Jenson spent sixteen months as a sailor and owing to an outbreak of
the yellow fever while in Havana, the ship returned to Norway and'some
time later he and his brother, Jens, immigrated to America, first stopping
at Leland, Illinois, and then moving into the state of Minnesota, settling
in Rice county, where he remained until 1872. He then came to Norman
county and took a homestead claim, the farm on which his son Carl was
born. In another part of this volume a further and more extended account
of the life of John Jensen is given, and to that review the reader is referred.
Carl O. Jensen was educated in the public schools of Norman county,
later attending Park Region College at Pergus Falls, Minnesota. He was
reared on his father's homestead and worked on the farm, a valuable aid to
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 68
0
the task of developing and improving the home phice. Later, he went t"
work in the elevator at Twin Valley, for A. Darling, and spent two years
in that place. He then rented his father's homestead place and worked the
same very successfully for three years, at the end of which time he bought
one hundred and sixty acres of prime land in the northwest quarter of section
9, in Fossum township, and here he has lived ever since engaged in general
farming and is recognized as one of the progressive farmers of the district.
In 1912 he erected a number of fine buildings on the place, which add con-
siderably to its value, and in 1914 he made a further addition to his holding
by the purchase of eighty acres of hay land in section 8. He also raises
a good grade of stock, for which he finds a ready market.
In the fall of 1905 Carl O. Jensen was united in marriage to Regena
Korsgaden, born in Xorman county, a daughter of Lars Korsgaden and wife.
To Mr. and Mrs. Jensen five children have been born, Kenneth Raymond
Julener, Sanford Milton, Arnold Reuben, and Oris Melvin and Helen Birdie
(twins), all of whom are living. The Jensen family are members of the
Lutheran church at East Wild Rice and are warm supporters of all its good
works. Mr. Jensen has served on the township board for several years,
being chairman for the past two years, and is also a member of the local
school board, on which he has been acting for nine j'cars. He was formerly
road overseer, and in many other ways he has given of his time to the public
interest, ever ready to assist all projects calculated to advance the public
welfare. Mr. Jensen helped to organize the Faith ^Milling Company at Faith,
Minnesota, and is a stockholder in the same.
CHARLES W. CANNING.
Charles W. Canning, one of the most substantial and progressive farm-
ers of the Hendrum neighborhood in Hendrum township, Norman county,
and the proprietor of a fine farm and a comfortable home there, is a native
of the Emerald Isle, but has been a resident of this country since he was
twenty years of age. He was born in Ireland on August 15, 1865, a son
of Robert and Mary (Wilson) Canning, both of whom also were born in
Ireland. Reared in his native land, he received excellent educational
advantages there and remained at home until he was twenty years of age,
when he came to this country, landing at Philadelphia. Upon his arrival
here Mr. Canning secured employment in Philadelphia and for a year was
686 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
thus engaged in that city. He then went to Pittshurgh and after a sometime
stay there decided to come up into the Red River country and put in his lot
with the people of this valley. Upon his arrival here Mr. Canning secured
a tract of land in section 25 of Hendrum township, Norman county, and
there established his home. He has been successful in his operations and
now is the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and thirty acres, which he
has improved in up-to-date fashion. The farm is ideally situated along
the banks of the Red river, and everything is kept up in shipshape fashion,
the general farm plant being recognized as one of the best in that neighbor--
hood. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Canning engages some-
what extensively in the raising of a good grade of live stock and has on his
place about twenty head of horses and more than forty head of cattle. The
farm house is modern and up-to-date in its appointments and the farm build-
ings are in keeping with the same. Not only is Mr. Canning a good farmer,
but he gives his attention to the general business afifairs of the community.
On January 18, 1893, Charles W. Canning was united in marriage to
Mary Canning, who also was lx)rn in Ireland, and to this union has Ix'en born
one child, a son, Robert H. M. Canning, who was born in Norman county
on July 15. 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Canning are members of the Presbyterian
church at Hendrum and take a proper interest in church afifairs, as well as
in other good works and in the general social activities of the community
in which they live. Mr. ("aiming is a Democrat and is interested in politi-
cal affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. Fraternally, he is
affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Foresters at
Hendrum and belongs to the Masonic order and the Shriners, and takes a
proper interest in the affairs of the same.
THE UL\^EN FAMILY.
Among those foreign-born citizens residing in Clay county, who have
materially contributed to the well-being of the farming industn,- as well as
to the general uplift of the community at large, the Ulven family, represented
in the county since 1880, deserves recognition at the hands of the biographer.
In the first instance the family tree in Minnesota counts from Jens Ulven
and his wife, Rande Hanson, who left Norway in 1880 and came directly to
Lake Park. Minnesota, immediately thereafter proceeding to Highland Grove
tow-nship, Clay county, and there both Jens and Rande Ulven spent the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 687
remainder of their lives, honored and respected pioneers. In January, 1883,
Jens Uiven acquired eighty acres of homestead land in section 26, Highland
Grove township, and he at once began the task of breaking and improving
the tract, setting out a grove and erecting i)uikhngs, and on this phice lie car-
ried on general farming for the remainder of liis active life. Jens Ulven
anil wife were the parents of the following children: Martha, .\ndrew,
Hans J., Juel, Bernt J. and Mar}', and four others wdio died young. The
parents were earnest members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and active
in all community good works.
Juel Ulven, son of Jens and Rande Ulven, was born in Norway on
December 15, 1872, and came to this country with his parents in 1880. He
was educated in the schools of Clay county and was reared on his father's
farm, where he assisted in the labors of the place. Later, he and his brothers
bought land in partnership and continued to li\'e on the home place until
1905. having accumulated by that time seven hundred acres of land, and
in the latter year they divided the land between them. Since that time
Juel Ulven has been living on his present ])lace, which contains one hun-
dred and si.xty acres of choice land nn which he carries on general farming
and raises a fine strain of full-blooded Yorkshire hogs. When he took over
the farm it was in a raw state and he has since made many substantial
improvements and erected some modern buildings. Mr. LHven was mar-
riefl in 1905 to Lena Carlson, born in Highland Grove township, a daughter
of John E. Carlson, further reference to whom is made in another part of
this volume. Juel Ldven and his wife are members of the Lutheran Free
(Norwegian) church at Dale and are earnest supporters of all its good
works.
.Andrew Ulven was born on October 9, 1862, in Norway and came to
.\merica with his ])arents, Jens and Rande Ulven, in 1880. and has since
lived in Highland Grove township. Clay county. He is now- the owner of
two hundred acres of prime land, given over to the cultivation of general
agricultural produce and also breeds Holstein cattle, doing very well in his
farming operations. In 1896 Andrew Uh'en was united in marriage to .Anna
Halvorson, born in Sweden, a daughter of Ncls Halvorson and wife. To
this union the following children were born: Jens (deceased), Melvin. Ray-
mond, Clara, Albert, Anna, Kenneth and .Mice. The family are members of
Norwegian Lutheran Free church and liberal supporters of the same. Mr.
Ulven takes a good citizen's interest in local ci\ic affairs and has been a
member of the township board fi>r the past two years, and for some vears
has serx'ed on the board of tlic Hawley Creamery Com]iany.
688 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Hans J. Ulven was lx>rn in Norway in 1869 and at tlie age of eleven
came with his parents to this country. He is the jjroprietor of one hunch^ed
and sixty acres of choice land in Highland Grove townshi]) and is actively
engaged in general farming, heing regarded as one of the suhstantia! farm-
ers of the township. Like his lirother, .\ndrew, Hans J. Ulven also takes
considerable interest in public affairs and has been serving as township clerk
since 1898 up to the present time, and in other ways he has given of his
time and energy to the well-being of the community in which he resides.
Bernt J. Ulven also was born in Norway, his birth occurring on .\pril
16, 1874, and at the age of six years he came to this country with his parents
and the other members of the family. Ever since he has been living in
Highland Grove township, where he was educated in the public schools. Up
to 1905. in conjunction with his brothers, he assisted in oi)crating the exten-
sive tract of land which they then held in partnership. Bernt J. Ulven
remained on his father's homestead and here he has a farm of one hundred
and sixty acres, which includes the original eighty acres entered b}- his
father, and on this place Mr. Ulven has lived ever since. He has erected
all the present buildings, with the exception of the dwelling house. In 1905
Mr. Ulven was married to Mary Johnson, born in Sweden, a daughter of
Joe and Breta (Olafson) Johnson, who came to America alx)ut i88r, the
former of whom is deceased and the latter is now living at Hitterdal. One
child, Jerome, was born to this union. In 191 1 Mr. Uhen married Hannah
Carlson, born in Sweden, a daughter of Carl Johnson and wife, the latter
of whom died in Sweden and Mr. Johnson now lives in North Dakota.
He came to America in 1903. but Mrs. Ulven did not come for some time
later. By his second marriage Mr. Ulven is the father of two children,
Agnes and Ragna. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church.
IVER SEMLINGE.
Iver Semlinge, a substantial farmer of Hcndrum township, Norman
county, was born in Norway, September 7, 1851, the son of Ole and Marit
(Bakken) Semlinge, both natives of Norway, the former of whom receives
further mention in the sketch of C. K. Semling, one of the editors of this
history, presented elsewhere in this volume.
Iver Semlinge. being sixteen years old when he came to .\merica with
his parents in 1867. attended the common schools in Norway, this consti-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 689
tuting the whole of his schooling-. His parents first located in Fillmore
county, Minnesota, and Iver obtained employment as a farm hand on farms
in Houston and iMllmore counties during his stay of eleven years in those
parts. He finally decided, when he was twenty-seven years old, to cast
his lot with the settlers of Norman county, which had only recently been
opened up for settlement; and, accompanied only by his oldest brother, Jacob,
drove a mule team through to that count)- and at once made his home with
his brother-ill-law. O. T. Xelson. \v1ki then owned the farm on which Mr.
Semlinge now resides in Hendrum township. .A.fter some years of fruitful
industry, Air. Semlinge added to his holdings and at present owns four
hundred acres of good farm land. The purchase of the land was only the
first step in his prosperity, for much of the land needed clearing: but after
the ground was placed under culti\-ation the ow-ner began adding improve-
ments and now has excellent farm buildings.
On April 13, 1881, Iver Semlinge married Anna Marie Tommerdahl,
who was born in Xorway, the daughter of Ole X. and Ellen (Maria) Tom-
merdahl. the former of whom was born in Norway, the son of Nels
Tommerdahl. and was there reared to manhood. There he met and married
the mother of Mrs. Iver Semlinge. After being a widower for some years
after the death of his first wife, he niarried Mrs. Ellen Ellingson, and the
two came to .Vnierica in 1864, bringing the family. After remaining in Hous-
ton county, Minnesota, until 1877, they drove overland in a covered wagon to
Norman county in the same party with O. J. Hagen, of whom mention is
made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Tommerdahl took three hundred and
twenty acres in Hendtum township, presumably half homestead and half
pre-emption, and soon set about to improve the place, residing there until his
death.
Ole X^. Tommerdahl was a ver_\- active member of the communitv in
which he lived and helped to organize Hendrum township, the name of which
was suggested l)y him. He was also instrumental in the establishment of
the Pontoppidan Lutheran church. By his first wife, Mr. Tommerdahl was
the father of three chiblren : Xels and Jens, who are dead, and Anna M.,
the wife of Iver Semlinge: and by his second wife, Ellen Ellingson, six
children, namely: Emma and Anton, who are dead; Oscar, Emma, Ida
and Minnie. His second wife, Ellen Ellingson, was first niarried to John
Rnst\-ol(l, and one child, Xcttie. now Mrs. Thoni Charlson, of Ada, Minnesota,
was born to that union. After the death of Mr. Tommerdahl his widow and
family remained on the farm, where they now live.
(37)
690 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
To Mr. and Airs. Iver Senilinge liave been born thirteen children, all
of whom are living- but one. namely: Oliver, deceased: Oline, Martin
Olai, Anne Matilda. Joseph, Ole. Hannah T'jnlie. Iver Kornelius, Lydia,
Jens Edwin, Marit. .\rnold Norman antl Sarah Elvie. Mr. Semlinge
and familv are zealous adherents to the Lutheran faith, being members of
the Pontoppidan church, which Mr. Semlinge helped to organize. He has
been interested deeply in the upbuilding and well-being of the community,
ha\ing helped to organize the creamery comj)any, the Farmers Elevator
Company and the State Bank of Hendrum.
CARL X. SCHULSTAD.
Carl N. Schulstad. a well-known and prosperous farmer of W'aukon
township. Xonnan county, wliere he owns a fine farm and operates in all
three hundred and seventy-four acres with marked success, a man interested
in the civil and local co-operative Inisiness agencies of the community in
which he has lived for many years, was born in Dunn county, Wisconsin,
Julv iS. 1874. a .son of Christian and Mary (Martinson) Schulstad, the
former of whom is a native of Norway and the latter of LaCrosse, Wis-
consin.
The matern.il grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Iver and
Carrie Martinson, who were among the first settlers of LaCrosse, Wisconsin,
but in June, 1879. they drove overland to Norman county, Minnesota, where
Iver Martinson homesteaded a quarter section in Waukon township, where
lie lived the rest of his life. His wife, the mother of Mar>- (Martinson)
Sciuilstad. died at LaCrosse. Carl N. Schulstad's paternal grandparents,
Xels and Pernele ( Hunsager) Bredeson. were lK)th natives of Norway, from
which they came to this country and settled first on a homestead in Dunn
county. Wisconsin, in 1868. After they had remained there for seventeen
years, they loaded their household effects and a few farming implements into
a covered wagon and drove through to Xorman county. Minnesota, where they
lieard that excellent farming land could be easily actpiired. As soon as they
arrived here. Nels Bredeson filed a claim on some land in Waukon township,
in the same section where his grandson. Carl X'. Schulstad, now lives.
Christian Schulstad, the father of the subject of this review, was reared
to manhood in X'orway, the land of his nativity, and in the same year that
liis parents came to America, he decided to follow in their footsteps. He
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 69I
joined them in Dunn county, Wisconsin, and m 1879, one year before his
parents left the place of their first settlement in Wisconsin, he came to Norman
county, Minnesota, and homesteaded the one hundred and sixty acres where
his son, Carl, now lives, in Waukon township. Here he remained until his
death, which occurred on the home place, December 26, 1910. His widow
now makes her home in Twin Valley. He was a very active man in the early
years of Waukon township, being one of the important landowners. To his
original homestead, he added one hundred and thirty-five acres in section 35,
Waukon township, and he developed his holding by bringing it up to a high
state of cultivation and by erecting excellent farm buildings, including a
comfortable farm home. When the population of Waukon township reached
the requisite number, he helped to organize the township into a civil division
of the county, and he served the community as township supervisor for some
years. Being highly solicitous for the educational advancement of the local-
ity, he organized the local school district and was a member of the first
board, which position he held for many years. The co-operative business
enterprises of the community were also objects of his interest, for he helped
to organize the Farmers Elevator at Gary, the creamery at Waukon and the
Waukon Mercantile Company, in all of which he was very active until his
death. Being very anxious that the Lutheran church, a denomination of
which he was a devoted member, be represented in the settlement, he was a
leading spirit in the organization of the St. Peter Lutheran church in Strand
township, of which church society he Was a trustee during the last eighteen
years of his life, dying in office. He and wife were the parents of the follow-
ing children: Carl N., the subject of this review; Peter E., Einar. Ingevold
and Clara Matilda, all nf whom are still living.
Coming to Norman county when he was only five years of age. Carl
N. Schulstad acquired his elementary education in the local public schools
and later he entered a private school at Hendrum. wher-e he pursued his
studies for one year. Wishing to get a more advanced education, he attended
Park Region College at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and he spent four years
in North Dakota, where he worked as a farm hand, at the end of which
period he returned to Norman county, where he worked for one year as a
grain buver for the Monarch Elevator Company at Gary. He then began
farming operations on his own account and purchased a tract of land which
he immediately began to cultivate and improve, and after the death of his
father, he took over the operation of the honie place. At the present time
he farms three hundred and seventv-four acres, carrying on an excellent
692 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
type of diversified agriculture. In addition to hi,s farni, he owns a house
and lot in Twin Valley, Minnesota.
On June 20,' 1907, Mr. Schulstad married Hansens Lystre, who was
l)orn at Grand Meadow, Mower county, Minnesota, Novemljer 8, 1887, a
daughter of Hans and Gunild Lystre. To this union have been born six chil-
dren : Gladys Matilda, Christian Herbert, Harvey Cyrus, Ruth Mildred, Lille
Evylin and Kenneth Norman. Mr. and Mrs. Schulstad are members of the
Norwegian Lutheran church and they are rearing their children in the
same faith. For nine consecutive years the former has been clerk for the
local school district, and is still in ofifice. - Especially is he interested in the
co-operative distributing agencies of this section of the Waukon Mercantile
Company. He is also interested in the creamery at the latter place. In
politics, Mr. Schulstad is a Republican, taking a proper interest in the activi-
ties of his partv.
JOHN ERICKSON.
.\ retired business man of Moorhead, Clay county, who has contrib-
uted much to the developement of this section of the Red River X'alley, is
John Erick.son, who during his active years has owned about fifteen thous-
and acres of land in Clay and adjoining counties and now owns fourteen
hundred acres, the builder of the Jay Cooke House, a famous hotel of Moor-
head, which was destroyed by fire some years ago, the first clerk of the Clay
county court, mayor of ^loorhead for three terms, and who is now find-
ing surcease from his many years of active life in the calm of retire-
ment. He was born in Sweden. November 26, 1840, a son of Erick and Marie
(Peterson) Juronson, the former of whom was a small farmer of Sweden,
born in 1813 and died in 1900 at the age of eighty-seven years, never hav-
ing come to America. The mother was born in 1820 and died in 1912 at the
advanced age of ninety-two years on the old home place, back in her na-
tive land. They vvere the parents of six children, of whom the subject of
this sketch is the oldest; the others being: Gustav, who died at the age of
twenty-two ; John, whose death occurred here in America at the age of twenty-
three years: IMary, the wife of John Swanson, of Baker, Clay county; Tilda,
who married James Peterson and lives at Sabin. Clay county; Nels, a farm-
er who owns land in Sweden, and John, the suljject of this review.
Reared on the home farm back in Sweden, where his father barely eked
out a living on his small holding, John Erickson in his early years learned
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 693
what it meant to work hard for his HveHhood. The hahits of industry and
thrift which he acquired in that period were invaluable to him when he
began his career in this country, where he achieved a remarkable success.
A striking thing about Mr. Erickson's life is that he has achieved this suc-
cess since he was thirty-one years of age. It was in April, 1870, that he
first breathed the air of America, with no capital save excellent habits of in-
dustry and thrift, rugged health, an unshakable determination to be suc-
cessful and an indomitable will. He wandered about the first year of his
life in America and did not come to Clay county until 1871, where he secured
such employment as he could find in the frontier stores and in wood chop-
ping during the first winter. The country was then new and many settlers
were coming in, hence he was seized with the idea of establishing a hotel
for the accomodation of the incoming homesteaders. In April, 1872, he
erected his hotel, which was a small tent affair and he continued this enter-
prise until 1874. in which year he started a general merchandise store, a
valuable aid to the pioneers of that day, because bases of supplies were
very few and far between in those days. He continued the merchandis-
ing business until 1881, when he decided to enter the hotel business on a
large scale, erecting the Jay Cooke House at the cost of eighty thousand
dollars on the site of the present Comstock hotel. He operated the large
hotel until 191 1, in which year it was com[)letely destroyed by fire. Since
that time he has made no further ventures in the hotel business. In addi-
tion to his large hotel and merchandising business, Mr. Erickson has also
had large farming interests. There have been times when he has farmed
as much as three thousand acres of land at one time, and all in all he has
owned fifteen thousand acres of farm land in Cass county, North Dakota,
Ottertail county, Minnesota, and mostly in Clay county.
During his years of active life, Mr. Erickson was very active in pol-
itics, being prominently connected with the Democratic party, in the coun-
cils of which his voice was well known in the city, county and state phases
of its activitv. He was the first clerk of the Clay county court and was
later elected mayor of Moorhead three times. He took a further impor-
tant part in the development of the city as a member of the common, council,
which position he held for twent\'-one years. In 1905, when he was si.xty-
five years of age, Mr. Erickson gave up politics, business and farming and
retired from active pursuits to spend the evening of his life in quietude
after his manv vears of arduous labor. He still, however, owns fourteen
hundred acres of land, on which he formerly carried on general farming
in Wadena and Clav counties, b'lt he now leaves the operation of the farm
694 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
to Other hands. He also retains stock in some of the important financial
institutions of the county. . During his years of active business life, he
owned and operated a large brewery here in Moorhead, but his retirement
from business caused him to relinquish his interests in that enterprise.
On Octoljer 22, 1872, Mr. Erickson was united in marriage to Anna Lar-
son, who was liorn in Sweden, August 16, 1852, who came with her parents
to America when she was only three years of age. The family settled in
Goodhue county, Minnesota, where Mrs. Erickson was reared to woman-
hood. Her death occurred in Moorhead, October 16, 1899. By her Mr. I'Lrick-
son is the father of five children, as follow: Gust, residing in Reno, Xevada;
Carolina, married and living in Scobey, Montana : Edward, a resident of
Reno, Nevada; .\lbert. who lives here and is a candy manufacturer, and
Alay, a teacher in the Breckcnridge schools, who is a graduate of the State
Normal school here and has taught in this state for seven years. Since
his retirement. Mr. Erickson has not given up entirely his interest in the
public welfare, for whenever any Worthy movement is started in the city
for the common social, educational and moral lictterment, it is assured of
his unstinted support.
GUSTAV KVLEAXDER.
Gustav Kyllander, for many years identified with the farming industry
either as an instructor or as a practical farmer, now living in Bear Park
township. Xorman county, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, but has
been a resident of the United States since 1865, having come to this country
when he was thirty-one years old. He was born in Westergotland. Sweden,
October 6. 1834, a son of Pehr and Marie Elizabeth (Swenson) Kyllander,
both also natives of Sweden and in which country they spent their last days.
During his active life Pehr Kyllander was a farmer. He and his wife were
the parents of one child, Gustav Kyllander, the sul)ject of this sketch, whose
motlier died when he was but one year old.
Gustav Kyllander was educated in the schools of Sweden and took a
course in the gymnasium and took the examination at Upsala University,
later attending the Agricultural College at Ultena, Sweden, w-here he spent
two years, and from which institution he was graduated. Thus prepared,
he then taught an agricultural school at Halland, Sweden, later going to an
uncle to gain some practical experience on the farm. Subsequently, he
taught agriculture at Smoland for a time.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 695
On August 23, 1865, Mr. Kyllander landed at New York City, going
thence to Virginia for one year, at the end of which time he came to Good-
hue and Nicollet counties, Minnesota, and taught school in each of these
counties and also taught in Sibley county. While in Nicollet county he
bought school land, but did not farm there. In June, 1882, he arrived in
Polk county with a relative, driving from Gibbon, Sibley countv. There were
three families and three wagons, much cattle, horses and oxen. In the fol-
lowing month he located on the farm where he has since lived, pre-empting
one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cleared of brush and on
which he erected some fine buildings. Later, he added another quarter section
by purchase, which he has since given to his sons. Mr. Kyllander taught
school in Bear Park township for five or six tenns, being the first school
teacher in district No. 57, which he helped to organize; he also taught in
district No. 56. He assisted in the organization of St. John's Swedish church
in Sundahl township. Always displaying a close interest in public affairs,
he served as township clerk for a period and served in the office of justice
of the peace for fourteen years.
On September 17, 1870, Gustav Kyllander was united in marriage to
Maria Olson,' born in Dalen, Sweden, a daughter of Ole Olson and wife,
natives also of that country. To this union the following children were
born: Gustav A., born August 23, 1871, farms the old home place; Anna,
April 14, 1873, married Gustav Groberg; Carl O., February 11, 1875,
deceased, and Clara, February 13, 1877, died when eight days old.
MARTIN J. KVIDT
Martin J. Kvidt, one of Norman county's well-known and substan-
tial farmers and the proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hundred and
sixty acres in section 6 of Flom township, where he has a very pleasant home,
is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life, a resi-
dent of Norman county since the days of his childhood, his parents hav-
ing been pioneers of this part of the Red River country. He was born on
a farm in Houston county on May 18, 1870, son of John E. and Alargar-
etta (Gjertsdatter) Kvidt, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who became
pioneers of Norman county and are still living here, the former now in the
eighty-ninth year of his age and the latter in the eighty-sixth year of her age.
John E. Kvidt was married in Norway and came to the United States
696 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
when he was thirty-eight years of age. After a sometime residence in Hous-
ton county, this state, he came with his family up into the Red River valley,
in 1878, and homesteaded a quarter of a section of partly wooded land in
section 6 of what later came to be organized as Flom township, Norman
county, and there established his home, becoming one of the real pioneers
of that part of the county. For the hrst ten years of his residence there
Mr. Kvidt farmed with oxen and endured the various privations to which
the early settlers of the new country were subjected. As time passed and
he got his place under cultivation he made substantial improvements on his
place and it was not long until he came to be regarded as one of the well-
to-do farmers of that section. On that place he and his wife still make
their home, though owning now but thirty-five acres, the balance of the
homestead having been sold to their son Gjert, when they retired from the
active labors of the farm. They have five children, of whom the subject
of this sketch is the last-born, the others being as follow : Ingebret, who
is married and is living on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in sec-
tion 8 of Flom township; Gjert, unmarried, who now owns and manages
the old home place ; Jens, who is married and is living on a two-hunch-ed-
acre farm in section 12 of Flom township, and Mrs. .Annie .\lbertson. who
lives in section g of that same township.
Martin J- Kvidt was eight years of age when he came with his par-
ents into Norman county in 1878 and his schooling was completed in the
pioneer schools of his home neighborhood. From the days of his bovhood
he was a valuable aid in the labors of developing and improving the home
place and early became a skilled farmer, continuing farming to this day.
In 1899 he bought a quarter of a section of partly improved land in sec-
tion 6 of Flom township, established his home there and has since made his
home there. When he came into possession of the place it had on it a set
of old log buildings and he has since replaced these with substantial mod-
ern buildings and has made other up-to-date improvements. He also has
brought the place up to an excellent state of cultivation and has done well
in his general farming operations. In addition to his grain farming he
has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has a fine
herd of red-polled cattle.
On June 19, 1910, in the Wild Rice church, not far from his home,
Martin J. Kvidt was united in marriage to Annie Lovold. who was born
on March 4, 1880, in Highland Grove township, Clay county, this state,
a daughter of Seviert and Seneva (Winjum) Lovold, pioneers of that town-
ship, who are still living on the farm they homesteaded in section 12 back
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 697
in the days^pf the early settlement of that part of the county, but which
homestead place is now owned by their daughter, Mrs. Tom Suprey, of
Strandquist, in Marshall county. Mrs. Kvidt has four brothers and three
sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Kvidt have a very pleasant home and take a proper
interest in the general social afifairs of the community in which they live.
They are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a warm
interest in the various beneficences of the same. Mr. Kvidt helped by his
contributions in the organization of that church and for many years has
been janitor of the church building. He has ever given a good citizen's
attention to local civic affairs, but has not been included in the office-seek-
ing class.
ALBERT GARTLAND.
Albert Gartland, one of the well-remembered citizens of the past gene-
ration, a farmer during the latter years of his life, since he settled in Norman
county, was a native of the kingdom of Norway, born in that country on
March 15, 1856, a son of Ditlev and Bergita Gartland, also natives of Nor-
way, where they were farming people, and who lived and died in their
native land.
Albert Gartland was educated in the schools of Norway and was reared
on his father's farm, where he helped in the labors of improving and develop-
ing the home place. When about twenty-four years of age he immigrated
to the United States, going on arrival to Lanesboro, Minnesota, and later
fo Minneapolis, where he worked for others part of the time and later
operated a meat market on his own account, with considerable success. In
1882 he moved to Norman county and in that year located on the farm on
which his widow still resides. He bought one hundred and twenty acres
of railroad land, which he immediately cultivated and set out to general
farming, in which he was engaged for the remainder of his life. On this
holding he erected some buildings, others now on the place having been put
up by his family since his death, which occurred on September 2, 1897.
Albert Gartland was a man of considerable public spirit and was identi-
fied with many useful projects during his residence in Norman county. For
some years he served as township supervisor and as township assessor, giving
to the duties of these important positions his unremitting attention. He was
no less energetic and earnest in matters appertaining to church affairs, and
helped to organize the Norman Lutheran church, in which he was active for
698 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
many years, serving as secretary to the congregation for some time. He was
one of the promoters of the Bear Park Mercantile Company and was a
member of the board of directors of that company from the date of organi-
zation to the time of his deatli, and in many other ways gave evidence of
his desire to assist pubhc movements having for their object the betterment
of the community at large.
In 1887 Albert Gartland was united in marriage to Marie B. Lee, born
in Norway and who came to this country witli her i)arents when a little
girl three years of age. While still single she and a brother made the trip
to Norman county by team and was married in this county. Albert Gart-
land and wife were the parents of the following children: Bertha Theresa,
at home; Svert Lee, manager of the Bear Park Mercantile Company; Dvvight,
Ada Marie, who married Elias Stennes, of Hegne township; Clarence Emery,
at home ; Olga Dortha, who died at the age of two years, and Arthur.
Dwight Gartland worked for two years at the Bejon grain elevator as grain
buyer; he later took a business course at the Southern Minnesota University
and worked as assistant cashier in the German American Bank at Bejon for
two years. Clarence Gartland has taken a course at the Interstate Business
College, at Fargo, North Dakota. Arthur Gartland is working out.
Severt Lee Gartland, the second eldest of the above children, was
born on the home farm, and was educated in the public schools of Norman
county. He learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked up to taking
over the management of the Bear Park Mercantile Company, which con-
cern has been making steady progress under his guidance.
LARS J. STENSGAARD.
One of the sturdy pioneer farmers of Lake Ida township, Norman
county, who has helped develop his community from wild prairie land
into well improved and highly productive farms, is Lars J. Stensgaard,
the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of eighty acres in the township. He
was born in Norvvay on May 6, 1849, and is the son of John L. and Maria
(Johnson) Stensgaard, both of whom also were natives of Norway.
John L. Stensgaard came with his family to America in 1853, arriv-
ing here in August of that year, locating first at Koshkonong Prairie,
Wisconsin, where they remained for a year and a half after which they
removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, making the trip overland by ox-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 699
team and covered wagon. After arriving in Minnesota, they homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres of government land, paying two hundred
dollars for the land, and on this place John L. Stensgaard and his wife lived
the remainder of their lives. He was one of the pioneers of Fillmore county,
and helped to organize his township, Norway, and was prominent and active
in the social and civic development of his community, assisting in the estab-
lishment of the first church and school house in his neighborhood. The
family were earnest and devoted members of the Lutheran church. He and
his wife were the parents of eight children : Bertha Maria, Johanna, Clara,
Karen, Louisa, Martha, Inga and Lars J., all of whom are still living with
the exception of Karen and Louisa.
Lars J. Stensgaard received his education in the rural schools of Fill-
more county. Minnesota, and in the summer seasons assisted his father
in the work of developing and improving his land. In 187 1 he left his
father's farm and came to Becker county, Minnesota, with an ox-team and
covered wagon, there being eleven covered wagons in the party, and settled
on school land in that county within two and one-half miles of Lake Park,
remaining on his farm for a period of seven years, during which time he
improved the tract to a considerable degree. In 1877, in company with a
number of other settlers, he came to Norman county, the entire number of
pioneers making the trip overland by ox-team. After arriving in Norman
county, Mr. Stensgaard homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land
in Strand township, and remained on this farm five years, after which he
removed to another farm in the same township, where he lived until 1893,
when he came to Lake Ida township, where he has since resided. At one time
he owned four hundred acres of land in the township, but in 1898 he moved
to his present farm of eighty acres, and here he has surrounded himself
with many improvements in the way of good buildings, and also planted
a fine grove of trees, which makes his farm one of the attractive places of
the township. He has always been engaged in general farming and stock
raising, and ranks among the prosperous and substantial farmers of his
community.
In 1873 Mr. Stensgaard was married to Maren Christopherson, a native
of Norway, the daughter of Amund Christopherson, and to this union ten
children have been born, all of whom are living: Alfred, Johan, Karl. Oscar,
Louise, Johannah, Adolph, Emma and Nora, twins, and Ella. The family are
all members of the Lutheran church, in the affairs of which they take an
active interest.
700 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Mr. Stensgaard has always taken a prominent and active part in the
social, religious and civic affairs of his township, and was among those who
organized the first church of his community, called St. Peter's Synod church.
While living in Strand township, this county, he helped organize the town-
ship, and served as the second assessor of tliat township, holding that
important office for a period of thirteen years.
ERICK OLSON SWAVE.
Erick Olson Swave, well-known farmer, living in Bear Park township,
is another citizen of Norwegian birth who has settled in this country, and
has met with no small share of success in his agricultural operations since
he arrived in Norman county thirty-six years ago. He was bom in Norway
on January i6, 1849, a son of Ole Erickson and Marit (Olson) Swave,
both of whom also were born in Norway and spent all their lives in that
country, during their active years engaged in farming. They were the parents
of five children, named as follow: .Ane, Erick, Sigrid, Ingeborg, deceased,
and Ole.
Erick Olson Swave was educated in the schools of Norway and was
reared on his father's place, where he grew to manhood and assisted on the
home farm in developing and improving the same. In 1881, at the age of
thirty-two years, he immigrated to this country and on arriving here came
on directly to Norman county and took a homestead claim of one hundred
and sixty acres of land in Bear Park township, and has been living on that
place ever since. He immediately set to work to prepare the tract for the
reception of crops and presently had things going in good shape and he has
ever since been doing very well. He carried out many substantial improve-
ments on his holding, including the erection of outbuildings, and he is
generally regarded as one of the prosperous farmers of the community in
which he resides.
In 1874 Erick O. Swave was united in marriage to Karen Ouame, born
in Norway, a daughter of Christopher Quame and wife, and to this union
the following children were born: ^Mary, May, John (deceased), Jeanette
(deceased), Caroline, Jeanette. Ole, Clara, Alice, Emma. .Mfred (deceased),
and Anna. Mr. Swave and the members of his family are affiliated with
the Ness Lutheran church, which he helped to organize, and in the affairs
of which he still continues to take an active interest. Mr. Swave always
has given a good citizen's attention to communitv interests and was one of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7OI
the organizers of the Bear Park Mercantile Company and is also interested
in the Sundahl Creamery, and in many other ways he has from the very
beginning of his residence in the township, shown a practical desire to assist
all movements designed to improve local conditions along legitimate lines.
SEVERIN A. HOSETH.
Severin A. Hoseth, a substantial and progressive farmer and stock man,
former member of the Possum township board and president of the Paith
Milling Company, is a native son of Minnesota, born in Goodhue county, this
state, February 21, 1870, a son of Andres and Marit (Kindseth) Hoseth,
both of whom were born in Norway, where they were farming people.
About 1866, Andres Hoseth, who had married some years previously,
immigrated to America from Norway and located in Goodhue county, this
state, and bought a tract of land on which he immediately started farming-
operations and thus continued to the end of his life. He was recognized
as a skillful and energetic farmer, who worked his land to advantage, get-
ting all possible results from the soil. Mr. Hoseth died in 1880 and his
widow survived until 1912, in which year her death occurred. They were
the parents of eight children as follow : Karen Ann, deceased; Peter Magnus,
deceased; Severin A., the subject of this sketch; Andres; Martine, who died
young; Martin, who also died young, and Martin and Andrew.. These
parents were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children
were brought up in the same faith.
Severin A. Hoseth was educated in the public schools of Goodhue
county and there learned the trade of a carpenter, at which occupation and
on farms he worked until 1899. In the latter year he came to Norman
county, having previously, in 1896, purchased one hundred and sixty acres
of prime land in section 11, Possum township. The tract, however, was
without any improvements and he immediately set to work to get the place
in condition and cleared one hundred acres of timber, in addition to which
he erected substantial buildings and now has one of the best improved places
in that section of the township. He is actively engaged in general farming
and stock raising and from the very beginning of his operations has met
with a substantial measure of success.
In 1898 Severin A. Hoseth was united in marriage to Helena Ovalson,
born in Goodhue county, this state, a daughter of Hans Ovalson and wife.
702 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoseth are the parents of four children, namely: Arnold
Martinus, Hilina Selniina, Sander Hilfred and Myrtle Edna, all of whom
are now living. The Hoseth family are members of the Lutheran church
and are warm supporters of all its good works. Mr. Hoseth has ever
given much time and attention to public affairs and for si.x \ears, from
191 1 to 1917, he served as a member of the township board. He helped to
organize the Faith Milling Company and has been its vice-president and
president since the commencement of the company's milling operations. He
also assisted in the work of organizing the Faith Creamery Company and
in other ways has given of his time and energy to promote all movements
calculated to ad\ance the communitv welfare.
OLE I. OFSTEDAL.
Ole I. Ofstedal, a well-known and substantial farmer, owner of a fine
farm of two hundred acres of prime land, living in Bear Park township,
Norman county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resi-
dent of this country since he was five years old. He was born in Norway,
December 15, 1858, a son of Iver J. and Gertrude (Bersley) Ofstedal, also
natives of Norway.
Iver J. Ofstedal was educated in the schools of his native land, where
he was brought up to the life of a farmer. In 1863 he and the members
of his family immigrated to America, and on arriving in this country came
on out to Minnesota and located in Freeborn county, where he has been
living ever since. He took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres,
which he immediately proceeded to get into a state of cultivation and has
prospered in all his farming operations, being generally regarded as one
of the old school of husbandmen who made the most of their opportunities.
He put up a number of good outbuildings and effected many improvements
of a valuable character. His wife died on the place which Mr. Ofstedal
homesteaded, and he is still living on the farm. They were the parents of
the following children : Johanes, Ole I.. Agate, Iver, Ingebright and Einar,
all of whom are living.
Ole I. Ofstedal was educated in the schools of Freeborn county and was
reared on his father's farm, where he learned the rudiments of agricultural
labor. In 1880, at the age of twenty-one he moved to near Fertile, Polk
county, where he lived for a short time. He then pre-empted a tract of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7O3
land containing one hundred and twenty acres in Bear Park township, which
he has since developed and improved and to which he has added and is now
the owner of three hundred twenty acres of choice land, on which he has
carried out a number of valuable improvements and is engaged in general
farming. In addition to his farming operations he is also engaged in the
raising of Shorthorn cattle, of which he breeds an excellent strain. He
has also carried on threshing since he was sixteen years old, and with the
exception of three years has been actively employed at that branch of agri-
cultural labor, now having a first-class outfit, which he operates with con-
siderable skill, being thus engaged for about twenty years.
In 1883 Ole I. Ofstedal was united in marriage to Caroline Ofstedal,
who was born in Olmsted county, this state, a daughter of Johanes Ofstedal,
and to this union the following children were born : Ida, Cora, Ella, Anna,
Johanes, William, Nora (deceased), Dina, Mabel, Benhart (deceased), Ben-
hart, Alice, and Palmer. The mother of these children died on March 30,
191 7. Mr. Ofstedal is a meml)er of the Sundahl Lutheran church, which
he helped to organize, and with which congregation he and the members of
his family have been identified for several years. He has always taken a
good citizen's part in the general welfare of the community and has assisted
in all worthy projects calculated to serve the people. He assisted in the
organization of the Bear Park Mercantile Company and in many other direc-
tions has given evidence of his earnest interest in all local affairs affecting
the locality of which he has been a resident for nearly forty years.
■jOHAN TOFTNER.
Johan Toftner, a prosperous and energetic farmer of Waukon township,
Norman countv, where he owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and
sixty acres of well-tilled land and where he is actively connected with the
social, civic and co-operative business interests of the community in which
he lives, was born in Norway, June 22, 1874, a son of Thomas and Marie
Toftner, both natives of Norway, where the father spent his whole life as a
farmer. A year before her son Johan came to America, the mother joined
her son Gust in Strand township, Norman county, and made her home with
him there on the farm until her death. Thomas and Mary Toftner were the
parents of several children and the three who grew to maturity were : Gust,
Crist, who came to this country with his brother Johan, and w'ho went to
704 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
North Dakota, but has not been heard of since, and Johan, the subject of
this review.
Johan Toftner was reared to early manhood on the old home farm in
Norway, where he received his elementary education in the local public
schools and his practical, industrial training on the old home place. He
was only sixteen years of age when his mother came to America to join
her son Gust, but in the ne.xt year the subject of this sketch followed his
kin to this country and at once joined tliem in W'aukon township, Norman
county. Being only a young man with no capital, he set about industriously
to accumulate enough money to begin farming on his own account by work-
ing on farms in North Dakota during the summers of seven years. In
1898 he had the opportunity to purchase eighty acres of wikl land, all in
brush and small timber, in Waukon towaiship, and after he acquired this
holding, he began immediately to improve the same. This would have
been an almost unsurmountable task for a man later in life, but Mr. Toftner,
who is by nature energetic, thrifty and determined, was not daunted by the
size and difficulty of the undertaking. Eventually he cleared all of this
land and brought it under cultivation, and now, where formerly grew noth-
ing but scrub timber and underbrush, are fields of waving grain and sub-
stantial farm buildings. Since the purchase of the land he had made his
home on it. Prosperity has so smiled upon his effort that he has recently
been enabled to add eighty acres more to his holding and now he has a
fine farm of one hundred sixty acres on which he carries on general diversi-
fied agriculture. Norman county has been his home since he came to this
country.
In 1905, Mr. Toftner was united in marriage to Carrie Gullingsrud,
who was born in Xorman county, a daughter of Thomas and Carrie (Sanden)
Gullingsrud, pioneer homesteaders in Waukon township, Norman county.
Thomas Gullingsrud was born in Norway and landed on American soil
in March, 1879. After spending two years in Beloit, Wisconsin, he came
on out to Norman county and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres in Waukon township, where he still resides. He erected exceptionally
fine buildings on the place, which he has increased to several hundred acres.
His wife, Carrie Sanden, also was a native of Norway. He and she grew
up in the land of their nativity and there married, coming together to America.
They were the parents of eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Johan Toftner
were the parents of five children, all of whom are living: Clara, Tina,
Theodore, Agnes and Jens. Mrs. Toftner died on April 19, 1912. She
was a conscientious and consistent member of the Norwegian Lutheran
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7O5
church, as is Mr. Toftner, and according to the precepts of this denomina-
tion their children were reared.
Even though Mr. Toftner has been busy in the development and
improvement of his 'farm, he has found time to devote to the material and
civic betterment of the community in which he and his family live. Pro-
gressive farmer that he is, he is interested in good roads and has rendered
the township valuable service as road supervisor. He also helped to organize
the Peoples Supply Company at Gary and is still interested in this enter-
prise.
GEORGE O. SOLBERG.
George O. Solberg, a prosperous farmer of Flom township, Norman
county, where he is the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred
and eighty acres, a true American, many of whose relatives have offered
their lives to their adopted country, was born in Goodhue county, Minne-
sota, May 28, 1864, a son of Olaf and Esther (Aaker) Solberg, both natives
of Norway. The father and mother were married in their native land and
soon afterward immigrated to America, where they settled in Goodhue county,
Minnesota, the birthplace of the subject of this sketch. There they took
land and remained until their deaths. They had five children, as follow :
Anna, George O., the subject of this sketch; Knute, deceased; Ellen and
Peter.
Reared to manhood on the home farm in Goodhue county, Minnesota,
where he attended the public schools, George O. Solberg has been admir-
ably fitted to carry on successful farming operations in the Northwest.
When he reached the age of thirty-one years, he left his father's home and
started out for himself on a tract of farm land which he purchased in
Goodhue countv. Later, he entered the employ of the Farmers Fire Insur-
ance Company, at Vasa, Minnesota, as inspector, in which capacity he
made annual trips for investigation. In 19 13, he came up into Norman
county, where he purchased one hundred and eighty acres of Flom town-
ship, and here he carried on general farming and stock raising, breeding
thoroughbred Holstein cattle. When Mr. Solberg came to his present farm,
he found it fairly well supplied with buildings, but he has added others
which add to the efficien.cy and completeness of his farm plant. He has
set out many evergreens on his holding, thus adding to its beauty.
(45a)
7o6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
On November 6, 1895, Mr. Solberg married Emma Neil at Minne-
apolis. She was born at Vasa, Minnesota, in 1865, a daughter of Adolf
Fredrick and Anna Katherine Neil. To this marriage have been born the
following children: Esther, Olaf, a farmer of Flom township, this county;
Harold, Clara, Helen, Victor, Anna and I':mma. Mr. and Mrs. Solberg are
members of the Lutheran church, and are very active in the church work
of the communitv. Both are members of the American Red Cross Associa-
tion, giving that worthy organization all their moral support and of their
substance as much as they can spare.
Mr. Solberg is an American-born citizen and is proud of it. His pride
is pardonable for several of his relatives offered their lives to their adopted
country, and two of them, a cousin and an uncle, gave their last full measure
of devotion to the cause of national integrity and national honor in the Civil
War. During that war, his father was a lieutenant in the home guard and
he had an uncle, L. K. Aaker, who was a first lieutenant in the Third Minne-
sota Volunteer Infantry, serving with bravery throughout the War of the
Rebellion. After the return of this uncle from the service, he was elected
to the state Legislature, serving four terms in the lower house and one in
the upper house. He spent his last days in Crookston, Polk county, this
state, which was his home. During the time of the Spanish-American \\'ar,
George O. Solberg kept up the family honor and tradition by offering his
services to the United States army, but since he was married, he was rejected.
At this time when the world is bleeding from the ghastly wounds of the
three years of the greatest war in history, when the forces of absolutism
and militarism are trying to dominate the world, he would again freely offer
himself on the altar of freedom and democracy.
OLE THORSON.
Ole Thorson, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers and
stockmen of the Flom neighljorhod, former assessor of Flom township,
former president and present member of the board of directors of the Flom
Creamery Company, fonner secretary-treasurer of the Flom Mutual Fire
Insurance Company and for years regarded as among the most progressive
and public-spirited citizens of that community, is a native of the kingdom
of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was eighteen
years of age and of Norman county since the spring of 1886, being there-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7O7
fore very properly regarded as one of the "old settlers" of this section.
He was born at Gudbrandsdalen, in Norway, Decemljer lo, 1863, son of
Thor and Marit (Walden) Thorson, also natives of that country, who were
the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having a sister,
Annie, and a brother, Thorwald. In 1888, a couple of years after Ole
Thorson had settled in Norman c(junty, his parents joined ham here and
the father is still living.
Reared on a farm in his native Norway, Ole Thorson received his
schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained at home until he was
eighteen years of age, when, in the spring of 1881, he came to the United
States and proceeded directly on out into Minnesota, his objective point
being Pope county. There he remained about five years, or until the spring
of 1886, when he came on up into the Red River country and became
engaged in farming in the township of Flom, in Norman county. Two
years later, in 1888, Mr. Thorson bought a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in section 26 of that township and, his parents joining him in that year,
established his home there. He married in 1892 and has ever since made
that place his 'home, he and his family being very comfortably situated.
As he prospered in his operations Mr. Thorson added to his land holdings
until now he is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres
and has one of the best-equipped farm plants in the Flom neighborhood.
In addition to his general farming Mr. Thorson has given considerable
attention to dairying and to the raising of live stock and has done very
well, long having been recognized as one of the most progressive farmers
in that part of the county. He was one of the organizers of the Flom
Creamery Company, served as secretary-treasurer and later as president
of the same and is still a member of the board of directors of that thriving
concern. From 1897 to 1912 he served as secretary-treasurer and as a
member of the board of directors of the Flom Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
pany and in other ways has given of his time and attention to the general
business affairs of his home community. Mr. Thorson also has ever given
a good citizen's attention to the civic affairs of his home county and for
four years, 1913-17, served very acceptably as a member of the board of
commissioners of Norman county. He also served for seven years as
assessor of Flom township and for about twenty years as clerk of his home
school district, to the duties of all of these several public offices giving his
most thoughtful and intelligent attention.
In 1892 Ole Thorson was united in marriage to .Augusta Dorseth.
datighter of Andreas Dorseth and wife, and to this union four children have
708 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
been born. Aliiia. Oscar. Albert and Alma. The Thorsons are members
of the Lutheran (Synod) church and take an interested part in the various
beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good works and social
activities of the community in which they Hve.
ASLAK HANSON.
Aslak Hanson, one of the first settlers in Halstad townshii), Xorman
county, where he owns two hundred and live acres of well-tilled and improved
farming land, was born in Norway, June 25, 1841, the son of Hans and
Martha (Ellingson) Aslakson. Both of the parents were natives of Norway,
where the father was a farmer, but when the opportunities for thrifty farmers
in America came to his notice, he decided to cast his lot in the New World
and came to this country in 1869, with his family, and settled in LaSalle
county, Illinois, and there remained until his death occurred in 1887. Some
time after the death of Hans Aslakson his wife removed to Hardin county,
Iowa, and there remained until she died in 1902. To these parents were
born the following children : Aslak, the subject of this review ; Bertha,
Elling, Hans, Gurena, Martha and Ellen, all of whom are dead but the first
two named
Aslak Hanson received his early education, which was limited, in Nor-
way, and there he grew to manhood, helping his father on the old farm.
In the year that his parents came to America, he. a young man in his prime
about twenty-eight years of age, came with them and settled in LaSalle
county, Illinois, where he remained until 1876. While there he worked on
farms, and in addition to this, learned the carpenter trade. There was a
great demand for the latter in Chicago at that time because the great fire
had occurred in that city in 1871 and nuich building had to be done, .\fter
working in Chicago for four years, during which time he had added much
to liis financial resources, Mr. Aslak Hanson became a pioneer and removed
to Norman county, Minnesota, in 1876, and bought the right to two hundred
acres of railroad land from a settler in Halstad township, being the first
settler in this vicinity. He has remained living on his first holding since
his coming, and he now has a well-improved farm on which he has planted
a grove and added the other necessary improvements. His experience in
carpentering has been of much use to him since he came to this new country,
because lie has personally built all building's but the barn. In addition to his
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7O9
original tract, ]Mr. Hanson made a valuable acquisition when he bought five
acres of timber land.
Mr. Hanson has been married twice. He was married in 1882 to Anne
Serine Anderson. To this union three children were born, namely, Henry
Melvin, Hart wig Emel and Alfred, the two last of whom died in infancy.
On January 7, 1890, Mrs. Hanson died. His second marriage occurred
on October 2j, 1891, when he was married to Serena Olson, who was born
in Norway, a daughter of Ole and Malina (Anderson) Olson, both natives
of Norway, who came to America in 1889 and settled in Norman county.
Two children, Ole and ]\Iinnie, were born to this union. Mr. Hanson and
his family are devoted members of the Lutheran church, and in the affairs
of which they are imbued with an abiding interest.
Mr. Hanson is a valuable citizen to his community, as he has been active
in its material betterment. He helped to organize the first creamery and the
first Farmers Elevator at Halstad, and was also instrumental in the organi-
zation of the Halstad Farmers Fire Insurance Company. The fact that he
has served as township supervisor and on the grand jury nine or ten times,
shows that he holds the civil interests of his community worthy of a good
citizen's attention. Politically, Mr. Hanson adheres to Republican princi-
ples and policies and in the affairs of this party he takes a good American's
interest.
ANDREW K. RUDE.
Andrew K. Rude, one of Norman county's liest-known farmers and
men of affairs, proprietor of an excellent farm in Wild Rice township,
former treasurer and a member of the board of supervisors of that town-
ship, director in several local concerns of a semi-public character and in
other ways actively identified with the general affairs of the community, is
a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has l)een a resident of Minnesota
since he was twenty-one years of age. He was born on May 8, 1867, son
of Knute and Guri (Olean) Jolson, also natives of Norway, who spent all
their lives in their native land. Knute Jolson was a farmer and he and
his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the third in order of birth, the others Ijeing Julius, Alaria,
Ingebright, Ragnild and Evold (twins), the latter of whom died at the age
of six months, and Cecilia, who died when eighteen years of age.
Reared on a farm in his native Norwav. Andrew K. Rude received
JIO CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
his schooling there and remained at home until he reached his majority, when,
in 1888, he came to the United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota,
locating at Fertile, up in Polk county. Two or three months later he came
down into Norman county and began working at farm labor in Wild Rice
township, where he ever since has made his home. In the spring of 1894,
shortly after his marriage, he bought a farm of eighty acres in Wild Rice
township and there established iiis home. Not long afterward he bought
an adjoining "eighty" and in due time had an excellent farm plant there,
developing from the wild land he found upon taking possession of the place
a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm, on which he still makes his
home and where he and his family are very comfortably situated. Politically,
Mr. Rude is a Republican and has ever taken a good citizen's interest in local
public affairs. For two years he served as township treasurer and for si.\
years as a member of the board of township supervisors, while for the
past sixteen years or more he has been a school officer in his home district.
In the general business affairs of the community Mr. Rude also has taken
much interest. He was the chief promoter of the Wild Rice Telephone
Company and is still a member of the board of directors of the same: for
nianv vears was a director of the Gary Telephone Company and for the four
years was vice-president of the same; helped organize the Twin \'alley
Creamerv .\ssociation and is a member of the board of directors of the
same, and is also a member of the board of directors of the Flom Mutual
Fire Insurance Company. For the past eight years Mr. Rude has owned and
operated a 'threshing-machine outfit and enjoys an extensive patronage in that
line.
On December 2y, 1893. in W'ild Rice township, Andrew K. Rude
was united in marriage to .'\nna Natwick. member of one of the pioneer
families of that townshii^, and to this union fifteen children have been boni,
all of whom are living save William, the fifth in order of birth, who died
when about two years of age. the others being Gena. Clarence and Henry
(twins), Arthur, Julia. Ida, Agnes, Ruby, W^illiam. Walter, Alfred, Cecelia,
Selma and Ella. The Rudes are members of the Lutheran church and
take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works
and social activities of the community in which they live, their home being
the center of much cordial hospitality. Mrs. Rude was born in Wisconsin,
a daughter of Herman and Susan (Johnson) Natwick. natives of the king-
dom of Norway, who were married in Wisconsin and who later moved to
Iowa, where they remained until 1882, when they came with their family
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7II
up into the Red River country and settled on a quarter-section homestead
tract in Wild Rice township, Norman county, where they established their
permanent home. There Herman Natwick died in 1908. His widow is still
living there, the farm being- managed by her eldest son, James H. Natwick,
present assessor of Wild Rice township. Mrs. Rude has another brother,
Henry, and a sister, Jessie. Herman Natwick was one of the most useful
and influential pioneers of Wild Rice township. He helped materially in the
organization of the local Lutheran church, helped organize the school dis-
trict in his neighborhood and gave to the district the land on which the
school house still stands.
WILLIAM BECK.
William Beck, one of Norman county's well-known and prosperous farm-
ers, owner of three hundred and seventy-five acres of prime land, breeder
of high-grade stock, interested in the cause of education and in other ways
concerned for the public welfare, is a native of the little republic of Switzer-
land, but has been a resident of this country for thirty-seven years. He is
a son of Andrew and Susan (Berger) Beck, both natives of Switzerland.
Andrew Beck was born in 1841 and was educated in Switzerland, later
becoming a farmer and at a subsecjuent time owned land in his native coun-
try. In 1881 he immigrated to the United States and came on to Minne-
sota, settling in Ada, Norman county, where in 1883, he homesteaded a
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 14, Winchester township,
and engaged in general farming. He carried out many valuable improve-
ments on his holding and came to be recognized as one of the progressive
farmers of this part of the county. The wife of Andrew Beck was born
in Switzerland in 1842 and died in 1891. Mr. Beck is now living in Illinois,
to which state he went in 1914, but still retains his interest in his original
quarter section in this county. They were the parents of the following
children: William, the subject of this sketch; Barbara, deceased; Andrew,
deceased; Louisa, living with her father in Illinois; Anna, married and liv-
ing on a farm in Illinois, and Julius, formerly in the reclamation service,
later going to Oregon, where he homesteaded a tract of land, and recently
enlisted in the United States Medical Corps.
William Beck left his native Switzerland at the age of eight years
and on coming to this county with his parents, attended the public schools
of this county. He assisted his father in the work of developing and
712 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
improving the homestead tract which the latter had entered. In 1895 ^^i'-
Beck purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 2^, Win-
chester township, later buying an additional quarter section in section 14,
and still later adding fifty acres, now being the owner of three hundred
and seventy-five acres, five of which is timber land. He has the place in
excellent condition and has remodeled all the buildings, and is regarded
as one of the ijrogressive farmers of the township.
In 1914 William Beck was united in marriage to Myrtle Swanson,
born in Minnesota in 1886, daughter of August and Carrie Swanson, the
former of whom is a farmer now living retired at Osseo, Minnesota, and
still is the owner of a jiarcel of land. Mr. Beck gives a good citizen's
attention to pul)lic affairs and served as a director on the local school board
for eleven years, and as township supervisor for eight years. He is a
director of the Lake Ida Telephone Company and vice-president and di-
rector of the Borup Produce Company, which he helped to organize. He
is a member of the Woodmen, in which organization he takes a warm inter-
est. In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Beck raises a fine strain
of graded stock and also farms his father's place in this county. He culti-
vates oats, potatoes and wheat, and is generally regarded as conducting
his farm operations along modern lines of agriculture, keeping well informed
on all die latest phases intended to improve farming conditions.
VALENTINE ONDRUSH.
Valentine Ondrush. a prosperous farmer of Waukon township, Norman
county, where he is the owner and proprietor of one hundred sixty acres
of well-tilled land and where he is connected with several of the important
co-operative business enterprises of tlie community, was born in Austria,
November 25, 1872, a son of Joseph and Theresa (Pakofsky) Ondrush, both
of whom were native Austrians. As many of their countrymen had become
comfortably situated in this country, the father came to America in 1891
and came on out to Norman county. Here his wife and a part of the family
joined him in 1892. After their son. \'alentine, the subject of this review,
had established himself on his present farm, his parents lived with him until
they bought eighty acres of land in Wild Rice township and there they resided
until the death of the mother. Later, the father returned to Austria, where
his death occurred. They were the parents of six children, as follow : Mary,
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7I3
Valentine, Ann and Richard, all of whom came to America; Frank and
Anton, who were soldiers in the Austrian army, but were farmers after they
had finished their term of service; however, their deaths occurred before
the beginning of the present war.
Valentine Ondrush spent his early boyhood and manhood in tiie land of
his nativity, where he received his common-school education in the elementary
schools of the kingdom, but when he was twenty years of age, he accompanied
his mother and a part of the family to America, where they joined die father
in Xorman county, Minnesota. Two years later, in 1894, he bought forty
acres of land, a part of his present farm, and began his agricultural opera-
tions in which he has experienced an unqualified success. As the years have
passed, he has experienced marked prosperity in all his undertakings and has
been enabled repeatedly to add to his holdings until he now is the owner
of one hundred sixty acres of well-improved land on which he carries on
general diversified farming.
In 1904, Mr. Ondrush married Eliza Dostel, who is also a native of
Austria, and to this union six children have been born, all of whom are living:
Rudolph, George, Mary, Anna, Francis and Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Ondrush
are members of the Catholic church and in the affairs of the local parish they
are quite active. Mr. Ondrush has never gone in much for politics, but
he takes a good American citizen's interest in local, state and national affairs.
Since every progressive farmer is cognizant of the need of good roads, he
has rendered a conspicuous service to his community in the capacity of road
overseer. Mr. Ondrush is connected with several of the important co-oper-
ative business enterprises of the community in which he lives. He helped
to organize the Faith Milling Company at Faith, the creamery and mercantile
company, both of Waukon, and is interested in the Gary Telephone Com-
pany at Gary.
JACOB SCHMIDT.
Jacob Schmidt, a prosperous and well-known farmer of Mary town-
ship, Norman county, where he is the owner and operator of a fine, well-
improved farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres, and who is actively
connected with the co-operative business interests of this section and takes
a good citizen's interest in the civil affairs of the township in which he has
lived for many years, was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 30, 1868,
a son of George and Christina (Link) Schmidt, botli of whom are natives of
714 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Germany and now make their home here with their son. the subject of this
sketch. George Schmidt, who never owned land after he came to Amer-
ica, was born in 1833, in the old country, where he was a day-laborer,
and came to America with his wife, who was born in 1843. They were
the parents of three children, as follow : Eva, the wife of Louis Karcher,
now living in Missouri ; Mary, who married John Arends, and Jacob, the
subject of this review.
Jacob Schmidt was only si.xteen years of age when he came to this
country in 1884 with his father and the family, who came here to improve
their condition over what it was in their native land. Being the only son
in the family, it was necessary for him to begin work immediately as a
laborer to help out the family income. After nineteen years of hard work
as a laborer, he has acquired enough capital to permit his entering agri-
cultural pursuits, and in 1903 he arrived in Norman county, where the
land was cheap and fertile, and bought two hundred acres in section 15,
Mary township. To this holding, he later added twenty-five acres more in
section 16, same township. When he first arrived on his new holding, he
found it entirely unimproved, save a few shacks scattered here and there.
He set about im[)roving his land and to date he has expended five thous-
and dollars in erecting his house and farm buildings. .Ml of the farm build-
ings are in an excellent state of repair, being supplied with running water.
He has a comfortable and convenient farm home with seven rooms, a gas-
lighting system and bath room, hence he here enjoys urban conveniences in
the quietude of the rural di.stricts. In 191 2 he erected a fine, new, capa-
cious barn at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. He is an up-to-date farmer,
adding to his equipment of farming machinery all the modern improve-
ments in this line. .At present, he has an excellent tractor and automo-
bile. He carries on a scientific type of diversified farming, which includes
a carefully-worked-out system of crop rotation, and in addition, raises some
stock, having at tliis time about twenty head.
On April 24, 1899. Mr. Schmidt married Rosie Hock, who was born
in Germany. February 25. 1874. a daughter of Joseph Hock and Mary
Reinhart Hock, with whom she came to this country in 1891, settling in
Wilmington. Illinois, where she was married to ^Ir. Schmidt. Her death
occured on September 25, 1916. This marriage resulted in the birth of five
children, namely: George, who is fifteen years of age and lives at home:
-Annie, aged fourteen: Margaret, eleven years old; Helen, who is eight years
of age. and Adolph. five years old. Mr. Schmidt is a devout member of
the Catholic church, and takes a deep interest in local parish affairs.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 715
Mr. Schmidt has taken a good citizen's interest in local civic affairs,
liaving actively participated in the road and educational improvement of the
community. He has been a road overseer and for si.x years he was
a director on the board of the local school district. Local co-operative
business enterprises have come in for a share of his attention. He was a
member of the board of directors of the Lee Co-operative Telephone Com-
pany for six years and he helped to organize the same enterprise. He also
has shares in the potato warehouse at Borup.
LESLIE WELTER
Leslie Welter, one of the prominent business men of Aloorhead, Clay
county, was born at St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, in 1864. He is the son
of David and Margaret (McClellan) Welter, both of whom were natives of
Ontario, where they both died. David Welter was a successful farmer and
cattle man.
Leslie Welter receivetl his education in the schools of Ontario. When
he was eighteen years old, after finishing his course in the Collegiate Insti-
tute of St. Thomas, he was employed by the government as a member of a
surveying party in the Canadian northwest. In the fall of 1884 he left
Canada and came to the United States and located at Moorhead, Minnesota.
For the first two years of his residence in Moorhead he taught school.
Afterwards he engaged in the mercantile business with F. G. Asselstine
and later with H. G. Finkle. The latter partnership continued until the
death of Mr. Finkle in i8go, when Mr. Welter continued the business alone.
He graduallv became more interested in the business of handling potatoes
and in the year 1902 sold his store in order to be able to devote more time
to his potato business. He is today one of the largest dealers of potatoes
in this section and has warehouses at Moorhead, Glyndon, Hawley, Dale,
Nielsville and other points in Minnesota. In addition to his extensive
business in the handling of potatoes, Mr. Welter is interested in the min-
ing and selling of sand and gravel and has been president of the Muskoda
Sand Company since its organization in 1907.
In 1889 Mr. Welter was married to Ella G. Gedney, of La Crosse,
Wisconsin, and to this union two children have been born, namely: Les-
lie, Jr., and Helen Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Welter have long been prom-
inent in social and religious circles of Moorhead and vicinit}-. Mr. Welter
7l6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
is a member of the Royal .\rcanum, Modern Brotherhood of America, Ancient
Order of United Workmen, the Elks, the Moorhead Commercial Club and
the Fargo Country Club.
Mr. Welter has always taken an active interest in local affairs. In
1901 he was appointed by Governor Lind as a member of the board of man-
agers of the St. Cloutl Reformatory, in which capacity he served for sev-
eral years. In 1914 he was appointed by Governor Hammond as a member
of the State Normal School board, which position he now holds. He has
also served as a member of the Moorhead board of education, a member of
the city council, and has been president of the Moorhead Commercial Club.
He has been a member of the Moorhead charter commission since its incep-
tion and has served as a member of the water and light commission.
In 1909, Mr. Welter was one of the active organizers of the Cla\-
County Potato Growers Association, which has had great success in mak-
ing Clay county potatoes well known throughout the country and which
has made Moorhead the central point for tire marketing of Red River
Valley potatoes. Mr. Welter has been president of the organization for
several years. Mr. Welter is very much interested in the general upbuild-
ing of the Red River \'alley and for several years president of the Minne-
sota Red River \"allcy Development Association, a public organization which
has this idea in view and which has done much to give favorable publicity
to this section of Minnesota.
JOHN J. LIXDBACK.
Among the real old settlers of Norman county there are few who have
a wider acquaintance throughout the county or a more intimate recollection
of pioneer days herealxjut than John J. Lindback, one of the substantial
farmers of Lake Ida township, former meml>er of the board of supervisors
of that township, for the past fifteen years or more the assessor of the same,
a director in various semi-public enterprises in that part of the county and
in other ways actively identified with the interests of that region in which
he has lived since the days of the pioneers, his parents having been, with
their family, the first permanent settlers in Lake Ida township.
John J. Lindback, is a native son of Minnesota, born at Cambridge,
the county seat of Isanta county, January 12, 1869, a son of John M. and
Margaret (Marcus) Lindback, both natives of the kingdom of Sweden,
the former of whom came to this country in April, 1867, and the latter of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 717
whom had come to this side in 1852, the wife of Peter Hassel, settHng in
Minnesota. During the Civil War Peter Hassel enlisted in behalf of the
Union cause as a member of the Third Minnesota Cavalry and died dur-
ing that service, leaving his widow with seven children. John M. Lindback
also had been previously married, his first wife and a daughter, Breta, by
that marriage dying in Sweden. John M. Lindback and the Widow Has-
sel were married at Cambridge, in Isanta county, and some time later moved
to Duluth, where they continued to make their home until 1872, when they
came up into the Red River country with their family and .settled in what
later came to be organized as Norman county. It was in the spring of the
year that they came here, coming by rail as far as Lake Park, which then
was the terminus of the road. During that summer John M. Lindback
worked on the construction of the railroad, helping to build the road through
to the site of Ada, and in the meantime entered a homestead claim to the
southwest quarter of section 24 in what later came to be organized as Lake
Ida township, and there established his home, the first permanent settler
in that township. It is on that place that the subject of this sketch has ever
since made his home, having thus lived there ever since he was three or four
years of age. In 1876 the elder Lindback entered a tree claim to a quarter
section in section 26 and planted thirteen acres of the same to trees, thus
"proving up" his claim. He also later bought an additional tract of eighty
acres in section 24, the south half of the southeast quarter, and in due time
had all his land in the way to profitable cultivation. In 1879 he sold half
of the homestead tract and later an additional tract of ten acres, but still had
enough land to make him a fine farm. John M. Lindback not only was the
first permanent settler in Lake Ida township, but was one of the forceful
pioneers of the county. He helped organize his home township when there
was found there a sufficient population to warrant the county commissioners
to grant the petition for organization and for some time served as a mem-
ber of the board of township supervisors. W'hen it became possible to
organize a school district in the neighborhood of his home he became a ])rom-
inent factor in that movement and donated to the district the land on which
to erect the school house, and that tract is still used for school purposes in
district No. 4. John M. Lindback and wife spent their last days on that
pioneer farm, useful and influential pioneers. To them three sons were
born, these besides the subject of this sketch, the first-born, being ATatt and
Oscar.
As noted alx)ve. John J. Lindback was but three years of age when
his parents settled in Norman county and he has li\-ed here ever since. His
7i8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
schooling was gained largely at home, for it was fifteen years after the fam-
ily settled before a school district was organized there, his first attendance
at public school being in the building, sixteen by eighteen feet in ground
dimension, erected on his brother's farm in what is now district 4. His
father taught him also to read and write the Swedish language. .Mr. Lind-
back has always remained on the home farm, having established his home
there after his marriage in 1893, and is now the owner of a fine farm of
three hundred and seventy-seven acres, which he has improved in admirable
fashion. All of this land is in Lake Ida township save twenty acres in the
adjoining township of Wild Rice. His house and farm buildings are lighted
by electricity and his farm plant is one of the best equipped in that part of
the county. In addition to his general farming. Mr. Lindback has given
considerable attention to general civic and Imsiness affairs of his commun-
ity. For six years he served as a memlier of the board of township super-
visors and is now serving in his sixteenth year as assessor of the township.
From the time of the organization of the school district to the time of his
death, his father served as a meml)er of the school board and since the death
of his father he has served in that same capacity, doing much for the ele-
vation of educational standards thereabout. Since the organization of the
Twin Valley Co-operative Creamery sixteen years or more ago, Mr. Lind-
l)ack having been one of the incorporators of the same, he has served most
of the time as a member of the board of directors of that successful enter-
prise. He also helped to organize the Uike Ida Telephone Company, has
served as a member of the Iward of directors of the same, with the excep-
tion of three vears, since its organization and is now president of the com-
pany. In other ways also Mr. Lindback has done his part in promoting
movements having to do with the advancement of the common good in the
vicinity of his home and has long been accounted one of the most influen-
tial personal factors thereabout.
On October 16. 1S93, John J, Lindback was united in marriage to Ida
Josephine Frickson, who was born in Rice county, this state, a daughter of
Anton Frickson, who became one of the pioneers of Xorman county and
further and fitting mention of whom is made elsew^here in this volume,
and to this union have been born six children. Milo Gerhart, Isla Jer-
vina. Alfred Johan, Lillie Grace, Clifford .\lvin and .\lvina Antenette. all
of whom are living. The Lindbacks are members of the West Wild Rice
Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in the various l)eneficences of
the same, Mr. Lindback being one of the directors of the congregation.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 7I9
They have a pleasant home and have ever taken an interested and influential
part in the general social activities of the community which they have seen
develop from pioneer conditions to its present prosperous and well-ordered
state.
NELS AMUNDSON.
The late Nels Amundson, one of the large farmers of Fossum town-
ship, Norman county, where he owned and operated four hundred acres
of excellent farming land and where he was very active in the religious
life of the community, was born in Norway, September 14, 1857, and
died on his farm, which bore so many examples of his life of tireless indus-
try and unceasing thrift, on November 8, 1910. He was a son of Lewis
and Anna Amundson, both of whom were lx)rn in Norway, there reared to
maturity, married and reared their family. Some three years after the
birth of the subject of this review, the father and mother decided to come
to America and landed here on the eve of the Civil War in i860. They
first settled in Madison, Wisconsin, where they remained until they moved
to Norman county. About 1880 the parents moved on up mto Polk county,
settled on a farm and there they remained until their deaths.
Nels Amundson spent his boyhood near Madison, Wisconsin, where he
received a very limited elementary education in the rude common schools of
the day, and when his father and mother moved to Norman county, he
came with them. In 1880 when his parents moved to Polk county, he
homesteaded a quarter section in Fossum township. Since the land was all
timber and brush, without a single building on it, he set to work erecting
the necessary structures, around which he set out a grove which has grown
into a thing of beauty as the years have passed. Eventually his old original
farm home gave place to a more modern structure, which he had built
across the road from the first. As the years passed, his industry enabled
him to add to his holdings until he had accumulated at the time of his death
in 1910 four hundred acres of land, which was practically all in a state of
high cultivation.
In 1880, Mr. Amundson was united in marriage with Sonava Halland,
who was born in Norway, January 9, 1859, a daughter of Ole and Barbro
Halland, both of whom came to America in 1859 and settled in Waseca
county, Minnesota. Since the death of her husband. Mrs. Amundson has
continued to live on the home place here. They were the parents of the
following ten children : Lewis, Oliver, Nellie, Sophie and Sophie, both
720 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
deceased ; Annie, Agnes, Nettie, Norah and Frieda. Nels Amundson, as is
his wife, was an acti\'e and devoted member of tiie Norwegian Lutheran
church, and he was one of the leading workers in the organization of the
first church society in the community, the St. Peter Norwegian Lutheran
church. Even though Mr. Amundson did not take an active part in the
pohtics of liis vicinity, he was alwaj's ready with his fullest and heartiest
support and co-operation for any movement which had for its aim the ci\ic,
social and material betterment of the community.
JOHAN P. SUNDET.
The late Johan P. Sundet, who was a well known and substantial farmer
of Bear Park township, Norman county, where he was the owner of a quar-
ter section of fine land, on which his widow now lives, was born in Nor-
way, June 24, 1848, and died, March 10, 19 14. He was a son of Severt
and Trine Sundet, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they grew
up, married, reared their family and died, the former a farmer in the home
land.
Reared on the home farm in Norway, where he acquired sucii an ele-
mentary education as tiie time and place afforded, he acquired a practical
farm training which stood him in good stead when he became a pioneer in
the New World. He continued to live in Norway until 1880, in which year
he immigrated to America and came directly to Norman county. Here he
homesteaded a quarter section in Bear Park township, where his widow
still makes her home. Since the land was raw and somewhat covered with
underbrush and small timber, he had considerable difficulty in bringing it
to a state of cultivation, but since he was made of the same stufif of which
real pioneers are made, he cleared his holding, broke the ground and planted
his first crop, from which he reaped a harvest which was entirely up to his
expectations. The next problem was adequate farm buildings, but he set
to \vork with a will and, finally as a reward for his labors, he finished an
admirable farm plant, which includes good, svibstantial buildings and a com-
fortable farm home.
Before he came to America, he met Karen Gagnas, whom he married
after he came to America. She was born in Norway, January i, 1854, a
daughter of Arnt and Johanna Gagnas, and to this union eight children have
been born, as follow: Arnt, a farmer of Matana; Severt, cashier of the
THE NEVi' YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENeX
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
G. H. .MEMUK.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. J 21
First National Bank of Litchfield, North Dakota; Peter C, who operates
the old homestead; Trena, who married Bert Davis and is now residing at
Fertile, Minnesota; Martha, living with her brother and mother on the home
place; Clara, the wife of Theodore Nordheim, and is now a resident of
Godfrey township, Polk county, Minnesota ; John, at home, and Joseph, who
is assistant cashier of Security Bank of Temple, North Dakota.
Peter C. Sundet, who now lives with his mother on the home farm,
which he operates very successfully, is a well-known farmer of the vicinity.
He is now township supervisor and has served the community in that
capacity for some years.
GEORGE HERBERT MELBYE.
George Herbert Melbye, well-known educator, superintendent of schools
in Lockhart, interested in the coaching of boys bands and farm clubs, and
otherwise identified with the general progress of educational affairs in and
about Norman county, has the distinction of being the first child born in
Ulen, Minnesota, his birth occurring on August 26, 1887. He is a son
of O. C. and Anna (Bergeson) Melbye, natives of the kingdom of Norway.
O. C. Melbye immigrated to the United States in 1875 and came on
to Ulen, where he settled and where he became the owner of a tract of land,
which he later sold to advantage. He served the public for a time as
postmaster and also successfully conducted an implement and general store.
At the present time he is living retired, but nevertheless takes a keen interest
in passing events. To O. C. and Anna (Bergeson) Melbye the following
children were born: C. A., an engineer; O. W., deputy state board inspector;
H. A., a farmer, living at Ulen; Hilda, the wife of Gill Fevig; Minnie, who
married N. W. Murphy, a telegraph operator; George Herbert, the subject
of this sketch; A. E. O., a former newspaper man, now at Camp Dodge;
Carl, telegraph operator at Hawley; Ragna, the wife of C. Swensen, living
at Flom; C. Bennett, who graduated from the Ulen high school and is
now a member of Battery F, at Moorhead.
George H. Melbye was educated in the schools of Ulen and early
developed a capacity for the teaching profession, to which he has since
devoted his life, beginning his teaching career at the early age of fifteen.
He prepared for the work of teaching by attending the normal school at
Moorhead and taught school between times until he finished the course at
(46a)
722 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the normal. Later he attended the University of North Dakota and is now
at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Melbye became the hrst superintendent
of the first consolidated school in Norman county and also helped to put
up the school. He is an acknowledged authority in the administration of
school affairs and has made a study of the work of conducting consolidated
schools, with a view to their successful operation, his eft'orts in this direc-
tion being admitted by all classes engaged in educational work.
In addition to his labors in connection with scholastic matters, Mr.
Melbve takes a warm interest in the work of organizing boys and girls state
industrial clul>s, and is county leader in that work, and also is state organizer
for the I*'arm Boys Cavaliers. He has always taken an active part in
farm club organization, and lectures at intervals throughout the county
in the formation of these clubs. His efforts also extend to the coaching
of band* in and about the county and he has been directing bands for the
past eight vears, his work including the organization and coaching of the
band at Ulen. A band also was formed at Lockhart under his guidance,
and is rapidly making progress and promises to be one of the best musical
organizations in the county. Altogether, Mr. Melbye's efforts for the
advancement of the youth of the county along sound lines cannot be too
highly commended and it is conceded on all sides that he has done and is
doing useful and enduring work.
In 1916 George H. Melbye was united in marriage to Leona Clayton,
a native of Jacksonville, Illinois, and a daughter of Herbert and Alice
(Parkins) Clayton, natives of the United States, of English descent.
S. N. LEE.
S. N. Lee, the subject of this sketch, was born in Norway on the 7th
of April, i860; he came to the United States with his parents in May, 1866,
and settled in Iowa county. Wisconsin. In the fall of 1868 the Lee family
moved to Goodhue county, Minnesota. In 1878 they again moved; this
time to Clay county, Minnesota, where his father had previously taken up
a homestead.
;\Ir. Lee received a common-school education, and while farm work
has always been his favorite occupation, he has also spent a number of years
behind the counter in dry-goods and grocery stores. He is a staunch believer
in the old philosophy that the overalls is more becoming to the real man than
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 723
the dress suit, and that agricuUure is the only gainful occupation worthy of
a gentleman.
In the fall of 1884 Mr. Lee was luarried to Miss Margaret Ilalverson,
of Clayton county, Iowa, and in 1885 he again took up farm work, in 1889
he became the owner of the old Lee homestead in section 32, I'arke town-
ship. Clay county, where he still lives.
Having held minor township offices, such as justice of the peace and
clerk of his school district, he has also been twice elected to the state Legisla-
ture; the first time in 191 1, and again in 1916. In the 191 1 session he intro-
duced and had passed an amendment to section 6 of article 8 of the state
Constitution of Minnesota, known as the Land Loan Amendment, authoriz-
the loaning of surplus state funds to farmers at three per cent, interest.
This amendment was submitted to the voters at the general election of 191 2,
but failed of ratification. It was again submitted in 19 14, but failed again.
In 1916, however, it received the required number of votes and became a
part of the Constitution. In the 191 7 session he introduced a bill known
as the Grain Grading Bill, which was passed, providing for the establishment
of grades of wheat on the strength of its milling and bread-producing quali-
ties. He also initiated the section of the new Minnesota Road Law, mak-
ing it optional for townships to pay the town.ship road tax in cash or labor,
and a number of other bills of state-wide importance.
CHARLES BENSON.
The first settler of Strand township, where he now is the owner and
operator of two hundred eighty acres of well-improved farming land and
where he has been and is prominently connected with the civic, religious
and co-operative business interests of the community in which he lives for
many years, is Charles Benson, who was born in Norway, December 12,
1848, a son of Bernt Olson and Elizabeth Knutson (Winjevold) Winje-
vold, both natives of Norway, where the latter now lies buried, .\bout 1879
the father, who was a farmer in the old country, followed his children to
America and took a homestead of one hundred si.xty acres in Strand town-
ship, Norman county, where the family of his daughter, Mrs. Ellen Welle,
with whom he lived until his death occurred, now resides. The father and
mother were the parents of the following children : Ole, whose death
occurred in Norway; Anna Martha, who now resides in Norway; Charles,
724 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the subject of tliis review, and Ellen, the wife of Andrew J. Welle and who
now resides with her family on her father's old homestead in Strand town-
ship.
Charles Benson was reared on the old home farm in Norwajs where
he contributed no small amount of labor and thrift to the cultivation of the
same. There during his lx>yhood days in his native land he received his
elementary education and when he reached the age of twenty-two years he
decided that the New World extended to him such a flattering opportunity
that it behooved him to leave the land of his nativity and establish himself
on the fertile soil of the great Northwest. In 1870 he first set foot on Ameri-
can soil, and in order to get a start, he came on out to Sibley county, Min-
nesota, where he worked out on farms and rented land until 1877. In that
year he joined a party of settlers whose destination was Norman county.
In this band of determined pioneers was the Gunderson family, of which
several members still reside in this part of the county. For several weeks
they pushed slowly northward behind their plodding ox teams, but eventu-
ally they arrived at their journey's end on June 24 or 25, 1877, and here
established their homes. Immediately Mr. Benson took a homestead of one
hundred sixty acres in section 34. Strand township, where he has ever since
continued to live.
Many pioneer experiences came to .Mr. lienson which tried his pluck
and thrift, but he weathered the storm of adversity. The summer ft)llow-
ing the establishment of a home on his holding, was a very wet season, as
it rained almost every day for a month. It was absolutely necessary for
him to construct some kind of dwelling and to obtain the timber for the same
he had to wade a small stream near the site of the home and drag it across to
where he was building his house. He experienced no little difficulty in doing
this because the stream, which was swollen by months of rain, came up to
his neck. His house, which he finally completed under such adverse circum-
stances, was a rude aft'air, being half dug-out. During the same season, his
supplies ran low and he was compelled to make a trip with his ox team to
.Audubon for flour. His trip was without incident until he reached the Wild
Rice river where, in order to cross the stream, which was on one of its spring
rampages, he had to float hi-; wagon across on a boat. In those early days
grindstones were just as necessary as they are today, but the difficulty in
transporting such a bulky article out to the frontier districts made their pur-
chase price quite high. This fact Mr. Benson found out from actual experi-
ence when he made a trip to .\da in the August of 1877 for the purpose of
buying such a commodity, which cost him four cents a pound. On this trip
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 725
the water from the overflowing streams stood so high in the wagon road
that pickerel swam about the wagon as he pushed forward to /Vda. The
settlers in the township were very few in that first year of his residence
there, but since the winter of 1877-78 was an open one, many more came in
from Becker county. Nothing daunted by the numerous difficulties with
confronted him during the early years of his residence on his frontier farm,
Mr. Benson by dint of tireless industry, consummate thrift and hard work,
set about raising the necessary farm buildings, planting shade trees and turn-
ing the stubborn sod of the raw prairie. Soon good fortune came to him and
he has been enabled to add to his original holding until he now has a line
farm of two hundred eighty acres of fine land, well suited to his agricultural
operations. As the production of bis farm increased his original buildings
proved inadequate and he has replaced them all with a new set, including
a comfortable farm home. He now carries on an excellent type of diversified
agriculture and he breeds graded Shorthorn cattle.
During his residence in Sibley county, Mr. Benson was married to
Martha Halse in October, 1873. She was a daughter of Anders and Daarte
Halse, born in Norway, November 13, 1843. To this union were born five
children, namely : Bennie, Annie, .\llie and Martha, all of whom died
young, and Mary, the only one living. Mrs. Benson died about nine months
after their arrival in Norman county, Air. Benson was married a second time
on October 22. 1889, to Christie Johnson, a native of Norway, born on
December 10, 1859, a daughter of John and Margrette Torska. They are
the parents of ten children, all of whom are living: John, ^ilinnie, Elmer,
Elvina. Manda, Alfred, Olga, Lizzie, Gladys and Chester. Mr. Benson has
always been quite active in the church circles of the community, having helped
to organize two church societies : the St. Peter Norwegian Lutheran church,
the first in the community, and the North \\'ild Rice Norwegian Lutheran
church; at present, however, he is a member of the St. Paul Norwegian
Lutheran church at Gary and in the affairs of this church society he and his
family take a very deep interest.
Being the first .settler in this vicinity, Mr. Benson has seen it grow into
one of the most flourishing sections in the state, and in this development he
has had no small part. After helping to organize Strand township, he was
a member of the township board for many years. He has also played an
important role in the educational progress of the township, having helped to
organize his school district and served as school clerk for twenty years, his
last term of office ending in 1916. Mr. Benson has been also an important
factor in the establishment of the co-operative business interests of the town-
726 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ship. He was interested in the Farmers Elevator at Gary and in the cream-
ery at the same place, being a director of the latter enterprise which he
helped to organize. In politics, he is an ardent ad\ocate of prohibition, and
in the local affairs of his party he is quite prominent.
OLE T. LEE.
Ole T. Lee, a well-known farmer of \Vaukon township, Norman
county, where he operates his excellent farm of two hundred forty acres
and is connected with the civil, social and business interests of the immedi-
ate vicinity, was born in Norway, August 18, 1857, a son of Torkel and
Bertha O. (Nese) Lee. Both the father and mother were natives of Nor-
way, where they grew up, married and reared their family. At this time
the former is lying in his last resting place in his native land, but the mother
is still living at an advanced age. They were the parents of the following
five children : Ole, Christ, Ole, John and Gertrude. Following the example
of their father, all the sons are substantial farmers, however, the subject of
this review is the only member of his immediate family who has cast his
lilt in the L'nited States. The only daughter, Gertrude, is a farmer's wife.
Ole T. Lee was reared to manhood on the old home farm across the
stormy Atlantic and there he received his elementary education in the local
schools, but since much of his time was taken with assisting the family in
their common effort toward making the farm pjiy and since the elementary
schools of those days were nothing to compare with those of the present,
his early formal training was somewhat limited. Nevertheless, the prac-
tical education which he received under the actual working conditions on
the home place handil\- served him when he struck out in farming on his
own account when he came to this country. For several years he had heard
good reports from his countrymen concerning the farming opportunities
in America and soon he burned with desire to go and do likewise. Immedi-
iately after his marriage in 1881 he and his wife immigrated to this country
and settled first in Dodge county, Minnesota, where they remained for
three years, at the end of which period they moved to Stearns county, Min-
nesota, and then to Polk county, same state. Hearing that better opportuni-
ties awaited men of his calling in Norman county, he brought his family
here in 1809 and settled on the farm on which he still lives in W'aukon town-
ship. Since the improvements on his holdings at first were poor, he began
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 727
erecting new buildings and now he has an excellent farm plant. His thrift
and industry during the years of his residence on this place has enabled him
to add to his holdings until they now comprise two hundred fortv acres,
on which he carries on general farming.
On June 6, 1881, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Johanna Ben-
dies, before he came to this country. She was born in Norway in 1857, a
daughter of Lars and Dora Bendics Heler. To this union fifteen children
have been born, the twelve living are : George, Lars, Dora, Bertha, Theo-
dore, Ole, Nora, Carl, Anna, John, Severt and Oscar. Mr. and Mrs. Lee
are devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Strand and in
this faith they are rearing their children. He takes a good American citi-
zen's interest in local and state affairs. Being a farmer of foresight, he sees
the necessity of good roads to his community and has rendered valuable
service in his district as road supervisor. In addition to his foregoing activ-
ities, he helped to organize the Peoples Supply Company at Gary and is
still interested in the same.
MATT CHLOUPEK.
Matt Chloupek, a prosperous farmer of Waukon township, Norman
county, where he is the owner and operator of a fine farm of two hundred
and forty acres, a part of which is the old home place and who takes an active
interest in the civil affairs of the community in which he lives, was born
in Kewanee county, Wisconsin, August 4, 1868, a son of Albert and Dortha
(Andedly) Chloupek, both natives of Bohemia. The father came to America
in 1857 and became a pioneer settler of Kewanee county, Wisconsin, where
he bought government land which he farmed. His holding there comprised
forty acres, which he s(;ld in 1881 and came directly to Norman county,
Minnesota, where he bought the homestead right of Rier Byverson to one
hundred sixty acres, on which the subject of this sketch still resides. At
first the homestead was entirely unimproved, having on it only a little
shanty for a dwelling when the elder Chloupek bought the right, but he
immediately set to work with a will to improve the holding, erecting excel-
lent buildings and planting a fine grove. The father was one of the organ-
izers of Waukon township. By his first wife, whom he married in Bohemia,
Albert Chloupek was the father of two children, daughters, Mary and Anna,
both coming with their father to America, where the latter died. Sometime
728 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
after the death of the first wife occurred in Bohemia, the father married
there again and his second wife bore him five children, all of whom came
to this country with him ; they are : Katherine, Dortha, deceased ; Barbara.
Josie and Jacob. On the death of the second wife, the father married a
third time, after he took up his residence in Wisconsin, to Dortha Andedly
and by her he had the following children, namely: Matt, the subject of
this review ; Bertha, Nettie, Albert, and two others who died in infancy.
The father and mother lived on the old homestead in Waukon township
until their deaths. They were devoted members of the Roman Catholic
church and were active participants in all local parish aflfairs.
Matt Chloupek spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Wisconsin and
there received a comnidn school education in the neighboring district schools,
but when be was thirteen years of age his parents removed to \orman county,
settling here in Waukon township, where he has continued to live on the old
old homestead. After the death of his father and mother, he purchased the
farm from the estate and to the original tract he has added eighty addi-
tional acres. He has reorganized the old farm plant by the erection of
the present excellent set of buildings which replaced the old ones. Now
he carries on a scientific form of general agriculture.
On May 29, 1894, Mr. Chloupek was united in marriage to Anna
Witasek, who was born in Bohemia, and came to America with her parents,
Valentine Witasek and wife, when she was only six years of age. To this
union have been born five children, all of whom are living at home : George,
May, William, Dorothy and Frances. Mr. and Mrs. Chloupek are devoted
members of the Catholic church and they take a proper interest in the affairs
of the parish. Mr. Chloupek takes an active part in local civil affairs,
serving now as township supervisor and as a member of the school board,
on which he has been for several vears.
CHRISTIAN OLSON.
Christian Olson, formerly a large landowner of Lee township, Norman
county, and now a retired farmer and well-known banker and prominent
citizen of Lake Park. Minnesota, was born in Norway, August 20, 1844,
a son of Ole and Margrete (Dokken) Olson, both natives of Norway, where
they grew up, married and reared their family, and there died at a ripe old
age, industrious farmers in their community.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 729
Christian Olson was reared on the home farm in ihe land of his nativity,
where he received the elementary education which the time afforded, and
there devoted his effort and industry to the cultivation of the old home place
until his marriage in 1866. In that year, he and his wife decided to cast
their lot with others of their countrymen in the New World and there estah-
lish their home; accordingly they boarded one of the clumsy sail boats of
that day and struck out boldly across the Atlantic and lamled in America
on June 23, 1866.
Starting out in a lowly position of working on a farm on shares, Mr.
Olson has achieved the position of prominence which he enjoys today. The
first year of their residence in this country, Mr. and Mrs. Olson spent in
Houston county, Minesota, among friends and accjuaintances from the
fatherland ; then they moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where the former
worked for three years on a farm on shares, but the inducement of cheap
and fertile new land in the northwest section of Minnesota caused them
to leave Iowa and strike out northward overland to Becker county, Minne-
sota, on May 17, 1870. Four or five hundred miles of trackless wilder-
ness stretched away before them, and their progress was quite slow when
it is remembered that a yoke of plodding oxen was their means of locomo-
tion. Finally, on June 24 of that year, they arrived in Becker county, and
immediately settled on their homestead of one hundred sixty acres in sections
18 and 19, Audubon township. At once, Mr. Olson began to improve his
holding and, finally, as the years passed, he has been enabled to add to his
holdings in Becker and adjoining counties, until he became one of the largest
landowners in this section of Minnesota. Since he has large business inter-
ests, which have continued to grow, it became necessary for him to quit farm-
ing about sixteen or seventeen years ago and move to Lake Park, Becker
county, Minnesota, so that he could the better attend to his affairs. He
there bought property which he later sold and then built a large brick
house in which he lives at present. When Mr. Olson quit farming, he sold
the greater part of his holdings to his children and his son. Olaf, jointly
with his daughter, Mrs. Ruster, own the large farm which formerly belonged
to their father in Lee township, Norman county.
Since his retirement from agricultural pursuits, Mr. Olson has given
his entire attention to his business interests. He helped to organize the
Becker County State Bank at Lake Park and is now president of the same.
He was a director in the Farmers Insurance Company of Lake Park and
Cuba for a number of years, and at present, he owns stock in the Security
State Bank of Detroit, Minnesota. Not only has he been active in the
730 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
extension of credit facilities of this section, but he has also been instru-
mental in providing better marketing facilities for the farmers as he helped
to organize the Farmers Elevator and the creamery at Lake Park. Mr.
Olson has had time in his very busy life to take an active part in the civic
affairs of his community, for he has served on the town council of Lake
Park for two terms and is at this time a director of the Lake Park Orphans
Home.
In 1866 Christian Olson was united in marriage to Marie Rask, in the
same year he and she came to America. Mrs. Olson is a native of Norway,
born on February 6, 1843, ^ daughter of Halvor and Jorand Rask. To
this union twelve children were born, namely : Christian, who lives in
Lake Park, Minnesota; Hannah, the wife of Petter Ruster, now living in
Crosly, North Dakota: Julia, who married O. W. Davis, and now lives two
miles from Lake Park; Olaf, a prominent farmer living in Lee township,
Norman county; Josephine and Caroline, both deceased; Helen, the wife
of Ed. Ingebretson, living on the old homestead in Becker county; George,
who also lives on the old place; Minnie, living with her parents; four
daughters and one son, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are devoted members
of the Lutheran church and in the faith of this denomination they have
reared their children, Mr. Olson being at present a trustee of the congrega-
tion of which the familv are members.
JOHN THOMAS LUSSENDEN.
The late John Thomas Lussenden, who was one of the more recent
comers to Norman county, where he carried on farming operations in Green
Meadow township, was born in Boltenville, Wisconsin, March 26, 1856.
a son of George and Lydia (Marcellus) Lussenden, the former a native of
England and the latter of Ohio, who came out to Wisconsin in an early day.
There they settled in Boltenville, where they remained until death, well-
known and respected pioneers and influential citizens of the community.
They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this review
was the third in order of birth, the others being : Willet, Phoebe and Ros-
etta, deceased.
John T. Lussenden was reared to manhood in Boltenville, Wisconsin,
under frontier conditions, and in his boyhood he had all the experiences
coiTimon to pioneer boys. Sometime after Jie had reached man's estate, he
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 73I
left the parental roof and struck out independently into farming operations
near the place of his birth, and in this venture he ex])erienced substantial
success. When he reached the age of twenty-eight years he married and
settled near Boltenville attending to his farming interests until 1904, in
which year he and his family decided to make a change, [""eeling that they
could find better opportunities in Minnesota in the Red River country, they
came to Norman county and settled in Green Meadow township where the
father farmed with much success until igio, when his death occurred on
January 29, of that year.
On May 22, 1881, Mr. Lussenden married Mary Kenney, who was
born in Boltenville, Wisconsin, September 26, 1857, a daughter of James
and Katherine (Burns) Kenney, both natives of Ireland, from which coun-
try they came to America in 1848. They settled in Boltenville, Wisconsin,
where they lived until the death of Mr. Kenney in 1881, after which time
the widowed mother removed to Norman county, where she now makes her
home with her daughter, Mrs. John T. Lussenden. Mr. and Mrs. Lussen-
den were the parents of the following six children: John Joseph, Rose
Marie, George James, who operates the home farm ; Stella Josephine,
deceased, and Luella and Albert M. Since the death of Mr. Lussenden his
widow has continued to make her home on the old farm in Green Meadow
township. The former was, as is Mrs. Lussenden, a devoted member of
the Catholic church, in the faith of which denomination they reared their
children. Although Mr. Lussenden's residence in Norman county was com-
parativels- short, his ready support and co-operation with all movements
which had for their purpose the social and material betterment of the com-
munity in which he lived made for him a place among the progressive and
I)ublic spirited citizens of the county.
OLE WENNEVOLD.
Ole Wennevold, one of the pioneer homesteaders in Sundahl township,
Norman county, and for the past eight or nine years grain l)uyer for the
Cargill Elevator Company at Flaming, is a native of the kingdom of Nor-
way, but has been a resident of this country since he was eighteen years of
age' and of Norman county since 1887. He was born on June 20, 1854.
eldest child and son of Ole and Anna (Haaven) Wennevold. also natives
of Norway, farming people, who spent all their lives in their native land.
732 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
The elder Ole Wennevold and his wife were the parents of nine children,
those besides the subject of this sketch being Ole (2), Thor, Ingebright,
Gudmund (deceased), Guru, Helga, Randa and Helga (deceased).
Reared on a farm in his native land, Ole Wennevold received his
received his schooling there and remained there until he was eighteen years
of age, when, in 1872 he came to the United States and located at Ossian,
Iowa, where he remained for about four years, at the end of which time he
went over into Wisconsin and was there engaged for about five years in
lumbering, working in tlie timber woods, mostly as scaler of logs, and on
rafts in the rivers. He then came over into Minnesota and for two years
thereafter was engaged as a clerk in a store in Goodhue county, later going
to Crookston, where he worked in a store for two years. Thus qualified
by preliminary experience for the mercantile business Mr. Wennevold formed
a partnership with P'eter Moe and the two came up here into the Red River
country and started a store at the townsite of Menter, in I'olk county, the
first store at that place, which then was thirty-five miles from a railroad.
About two years later Mr. Wennevold disposed of his interest in that frontier
store and came down into Norman county and married the girl with a home-
stead, and to whom he had been engaged for fifteen years. It consisted of
a quarter of section of land in section 9 of Sundahl township and he pro-
ceeded to develop and improve the same. He established his home on the
place and has ever since resided there, for many years having been regarded as
one of the most substantial farmers in that part of the county. Since settl-
ing there Mr. Wennevold has added to his holdings by the purchase of an
adjoining quarter section and now has a well-improved and profitably culti-
vated farm of three hundred and twenty acres. In addition to his general
farming Mr. Wennevold has given considerable attention to the raising of
live stock and has done well. In 1909 he was employed by the elevator
company at Flaming, as local grain buyer for the concern, now the Cargill
Elevator Company, and has ever since been thus engaged, though continu-
ing to make his home on his farm, and his son, Joris Wennevold, has since
been managing the home farm. Mr. W'ennevold helped organize the Sun-
dahl Mercantile Company and the creamery at Fertile and in other ways has
given his thoughtful and intelligent attention to the business affairs of his
home community. He also has taken an active part in the general civic
afifairs of the community and for many years has been serving as clerk, as
assessor and as justice of the peace in and for his home township.
On IMarch 29. 1887. Ole Wennevold was united in marriage to Anna
Holten. of Sundahl township, who also was bf)rn in Xorway, daughter of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 733
John Holten and wife, who came to this country and settled in Sundahl
township, Norman county, among the very first settlers of that part of the
county, and to this union two children have l)een born, Amia, wife of Rev-
erend Edward Rorem, of Rindal, and Joris, who is now operating the home
farm, as noted above. The Wennevolds are members of the Lutheran church
and have ever been regarded as among the leaders in good works in the com-
munity of which they have been a part since pioneer days.
MAGNUS O. GILBERTSON.
Magnus O. Gilbertson, a well-known resident of Anthony township,
Norman county, where he owns and farms four hundred acres of well-
improved land, was born in Richland county, Wisconsin, September 7, 1873,
the son of Ole and Christie (Monson) Gilbertson, Ijoth natives of Norway.
Ole Gilbertson came to America in 1861, bringing with him his father,
Gilbert Klemmer; his mother, however, had died some time before he emi-
grated to this country. Soon after he arrived in America, Ole Gilbertson
settled in Richland county, Wisconsin, where he met and niarried Christie
Monson, who had come from Norway two years after her parents. Mons
and Mary Monson, had left their native country and located in Grant count)-,
Wisconsin. Later, her parents moved to North Dakota and lived the rest
of their lives with some of their children who lived there. After their mar-
riage Ole Gilbertson and wife left Richland county, Wisconsin, removing
to Norman county, Minnesota, in 1891. and settled in Halstad township,
where the former bought land and farmed until his death, at which time his
holdings had been increased to five hundred acres of improved land. Ole
Gilbertson, who was the father of fourteen children, was married three times,
and Christie Monson was his last wife. By his first wife he had the fol-
lowing children: Gilbert O. and Anna, wife of Pete Hagerston; by his
second wife: Janie, who married Stev Nelson; by the third wife: Mangus
O., the subject of this review; Olaf, Albert, Cornelius, Gust, Clara, wife of
Anton Orvick; Oscar, Andie, Tilla, who married Ole Orvick; Clarence
and Marie. The entire fourteen are still living.
Magnus O. Gilbertson spent the early part of his life in Richland county.
Wisconsin, where he received a common-school education, and when he
was eighteen years of age moved with his parents to Halstad township and
there lived with them on the home place until 1898, contributing his share
734 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of effort to the improvement and cnltivatinn of his fatlier's hukHng. In the
year just mentioned, he decided to begin for himself and bought two iiun-
dred and forty acres of bare prairie land in Anthony township, Xorman
county. The raw condition of his holding made it necessar_\- for him to
work long and arduously to get it under cultivation, but he succeeded so
well and so prospered that he was enabled not only to erect on his farm line,
modern farm buildings, but also to extend his acreage until now he is the
owner of four hundred acres of tine land on which he carries on general
farming.
On October 28, 1898, Mr. Gilbertson was united in_ marriage to Inga
Kittelson, who was bf)rn in Norway, the daughter of Johanas and Gunheld
Kittelson. who emigrated from the land of their nativity and .settled in
Norman county. To this union have been born seven children, namely :
Oliver, Clarence, Ida, Selmer, Bennie, Mabel and Tilla, all of whom are
living. Mr. Gilbertson, who is kept very busy in superintending his large
farming interests, has devoted much of his time to the common civil and
business activities of the community, having served on the .Anthony town-
.ship board for some years and having helped to organize the creamery at
Halstad. He and his family are consistent and conscientious members of the
Lutheran church, in the afifairs of which they have a deep and abiding inter-
est. Any movement f(M- the betterment of the common interests of his
community receivers his heartiest and most zealous co-operation.
NELS O. MOEN.
Nels O. Moen, a well-known and substantial farmer of \V'aukon town-
ship, Norman county, where he now owns and operates a fine farm of three
hundred and ninety-nine acres and where he was an early settler who helped
to organize the religious, ci\il, educational and co-operative business inter-
ests of the community, was born in Norway, March 29, 1853, a son of
Andreas Olson and Mary (Haugen) Moen. Both the father and mother
were natives of Norway, from which they came to America in 1862 and
settled in Colfax township, Dunn county, Wisconsin, where they spent th«
rest of their days, well-known pioneers of that section. \\'hen the faniiK-
arrived in Colfax township, Dunn county, the father took a homestead.
This family with that of Ole Running were the first settlers of the town-
ship, and the nearest neighbor to the Moens was at first seven miles away.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 735
Andreas Olson Moen was very active in the early history of Colfax town-
ship, for he helped to organize the township and the school district. He
and his family were very zealous members of the Lutheran denomination,
the father helping to organize the first church of the community, the Norwe-
gian Lutheran Synod church. Andreas and Mary Moen were the parents
of ten children and the eight who grew to maturity are as follow : Ole and
Martha, deceased; OH, Betsie, Ingeborg, deceased; Nels O., the subject of this
review; Anna and Ida, deceased.
Nels O. Moen was only nine years of age when he first trod upon
American soil in 1862, when he accompanied his parents to this country,
hence he received little or no formal education in the land of his birth.
After the family had settled in Wisconsin and the school di.strict was organ-
ized, largely due to the efforts of Andreas Moen, the father of the subject
of this .sketch, Nels O. seized the opportunity to learn the English language
along with a few other fundamentals of an elementary education. The
greater part of his time was spent in working on his father's holding, to
the development of which the entire family bent their efforts. Here it was
then that he acquired excellent training which he found invaluable when he,
too, became a pioneer of Norman county, Minnesota. In 1878 he decided
to leave the parental roof and settle in Norman county. He had his own
team and wagon, and, in company with Ole Wall, he set out from Meno-
monie, Wisconsin, and in two weeks arrived at Twin Valley, Norman county.
Ole Wall was a blacksmith, whom Mr. Moen hauled, with his outfit, as
far as Twin Valley, where the former employed someone else to take him
the remainder of his journey to Ada and there he set up his place of business,
the first blacksmith in the village. In the same summer Mr. Moen home-
steaded a quarter section in Waukon township and began breaking the tough
prairie soil. Finding that he could trade his team of horses for yokes of
oxen and a breaking plow, he made the exchange which proved very bene-
ficial to him. Those early years of his life on his farm were not altogether
pleasant, because methods of transportation were clumsy and living condi-
tions primitive, but Mr. Moen saw in the future, where then lay an expan.se
of the unbroken, virgin prairie, a fine, well-improved farm, with excellent
buildings and groves. This has all been realized. The original homestead
has grown to a tract of three hundred ninety-nine acres, well equipped with
substantial farm buildings and grove and in a high state of cultivation. In
addition to this tract, he has thirteen acres of timber land in Fossum town-
ship, Norman county. Mr. Moen carries on very successfully general farm-
ing operations and he also raises Shorthorn cattle.
736 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
On February 12, 1886, Mr. Aloen married Annie Osleson, who was
born in Norway, daughter of Osle Bjella, and to their union the following
children were born: Matilda, deceased; Ida, Alfred, Oscar, Ingvald, Ole,
Clara, Celius, Mabel, deceased, and Clarence and Lillian. Mr. and Mrs.
Moen are devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, both being
very active in the church work of that denomination in die neighborhood.
The former helped to organize the first church of the community, the St.
Peter Lutheran church, in Strand township.
By virtue of his being one of the earliest settlers in these parts. Mr.
Moen has been enabled to see the startling development of the country from
a prairie wilderness to a garden spot with all the appurtenances of civilization,
and he has played no small ])art in bringing the community up to its present
status. He was one of the organizers of Waukon township, and in the old
days before roads were laid out, he served the community in the capacity
of path master. Every time that Mr. Moen reflects that he has three hundred
and ninety-nine acres instead of four hundred, his heart undoubtedly swells
with gratification, because of the whereabouts of that missing acre. He
dedicated that acre to the educational interests of the vicinity, for when
he helped to organize the school district, he donated the acre as a site for
a school building. Being always interested in the educational progress of
the community, he rendered valuable service during his Icnig tenure of office
as treasurer of the school district. He was first treasurer and was a mem-
ber of the first board. The co-operative business interests of the township
came in for a part of his attention. He helped to organize the creamery at
Waukon, has been director of the same at different times and is now on
the board. He also helped to organize the Waukon Mercantile Company.
PETEK L STIEN.
The late Peter L Stien, a pioneer blacksmith, wagon maker and boat
builder of Flom township, Norman county, where his handiwork was a
valuable aid to the early settlers of that section, was born in Norway,
January 9, 1838, and died here on the home place. May 26, 1906, at the
age of sixty-eight years. Until he was thirty years old, he lived in his
native land, where he learned his trade and acquired the formal education
which the time and place of his residence afforded. It was in 1868 that
he bade his native land farewell and he landed on the hospitable shores of
America in the same year.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 737
For some years after he arrived in this country, Mr. Stien waiulered
here and there, working at his trade, but in 1882 he located in h'lom town-
ship, Norman county, where the neighboring farmers, who were in great
need of a repair man, bought him tools and built him a shop. He built a
log house with a clay roof and became a permanent settler of this section.
As his business throve with the passing years, he branched more and more
out into farming. When he first came to Mom township, he prc-emined
forty acres in section 4, Ijut after be had lived on it two years, he sold il
and bought eighty acres here in section 5. Subsequently, and at different
times, he added eighty acres more in forty-acre tracts, all in section 5.
Since his holding was mostly in timber, the land had to be cleared and the
expense of this was about eight or nine dollars per acre. At the present
time one hundred and fifteen of the original one hundred and sixty acres are
under cultivation and under the careful management of his sons, it is pro-
ducing well. Formerly considerable grain was raised on the farm, but the
sons have turned to stock breeding and diversified farming. They raise
thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and blooded swine. The farm plant is well-
appointed, being comprised of excellent machinery and sulxstantial farm build-
ings. There has just been completed a large barn with a cement foundation
and floor, and in 1910 the farm home, which approaches urban convenience,
was erected.
Mr. Stien was united in marriage to Gertrude Olson, who was born
in Norway, October 7, 1847, and to this union eight children were born,
four of whom are dead. Albert O., the second in order of l)irth, was born
in Wisconsin, in 1869. He received his formal education in the common
schools of Iowa and Flom township, this county, and when he reached man-
hood, he entered the shop of his father where he worked for several years.
He then took up carpentering and was engaged in building houses and farm
buildings in this vicinity, where he now makes his home on the family hold-
ing. He was justice of the peace for one term. The sixth child is Rhoda D.,
who was born in Iowa and makes her home here with the family. Julian
G., who is seventh in order of birth, was born in 1883, on the original
forty-acre tract which his father pre-empted, and he now carries on the
farming. Edward D., the youngest child, was born on this farm in 1886,
in the old log house with shingle roof. Making his home here on the
farm, he aids his brother. Julian, in the cultivation of the old home place.
The widowed mother still lives on the old farm with her children. She
and her husband were members of the United Lutheran church, in the
(47a)
738 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
affairs of which they took a deep interest. The fatlier had shares in the
Farmers Elevator and creamery at Twin \'alley. hut at tliis time hoth of
these enterprises have passed out of existence. In pohtics, Mr. Stien was
a RepubHcan, but he never sought after office, ahhough he took a deep
interest in the social, civil and moral betterment of the community in which
he lived for so many years, a valued citizen, excellent workman and sturdy
pioneer.
ERICK STEPHENSON.
Erick Stephenson, a farmer of Strand township, Norman county, where
he operates a fine well-improved farm of one hundred sixty acres and who
is interested in the business, civil and educational affairs of the community
in which he lives was born in Sweden, December 19, 1869. a son of Ole and
Marie (Person) Stephenson, both natives of Sweden, who immigrated to
America in 1884. As soon as they arrived here they set out for Norman
county, Minnesota, and when they reached their journey's end, they located
in Sundahl township, where they took a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres of land in section 12. There he and his wife spent the rest of their
days, the former dying on November 13, 1915, at the ripe old age of eighty-
seven years. The parents of Ole Stephenson lived and died in Sweden, but
those of his wife, Marie Person, came to America in 1869 and settled in
Nicollet county, Minnesota, where the mother died the same year. The
father remained there until 1881, in which year he came northward into
Norman county and pre-empted the quarter section which his son-in-law, Ole
Stephenson, proved up. Ole Stephenson and wife were the parents of ten
children; the five who did not die in infancy are: Ellen, Erick, Lewis,
August and Johanna. Ole Stephenson and his father-in-law, Erick Person,
were quite active in the early religious affairs of the community, both help-
ing to organize the Swedish Lutheran church at Sundahl.
Reared in Sweden where he received his elementary education, Erick
Stephenson was only sixteen years of age when his parents left him behind
while they came to America to look for a location. In the following year, 1885.
they sent for him and he came directly to his parents, in Sundahl township.
Norman county. He lived with them on the home place, contributing his
share of energy and industry to the development of the same until his mar-
riage in 1890. In 1 89 1 he bought the farm where he now lives, and even
though he carried on farming operations there, he did not leave his father's
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 739
home until the autumn of 1894. His excellent farm in Strand t(nvnshi[), which
was entirely unimproved at the time of its purchase, comprises one hundred
and sixty acres. He has erected all the good, substantial buildings which
make up his admirable farm plant and around the comfortable and convenient
farm home he has set out a beautiful grove. Here he carries on general
diversified farming and is highly successful in his operations.
On October 10, 1890, Mr. Stephenson married Augusta Groberg, a
native of Sweden, born October 31, 1870, a daughter of .^. C. and Margareta
Elizabeth Groberg. To this union six children have been born, one of whom
died in infancy; the others being: Arthur, Clarence, Elsie, Lewis and Hazel.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church
and in the affairs of which they take a deep interest. In politics, Mr. Stephen-
son is a Reptiblican, and he is (juite active in the local affairs of his ])arty.
For ten or eleven years he has served the people of the township in the
capacity of assessor, and he is now and always has discharged his duties with
impartiality and precision. The educational interests of the communitv have
always been a source of interest to him and he has served on the school
board for the last fifteen or sixteen years. In addition to these activities,
Mr. Stephenson is connected with the co-operative enterprises at Gary, hav-
ing helped to organize the Peoples Supply Company at that place and has
been a member of the board of directors since its organization. He was
also formerly interested in the l-'armers Elevator at Gary.
B. O. LEE.
The Lee family has been one of the best known and most influential
in Norman county since the early pioneer days here, and one of the credit-
able representatives of the same of the present generation is B. O. Lee, one
of the leading agriculturists and stockmen of western Minnesota. He was
born in Rice county, this state, December 6, 1869, and is a son of Ole J.
and Anne Johanne (Aslakstrom) Lee, natives of Norway.
Ole J. Lee grew to manhood in his native land, where he attended school
and was married He sailed for American shores in 1867, locating with his
family, in Rice county, Minnesota, where he remained until 1871, in w'hich
vear he moved to Fargo, North Dakota, and settled on a homestead one
mile south of that city, in Cass township. He lived there until 1878, at
which time he came to Lee townshi]), Norman county, and was one of the
740 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
organizers of the township, tiie township being named for him. The first
township election was held at his home. He continued to make his home
in that township until December 4, 1884, when he went back to Norway,
taking his family, and there he spent the remainder of his days, his death
occurring at an advanced age in 1904. His wife had died in Fargo, North
Dakota, in 1878. He had been very successful as a general farmer and stock-
man, forging to the front through his own efforts from an humble begin-
ning. When he landed at I''argo the first time he had only twelve dollars
and fifty cents, after paying his stage fare. The terminus of the nearest
railroad was at Alexandria, one hundred and thirty miles away. He endured
the usual hardships antl i)rivations incident to life in those primitive times
on the wild western prairies. It took him two years to accumulate enough
money with which to bu)- a heifer which he desired to grow into a milch
cow. But he persevered, worked hard and managed well and consecjuently
success attended his efforts. When he arrived in wiiat is now Lee township,
Norman county, in 1878, he had enough means to buy a section of land,
one-half of section 15 and one-half of section 16. He was a booster and
leader among the pioneers and did nuich to help start the local schools,
churches and other evidences of modern civilization. He helped organize
the first Norwegian Lutheran church in that township and was an active
member of the same as long as he lived there. He was a man of unswerving
honesty and he was highly respected by all who knew him. His family
consisted of five children, named as follow: Jens O.. Hans O., Christine
is the wife of C. E. Olson and they live in Fargo, and B. O. and Edward.
B. O. Lee, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the
home farm and worked hard assisting his father to break the virgin sod and
put it in cultivation. He attended the public schools in Fargo, North Dakota,
and^ later those of Lee township, Norman county, and after the father
returned with his children to Norway, he attended the parochial schools there.
Returning to the L'nited States in 1888, after spending three and one-half
years in the old country, he operated his father's farm in Lee township,
Norman county, for three years, then bought one hundred and sixty acres,
a part of the home farm, and continued farming there one vear, then rented
out his land for three years. During that i>eriod he at first ran a li\'erv
barn in Perley one year, then sold farming machinery for two vears, repre-
senting the Deering Harvester Company of Chicago, his territory embracing
this section of Minnesota. He gave his firm satisfaction in this capacity.
He then resumed active farming on his land and has since followed general
farmmg and stock raising on an extensive scale, with most gratifying results.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 74I
He is owner of four hundred and forty acres in sections i6 and 21, Lee
township, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and culti-
vation. He put on all the improvements now on his land, which are modern
and substantial. He has a large and attractive home, with modern conven-
iences. He raises large quantities of grain, much of which he feeds to cattle
and hogs, shipping several carloads of fat live stock to the markets. He
is not only a close observer, but a diligent student of twentieth-century
methods of agriculture and stock raising. Mr. Lee is a stockholder in the
Farmers and Merchants Bank at Perley and is president of the same. Its
popularity and rapid growth have been due to his able and judicious man-
agement.
Mr. Lee was married in 1897 to Maria Larson, a native of Minnesota.
She received a common-school education, and she is a daughter of Iver and
Sissel Larson, natives of Norway. Three children have been born to Air and
Mrs. Lee, namely. Stella. Oliver Lawrence, and Clara. Mr. Lee has long
been influential in local public affairs. He served as assessor of Lee town-
ship from 1897 to 1908. He was elected commissioner of Norman county
in 1908 and he served in this capacity until 191 7. For three years he was
chairman of the board of county commissioners. As a public servant he
discharged his duties in an able, faithful and creditable manner and to the
satisfaction of all concerned. He is an active member of the Norwegian
Lutheran church and was formerly secretary of the church.
JOHN HOVLAND.
The late John Hovland, for many years one of the best-known and
most progressive farmers in Bear Park township, Norman county, was a
native of the kingdom of Norway, but had been a resident of this country
since he was nineteen years old, having come to America with his brother
Andrew in 1869. John Hovland was born in Norway on November 22, 1850,
one of seven children born to his parents, Amund and Ingeborg Hovland.
the others being Amund, deceased; Christina, deceased; Renald; Ella,
deceased: Andrew, mention of whom is made in another part of this volume,
and Johanas, deceased. Amund and Ingeborg Hovland were farmers in
their native land.
John Hovland, the subject of this memorial sketch, was educated in the
schools of his native Norway and helped on the labors of the home farm.
742 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
In 1869, accompanied by his brother Andrew, he immigrated to this coun-
try, lirst setthng in Goodhue county, this state, and remained in that part
for about twelve years, engaged at farm work. In 1881 he moved to Nor-
man county and homesteaded a quarter section of land, which he immed-
iately proceeded to get into a state of cultivation, his labors in that direction
being very successful from the beginning of his farming operations. He
put up all the buildings on the place and carried out many valuable improve-
ments and as he prospered in his undertaking he added to his land holdings,
until he became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of prime land;
at the time of his death in 1915 being regarded as one of the most success-
'ful general farmers in that part of the county.
On June 7, 1882. in Xorman county, John Hovland was united in
marriage to Lena Johnson Hovland, a native of Norway and a daughter of
John and Siinov ( Ronning) Hovland, also natives of Norway, in which
country J(jhn Ho\land died. His widow came to this country some time
later and has since been living with her daughter, at the advanced age of
eighty-six years. They were the parents of three children, Lena, who lives
on her late husband's farm ; Randine, living at Grand Forks, North Dakota,
and Olea, deceased. To John and Lena Hovland the following children
were l)orn : .Xmund, ;i farmer of Bear I'ark township; Sven, farming tiie
old home i)lace, and Ida, who married John Hogensen, of Garfield town-
ship, Polk county.
The late John Hovland was an active member of the church at Rindahl,
which he helped ''o organize, and of w-hich he had ever been a liberal sup-
porter. He al.'^o •eli)ed in the organization of the Rindahl Mercantile Com-
pany and of th Rindahl Creamery, always filling the part of a good citi-
zen and ncighboi. His death on August 7, 1915, was the occasion of very
general regret throughout the community in winch he had spent so many
vears of his life.
JOHN O. FLAKNE.
John O. Flakne, the owner and operator of two hundred and forty acres
of well-improved land in Bear Park township, Norman county, and the
owner of five additional acres of valuable timberland in Possum township,
same county, active in the educational and religious interests of the com-
munity in which he has always lived since he came to these parts, and other-
wise known as a public-spirited citizen and good neighbor, was born in Nor-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 743
way, July 2, 1855, a son of Ole T. and Guri (Knutson) Flakne, both of
whom were natives of Norway and continued to Hve there until they immi-
grated to America. It was some eight years after their son, the subject of
this sketch, came to America that the father and mother landed on American
soil about 1890. They came on out to Polk county, Minnesota,
where the father took a homestead almost in the outskirts of the city of Bel-
trami. After the death of the father at the home of the son, Knut, in the city
of Beltrami, his widow removed to Minneapolis, where her death occurred.
They had five children, as follow : Torkel, who died at the age of eighteen
years in Norway; Marit, whose death occurred in Polk county, Minnesota,
in 1917; John O., the subject of this review; Knut, now residing at Holt,
Minnesota, and one other who died in infancy.
John O. Flakne was reared to manhood in Norway, where he married
in 1 88 1. In the following year he immigrated to America and landed at
Philadelphia on June i of that year. I'"rom there he came on out to Salem,
Minnesota, where he remained for about two weeks, and from thence he
went to Minneapolis. Feeling that his future in this new country lay in the
soil, he spent a part of his first summer in working on a farm in Hennepin
county, this state, and on the coming of the following spring, he went to
Fisher, Minnesota, where he began working for J. B. Meril on the farm.
He remained in the latter's employ for the five following summers, but as
he passed through Norman county on his way to take up his work on the
farm of Mr. Meril. in 1883, he took a pre-emption claim of eighty acres
where he now lives. He erected the necessary buildings on his holding and
left his wife on the place while he went on to the Meril farm. Since 1888,
Mr. Flakne has given his whole attention to his own farm where he has
continued to live. He has now two hundred and forty acres in the home
place and five acres of timber in Fossum township, this county. Here he has
erected all the buildings, whicli comprise his excellent farm plant. He now
carries on general farming, and is very successful in his operations.
A short time before he left Norway, Mr. Flakne was united in marri-
age to Jensena Petrena Johanson, who was born ;it Tjotto, Norway, Septem-
ber 15, 1858, a daughter of Johan and Karen (Lar.son) Raffelson, and to
this union ten children have been born, as follow: Ole J., living in Montana;
Conrad, who died in Montana; Harkimer, whose death occurred in 1910;
Theodore, residing in Montana; Ida. the wife of Emil Lukau ; George, liv-
ing in Montana; Martin, deceased; Martin, at home; .A-lfred and Clara, at
home. Mr. and Mrs. Flakne are active in the church work of the coniniun-
itv, the former having helped to organize two Norwegian Lutheran churches
744 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of the county : the first church in Bear Park township at Rindahl and the
Synod church. They are also otherwise active in the good works of the
community.
Mr. Flakne displays a keen interest in tiie educational and business
progress of tiie community in ^hich he has resided since he came to Xor-
man county. For nine years he was school treasurer. His school district
has two school houses : one on the south side of the river and the other on
the north, and it was largely due to his efforts that the one on the south side
was established. He helped to organize the Farmers Elevator at Gary and
has shares in the co-operative stores at Bear Park and Rindahl.
JOHN HEDIN.
One of the well-known and prosperous Swedish farmers of Wild Rice
township, Norman county, is John Hedin, the owner and proprietor of a fine
farm of two hundred and ten acres near Twin Valley. He was born in
Sweden on May 25, 1864, the son of John and Gustava (Hendrickson)
Orenson, both of whom were natives also of the kingdom of Sweden.
John Hedin was one of ten children born to his parents, the others
being as follow : Clara, who is still living in Sweden ; Mary Eliza, a resi-
dent of Rosa county, Minnesota; Andrew, who died in Sweden when young;
Lotta, living at Upham. North Dakota; Andrew, of Bantry, North Dakota;
Wilhelm, also a resident of Bantry; Alma, living in Alberta, Canada; Gust,
who died young in Sweden, and Emil, a farmer, of Alberta, Canada. The
parents of these children came to America in 1893 to make their home with
their children, most of whom had preceded them to this country. The
father died in North Dakota, while the mother is still living in that state
with one of her children, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Both
were earnest and consistent members of the Lutheran church, and active and
interested in the affairs of that denomination.
John Hedin received his education in the schools of his native land,
and in 1883 came to America, locating first at Lake Park, Minnesota, where
he worked as a farm hand for a period of two years, then for the next four
years he worked at various occupations in different parts of tlie Northwest.
In i88g he started to farm for himself by renting land in Case county.
North Dakota, where he lived for four years, at the end of which time he
came to Minnesota, and lx)ught one hundred and sixty acres of land in
Wild Rice township, this county, and has since made this place his home.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 745
with the exception of one year, 1904, which he spent in McHenry county,
North Dakota, where he homesteaded and proved up on a quarter section
of land. On his home farm Mr. Hedin lias made many and various substan-
tial improvements, having relniilt the house, and erected otiicr buildings,
as well as planting a fine grove. He has also added fifty acres of his original
tract, making a total of two hundred and ten acres of good farming land.
He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has made a suc-
cess of his chosen calling.
In 1889 John Hedin was united in marriage to Amanda Anderson,
who is a native of Sweden, the daughter of Andres Hendrickson, and to
this union ten children have been born : Harry, Ellen Marie, Hannah
Pauline, Ruby, Andrew, Ida Albertine, Wilhelm, Carl Oscar, Victoria and
Martin Richard, all of whom are living. The family are all members of
the Lutheran church and take an active part in the affairs of the local church
of that denomination.
Mr. Hedin has long ranked among the enterprising and substantial farm-
ers and citizens of his community, and has served as a member of the
township board almost continuously ever since he came to this county, and
is now school director of his township. Besides his farming interests, Mr.
Hedin is a stockholder and director in the Farmers Co-operative Creamery
at Twin Valley, and was among the organizers of that company.
LEWIS HILxMO.
Another of the substantial and enterprising farmers of Norwegian birth
who has helped make Lake Ida township one of the finest farming districts
of this part of the state is Lewis Hilmo, who was born in Norway, Novem-
ber 25, i860, the son of Ole H. and Mary J. (Ostby ) Hilmo, both of whom
also were natives of Norway.
Ole H. Hilmo was a farmer in Norway who, m 1882, decided to come
to America, the land of opportunity. He and his family first located in St.
Croix county, Wisconsin, after coming to this country, and there he and
his wife lived the remainder of their lives. They were earnest and devoted
members of tlie Lutheran church, in which they always took an active and
interested part. They were the parents of five children as follow: John,
Hans, Mattie, Bernt and Lewis, all of whom are living, except John and
Mattie.
746 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Lewis Hilmo received his education in the schools of his native land,
and in 1880 came witb his brother Bernt to .Vnierica. He remained with
his father in St. Croix county, Wisconsin, until 1885, assisting his father
on the home farm, and also working out by the month on neighboring farms.
In 1885 he came to Norman county, locating in Ada, and worked as a
farm hand on the neighlxjring farms for two or three years, after which he
decided to farm for himself. He purcliased some school land in section
36, Lake Ida township, consisting of one hundred and forty acres. He later
bought eighty acres more in section 34, of the same township, all of which
was raw prairie land at the time he acquired it. He proceeded to improve
and develop his land, erecting fine buildings, cultivating the land, and plant-
ing a nice grove of trees, and he now has a highly productive and attractive
farm, of which he may well be proud. He has always engaged in general
farming and stock raising, in which he has met with a very commendable
degree of success, which is attested by the fine appearance of his farm.
In 1892 Lewis Hilmo was united in marriage to Mary Pundy, who is
a native of Norway, the daughter of Peter Pundy. and to this union six
children have been born : Minnie, Oscar, Peter, Mabel, .'\lma and Myrtle,
all of whom are living with the exception of Minnie, who died at the age of
six months. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church
of America at Twin Valley.
Mr. Hilmo has always been active and prominent in the social welfare
and civic betterment of his home community, being especially interested in
the schools of the township. He helped organize school district No. 85, l)eing
a member of the organizing board. He has for some years been a member
of the township school board, sometimes serving as treasurer, and some-
times as director of same. He is now serving as school director.
THEODORE JOHNSON.
Theodore Johnson, a well-known citizen of Waukon township, Norman
county, where he carries on extended farming operations on his fine farm
and where he is prominently connected with civic, social and co-operative
business affairs, was born in Norway, September 25, 1857, a son of Jens
and Bertha Johnson, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they
grew up and married. In 1872 the family came to America and located at
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where the father was in business as a tailor, having
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 747
learned this trade in his native land. After he had been thus engaged for
some years, he left Eau Claire for Dunn county, Wisconsin, where he bought
a farm on which he lived until his death. Some time after the death of the
father, tlie mother removed to Norman county, where she made her home
with the subject of this sketch until her death occurred. They were the par-
ents of three children, namely: Theodore, the subject of this review; Gunda,
who is still living in Barron county, Wisconsin, and Godfred, deceased.
Theodore Johnson received some formal education, l)ut the greater part
was acquired during his residence with liis parents in Wisconsin. He remained
with them until 1879, in which year he drove overland to Norman county,
in company with Tver Martinson, the journey requiring about twenty-one
days. Immediately on his arrival here, he pre-empted the southwest quarter
of section 28, Waukon township, jjut two years later lie sold his right. Dur-
ing the interval, he went back and forth from his holding to Wisconsin, and
spent some time in North Dakota. Later he bought a tree-claim right to his
present farm, which he proved up as a homestead, and here he has contin-
ued to live. When he first came to his present farm, the land was raw prairie
with no improvements of any kind, but now after years of patient industry,
he has a set of fine farm buildings around which is growing a beautiful grove.
Here on his holding he carries on a general type of farming and breeds
Holstein cattle, Poland China hogs and Buff Leghorn chickens.
On July 22(1. 1885, Mr. Johnson married Tena Figenskau, who was
born in Pierce county, Wisconsin, April 30, 1864, a daughter of Knut and
Anna (Thompson) Figenskau, and to this union five children have been
born, as follow: Jane, Alice, Freda, Clarence, Alpha, all of whom are liv-
ing. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Lutheran church, in the
affairs of which they take a proper interest. In politics, the former is an
ardent advocate of Republican principles, and his voice is well-known in the
councils of his party. A very striking thing about the career of Mr. John-
son is his activity in all the common affairs of the community. For years
he has been an important township official, for he has at different times Ix;en
township assessor, which office he holds at present, and was township chair-
man for twenty-five years, which office he relinquished in 1916. His long
service to tlie civil interests of the public shows that he discharged the dut-
ies of his office with strict fidelity and honesty. The co-operative business inter-
ests of the community bear a strong impress of his personality. He helped
to organize the creamery at Waukon, of which enterprise he was secretary
and manager during the first five years of its existence. He was also instru-
mental in the establishment of the Gary Telephone Company and was a mem-
748 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ber of the board of directors, which position he occupied for niaiiv years.
For the past twenty years he has been an auctioneer, crying sales all over
this and adjoining counties, which occupation has widened and enriched his
field of acquaintances. Finally, it may be said that if any movement is inaug-
urated in the community for its betterment, socially, economicallv and civil-
ly, it is sure of the unstinted and loyal support of Theodore Johnson.
JOHN A. RUSTVOLD.
John A. Rustvold, one of the early .settlers of Hendruni township,
where he now lives, the owner of two hundred forty acres of fine farming
land on which lie carries on general agriculture, was born in Throndhjeni,
Norway, on September 23, 1864, the son of Arnt J. and Mollie A. (llel-
land) Rustvold, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1869 and first
located at Newberg, Fillmore county, Minnesota, where the former worked.
There they remained until 1877, when the elder Rustvold decided to estab-
lish his home farther north in the new country in Xorman county. Accord-
ingly, he bought farming implements which he loaded into his wagon with
the necessary household goods, joined his family with six others, and they
all started to Norman county, driving their o.x-teams. When the family
arrived at their destination, Arnt J. Rustvold homesteaded at once a quarter
section where his son, John .V. now lives. Since his holding was raw
prairie, great effort was entailed in bringing it into cultivation; hut noth-
ing daunted by the size of the task the family set to work and eventually
their efforts were rewarded with success. When the father's death occurred
in 1908, he was the owner of four hundred and thirteen acres of well-
improved land. Being one of the early pioneers of the township and anx-
ious to see the civil organization of his community, the father with his
son John A. helped to organize Hendrum township. Arnt and Mollie
Rustvold were the parents of six children, namely: .\nna, the wife of
A. O. Serum : .\ndrew, John, Carolina, and two daughters who died in
infancy. The elder Rustvold and his family w^ere early members of the
Lutheran church in their community, and the father was an active partici-
pant in the organization of the Pontopedans congregation, and was later
one of the leading workers in the movement which had for its object the
building of the present church building.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 749
John A. Rustvold received the first part of his coinnion-school educa-
tion in Filhiiore county, Minnesota, and later when he moved with his
parents to Norman county in his thirteeiuh year, he finislied it in the early
schools of Hendrum township. Since he has made his residence here, he
has always made his home on die old place, which at present contains two
hundred and forty acres, whereon he carries on general farming.
On July 16, 1892, Mr. Rustvold was united in marriage to Randa
Hviding, who was born in Xorway, August 2-], 1870, the daughter of B.
B. and Ellen (Pederson) Hviding. of Stavanger, the former of whom was
a sea captain, but now a resident of Perley, Norman county. Mr. and Mrs.
Rustvold are the parents of the following children : Arnt J., Ellen, Bertha,
Ann, Johnie, Orpha. Bernhart, Arthur, who died in infancy, and Arthur and
Charlotte. They also have an adopted son, Martin Crognes. Mr. Rust-
vold and family are active and consistent adherents to the Lutheran faith,
worshiping in the old Pontopedans Lutheran church which his father helped
to organize. Mr. Rustvold has also been interested in bettering the market-
ing facilities of his community by helping to organize the creamery and
Farmers Elevator at Hendrum. Mr. Rustvold takes a good citizen's inter-
est in all the movements for the betterment of the communitv.
NELS J. STROMBERG.
Nels J. Stromberg, a well-known fanner, operating a tract of land in
Bear Park township, treasurer of Bear Park township and otherwise iden-
tified with public affairs, is a native of Norman county. l>orn on the farm
on which he still resides, September 27, 1884, a son of Olof and Mary ( Bjerk)
Stromberg. both natives of the kingdom of Sweden.
In the year 1880 Olof Stromberg and his wife immigrated to the
United States, and on arriving in this country came directly to rienville
county, Minnesota, remaining in that county for two years. .At the end of
the latter period they moved to Griggs county, North Dakota, and were in
that place for a further period of two years, engaged at farm work. In
June, 1884, they moved to Norman county and settled on the farm in sec-
tion 16, Bear Park township, still in the occupation of Nels J. Stromberg.
On this place Olof Stromberg farmed for the remainder of his life, his death
taking place in 1894. On settling here he acquired a tract of school land,
containing eighty acres and also purchased forty acres of railroad land,
750 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
immediately starting to get his holding into a state of cultivati^jn, and he was
generally recognized as one of the good farmers among the settlers of that
part of the county. He made many valua])le improvements on his holdings
and erected substantial outbuildings. Olof and Mary Strom berg were the
parents of the following children: John E., Olof W., Carl L., Mrs Anna
Bagne, who died leaving three children, Gara, Bertha and Sander; Nels ].,
an infant, deceased; Mary and an infant, twins, the latter deceased; Oscar,
deceased; Ida, Freda, and Gustav, deceased. The Stroml)erg family form-
erly belonged to W'aukon Lutheran church ; however, they now belong to
and support the Norman Lutheran church.
Nels J. Stromberg was educated in the schools of Norman county and
was reared on his father's farm, where he helped in the labor of improving
and de\eloping the home place. He is now operating the farm, carrying on
genera! farming and stock raising with considerable success, and is known
in the community as an agriculturist of the modern school, keeping his place
in such a state of cultivation as ensures the maximum degree of advantageous
results. In addition to his work on the farm Mr. Stromberg finds time to
devote to public interests and for the last five years has been township treas-
urer and is director of school Iward No. 60, in both of these responsible
positions giving general satisfaction. Mr. Stromberg helped to organize
the Rindahl Mercantile Company. He is president and manager of the Bear
Park Mercantile Company, while his mother is interested in the Rin-
dahl Creamery. He is a member of the Norman Lutheran church, in the
services of which he takes a warm interest. The children of his deceased
sister, Mrs. Anna Bagne, live with Mr. Stromberg on the old home farm
since the deaths of Mrs. Bagne and her husband, both deaths occurring in
1906.
OSCAR OLSON.
Oscar Olson, a prosperous farmer of Halstad township, Norman county,
where he operates three hundred twenty acres of the old home place, and an
official of the Farmers Alliance Mutual Fire Insurance Company at Hal-
stad. was born a native of Norman county, Noveml>er 20, 1875, a son of
Ole E. and Hannah (Scheie) Olson. The former was a native of Norway
and came to America in 1851, locating in Iowa a few years. Later, he
moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he remained until 1874. In
the latter year he drove with his family by horse team with a party of set-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 751
tiers through to Norman county and located in Anthony township. After
a few years, residence there, he and his family came to Halstad township
acquired the holding on which his son, Oscar, now lives, and there resided
until his death in 1892. He was a real pioneer in this new country, for
he immediately set about to improve his holding of raw prairie by raising
the necessary buildings and plowing up the stubborn soil. In addition to
his general farming, he was a breeder of Holstein cattle. The elder Olson
was very active in the local civic and religious affairs, for he was a member
of the school and township boards, and helped organize the Augustana
Lutheran church. In the days of the Peoples Party, he was a very stanch
adherent of that political creed, having been a delegate of that party to the
convention at Cincinnati, and the year he died he was the party's candi-
date for the Legislature, and undoubtedly would have Ijeen elected had he
lived.
The mother. Hannah (Scheie) Olson was born in McHenry county,
Illinois, July 7, 1847, a daughter of Andrew and Inger Scheie, both natives
of Norway, who came to America in 1839 or 1840. Her father, who was
a cooper by trade, gradually worked his way westward from Rochester,
New York, to McHenry county, Illinois, from thence to Muskego and Mil-
waukee, Wisconsin, and on up into Minnesota. He and his family settled
first in Fillmore county, this state, and later moved on up into Norman
county, where they settled permanently in Halstad township. There he
acquired a holding on which he and his wife lived the rest of their days,
the former being one of the first Lutheran ministers in these parts. To Ole
and Hanna (Scheie) Olson were born the following children: Ida, who
became the wife of Stemus Isaacson; Albert E., Emma, who married Aimer
Tonder; Oscar, the subject of this review; Edward, Hannah, who married
Oscar Carlson; Nora, the wife of Thomas Redland; Edna, who is now
Mrs. Ben Johnson, and Clara, who lives on the home place with her
mother.
Oscar Olson spent his boyhood days on the old home farm in Halstad
township, contributing his efiforts to the development of the same. He
received his elementary education in tlie public schools of Norman county,
but he later supplemented this by attending Concordia College at Moorhead.
He attended school at Crookston and at Ada. He has always lived on
the home place, operating three hundred twenty acres of it. Some time
ago he purchased outright one hundred and sixty acres of the old place
and on this he built his home and made all the necessary improvements to
752 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the establishing of a farm plant. He now carries on general farming and
the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.
On January 21, 1903, Mr. Olson was married to Clara Larson, who
is also a nativ^ of Norman county, born on August 12, 1884, a daughter
of L. B. Larson and Anna (Faa) Larson, further mention of whom is
made in another part of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents
of six children, namely : Carville, Vivian, V'erna, Wallace, Lorraine and
Harold. Mr. Olson is active in fraternal circles, being a member of the
camp of the Modern Woodmen of America at Halstad. In {>olitics, Mr.
Olson is a member of Xoni)artisan League and in favor of all reforms for
the Ijenefit of the common people, and takes a good American citizen's
interest in tlie activities of his party. He has also been interested in local
civic affairs, having served on the township and school boards for some
years. In the common business enterprises of his community, Mr. Olson
has been chiefly interested in insurance, being for the last six or seven
years treasurer of the farmers Alliance Fire Insurance Company of Halstad,
which office he still holds.
ERICK HAUSKE.
Few names are held in better remembrance in and about Halstad town-
ship, Norman county, than is that of the late Erick Hauske, for years one
of the well-known and prosperous farmers of that township, former town-
ship supervisor and one of the promoters of Halstad Telephone Company,
and in many other directions associated with tiie advancement of the public
interests in this part of Norman county. Mr. Hauske was a native of the
kingdom of Norway, born in that country on March 13. 1852, a son of Lars
and Malina Hauske, both, also, natives of Norway and who immigrated
to this country in 1858. when Erick Hauske was but six years old, and
first located in Fillmore county, Minnesota.
Erick Hauske accompanied his parents to America and remained in
Fillmore county, this state, until 1872, in which year he migrated via ox-
team to Norman county and filed on a homestead near Hendrum, but later
traded his right in that place for a homestead right in Halstad township.
On the homestead thus acquired Mr. Hauske proved up and settled on his
farm, engaging in general farming and continued in that occupation for the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 753
remainder of his life, his death occurring on August 30, 1915. His widow
still resides on the old homestead entered by her husband ai)out forty-five
years ago. Erick Hauske was one of the progressive and energetic farm-
ers of the community in which lie had been living for so long a time. He
effected many substantial improvements on his holding and erected some
good buildings, and at the time of his death was the owner of two hundred
and ninety-four acres of prime land. He helped to organize and build the
Augustana Lutheran church and also the local school.
Erick Hauske was twice married. In 1887 he married Sophia Thomp-
son, a native of Wisconsin, and by that union became the father of one
child, a son, Lawrence. His wife died about two years after marriage
and in 1904 Mr. Hauske was married to Mrs. Sophia (Thompson) Olson,
born in Norway, a daughter of Thomas and Marit (Hones) Johanson, both,
also, natives of Norway, where the mother died when Mrs. Hauske was
six years old, the father dying there in the winter of 1916. Mr. and Mrs.
Hauske became the parents of one child, a daughter Mabel. By a former
marriage to Lars Olson, Mrs. Hauske was the mother of one child, a daughter,
Elizabeth. Lars Olson died in Norway.
Mr. Hauske was of an enterprising public spirit and for many years
w-as actively engaged in the work of carrying on township duties. In the
days of the formation of Halstad township he rendered valuable service in
the work of organization and later served as township trustee, bringing to
the duties of that office characteristic honesty and ability. He was a road
boss for several years and otherwise active in civic affairs. He helped to
promote the Halstad Telephone Company and took a prominent and active
part in the work of getting the company established.
NELS H. MOE.
Nels H. Moe, who operates the old Moe homestead of one hundred six-
ty acres in Strand township, Norman county, where he has been and is
actively connected with the civil affairs and co-operative business interests
of the community, was born in Floyd county, Iowa, December 22, 1873, a
son of Helge L. and Bertha (Bagne) Moe, both of whom were natives of
Norway where they grew to maturity and married. Some years after their
marriage the parents decided to come to America, and bringing with them
their daughter Martha, they arrived here in June, 1873. They located imme-
(48a)
754 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
diately in Floyd county, Iowa, and during tlieir residence of one year in
that county, their son Nels was born. In 1874 they removed to Mitchell
county, Iowa, and after they had resided there about six years, during which
time the father carried on farming, the family came to Norman county,
Minnesota, in the fall of 1881. Here they located the next spring on a home-
stead of one hundred sixty acres where their son Nels now lives. On this,
the home place, the mother died on April 24, 1904, and the father continued
to live here until 1917, when he moved to W'illmar, Minnesota, where he
now makes his home.
Helge and Bertha (Bagne) Moe preceded their parents to this coun-
try by only a few years. The parents of the former, Lars and Margit
(Knutson) Moe, both of whom were natives of Norway, immigrated to
America in 1878 or 1879, came on out to Nicollet county, Minnesota, and
two years later moved to Norman county, where they took a home-
stead of one hundred sixty acres in section 30, Strand townsliip. Here
they made their home until 1900, when they removeil to Ck-rmantown. .Mar-
shall county, Minnesota, where they spent the remainder of their days. Both
had remarkable longevity, the latter dying at the age of ninety-four years
and the former at ninety. Nels and Bertha Bagne the parents of Bertha
(Bagne) Moe were both born in Norway, where they lived their whole lives,
the former being a mechanic and farmer. To the i)arents of the subject of
this review were born the following children: Martha. Nels H., Lena and
Lewis, both deceased; Belle, Leonard, Helen and Emma. Mr. and Mrs.
Moe were devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church ; the former
with his father helped to organize the Wild Rice Norwegian Lutheran church.
Nels H. Moe was only eight years of age when his parents brought him
to Norman county and it was here that he attended the common schools
of the neighborhood. As he grew older, he was able to contribute much to
the common effort of the family in the development and cultivation of the
home farm. The results of their work are obvious, for where lay a scope of
imbroken prairie is now a beautiful and productive farm of one hundred
sixty acres on which have been erected large, commodious and substantial
farm buildings. Mr. Moe. who is unmarried, has always lived on his father's
homestead, where he carries on a scientific form of diversified agriculture.
Mr. Moe has been and is actively connected with the civil affairs and the
co-operative business interests of the community in which he lives, l^'or
twelve or fourteen years he served his neighbors as township supervisor
and for one year as township clerk. Throughout his occupancy of official
positions he has discharged his duties with impartiality and with open direct-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 755
ness. Politically, he is a strong exponent of the doctrine of the Republi-
can party and his voice is well-known in the local councils of his ijarty.
Feeling that the farmers of the community should have better marketing
facilities for their grain products, he helped to organize the Farmers Ele-
vator at Gary.
LOUIS KNUDTSON.
Louis Knudtson, a member of the board of supervisors for Good Hope
township and one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in the
northern part of Norman count)-, was born at Decorah, in Winneshiek county,
Iowa, April 4, 1865, ^ son of Gilbert and Eliza (Paulson) Knudtson, natives
of the kingdom of Norway, the former of whom had come to this country
in 1848 and the latter, in 1852, who were married in Iowa, but whose last
days were spent in Minnesota. Gilbert Knudtson served as a soldier of the
Union during the Civil War, a member of an Iowa regiment, and in 1866
moved with his family up into Minnesota and established his home on a
quarter-section farm about nine miles south of Albert Lea, in Freeborn
county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, the latter
living until 1915. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom
are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch bemg Caroline, Serena,
Ole, Theodore, Otto and John, the four latter of whom still make their
home on the old home place in Freeborn county, where they have an excel-
lent and well-equipped farm plant. Gilbert Knudtson and his wife were
members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that
faith.
Having been but an infant when his parents moved from Iowa to Minne-
sota. Louis Knudtson was reared in this state and received his schooling
in the schools of Freeborn county. In 1895 '^^ started farming for himself
in the neighborhood of Albert Lea and in the summer of the following year
was married. In igoo he disposed of his interests in Freeborn county and
moved over west into Lac c|ui Parle county and bought a farm of eighty-
seven acres in Freeland townshij), that county, where he made bis home for
twelve years, at the end of which time he traded that farm for the farm of
two hundred acres in Good Hope township. Norman comity, on which he is
now living, and has since made his home there, he and his family being very
comfortablv and \er}- pleasantly situated. He has a 4ine herd of Hereford
cattle and has done well in his farming operations. Ever since becoming
a resident of Norman county Mr. Knudtson has taken a proper interest in
756 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
local political affairs and is now serving as a member of the township board,
a service he had rendered during another term some years ago, and also has
been a member of the school board in his home district almost all the time
since moving here. He also held local office during the time of his residence
in Lac qui Parle county.
On June 27, 1896, Louis Knudtson was united in marriage to Louisa
Hagen, who was born in the town of Freeman, Freeborn county, Minne-
sota, a daughter of Thorsten Hagen, a veteran of the Civil War, and to
this union have been born eight children, all of whom are living, namely :
Gustav, Gena, Elmer. Ernest, Lillian, Mabel, Gladys and l-'lorence. The
Knudtsons are members of tiie Lutheran church and take an interested part
in local church work, as well as in other local good works and in the general
social affairs of the community in which they live.
ALBERT BRAUNSCHWEIG.
Albert Braunschweig, the proprietor of a fine farm in Pleasant View
township, Norman county, and who takes a good citizen's interest in the
social and moral betterment of the community in which he has lived for
several years, was born in Germany, a son of Carl and Amelia (Finskie)
Braunschweig, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father and
mother came to this country, bringing tlieir family with them, and located on
the farm where their son, the subject of this sketch, now lives. Two years
ago, they retired from active agricultural pursuits, and moved to Ada,
Minnesota. They had four children, of whom the subject of this review
is the eldest, the others being Lena, who is dead; Amelia and Anna, who
became Mrs. Lockhart.
Albert Braunschweig was only eleven years of age when he landed
on American soil, and he came on out to Norman county with his parents,
whom he aided in the development and cultivation of the home place. Here
in the local public schools, he received his formal education, but while he
gave his assistance to his father on the farm, he gained a practical training
in the agricultural operations of this section. It was in 1915 that he bought
the home farm from his parents, when they moved to Ada, this county, and
he now is the proprietor of a farm of four hundred and forty acres, on which
he carries on general^ farming and raises stock, having eleven horses and
some cattle. Under his skilful management the farm has continued to pro-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 757
duce abundantly, and he has improved the land by the erection of substan-
tial and adequate farm buildings and by planting trees; thus he has one of
the best appointed farm plants in this section of the county.
On July 1 6, 1897, Mr. Braunschweig was united in marriage to Maria
Merkins, at Ada, this county. She was born in Goodhue county in 1877,
a daughter of Henry and Maria (Merkins) Merkins, and this marriage has
resulted in the birth of twelve children, namely : Bertha, Anna, Henry,
deceased; Lena, Willie, Ida, deceased; Louis, Eitel, Albert, .August, Martha
and Otto. Mr. and Mrs. Braunsclnveig are members of tlie Lutheran denomi-
nation and are active in the cliurch work of the community, belonging to
the Pleasant View church of that faith. They are rearing their children
according to the precepts of this creed. Mr. Braunschweig is a trustee of
tlie Pleasant View congregation, and the way he lias flischarged his duties
has been in strict accord with the character of the man and the responsi-
bilities of the office. He has held some important township offices, but he
resigned the official trusts so that he could give his undivided attention to his
extensive farming interests. This does not mean that he has ceased to be
solicitous for the common welfare, for whenever any movement is inaugu-
rated in the community for its social or moral betterment, it is sure of the
heart\- co-operation and support of Mr. Braunschweig.
NERE J. NERESON.
Nere T- Nereson, one of Norman county's well-known and substantial
farmers, the owner of a tine farm of three hundred and sixty acres in Strand
township, former assessor of that township and in other ways interested in
the public affairs of that community, is a native son of Minnesota and has
lived in this state all his life. He was born in Nicollet county, this state.
March 9, 1857, a son of one of the pioneers of that part of the state, and
grew up familiar with pioneer conditions in Minnesota. In 1879, shortly
after his marriage, he .settled on the farm on which he is now living and there
has made his home ever since, he and his wife thus being pioneers of that
])art of the county, having been residents there since the days prior to the
formal organization of Norman county as a separate civic entity, and have
ever done well their part in promoting the interests of that i)art of the county
in all proper ways. They have a fine farm of three hundred and sixty
acres, twenty acres of which is timber land, and have one of the best-kept
758 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
farm plants in that neighborhood. In addition to his extensive farming
interests, Mr. Nereson has taken an active interest in the general business
affairs of the community, helped organize the Farmers Elevator Company
at Gary and also has shares in the creamery company and in the teleplione
company at Gary.
On May 14, 1878, at Lake Park, in tht- neighboring county of Becker,
Nere J. Nereson was united in marriage to Thilda H. Gunderson, who was
born in the kingdom of Norway on January i, 1861, daughter of Herman
and Anna (Olsonj Gunderson, who came to Minnesota and became pioneers
in Norman county, substantial farming people in the neighborhood of Gary.
Herman Gunderson and wife were the parents of nine children, of wlioni
Mrs. Nereson was the tiiird in order of birth, and Gunder. Ole (deceased).
Lars, Herman. Erick, Edward, Annie and Sophia, residents of this section of
the Red River valley. To Mr. and Mrs. Nereson ten children have been
Ijorn. namely: Annie. George, Albert, Nora (deceased). Henry, Thea.
Arthur, Obed. (iladys and Lloyd. The Neresons are members of the United
Norwegian Lutheran church at Gary and take a proper interest in church
work and in the general good works and social activities of the community
in which thev live.
E\' ANS N. GARDEN.
The late Evans X. Garden, who died on November i, 191 7, was one
of the real pioneers of Norman county and the proprietor of a well-kept
and profitably cultivated farm in Sundahl township, was born in Winne-
shiek county, Iowa, ^lay 27, 1859, son of Halvor and Ingbor (Opdalil;
Garden, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who had come to this country
with their respective parents in the days of their youth and had married in
Iowa. Halvor Garden became a substantial farmer in Winneshiek county,
where he established his home. He and his wife were the parents of twelve
children, of whom the late Evans N. Garden was the third in order of birth.
the others being as follow: Laura (deceased). William, Jennetta, Emma.
Silicia (deceased), Mary, Anna, Lillie (deceased). Edward Lorenzo, Halvor
and Ida Rosella ( deceased ) . Of these children, Edward L. is now engaged
in the hardware business in North Dakota. The old home farm in Winne-
shiek county is now occupied by the daughter. Miss Mary Garden.
In 1880 Evans N. Garden came up here into the Red River country and
homesteaded a tract of land in what later came to be organized as Bear
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 759
Park township, Norman county, and sold the homestead and bought one
hundred and sixty acres in Sundahl township and estabHshed his home on
that place and continued to live there to the end of his life, having developed
one of the best farm plants in that part of the county. In addition to his
general grain farming, Mr. Garden gave considerable attention to the rais-
ing of live stock and did well in his operations. Mr. Garden had an interest
in the telephone lines at Fertile and at Garden Valley and took a general
interest in the affairs of the community. For nine years he served as a
member of the school board in his home district and in other ways gave of
his time and energies to the public service.
On December i8, 1884, at old Sundahl church, Evans N. Garden was
united in marriage to Kari Milsten, who was born at Norway, daughter of
Erick and Kari Milsten, and to that union nine children were born, namely:
Ella, Ida, Herbert (deceased), Genevieve, Emma, Halvor, Mary Ruth
(deceased), Marv Susanna and Lillie. Of these children, Ella, Ida and Gene-
vieve are married and live in the neighborhood of the old home, while the
others are at home, all taking a part in the operation of the home farm. Mrs.
Garden and family have a very pleasant home and liave ever given their
interested attention to the good works and general social activities of the
community of which she has been a part since pioneer days. Mr. Garden was
a janitor at the Sundahl church for thirteen years.
LARS MELBOSTAD.
Lars Melbostad, one of the recent settlers of Mary township, Norman
ccninty, where he carries on general diversified farming and stock raising,
was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, May 16, 1861, a son of Gubraun
and Anna (Valose) Melbostad, both of whom were natives of Norway.
The former came to America in an early day and here met Anna Valose,
who became his wife. They settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where
the former owned two hundred acres of good land, a homestead. There
l)oth spent the rest of their days, the father dying in 1898, at the age of
sixty-six years and the mother's death occurring in 1892, she being three
years younger than her husband. The father was active in the civic affairs
of his community in Winneshiek county, for he served there for many years
on the school board. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the
subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being: George, married and
760 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
now living on the old homestead in Iowa; Martin, married and also living in
\Iowa; Goro, a widow, residing in Spring Grove, Minnesota; Chester, a
farmer in Mary township, Norman county; Mary, the wife of Ole Tweeten,
living at Spring Grove, Minnesota; Gena, married and living at Parklin,
Washington, and Margarette. the wife of Ole Ellingson, residing in Spring
Grove.
Lars Melbostad was reared to manhood on the old, home place in Winne-
shiek county, Iowa, where he attended the public schools, which training
comprised his formal education. He remained on the old place, working
with his father, until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he
was married. In 1895, two years after his marriage, he brought his familv
up to Norman county, Minnesota, and homesteaded one hundred sixtv acres
in section 28, Mary township, on which he made all imi)rovements and car-
ried on general farming until 1904. In that year, he sold out his holding
and removed to Perley, Norman county, where he was engaged for four or
five years in the livery business, after which jjcriod he went to North Dakota,
where he owned land; which he sold in 1910 and returned to Norman countv.
At first he bought land in Mary township, liut later lie purchased the tract
on which lie lives at present, one hundred sixty acres in section 20, Lee
township. When Mr. Melbostad came to this farm, he found it entirely
unimproved, but he set to work with a will and now has a splendid farm
plant, including a fine new comfortable farm house. Mere on his excellent
farm. Mr. Melbostad carries on general diversified farming and stock rais-
ing, hogs and cattle.
To other business activities has Mr. Melbostad given his time and atten-
tion. He is a stockholder in the First State Bank at Perley. and also owns
shares in the creamery and Farmers Elevator at that i)Iace. .\t one time
he was the owner of some building lots at Perley.
On September 12, 1885, Mr. Melbostad was imited in marriage to Clara
Olson, who was born at Spring Grove, Minnesota, .-Xpril i. 1866, a daughter
of Ole and Ragnild (Taasensen) Olson, who were natives of Norwav, from
which they immigrated to this country, settling in Spring Grove. To this
union ten children have been born, as follow: .\nna. the wife of James
Milligan, a member of the police department at Fargo, North Dakota;
Emma, Cora, Agnes, Leland, Ruth and Oscar, all of whom are at home:
and three others who are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Melbostad are consistent and
conscientious members of the Botainia Norwegian Lutheran church, and
according to the precepts of this denomination thev have reared their chil-
dren. Mr. Melbostad has never held but one public office, that of school
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA, 761
director, while he lived in Mary townshi]). Even though he is nut given to
office seeking, his hearty co-operation with every movement which has for
its aim the social and material betterment of his neighborhood, makes Mr.
Melbostad a very valuable citizen to the community in which he lives.
LARS PAULSON.
In making up the annals of Norman count}-, proper mention must be
made of the part the late Lars Paulson, the first settler in Sundahl township,
took in the settlement of that county. He was a native of the kingdom uf
Norway, born there on July 14, 1851, and grew to manhood there, remain-
ing in his native land until 1879, in which year he came to the United States
and proceeded on out to Iowa, shortly afterward coming up into Minnesota
and proceeding on up into the Red River country, settling in what, in 1881,
became organized as Norman county. Upon his arri\'al here he homesteaded
a tract of land in what later came to be organized as Sundahl township, the
extreme northeast township of the county, and not long afterward married
Caroline Pederson and established his permanent home on that place. He
planted shade and fruit trees, erected substantial buildings and in due time
had a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of two hundred and
forty acres. On that place he spent the rest of his life, one of the sub-
stantial and influential pioneers of that community, his death occurring
there on December 12, 1895. To Lars and Caroline Paulson si.x children
were born, namely: Bertha, Paul, Ole, Maria, Lars and Caroline, the last
two of whom are twins. The daughters are married except Caroline, and
Maria, the fourth in order of birth, died in Montana. Ole has served a term
of service as a member of the United States marine corps, but is now at
home.
On June 11, 1897, Mrs. Caroline Paulson, widow of Lads Paulson,
married Halvor Peterson, who was born in Norway on November 27, 1856.
.son of I'eter Jenson and Mollie (Halvor) Peterson, the former of whom
died in his native land and the latter of whom is still living there at a rijie
old age. Peter Jenson was a farmer and he and his wife were the parents
of nine children^ Jens, .Anna, Halvor, Ingeborg, Peter, John, Lars, Ole and
Michael. Anna lives in South Dakota and Ingeborg lives in North Dakota.
Of these children, Halvor, Peter and John came to Minnesota and the two
latter died here. The others are still living in Norway. To Halvor Peter-
762 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
son and wife liave been born two children. Gunder and Hannah. Halvor
Peterson was previously married and was the father of one son named Peter.
Mrs. Peterson has shares in the companies operating the telephone lines at
Gary and at Sundahl and also owns an interest in a store at the latter place.
Mr. Peterson is a shareholder in the Incal cle\ator company at Maming.
The family have a very pleasant home in Sundahl township and the mem-
bers of the same take a proper interest in the community's general social
affairs. Mr. Peterson takes a good citizen's interest in political affairs, hut
has not been an office seeker.
ELLING 11. I-LU.M.
Elling H. Plom, one of the real pioneers of Xornuin count) and a suIj-
stantial retired farmer of IHom township. propriett)r of a hue farm of two
hundred and lifty acres in section 21 of tiiat township, where lit has made
his home since the early eighties, is a native of the state of Iowa, but has
been a resident of the Red l\i\er countr)- since he was sixteen years of age.
He was lK)rn on a pioneer farm in Winneshiek county. Iowa. September 15.
1858. son of Hans Flom, who came up into Minnesota with his family in
1874 and settled in what later came to be tjrganized as Flom township, Xor-
man county, that township being named in his honor when the petition for its
organization was granted by the county commissioners.
As noted above. Elling H. Flom was si.xteen years of age when lie
came up here into the Red River X'alley with his father in 1874. He had
received his schooling in Iowa and upon coming here became a valued aid to
his father in the labors of improving and developing the home place. In
1882 he proved up a pre-emption claim to a quarter of a section of land in
section 12 of P'lom township and eight or nine months later sokl the same
and bought his present farm of two hundred and fifty acres in section ji
of that same townshij). When he took possession of that \Aacc forty-live
acres of it had been "broken" and the task of bringing under cultivation
the remainder of the tract thus fell upon his shoulders, a no inconsiderable
task, by the way. Though there was some natural timber on the place. Mr.
Flom did considerable tree planting as a wind-break measure, and the groves
he planted are now attractive features of the landscape thereabout. He
erected new buildings on the place and has added to the same from time to
time until now he has one of the best-kept farm plants in that part of the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 763
county. For some time past Mr. Floni has been living practically retired
from the active labors of the farm, his son Edwin assuming the responsi-
bility of running the place. Ever since the organization of his home town-
ship Mr. Flom has been a member of the board of township supervisors
and is now treasurer of the same. For many years he has also been a
member of the school board, for eighteen years a director, and is now also
treasurer of that board. He is a stockholder in the Flom Bank and in
other ways has given his active attention to the general business affairs of
the community, in the development of which he has been a prominent par-
ticipant since the very beginning of settlement there.
On December 19, 1882, EUing H. Flom was united in marriage to
Oleanna Olson, who was born in the kingdom of Norway in 1863 and who
had come to this country witli her parents when she was eighteen years of
age, and to this union nine children have been born, namelv : Hans M.,
who is now a landowner in North Dakota ; Marie Alma, who also owns land
in North Dakota : Gunda Catherine, also a North Dakota landowner ;
Anthony, a landowner in Montana ; Edwin, who is renting and farming
the old home place in Flom township: Olga Berthina, a member of Nor-
man county's public-school teaching force, and Berton, Mildred and Ken-
neth, at home. The Floms Iiave a very pleasant home and have ever given
their interested attention to the community's general social affairs. They
are members of the Wild Rice church and Mr. Flom was formerl\- and for
years a member of the Iioard of trustees of that congregation.
GUSTAV O. EEG.
Gary, one of the i)rogressive and up-to-date towns of Norman county,
has many men who have won distinction in their various walks of life, and
have had much to do with the growth and the development of the district.
Among the number who have had an influential effect on the business develop-
ment of the community, it is well to mention Gustav O. Eeg. a well-known
and prominent banker of the town, who was born in Becker county, Minne-
sota, on August 9, 187 1, and is the son of Olaus and Johannaii (Christo-
pherson) Eeg.
Olaus and Johannah Eeg were both born in Norway, where they
received their education in the public schools and there they grew
to manhood and womanhood and were married. After their marriage
764 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
tliey established their home in the land of their nativity, where they con-
tinued to live for a time. They then decided in the year 1864, that they
would come to America, where they might better obtain a home for them-
selves and those dependent upon them. On their arrival in the United
States, they at once came to Minnesota, and located in Fillmore county,
where they remained for a time, after which they moved to Becker county
in 1871. There they established their home on a farm and there engaged
in agricultural pursuits until 1879, when they came to Norman county.
Here they were among the first settlers in the county, and were the first
to homestead in Waukon township. It was here that they established their
home on one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they later increased
to two hundred and forty. The territory was a lonely place at that time.
There were no settlers and the broad prairie, with here and there a tract
of wooded land, was a desolate place for the little family to locate. They
were an.xious to obtain a home for themselves, anfl they were willing to
imdergo all the hardships of the early pioneer life. .\ typical pioneer hou.se
was erected, in which the family lived, while the farm was undergoing
transformation from the wild tract to one of the well developed farms of
the state. I.ater improvements were made and here the father engaged in
general farming and stockraising until the time of his death.
Olaus Eeg was a man of much ability and wielded a great influence in
the community in which he lived, and where he was held in the highest
regard and esteem by all. He assisted in the organization of the township
and had much to do with the early civic life of the district. Coming to the
county, as he did when there were but few settlers and the territory as a
whole was one undeveloped tract, he experienced many of the hardships
of the new settler, and it was only by his and his wife's determined effort
that they succeeded in their fondest hopes to make a home in the new land.
They were the parents of the following children : Chrestian, Karen, Gustav
and Anna, both the former and the latter are now deceased. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Eeg were active members of the Lutheran church and took the greatest
interest in all the services of the church, and their children were reared in
the faith of the same church and were at all times taught to live the lives
of true men and women. There were few people in the community, that
had a greater influence for the good of the new district, than had Mr. and
Mrs. Eeg. Their great interest in all moral questions, as well as their true
patriotic spirit, together with their desire to make a home worthy of their
highest efforts, gave them a commanding influence in the community. Hav-
ing experienced the lonely life of the plains, during their early days, they
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 765
were ever ready to assist the new settler in his ettorts to obtain a home for
liiniself and family. Their lives were always devoted to the interests of
their family and the comniunily in which they lived and in which they took
such an active interest.
Gustav O. Eeg received his early education in the pioneer schools of
Becker county, Minnesota, and there grew to manhood on die home farm,
where as a lad he assisted with the work on the farm, and learned the princi-
ples of successful farming, under the direction of his father, one of the
successful men of the county. After reaching man's estate he engaged in the
work of a farmer and stockman for five years, on the old farm. For the
next five years he was engaged in the lumber business at Fertile and Hellock,
Minnesota, and although he met with much success in the venture, he returned
to the farm, where he remained for five years. In 1915 he organized the
Farmer's State Bank, and on the completion of the organization he was
elected president of the institution, which position he has since filled. The
same year that he organized the bank, he with others established the Gary
Implement Company, which has done an extensive business, and is one of
the strong business concerns of the town. They carry a complete line of all
kinds of farm implements, and by their hustling spirit, they have developed
a large trade. The bank under the guidance of Mr. Eeg, has grown to an
institution of large proportions, and is today recognized as one of the strong
banking houses of this section of the county.
Mr. Eeg still owns the old homestead and has always taken much inter-
est in the agricultural development of the county. He is a man who has
taken the keenest interest in the civic life of his home community, and has
at various times been elected to every office in the township. To his official
life he gave the same care and attention that he did to his own personal
business, and because of his progressive spirit and excellent judgment, he
rendered valuable service to his home township, and to him is due much
of the credit for the growth and advancement of the district. His inter-
ests were those of the township, and one of his greatest ambitions was to
carry on the work of improvement and growth, that had been started by
his father. Not alone were his interests manifested in the affairs of the
township, but in the afifairs of the village, where he has also taken an active
interest and has held some of the offices of importance. His life has been
devoted not alone to his own interests, but to the interests of the district
in which he has li\ed for so many years, and where he is held in the highest
regard and esteem by all.
766 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIKS, MINNESOTA.
In Feliruarv, 1904. Giistav O. Eeg was united in marriage to Clara
Berg, a native of Waukon township, Norman county, and the daughter of
Arne K. Berg and wife, well-known residents of the county. To this union
the following children have been born : Onia. Evelyn. Mildred, Gladwin
and Carmen, all of whom are now living. .Mr. and .Mrs l\eg are active
members of the United Lutheran church, in which they have for many
vears taken a prominent part, and are among the substantial subscribers to
the support of the local church, hew people in the county have taken a
greater interest in the social, educational, civic and religious life, than have
Mr. and Mrs. Eeg.
HERM.XX C-KlEWi:.
Herman Griewe. a well-known general farmer, of I'leasanl \ iew town-
ship, Norman county, where he is the owner, jointly with his brother Henry,
of a tract of land and where he also rents, was born in 1883 on the place
which he now occupies. He is a son of Williau) and Mary ( Berendsj
Griewe, both natives of Germany.
William (jriewe was born in Germany in 1845 ''"^ immigrated to the
United States in 1877, first locating at Red Wing, Minnesota, where he
remaineil for two years, at the end of which time he came to I'leasant \'icw
township, and homesteaded one hundred and si.xty acres of land in section
-'4. He later bought an additional "forty' and still later added one hundred
and forty acres, the latter being located in Green Meadow township. Most
of the land was swampy and wild and he immediately set to work to
improve and develop it. finally getting it into good shape, in the early stages
of his labors using oxen to assist in working the ])lace. Mr. Griewe was a
citizen of much enteri)rise and held shares in the local creamery and ele-
vator. He was a meiuber of the German Lutheran church and served as
deacon and trustee of the same. His wife. Mary Berends, was born in
Germany in 1856 and was married after coming to this country. She now
lives in Detroit. Minnesota, with a daughter, Mrs. William Kahle. Her
husband died in the winter of 1914, at the age of sixty-nine years. They
were the parents of the following children : Henry, married, farms south
of the home place: W'illiam. deceased: Herman, the subject of this sketch;
Mrs. William Kahle ; Fred, a carpenter, living in .Ada. and Dora, living with
her brother, Fred.
CLAY AND NORMAN COINTIKS. MINNESOTA. 767
Herman Griewe was etlucated in the scliools of Pleasant View town-
ship and was reared on the home farm, where he learned the rudiments of
the farming industry under his father's guidance. About 1911 he and his
brother, Henry, bought one hundred and si.xty acres of land in Pleasant
View township, in addition to his share in this tract Herman also rents, in
his own right, two hundred and seventy-five acres in the same townsliijj.
He is now actively engaged in general farming and has done very well, and
has on the place for breeding purjjoses, a full-blooded bull. He is known
as one of the progressive farmers of the district, his agricultural operations
being carried on according to modern methods.
Herman Griewe was united in marriage to Hulda Habedank, who was
born in March, 1896, in Green Meadow township, a daughter of August and
Mary Habedank. Her parents reside in Ada, where they are the owners of
a comfortable home. August Habedank also being the owner of a choice
farm of one hundred and si.xty acres of land in Green Meadow township,
section 18. On October 22, 1917, a pair of boys (twins) came to brighten
the home of IMr. and Mrs. Herman Griewe. Their names are Edwin and
Edward Griewe. Mr. and Mrs. Griewe take an active part in the general
social afifairs of the community, ever anxious to promote all movements
designed to forward the good of tlieir neighborhood and township.
K.\UT E. HEDAHL.
Knut E. Hedahl, a well-known farmer of Wild Rice township, where
he owns one-half section of fine farming land, was born at Valders, Nor-
way, on August 29, i860, tlie son of Erick O. and Maret ( Torgesdatter)
Hedahlen, natives of Valders, Norwa\-, where they lived and died, the father
being a farmer there. They were the parents of six children, namely : Segre,
still in Norway ; Ole, living in Wild Rice township, Norman county ; Torget
who lives in Coeur d'.Mcne, Idaho; Knut E., the subject of this review: Nels,
who resides in Mercer, North Dakota, and Maret, living in Tacoma. \\^ash-
ington.
.After Knut E. Hedahl liad received his early etkication in the land nf
his nativity, and had reached the age of twenty-two years, he decided to
emigrate to .\merica which meant opportunity to him as an agriculturali.st.
In 1882 he came directly from Christiania, Norway, to .\da, Alinnesota,
where he worked on farms in the vicinitv for three or four vears until he
768 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
liad acquired enough money to buy eighty acres of state land in Wild Rice
township, where his l)rother Ole now lives; this land ijeing at the time of its
purchase wild and unliroken. He put it in a state of cultivation, raised
buildings and planted trees, thus bringing it to an admirable state of improve-
ment. After residing there for about twenty years, he sold this tract to his
brother, Ole, in 1905 or 1906. and bought one hundred si.xty acres of the
same section in whicli lies the eighty which now belongs to his brother. By
perseverance and hard work he was enabled later to extend his holdings by
the addition of another one hundred sixty acres, thus making him one of the
chief landowners of the township. Mr. Hedahl has not been content with
being a mere land holder, for he has all of these years l>een steadily improv-
ing his possessions; however, he has placed most of the farm buildings on
the home place, which comprises the tirst quarter section he bought. His
agricultural pursuits are limited to general farming and stock raising.
In 1890 Mr. Hedahl married .'\nna Martinson, wlm was born at Ber-
gen, Norway, on December 18, 1871, the daughter of Martinus and Gert-
rude Olsen, and to this union have been born the following children: Eddie.
Ella. Oscar. Clarence, Minnie, and Elmer, all of whom are living. The fam-
ily are acti\e members of the Lutheran church and in the furtherance of the
interests of this creed and of Christianity they have always been deeply
interested. Mr. Hedahl helping start the first church in Twin Valley. In
addition to his activities in the church. Mr. Hedahl has been a power in
educational and civil affairs, having been a member of the township board
for more than five years and is still an incumbent, and was the treasurer of
the old school di.'^trict board before he helped to organize school <listrict.
No. 96.
T.MvOB T. LARSON.
Jakob J. Larson, the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of Wild
Rice township land and a quarter section in Beltrami county, Minnesota,
was born at Helgeland, Norway, on October 5. i860, the son of Lars Johan
and Anne Jacobson. both natives of Norway, where they lived and died, the
father being a farmer. Lars Jacobson was married twice, and Jakob J.
Larson was the only child by the second wife.
In his childhood Mr. Larson attended school in Norway and, as he
grew to manhood, he derived valuable experience on his father's farm which
he used handily when he started the plow in the raw prairie in the New
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 769
World. In 1880 when he was twenty years old, Mr. Larson emigrated
to America, coming directly to Swedish Grove, Kandiyohi or Meeker county,
Minnesota, and worked in those counties for two years. In October, 1882,
Mr. Larson came northward to Norman county and located on a farm one
mile west of Twin Valley, which was comprised of one quarter section of
disputed land. There on the bare prairie he erected his house and farm
buildings, around which he planted a grove. Later he homesteaded another
quarter section in Beltrami county, Minnesota, which the government
allowed him without his having to reside on it for the required number of
years, in lieu of the disputed land which he later had to buy from the rail-
road. Mr. Larson carries on general farming and in his pursuits he is a
careful manager and industrious man.
In June. 1883, ^f- Larson was united in marriage to Julia Nerison,
who was born in Nicollet county. Minnesota, on April 7, 1861. and died
August 3, 1888, the daughter of Gunder and Torbjr Nerison. By her,
his first wife, he has three children: Augusta, George, and John. Mr. Lar-
son was married the second time on December 13, 1890, when Elsie Hanson,
who was born in Norway, January 15, 1867, the daughter of Hans and
Jacobine Peterson, became his wife. To this union have been born five sons,
namely: Heimer, Albin, Emil, William and Bennie, and three daughters,
namely: Nora, Hilda and Dagny. Mr. Larson and family are active and
consistent members of the Lutheran church, he having helped to organize
the first church in Twin Valley.
Mr. Larson's activity has not been entirely limited to agriculture, in
the pursuit of which he has been so successful, but he has branched out into
business, being one of the organizers of the creamery at Twin Valley.
JOHN TORSKE.
John Torske, a well-known and prominent merchant of Borup, Norman
county, was born in Norway on January 3, 1871, and is a son of John and
Bridt (Hoven) Torske, also natives of Norway and were there educated in
the schools and later married. They were of the farming class, and after
their marriage they established their home on a farm and there the father
lived until the time of his death some years ago. The mother is still living
at her home in her native land. They were ever active members of the
(49a)
770 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Lutheran church and were among the highly respected people of the dis-
trict in which they lived. They were the parents of the following children:
Erick, Hans, John, Lars. Anna and Edward, all of whom are still living.
John Torske received his education in the schools of Norway and one
vear in the high school. He was reared on the home farm and remained
a resident of the land of his birth until he was seventeen years of age,
when in 1888, he felt that there were better opportunities for him in the
land of America, where many of his countrymen had located and were
meeting with some measure of success. Having decided to cast his lot in
the new land, he did not iiesitate. and sailed for ihe United Slates. He
first located at Grand Forks, Xorth Dakota, but did not remain there long.
He then went to Osnabrock, that state, and there he worked as a farm liand for
a time, and then learned the trade of a harness-maker, and worked at the
trade in that and other places for some years. His desire was to have a
business of his own and soon estal)lisiied a shop at inkster. Xorth D.ikota.
This business he operated for some years, when he sold, and returned to
Norway on a visit in 1894. He soon returned to the land of his adoption
and worked at his trade for a year, anil tlien he located at Frazee. Minne-
sota, where he clerked in the store of Baer Brothers for five year^.. In
1901 he again became desirous of having a business of his own. and with
his brother, Hans, he came to Borup, Xorman county, where they erected
tlie present substantial business block, forty-four by sixty-two feet, and
engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Torske Brothers.
Here the\ built up a splendid trade, and had the confidence and respect of
the entire pul)lic, for their honest and business-like methods. The business
continued under this name until 1913. when the brother retired and .Mr.
Torske became the sole owner, and has since continued the business.
In 1897 John Torske was united in marriage to .Anna Taber. a native
of Germany, where she was educated and later came to the United States.
To this union the following children were born: Bertha. Luella. Edna.
Jennings, Harold. Alice, Kermit and Xorman, all of whom are living. Mr.
and Mrs. Torske are members of the Lutheran church and have ever taken
an active interest in the success and growth of the local society, to which
thev are liberal sul)scribers. They are a most hospitable |)eople
and most excellent citizens, and are held in the highest regard lt\ all
John Torske is a splendid example of a self-made man. and to himself
he owes his success in life. Coming to America when sixteen years of age.
alone and without fimds. to seek a home in a strange land, he has succeeded
beyond his highest expectations. Reared amid the frugal surroundings of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 77I
his early liome. he received a good education and was taught the lessons
of honesty, economy and industry. These represented the capital that he
brought with him to the new country, and they have been to him more
than money to many a young man starting out in life. He has been a hard
worker at all times, and did well th-e task that he had in hand. Whether
on the farm, in the shop or in the store as a clerk, he felt the dignity of
his position, and his highest ambition was to do his work to the best of
his ability. He has always taken a keen interest in local affairs and has
been prominent in local politics.
GJERT J. KVIDT.
Gjert J. Kvidt, a prosperous farmer of Flom township, Norman- county,
where he owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-two acres,
which he has developed from the raw prairie, was born in Norway, August
II, 1862, a son of Johanes and Margretta (Urdahl) Kvidt, both of whom
are natives of Norway, where they grew up, married and reared their
family. F"eeling that they could establish themselves comfortably in
America, on the soil of the Northwest, of which they had heard much from
their friends and relatives who had come to this country, they immigrated
to this country in 1869 and settled in Houston county, this state, and lived
there for nine years. Tn 1878 they with four sons and one daughter moved
to the Red River valley and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in
Flom township, Norman county, where they have continued to live. Sev-
eral \ears ago, they sold a part of their holding to their son, the subject
of this review, and they have continued to live here with him, still retaining
forty acres of their original tract, on which they raise stock. They are the
|)arents of five children, all of whom are living here in Norman countv;
thev are as follow: Engbert, farmer in section 8, this township; Gjert J.,
the .subject of this review; Jens, a farmer of .section 12, this township;
Anna, now Mrs. Nels Albertson, and Martin, who farms in section 6, this
township.
Gjert J. Kvidt received his only schooling in tlie common schools in
Tlouston county, .\fter his jiarents had come to this county he contributed
his industrv to the development of the family holding, and finally, about
twentv-five vears ago, he bought a part of his father's farm and has con-
tinued t(i farm it successfully since. The part of the home farm, which he
772 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
bought was entirely uniinproved, and by his perseverance and thrift, he has
made it what it is, a fine farm well-cultivated and improved by the fine
set of buildings and grove. In the early years of his residence on his holding,
he used oxen for draught animals, and when he marketed his grain, he was
compelled to drive these patient but plodding beasts to Ada, a journey of
twenty-three miles, which took an entire day. He has three horses now,
and he does most of his farm work with machinery. He carries on a scien-
tific form of diversified agriculture and. in addition to this, he raises some
stock.
Mr. Kvidt has never married, but he makes his home here with his
father and mother. He is a member of the Wild Rice Norwegian Lutheran
church, and takes a proper interest in the affairs of the congregation. Politi-
cally, he is an advocate of Republican principles and policies, but he has
never sought after public office. This does not mean that he takes no part
in the civic, social, business and political affairs of the community, for when
any movement is instituted here with the object of bettering the community
in any of these phases, it is assured of Mr. Kvidt's hearty support and
co-operation. Although he has not sought any office, Mr. Kvidt has served
as clerk for his school district for si.xteen years and is still holding the office.
In 1 9 ID he also took tiie United States census in Flom township.
MARTINUS AASGAARD.
The late Martinus Aasgaard, for years one of the l)e.st-known and most
progressive farmers and stockmen of Home Lake township, N'orman county,
the proprietor of a fine farm in that neighborhood and one of the early set-
tlers of that part of the county, was a native of Norway, born in that coun-
try in 1858, but had been a resident of America since he was eleven years
old. In 1869 Martinus Aasgaard came to the United States and proceeded
on out to Wisconsin, where he was married in 1884 and in .April of the fol-
lowing year moved to Home Lake, all his worldly possessions being repre-
sented by fifty dollars in cash. His brother, Ole, was teaching school in
Home Lake township and he procured a team and he and his wife rode to
John Homelvig's place, near Home Lake, where his brother Ole was board-
ing. He returned the team to Ada, making the return journey to Home
Lake on foot, covering twenty-six miles, largely covered by swamps and
water.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. -J-^l)
In the spring of 1886 Martinus Aasgaard homesteaded one hundred
and sixty acres of land in section 26, Home Lake township, and in 1898
he bought forty acres adjoining the original tract. He carried out an
extensive series of improvements, including new buildings, the erection of
fences and the setting out of groves. For several years Mr. Aasgaard had
taken a practical interest in public affairs and served as supervisor to the
township board and acted as clerk of the school board. He helped to organize
the creamery at Home Lake and was a stockholder in that concern. He
was a lifelong member of the Wild Rice Synod church and served the con-
gregation as trustee for several years. He died in 1904 at the age of forty-
six years.
In 1884 Martinus Aasgaard was united in marriage to Maria Larson.
a native of Norway, born in 1863, and who came with her parents to America
when she was a child of three years old. Her father died in 1916 and her
mother died in 1896. The voyage across the Atlantic occupied thirteen
weeks. Mrs. Aasgaard is still living in section 26, Home Lake township,
the holding being the original two hundred acres which her husband pur-
chased when he came to Norman county. Martinus Aasgaard and wife were
the parents of nine children, of whom two are dead. Mrs. Maria Aasgaard
is now fifty-four years old. The first year the Aasgaards spent in this
county was one of hardship ; credit was difficult to obtain, and money was
still more difficult to secure. Lawrence, the oldest of the children, was born
on the old homestead, August 30, 1885, and educated in the schools of
Home Lake township and was reared on his father's place, where he grew
up to the life of a farmer. In 1909 he bought his present farm of one hun-
dred and twenty acres in section 13, Home Lake township, and on which
he has effected a number of valuable improvements, and on that place he
is actively engaged in general farming and stock raising and is doing very
well. Mr. Aasgaard does not confine all his attention to agricultural affairs
and gives largely of his time to public interests. He iias been clerk to the
township board since 1910 and clerk to the school board since the same
year, serving the people with ability. He helped to organize the creamery
at Syre and is now secretary to that undertaking. He is a director of the
]'"lom Mutual Fire Insurance Company; secretary of the Syre Percheron Horse
Company, and president of the Home Lake Farmers Club.
In 1909 Lawrence Aasgaard was united in marriage to Hannah .\lbert-
son, who was born in 1887 on her father's farm in Home Lake township,
her parents being now residing in Flom township. To this union two
children have been born. Milton, born on Jnne 20, 1910. and .Mice. June
774 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
I, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Aasgaard take a proper part in the general social
affairs of their home community, ever helpful in all ways tending to the
welfare of the township and county.
Inez Aasgaard was born on June 24. 1887, and was married in 1908
to Warner Johnson. To this union three children have been lx)rn, Melvin,
Bernice and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson own a hundred-antl-sixtv-acre
farm in section 24, Home Lake township, where they are at present farm-
ing. Mina Aasgaard was torn on April 29, i8gi ; was married in 19 12 to
Ole Nysetvold. To this union three children have been born, Gladys, Miles
and Orvin. Mr. and Mrs. Nysetvold reside at Twin X'alley ; Mr. Nysetvold
is a carpenter by trade. Joseph Oliver Aasgaard was born on .Vugiist 2.
1893, and is at present at home on his mother's farm. Aimer Melvin Aas-
gaard was born on July 10, 1895. and is also at present at home. Init is
drafted and is liable to be called to serve his country at any time. Julia
Aasgaard was born on September 17, 1897, and is at home with her mother.
Clarence Aasgaard, the youngest child, was born on December 10, 1900.
and is also at home with his mother.
CHRIS N. JUHL.
Chris N. Juhl, one of the best known business men of i-'ossum township,
now and for many years connected with the milling industry, manager of
the Faith Milling Company, which he helped to organize in 1916, is a native
of the kingdom of Denmark, but has been a resident of the United States
for the past twenty-five years. He was born on December 26, 1872, a son
of N. E. and M. E. Juhl, lx)th also born in Denmark, where the former died
in 1915, throughout his active life being engaged in farming, and where his
widow is still living.
Chris N. Juhl was educated in the schools of Denmark and in that coun-
try learned the flour-milling trade. In 1892. at the age of twenty years.
he immigrated to the United States, going, on arrival, to the state of Iowa,
where he worked on a farm for one year, at the end of which time he moved
to Red Lake Falls, ^linnesota. and there worked for Johnson & Marshall
in the flour-milling business, remaining in that employment for about seven
years. His next move was to Atwater, Minnesota, where he continued in
the milling business, and was head miller of the Atwater INIilling Company
for about ten years, going thence to Terrebonne, this state, and lx)ught a
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 775
half interest in the Terrebonne mill, and continued to work in that place
for three years. He then sold his interest in that concern and bought half
the interest in the Faith mill. Alfred Melston buying the other half, and the
mill became known as the Juhl & Melston Mill for some time. Mr. Juhl
then bought (jut his partner's interest and continued to carry on the luill on his
own account until May, 1916. when it burned. He then decided to organ-
ize^ a stock company, to be known as the Faith Milling Company and the
present splendid building was erected, Mr. Juhl taking over the responsi;
ble position of manager, the duties of which he is still carrying out. The
company now enjoys a flourishing trade and the product of the mill has a
wide market, being in demand outside the confines of the county, with every
prospect of an expanding trade in the immediate future.
In 1899 Chris N. Juhl was united in marriage to Mary Hagglund,
born in Minnesota, a daughter of P. O. Hagglund and wife, and to this
union two children have been born. Harvey and Erma, both living. The
Juhl family are members of the Lutheran church and are earnest supporters
of all its good works, as well as works tending to the welfare of the com-
munity in which they live. Mr. Juhl takes a good citizen's part in public
affairs, always supporting such measures as are calculated to improve and
advance the general welfare of the people, Init he has never been a seeker
after public office.
CONRAD I. GRINA.
Of the successful and prominent business men of Borup, Norman
county, and a native son of the state, is Conrad I. Grina, who was born in
Otter Tail county, on May 25, 1880, and is a son of Tver O. and Olena
L. (Ohe) Grina.
Iver O. Grina is a native of Hadeland, Norway and is a son of Ole
H. and Martha O. (Moger) Grina. Iver O. Grina was born on April i,
185 1, and at the age of three years was brought by his parents to America
in the year 1854. The parents had been educated and reared in Norway,
and a few vears after their marriage, decided to settle in the United States,
which they reached after a voyage of fifteen weeks. Soon after their arrival
in this countrv, thev went to the state of Iowa, where Mr. Grina worked
as a farm hand for a time in Clayton county. He was desirous of making
a home for himself and family, and with this desire and determination to
seize everv opportunity for advancement, he was in a short time in a posi-
776 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNKSOTA.
tion to buy a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. The tract at the time
he made the purchase was one of the undeveloped tracts of wild prairie
land in Clinton county, but in time he developed and improved it, and there
he engaged in general farming for twenty years, when he came to Otter
Tail county, to join his son, Tver O. After his arrival in Otter Tail county,
Ole H. Grina purchased two hundred and fifty acres, of land in Norwegian
township, thirty-four acres of which was in timber, and it was while clearing
this tract of land, that he was taken ill and died. He was possessed of
much business acumen ; he was a hard worker and a splendid manager, and
one who took great interest in all local affairs, and was held in high regard
by all. His first wife died in the year 1874, and lie was later married to
Betsey O. Hougtvet, who has since died. By the first marriage Mr. Grina
was the father of the following children : Hans. Ole, Iver O.. I'eter, Mar-
tin, Ellen, Mary and Mary. Hans, now deceased, was a successful farmer
of Trondhjem township, Otter Tail county ; Ole is a retired farmer of Pelican
Rapids: Peter was engaged in general farming for a number of years in
North Dakota and is now living retired in that state ; Martin is engaged in
farming in North Dakota ; Kllen died while the family was living in the
state of Iowa, and the two Marys are now deceased, the first having died in
Iowa and the second passed away when young, in the state of Minnesota.
Iver O. Grina received his education in the schools of Iowa, and was
reared on the home farm, where he received the sturdy discipline that was
of much use to him in after life. He remained at home until he was twenty-
one years of age. when he came to Minnesota, where he purchased the
homestead owned by the Hans Brothers, in Trondhjem township, Otter
Tail county. The tract, which was at that time only partially improved,
was located in section 21, and was brought to a high state of development
and improvement by much hard work. This homestead was later increased
by the addition of one hundred and twenty acres of railroad land, which
adjoined the original tract. Here Mr. Grina engaged in agricultural pursuits
until 1914, when he sold the place and purchased the farm that his father
owned in Norwegian township. He never moved to his new farm, but rents
the same to his son. Joseph, and the year that he made the purchase he
retired from the more active duties of farm life and moved to Pelican
Rapids, where he has a splendid modern home.
On July 17, 1872, Iver O. Grina was united in marriage to Olena L.
Ohe, the daughter of Lars and Ingebor (Waterid) Ohe, who were among
the early settlers of Erhard Grove town.ship. To this union the following
children were born: Ole, Lars, Melvin, Conrad L, Joseph. Joseph, Inga.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. "JJ"/
Theodore and Emma. Ole is engaged in the himber business at Halstad,
Minnesota ; Lars is also interested in the lumber business and is located at
Felton, Minnesota ; Melvin is an implement, hardware and lumber dealer at
Erhard; the first-born Joseph died in infancy, and the second is now engaged
in general farming on the father's place: Inga is married at Erhard, Minne-
sota ; Theodore is engaged in the hardware and implement business with
his father at Underwood, Minnesota, and Emma is at home witli her father.
The mother of these children died on February 22. 1914. Mr. and Mrs.
Grina were long members of the Lutheran church, and were prominent in
all religious work of their locality. Mr. Grina has always been an enthusi-
astic member of the Republican party, and has served in several of the local
offices. He was in 1913, one of the organizers of the l'>hard State Bank,
and has served as one of its most efficient directors.
Conrad I. Grina received his education in the schools of Otter Tail
county, where he grew to manhood on the home farm. He remained at home
until he was twenty years of age, and became familiar witli all the duties
of farm life. In the year igoo, he left the home farm and located in Felton.
Clay county, Minnesota, where he remained but a few months, when he
came to Borup, where he remained for a time, and was later located in
various places for the ne.xt two years. He then returned to Bc^rup as the
manager of the Steenerson Brothers Lumber Company, which position he
still holds.
In 1909 Conrad I. Grina was married to Alma Haaver, of Cavalier
county. North Dakota, and the daughter of L. H. Haaver and wife, promi-
nent residents of the district. To this union three children have been born :
Maxine Odell. Cameron Ir\in Leroy and Evelyn Frances.
OL.\F H. HENDRICKSON.
A man who is prominently connected with the civil aftairs and co-opera-
tive business interests of Sundahl township, Norman county, where he is the
proprietor and operator of a fine farm of one hundred si.xty acres of farm-
ing land, is Olaf H. Hendrickson, who was born near La Crosse, Wiscon-
sin, February 10, 1868, a son of Hans and Anna (Olson) Hendrickson,
both natives of Norway. .After the death of his father in Norway, Hans
Hendrickson and two sisters immigrated to America in 1855 and settled in
the same community where Olaf H. Hendrickson was born. The mother
778 CLAY AND NORMAN COVNTIKS, MINNESOTA.
came to America with her parents about the same time and settled near La
Crosse in the same community in which Hans Henchickson settled. Her
parents were Ole and Carrie Olson, whose deaths occurred in Swift county,
Minnesota. About six years after Hans Hendrickson came to America,
Ft. Sumter was fired upon and the nation was plunged into the Civil War,
and Mr. Hendrickson enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment, thus evincing his
devotion to his adopted country. The elder Hendrickson and wife were
the parents of six children, of whom the sul)ject of this review is second in
order of birth, the others being: (instava, .Vdolpli. Clara, deceased; Ida
and Henrv still living. In i86<) tiie [)arents removed to I'loyd county. Iowa,
where they lived until their deaths occurred, the father l)eing a farmer. He
was well-known and acti\e in the civil affairs of Rock Grove township.
Floyd countv, having held several local offices. He and his wife were con-
sistent ant! conscientious members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Olaf Hendrick.son spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Iowa, where
he received his elementarv education in the common schools, and later he
attended the St. .'\n.stgar high school. .\s he approached manhood, lie-
received a valuable training in jjractical agricullure on his fathcrV farm
which he helped to develop and this preparation was invaluable to him when
he Ijegan farming on his own account in b'loyd county, Iowa. He remained
engaged in his agricultural operations in Floyd county until 1896, when he
came to Pcjlk county. Minnesota, where he farmed for two years. \ot find-
ing the land there to his liking, he came down into Norman county, where
he purchased a cpiarter section in Sundahl township. Since this tract was
entirely unimproved, he began erecting good farm buildings, including a
comfortable farm house and excellent barn. Since the grove did not seem
an adec|uate wind-break, he planted additional trees. ;uid now has one of the
best impro\ed tracts in the neighborhood, on which he carries on a scien-
tific form of diversified agriculture and raises graded Hereford cattle.
On October 13. 1892, Mr. Hendrickson married Tonetta Johnsrud.
who was torn in Mitchell county, Iowa, .April 24, 1868. a daughter of John
and Carrie (Lindley) Johnsrud, l)oth natives of Norway who immigrated
to this country in 1861 and settled in Mitchell county, Iowa. Mr. an<l Mrs.
Hendrickson are the parents of eight children, namely : Cora, Hilda. Oliver.
Clarence, Mabel, Alice. Ruth, and Clifford, all of whom are living. The
parents are consistent and conscientious meml^ers of the Norwegian Luth-
eran church at Sundahl and in the affairs of this congregation they take a
deep interest, rearing their children according to this faith. Politically. Mr.
Hendrickson is a stanch adherent of the Non-partisan party and is an ardent
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 779
advocate of its doctrines and policies. His good business sense and unim-
peachable integrity have so commended him to his neighbors that lie has
frequently been called to local offices of trust, having served the residents
of Sundahl township as road supervisor, township assessor for nine vears
and is now engrossed in the educational progress of his community as school
clerk. The co-operative enterprises of his neighborhood have received his
unstinted support and he helped to organize the Sundahl Mercantile Com-
pany, of which he is now manager.
JOHN A. DORSETH.
John A. Dorseth, who is engaged in the hardware, furniture and under-
taking business at the village of Flom, in Norman county, vvas born in
Winneshiek county. Iowa, February 25, 1871, son of Andrew H. and Helen
(Amlien) Dorseth. natives of Norway, the former born at Toten, who came
to this country in 1870 and became pioneer settlers in Winneshiek county,
Iowa, where they remained until 1879, when they came up into this part
of Minnesota, where the former is still living, one of the best-known pioneers
of Norman county.
Upon coming up here into the Red River countr\- in 1879, Andrew
Dorseth homesteaded a quarter of a section of land on the northern edge
of Becker county, adjoining Norman county, and there esta1)lished his home,
remaining there until 1886, in which year he moved over into Flom town-
ship, Norman county, and settled on a farm in section 29 of that township,
where his wife died in July, 1910, and where he is still living. He is a
member of the Lutheran (Synod) church, as was his wife, and their children
were reared in that faith. There were four of these children, the subject
of this sketch, the third in order of birth, having two brothers. Hans and
xA.ndrew, and a sister, Augusta.
John A. Dorseth was but eight years of age when his parents came up
here into the Red River country and he grew to manhood on the home farm,
thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions in this section and received his
schooling in the schools of Flom township. As a young man he became
engaged in well-drilling and farming and after his marriage established his
home on the old homestead c|uarter section at the edge of Becker county,
which he still owns and where he made his home for seven years, or until
in May, 1903, when he left the farm and moved to the village of Flom,
780 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
where he became engaged in the general hardware, furniture and untler-
taking business and has ever since been thus engaged, his estabhshinent being
one of the best-known places of business in that thriving village. Mr.
Dorseth also has given considerable attention to the general business affairs
of the village and has served as a member of the board of directors of the
I'armers State Bank of IHom, for two terms as treasurer of the Floni
Creamerv Company and for three years as secretary of the same. He
served for about six \ears as justice of the ])eace aiifl is the present constable
of Flom township.
Mr. and Mrs. Dorseth, the latter of whom, before her marriage, was
Louise Carls(Mi, have six children, .\dolph, Hilda, .-\nton. Laurence. Jon-
nette and Selma. The family are members of the Lutheran (Synod) church
and take an interested part in church work.
JOHN DAXIEL.SOX.
The late John Danielson. for years one of the prosperous and highly
esteemed pioneer farmers of Clay county and the proprietor of broad acres
and a comfortable home in Moland township, was a native of Sweden, as
was his wife, but had resided in this country since 1871, a pioneer of thie!
.section of the Red River valley. He was born in Kronsbergslau on August
-'. 1838. and in 1864 was married in his native land to Johannah Peterson.
In 1 87 1 he and his wife left Sweden and came to Minnesota with a view
to making a home for themselves in the new country. They secured a pony
and an old buggy ])laced their few belongings in the vehicle and started out
for Clay county, the wife riding and himself trudging along on foot. They
neither understood nor could speak English and their experiences on this
journey over the plains were laughable as well as pathetic. They arrived
at Glyndon during the summer and Mr. Danielson secured employment on
the reception building and shelter house which the railroad comjjanv was
erecting at that place for the acc(jmmodation of emigrants. The wages thus
secured provided for the winter and he also was able to buy a cow. He
homesteaded in section 18, where he put up a sod house. He bought land
in section 17 of Moland township, and he and his wife began their home-
making in the new country. After a season of patient labor Mr. Danielson
bought a yoke of oxen and with these began the improvement of his place,
the result in due time becoming apparent in his broad, well-cultivated fields
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 781
and comfortable surroundings, the Danielson place in time becoming recog-
nized as one of the best-kept farm plants in all that neighborhood. As
Mr. Danielson prospered in his undertakings he added to his holdings until
he became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres and was accounted
one of the most substantial residents of that part of the county. He was a
Republican, ever standing stanchly for the principles of that party, and
took an active part in the general public affairs of his home township and of
the county at large. On the pioneer farm on which they settled early in
the seventies John Danielson and his wife spent their last days, honored
and influential pioneers. John Danielson died on August 8, 1905, and Johan-
nah Danielson died on December 2^, 1907. They were the parents of five
children, Annie, Amelia, Oscar, Gotfrey and Emma.
The two sons of the late John Danielson and wife, William Oscar
and Henry Gotfrey Danielson, are twins and now own and operate the old
home place, to which they have added until they are now owners of one
thousand acres of excellent land, on which they have erected excellent build-
ings and made extensive improvements, carrying on their operations on a
large scale and in accordance with the most up-to-date methods of scientific
agriculture, going in chiefly for grain farming and potato raising. Their
sister Anna is mistress of the household and they are very pleasantly and
very comfortably situated.
OLE NYSTEVOLD.
Ole Nystevold, a well-known contractor and builder of Twin Valley,
Norman county, was born on the old Nystevold homestead in Flom town-
ship, section ;i2, Noveml>er 22, 1885, a son of John O. and Guri (Stuedahler)
Nystevold, both of whom were natives of Norway.
John O. Nystevold, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born,
.-\pril 15, 1850, and is now living an active life on the farm which he home-
steaded many years ago in section 32, Flom township, a successful farmer
and good citizen. He is a son of Ole S. and Carrie Nystevold, both of
whom were born in Norway, but spent their whole lives in their native
land, never coming to America. The father, who was a farmer and busi-
ness man in the old country, died there in 191 2 and the death of the mother
occurred in 1907. They were the parents of five children, namely: John,
the father of the subject of this review; Mary, who is married and now
782 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
residing in Canada; Rengniid, still li\ing in Xorway; Beret and Ingeborg,
both still in their native land.
John O. Nystevold was reared on the home farm in Norway, and there
he received an elementary education such as the time and place afforded.
During the summer months, he helped his father to operate the farm and
thus ac(|uired a practical training that has been of great benefit to him since
he came to this country and l)egan a career on the soil: however, farnn'ng
methods here in the Northwest are quite different from those practiced in
Norway. Learning from many of his countrymen, who had come to
.\merica. that excellent opportunities for acquiring good land in large (|uanti-
ties for a small price were man\- in this coimtry. he immigrated here in
1872 and came on out to Iowa, where he settled with two uf his uncles in
Allainakee county. Here he worked on his uncles' farm until the October
of that year, wlien he removed to Wisconsin, where he worked for six years
at lumbering. By this time he had ac(|uired enough capital to set himself up
in farming, and in 1878 he came over into Minnesota and on up into Norman
county. Here he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section 32,
b'lom township, where he has since continued to live, a pioneer in this part
of the county. When he first came to his holding, he found it entirelv new
land, very raw but having a large, natural grove. He struck liis plowshare
into the soil in the year that he came, and for draught animals used oxen,
which served his purpose for fourteen years, .\fter he reafied and threshed
his grain, he used the same animals to haul the treasure which he had
wrested from the prairie thirty miles to the nearest market. Soon after
he arri\ed upon his farm, he began building his house, which at first was
a small frame structure, fourteen by sixteen feet, roofed with pieces of
sod. His other farm buildings were logs, and, even though they were
quite rough, they served his purpose until he could make the needed improve-
ments. He has added to the farm home and barn, the former now con-
sisting of eight rooms and a hall. -\11 of his buildings are in an excellent
state of repair, thus reflecting the industry and thrift of the owner. Mr.
Nystevolfl is a grain farmer, raising wheat mostly, how'ever, he has some
graded stock.
In 1883, John Xyslexold was united in marriage to Guri Stue-
dahl. who was liorn in Norway, in .\pril. 1857. and she came to this
country with her parents, iioth of whom arc now deceased. Mr. and Mrs.
Nystevold are the ])arents of four children, all of whom are living: Belle,
at home: Ole. a contractor of Tw-in Valley, the subject of this review,
and Henry and John, both at home working on their father's farm. The
CLAY AND NORMAN COLNTIES, MINNKSOTA. jS ^
father and mother are nieniber;- df the Xorvvegian l.utlicran church at
Aspelund, and in the affairs of this cinirch society they take a deep and
active interest, the former being trustee of the congregation at this time.
The father found time in the development of his farm to devote some of his
efforts to the echicational and civic interests of the communitv. For twenty-
nine or thirty years he has been a clerk of the scliool district and for many
years he was a member of the township board.
Ole Nystevold spent his boyhood on the old home ])lace where lie was
horn, and there in his youth and early manhood, contributed his industry
to the development of his father's holding. He attended the local public
schools, and there accjuired his formal education. When he arrived at
manhood, he decided to leave his father's roof and seek his place in the
world of work in other places than on the soil. .Accordingly he went to
Twin Valley, where he learned the carpenter trade, and he prospered in
his undertaking. He extended his operati(jns until he took up contracting..
He owns his comfortable home here in the village of Twin Vallev, and on
the same tract on which bis home stands, he has his well-appointed work-
shop.
.Mr. Xystevold married Mina .\asgaard, who was born in .Minnesota,
a daughter of Martinus and Maria .\asgaard. To this union liave been
born the following children: Gladys, Miles and Orwin. Mr. and .Mrs.
Xystevold are devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Twin
\ alley, and the\' are very active in the church work of the local congrega-
tion and in all nio\ements for the common welfare of the communit\- in
which tbe\- live.
HEiXRY BENSON.
Henr\- Benson, a retired farmer living in Twin \ alle\ . who lormerly
owned one of the finest farms in b'ossum township, this county, and one of
the first settlers of the same township, was born at Christiania, Norway, on
August 15, 1844, a son of Bernt and Martina Bjerke, both natives of the
vicinity of C'hristiam'a, where they remained until their deaths, the father
being a laborer. Bernt Bjerke was married twice: by his first wife, the
mother of Henrv Benson, he had six children, namely : Henry, Nils Chris-
tian, Mary. Stina Matilda, John .\Ibert and Martine. He married Karen
Stabek. and to the second union were born five children, as follow: .\nna.
Carl, Nettie, Hannah and Julia.
784 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Henry Benson spent his early youtli in liis father's home in Christiania,
where he received his early education in the common schools. After
working for some time as a hostler for a baron, he decided when he was nine-
teen years of age to come to America; accordingly, in 1864 he came to the
New World and went directly to Chatfield, Minnesota, where he remained
one month. At this time he joined an uncle and went to Faribault, this
state, and remained there about a year trying to learn to be a blacksmith,
but since he did not like the trade he gave it up. Until 187 1 he worked at
rafting on the Mississippi in the summer time and in the pineries during the
winter. At the beginning of the following year lie returned to I'"aribaull
and was there married on February 15, 1872.
Feeling that he cnuUl achieve his aims in coming to .America best in
farming, Mr. Benson, in the year of his marriage yoked a team of oxen to
a covered wagon into which he loaded his household goods, and with his
bride went northward on May 22. 1872, to seek a home. Mr. and Mrs. Ben-
son were accompanied by George Johnson, whose biography appears else-
where in this volume, and Mr. Johnson's two brothers, John Jensen and
Jens Morland. .After a journey of about three weeks the party reached
what is now h'ossum township, Norman county, arriving there on June 14.
Mr. Benson immediately took as a homestead the northeast quarter of sec-
tion 28, Fossum township, and his companions took either homesteads or
pre-emptions. The land there at that time was wild, for tiiis party were
the first settlers in what is now Fossum township.
Immediately Mr. Benson began industriously to improve liis holding
until it was considered one of the finest places in the township when he sold
it in 1913. He erected excellent liuildings on the homestead and set out a
grove of evergreen and bo.x-elder trees. In addition to this he brought his
farm by judicious agriculture up to a high state of cultivation, carrying
on general farming. Later he made a most valuable acquisition to his hold-
ing when he bought a timbered tract of some forty acres. At this time
Mr. Benson has retired, living in Twin Valley, Wild Rice township, where
he is getting his long merited rest from his arduous labors on his farm.
On February 15, 1872, Mr. Benson was united in marriage to Oleana
Sanders, born in Norway on May 10, 1846. the daughter of Ole and Martha
(Sanders) Sanders and to this union the following children were born:
Bernt Otto, born on December 20. 1872: Ida Marie. February 9, 1874: died
September 4, 1887: Mina Gustava. May 30, 1875, ^'^^1 January 26. 1894:
Carl Frederick, Octol>er 24, 1876: John Albert. March 2;^, 1878, died June
6, 1878; Ida Maria, May 11, 1879: Hannah, Novemlier 19. 1880: Stina
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 785
Matliikle and AUetta |ose])hine, twins, June 20, 1882; Tina Helena, March
15, 1884; John Alfreil, June 24, 1886, and Ellen Xaomie, February 15, 1888.
The Benson family are ainsistent and conscientious members of the Luth-
eran church, in the affairs of which they have always taken a keen and active
interest. Mr. Benson helping to organize the first church in Fossum town-
ship, the Wild Rice Lutheran church of which he was the first secretary.
Not only has Henr\- Benson been a thrifty, industrious and success-
ful farmer, but he has been an inxaluable agent in the organization and in
the civil administration of the community in which he has lived. Fossum
township, as it is today, is not the Fossum township of the early days, for
it then included what are now the four townships in the southeast corner
of Norman county. W'hen the time came to organize the township with its
present boundaries, Mr. Benson was one of the guiding spirits in the under-
taking,' and later his neighbors conferred upon him several local offices of
trust, for he was made a member of the first township board as assessor,
justice of the peace and township clerk, holding all three offices at once, and
the last named ofifice for thirty \ears. He was one of the organizers of Flom
Fire Insurance Company and was treasurer of the same for twenty-two
years. He has always held the educational progress of the community one
of its precious assets, having helped to organize the eleventh school district
of which he was made first school clerk, serving the community in that
capacity for at least twenty years.
CLAUS ENGUM.
Claus Engum, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres in Skree
township. Clay countv, and a well-known and substantial farmer of that
neighborhood, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident
of this country and of Minnesota since 1891. He was born on October
27, 1867, son of Ole and Gori (Groneng) Engum, also natives of Norway,
farming people, who spent all their lives in their native land and who were
the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
seventh in order of birth, the others being as follow: Peter, who is still
living in Norway: Guttofrm, a resident of Faribault county, this state: John,
also of Fairbault county; Ole, deceased; and Andres. Carrie, Sinva and
Gori, who are still residing in their native land.
(50'i)
786 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Reared on the liome farm in Xorxvay, Clans Engiini received his
schooling there and remained at home until 1891, when he came to the United
States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, locating in Faribault county,
where he became engaged at farm lalwr. working in town during the winters,
and where he remained until 1898. in which year he came up into this part
of the state and in that same year houglit a (|uarter of a section of land in
Skree township, Clay county, and proceeded to improve and develop the
same. When Mr. Engum came here he was unmarried and for three years
after taking his place he made his home with a family living just south of
his farm. He then married and established his home on his farm and has
tliere resided ever since, he and his family being very comf()rtal)Iy situated
Mr. Engum has a good set of buildings on his place and has a fine grove,
an attractive feature of the landscape. Since taking his original c|uarter
section he has bought a "forty" cornering the same and now has an excellent
farm of two hundred acres, on which lie is engaged in general farming,
doing very well.
Mr. Engum"s wife also was born in Xorwax', Gertrude Dxbevik,
daughter of Marcus Hoveland and wife, and she came to this country alone
not long before her marriage to Mr. lingum. To that union one child has
been horn, a daughter. Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Engum are members of the
church at Grant and take a proper interest in church work and in the other
good works of the neighl)orhood in which thev live.
NORMAN H. STADUM.
Norman H. Staduni. cashier of the I'irst State Bank of Glyndon, secre-
tarv and treasurer of the Glyndon Grain and Elevator Company, treasurer of
the Buffalo River Stock Farm, auditor of the Glyndon Light and Power
Company, treasurer of the Glyndon Co-operative Creamery .Association,
treasurer of the Glyndon Telephone Company, justice of the peace in and for
Glyndon township, former secretary of the Clay county Republican Central
committee and in other ways actively identified with the civic and commer-
cial interests of this section of the Red River valley, is a native son of Minne-
sota and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Clay county since he
was five years of age. He was born at Farmington, in Dakota county, not
far south of St. Paul, February 22, 1878, son of Hans A. and Isabelle
(Gjefsen) Stadum, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to the
CLAY AND NORMAN COL'NTIES, MINNESOTA. 787
United States about 1866 or 1867 and located in Minnesota, where they
are still living, for many years past residents of the city of Barnesville,
where they have made their home since 1883.
Hans A. Stadum was trained to the trade of tailor in his native land
and upon coming to Minnesota engaged in the tailoring business. After a
.some time residence in Filmore county he moved to Farmington and was
there engaged in the tailoring business until 1883, when, attracted by the
possibilities then opening for business in this part of the state, he came up
here and located at Barnesville, where he became engaged in the tailoring
business and where he ever since has made his home, one of the pioneers
in the business life of that city, though now living retired from the active
cares of business. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and
their chiklren were reared in that faith. There were four of these children,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the
others being Albert H. (deceased), Martin and Edith.
As noted above, Norman H. Stadum was but five years of age when
his parents moved from Farmington to Barnesville and in the latter place
he received his schooling and grew to manhood, from the days of his youth
becoming familiar with business forms. In 1900 -he became engaged as a
bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Barnesville. and in that institution
became thoroughly familiar with the details of the banking business as relates
to this section, remaining there for two years, at the end of which time, in
1Q02, he organized the First State Bank of Glyndon and has ever since been
cashier of that institution, one of the Ijest-known and most progressive bank-
ers in Clay county. In addition to his extensive banking interests, Mr.
Stadum has other interests in and aixDut Glyndon and from the very begin-
ning of his residence in that thriving village has given his earnest attention
and active support to any movement promising a healthy extension of the
general business interests of the place and of the community at large, hav-
ing taken an influential part in the work of organizing various public and
semi-public enterprises there : and is now serving as secretary and treasurer
of the Glvndon Grain and . Elevator Company, as treasurer of the Buffalo
River Stock Farm, as auditor of the Glyndon Light and Power Company,
as treasurer of the Glyndon Co-operative Creamery Association and as
treasurer of the Glyndon Telephone Company, to the affairs of all of which
concerns he gives his earnest and intelligent attention. Mr. Stadum is an
ardent Republican and for years has been regarded as one of the leaders
of that party in this part of the state. For some time he served as .secre-
tary of the Clay county Republican central committee and has held various
788 CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
local offices, at present serving as justice of the peace in and for his home
township. During the time of the establishment of the consolidated school
in that township Mr. Staduni was a member of the school boartl and did
much to promote that valuable movement looking to the advancement ni
educational standards in that part of the county.
In 1903, Norman H. Stadum was united in marriage to Edna Morris,
of Minneapolis, and to this union two children have been l)orn, sons bntli.
Morris and Norman II.. Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Stadum are members of the
Congregational church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as
in other neighborhood good works, helpful in many ways in promoting causes
having to do with the ;idvanceinent of the common welfare. They have a
very pleasant home at (jl\ndon and take an interested |)art in the general
social activities of their home community. Mr. Stadum is a Scottish Rite
Mason (thirty-second degree) and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
He also is a memlier of the k)cal lodges of the Knights of Pythias, of the
Modern Woodmen of .\merica and of the Royal Legion and in the affairs of
these fraternal organizations likewise takes an active interest. For years lie
has been regarded as one of the "live wires"' in the business community of
Clay county and his _ influence for good in the extension of genera! com-
mercial interests herealx)ut is felt in nianv directions.
WILLIAM T. TUCKER.
William J. Tucker, proprietor of a well-kept farm of tw(j hundred and
fortv acres in Elkton township, Clay county, and former member of the
board of supervisors of that township, is a native of Wisconsin, born on a
farm in that state on August 7, 1857, son of W. T. J. and Claista (Cole)
Tucker, the former a native of the state of Vermont and the latter of New
York state, who became pioneers of Wisconsin, but whose last days were
spent in Illinois. W. T. J. Tucker was a substantial farmer. He and his
wife were meml)erf of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the ])arents
of nine children, of whom tiie subject of this sketch was the third in order of
birth, the others being Zachariah (deceased), Louisa. Mary. Susan, Ira, Car-
leta, Sarah (deceased) and John (deceased).
Reared on a farm in Wisconsin, William J. Tucker received his school-
ing in the schools of that state, and there remained until a year after his
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 789
marriage, wlien, in 1883, lie established his home on a iiomestead tract in
Brule county. South Dakota, where he remained for seven years, at the end
of which time he moved to Spencer, Iowa. A year later he came to Minne-
sota and began farming in Martin county, where he remained until 1900, in
which year he bought the farm on which he is now living in Elkton town-
ship. Clay county, and has there made his home ever since, developing a
tine piece of farm property there. Mr. Tucker has two hundred and forty
acres which he has improved in excellent shape, erecting substantial buildings,
planting a grove and otherwise improving the place until he has one of the
best fanu ])lants in that neighborhood. Ever since taking up liis residence
in Clay county he has given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs,
has served as a member of the board of township supervisors, and is now
serving as clerk of his school district. He and his family are members of
the Congregational church and take a proper interest in church work, as well
as in the general good works and social activities of the community.
In i88j, while li\'ing in Wisconsin, William J. Tucker was united in
marriage to (Irace fames, of that state, daughter of Thomas James and
wife, and to this union were born ten children, Thomas William, Jane, Hat-
tie, .Anna, .\lbert, Efifie. Jasper. Eugene, Phena and Earl, all of whom are
living. The mother of these children died on June 25, 191 1.
HENRY MARSTON.
The late Henry Alarston, one of the pioneers of Cla)- county, who died
at his home in Elkton township, and whose widow is still living there, was
a native of England, but has lieen a resident of this country since he was
eighteen years of age. He was lx)rn in 1847, son of George Marston and
wife, also natives of England, who spent all their lives there, and there he
received his schooling and spent his youth. When eighteen years of age he
came to the United States and not long afterward located at Superior, Wis-
consin, where he became engaged as a fireman on lake boats, and was thus
engaged until he presentK- was appointed a grain ins])ector, with head-
(|uarters at Duluth. later entering railroad service, and about 1870 came over
into this ]jart of the state as a foreman of a construction crew during the
time of the building of the Great Northern railroad. When the station at
Rarnesville was establi.4ied Mr. Marston was put in charge of the water tank
at that place and was ijresently appointed station agent, a position he occupied
790 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
for several vears, or until 1879, when he married and honiesteaded a tract
of one hundred and sixty acres in Elkton township and there established his
home, spending the rest of his life there and becoming one of the most
sul)Stantial farmers in that section of the county. As he prospered in his
farming operations Mr. Martson gradually added to his holdings until he
became the owner of a fine farm of five hundred and sixty acres, which is
still held in the family, his widow and several of the children still living there,
very comfortably situated : the Marston farm being highly improved and
profitably cultivated. Mr. Marston in addition to his farming interests took
an active part in the general affairs of the community and was one of the
organizers of the I'arniers Ivlevator Comjiany at Barnes\ille. in the affairs
of which he took an active and influential interest.
In 1870) Henr\ Marston was united in marriage to Martha Milbeck.
who was born in the kingdom of Norway and who had come to this part of
Minnesota with her parents in pioneer days, and to that union were tx^rn
eight children, all of whom arc living, namely: George, now a resident of
the village of Downer; William, who is on the home farm; lulward. who
also is on the home farm, actively participating in the management of the
well-ordered farm plant; .Arthur, now a resident of Seattle, Washington;
diaries, at home; Burdett. at home; Emma, also at home, and Martha, of
Raker. The Marstons are members of the Lutheran church and have ever
taken an interested part in clnuch work, as well as in the general good works
and social activities of the communitv.
OLE \. STOEN.
Ole N. Stoen. a farmer of Humboldt townshij). Clay county, was born
in Norway, March 4. 1870. He is a son of Nels and Mary Stoen, both
natives of Norway, where they grew up, were married and made their home
until 1874. In .August of that year the\ immigrated to America, locating
first in Jackson county, Wisconsin, where they spent six or seven years ; then
came to Clay county, and bought railroad land in Tansem township, which
Mr. Stoen improved and put under cultivation, continuing farming there
until 191 2. when he moved to Canada, where he has since resided, having
taken up a homestead in Saskatchewan. He has devoted his life to gen-
eral farming. His family consisted of eight children, one of whom died
young; the others were named as follow; Anna, Lars, Ole N., Carrie,
Thorten, Tilda and Otto.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 79I
Ole N. Stoen was about four years old when his parents brought him
to America. He received most of his education in the public schools of
Tansem township, where he grew to manhood on the home farm. He
lived in Tansem township until 1910 on rented land. Since then he has
made his home on his fine farm of two hundred and forty acres near Barnes-
ville, which land is well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He
also owns some timber land besides his home place. He has set out a large
grove on the place, and he has a comfortable home and numerous conven-
ient outbuildings. He raises a large quantity of grain, much of which is fed
to live stock. He makes a specialty of raising blooded Duroc-Jersey hogs
and Shorthorn cattle. His fine stock brings fancy prices owing to its super-
ior quality. He has done much to encourage the raising of better live stock
in his community; he is an excellent judge of stock and is regarded as one
of the best farmers in his township. He has been very successful financially,
having managed well and persevered. He is one of the stockholders of the
Farmers Elevator at Barnesville. which he helped organize. He is also a
stockholder in the Barnesville Co-operative Creamery, and a member of the
board of directors of the same.
Air. Stoen was married in 1897 to Marie Hoveland, a daughter
of Ole Hoveland, one of the pioneer settlers of Otter Tail county, Minnesota.
Mrs. Stoen was first married to Andrew Stadum, and to their union two
children were born ; Matilda and Oscar. Her union with Mr. Stoen has
also resulted in the birth of two children, Arthur and Oris. Mention is
made of Ole Hoveland, father of Mrs. Stoen, on another page of this vol-
ume. Mr. Stoen is a meml^er of the Lutheran church.
JOHN K. TATLEY.
John K. Tatle\-, one of Clay county's best-known landowners and a
prosperous dealer in agricultural implements, with a well-equipped store at
Olive, Montana, and land interests in that state as well as in Clay county
and in the Dominion of Canada, is a native son of Clay county and most of
his life has Iseen spent here. Though his business interests are in Montana,
he continues to regard Clay county as his home and his time is spent variously
here and in Canada and Montana. He was born on a pioneer farm in Keene
township, Clay county. February 18, 1878, a son of Knudt Nelson Rodahl
and wife.
792 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Knudt Nelson Rodahl became a pioneer farmer and settled on a liome-
stead farm in the immediate vicinity of Hawley. where he met his death
about three years later by being drawn into the lake by a double team of
oxen which he was driving and which became stampeded and plunged into
the lake. About 1885 his widow luarried Martin T,und, better known as
Martin Tatley. She was a daughter of Johannes and Bertha Tatley, who
were born in Norway and who came to Minnesota, making their home at
Spring Grove, in Houston county, until about 1867, when they came up into
this part of the state, driving through by ox-tetm, and settled in what after-
ward became known as the Ha\vle\- neighborhood. At that time there was
no organized settlement here: Indians still were numerous hereabout and
white settlers were few and far between. Though in the earl\- days of the
settlement of the Tatleys. grasshoppers were a great scourge, Indians were
regarded as greater foes than the pestiferous insects and a constant guard
was maintained against a possible outbreak of the redskins. Though occa-
sionall)' reports would be heard of massacres in other settlements, the Tatleys
never were attacked. Johannes Tatley bought a tract of school land in what
later came to be organized as Keene township and there established his home,
he and his wife spending the remainder ni their lives there. When he settled
there his nearest trading point was at Alexandria, where the land otitice was
located, and it was a long and tedious trip to and from market.
Reared on the pioneer farm in Keene township, John K. Tatley grew
tow-ard manhood without any schooling save that received in his home, his
mother teaching him with diligent care, and he never saw inside a school
house until he was eighteen years of age, and the entire extent of his formal
schooling covered but one himdred and twenty days of actual attendance in
the school room, a part of this time being spent in the normal school at
Moorhead. He was a close student, however, and a careful reader of the
new-.spapers. for several of which he for some time acted as a correspondent
during the days of his young manhood. Mr. Tatley made his home on the
farm until his marriage in igo2 to Clara \\'injum. daughter of Jens W'injum,
of Lake Park, and in January. 1903, established his home on a homestead
farm in Canada, his mother and his younger brother, Nicholas, accompanying
him and his wife to their new home in the Dominion. Mr. Tatlev home-
steaded a quarter of a section of land there and later added to the same
until he had four hundred acres of land, his brother Nicholas still living
there. In July. 1906, Mr. Tatley returned with his wife to Minnesota. Mrs.
Tatley was taken ill rluring the trip back and shortly afterward developed
consumption, for a year thereafter being confined to the T.uther Hospital.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. Ji)},
Grasping at the last hope of saving his wife, Air. Tatley, on tiie advice of
physicians, went out to Montana, took a homestead at a point twenty-eight
miles from a railroad, erected a honse on the same and prepared a home for
the reception of his wife, it having been believed that a change of climate
and a higher altitude might prove beneficial to her. bnt she was nnable to
be moved and her death came not long afterward, her death occurring in
the home of her father, her husliand being thus left with tw^o small sons.
Earl and Melvin.
After the death of his wife Mr. Tatlev remained on his Montana hume-
stead until 1915. when the railroad was fini'^bed through from Beach to
Olive, Montana. He built a store room at Olive and began the sale there
of agricultural im])lements. which business he still continues, having been
quite successful in the same. In addition to his business interests at Olive,
Mr. Tatley is the owner of a fine farm of four hundred acres at Hawley, his
father's old homestead, which he bought in igo8. and has other land in
Canada and in Montana. Though his mercantile business requires that most
of his time be spent at Olive. Montana, he manages to spend two or three
months during the vear looking after his farming interests at Hawley and
in Canada. Mr. Tatley is a member of the Minnesota Im])lement Dealers
Association. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, but in
the absence nf a chiu-ch of that denomination at Olive, attends the United
Brethren church there. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent
Order of Odd b'ellows and with the Brotherhood of .\merican Yeomen.
SWENSON BROTHERS.
The Swenson brothers, Lenus and August, proprietors of "Spring Val-
ley Stock Earm" in Spring Creek township. Norman county, have long been
recognized as anidug the leading stockmen and public-spirited men of
affairs of this section of the Red River valley. In additi<in to their fine farm
of live hundred and eighty acres, on which they give much attention to the
raising of registered Shorthorn cattle, they have other interests which place
them well uj) in the li.st of the substantial citizens of that part of the country,
.\ugust Swenson being president of the Eertile Co-operative Creamery
Company of Eertile. one of the most prosperous concerns in northern Min-
nesota, and treasurer of his home township and a member of the school board
794 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in district 29 of Norman county. They make a specialty of dual-purpose
Shorthorns on their well-equipped stuck farm and their sales of their regis-
tered stock attract wide attention throughout this part of the state and in the
adjacent sections of the neighhoring state of North Dakota. They have
<nvned their farm since 1886 and have brought the same up to a high state
of productivity, as well as having created there one of the best farm plants
in this ])art of the country. "Spring Valley Stock i-arm" liaving a wide repu-
tation hereabout for the effective metliotls there adopted bv Swenson
Brothers, its proprietors.
Lenus and .August Swenson are uati\e sons of .Minnesota and have
lived in this state all their lives. They were lK)rn in hillmore countv, sons
of Svante and .Aaste ( Halvorson hergin) Swenson. the former a native of
Sweden, born at Scharborlan. and the latter, of Norway, born in the coun-
try town of I'osgrund. l'])on coming to this countrv Svante Swenson and
liis wife for a time made tlieir home in Wisconsin and then in bnva. later
coming up into -Minnesota and settling in hillmore county, where thev estab-
lished their Jiome and where Mrs. Svante Swenson's last days were spent,
her death occurring about fifteen years after the family settled there. In
1881 Svante .Swenson and his four children. Lena Katrina. Jennie .Marie.
Lenus and .\ugust. left Fillmore county, disposing of their holdings there,
and came up \uU> the Red River country, driving through in a prairie
schooner, and settled in .Norman countv . which in that year was established
as a .separate civic unit, splitting off from Becker county. Upon their arrival
here they located on the Dave Bixle farm and there remained for five years,
at the end of which time they took a homestead in Spring Creek township,
Norman count\-. .Minnesota, and there established their home, the place long
known as "Spring X'alley Stock Farm," where Swenson Brothers carry on
their extensive farming and stock-raising operations. On that place Svante
Swenson spent his last days, one of the most substantial pioneers in that
neigh Ixirhood. his death occurring there in 1908. His sons, as just noted,
still live there. His eldest daughter. .Mrs. Lena Reierson, lives at Fosston,
in I'olk county, and the younger tlaughter, Mrs. P. P. Haug, is living on a
farm in Lil)erty township, Polk county, Minnesota.
On June 20. 1896, on the farm on which he n<iw lives, Lenus Swenson
was united in marriage to Ingebor John.son, who was l)orn at Spring Grove,
Houston county, Minnesota, daughter of Ole and Ingre fKaatrud ) Johnson,
and to this union five children have been born, namely : William, Milo, .Alice,
Eva and Clarence, .\ugust Swenson, who is unmarried, makes his home
CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 793
with his Ijrother and the latter's family. The Swensons have a very pleas-
ant home and take an interested part in the general social activities of the
community in which they li\e, helpful in many ways in promoting move-
ments having to do with the advancement of the commrjn welfare thereal)out.
NILS O. DAHL.
Nils O. Dahl, a well-known retired farmer of Waukon township, Nor-
man county, owning three hundred nine acres of farming and timber land,
and who is prominently connected with the social, religious and co-operative
business interests of the community in which he lives, was born in Norway,
January i8, i860, a son of Ole and Kari (jrytdalen, both of whom were
born in Norway, where they died, the father being a farmer and carpenter.
The father and mother were the parents of the following twelve children:
Carl, deceased ; Ingeborg, Marie, deceased ; Davet, Johanas, who is dead ;
Karena, Otto, Nils O.. the subject of this review : Ole, Andreas, deceased :
Taale and Augusta.
Reared on the old home farm back in Norway, where each member of
the large family had to contribute his industry and thrift to the cultivation
of the father's holding. Nils O. Dahl received a practical training in farming,
which assured much of his success after his coming to this country to estab-
lish his home. During his early days in the land of his nativity, he received
a limited formal education in the local public schools. The success of many
of his countrymen and neighbors in their activities in the New World
prompted him to leave his native land and in 1882, when he had reached
the age of twenty-two years, he landed on American soil. Knowing that
many of his friends were situated in Norman county, Minnesota, he came
directly to Ada and immediately took a homestead of one hundred twenty
acres in section 32, Bear Park township, which farm he traded a few years
later for a part of his present farm. His farming operations have been so
successful that he has been enabled to increase his holdings until he now is
the owner of three hundred nine acres, two hundred ninety-nine of which
comprise the home place in Waukon township and ten acres in Fossum
township, which is timberland. His farm is one of the best improved ones
in the vicinity, for he has erected excellent buildings, including a substantial. /
capacious barn and granary and has made an addition to the farm home.
At present, in order to assure the adequacy of his farm plant, he is putting
796 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MIN NKSOTA.
up a second set of farm luiildings. Mr. Dahl has worked hard to acliieve
the remarkable success whicli he now enjoys, and in the spring of 1917 he
retired from active farming operations.
On December 8, 1891, Mr. Dahl was united in marriage to Gure Her-
manson, who was born at Spring Grove, Houston county. Minnesota, March
6, 1858. a daughter of Ole and Bergit Hermanson, and to this union three
children hu\e been liorn, namely: Clara Belena. who died at the age of
thirteen years, and Obert and Martinus. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl are well-known
and active members of the Norwegian Lutheran denomination, belonging
to the Xess Lutheran church . which society the former helped to organize.
He is interested in the local marketing and distributing agencies of the imme-
diate vicinity, having hel])ed to organize the W'aukon Mercantile Companv
and being interested in the creamery at Waukon. Mr. Dahl has never sought
after public office, he and hi.- family t.ike a deep interest in the social and
civic betterment of the c<immunit\' in which thev live.
.X.XDRl'.W .\. HOXL.WD.
.Kndrew .\. Hovland, well-known and substantial farmer, former town-
ship supervisor and for many years connected with business life of the
part of the count)- where he now resides, is a native of the kingdom of
Norway, but has been a resident of the United States since he was twenty-
three years old and of Norman county since 1881. He was born in Nor-
way on November 6. 1846, a son of .\niund and Ingeborg (.Arnold) Hov-
land.
Aniund Hoxland was born in Norwav. as was al.so his wife. Ingeborg
Arnold, and there he was educated in the schools of his day, later liecoming
an expert and thrifty farmer, always interested in the progress and wel-
fare of his home neighlK)rhood. He and his wife spent all their lives in
their native land, dying there many years ago. They were the parents of
se\en children, five of whom are deceased, and whose names follow : Aniund,
deceased; Christina, deceased; Renald ; Ella, deceased: .Andrew, the subject
of this sketch; John, deceased, and Johanas, deceased.
.\ndre\v .\. Hovland was educated in the schools of Norway and was
reared on his father's farm, where he helped in the labors of improving
;ind developing the tract. In 1869, at the age of twenty-three years, he
decided to try his fortune in America and immigrated in that year, first
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 79-
locating in Goodhue county, tliis state, and worked in that county on farms
for twelve years. Then in the spring of 1881 he crossed over to Xornian
county by horse team, coming alone, being later followed bv his family
in the fall of the same \ear. On arriving in this count v Mr. Hovland
humesteaded a tract of one hundred and si.xty acres of land, the extreme
northeast quarter section in \ornian county, and on this place he has lived
ever since engaged in general fanning, being recognized as one of the
skillful agriculturists in this jjurt of the county. He has carried out a
number of valuable improvements on the |)lace and now has one of the
best farm plants in or about the township.
In 1879 .Andrew A. Hovland was united in marriage to Carrie Hove-
land, a native of Norway and a daughter of Lars Hoveland. To this union
the following children have been born: Alfred, deceased; Gilbert: Clara,
deceased, and Carl, deceased. Mr. Hovland has ever given a good citizen's
attention to local affairs and served the public as township supervisor for
two years, bringing to the duties of that position a ripe intelligence and
business-like qualities. He helped to promote the Rindahl Mercantile Com-
pany and the Rindahl Creamery, and in other ways he has given of his
time and energy to the ]nib!ic advantage.
MEIATN O. BREDESON.
Melvin O. Bredeson, a well-known cari)enter and contractor, of Barnes-
ville. Clay countv, was born in Pelican Rapids. Otter Tail county, Min-
nesota, on December 1, 1888. He is a son of Louis and Mary ( Korsmo )
Bredeson. both of whom were natives of Norway and who came to ..\merica.
On his arrival in this country Louis Bredeson proceeded on out to
Minnesota and located west of Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail count}-. He imme-
diately purchased a tract (jf land and commenced farming operations, his
efforts being attended with considerable success. He continued to reside on
liis farm in the latter county for several years and came to Clay county in
1902, where he farmed for some time. He now lives in Clear Water county,
this state, where he is the owner of a farm, which he is still actively engaged
operating. Since he came to this country Louis Bredeson has been engaged
in general farming in the different places in which he has resided and has
had a fair measure of success. To Louis and Mary (Korsmo) Bredeson
the following children have been 1)orn : Oscar (deceased). Emma. Melvin.
798 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNKSOTA.
Hilda, Lottie, Ben, Ole. and Theodore. The family are earnest members
of the Lutheran church and vvanuly interested in all its good works.
Melvin O. Bredeson, at the age of fourteen years, came with his jjarents
from Otter Tail county to Clay county, in lyoj. He received his education
partly in each of these counties and was reared on his father's farm, where
he helped with the farming work for .some time. The family settled three
and one-half miles south of Barnesville and there Louis Bredeson operated
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of ]>rimc land until 1014, when he
moved to Clear \\'ater county, where he is still engaged in farming.
In igo8 Alelvin O. Bredeson commenced to work as a carpenter in the
town of Barnesville and has since followed that line of activity, his services
being in nuich demand throughout a large ])art of the count)-. In iyi6 he
.uldcd to his car|)entr\ work the broader branch of general contracting, and
in the short period he has been thus engaged he has met with most encourag-
ing success, with every prospect of his being recognized as an extensive
contractor in the near future.
In Ma\-, 1914, Melvin O. Bredeson was united in marriage to May
Griswold, of Barnesville, a daughter of Xoyes Griswold and wife, well-
known ]ieople of that district. Mr. and Mrs. Bredeson are the parents of
one child, a daughter. Stella. The Bredesons are active members of the
Lutheran cinirch and are earnesth' interested in all its good works and in
all conininnit\ movements having for their object the welfare of the public
at large.
OLE NILSOX.
Ole Xilson, a well-known and substantial farmer of Clay county, owner
of a line farm of two hundred and forty acres in sections 30, 31 and 32 of
Holy Cross township, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, but has been
a resident of this country since the days of his young manhood, he having
come to Minne.sota in 1882, not long after attaining his majority. He was
born on June 5, i860, son of Nils and Eliza (Donaldson) Olson, also natives
of Sweden, the latter of whom died in 1861, her son Ole then being about one
year of age. and the former of whom survived her many years, his death
occurring in May, 1917, he then being past eighty-four years of age. Xils
Olson was a well-to-do farmer and a man of standing in his comnuinity.
He and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides the subject
of this sketch being Nels and Jens, who also came to this country and are
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. Jl)()
now living in Benson county, North Dakota: Gerta, a widow, now living in
the state of Washington, and Lizzie, who is married and living in Canada.
Upon coming to this country in 1882 Ole Xilson located at Moorhead
and two years later, in 1884. was married to Ingeborg Bernhardson, who
also was born in Sweden, in 1865, and who was but four years of age when
she came to this country with her parents in 1869. .\fter his marriage Mr.
Xilson established his hcmie on his present farm in Holv Cniss township
and has ever since made that his place of residence, he and his family being
very comfortably situated there. He has a fine place of two hundred and
forty acres, which he has improved in admirable shape and has long been
regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. He has
made all the improvements on this jilace himself and has a verv well-ke])t
farm plant.
]Mr. and Mrs. Xilson ha\e eight children, namelv : Lena, a widow;
Freda, who is married; .\ndrew ; Mila, who is married, and Lottie, Tilla
and Ella, at home. The Xilsons have a very pleasant home and take an
interested part in the community's general social activities. Mr. Xilson has
given his earnest attention to local civic affairs and has served as a member
of the town board and as a member of the school board in his local district.
He is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of .\merica
and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
GUST EKLUND.
Gust Eklund, a well-known contracting painter and decorator at Moor-
head, is a native of the kingdom of Sweden, but has been a resident of this
country, living at Moorhead. since he was twenty-four years of age. He
was born on December 9, i860, son of A. G. and Anna (Bowman) Anderson,
also natives of Sweden, the latter of whom died there and the former of
whom is now living there, after a residence of fifteen years or more in this
country.
On June 5. 1875, he then being but fourteen years of age, Gust Eklund
was ajiprenticed to learn the trade of painting and paperhanging in his native
land and after a four-years apprenticeship began working along that line
on his own account, remaining in Sweden until 1884. when he came to Min-
nesota and located at Moorhead, where for five years he was employed at
his trade, working for Fred Johnson. He then became a partner of Mr.
800 CLAY AND NORMAN COLNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Johnson, a connection that continued for eight years, or until 1897, when
he became an independent contractor in the painting and decorating hne and
has since been very successfully thus engaged. Mr. liklund is a member of
the Moorhead Commercial Clul) and takes an active interest in the general
business affairs of his home town, for years having been one of the most
earnest "boosters" of that city. He aided in the organization of the Moor-
head Building Corporation and has been vice-president of the same since its
organization.
In 1885, the year after his arrival in this country. Gust Eklund was
united in marriage to Margaret Nordine, who also was born in Sweden and
who was but a child when her parents. Jens Nordine and wife, came to
Minnesota and settled in the neighboring counly of Otter Tail. To that
union eleven children have been born, two of whom died in infancy, the
others being as follow : Ewin G., who is now engaged in educational work
in Boston, Massachusetts; Rudolph, who is engaged in the jewelry business
at Moorhead; Florence, who is a teacher in tlie ])ublic schools of Warren,
this state; Anna K., wlio is now attending college at Cambridge. Massa-
chusetts: -Margaret \'.. who lias just completed the cour.se in the .Moorhead
high school, and Ila, Horace, Ruth and Iva. who are slill in school. .Mr.
and Mrs. Eklund are members of the Congregational church and take a
proper interest in church work and in the general good works of their home
town. .Mr. Eklund is a thirty-second degree Mason and a noble of the
Ancient .\rabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic .Shrine. He also is affiliated
with the local lodges of the Indei)endent Order of Odd F"ellows, of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Order of Yeomen and takes
a warm interest in the affairs of these several organizations.
ELISHA C. SPRAGUE.
There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the
successful man there are ah\a\s lessons which might well be followed. The
man who gains prosperity in any vocation is he who can see and utilize the
opportunity that conies in his path. Such a man is Elisha C. Sprague, a
real-estate dealer and farmer, of Moorhead, Clay county.
Mr. Sprague was Ixmi on November 26, 1880, in Moorhead, a son of
Elisha C. and Louise ( Carlson ) Sprague. The mother was born in Chris-
tiania, Norway. When about fifteen years of age she came with her uncle
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CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. Soi
and aunt to America, and they located in Aurora, Illinois. Her parents
never came to this country, both dying in Norway. The death of the mother
of the subject of this sketch occurred in 1893, she then being forty years of
age. The senior Elisha C. Sprague was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and came
from Chicago to Cia}- county. Minnesota, about 1876, one of the pioneers of
the Red River countr}-, and did much to develop this section of the state.
He devoted his active life to agricultural pursuits on a large scale, and to the
real-estate business, and operated about ten thousand acres of land, raising
immense quantities of grain and large herds of live stock. He owned about
twenty-five thousand acres up and down the valley of the Red River of the
Xdrlh, his land extending many miles from Crookston down the river to
Breckenridge and over to Fergus {•"alls. He was a man of much executive
abilit)-, sound judgment and business acumen and was rated as one of the
big ranchmen of the state in the early days. He helped organize Clay county
and helped organize a company to build the railroad from Moorhead to
lireckenridge, which was later absorbed by the Great Northern system, of
which James J. Hill was the promoter, and was also a heavy stockholder in
many important enterprises throughout this section of the state. He made
his home in Moorhead from 1878 until his death. He was one of the most
influential and liest-known men in the western part of the state, a man of
progressive ideas, well informed on current topics of the day, public spirited,
broad minded, and enjoyed the good will and respect of all classes. Although
active in all movements having for their object the general upbuilding of Clay
county, both in a material and civil way. he was never a seeker of public
honors, never caring for political office, preferring to devote his attention
lo his \ast business interests, striving only to be a good citizen in the best
sense of the term. His death occurred in 1896. at the advanced age of
eighty-four years.
To Elisha C. and Louise .Sprague the following children were born:
Benjamin 1"'., who was associated with his brother, Elisha C, Jr., in business
from 1900 to 1906, who also owned farming lands and wlio mafle his home
in Moorhead until his death on .\pril 11, 1906; Elisha C, Jr., the subject of
this sketch; Mrs. Emma Butts, who lives in Los Angeles, California, and
Mrs. Bessie Machrise, who also lives in Los Angeles.
The junior Elisha C. Sprague grew lo manhood in Moorhead and there
attended the public schools, later st\idying one year in college at Worcester,
Massachusetts. Upon returning home he took up the live-stock and real-
estate business, together with farming, beginning his business career when
(51a)
8o2 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
only sixteen years of age. In 1903 he dropped the hve-.'itock business and
since then has devoted his attention exclusively to tiie real-estate business and
to farming, now the owner of two thousand acres of rich farm land, some
of which lies near Hawley and some near Moorhead. He keeps several
renters on his l.ind. He farmed his land personallv from 1901 to 1903,
inclusive. His splendid modern home is located on part of the land formerly
owned by his father, the latter of whom sold parts of his land from time
to time. The estate is now valued at about three hundred thousand dollars
and has been in court since 1904.
b'-lisha ('. Spraguc, Jr., was married in Oregon in 191 1, to Grace Wise,
who was born on .\ugust 27, 1884, in rittsburgh, I'eunsylvania, where her
parents still reside, her father being engaged there in the furniture business.
Politically. Air. .Spraguc is a Republican, but he has never been an office
seeker: however, he has always been a booster along all legitimate lines for
Moorhead and Clay county, where he is well and favorably known, being
regarded by all as a worthy son of a worthy sire and a man of many com-
mendable personal attributes.
01. 1-: ). p,ri:kke.
Ole J. Brekke. a retired farmer of Wild Rice township, where he owns
a (juarter section of well-improved land, was born in Tordenskjold township.
Otter Tail county, .Minnesota, September 3, 1868, being the lirst white child
born in that township. He is the son of Sever O. and .Knna ( Rorg(j) Brekke.
both of whom were born and reared in Xorwa\ . where thev married. To-
gether they emigrated to .\merica in 1866 and settled hrst in Dean county.
AVisconsin, but after remaining there a short time thev moved to Winneshiek
county, lowfl, remaining there only a little while. I-'eeling that their opportun-
ity to establish themselves permanently in a comfortable home lay farther
north, the\- started out in the spring of 1868 in a wagon behind an ox-team to
Otter Tail count)-, Minnesota, -\fter a journey of three weeks dm^ation, ihey
arrived in that county and immediatelv pre-empted one hundred sixtv acres
of land and established their home where Ole J. Brekke was born in 1868.
The Brekke family remained on their (piarter section, which thev improved
until the spring of 1878. at which time they again followed their team of
oxen farther northward to Xorman county, the journev taking just seven
days. There they located on disputed land, in what is now Wild Rice town-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 803
ship, on a quarter section in section 19. On that place the family established
their permanent home and the parents continued to reside on the lantl the
rest of their lives, the father's death occurring in the winter of 1887 and
that of tiie motiier in the fall of 1900. They were the parents of seven child-
ren, namely: Ole J., the subject of this review; Rasmus, who died in
infancy; Gertina, deceased; Bennie, who lives in Wild Rice township, this
county; Anna, deceased; Ella, living in McHenry county, North Dakota,-
and Samuel, who is deceased. The Brekke family were consistent and cdii-
scientious meml>ers of the Lutheran church, the father having helped to
organize the first church in tlie community, meetings being held in the Hei-
berg school house until a ])lace of worship was erected in Twin Valley some
years later. In those days Twin X'alley was not yet established and .\da
was the market.
Ole J. Brekke received his early education in the schools of Norman
county, where he was reared on his father's farm. There he laid the fnunda-
tion for his success in later years when lie struck out for himself in agricul-
ture. .\fter he reached manhood, he decided that McKenzie county. North
Dakota, proffered him the chance to become a landowner, and accordingly
he homesteaded one hundred sixty acres in that county and proved it up.
In addition to his homestead in North Dakota, he owns a farm of one hun-
dred sixty acres of improved land in Wild Rice township, this county. ;\t
jn'esent Mr. Brekke is a retired farmer, and being single, lives with his
bnitlier, Bennie, of Wild Rice townshi]). In addition to his farming. Mr.
Brekke has been interested in a business venture, having helped to organize
the creamerv at Twin \^allev.
LARS H. ROSTVOLD.
Lars H. Rostvold, one of the substantial pioneer farmers of Lee town-
ship, Norman county, and the owner of one hundred and fifty acres in that
township, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has Ijeen a resident of
this country since he was twenty-four years of age and of Norman county
since the vear 1883, and has consequently seen this region develop from the
days of the pioneers. He was born in 1857, last of the ten children bmn to
his parents, Halvor Anderson and wife, the latter of whom died when the
subject of this sketch was but thirteen years of age. The other children
804 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in this family are as follow : Andrew, who is still hving in his native land ;
Arndt, who also continues to live in Norway ; Nels, who came to this coun-
try years ago and is now a resident of Hendrum : Mrs. Ingeborg Skauge,
also of Norman county; Ingebore, who is a resident of Polk county, this
state; Anna, wife of A. A. Rostvold ; Randa, wife of O. Johnson, of Hen-
drum; Cecelia, who continues to make her home in Norway, and Mary, who
died in that country. Years ago, after his son Lars had secured a settle-
ment on the land he now occupies, Halvor .\nderson came to this country
and his last days were spent here, his death occurring at the home of his
son about twenty years ago.
Reared in his native land, where he acquired his education, Lars H.
Rostvold remained there until he was twenty-four years of age and then,
in 1881, came to the United States and two years later, in 1883, he came
up here into the Red River country and settled in Norman county, where
he ever since has made his home. For some time after coming here Mr.
Rostvold worked on the farms of other settlers and then bought a piece of
land of his own, owning then the land on which the village of Borup now
stands. He later bought the place on which he is now living, a tract of eighty
acres in section 4 of Lee township, and after his marriage in 189J estab-
lished liis home there. When he bought that place it was wholly nniuiprcneil
and all the substantial improvements that now adorn the place have been
made l)y him. Mr. Rostxold also owns a tract of forty acres in section 3
of Lee township and another tract of thirty acres in section 8 and is accounted
one of the sul)stantial farmers of his neighborhood. He also owns stock
in the elevators at Perley and Hendrum and in the canning plant at the
former place and is a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Hendrum. Mr.
Rostvold has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs
and was for some time a member of the Iward of supervisors of his home
township.
In 1892 Lars H. Rostvold was united in marriage to Ovedia Johnson,
also a native of the kingdom of Norway, born in 1873, ^nd who was seven-
teen years of age when she came to this country with her brother Bernard,
now a resident of Norway. Mrs. Rostvold is the last-born of the five chil-
dren born to her parents, the others being Bernard, of Hendrum ; Peter,
of Marshall county, this state; Martin, also of Marshall county, and Julia,
wife of Paul Kragness. To Mr. and Mrs. Rostvold two children have been
bom, Halvor, deceased, and Halvor (second), who is living on the home
farm, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the same. The Rost-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 805
voids are members of the Lutheran church and take an active interest in
the affairs of the same, Mr. Rostvold having been for years one of the
deacons of the local congregation. The family have a pleasant home and
have ever taken a proper interest in the general social activities of the com-
munity in which they live.
EMIL AUGUST MENGE.
Norman county has many native sons who have won distinction in the
various walks of life, and who with their families have had much to do
with the general progress and development of the district, which today is
one of the great farming and business centers of the United States. Not
the least among these worthy people, who have had so much to do with
the prosperity and growth of the county, is Emil August Menge, a suc-
cessful farmer and stockman, living one-half mile west of the town of
Lockhart, in Lockhart township, Norman county, who was born on Novem-
l)er 8, 1882. and is a son of August and Fredericka (Malakowsky) Menge.
August and Fredericka (Malakowsky) Menge were born in Germany,
and there they received their education, and there they were reared and in
1868 were united in marriage. August Menge was born in the year 1842 and
is the son of Carl and Fredericka (Steinerans) Menge. lx)th of whom were
natives of the fatherland, where they died many years ago. After their
marriage, August and Fredericka Menge continued to live in Germany for
ten years, when they decided that they would seek a home in America. Here
many of their neighbors and friends had located and were meeting with
success. On their arrival in tlie United States in the year 1878, they at
once proceeded to Minnesota, and located at Red Wing, where they remained
for four years. In 1882 they came to Norman county, and here Mr. Menge
took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Lockhart town-
sln'p, and here he and his wife made their home until they retired from thf
more active duties of life in 1913, and moved to Ada, where they have a
pleasant and substantial home, and are enjoying some of the comforts of
life to which their many years of hard work entitle them.
At the time Mr. and Mrs. Menge located on their homestead, they
were among the early pioneers of the section and their tract of land was
an unbroken prairie. A small house was erected in which the family lived
for a number of years. The farm was developed, and in time Mr. Menge
8oC CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
became a successful and prosperous tanner. His farm was under a high
state of cultivation and splendid buildings had been erected. Where once
was a wild waste of land, then blossomed fields of golden grain, and the
pasture lands were dotted here and there with herds of the finest of cattle
and horses and droves of hogs. Another quarter section of land had been
added and the farm then consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, all
of which was placed under cultivation and was well improved.
August and Fredericka Menge, in their struggle for a home, were ever
mindful of their duty to their family and the community in which the\
were living. They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church,
in the services of which they took great interest. Their efforts were ever
exerted toward the extension and perfection of the .schools of the district,
and in the erection of churches in which to worship. They are the parents
of the following children : Agnes, Christ, Paul, Emma, Richard, h'mil
August, Ernest, Merie, Benjamin and Lewis. Mr. Menge is a man of ability
and force of character and has had an influential life in his adopted state.
His worth as a man and his excellent judgment have Ijeen recognized l)y the
people of his home township, who elected him to the important position
of township supervisor, as well as to other of the offices of the district. He
always gave the same care and attention to the affairs of the public that
he gave to his own business, and at all times he has held the confidence and
the respect of the people, and today he arid his wife are held as among the
most worthy people of their home community.
Emil August Menge received his education in the local schools of
Lockhart township and was reared on the home farm, where he as a lad
and young man learned the art of farming and the care of stock. On
reaching his majority he engaged in general farming just across the road
from the home place. There he remained for a year, since which time he
has operated the father's farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and is
today known as one of the progressive and successful farmers and stock-
men of the county. He believes in modern methods of farming and the care
and attention of stock, and has met with much success. He is systematic
in his work, and thorough in all the duties on the farm.
In 1908, Emil August Menge was united in marriage to Dorathea
Mayer, daughter of George and Louisa (Ungerer) Mayer. Her parents were
natives of Germany and were married in Illinois, where they continued to
reside until 1904, when they came to Norman county. The\- are a highly
respected people and influential in the community in which they live, two
miles west of Ada. There Mr. Mayer is successfully engaged in general
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. SO"
farming and stockraising, on his well-established farm. .Mr. and Mrs. Menge
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they are active in
the social and religious life of the township. They are the parents of the
following children : Elsie, Wilma, Roswald, Louise and Morris.
Mr. Menge has always taken a keen interest in all local affairs, and
because of his progressive spirit and business qualities, he has been honored
with many positions of trust and honor. For six years he has been a mem-
ber of the township board, which position he still holds. His father assisted
in the organization of the Lockhart Creamery Association, of which Emil
A. Menge was for a number of years a director, and of which he is now the
efficient president. He was always enthusiastic in the matter of good schools,
and his constant endeavor has always been to place them on the highest
plane possible. For four years he served as clerk of the school board, and
is now a member of that board at Lockhart. He was a strong advocate of
the consolidation plan of operating schools, feeling that by so doing, a bet-
ter and more efficient system could be inaugurated. His influence had much
to do with the present consolidated system now in vogue in the town, and
to him is due much of the honor for the splendid nindern school building.
ANTHONY G. SWANSON.
Anthony G. Swanson, one of the most progressive young farmers in
Alliance township, Clay county, who is managing the two-hundred-acre farm
left there by his late father and who is the owner of half a section of land
in Barnesville township, is a native son of Clay county and has lived there
all his life. He was born in the city of Moorhead in 1886, but has lived
on the farm since he was atout ten years of age, his father, the late John
Swanson, having established his home on the Alliance township farm in 1896.
The late John Swanson was a native of the kingdom of Sweden, born
there in May, 1840, and there became engaged in the railroad service,
remaining there until 187 1, when he came to the United States and for a time
thereafter was engaged in railroad service here. In 1873 he came out here
into the Red River country and located at Moorhead, where in 1882 he
married Mary Erickson. also a native of Sweden, born in March, 1853.
and who had come to this country in 1880. In 1896 John Swanson bought
a farm of two hundred acres in section 13 of Alliance township and there
e.'itablished his h.,me, remaining there the rest of his life, his death occur-
8o8 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ring on April 3, 1914. John Swanson was a good farmer and developed a
fine piece of farm property, now owned by his widow and operated by his
son, Anthony. John Swanson took an active part in the general affairs of
the commnnity in which he settled in pioneer days and for some time during
his residence in Moorhead served as overseer of roads in that district.
To John and Mary (Erickson) Swanson were born six children, namely:
Martina, who is married and is living in North Dakota ; Gus Edward, who is
famring east of Barnesville; Anthony d., the subject of this biographical
sketch; Arthur, deceased; Selma, at home, and Lillie, deceased.
As noted above, Anthony G. Swanson was alx)ut ten years of age when
his parents settled on the Alliance township farm and he ever since has
resided there, since his father's death managing the farm for his mother.
Besides attending to the extensive interests there he also is the owner of a half
section of land in section 18 of Barnesville town.ship, a quarter section of
which he bought in February, 1909, and the adjoining quarter in the summer
of 1913, and which he is improving and developing in excellent shape. In
addition to his general farming Mr. Swanson gives considerable attention
to the raising of Shortliorn cattle and is doing very well. During the summer
of 191 7 he had out about eighty acres of potatoes. .\ year ago he thoroughly
remodeled the home farm house, modernized it and installed a hot-water
heating plant, running water, baths and the like and the family are now
very comfortably situated there. Mr. Swanson is a member of the local lodge
of the ^Modern Woodmen of .America and of the Royal Neighbors and takes
a warm interest in the affairs of both of these orders.
ALBERT C. AIXEN.
Albert C. Allen, an energetic and substantial farmer, owner of a quarter
section of choice land in Glyndon township. Clay county, former chairman
of the board of township supervisors, was born on June 3, 1868. in Sauk
Center, Minnesota. He is a son of Adam and Mary (Barker) Allen, the
former of whom died in 1873, when the subject of this sketch was a child
of five years old, and the latter died in 190S. having survived her hus-
band about thirty-five years.
Adam Allen was born in the state of Michigan, where he followed the
occupation of a farmer. He served throughout the Civil War on the side
of the Union and saw considerable ser\^ice during that period of strife
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. 809
between the states. At the close of the war he received an honorable <lis-
charge and returned to his family who continued to live in Michigan during
his absence on military service. Adam Allen was married to Mary Parker,
who was born near the university city of Oxford, England, and some years
later came to this country. They became the parents of three children,
namely: Bessie, deceased; .\da. who is married, and Albert C. the sub-
ject of this sketch.
Albert C. Allen was educatetl in the schools of Sauk Center and of
Chi}" county, to which he came with his mother in 1878. He followed the
life of a farmer and about seven years ago made his first purchase of land.
He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of prime land in Glyn-
don township. Clay count}-, and is successfully carrying on his farming
operations according to modern methods of agriculture. He has set out
about forty-five acres of his holding to the cultivation of potatoes and in
all his farm labors is doing very well, being recognized as a progressive and
up-to-date farmer. He carried out several improvements on the place.
Albert C. Allen was united in marriage to .\gnes Fridav. who was born
in the state of Wisconsin in 1873. To this union two children have been
born. Merle and Myrtle, both living at home with their parents. Mr. .\llen
served as chairman of the board of township supervisors for three years,
giving considerable satisfaction in that office, and in other ways he has given
evidence of his interest in public affairs. The Allen family are earnestly
interested in all the good works of the neighborhood in which they reside.
PETER H. HANSON.
Peter H. Hanson, one of the besi-known pioneers of .Xorman county,
now living retired at Gary, where he has just completed a handsome, modern
home, is a native son of Minnesota, and has lived in this state all his life.
He was born on a pioneer farm in the near vicinity of Albert Lea, in Free-
born county, August 21. 1858. son of Hans and Carrie Olson ( Kernvald )
Hanson, natives of the kingdom of Xorwa}'. who came to the United States
in 1853 and after a short stay at Round Prairie. Wisconsin, moved to
Kamrar. Iowa, where they lived until 1858. in which year they moved u])
into Minnesota, settling in Freeborn county, in the immediate vicinity of
Albert Lea. Hans Hanson was a tailor by trade, but upon conn'ng to
Minnesota homesteaded a quarter of a section of land near Albert Lea and
proceeded to develop the same, at the same time establishing a tailor shop
8lO • CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the first in that part of the state, and worked l)Oth at tanning and at tailor-
ing. He and his wife spent tlie remainder of their days on that homestead
farm and both lived to be past eiglity years of age. Hans Hanson, who was
born on June lO, 1827, dietl on I'eiiruary 25, 191 1, he then lieing in his
eighty-fourth year, and his widow, who was born on December 24, 1829,
survived him until July 2-j. 1916, she being in her eighty-seventh year at
the time of her death. Thev were the parents of fifteen children, of whom
the sul)ject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being
Anna, Helen and Marie (twins), Ole. Charics, Bertha Louise ( wlio died in
ber third year), Adolph Wilhelm, Bertha Louise. Hans Thomas, Caroline
Marie, Emma, Sophia Randine, .\lbert and Martin F. Hans Hanson and
his wife were members of the Lutheran church and their children were
reared in that faith.
Peter H. Hanson was reared on the home farm near Albert Lea an"d
received his elementary schooling in the schools of that place, supplement-
ing the same by a course in Luther College at Decorah. Iowa, which he
attended from 1872 to 1876 lie then started teaching school in his home
county and was thus engaged there, during the winters, until the spring of
1881, when he came up into this part of the state and homesteaded a (|uarter
of a section of land in section 24 of Sundal township, Norman county, and
proceeded to develop the same. It was on .\pril 10. 1881, that Mr. Hanson
located in Norman county and he c\er since has resided there, being thus
pro])erlv regarded as one of the ])ioneers of the county, which was created as
a separate civic unit in that year. The next year he married and he then
established his hoiue on his homestead tract, his first house being a one-
story log house, thirteen by fourteen feet in dimension, with a sod roof, and
in that house he and his wife made their home for five years, or until he
could "prove up" on his claim, after which he made pennanent improve-
ments of a substantial character. All of that quarter section was broken
and grubbed by Mr. Hanson himself, with the exception of a patch of fifteen
acres which he hired grubbed. For six years after locating there he con-
tinued to teach school during the winters, spending his summers in develop-
ing his farm, and he thus left a lasting impression upon the ininds and
hearts of the youth of that community, as one of the pioneer teachers of
Sundal township. .Among the improvements Mr. Hanson made on his place
was the planting of a grove of about one thousand evergreen trees, which.
now grown to admirable size, form a most attracti\e feature of the landscape
thereabout.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 8ll
In 1887, nut long after lie liacl "[jrcned up" his Imniestead, Mi". Hanson
left the farm to accept the position of manager of the Thorpe elevator and
lumber yard at Gary and moved to the new town on the railroad. In 1889
he built a store building and started a general store at Gar\-, employing clerks
to conduct the same fur him. while he gave his attention principally to buy-
ing cattle and grain. At the same time he was running the local hotel and
was serving as postmaster at Gary. hVorn 1890 to 1895 ^^^ ^^''"^ engaged in
buying grain for the P. V. Elevator Company at Gary and was thus engaged
there until the latter year, when he sold his interests in the village and
returned to his farm in Sundal township, where he remained until the fall
of 1916, when he retired from the farm and returned to Gary, where he and
his family are now very comfortably situated, their house, just recently
completed, being pro\i(led with every convenience of a cit\- home and
regarded as one of the best houses in the county. During his long residence
on the farm Mr. Hanson took an active part in public affairs, served for
some time as assessor of Sundal township and also as justice of the peace
in and for that township and was chairman of the board of township super-
visors for three years, during which time he started the movement for the
construction of brid,ges and sewers with concrete. In the general business
affairs of his community he also continued to take an active interest and
was one of the organizers of the Sundal Creamery Company and of the
Sundal Mercantile Company.
It was in 1882, the year after he located in Norman county, that Peter
H. Hanson was united in marriage to Mary Possum, also of Freeborn county,
and to this union three children have been born, Clara A.. Henry P. and
Maud P. The Hansons are members of the United Lutheran church and
take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works of
the communitv, helpful in promoting all agencies designed to advance the
common welfare.
FRANK MUELLER.
F>ank Mueller, one of Norman county's most substantial farmers, the
owner of a fine farm of six hundred acres in Green Meadow townshi]).
former justice of the peace in and for that township, a former member of
the board of township supervisors, president of the Green Meadow Cream-
er\- Company and in other ways actively identified with the general civic
and Inisiness interests of his home community, is a native son nf Minnesota
8l2 CI.AY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of twelve years
spent in the neighboring state of South Dakota. He was born in Nicollet
county, on Alarch 14. 1863, son of Henry and Frederica Mueller,
natives of Germany, who came to .Minnesota in 1858 and settled in
Nicollet, where both spent the remainder of their lives, infiuential early
residents of that i)lace, Henry Mueller and wife were the parents of eight
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the hfth in order of birth,
the others being as follow: Martin, who is engaged in business at New
Ulm; Mary, who is marrieil and lives at St. I'eter; Henry and Herman,
twins, who live in XicoUel: Louis, deceasctl ; William, who is engaged in
business at St. Teter. and Junil, who is living at New Ulm, this state.
Reared at .Nicollet. I'rank Mueller received his schooling there and
early took to farming as a vocation. He married in 1884 and .some time
later moved to South Dakota, where he was engaged in a shoe store for
twelve years, at the end of which time he came over into this part of the Red
River countrv and settled in Norman county, buying then the farm on which
be has ever since made his home, in (Ireen Meadow township. Upon taking
possession of that jjlace Mr. Mueller proceeded to improve the same, planted
a grove, erected a substantial set of buildings and otherwise began to make
of it one of the best farms in that part of the county. He now owns six hun-
dred acres of excellent land, which is being farmed by his sons, who have been
in general charge of the place ever since their father was incapacitated for
further active ser\ice by reason of a stroke of jiaralysis, from the effects of
which he is kept to the house, though his mind is still as alert and active as
ever. Mr. Mueller, ever since settling in Norman county, has taken an
interested part in local public affairs and has served his township as justice
of the peace and as a member of the township board and for years has been
a member of the school Ixiard in district No. 20. He also has given his
active attention to movements designed to increase the effective organization
of rural conditions and is president of the flrcen Meadow Creamery Com-
pany.
On Januarv 6, 1884, Frank Mueller was united in marriage to Ther-
esa Shelhorn, who was born in Germany, daughter of Charles and Eliza
Shelhorn, and to this union have been born six children, John, Elizabeth,
Frank, Angeline. Henry and Lillian. Of these children, .\ngeline and Eliza-
beth are married and live in this state. Frank is married and lives at Cedar
Rapids: Henry also is married, continuing to make his home on the home
place with John, which he and his brother are farming with much success.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 813
The Muellers are members of the German Lutheran church antl the family
takes a proper interest in church work and in the general good works and
social activities of the community in which thev live.
REV. HAL\'OR O. XORDRV.
Rev. Halvor O. Nordby, who has ministered U> the spiritual needs of
Lutheran congregations in this and other parts of Minnesota for many years
and now has charge of the St. Peter Lutheran congregation in Strand town-
ship, Norman county, where he has. since his residence here, been promi-
nently connected with all the good works of the community, was born in
Norway, May 13, i860, a son of Ole and Gunhild Maria Nordby, both of
whom were native Norwegians, the former being a farmer in the old home
across the Atlantic where he lived and died.
Halvor O. Nordby spent his early boyhood un the old home farm in
Norway, but when he reached sufficient age, he entered the Aars & Far"s Latin
and Real gymnasium at Christiania, where he received his elementary edu-
cation. Later, however, he attended the Sabici gymnasium in the same city
and graduated therefrom in 1884. For five years he remained on his father's
farm but in i88g, feeling that he could find a fruitful field for his endeavor
in the New World among his countrymen who had immigrated to this
country, he, too, joined a party of immigrants whose destination was
America and landed here when he was twenty-nine years of age. h'rom
the early years of his manhood, Mr. Nordljy had burned with the desire to
serve his fellow-men in the capacity of a minister of the gospel, and after
he had arrived on American soil, he entered Robinsdale Theological Semi-
nary at Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he acquired the American attitude
and thus prepared himself the more fully for his service auKjng the Lutheran
people of the great Northwest. He graduated from this institution in 1892,
at which time he was ordained a Lutheran minister. I'or two years after
his ordination, he had charge of the congregation at Audubon, Minnesota,
after which time his work brought him to near \'alley City, North Dakota,
where he had charge of several congregations, doing missionar\- work. Rev-
erend Nordby undoubtedly built nobly and well in that vicinity, for in tliat
community the work which he did by himself now necessitates four minis-
ters to take care of it. It was in 1912 that he came to his present charge,
the St. Peter Lutheran church, in Strand township, Norman county, and
8l4 CLAV AND NORMAN COITNTIES. MINNESOTA.
here he has niinislered to the needs of the congregation in the unselfish and
unstinted manner characteristic of the man tliat he is and of his high calling,
thus liolding a large place in the hearts of his flock.
On February ii. 1895, Reverend Nordby married Maria Hanson, who
was born in Houston county. Minnesota, a daughter of Hans and Sigrid
Hanson, the former of wliom was for twenty-five consecutive years the
register of deeds of Becker county. Minnesota. Reverend and Mrs. Nordby
are the parents of four children, all of whom are living. Sunneva, the
wife of Re\-. X. \\'. \'l\is;iker: Oscar, Lorrentz and Xorman. Reverend
\ordI)y is a valuable citizen of the community in which he lives, for here
lie takes a prominent ])art in all the good works which have for their purpose
the social and moral betterment.
HFilNRY P.. GUXDERSOX.
Henry V.. Gun<lerst)n. one of Xorman county's most substantial and
progressive f.irmers and the owner (if a tine place in I'lom township, where
he and his familv are ver\- comfortably situated, was born on a ])ioneer farm
in Clayton county, Iowa, September 14, 1859, and there grew to manhood,
but h;is been a resident of the Red River country since 1882. He is a son of
Embrets and lsal)el ( Bjern I I.air. natives of the kingdom of Norway, who
became i)ioneers in Clayton county, Iowa, and there spent their last days, the
former (l\ing at the age of si.xty-eight when the subject of this sketch was
but five years of age. luiibrets Lair was a landowner in Iowa and left a
good ijiece of pro]jerty to his family when he died. His widow survived him
about thirteen years, she being sixty-six years of age at the time of her
death. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the fmirtJi in order of birth, the others being Die and Jergen.
who are married and still living on the old home place in Iowa : Gunhild,
deceased, and Embret, who is married and is still living in Iowa.
Reared on the home farm in Clayton county. Iowa. Henry E. Gunder-
son received his schooling in the local school of th.'it neighborhood and
remained at home until after his marriage at the age of twenty-three, when
be and his bride, in i88j, came up into the valley of the Red River of the
North and two years later bought a tract of three hundred and twenty acres,
a half section, in section 35 of Flom township, Norman county, where they
established their home and where thev ever since have resided, useful and
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA. (S 1 5
influential pioneers of that part of the county. As he prospered in his farming
operations Mr. Gunderson bought an adchtional quarter section in section
35 of I-"lom township and forty in section 15 of Fossum township, being- now
the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, two hundred
and forty acres is under cultivation. There are natural groves of poplar
on his place and his buildings are .substantial and up-to-date. In addition
to the central farm house there is a well-built bungalow on the place and
the general farm plant is looked upon as one of the best ecjuipped in that part
of the county. .Ml of the buildings are lighted by electric light and the
appointments of the place are in other respects equally up-to-date. Mr.
Gunderson gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and at
the time of this writing in 19 17 had on his place si.xty-five head of cattle,
eight head of horses and fifteen hogs, h'or four or five years after begin-
ning his farming operations here Mr. Gunderson farmed with oxen and
he has witnessed a remarkable re\olution in farming methods since those
days.
On .\ugust 17. 1882, in Clayton count). Iowa. Henry E. Gunderson
was united in marriage to Bertha Embretson, who was born in Iowa on
July 9. 1865, and to this union eleven children have been born, namely:
Jesse, who is married and is living at Faith, Norman county ; Burton, who
is married and who !i\es at Waubun. Mahnomen countv. Minnesota: I-ldwin,
also married, who is li\'ing at Waubun: Perrv and Herbert, twins, the
former of whom is living in North Dakota and the latter on the home
place : Bernard, who is married and living at Flom, and .Adelia. Mabel,
Clarence. Geneva and Floyd, at home. Mr. Gunderson served for about
eighteen )ears as treasurer of the local school board. He is a stockholder
in the Co-operative Creamery Company and in the Farmers State Bank of
Flom and was one of the organizers of the first-named concern.
LAMBERT ROESCH.
Lambert Roesch, a well-known real-estate dealer and banker, of .Ada.
formerlv and for years engaged in the clothing business in that city and who
also is a substantial landowner in Norman county, is a native of Wisconsin,
but has been a resident of Norman county since the days of his lx)yhood.
He was born on a farm in Dunn county, Wisconsin, May 19, 1871, son of
John and Sophia (Schill) Roesch, natives of Germany, who becaiue pioneers
8l6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of Norman county and spent their last days there, John Roesch becoming
one of the most extensive landowners in that county.
John Roesch was born in 1824 and grew to manhood in his native Ger-
many. When twenty-one years of age, in 1845, lie came to the United
States and for the first two years after his arrival in this country worked
in New York. He then, in 1847. came up into the Northwest and was
located at St. i'au! for two years, at the end of which time he entered a
homestead claim to a quarter of a section of land in Carver county, this
state, five years later selling that homestead to advantage and moving to
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where for about ten years he workeil in the lumber
woods. He then moved onto a farm near luiu Claire and there made his
home until 1879, when he returned to Minnesota and came on up to this
part of the state and homesteaded a tract in what later came to be organ-
ized as W'inchester township, Norman county, where he established his home
and where he spent the rest of his life, l-'rom the very t)eginning of his resi-
dence in Xorman county John Roesch's affairs i)rospered and he gradually
added to his hoklings until he became the owner of one thousand two hun-
dred and eightv acres of land. He died in 1904 and his widow survived
him for about li\ e years, her death occurred in 1909. They were the
liarents of twelve children, all of whom are still living and of whom the
subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth, the others being
]\Iarv. There.sa, Carrie, John, Joseph, George. bVank. I'annie. Christine,
Michael and Isabel.
Lambert Roesch was eight years of age when his i)arents moved from
Wisconsin to Minnesota and he grew to manhood on the home farm in
Norman count\-, com])leting his schooling in the village schools at W'inchester,
his first schooling in that neighborhood ha\ ing l)een received in a room set
apart for that jnirpose in a farm house. When twenty years of age Mr.
Roesch began working for .\ndrews & Hampson. in the machine line at Ada,
and remained with that firm for nine years. In the meantime, in 1898. he
engaged in the clothing business at Ada. in partnership with Sam Olson,
but continued his connection with .\ndrews & Hampson for two years there-
after. Mr. Olson looking after the affairs of the clothing store. In 1900
Mr. Roesch entered the clothing store and was thus engaged in business with
Mr. Olson until 1911. when he engaged in the real-estate business in ])art-
nership with Edward Helland and was thus engaged for a year, at the enil
of which time he formed a partnership with D. C. Jones in the real-estate
line, and has ever since been thus engaged. Vie and Mr. Jones operating
extensively in realt\- throughout this section of Minnes<ita. Tn tot6 Mr.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 817
Roesch closed out his interest in the clothing store to Mr. Olson. In 191 5
he and Mr. Jones organized the l-'irst State Bank of Gary and Mr. Roesch is
one of the directors of the same. In that same year he and Mr. Jones
organized the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Ada and Mr. Roesch is
credit man for that institution. In addition to his banking and other inter-
ests in and about Ada, Mr, Roescli is the owner of a fine farm of two hun-
dred a!id twenty acres in Anthony township and has long been regarded as
one of the substantial citizens of Norman county.
On July I, 1901, Lambert Roesch was united in marriage to Harriet
Lebrun, daughter of Florentine Lebrun and wife, and to this union four chil-
flren ha\e been born, Grace, .Alice, Cleora and Lambert, Jr. Mr. and Mrs.
Roesch are members of the Catholic church and give their earnest attention
to parish affairs. Mr. Roesch is a Democrat and gives a good citizen's
attention to local political matters, but has not been a seeker after office,
hraternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and with the local
lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in the affairs of
these organizations takes a warm interest.
WALTER G. HADLER.
Walter G. Hadler, a well-known merchant and store-keeper, of Pleasant
View township, Norman county, former township assessor and in other
ways was identified with the progressive spirit of his neighborhood, is a
native son of Norman county, born on his father's old homestead on August
15, 1884, a son of Jacob and Wilhelmina H. (Bauer) Hadler, the former a
native of Germany and the latter, of the state of Indiana.
Jacob Hadler, who was deprived of his parents at the age of seven years,
was reared by a maternal aunt and continued to live in his native Germany
until he was fifteen years old, when, in 1869, he immigrated to xAmerica
and on arrival went on to Minnesota and settled in Red Wing, near which
place he remained for ten years, working on farms. In 1879 he moved to
Xornian county and entered a liomestead claim to one hundred and sixty
acres of land in section 14 of what later became Pleasant View township.
He operated this land and set it out to general farming and met with suc-
cess from the verv beginning. Later, he engaged in the sale of binder twine
and agricultural implements in .Ada. .A further and more extended account
(52a)
8l8 CLAY ANU NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of Mr. Hadler's life appears on another page of this work and to that the
reader is referred for complete particulars. Jacob Hadler and wife were
the parents of the following children: Benjamin H., Ida C, Walter G..
the subject of this sketch; Jacob J., Wilhelmina M. and .\lbert E. Mr.
Hadler and his wife affiliated with the Lutheran churcli and their cinldren
were reared in that faith.
Walter G. Hadler was educated in the public schools of Xorman county
and later at a commercial college in Te.xas. He assisted his father in the
labors of the farm and after the lapse of some years thus engaged he started
business on his own account as a grain buyer, also being the owner of a
store in Hadler, which he purchased, and also acquired a lot. in the sj^ring
of 1914. He has been very successful as a grain buyer and in that con-
nection is well known outside the limits of Xorman countv. In addition
to his commercial undertakings he acts as agent for the Thorpe Elevator
Company. Mr. Hadler is regarded as an expert judge of grain aiul enjoys
the confidence of a wide circle of those engaged in handling that commodity,
whether as buyer or sellers.
On February 5, lyii, Walter G. Hadler was united in marriage to
Margaret Letness, born on November 6, 1889. in Xorway and at the age
of three years accompanied her parents to America, the father and mother
still living near Hendrum, this state. Mr. Hadler gives a good citizen's
attention to public affairs and served for one year as township assessor,
giving general .satisfaction while engaged in the duties of that important
office, and in other ways he has interested himself in matters appertaining to
the community welfare, e\er supporting all i)rojects tending toward that end.
Mr. Hadler is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, in the good
works of which he is warmh- interested.
OLE HO\DEX.
The late Ole Hoxden, one of Xorman county's pioneer farmers and for
years one of the most substantial residents of Lee township, who died at his
home in that township in the summer of 1901 and whose widow is still living
there, was a native of the kingdom of X'orway, but had been a resident of
this state since 1878. in which year he came up here into the Red River
valley and located at Moorhead. He was engaged in farming in that vicin-
ity until the fall of 1880, when he bought a tract of eighty acres in section
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 819
26 of Lee township and there estabUshed his home. He later bought one
hundred and sixty acres in sections 26 and 2-/ of the same township and at
the time of his death had developed a fine farm, well improved and profitably
cultivated.
Ole Hovden was born on December 17, 1845, I'^^t born of the four
children born to his parents, Ole and Anna Olson, the others being Ranghild,
Martin and Bolette, who remained in their native land. In 1873 he married
Oleanna Kristopherson, who was born on January 28, 1846, daughter of
Christopher and Dorothy Marie Olson, and who was the last-born of the
four children born to her parents, the others l>eing Elias, who is now living
retired at Moorhead ; John, who is living in the state of Michigan, and
Petrina, now deceased, who was the wife of Jens Antlerson. About five
years after his marriage, or in 1878, Mr. Hovden came to this country with
his family and, as noted above, for a few years made his home at Moor-
head, farming with Jens Anderson, later buying the farm in Lee township
referred to above and proceeded to improve and develop the same. He
planted a grove that is now an admirable feature of the landscape in that
section, made substantial improvements on the place and in due time had a
very comfortable home and a well-developed farm. As he prospered he
bought an additional tract of one hundred and sixty acres in sections 26 and
ij of that same township, thus giving him two hundred and forty acres of
fine land, and he became regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that
part of the county. Mr. Hovden took an active interest in the general busi-
ness affairs of the county and was one of the promoters of the Farmers
Elevator Company, in which he was a stockholder. Other enterprises of a
local nature also received his earnest support. Mr. Hovden died on July 8,
1901, and there was sincere regret throughout the community of which
he had been so long a resident, for he had done well his part in that com-
munity.
To Ole and Oleanna (Kristopherson) Hovden were born four children,
namely : John, who is married and who is engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness at the village of Twin Valley ; Christian, who is taking care of the home
farm for his mother; Conrad, who is married and who is now living at
St. Paul, where he is connected with the firm of Swift & Company, and
Anna, who is married and is living at Minneapolis. Christian Hovden, who
is looking after the home farm, was born in Norway in 1877 and was a
babe when his parents came to this country, consequently all his active
life has been spent in Norman county. He grew up on the home farm,
receiving his schooling in the local schools and early became a practical
820 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
farmer. After the death of liis father he assunieil the active management
of the farm, in his mother's behalf and has done well in his farming opera-
tions, which are carried on strictly in accordance witii modern methods. On
November 20, 191 5, Christian Hovden was nnited in marriage to Minnie
Baker, who was bom in this state in 1895. '^"^ t*^ this union one child has
been born, a daughter, Elaine. The Hovdens have a very pleasant home in
Lee township and have ever taken an interested ])art in the general social
activities and good works nf the community in which thev live.
WILLIAM VIDEEN.
William \'ideen, an energetic and substantial young farmer of Moorhead
township. Clay county, proj)rietor of a fine farm in the township and engaged
in general farming and stock raising, was born in Moorhead on May 24,
1881. He is the .son of William and Ellen (Nelson) Videen, both of whom
were natives of the kingdom of Sweden.
The elder William Videen immigrated to the United States from iiis
native Sweden when he was quite young. On arriving in this country he
came on out to Minneosta and settled at Moorhead. in Moorhead township.
Clay county. In this jjlace he engaged in mercantile business and also
handled lumber, these two branches of work keeping him occupied for the
remainder of his active life. He was united in marriage to Ellen Nelson
in this country, she having also come from Sweden in her young days. They
l)Oth died in Moorhead, this county. They were the parents of the following
children: William, the subject of this sketch; and Ida, who married Doctor
Keenyon, of Cheyenne, Wyoming. William Videen and his wife were
members of the Swedish Lutheran church and earnestly interested in all
its good works. They were ever regarded as excellent citizens and their
deaths were widely mourned throughout the communit}- in which they had
been living for many years.
William Videen was educated in the common schools of Moorhead and
on the completion of his school course he took up farming for some time.
He later went across the border to Canada and worked on a railroad in that
country for one year. At the end of that period he returned to Moorhead
and commenced farming on his own account, also engaging in the raising of
cattle. Mr. Videen owns one hundred and si.xty acres of prime land and
rents another one hundred and sixty acres, and is actively engaged in general
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 82 1
mixed farming and the raising of a good grade of Shorthorn cattle, headed
by a registered Shorthorn bull. He is an enterprising young farmer, car-
rying on his farming operations according to modern methods of agriculture,
and is doing very well. His place is well improved and he is accounted
one of the substantial farmers of his section of the county.
On Jvme 14, 1906, William Videen was united in marriage to Hilda
Sunquist. To Mr. and Mrs. Videen three children have been born, namely,
Eunice, Margarette and an infant that died. The Videen family are members
of the Swedish Lutheran church and warmly interested in all church work,
and are prominent members of the community. Mr. Videen gives his ardent
support to the Repuljlican party and is serving as clerk of Moorhead town-
ship; he is also clerk of school lx)ard district No. 79. He is president
of the South Side Farmers Club and takes a good citizen's interest in all
local civic matters and in the general affairs of the communitv in which
he lives.
K. KITTELSOX.
K. Kittelson, a well-known and energetic farmer of Goose Prairie
tow nship. Clay county, owner of a compact and well-kept farm of two hun-
dred and fortv acres, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been
a resident of this country since he was five years old and of Clay county
since 1878. He was born in 1856 and is a son of Kittel and Gunild Kittel-
.son, both natives of Norway, who came to America in 1861.
Kittel Kittelson was a farmer in his native Norway and on coming
to the United States proceeded to the state of Wisconsin, working out for
a time. His health was not the best and at the end of two years following
his arrival here his death occurred. His wife, Gunild Kittelson, lived with
her son, the subject of this sketch, and at the time of her death in 1894 was
seventy-six years old. Kittel Kittelson and wife were the parents of the
following children: Ingeborg, deceased; Mrs. Anna Ostinson, who lives in
North Dakota ; Agnes, living in Iowa ; Nellie, deceased : Tohore, deceased :
Guleck, deceased; Ole, deceased; Nils, deceased, and K. Kittleson, the sub-
ject of this sketch.
K. Kittelson was a child of five years old when his parents immigrated
to the United States and he went with them to Wisconsin, where his father
died some two years after arriving in that state. His mother then moved
to Iowa, and he attended school and worked out to help the family deprived
822 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
of its head while he was still ;i child. At the age of twenty-one years Mr.
Kittdson moved to Clay county and took a homestead near Hawlev, in
Highland Grove township. This was in 1878. He lived at that place for
seven or eight years and sold out and came to Goose Prairie township and
bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 36, that township,
later adding another eighty, and now has a compact and well-kept farm of
two hundred and forty acres of choice land and is engaged in general farm-
ing, his efforts from the beginning of his agricultural ojx'ratiou'^ in this
township meeting witli success. Mr. Kittelson carried out all the improve-
ments at present on his holding and he is now regarded as one fif the ^ul)-
stantial and energetic farmers of this part of the township.
In 1905. at .Moorhead, K. Kittelson was united in marriage to .Mathilda
Holum. who was born in Xor\va\' in 1875 and came with her mother to
America in 1892. the father having died some time previously in Norway.
A brother also accompanied her to this country. Mr. and Mrs. Kittelson
are the parents of two children, a boy. Carl, ten years old. and a girl.
Alice, seven years old. Mr. Kittelson is a member of the United Brethren
church and warmly interested in all its good works. He takes a good citi-
zen's interest in all community affairs, but has never been a seeker after
])ublic office.
CHARLES PALLAS.
Charles Pallas, an energetic and substantial farmer of Humlxjldt town-
ship. Clay coimty. proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty
acres in section 17 of that township and actively engaged in the raising of
Holstein cattle and Poland China hogs, was born in the city of Chicago, state
of Illinois, in 1877. He is a son of Louis and Carolina Pallas, the former
of whom is still living and the latter is deceased.
Louis Pallas, who has now reached the advanced age of eighty-three
years, was born in Germany in 1834 and was educated in the schools of that
country. .At the age of twenty-five, in 1859. he immigrated to the United
States, and lived for several vears in the state of Illinois. He is now living
with his children. He farmed near Barnesville. this countv. for several years.
His wife, Carolina Pallas, was born in 1840 and died in September. 1905.
aged sixty-five years. They were the parents of the following children :
John, Gustie, Helena and Charles.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 823
Charles Pallas was educated in the schools of the city of Chicago and
later followed the occupation of a farmer. .Ahout the year 1902 lie came
to Clay county and bougiit a farm of one lumdred and sixty acres in section
16, Barnesville township. Some time later he moved to section 7 of the
same township and lived there for seven years. In the fall of 191 2 he bought
his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres of prime land, located
in section 17. Humlwldt township, where he is engaged in general farming
and stock raising and since the commencement of his operations he has been
most successful, everything about his farm being in excellent condition. His
place is well improved and his dwelling house and outbuildings are models
of their class. He raises an excellent strain of Holstein cattle, which finds
a ready market, as do the Poland China hogs which he raises. Mr. Pallas
conducts his farming operations according to modern methods and he is
accounted one of the substantial and progressive farmer of this section of the
county. He allocates a portion of his land to the cultivation of potatoes and
usually plants about one hundred acres to that branch of production.
On June 18, 1904, Charles Pallas was united in marriage to Minnie
Burke, who was born in the state of Illinois in 1884. To this union the
following children were Ijorn : \^ernie, Clarina and .\rnold. who are living
at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Pallas take a proper interest in
the welfare of the district in which they live, helpful factors in the promotion
of all causes having for their object the common good of the community.
Mr. Pallas gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, with special
regard to the educational conditions, and is at jiresent a member of the dis-
trict school Ijoard ; in other ways also he has given of his time and energy for
the ])ublic good.
AKE THEODORE .\KESSON.
.\nother of the successful Clay comity farmers of Swedish origin, is
-\ke T. .\kesson, a well-known general farmer, owner of a fine farm in section
i_^, Riverton township. Clay county. He was born in the kingdom of Sweden
in 1874, init has been a resident of this country and of Minnesota state since
he was fourteen years of age. He is a son of Ole and Tnga .\kesson. who
were also born in Sweden.
Ole .\kesson was horn in Sweden in 1843 and was educated in the
schools of that country, and is still living there. He commenced his life
occupation as a farmer and continues that mode of life at present. His
824 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
wife, who was also born in Sweden, died in 1900 at the age of forty-four
years. They were active and influential residents of the district in which
they made their home and Mrs. Akesson's passing at a comparatively early
age was a source of general regret to the friends of the family. Ole and
Inga Akesson were the parents of the following children : Emil, Ingebor,
Gerda, Axel, Anna, in this country ; Oscar, also in the United States ; Berna
and Ake T., the subject of this sketch.
Ake T. Akesson was educated in the schools of his native land and was
reared on his father's farm, where as a l)oy he assisted in the farming opera-
tions. At the age of fourteen in 1888, he left Sweden and came to America
and immediately engaged in farm work, continuing at the labor for some
years, meanwhile saving all the available nu)ney with the view to the pur-
chase of land on his own account. In 1906 he moved to Moorhead, Clay
county, and resumed work on the farm. In 191 2 he bought his i)resent
tract of land, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, in section 13, River-
ton township, and on this farm he carries on general farming. Since the
commencement of his operations he has been most successful, everything
about his farm being in excellent condition. He sets out an average of
twenty-five acres of his holding to the cultivation of potatoes. Mr. Akes-
son carried o.ut many valuable improvements, including the erection of out-
buildings and fences, and his place ranks among the l^est in the townshij).
In 1912 .\ke T. .\kesson was united in marriage to .\nnie Xorman,
who was born in Sweden in 1892 and came to America in 1910, first to Haw-
ley and then to Moorhead, where the marriage took place. They are the
parents of three children as follow : Kenneth, Eugene and Phyllis, all of
whom arc living with their parents. Mr. and ]\Irs. .\kesson take a proper
interest in the general social activities of the township and are helpful factors
in the promotion of all causes having for their object the promotion of the
common good of the community.
ANDREW ROSTVOLD.
Andrew Rostvold, one of Norman county's well-kiKJwn and substantial
farmers and the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Lee township,
is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this state
since he was a child. He w-as born in Norway in 1862, a son of Arndt A.
and Mollie (Helland) Rostvold, natives of that same country, who became
pioneers in Minnesota and whose last days were spent in Norman county.
CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 825
Arndt A. Rostvold was Ixiru on December 7, 1826, and reniainetl in
his native land until about 1868 or 1869, when he came to this country and
settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he made preparations for
establishing a new home. He then sent for his wife and made his home
in Fillmore county for seven years, at the end of which time he came up
into the Red River country with his family and settled on a homestead farm
in Hendrum township, Norman county, having homesteaded a quarter of a
section of land in section 32 of that township. He made substantial improve-
ments on that place and bought other land, becoming one of the well-to-do
pioneers of that part of the county. There he and his wife spent their last
days. He died in 1907, he then being eighty-two years of age, and his
widow survived for seven years, her death occurring in IQ14. She was
born on January 2, 1832, and was also eighty-two years of age at the time
of her death. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject
of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Anna,
deceased ; John, who is living on the old home place in Hendrum township,
and Caroline, a widow, now living at Tacoma, Washington.
Andrew Rostvold was not yet eight years of age when he came with
his mother to this country and rejoined his father in I"'illmore county, this
state. There he spent his boyhood on a pioneer farm and received his school-
ing in the neighborhood schools, continuing his schooling for a couple of
months after coming up into this part of the state with his parents. He
retains the most distinct recollection of the long journey up here behind an
ox-team, the trip from Fillmore county requiring four weeks. Upon his
arrival here he took an active part in the labors of developing and improv-
ing the home farm in Hendrum township and twenty years ago bought from
his father the farm on which he is now living, in section 5 of Lee township.
He later bought a quarter section in section 4 of that same township and
now has a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm nf three hundred
and twenty acres, all the improvements on the place having been made by
himself. In addition to his general farming Mr. Rostvold has given con-
siderable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well in his opera-
tions.
In 1888, at Hendrum, Andrew Rostvold was united in marriage to
Anna Rostvold, who also was born in Norway, in 1869, a sister of Lars
H. Rostvold, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume,
and to this union thirteen children have been torn, namely: Arndt. who
is married and is now operating a garage at Hendrum : Halvor, a carpenter,
who also is married and makes his home at Hendrum; Matilda, wife of J.
826 CI,AV AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Stordahl; John, deceased; Alfreda, a professional nurse: .Alfred, Martin.
Xels. Mollie, Anna, Arnold and I'-dmund. at home, and Gerhard, deceased.
The Rostvolds are members of the Lutheran church anrl take a proper inter-
est in the affairs of the same, Mr. Rostvold being a deacon of the local
congregation. The family have a pleasant home in Lee township and have
ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of the commun-
it\- in whicli thev live.
G. T. IXGBERG.
G. T. Ingberg, a well-known merchant of iiendrum, former president
of the council of that village, secretary and treasurer of the Hendrum
Co-operative Lle\ator C'omijany, treasurer of the Hendrum Telephone Com-
pany and in other ways actively identified with the expanding interests of
that part of \orman county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but
has been a resident of this country since 1888 and of Minnesota since 1890,
that having been tiie year in which be settled in Xorman county, where he
ever since has made his home. He was iKjrn on December 29, 18(^)8, son
of I'lioinas and Julia (Stenseng) Ingi)erg, also natives of Norway and the
former of whom is still living there on his farm in Ringsakar. Thomas
Tngberg and wife were the parents of seven children, of whoni the subject
of this sketch was the second in onler of birth, the others being Karen,
Johan. .Sina. Mary. Ole and Christine, all of whom are still living in their
native Norway with the exception of the subject of this sketch and his
sisters, Sina and Mary, who came to the United States. All the members
of this family are living save the mother, who died some years ago.
G. T. Ingberg was reareil on a farm in bis native land and received
his schooling in the schools of his home neighborhood. He remained at
home until he was twenty years of age, when, in 1888. he came to the United
States and proceeded on up here into the Red River valley, his point of desti-
nation being Grafton, over in Walsh county. North Dakota. Tn that vicin-
it\ lie began working at farm labor and was thus engaged there for about
eighteen months, at the end of which time, in 1890, he came over the river
into Minnesota and began farming in Hendrum township, Norman county,
and remained thus engaged there for about six years. On January i, 1897,
.Mr. Ingberg began clerking in a store at Hendrum and a year later, in
1898, started a .store of his own in that village and has ever since been
CLAY AND NdRMAN COUNTIKS. MINNESOTA. 827
engaged in business there. Mr. Ingberg has a well-stocked general store
and during the nearly twenty years he has been engaged in business at Hen-
drum has built up a large business. Xot only has he been successful in his
own business, but he has given nuuli attention to the general business affairs
of the Cduiniunity and has been one of the leaders in the promotion of enter-
prises looking to the common welfare, being now the secretary and treas-
urer of the Hendrum Co-operative Elevator Company and treasurer of the
Hendrum Telephone Company. Mr. Ingberg also has given a good citi-
zen's attention to the ci\ic affairs of his home town, has served as a member
of the \illage council and has been president of the same.
in 1897 G. T. Ingberg was united in marriage to Margaret luiger,
daughter of Christ J. Enger. and t<i this union five children have been born.
Chester. Julia. Thomas. Edna and Mildretl. Mr. and Mrs. Ingberg are
members of the Lutheran church and take an active interest in church affairs,
as well as in the general good, works- of the communit\- in which they live.
JENS R. RAMSEY.
Jens 1\. Ramsey, a well-known and substantial farmer of Home Lake
township, former member of the local school board and former member of
the township board, is a native of the state of Iowa, but has been a resi-
<lent of Xorman county since he was twenty-four years old. He was born
in Iowa in 1855, a son of Rognald and Martha Ramsey, natives of Norway,
who came to this country while they were yet young.
Rognald Ramsey was educated in the schools of Norway and before
coming to this country spent some time at farm labor in his native land. He
lived in Freeborn county, Minnesota, at the time of his death anil had been
a farmer there for several years. He died al)out 1907, ha\ing reached the
age of seventv vears. His widow survived until 191 1, then her death occur-
red at the age of eighty-four. They were the parents of the following
children: .\nna, living with her brother Ole ; Hans, a farmer on the old
place in b'reeborn county. Iowa: Jens, the subject of this sketch: Ole. the
owner of land in Home Lake township; EUing and Peter, partners in a
hardware store at Twin \'alley; Mary, living on the old place with Hans.
and Louis, a farmer li\ing in Colorado.
Tens R. Ramsey was educated in the schools of Iowa and at the age
of twenty-four moved to Norman county and lived first near Twin \'alley.
828 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
where he worked out on farms for three years. The ne.xt four years were
spent with his brother Ole, the two working together. About 1884 he took
the place on which he now resides, a homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres in section 20, Home Lake townsliip, whicli he immecHately proceeded
to get into a state of cultivation. Later, he bougiit forty acres in section
19 and two "forties" in section 29; he also has twenty-eight acres of pre-
emption land near Twin Valley. Mr. Ramsey is engaged in general farming
and in the raising of common stock and from the very beginning of his
agricultural operations he has been successful. He has added many valuable
improvements to his iioldings. has set out groves and fences, and he is gen-
erallv regarded as one of the progressive farmers of the township.
Jens R. Ramsey was united in marriage to limma Spilde, born in 1863
in Freeborn county, this state, and died in 1908 at the age of forty-five
years. Her parents ha\e been deceased for some years. Jens R. and Emma
Ramsey became the parents of the following children : Julia, a school
teacher; Louis: Alma, working in Fargo; Minnie; Mrs. Ruth Knutson, liv-
ing in Fargo ; Edwin ; Clara, working in Fargo ; Selma, Tina, Ella, Joseph
and Dora, all living at home. .Mr. Ramsey and the members of his family
are affiliated with the Synod church and earnestly interested in all its good
works. He gives a good citizen's attention to all matters alYecting the wel-
fare of the local community and served for several years on the school
board and on the township board, rendering excellent service to those whom
he represented. He assisted in the organisation of the local creamery and
is a stockholder in that undertaking, and in many other ways he has dis-
played a progressive spirit.
TOHX G. GAXGLFk.
John G. Gangler, one of the well-known and substantial farmers in the
southern part of Clay county and the owner of a fine farm of three hundred
and twenty acres on the line between Flmwood and .\lliance townships, his
home being in Elmwood and half of his farm lying in Alliance, is a native
of Wisconsin, but has Ijeen a resident of Minnesota since he was four years
of age, his parents having settled in Clay county in 1880. He was born on
April 23, 1876, .son of Joseph and Frances (Eckel) Gangler. the former of
M'hom was born in Germanv and the latter in the citv of Milwaukee. Wis-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 829
consin, and the former of wlioni is still livint^-, now a resident of British
Columbia.
Joseph Gangler was but two years of age when he came with his parents
to this country, the family settling in Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood
and married, continuing to make his home in that state until 1880, when he
moved over into Minnesota with his family and proceeded on up into the
Red River country, which then was beginning to attract settlers in large num-
bers, and homesteaded a quarter of a section of land south of Barnesville,
in Clay county. He "proved n\>" that claim and made his home there for
five or six years, at the end of which time he moved with his family into
the village of Barne.sville. Xot long afterward, however, he bought another
farm, northeast of Barnesville, in Humboldt township, h'or years Joseph
Gangler served as clerk of Humboldt township and in other ways contributed
of his time and energies to the public service. His wife died on the home
farm in that township and he is still living, for some time past having been
a resident of British Cfilumbia. He is a Catholic, as was his wife, and
their children were reared in that faith, the family being liberal supporters
of the pari.sh at Barnesville. There were thirteen of these children, of whom
the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others lieing
Joseph, Minnie, Mary, George, Henry, l>Vank, Lena, Lewis, I'"rances, Roman,
Clements and Ralph, all of whom arc living save the first-born, Joseph, who
died in 1902.
John G. Gangler received his schooling in the schools of Barnesville and
grew up a practical farmer. Upon engaging in farming on bis own account
he started in Alliance township and remained there thus engaged for seven
years, at the end of which time he bought the quarter section on which he
is now living at the southern edge of Elmwood township, where he ever
since has made his home. In the fall of kji6 he bought the quarter section
adjoining the same to the south, over the line in .\lliance town.ship. and now
has a well-improved place of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he
is successfully engaged in general farming and potato raising. For five years
after the rural mail service was established out of Baker Mr. Gangler car-
ried a route out of that village, meanwhile, however, continuing to make his
home on his farm. He is interested in the local telephone company and has
other local interests, one of the most progressive citizens of that jiart of the
county.
In 1902 John G. Gangler was united in marriage to Kate M. Berk,
daughter of Michael Berk and wife, of Clay county, and to this union four
830 CLAY AND NORMAN COLNTIES, MINNESOTA.
children have been Ijoni. Rutli. Margaret, Madaline and l-'lorence. Mr.
and Mrs. Gangler are niemljers of the Cathohc church at Barnesville and
take a proper interest in the general affairs of tlie parisii. as well as in otlier
local good works.
H.\XS T. Xia.SO.X.
The late Hans J. Xel.son, who was the owner and operator of two hun-
dred fortx' acres of excellent land in Strand and Sundahl townships, Xor-
nian count}-, was horn in Xorwa\ , September 15, 1847, 'i ^^^'^ '^f Johanes
and Bertha ( .\ndres\cn ) .Xelson, both of whom were born in Norway,
where they grew up. married, reared their family and spent their whole lives,
the former lieing tiie owner of a small farm. They were the parents of four
children, all of whom are supposed to be living except the subject of this
review : ihe\ arc Anna. Martin and .Xickoli.
Hans J. .Xelson was reared on the old home place in Norway, where
in his late maturity and early manhood he helped his father in the operation
of the family holding. When, he had reached the age (^f thirty years, he
decided to join some of his countrymen who were coming to America to
establish for themselves new homes in this new country and he landed here
in 1877. .\t first he located in Wisconsin, but he later removed to .Moore
county. Minnesota, where he was married to Martha Marie Johnson. They
took u]) their residence in that count)', remaining there until 1889. in which
year the\- removed to Norman county and located on the farm which his
family is still on. He first lx)ught two hundred acres which lie on Strand
and Sundahl townships and he immediately began the improvement of the
same by l)reaking the stubburn prairie sod in preparation for his hrst year's
crop, by planting a grove and erecting sul)stantial buildings which stand in
Strand township. .After a few years of successful farming, he was enabled
to add to his holdings by the purchase of a forty-acre tract which adjoined
his orginal farm. It was here (jn the home farm that his death occurred
on October 22. 1908, after he had so successfully brought his holding from
its wild state to the point of remarkably high cultivation and improvement.
The home place has been operated by his son John for the past eight or nine
years.
On May 22. 1882, that Mr. XeLson was united in marriage with Mar-
tha Marie Johnson, who was born in X'orway. .\pril 5. 1854, a daughter of
Johanes and Pernile Compdocken, both of whom were natives ,of Norway,
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 83I
the former dying there and tlie latter coming in i88_' to America, where
her death occurred in iMoore county. Minnesota. In 1875, ^^'len Mrs. Xel-
son was twenty-one years of age. she preceded her mother to this country
and settled in Aloore count}-, Minnesota, where she met and married Mr.
Nelson. She had five brothers and sisters, as follow: .\iidrew, I'eter,
Johana. Helena, all of whom died, and Hans, who lives in Minnesota. To
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born four children all of whom are living
on the old home farm; they are; Julia, Helen, John and Berthine. Mr. and
Mrs. Nelson were very active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church
at Strand, and in accordance with the precepts of this faith they reared their
children, .\lthough Mr. Nelson took a good citizen's interest in the civil
and social afifairs of the community in which he lived, he never .sought public
office, having given his undivided attention to his agricultural pursuits and
the improvement and develoiiment of his farm.
\V1LLL\M JOSEPH BODKIN.
One of the well-remembered citizens of Moorhead, Clay county, is
the late William Joseph Bodkin, who died on May i, 1916, a former sheriff
of the county, an honored veteran of the Civil War. and kn.own for years
throughout the count}- as an extensive farmer and dealer in real estate.
William Joseph Bodkin was born in New York Cit} on September 27,
1845, and was educated in the schools of that city, where he continued
to reside for some years. In 1870 he came West, being engaged in the gov-
ernment service as an internal revenue officer, and located at Breckenridge,
coming in the following year to Clay county, where he bought land. He
enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War, held the rank
of sergeant in Company E, One Hundred and Fourth Regiment. Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, and saw much active service. He was wounded in the
neck during the course of one engagement at Chickamauga and was with
Sherman on the niarch to the sea, being mustered out at the end of the war.
I'^or years Mr. Bodkin was an active memlier oi the Grand .\rmy of the
Republic, being warmly interested in the affairs of that patriotic organiza-
tion.
Mr. Bodkin was for years an active ])articipant in the pulilic and [jolitical
affairs of Clay county and served as sheriff' of the count}- for twelve years,
serving with fidelity in that important office. He was extensively engaged
832 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in farming and real estate, being one of the best-known agriculturists for
miles arounil. owning a full section of land in Kragness township, Clay county,
and property at Moorhead. I-'or many years he was engaged as a contractor
in the liridge-huilding line, and carried out many important contracts in
that line, meeting with considerable success. He died on May 1. 1916. hav-
ing reached the age of seventx' one years, and his passing was the occasion
for general mourning, it lieing recognized throughout the community that
a distinct loss had been sustained in his death, he having well done his part
during his many years of intimate association w ith the affairs of Clav county.
William J. Bodkin was united in marri.ige to luger (lorder, born on
.\ugust 10. 1854. in Christiania. Norway, and at the age of ten vears came
to .America with her father, who died many years later in Fergus Falls.
Minnesota, the mother having died in her native country. Mrs. Bodkin had
one sister, Mrs. h'red .Xmbs, of Moorhead. To Mr. and Mrs. Bodkin the
following children were horn' .Mrs. .\da Tobe\'. of I'ittsburgh; .Mrs. Delia
Morris, w itlow of Edwin L. Morris: and William }.. Jr.. Henry Lincoln,
George and Henr\-, all deceased.
Mrs. Delia (Bodkin) Morris, widow of Fdwin Lee Morris, is now
residing with her mother at Moorhead. lulwin L. Morris was a native of
New York state, born there on October j, 1865, a son of John Blodgett and
Laura (Lee) .Morris, ])()th also natives of the h'mpire state. Mr. Morris
had been for some \ears in charge of the Indian schools in the state of
W'ashington. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morris occurred on February
20, 1900. Mr. Morris died at Fargo on February 10, 1915. He had many
interests of a commercial character and was a man of sound business princi-
ples.
THOMAS M. RO.ACH.
Thomas ]\L Roach, a well-to-do and progressive farmer, breeder of
-Shorthorn and Hereford cattle and I'ercheron horses, owner of a fine farm
of four hundred acres in Highland Cirove townshi]). Clay county, is a native
of the old Empire state, but with the exception of a couple of years spent
outside Minnesota, has been a resident of Clay county since the days of his
young manhood. He was born in St. I^wrence county. New York, July
9. 1854, a son of James and Julia (Sullivan) Roach, natives of Ireland.
James and Julia Roach left the Emerald Isle in 1848. a year memorable in
the annals of that countr)- as witnessing the departure of thousands of emi-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 833
grants, owing to the abnormal conditions brought about through the famine of
the preceding year. James Roach settled in St. Lawrence county, New York,
and in 1870 moved to Duluth, Minnesota, and in the following year came
to Clay county. Mr. Roach, accompanied by his son, Thomas M., left Brain-
ard, Minnesota, and walked directly to the farm now in the possession of
the latter, located in section 24, Highland Grove township. Here James
Roach homestead one hundred and sixty acres of land and in the following
year, 1872, the other members of t"he family took up their residence on the
same place, having made the trip by team from Brainard. James Roach
put up the first buildings on his homestead farm and set out a grove, which
improved the appearance of the place very much. As he prospered in his
farming operations he continued to add to his holding, finally becoming the
owner of two hundred and forty acres of prime land and here he and his
wife spent the remainder of their lives, honored and respected throughout
the community. They were the parents of eight children, two of whom are
deceased, the others being as follow: Thomas M., John, Ellen, Mary Ann,
Julia and Catherine. James Roach and his wife were meml>ers of the Catho-
lic church and their children were reared in the same faith. Mr. Roach
helped to organize the Catholic church at Lake Park.
Thomas M. Roach accompanied his parents from his birthplace to Han-
cock, Michigan, where he attended school and where he was reared; it was
a lumber and mining town. In that place his father was connected with
the lumljer industry and in that place, also, Thomas M. Roach worked as a
miner, and between the years 1871 and 1879 he divided his time Ijetween
his father's place and the mines. In the latter year he started alone for the
Black Hills and walked from the point now known as Bismark, North
Dakota, to Lead City, in the Black Hills, a distance of two hundred and
ninety-si.x miles. The journey occupied nine days, the walking being done
by night and the sleeping by day, to avoid coming in contact or conflict with
any nomadic Indians, tlien numerous in that country. There he worked for
a period of two years with the Home State Mining Company and at the
end of that time returned to his father's place, where he has since lived.
Since acquiring the old homestead Mr. Roach has added many improve-
ments and is now the owner of four hundred acres of prime land, all in
one tract. In addition to his farming operations he raises choice strains of
Shorthorn and Hereford cattle and Percheron horses, finding a ready
market in and about the county and outside, and he is generally known
as one of the progressive and prosperous fanners of Highland Grove town-
ship.
(53a)
834 CLAY AND NORMAN 'COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Ill 1880 Thomas M. Roach was united in marriage to Mary Claffey,
of Hawley, Minnesota, a daughter of Michael Claffey and wife. To this
union twelve children have heen born, four of whom died young, the others
being as follow : John, James. Thomas, Morris, Lawrence, Julia, Ellen and
Catherine, these eight children being still alive. The Roach family are mem-
bers of the Catholic church and are earnestly interested in all its good works,
as well as in the welfare of the community in which they reside, always
ready to assist any worthy project calculated to advance the common good.
ROBERT B. WEBB.
Robert B. Webb, a member of the board of county commissioners of
Clay county, formerly and for years engaged in the grain business at Glyn-
don, later engaged in the sale of farm machinery at that place and now
activeh engaged in the dair\- business there, owner of one of the best dairy
herds in the county, is a native of the state of Xew York, but has been a resi-
dent of the Northwest since he was but a child and of Minnesota and Clay
county since 1878, being very properly therefore regarded as one of the old
settlers of this part of the state. He was born on a farm in Columbia
count v, Xew York. January 21, 1846, son of Sylvester T. and Eliza (Har-
rington ) Webb, both also natives of the Empire state, who moved from
there in 1850 to Wisconsin and became pioneers in Walworth county, one
of the southernmost counties of that state. There Mrs. Webb spent her last
days and there Mr. Webb is still living, being now past ninety-three years
of age. Fie is a meml>er of the Methodist church, as was his wife. They
became the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, of whom
the subject of this sketch was the first-born, tlie others being William, Silas.
Mark T. and .\va.
As noted above, Robert B. Webb was but four years of age when his
parents moved from New York state to Wisconsin in 1850 and in the latter
state he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in W^alworth county, receiv-
ing his schooling at Geneva Lake and at Milton Academy. For five winters
he taught school in his home county, meanwhile continuing farming during
the summers, and then, in 187S, came up into the Red River country and
liought a tract of land southwest of the village of Glyndon, on which he
established his home. Two years later he moved to the village of Glyndon
and was for thirteen years thereafter engaged there as the local agent for
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 835
the Duluth I'^levator Company. He tlien resumed farming, at the same time
engaging in the sale of farm machinery, and was thus engaged for about nine
years, at the end of which time he turned his attention more particularly
to the dairy side of farming and has since created at Glyndon one of the
best-ecjuipped dairy farms in this county. Mr. Webb has ninety-three acres
at the edge of the village and has a very comfortable home there. He main-
tains an excellent Guernsey herd and the products of his dairy are in wnde
demand. He formerly owned a quarter of a section of land farther out.
Mr. Webb has for years taken an active part in political affairs, has held
various local of^ces of trust and responsibility and since 1902, by successive
re-elections, has been serving the county as a member of the board of county
commissioners from his district.
In 1868, ten years before coming up into Minnesota, Robert B. Webb
was united in marriage to Anna Jewell, daughter of Almon Jewell and wife,
pioneers of southern Wisconsin, and to this union five children have been
born, Halbert L., Bertha M., Clara B., Hattie E. and Robert B., Jr., all of
whc)m are living at Glyndon, Halbert L. Webb being the present postmaster
of that village. The Webbs are members of the Congregational church and
take an interested part in the general good works and social activities of
their home town.
ESTEN T. WIEGEN.
Esten T. Wiegen, a well-known farmer of Hegne township, owner of
a well-kept and compact farm of one hundred and twenty acres of choice land,
is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of the United
States for thirtv-seven years and of Norman county since 1901. He is the
son of Thor and Karen (Wiegen) Wiegen, and was born on March 9, 1854,
three miles from Trondhjem, Norway.
Thor and Karen Wiegen, parents of the subject of this sketch were
both born in Norway and spent all their lives in that country, where they
were engaged in the farming industry and were respected and representative
citizens of the community in which they resided. Thor Wiegen was a farmer
by occupation and gave all the active years of his life to that calling, to
which he brought up his son, Esten T., and to whom he imparted the funda-
mentals of successful husbandry. Thor and Karen Wiegen were the parents
of the following children : Edward, still living on the old home farm in Nor-
836 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
way; Esten T., the subject of this sketch; Ole Hving near Bemidji, this state;
Severt, who lives with his brother, Esten T. ; Bernt, hving in Hegne town-
ship; Thorsten, also of Hegne township; Mart and Pauline, in Norway, and
Peter, who died young. Thor Wiegen and his wife were members of the
Lutheran church and their children were reared in the faith of that denomi-
nation.
Esten T. Wiegen was educated in the schools of his native land and was
reared on his father's fann, where he became a valued assistant in the labors
of improving and developing the home place. At the age of twenty-six, in
1880, he immigrated to America and on arrival in this country he proceeded
on out to this state, going to Barnesville, where he worked with a steel gang
in the construction of the Great Northern railroad from Barnesville to Ada.
He then worked for the Northern Pacific railroad on construction work,
spending in all a period of three years. Mr. W'iegen's next move was to the
farm and he engaged with Wilhelm Ray, a farmer, living two miles of
Fargo, in Cass county. North Dakota, and worked there for sixteen years,
or up to the time of Mr. Ray's death, after which he continued with the- son
for two years. In the meantime, about 1897, he had bought one hundred
and twenty acres of railroad land in section 13, Hegne township, this county,
and worked out on other farms until lie had the holding paid for. The tract
was all wild land and the task of clearing and preparing it for crops was a
heavy one. He has the place in a thorough state of cultivation and has erected
substantial and modern buildings and is generally regarded as a successful and
progressive farmer, whose operations are conducted along modern agricultural
lines. Mr. Wiegen is a meml>er of the Lutheran church and earnestly inter-
ested in all its good works, as well as in all movements designed to ser\e the
community at large.
IVER N. ELLLNGSON.
Iver N. EUingson, well-known and substantial farmer, owner of two
hundred acres of prime land in Bear Park township, Norman county, connected
with various mercantile pursuits and active in public affairs, is a native of the
kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this country for thirty-seven
years. He was bom in Norway on March 20, 1859, a son of Nels and Carrie
(Jacobsdatter) EUingson, both natives of the same country and who came to
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 837
America about 1893 and lived the remainder of their hves with their son,
Iver N. Elhngson. Xels Ellingson died on May 14, 1909, aged eighty-
three years, and his wife died on October 27, 1901, aged seventy-six years,
and both were laid to rest at the Ness Congregational cemetery. The father
was a farmer in Norway. They were the parents of seven children as fol-
low: Karen (deceased), Johanna, still living in Norway, Edward, Iver N.,
John, Alary and Nels. Nels is in Norway, all the others are in the United
States of America. The parents were members of the Lutheran church and
earnestly interested in its good works.
Iver N. Ellingson was educated in the schools of Norway and reared
on his father's farm, until fifteen years old; then hired out as fisherman on
the northwest coast of Norway. In 1881 he immigrated to America,
directly on arrival proceeding to Ada, Minnesota, working on farms there
and in North Dakota and Wisconsin, but made his home with an uncle,
Ingebright Ellingson, in Hendrum township, Norman county, for some years.
In the fall of 1889 he started farming for himself in section 13, Hendrum
township, having two years previously bought eight}- acres of land in that
township and in 1892 acquired a further tract of one hundred and si.xty acres.
On his first holding, which was all unimproved, he erected some good build-
ings and broke the sod for tillage, breaking fifty acres with the aid of three
steers. In March, 1898, Mr. Ellingson came to his present farm in Bear
Park township, having sold his place in Hendrum township, and bought one
hundred and forty acres the first year and the following year added a fur-
ther sixty acres, all of which is given over to general farming, at the same
time raising graded Shorthorn cattle, for which he finds a ready market. He
has erected substantial buildings to replace the log structures on the holding
when he took it over, and he is regarded as one of the progressive farmers
of the township.
In the fall of 1889 Iver N. Ellingson was united in marriage to Ellen
Serena Stennes. lx)rn in Norway, a daughter of Severt Stennes and wife.
To this union the following children have been born : Nels, who died at the age
of two and one-half years; Selmer Julius, Clara Marie and Sophia Amanda,
Nels Edwin, Ida Eliza. Joseph Helmer, Clarence Anfin, Sena Augusta,
Martin Kermit and John Ingvold. Mr. Ellingson helped to organize the
Lutheran church in Hendrum township. He has always taken as active
interest in mercantile affairs and assisted in the promotion of the Farmers
Elevator at Hendrum, the Sundahl Mercantile Company and the Sundahl
Creamery. In partnership with three other farmers he owned and operated
a thresher in Hendrum township. He is interested in the Independent Har-
838 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
vester Company in Plain. Illinois, and was formerly interested in the
Farmers Elevator at Gary until it Inirned. While living in Hendrum town-
ship Mr. Ellingson served as road overseer for sexeral years. In Bear Park
township he has served as road overseer two or three terms, and is regarded
throughout the township as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen.
CARL K. OLSON.
Carl K. Olson, a substantial farmer of Anthony township, Norman
county, where he owns two hundred acres of good farming land, and a well-
known resident of this community, was born in Halstad township, Norman
county, December 29, 1877, a son of Knut and Olena (Helbrud) Olson, both
natives of Norway, who came to America and settled in Fillmore county,
Minnesota, where the father worked during 1872-73. In the last year men-
tioned, Knut Olson yoked a team of oxen to a covered wagon into which
he loaded his household goods and farming implements, with his family joined
two other families, and drove directly through from Fillmore to Norman
county. One of the members of this party was Ole E. Olson, now deceased,
who was one of the pioneers of Halstad township, Norman county. Soon
after Knut Olson arrived in the county, he homesteaded eighty acres in Hal-
stad township, and his mother, who came with him, also homesteaded a tract
of equal size nearby. There he lived on his holding until his death occurred,
and during his life he entered actively into the affairs of the new commun-
ity. As soon as the population of what is now Halstad township reached
the requisite size, he and his neighbors organized it into the present civil unit,
and he served his community as township supervisor. Not only was he
interested in the initiation of the civil existence of the township, but he
was also instrumental in the establishment of the Augustana Lutheran
church. He and his wife, who now lives his widow on the old home place,
were the parents of nine children, namely: Ole K.. John, Mary, Albert, Carl,
the subject of this review ; William, Bertha, Emma and George B., the latter
deceased.
Carl K. Olson, being born and reared in Norman county, received here
his common-school education, and later he entered Concordia College, at
Moorhead, graduating from the same. Soon after the completion of his higher
education, he left the parental roof and went to .Anthony township, where
he has since lived after starting for himself in farming. As the year passed.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 839
prosperity smiled upon him in his endeavor and he now is the owner of two
liundred and forty acres of excellent land on which he has placed modern
farm improvements. In addition to his general farming operations, he breeds
tlioroughbred Poland China hogs and thus contributes much to the improve-
ment of stock in his county.
In 1906, Mr. Olson married Linda Anderson, who was Ijorn in Anthony
township, Norman county, the daughter of O. J. Anderson and wife, who
came to this county. To this union have been Ijorn the following children :
Clifford. Florence. Roy and Grace. Air. Olson and family are conscien-
tious and consistent members of the Lutheran church, and in the affairs of
this denomination they are imbued with deep interest. Mr. Olson has found
time in his very Inisy career on his farm to take a good citizen's interest in
the civil affairs of his community, having served for many years on the town-
ship board of which he is still a member. He is also a director of the Hal-
stad Fire Insurance Company.
SEVERT S. LURA.
Severt S. Lura, a substantial and progressive farmer, owner of a tine
farm of three hundred and twenty acres and also engaged in the raising
of stock, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born there on July 23,
1861, but has been a resident of Norman county since his arrival in this
country in 1882. He is a son of Severt and Sebela Lura, who were born
in Norway and spent all their lives in that country.
Severt Lura, father of the subject of this sketch, was educated in the
schools of Norway and was brought up to the calling of a ship carpenter.
He died when his son, Severt S., was two years old. His wife, Sebela Lura.
remained in Norway and died in 1914 at the great age of ninety-three years.
Thev were the parents of five children, those besides Severt S., who was the
fourth in the order of birth, being Salver, Isaac, Hannah and Mary, all of
whom are still living. The jjarents of these children were earnest members
of tlie Lutheran church and their children were reared in the same faith.
Severt S. Lura was educated in the schools of Norway and worked as
a farm laborer there for several years, at the end of which time he decided
to try his fortune in America. In 1882, at the age of twenty-one he immi-
grated to the United States and on arrival at the port of entry he pro-
840 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ceeded on out to Minnesota and came to Ada, Norman county, where iie lias
ever since resided. He worked for about twelve years in Ada and Halstad,
respectively, for a lumber company and having exercised thrifty habits, he
had accumulated enough money to enable him to buy one hundred and si.xty
acres of land in Hegne township, and on this holding he has since remained,
engaged in general farming and stock raising, his efforts from the very
commencement of his agricultural operations having been successful. Mr.
Lura has effected some considerable improvements on his holding, havino-
erected substantial farm buildings and set out a nice grove, which enhances the
value of the property. Since acquiring the original quarter section he has
added another one hundred and si.xty acres, and is generally regarded as one
of the energetic and progressive farmers of the township.
In 1898 Severt S. Lura was united in marriage to Hannah P. Hood, wlio
was born in Norway and came to .\merica at the age of eighteen years, alone,
going on arrival to Halstad, this county. To the union of Mr. and .Mrs.
Lura have l)een born as follow : Clara, Selma. Inga, Pearl, Mary, Ollie, Lil-
lie, Inez, Ruby and Clarence, all of whom are living. The Lura family arc
members of the Lutheran church and are active in all its good works. Mr.
Lura gives a good citizen's attention to ])ublic affairs and has held offices in
connection with the schools of the township and is now serving on the local
school board.
Mrs. Lura's parents were Peter and Carolina (Hood) Peterson, both of
whom were born in Norway, Peter Peterson dying in that country when his
daughter (Mrs. Lura) was eleven years old. The mother is still living in
Norway. They were the parents of five children as follow: Nettie, Tina,
Hannali, Bertina, deceased, and Gena. When Mrs. Hannah Lura came to
.\merica she took, the name of Hood, which was her mother's family name.
P. A. GRANDE.
P. A. Grande, at jjresent working for the Twin \'alley Hardware and
Implement Company at Twin N'alley, and owner of a quarter of a section
of land up in Beltrami county, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived
in this state all his life. He was bom on a farm in Houston county on
January 25, 1867, son of A. P. and Annie (Peterson-Quale) Grande, natives
of the kingdom of Norway, the former born in Trondjhem and the latter in
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 84I
Westlieder, who were married in the summer of 1865 in Houston county,
Minnesota. They located in Houston county, where they remained until
the spring of 1871, when they came up into this part of the state and settled
in Becker county. Upon his arrival in Becker county A. P. Grande pre-
empted a quarter of a section of land two miles north of Lake Park and
there made his home until 1879, when he disposed of his holdings there to
advantage and moved up into the country, at that time I'olk county, that
later was organized as Norman county, and whicli then was beginning to
attract numerous settlers. He homesteaded a quarter section in what later
became organized as Fossum township and was thus one uf the first settlers of
that township. There he made his home until his retirement from the farm and
removal in 1910 to Twin Valley, where he spent his last days and where his
widow is still living, his death occurring there on March 18, 19 15. He was
a member of the Lutheran (Synod) church, as is his widow, and their
children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, of
whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being G. B.,
L. C., M. J., Clara (deceased), A. J., Ole and Anna.
P. A. Grande was but four years of age when his parents came up here
from Houston county and he grew up amid pioneer conditions, receiving his
schooling in tlie schools of Lake Park and of Fossum. From the days of
his boyhood he was a valued help to his father in the labors of improving
and developing the home farm in Fossum township and remained there until
he w^as twenty-six years of age, when he bought a farm up in the neigh-
borhood of Grand Forks and remained there until 1897, in which year he
married and located at Ulen, in Clay county, where he engaged in the harness
business and was thus engaged at that place for four years, at the end of
which time, in 190 1, he returned to Norman county and bought a quarter
of a section of land in the vicinity of Hendrum, where he made his home
and where he was engaged in farming until 1906, in which year he traded
for a half interest in a general merchandise store at Hendrun and was there
engaged in business for three years. He then moved to Waubun and was
there engaged in the restaurant business for six months, or until in February,
1910, when he moved to Twin \^al!ey, where he since has made his home
and where he is now engaged with the Twin Valley Hardware and Imple-
ment Company. In addition to his interests at Twin Valley, Mr. Grande is
the owner of a quarter of a section of land up in Beltrami county. During
his residence at Ulen Mr. Grande served as a member of the village council
and also served the public in a similar capacity during his residence in
Hendrum.
842 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
On January 15, 1897, P. A. Grande was united in marriage to Helga
D. Peterson, daughter of P. G. Peterson and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Grande
are members of the Lutheran (Synod) church and take a proper part in
church work.
ALBERT C. GLAWE.
Albert C. Glawe, a weH-known and energetic farmer of Humboldt town-
ship, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 2, that
township, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of Clay
county since 1903. He was born in 1869 in Winnebago county, Illinois, a son
of Charles and Christine (I'eter.son) Glawe, both of whom were natives of
Germany and who were married in that countr)- before immigrating to
America.
Charles Glawe was born in Germany in the year 1835 and was educated
in the schools of that country. He followed the occupation of a farmer in
his native land and resumed his work at that calling on settling in this coun-
try. .\t the age of thirty-two, in 1867, he and his wife came to the United
States and some years later went to Iowa and settled in Greene county,
that state, continuing to live in that place for forty-two years. He liecame
the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land and was
known to be an industrious and painstaking farmer, developing and improv-
ing his holding as he prospered in his agricultural labors. His death occur-
red on May 16, 1917. at the age of eighty-two. His wife was born in Ger-
many about 1838. was tnarried in that country and accompanied her hus-
band to America in 1867. Her death took place in March, 1904, at the age
of sixty-six years. To Charles Glawe and wife the following children were
Ijorn : Edward, married and living in Greene county, Iowa; Albert C, the
subject of this sketch: .\nna. married and living in I-'airmount, Minnesota;
Mary, married and living in Paiton, Iowa; William, also married, lives in
Dana, Iowa; Amanda, who is married and living in the latter place, and
Mathilda, married, living in Waverly, Iowa.
Albert C. Glawe accompanied his parents to Iowa and was educated in
the schools of Greene Cduntx'. that state, and reared on his father's farm.
From boyhood he was an able assistant in the labors of developing and
improving the home place and received expert advice in farming under the
guidance of his father. In 1903 Mr. Glawe moved to Clay county and pur-
chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of prime land, located in
CLAY AND NORMAX COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 843
section 2, Humboldt township, and here is engaged in general farming and
since the beginning of his operations he has been most successful He has
liis holding fenced and erected a new granary, and he is recognized as an
energetic and progressive farmer, who conforms to modern methods in the
work of the farm.
In February, 1900. Albert C. Glawe was united in marriage to Julia
Xugent, who was born in \\'il! county, Illinois, in March. 1869. The mar-
riage took place in Emmet county. Iowa. To this union two children have
been born. Lister and Thomas, who are at home with their parents. Mr.
Glawe gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and served as a
member of the township school board for si.x years, bringing to the duties
of that office a ripe intelligence and sound judgment, and in other ways he
has given evidence of his interest in all matters affecting the public welfare.
KARELIUS J. SKAVDAHL.
Among the progressive farmers of Halstad township, Norman county,
there are few who have taken a more active part in promoting the general
agricultural and business affairs of that community than have Karelins J.
Skavdahl, and Gunerius J. Skavdahl, proprietors of a tine farm in that
town.ship. Karelins was formerl\- chairman of the Ixiard of township super-
visors and prominentlv identified with the work of the creamerv and of the
co-operative elevator at Halstad. Though a native of another land, he has
Ijeen a resident nf this section of Minnesota since the days of the pioneers,
having settled in Xorman county the year in which the county attained a
separate governmental status, and has thus been a witness to and a partici-
pant in tlie development of this region almost from the very beginning of
that development.
Karelins J- Skavdahl was born in the kingdom of Norway on August
6, 1858, and there grew to manhood, remaining there until 1881. in which
year he and Gunerius his elder brother, came to Minnesota, and settled at
Halstad. In 1883 he was joined here by his parents, Johannes and Inge-
borg Anna ( Oveistad) Skavdahl. and settled on the farm on which he is now
living, in Halstad township. On that place his parents spent the remainder
of their lives. Thev were the parents of six children, those besides the sub-
ject of this sketch being Peter, Ole, Gunerius, Peter Lawrence and .\nna
Jorgena. Mr. Skavdahl has continued to make the farm on which he is now
844 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
living his home ever since he entered it the year after his arrival in Xornian
county. He now has two hundred seventy-five acres and has done well in his
fanning operations, his place being well improved and profitably cultivated.
He planted a fine grtive on the place and the same is now an admirable fea-
ture of the landscape in that section. Since 1892 K. J. Skavtiahl has been
operating a threshing-machine outfit and has done well in that line. He
helped organize the creamery company at Halstad and was especially active
in the work of organizing the farmers elevator movement at that same place,
in both of the.se enterprises taking much interest. Mr. Skavdahl al.so has
taken an interested part in general public affairs, has been clerk of the
school lx)ard in his local district for many years and served for some time
as a member of the board of township supervisors, for a time being chair-
man of the Ixiard. (i. J. and K. J. Skavahl have been working together
on the same farm since 1882. They bought the first quarter section of land
for seventeen hundred and ten dollars. There were no improvements and
they were over two thousand dollars in debt at the start.
On December 29, 1904, Karelins J. Skavdahl was united in marriage
to Maria .Anthony, who also was born in Xorway at Vtteniien, Trond-
hjem, daughter of Johan and .Ane Magrethe Martinus, and to this union
have been born four children : Johanus, Johan Arnt, Ingeborg Anna and
Clara Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Skavdahl are members of the Lutheran church
and take an interested part in church work. The Skavdahl brothers have been
members of the same Lutheran church since 1883. They have a pleasant
home and give proper attention to the general social affairs of the neighbor-
hood.
CARL KXUTSON.
Carl Knutson, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in
the northern part of Norman county, proprietor of a fine farm in Strand
township, formerly and for twenty-five years chairman of the board of
supervisors of that township, secretary of the creamery company at Gary,
former president of the Farmers Elevator Company at that place and in
other wavs actively identified with the growing interests of that part of the
county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of
Minnesota since 1884, in which year he established himself on the place on
which he is still living in Strand township and where he and his family are
very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. He was born in the city of
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 845
Drammen, an important seaport of Norway situated on both sides of the
Drammen river near its mouth in the Christiania fjord, thirty-three miles
southwest of Christiania, January 2;^, 1852, son of Gabriel and Johanna
(Olson) Knutson, also natives of Norway, who spent all their lives in their
native land. Gabriel Knutson was for years employed in a responsible posi-
tion by an extensive carriage and sled factory, his business being to deliver
the manufactured product of the factory, and was a man of standing. He
and his wife were the parents of seven children, namely: Karen. Gustav,
Bernhart (deceased), Carl, Johan (deceased), Emil and Gerhart. Of these
children the subject of this sketch was the only one who came to America.
Reared in his native city of Drammen, Carl Knutson received there an
excellent education and early qualified himself for manufacturing and com-
mercial pursuits. Upon completing his schooling he went to Christiania, the
capital, and was for seven years engaged there as the treasurer of a com-
pany operating an iron works. He then for seven years was engaged as a
bookkeeper for a grain company and in the meantime was maturing his plans
for coming to the United States, which project he carried out in 1884. Upon
his arrival in this country he proceeded to Chicago and after si.x weeks spent
there in making incjuiries regarding the most likely place of settlement, he
decided on this section of the Red River valley and came up here, having
decided to settle in Norman county. In that same year, in partnership with
John Sulrud, Mr. Knutson bought the tract of one hundred and sixty acres
in Strand township, on which he is now living, and an additional ten acres
nearby. Air. Knutson soon bought his partner's interest in the place and pro-
ceeded to develop and improve the same in accordance with his own views,
and it was not long until he had his place fairly well improved and in a way
to profitable cultivation. In 1890, he by that time having created home-like
surroundings on his farm, Mr. Knutson sent to Norway for his old sweetheart,
Anna Christopherson, who also was born in that country, a daughter of
Andrew Christopherson, and they were united in marriage within three Jiours
after lier arrival here and straightway entered upon the task of housekeep-
ing on the place he had prepared with such devoted care against the time
of her coming. Since then Mr. Knutson has made many substantial improve-
ments on his place and has long had one of the best farm plants in that part
of the county. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Knutson has given
his studious and intelligent attention to the general business and civic affairs
of his home community and has been one of the most prominent factors in
the development of that region. For twenty-five years he served as chairman
846 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of the board of township supervisors in his home townshij), retiring from office
in the spring of 191 7, and during that long period (hd much to bring about
the proper development of Strand township. He helped in the organization
of the local creamery company at Ciary and has been secretary of that com-
pany from the time of its organization with the exception of three years, dur-
ing which time the condition of his wife's health would nt)t permit him to
assume added responsibilities. When the Farmers Elevator Company was
organized at Gary he was elected president of that concern and held that posi-
tion for some years. In other ways also he has been helpful in advancing
the common interests of the community.
:\Ir. and Airs. Knutson have one child, a son, Harry Knutson, who is a
valued assistant to his father in the latter's operations and who continues
to make his home on the home place. The Knutsons are members of the
United Lutheran church at Gary, which church Mr. Kmitson helped to
organize, and have ever taken an interested and influential part in church
work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of the com-
munity in which they live.
J. H. FISCH.
One of the enterprising business men of Barnesville, Clay county, is
y. H. Fisch, a contractor and builder, who has built up for himself a wide
and en\ ial)le reputation in his chosen line of endeavor. Mr. Fisch is a native
of Iowa, born January 24, 1879, in Iowa county, the son of Jacob and Mary
(Hendry) Fisch, the former a native of Muscatine county, Iowa, and the
latter of Glasgow, Scotland. His father is a farmer by occupation, and is
now living in O'Brien county, Iowa. Jacob Fisch and wife are the parents
of the following children. J. H., George, William. Roy, Cloyd, Jesse and
Clevie.
J. H. Fisch received his education in the laiblic schools of his native
state, and as a young man learned the trade of a carpenter. At the early
age of twenty he started contracting and building for himself. In 1892
he came to Clay county, Minnesota, locating at Barnesville, where he has since
made his home. For the first three years after coming here he worked foi
others, the first year for W. H. Merritt. of Moorhead, Minnesota, and the
next two years for Minnie & Summers, of Barnesville. In 1905 he engaged
in the contracting and building business for himself here, and has made
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 847
remarkable progress in his line of work. He does contract building of all
kinds, farm buildings, lieating plants, and sidewalks, employing about twenty-
five workmen on the various construction works. He is well known through-
out the county and commands the patronage of the people within a radius
of fifty miles, which speaks well for the <iuality of his work.
In 1907 J. H. Fisch was married to Martha Fankhanel, and to this
union two children have been born, Pearl and Laurence. The famih- are
earnest members of the Congregational church, and take an active interest
in the affairs of the local church, h'raternally, Mr. Fisch is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
AANEN PEDERSON.
Aanen Pederson, a prosperous and progressive farmer, owner of two
hundred and eighty acres of prime land in Bear Park township, Norman
county, is another citizen of Norwegian birth who has rendered a good
account of himself in the agricultural life of the community in which he
lives. He was born in Norway on September 5, i860, a son of Peder and
Martha (Vikeness) Thommassen, both natives of Norway, where the latter
died. Peder Thommassen immigrated to the United States in 1871 and on
arriving in this country proceeded out to Minnesota, locating in Colfa.x
township, Kandiyohi county, this state. He farmed in that place and
remained on the farm for the remainder of his days. He was twice married.
By his union to Martha Vikeness he became the father of four children :
Aanen, Emma, Martha and Mary, who died in Norway. By his later mar-
riage to Bertha Arneson several children were born.
Aanen Pederson was educated partly in the schools of Norway and of
Kandiyohi county. At the age of seventeen he moved to Goodhue county,
this state, and remained there until 1898 working at various occupations,
but principally in the flour-mill at Kenyon. In the latter year he started on
his own account by renting land in Sundahl township, later returning to
Goodhue county and rented there for five years. In 191 1 he moved to
Norman county and made a first purchase of eighty acres, which he set
out to general farming, and as he prospered in his agricultural operations
he added more land to the extent of two hundred acres, making two hundred
and eighty acres in all, which is in a state of excellent improvement and
848 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Mr. Pederson is doing very well in his farming operations, being classed as
one of the progressive farmers of the township.
On November 9, 1885, .\anen Pederson was united in marriage to Anna
H. Werdahl, born in Goodhue county, a daughter of Ole H. and Aslaug
Georgine (Wraalstad) Werdahl, both natives of Norway, who came to
America unmarried, he at tlie age of about twenty and she when ten or
eleven, in company witli her parents, who settled in W'isconsin. Mr. and Mrs.
Werdahl later moved to Goodhue county, where they farmed and si>ent the
remainder of their lives. They were the parents of nine children as follow:
Andria, Anna, Halvor, John. Emma, Martin, Thea, Carrie and George, all
of whom are still living. Mr. Werdahl served with tlic Union colors during
the Civil War. To Mr. and Mrs. Pederson the following children have
been born : Martha, Olena. Bertha, Hannah. Peder, Alma, Inga, Alfred and
Norman, all of whom are living. The Pederson family are inembers of the
Tutheran church and are warmly interested in all its good works, as well as
in all community movements calculated to advance the best interests of the
township at large.
JOHN LAMB.
The late John Lamb, a substantial retired farmer of Clay county, who
died at his home in Baker in the spring of 1910. and whose widow is now
living in the village of Downer, where she is conducting a hotel, was a
native of Scotland, but had l>een a resident of Minnesota since 1872, he and
his wife having come to this country immediately following their marriage
in that year. He was born on a farm in Forfarshire on August 18, 1848,
a son of John and Elizabeth Lamb, also natives of Scotland, the former of
whom died in his native land and the latter of whom later came to this
country and spent her last days in the home of her son, John, in Clay
county. The senior John Lamb and his wife were the parents of ten cliil-
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the
others being David, Charles. .\nn, Margaret, James. .-Mexander, Mary, Jane
and William. Ann Lamb married William Tliompson, a biographical sketch
of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume.
Reared on the home farm in Scotland, the junior John Lamb grew up
there a practical farmer and continued farming there until his marriage in
o
' PUBLIC 1
i TILDE
-;^°^.?^
CLAV AXD NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 849
1872. when he and his Ijride came U> the United States and proceeded on
out to Minnesota, locating in the vicinity of Audubon, in Becker county, where
Mr. Lamb bought a tract of railroad land and for eight years was there
engaged in fanning, one of the pioneers of that neighborhood. In 1880 he
disposed of his interests in Becker county and moved over into Clay county,
homesteading a quarter of a section two and a half miles northwest of
Downer, at the same time buying a tree-claim right to an adjoining quarter
section. He planted a fine grove on his homestead tract and put up a sub-
stantial set of farm buildings on the tree-claim quarter and began to develop
and improve the half section, it not l^eing long until lie had one of the best
farms thereabout. His grove of twenty acres flourished and is now one of
the finest groves in the county, a distinctive landmark and a living monu-
ment to the foresight of the man wlio ])lanted and encouraged it. Mr. Lamb
was an excellent farmer and an appreciative breeder of good stock, keeping
imported draught horses. He also took an active interest in local civic affairs
and for twenty-five years served as treasurer of his home township. Some
time before his retirement from the farm he increased his land holdings by
the purchase of an additional forty acres in Elmwood township. Early in
1908 he built a comfortable house in the village of Baker and retired from
the farm, he and his wife moving to Baker, where his last days were spent,
bis death occurring there on March 20. 1910.
About eighteen months after the death of her husband, Mrs. Lamb sold
her residence property in Baker and for three years thereafter made her
home in Barnes\ille, her son Arthur continuing to operate the old home
farm. Mrs. Lamb then built a house in Downer and has since been conducting
a hotel there. She was born in Scotland. Jean Vannette. a daughter of
\\'illiam and Barbara flMann) Vannette. both natives of Scotland, who came
to this countrv in 1880 and made their home on a ten-acre plot they securefl
on the Lamb farm, spending there the remainder of their lives. They were
the parents of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Lamb was the third in order
of birth, the others being Ann. David. James. Alexander. Margaret. Eliza-
beth. Maiy, Johan, .Mice and Katie. They, as well as the Lambs, were
members of the Presbyterian church and their children were reared in that
faith. To Mr. and Mrs. Lamb thirteen children were torn, William
(deceased), Alice (deceased), Margaret. Annie. .A.rthur. Lillie (deceased).
Elizabeth (deceased), Robert (deceased), Josie. and David and two infants,
deceased. As one of the pioneers of Cla}- county, Mrs. Lamb has many
(54a)
850 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
interesting recollections of the early days of tlie settlement of the country in
which she and her husband became homesteaders and there are few persons
thereabout who have a more accurate fund of information regarding those
days than she.
TORGER HAVELSOX.
Torger Havelson, a native son of old Xorw;iy, who establishetl him-
self of the fertile soil of W'aukon township, Norman county, and is now the
owner of one hundred and seventy acres of land, all of which is in a high
state of cultivation except a ten-acre tract of timber, was born in Sundre-
land, Norway, 1840, a son of Havel and Martha Havelson, who were both
natives of Norway, where they spent their entire lives, the father a farmer
and blacksmith there. The father and mother were the parents of six child-
dren, namely : Hans and Marin, both deceased ; Christina and Helena, liv-
ing; Marthia, deceased, and Torger, the youngest and the subject of this
this review.
Torger Ha\elson received his only formal education in the public
schools of Norway, but he acquired habits of industry and perseverance
while helping the family in their common effort to cultivate the old farm.
He was approaching the prime of his life when he decided to immigrate to
America, the land of opportunity, and establish here his home among sev-
eral of his friends and acquaintances who were here comfortably situated on
the cheap and fertile land of the Northwest. He arrived on American soil
in 1867 and he first located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where, in order
to acquire the necessary capital for setting up a farm plant, he worked as
a farm hand and as a mason and plasterer, which trades he learned while he
was a resident there. For nine years he remained in Winneshiek county
and at the end of that period he came to Norman county, Minnesota, in 1878,
where in the same year he homesteadcd one hundred and sixty acres, the
southeast quarter of section 22, Waukon township, and here he has since
made his home, improving his holding. When he took his homestead, the
land was raw prairie and he had no little difficulty in bringing it under culti-
vation, however, he finally succeeded and is now reaping the fruits of his
labors by wresting the pent-up treasures from the docile soil which was form-
erly stubborn prairie sod. Here he has made all improvements, which in-
clude a comfortable farm home, substantial farm buildings and a beautiful
grove. Some years ago, he purchased an additional tract, ten acres of valu-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 85 1
able timber land. Here on his farm he carries on a general type of diversi-
fied farming and is quite successful in his operations.
Two years after Air. Havelson homesteaded his farm, he was married
to Marie Garden in Alarch, 1880. She was born in Norway, a daughter of
Lars and Regina Garden, and to this union two children have been born,
sons, Lewis and Martin, both of whom are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hav-
elson are both active and influential members of the Norwegian Lutheran
church, the former having helped to organize the first church society in this
part of the county, the St. Peter Lutheran church of Strand township, to
which they both yet belong. The co-operative business interests of the com-
munity have been the objects of a considerable part of Mr. Havelson's time
and efifort, for he helped to organize the creamery at Waukon and also the
Waukon Mercantile Company. In politics, he is a Republican, but he has
never gone in very seriously for public ofifice. He has been deeply inter-
ested in local educational progress for many years, and has been for quite
a while treasurer of the school district.
OLE L. NORBY.
Ole L. Norby, proprietor of a well-improved farm of three hundred
and twenty acres in Strand township, Norman county, is a native of the king-
dom of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota since the year 1882,
having come here from his native land the year following his marriage there.
He was born on March 4, 1855, son of Lars and Alaria (Olson) Knutson,
also natives of Norway, who spent all their lives there and who were the
parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Knut,
Martin, Lizzie, Gunil and Andrew, all of whom are still living in their native
land, engaged tiiere in farming, which was the vocation of their father.
In 1 88 1 Ole L. Norby was married in Norway and in the ne.xt year he
and his wife came to this country and proceeded on out to Minnesota and
settled in Norman county, where they ever since have made their home and
where they have prospered, being now in possession of a fine farm covering
one-half section in Strand township, which has been improved until it is
regarded as one of the best-kept farms in that neighborhood. Upon com-
ing into possession of that place Mr. Norby planted trees and erected a sub-
stantial set of farm buildings and has otherwise brought the place up to the
top notch of agricultural efifectiveness. In addition to his general farming
852 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
he has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade Hve stock
and has done quite well in his operations.' He also has given considerable
attention to the general business affairs of the coinninnity in which he lives
and is a shareholder in the local creamery company and in the telephone
company at Gary.
To Mr. and Mrs. Norby nine children have been born, namely: Mar\-,
Louis, Herman, Clara, Olga, Otilla, John, Olaf (deceased) and Ole (deceased).
Clara Norby married and is now living on a farm in South Dakota. Otilla
is on a farm in the vicinity of Thief River, this state, and the others are at
home on the home farm. The Norbys have a very pleasant home and take
a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they
live.
ANDREW J. WELLi:V
-Andrew J. Welley, one of the best-known and most substantial pioneer
farmers of Strand township, Norman county, is a native of the kingdom of
Norway, but has been a resident of this state and of Norman county since
1882, the year after the formal organization of Norman county as a civic
unit. He was born on February 15, 1850, one of the seven children born
to John and Carrie (Oien) Welley, also natives of Norway, fanning people,
who spent all their lives in their native land.
Reared and educated in Norway, .Andrew J. Welley was married there
in 1874 and continued to reside there until 1882, in which year he came with
his family to the United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, home-
steaded a quarter of a section of land in section 28 of Strand township, Nor-
man county, the place on which his son H jelmer now lives, and there estab-
lished his home. Later he bought the eighty-acre tract on which he is now
living, in that same township, and for a time resided on the same, but after-
ward moved back to his homestead tract, to which he added by purchase until
he had two hundred and forty acres there. Still later, however, he returned
to his "eighty" and has since made his home there, both farms being well
improved and profitably cultivated.
To Mr. and Mrs. Welley fifteen children have been born, namely : Car-
rie (deceased), John, Laura (deceased), Ingeborg, Lewis, Edward (deceased),
Elert, Ragne, Carl, Minnie, Ida, Amanda. Anna, Hjelmer and Malvin. Mrs.
\\'elley also was born in Norway, Ellen Benson, daughter of Bent W'ennevald
and wife. Hjelmer ^^'ellev. who is now farming his father's old homestead
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 853
place in Straiul townsliip, was born on the farm on which liis j^arents are now
living, in that same township, in 1895, and received his schooling in the schools
in districts 43 and 59. For a while he farmed in Nortli Dakota, but for some
time past has been farming the old homestead place and is doing well there.
The VVelleys are members of the Lutheran church and have ever taken an
interested part in cluirch work and in the general good works and social
affairs of the community in which the}' live, .\ndrew J. Welley helped to
build the first church erected in the community in which he settled in pioneer
days, the church at Gary, and in other ways has been helpful and influential
in promoting good works in the neighborhood of which he has been a ])art
since the early days of the settlement of that part of the county.
ANDREW T. DEGERNESS.
Andrew T. Degerness, a well-known resident of Sundahl township,
Norman county, where he is the owner and operator of a fine farm of two
hundred acres of land and is otherwise prominently connected with the civil
and business interests of the community in which he lives, was born in
Norway, April 23, 1865, a son of Toris H. and Guro (Walvatne) Degerness,
both natives of Norway, where they spent their whole lives, the father being
a farmer. The father and mother were the parents of ten children, of whom
the subject of this review was the second in order of birth, the others being:
Halvor, deceased ; Anna, who is now dead ; Ele, Toris, Gurena, Anna, Abel,
Gregoreus and Halvor.
Andrew T. Degerness was reared on the old home farm in Norway,
where he received a limited education in the public schools. He also spent
his boyhood and the years of his early maturity on the old farm, helping
his father operate the same and incidentally gaining some valuable train-
ing which stood him in good stead when he established himself in America.
About the time he reached the age of twenty-one years he decided to follow
the example of many of his countrymen who had come to the New World
and established comfortably here on large and productive holdings; accord-
ingly he immigrated to America in 1886 and landed at Luverne, Rock county,
Minnesota, on May 20 of that year. He soon obtained employment on a
farm in the county mentioned above and remained thus engaged for two
years. Knowing that excellent farming land could be obtained cheaply in
Minnesota he set out in 1888 for Norman county, that state, and when he
854 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
arrived in these parts he found employment as a farm hand in Sundahl town-
ship, where he worked for three years. In 1891 he invested iiis savings in
one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land in Sundalil township,
section 36, to which tract he added eiglity acres some two years later.
This land was all bare, but Mr. Degerness, especially after he began his
residence on his holding in 1892, started assiduously to improve it by erect-
ing substantial farm buildings and a comfortable farm house. Here now
he carries on general diversified fanning.
On March 28, 1888, Mr. Degerness was united in marriage to Martha
Thompson, born in Norway on October 19, 1866, a daughter of Peter and
Martha (Vikenes) Thompson, the former of whom came to America many
years before his daughter immigrated to this country. He lived in Kandi-
yohi count}', Minnesota, and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Degerness
are the parents of nine children as follow : Martha, Anna, Petra, Thea,
Marie, Toris Gustav. Hannah, Norman and Alvin Martin. The parents
are devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Sundahl and
according to this faith they have reared their children. Mr. Degerness has
been and is prominently connected with the ci\il afifairs of Sundahl town-
ship, having been township supervisor for six years and school board chair-
man for ten years in all. Moreover, his interests in the co-operative busi-
ness enterprises of his community are well known, he having helped to
organize the creamery at Sundahl and also the Sundahl Mercantile Com-
pany. In politics, Mr. Degerness is a stanch member of the Republican
party.
HOGAN HOGEXSOX.
Hogan Hogenson is another of the natives of X'orway who has come
to the United States and from small beginnings has accumulated a substan-
tial means of livelihood, now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and
forty acres in Goose Prairie township and of thirty acres of timber land
in section 22, Norman co<imty. He was born in 1864 in the kingdom of
Norway, a son of Henry and Mary (Lee) Hogenson, natives of Norway.
the former born in 1837 and the later in 1839. and who on arriving in this
country first settled in Steele county, Minnesota.
Henry Hogenson came to this country about the year 1871 and bought
eighty acres of land in Steele county, this state, which he sold some years
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 855
later and tlien took a homestead tract in Walnut township, Becker county,
which he subsequently sold to his son, Martin. This homestead is just
across the Clay county line. Henry Hogenson then bought eighty acres to
live on, which he still owns. Henry and Mary (Lee) Hogensen are the
parents of the following children : Hogan, the immediate .subject of this
sketch ; Hans, married, who rents land north of Ulen and owns land in
Becker county : Nels, married, rents land in Keene township ; Ed, a widower,
living with his father; Martin, Hving on the original homestead; Belle,
married, living in Becker county ; Barbara, married, also in Becker county ;
Anna, married, lives in Clay county, and Leno, deceased.
Hogan Hogenson accompanied his parents to this country when he was
seven years old, in 1871, and lived with them in Steele county, this state, and
there attended the public schools. Later, he assisted his father in the labors
of improving and developing the home farm and at the age of thirty
years, in 1894. he bought the homestead of his wife's father in section 4.
Goose Prairie township, and later bought eighty acres in section 5. Mr.
Hogenson is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres in Clay county
and thirty acres of timber land in Xorman county. He has made many
valuable improvements and is now engaged in general farming and since
the very commencement of his operations has met with considerable success
and is accounted one of the substantial farmers in that section of Clay
coimty.
Hogan Hogenson was united in marriage to Ellen L. Mallen, born in
1870, in Houston county, Minnesota. Her father was a farmer and owned
a tract of land in Houston county. Mrs. Hogenson's parents came to Clay
county in 1880, in which year her father homesteaded one hundred and
sixty acres of land in section 4, Goose Prairie towmship. Mr. and Mrs.
Hogenson are the parents of the following children : Henry, who owns
land in Montana; Mabel, who lives in North Lake Park; Olva. living in
this county; Hilda, married, and living in Montana, and John, Olga, Wil-
lis. Hazel, Ina, Ralph and Laura. Mr. Hogenson gives a good citizen's
attention to public affairs, and has served as supervisor of the township
for the past ten years. He also served on the school board and was one
of the organizers of school district Xo. 89, and he served as clerk of the
school board for several years. He has an interest in the local creamery
and in other ways has given evidence of his ability to help all proper
causes in the township and county. In addition to his farming operations
Mr. Hogenson is also a breeder of Shorthorn stock.
856 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
EMIL LERUD.
Eniil Lerud ranks among the younger and more progressive farmers
of Home Lake township, Norman county. He was horn in 1888, a son of
Anton and Mary (Torgerud) Lerud, natives of Norway, the former of
whom is deceased and the latter is still living on a farm in Home Lake town-
ship.
Anton Lerud was educated in the schools of Norway and accompanied
his parents to this country, the other children of the family heing: Hans,
who lives at l'"argo ; Mrs. Frank Peterson, living in Home Lake townsiiip;
Jacob, owner of a farm, also living in the township; .Mary and Carrie, twins,
the former, now Mrs. Micklebust, living at Largo, and the latter at Dilworth,
a widow; Mrs. Anderson, a widow, living at Fargo; Mrs. Mathia Hanson,
who died in the .spring of 1917, and Thil (another Mrs. Hanson, of Fargo),
died twenty years ago. Anton Leruil was twenty years old when he came
to America, on arrival going on out to Liinsing, Iowa, where he worked at
blacksmithing for two years, which occupation he had to relinquish on
account of weak eyesight. He then went to farm labor and later came to
Norman county, about 1880, and homesteaded one hundred and si.xty acres
of land in section 4, Home Lake township, and later bought a quarter sec-
tion in Wild Rice township and still later made a further purchase of sixty
acres in Home Lake township, adjoining the original farm, and carried out
many valuable improvements. He died in 1905 at the age of tifty-seven
years.
During his active life .\nton Lerud was recognized as one of the most
enterprising farmers in this part of Norman count)', and in addition to his
agricultural activities he found time to participate in the public affairs of
the township, serving on the school board for some years. He organized
the local creamery in Hoiue Lake township, the plant being later moved to
Twin Valley. At the time of his death he was the owner of three hundred
and twenty acres of prime land. Anton and Mary Lerud were the parents
of five children as follow: Julius, married, living in Wild Rice township;
Minnie, living on the home place; Mrs. Anna Wold, in Twin \'alley
Theodore, a preacher, married and living in Clifton, Texas, and Emil.
Mrs. Mary Lerud. who lives on the home farm, is now aged seventy years.
Anton Lerud was a member of the Synod church, of which he was trustee
for a number of years.
Emil Lerud was educated in the public schools of Norman county and
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 857
has lived here all of his life. He worked on the farm for twelve years. In
partnership with his mother he is the joint owner of two hundred and
twenty acres of prime land, the quarter section in Wild Rice township being
owned by his brother, Julius. Emil Lerud carries on general farming and
stock raising, having a small herd of full-blooded and Shorthorn cattle.
He has kept the farm plant in excellent condition, has carried out extensive
repairs and erected a silo and machine shed, and is accounted one of the
most progressive farmers in the township.
Emil Lerud was united in marriage in the fall of 1915 to Selma Haugen.
born in 1888 in Rockwell township, this county, where her parents still live
cm a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Lerud are the parents of one child, a bo)-, Anton
Lester, born in April, 191 7.
ANTHONY SCHEIE.
Anthony Scheie, one of the first settlers of Anthony township, where
he lives, a substantial farmer who owns two hundred forty acres of well-
improved land in this township, Norman county, and a veteran of the Civil
War, was born at Muskego, Wisconsin, September 29, 1844, the son of
Andrew and Inger Scheie, both natives of Norway, from which country
they came to America in 1839 or 1840. At first the elder Scheie located in
Rochester, New York, where he remained for one year working at the cooper's
trade, but, being a true pioneer, gradually worked his way with his family
westward until he settled in Muskego. Wisconsin, in the early days when
there were only twelve houses in Milwaukee. He acquired a holding of
forty acres of timber land near Muskego, Wisconsin, a part of which he
cleared and farmed. Later he left Wisconsin and moved over into Minnesota
and settled for a short time in Fillmore county, that state. In 1876, feeling
that a better opportunity awaited himself and family farther north in Minne-
sota, he moved to Norman county, located in Halstad township, and bought
a farm where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Andrew
Scheie and family were devoted adherents to the Lutheran denomination, he
being in his later life a minister of that creed and among the first in this
section of the country. He was the guiding spirit in the organization of the
.\ugustana Lutheran congregation in Halstad township and was numbered
among its early pastors. To him and his wife were born seven children,
namely: Ellen Christina, Anna, Hannah, Melvina, Caroline and John, all
858 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of whom are dead : and Anthoii}-, the subject of this re\ie\v, and the only
hVing child.
Anthony Scheie received a common school education in tlie schools of
Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he had come with his parents after their
removal from Muskego, Wisconsin. At the outbreak of the Civil War.
Mr. Scheie heard the call for troops to maintain the integrity of the country,
and enlisted in Houston county, Minnesota, at the town of Caledonia, in
Company D, Sixteenth Missouri X'olunteer Infantry. 15efore he entered active
service, he was transferred to Company K, Forty-si. Kth Illinois N'olunteer
Infantry, with which unit he served four years. After the surrender of Lee
at Appomatox on April 9, 1865, Mr. Scheie remained in service for six
months longer in the South, gathering the war e(iuipment of the Confederates.
When he was mustered out in 1866, he returned to Fillmore county and
farmed until 1872. In that year, with five or six comi>anions and their fami-
lies, he drove northward in covered wagons drawn by ox and horse teams
to Norman county. There Mr. Scheie immediately took a soldier's home-
stead of one hundred sixty acres in section 18, Anthony township and proved
it up. He has since his coming been a resident of this part of the county,
and is now the owner of two hundred eighty acres of good land, including
his homestead, on which he carries on general farming. His home is in sec-
tion 19, where he has li\cd many years.
In 1870, before his coming to Norman county, Mr. Scheie married
Betsie Larson, who was born in Sweden, the daughter of Lars Larson and
wife, both natives of Sweden. To this union have Ijeen born five children,
all of whom are living: Ellen, Delbert. Josephine, Ada and Selma.
When Mr. Scheie came to what is now Anthony township, the land
was the unsettled, raw jirairie. and he and his family lived here five years
before any other white men came. He had many nomadic neighbors, how-
ever, for sometimes as many as one hundred fifty Indians would camp
nearby on the Marsh river. Soon other settlers came and when the popu-
lation had reached the requisite number, the township was organized and
took its name from Mr. Scheie's Christian name. In addition to his very
successful farming operations on his fine farm, which he has improved by
erecting adequate buildings and planting groves, Mr. Scheie entered into the
public service of the community to some extent. He has served as town-
ship assessor, and was township supervisor and county commissioner from
1873 to 1876. and in other ways he has given his time and abilitv to for-
ward the common good of the community.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 859
ANDREW ANDERSON.
One of the pioneer fanners and sterling eitizens who has helped turn
the wilderness of this part of Norman county into a fine farming section is
Andrew Anderson, who was born on August 12, 1854, in faraway Norway,
the son of Andrew and Martha (Olson) Monson, both of wIkjui were natives
also of Norway, where the father lived all of his life. After his death, the
mother, with her son, Ole, and daughters, came to America in 1878, to join
her other son, Andrew, the subject of this review, who had come to this
country some years previously. The family located on a farm in McDonalds-
ville township, Norman county, where the mother died. Of the seven chil-
ilren born to his parents, ^Andrew is the only one now living, the others
being as follow: Ole, who died in Norman county in 1902; Inga, who died
in Norway; two infant sons, who also died in Norway, and Anna and Agatha,
who both died in Norman countv.
Andrew Anderson received his education in the schools of Norway,
and in 1873 decided to come to America, the land of opportunities. After
coming here he located first in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he lived for
four years, working as a farm laborer, grubbing and chopping cordwood.
In 1877 he came to Xorman county, and on October 14, of that year, he
filed on a homestead located in the southeast quarter of section 10, Lake Ida
township. His land at that time was all wild and unimproved ; not even
the township was organized, Init he set to work with a will and improved
and cidtivated his land, erecting good and substantia! buildings, and planting
trees. He gradually increased his land holdings, purchasing one hundred
and sixty acres in section 11, of the same township, and later sixty acres
more in the same township in section 13. He engaged in general farming
and stock raising, and was very successful in his work. In 1909 be retired
from active farming, after erecting good buildings on his farm of one hundred
and sixty acres, and since that time has lived on the smaller place.
In 1876 Mr. Anderson was married to Anna Erickson, while he was
living in Wisconsin. Mrs. Anderson is a daughter of Erick Erickson, and
was born in Norway. Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are earnest and faith-
ful members of the Lutheran church, and helped to organize the church of
that denomination in West Wild Rice townshij). in which they take an active
and interested part.
Mr. Anderson ranks among the substantial and enterprising citizens of
his communitv, and has always been i)rominent and active in the civic
86o CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
affairs of his neighborhood. He helped organize Lake Ida township, and
served as treasurer of the township two or three years, and has been a mem-
ber of the school board of the township many terms, serving both as treas-
urer and school director. Besides farming, .Mr. .\ndcrson is a stockholder
in the Farmers Elevator at Ada.
ERIC H. FLOM.
One of the progressive and enterprising farmers of Xorman county is
Eric H. Floni, the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in
Flom township, where he carries on general farming and dairying and who
was one of the organizers of Norman county, was born in tiiis county, June
4, i860, a son of Hans and Margretta (Regsland) i'lom, both nati\es of
Norway, from which they came to America after their marriage. Soon
after they arrived on American soil, the father and mother came on out to
Minnesota, and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section
14, Flom township, about a mile and a half from the farm on which the
subject of this sketch now lives. Both spent their lives on the home farm,
which was sold after their deaths occurred. They were the parents of four
children, namely: Martha, now residing in Dakota: lulling, living in section
20, Flom township; Eric H., the subject of this sketch, and Seamen,
deceased.
Eric H. I'lom receixed his early education in the schools of Xorman
county, although the educational advantages of his school days were nothing
to compare with those that the children of the present enjoy, because the
country was then new. Living under pioneer conditions on his father's farm,
he there gained the hardihood, thrift and industry which were invaluable to
him when he started for himself a short distance from the home place. For
the first twelve years of his farming operations, he used oxen, and now he
uses horses as draught animals. He has now one hundred and sixty acres of
excellent land, all well improved with a good farm plant and under a high
state of cultivation. The plant consists of excellent buildings, including a
large barn and silo, which are absolutely indispensable to the progressive and
enterprising farmer. His comfortable farm house is beautifully situated in
a fine grove. Here on his farm he carries on mixed farming and has some
stock.
Mr. Flom was united in marriage to .\nna Nelson, who was born in
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 86l
Norway, and this marriage has resultetl in the Ijirth of the following chil-
dren: Harry, Nora, Henry, Clarence and Ella. Mr. and Mrs. Flom are
consistent and conscientious memljers of the Norwegian Lutheran church,
the former helping to erect the church edifice which has since burned down.
He has a share in the creamery at Flom, which enterprise is of great importance
to him in the marketing of his dairy products.
'Sir. Flom has always taken a deep interest in the social, civic and moral
progress of the community in which he has always lived. He helped to
organize Norman county, and whenever any movement is started locally for
the community's betterment, it is assured of Mr. Flours unstinted sup])ort
and loyal co-operation.
PATRICK H. LAMB.
Economic conditions in the Emerald Isle in past years were among the
most potent causes which influenced the vast tide of immigration from that
country to the United States, the people flocking in thousands in and about
the year that saw Owen and Elizabeth Lamb land on the hospitable shores
of this country, bringing with them their infant son, Patrick H. Lamb, the
subject of this sketch.
Patrick H. Lamb was born in Ireland in 1848, known in that country as
the famine year; he is a son of Owen and Elizabeth Lamb, natives also of
Ireland, and who immigrated to this country in 1850, locating in New Eng-
land, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Patrick H. Lamb was
educated in the public schools of New England, in the state of Connecticut,
and continued to reside there for some years. In 1872 he moved to Moor-
head and in that year and the one following he worked a team, hauling
freight between Moorhead and Winnipeg. Canada. During the succeeding
twenty years he acted as manager of a brick factory, he holding a partner-
ship in the firm of Lamb Brothers.
Mr. Lamb became interested in land and at the present time his attention
is devoted to agricultural pursuits. In 1895, the year after the Moorhead
National Bank was organized, he was elected president of that institution
and has since been the active head of the bank, its success being in no small
measure due to his business capacity and foresightedness. In addition to
his land and bank interests Mr. Lamb has organized and is president of the
following undertakings: The National Loan and Improvement Company
862 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of Moorhead, the Clay County Building Association at Moorhead, and the
Dihvorth State Bank, and in these institutions he takes a warm interest,
bringing a ripe intelligence and sound business principles to bear on their
operation.
In 1883 Patrick H. Lamb was united in marriage to Catherine Herrick.
Mr. and Mrs. Lamb take a warm interest in the general social activities of
their home city, assisting in all efforts calculated to serve the people at large.
Mr. Lamb is a member of the Catholic church and is affiliated with the Knights
of Columbus, in which latter organization he has shown a deep interest. He
was one of the original trustees of the village of Moorhead, and has served
the city in all for seventeen years, for three terms being the occupant of the
office of mayor. He is now the senior member of the board of education,
having served on that body for twelve years, and during his long residence
in Moorhead no worthy public purpose has missed his support.
WILLLVM PAGEL.
William Pagel, the proprietor of one hundred and si.Kty acres of well-
improved land in Green Meadow township, Norman coimty, where he is
a well-known participant in the religious and general civil affairs of the
community in which he lives, was born in Germany, November 20, 1868,
a son of John and Katie (Langhaus) Pagel, both of whom were natives of
Germany, where they grew up and married. About five years after the birth
of their eldest child, the subject of this review, they decided to come to
the New World, and after they landed on American soil in 1873, they
immediately came on out to Red Wing, Minnesota, where they located.
After about a five-year residence at this place, they came on up into Norman
county, where the}- homesteaded a quarter section, on which farm their son
Henry now lives in Green Meadow township. There the parents settled
permanently and following the death of the father after many years of
fruitful enileavor in the development and cultivation of his holding, the
widowed mother continues to make her home on the cjld place. They were
the parents of two children: William, the subject of this review, and Henry,
who lives on the old homestead in Green Meadow township.
William Pagel was only five years of age when he crossed the Atlantic
with his parents on their journey to the New World and was only a mere
bov of ten vears when he settled with them in Norman countv. Since the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 863
common school system of the state at that time was not weU cstabhshcd, ele-
mentary education advantages were almost nil, hence his early education was
limited. Nevertheless, the valuable training he received when he helped in
the cultivation and development of the family's holding stood him in good
stead when he struck out for himself in his own farming operations. He
began farming on hfs own account when he purchased a quarter section of
land which joins the old homestead on the south and he has lived there since
1888. His land is all well improved and he has perfected his admirable
farm plant by the erection of large, substantial buildings, which includes
a comfortable farm home, and he now carries on a general type of scien-
tific diversified agriculture.
In 1897 Mr. Pagel married Beryha Volz, who was born at Red Wing,
Minnesota, a daughter of Albert Volz and wife, and to this union eleven
children have been born, all of whom are now living: Anna, Emil, Minnie,
Johnnie, Walter, Lilie. Clarence, Bennie, Elizabeth, George and Ida. Mr.
and Mrs. Pagel are members of the Lutheran church, according to the creed
of which denomination they are rearing their children. He and she are
very active in local church affairs, the former helping to form the first
church societv in the community, St. John's Lutheran church. l-"or nine
years Mr. Pagel served the townshi]) as supervisor, with complete satisfaction
to his neighbors.
Henrv Pagel, the brother of William Pagel and who is now operating
the old homestead, where he and his mother live together, was born in
Germany, July 12, 187 1. He was only two years of age when his parents
brought him to America and had just reached the age of eight when he
came with them up into Norman county from Red Wing. Minnesota. He
has continued to live on the old home i)lace here and after the death of his
father he took over completely the operation of the same, enjoying the
geratest success in his undertakings. As the original buildings on the old
place became inadequate, as it grew into a better cultivated tract, he replaced
the same with a set of large, substantial and capacious buildings. As does
his brother, he carries on general diversified farming. Mr, Pagel takes a
good citizen's interest in the local civic affairs of the community in which he
lives, and whenever any movement is started which has for its purpose the
social or material betterment of hi-^ neighbors, it is assured his heartiest sup-
port and co-operation. Mr. Pa.gel has never married and he and his mother
live together on the old home place. He is a consistent member of St. John's
Lutheran church, which his father, his brother and he helloed to organize.
864 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
OLE I. ELLINGSON.
Ole I. Ellingson. a well-known and substantial farmer, owner of a com-
pact and well-kept farm of one liundred and sixty acres in Bear Park
township, Norman county, is a native of the state of Iowa, but has been a
resident of this county for the past thirty-four years. He was born in
Winneshiek county, Iowa, June 24, 1856, a son of Iver and (Inga) Orve
Ellingson, both of whom were natives of Norway.
Iver Ellingson was educated in the schools of Norway and came to this
country about 1844, being then twenty-one years of age. going hrst to
Chicago, Illinois. His wife, Inga Orve, at the age of thirteen came with
her parents to America, going to Illinois and settling in Boone county, that
state. Following the marriage of Iver lillingson and Inga Orve, they moved
to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and there he farmed for the remainder of his
active life and in that place his death took place. His widow survived him
for some time and later died in South Dakota. They were the parents of
the following children: John (deceased), Ed. Ole I., .\ndrew, Theodore,
-Vnna (deceased), Lena, Betsie (deceased), Lucy an<l .Vda. The maternal
grandparents of these children, Ole and Bertha Ovri. were farmers in Boone
county, Illinois, where they died.
Ole I. Ellingson was educated in the schools of Iowa and was reared
on his father's farm, where he assisted in the labors of improving and develop-
ing the same until 1883. In the latter year he came to Norman county,
driving from Jackson, ^Minnesota, where he had been engaged in railroad
work, grading with a team. He drove the journey to this county with a
span of mules. He and two friends made the trip, but later he lost sight
of them. Air. Ellingson joined his brother. Ed, wh(j had acquired a home-
stead in Sundahl township and who had come there the previous year, and
here Ole I. took a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres in 1883.
He lived on this place, improving and developing it, for about twelve years,
at the end of whicli time he traded it for one hundred and sixty acres in
Bear Park townshij), where he has since lived and where he has Ijeen engaged
in general farming and the raising of graded Shorthorn cattle, and has been
doing very well. Mr, Ellingson carried out some excellent improvements
on his holding and erected substantial buildings.
In 1889 Ole I. Ellingson was united in marriage to Josephina Malquist.
born in Freeborn county, Minnesota, a daughter of John Malquist and wife,
and to this union the following children have been born : John Ira, Rudolph
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 865
Elbey and Olive Josephine, all of whom arc living. For many years Mr.
Ellingson has been giving attention to local civic affairs and has been serving
on the township board for two years and is still serving. For many years
he has been interested in the canse of education and has served on the school
toard of Bear Park township. He helped to organize tlie Rindahl Mercan-
tile Company and is interested in the Rindahl Creamerv.
MARTIN O. ANDERSON.
The late Martin O. Anderson, one of the pioneers of Sundahl township,
Norman county, who died at his home in that township in the summer of
191 7 and whose widow and family are still living there, was a native of the
kingdom of Norway, but had been a resident of Minnesota since he was ten
years of age and of Norman county since the early eighties, when he came
up here into the Red River country with his parents and settled on a home-
stead farm, where he spent the remainder of his life, one of the useful and
influential pioneers of that section. He was born on November 8, i860,
son of Ole and Ingre (Olson) Anderson, both also natives of Norway, who
came to the United States in 1870 and settled in Sibley county, Minnesota,
where they made their home for about ten years, at the end of which time
they moved with their family up into this part of the state, driving through
by ox-team, and settled on a homestead tract of one hundred and sixty acres
in section 28 of what later came to be organized as Sundahl township, Nor-
man county. Ole Anderson died on that homestead farm about a year later
and the task of proving up the claim fell upon his only son, the subject of
this memorial sketch, who established the claim and on that place spent the
rest of his life. Ole Anderson's widow spent the balance of her days in
that same neighborhood and lived to a ripe old age. She and her husband
had two children, the son, Martin O., aufl a daughter, ,\nnette, wife of Lars
V. Larson.
Martin O. Anderson was about ten years of age when his parents came
to Minnesota and he finished his schooling in the schools of Sibley county.
From the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the
labors of the farm there and upon coming up here into the Red River coun-
try entered heartily into the task of helping to develop a homestead farm.
Upon the death of his father a year later he took hold of the place and in
(5Sa)
866 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
due time "proved up" the homestead claim and after his marriage estab-
lished his home there. In time he erected new and substantial buildings on
the place and had a fine farm plant, continuing to manage the same until
his death on July 3, 1917. since which time the place has been operated by
his son, Ole A. Anderson, who in the spring of 1916 had bought an adjoin-
ing "eighty" and is now carrying on his farming operations on both tracts.
Martin O. .Anderson was ever active in good works, helped to organize the
first church in his community, the Sundahl l-ulhcran church, and in other
ways did what he could to promote the l)est interests of the neighborhood
of which he had been a part since pioneer days.
Martin O. Anderson was the father of nine children, who are still living,
namely: Inga, Ole A., Minnie. Iljelmer, Olga, ("lara, Agnes. Mary and
Elizabeth. Since the deatli of her husl)anil Mrs. .\nderson continues to
make her home on the home place and she and her children are very com-
fortably situated there, having a pleasant home and a fine bit of farm prop-
erty.
ANDREW O. NESS.
A retired farmer of Norman county, who now makes his home in Aloor-
head. Clay county, and is now spending his later years in well-earned retire-
ment after his great activity in developing his farm from a scope of virgin
prairie wilderness into a garden spot, is Andrew O. Ness, who was born in
Norway, April 21, 1855, a son of Ole and Btfrtha I'eterson, both of whom
were natives of Norway, but spent the later years of their lives in America.
The former was born in 1818 and died in Gardner, North Dakota, in 1895,
and the mother's death occurred at the same place where the father died
after she had reached the age of ninety-three years. They were the parents
of five children, as follow : Peter, married and living at Fargo, North
Dakota, owning a Ford automobile agency ; Alice, who is married and living
in Minnesota; Malena, also married; Jensinger, still living in Norway, and
Andrew, the subject of this review.
Andrew O. Ness spent his boyhood and youtli in the land of his nativity,
where he received the common-school training which the time and the place
afforded, but when he reached the age of twenty-one years, he decided to
leave Norway and come to America, where he could have a better chance
to establish himself comfortably on some of the cheap, fertile land which
was being opened up in the Northwest. In 1876 he landed on American
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 867
soil alone with no money, in a strange country, the language of which he
did not know, but with a stout heart strong in the determination to "make
good". Soon after he landed in America, he made his way out to Goodhue
county, this state, where he found employment as a hand on the neighboring
farms. He remained thus engaged for three years, at the end of which
time he went northward to Clay county, obtaining work in the city of Moor-
head. After he had been in Moorhead four months, he went to Cass county,
North Dakota, where he remained until 1881. In the meantime, he had
obtained a pre-emption right, which he had sold, but in the year mentioned
before, he returned to ^Minnesota and bought one hundred and twenty acres
of land in section 14, Lee township, Norman county. As the land was new,
he had to make all the improvements, erecting buildings and a farm house
and planting some groves ; however, there were some natural clumps of
trees on the place. After he had been established for some time, he made
an acquisition to his holdings by the purchase of eighty acres in section 22,
Lee township. After a while, since prosperity continued to smile upon his
operations, he purchased another tract of the same size in the same section,
and township. .\t the present time, 191 7, he is the owner of two hundred
and eighty acres, on which general farming and stock raising are carried
on. The farm plant is entirely up-to-date, consisting of modern and well-
eciuipped farm buildings and comfortable farm home, all of which are kept
in an excellent state of repair. To compare his farm now with what it was
thirty-six years ago, a striking contrast is seen. For the first five years of
his residence on his holding, he used two yokes of oxen, and now in their
place are excellent farm horses. This contrast among others is typical of
the progress that has been made in this section of the country in the last
thirty years. •
It is now in the calm retrcspect of retirement that Mr. Ness reviews
his achievements in the development of his agricultural interests while he
was in active life. On March 20, 191 7, he purchased a comfortable home
in Moorhead, where he can spend the evening of his life out of the turmoil
of the work-a-day world and calmly review the events of the past, in which
time he has seen this county rise, as if by magic, from the breast of the fer-
tile prairie, which fifty years ago was a vast, blank wilderness. For five
years prior to his purchase of property in Moorhead, he had not been actively
engaged in farming, but had given the operation of the home place entirely
into the hands of his son, Berne.
Mr. Ness married Annie Asucksen, who was born in Norway, Septem-
868 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
ber 30, 1857, whose father died in the old country. When Mrs. Ness was
twenty-four years of age, she immigrated to America alone, and in the fol-
lowing year, she was joined by her mother, who now resides in Canada with
her daughter, Mary, a sister of Mrs. Ness. Mr. Ness and wife are the
parents of four children, as follow: Oscar, who is a resident of Moorhead;
Ingeman, married and living at Perley, Norman county; Berne, married
and operating the home place, and Ella, who works in Fargo. The father
and mother are devoted members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and
they take a deep interest in the church work of the congregation.
MARTIN O. GARDEN.
Martin O. Garden, a prominent merchant and organizer of enterprises
of Bear Park township, Norman county, where he is otherwise connected
with the civil and social affairs of the community and where he formerly
carried on rather extensive farming operations, was born in Bear Park town-
ship, Norman county, April 10, 1884, a son of Ole L. and Marie (Dahl)
Garden, of whom further and fitting mention is made elsewhere in this
volume.
Martin O. Garden was reared on his father's farm in Bear Park township,
where he received a valuable training in the practical business of life as he
contributed iiis assistance to the common effort of the family in the develop-
ment and cultivation of the home place. Here in the district schools of the
township he received his early formal education, which training he supple-
mented in the schools at Climax, Minnesota, where he could get better
advantages. Feeling that his career lay in the business world, he entered
the business college at Crookslon, Minnesota, from which he graduated. As
soon as he finished this training, he returned to his father's farm, awaiting
his opportunity to enter the business world. After he had remained at home
for about three years, he began farming on his own account in Bear Park
township, where he owned eighty acres of land and farmed an additional two
hundred. His opportunity came in 1914. when he became manager of the
Waukon Mercantile Company, which he had helped to organize some years
before. Mr. Garden is also interested in and helped to organize the Sundahl
and Bear Park mercantile companies. In all of his enterprises, he has
exhibited a shrewd business sense which takes cognizance of the rights of the
stockholders and the satisfaction and comfort of his patrons.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 869
In 1909, Mr. Garden was married to Emma Berg, who was born in
Waukon township, Norman county, a daughter of A. K. Berg and wife,
and to this union two children have been born, daughters, Violet and Ethel,
both of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Garden are prominent memljers of
the St. Peter Lutheran church and in this faith they are rearing their chil-
dren. Not only do they take a very active part in local social affairs, they
are also prominent participants in any movement which has for its object the
moral, material and social betterment of the community in which they live.
Mr. Garden was township chairman of Bear Park township for three years
in addition to holding other local offices of trust.
GILBERT PEDERSON.
Another of the native-born Norwegians who has settled in Clay county
and has proved himself to be an expert farmer, now the owner of four hun-
dred and twenty acres of choice land in Bear Park township, is Gilbert
Pederson, who was born in the kingdom of Norway on May 20, 1850, a son
of Peter and Martha (Johnsdatter) Larson. His parents also were born in
Norway and in that country spent all their lives, and there Peter Larson
followed the trade of a carpenter. They were the parents of three children,
namely, Jennie. Eliza and Gilbert.
Gilbert Pederson was reared in his father's home in Norway and had
but a few days schooling in that country, but since coming to America he
became self-taught in the English language. .At the age of eighteen, in
1878, he came to the L^nited States, proceeding on arrival to Goodhue county,
this state, and there worked at any kind of labor offering. In 1881 he
moved to Norman county and in that year he homesteaded one hundred and
sixty acres of land, on which he has since lived. The hokling was largely in
timber, and he proceeded to the task of clearing and breaking the ground
and presently had it under crops, doing very well from the very beginning.
As Mr. Pederson prospered in his farming operations he added to his land
holding and is now the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of excellent
land, and in addition he keeps a high grade of Holstein cattle, and is accounted
one of the foremost farmers in that part of the township. In 19 17 he
erected a fine dairy barn, thirty-six by ninety feet.
On January 28. 1882, Gilbert Pederson was united in marriage to Oline
Boreren, a native of Norway, a daughter of Ole Boreren and wife, also
870 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
natives of that country. To this union the following children have been
born: Christina, who grew to maturity and is now deceased; Peter, Bent.
Martinus, Ole and Mary, and two others who died young. Mr. Pederson
always has taken a good citizen's interest in the welfare of the community
and was one of the organizers of the first church at Rindahl. He also assisted
in promoting the organization of Bear Park township, and the first township
meeting was held in his homestead shanty, the town.ship being organized
at that meeting. Mr. Pederson has in many other ways during his residence
of thirty-six years in Norman county, giving evidence of his practical inter-
est in communitv affairs.
SEVER CHRISTIANSOX.
Sever Christianson, a well-known and well-to-do farmer, living in Bear
Park township, Norman county, is a native son of Minnesota, born on his
father's farm in Nicollet county, July 4, 1873, a son of Gunder and Elena
(Evensrud) Gunderson, both natives of Norway.
Gunder Gunderson was educated in the schools of his native land and
in 1866 he and the members of his family immigrated to the United States.
Following his arrival in this country he proceeded immediately to Nicollet
county, this state, and there he acquired a tract of forty acres of land,
which he continued to operate for about seventeen years. In 1883 he moved
to Norman county and about two years later he homesteaded the quarter sec-
tion of land on which Sever Christianson now lives in Bear Park township,
and here he engaged in general farming for the remainder of his life. He
died on the homestead farm and his widow is still living with her son, the
subject of this sketch, on the home place. Gunder Gunderson and wife were
the parents of the following children : Tilla, Mollie, Gust, Jennie, Thea,
Polly, Sever, Minnie (deceased), Josie, and \Villiam (deceased). Gunder
Gunderson helped to organize the Norman I-utheran church, shortly after
settling in the county, and also assisted in promoting the Bear Park Mer-
cantile Company, and in other ways gave of his time to the advancement of
the community welfare.
Sever Christianson was educated in the schools of Nicollet county and
was reared on his father's farm, where he assisted in the work of improving
and developing the home place. In 1883 he came with his parents to this
county in an ox-drawn covered wagon, the trip to Norman county occupy-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 87I
ing three weeks. For the first luuidred miles of tlic jouniev the family
was alone, but later fell in with others on the same mission bent. Mr.
Christianson has continued to reside on the homestead farm accjuired by hi.s
father and is engaged in general farming and has been doing very well,
being accounted one of the substantial farmers in his part of the township. .
On June i8, 1907. Sever Christianson was united in marriage to Han-
sena Amundson, born in Norway, a daughter of Amund Amundson and
wife, also natives of that country. To this union the following children
have been born: Theresa, Selmer, Henry, Alvin and Alphina, all of whotu
are living. The family are members of the Norman Hauges Lutheran church,
which Mr. Christianson's father helped to organize. Mr. Christianson is
interested in the Bear Park Mercantile Company and takes a good citizen's
interest in the civic welfare of his home communitv-
SVERRE J. LEE.
One of the well-known men of Norman county is Sverre J. Lee, a
farmer of Bear Park township, former member of the state Legislature, a
pioneer in the co-operative business enterprises of the township, member of
the board of county commissioners and otherwise prominently connected
with the educational and religious interests of the community. He was
born in Norway, June 12, 1859, a son of Sivert and Thomine (Lee) Lee,
both of whom were natives of Norway, came to America in 1867 and located
first at Rushford, L^illmore county, this state, where they remained until
1882. In that year they came northward to Norman county and here made
their home with their son, the subject of this sketch. The mother died in
191 5 and the father is still living here at the advanced age of ninety-one
years. They had five children, namely : Caroline, still a resident of Rush-
ford, Fillmore countv. who married Olaf Lee and is a widow; Baardine,
whose death occurred in Norway when a child : Ingeborg Anna, who died in
Norway in her childhood; Sverre J-. the subject of this review, and .Marie,
living in Bear Park townshiji, the widow of Albert Gartland.
Sverre J. Lee was onlv a child when he first set foot on American soil
and he grew to manhood at Rushford, Minnesota, where he received a com-
mon-school education. In the spring of 1882, when he was twenty-three
years of age. he drove through to Norman county with a party of settlers
which included Peter Martinson, a blacksmith, who started a shop at Strand,
872 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
this county. Soon after he arrived at his journey's end, Mr. Lee lionie-
steaded one hundred and sixty acres in Bear Park township, and lie has
lived here ever since. As the years passed and he prospered in his farming
operations, he has been enabled to add to his holdings until he now is the
owner of two hundred and eighty acres of fine land, well-improved with
excellent, convenient and capacious farm buildings. He now carries on
general farming.
In 1882, Mr. Lee married Marie Heglie, who was born in Norway, a
daughter of Michael O. and Augusta (Heganstrom) Heglie, of whom further
and fitting mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are
the parents of twelve children, as follow : Selmer, Tilda, ALiggie, Julia,
Sidney, whose death occurred in the autumn of 1915; Willie, AUce, Ida,
Norman, Henry, Alfred and Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are devoted members
of the Norwegian Lutheran church and they are active in all church work.
Mr. Lee has been very active in the political, civil and business affairs
of his community. In Bear Park township he has served as treasurer,
township supervisor, justice of the peace, township clerk and township as-
sessor. He has ever considered the educational progress of the community
of highest importance, and he and Ole Garden circulated a petition among
the residents of the community and presented it to the proper authorities for
the purpose of organizing this school district, and after the organization
was effected, he was a member of the first board. He lias served in the
same capacity at dift'erent times since and for the last fourteen years he
has been a member of the board continuously, rendering valuable service
to the educational interests of the community as his long incumbency in-
dicates. During the sessions of the state Legislature of 1895 and 1897
he represented his district, being elected to this office by the Populist party.
He is now serving his third consecutive term as a member of the board
of county commissioners. Throughout his many years of public service,
Mr. Lee has discharged his duties with strict fidelity to the interests of his
constituents and with rigid adherence to the principles of right and honor.
Being a far-sighted and progressive man, Mr. Lee early recognized the im-
portance of establishing co-operative distributing and marketing agencies in
the community. He was one of the organizers of the original creamery at
Rindahl and is a director of the present one. He was one of the leading
spirits in the organization of the Bear Park Mercantile Company and for
the first fourteen years of its existence, he was manager.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 8/3
OLE H. HANSON.
The name of the late Ole H. Hanson, for years a well-known and pros-
perous farmer, living in Bear Park township for nearly thirty years and
who died in 1914, will be held in grateful remembrance for a long time to
come, because Mr. Hanson was one of the pioneer farmers of Norman
county, who braved the dangers and risks of settling in a new country. He
and his wife, Carrie Brown, were natives of the state of Wisconsin and
moved in an early day to Freeborn county, Minnesota, with their respec-
tive parents, who took homesteads in that county, these parents being natives
of the kingdom of Norway, where they were farming people.
About 1881 Ole H. Hanson, in company with his brother Charles,
drove to Norman county, which was then being opened up to settlement, and
each of the brothers took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in
Sundahl township. They then returned to Freeborn county and in the fol-
lowing year moved up to Sundahl township, bringing their families with
them, the trip being made by wagon. On this homestead Ole Hanson lived
about five years, during which time he ac(|uired a tree claim of one himdred
and sixty acres adjoining the homestead, and on which he proved up, later
selling the tree claim and the homestead. The trees he set out on the tree
claim are standing on the ground to this day.
About 1886 Ole H. Hanson bought one hundred and twenty acres of
choice land, which was all in timber, in Bear Park township. He immediately
proceeded to put the place into a state of cultivation and put up several
good buildings, and as he prospered in his agricultural operations he added
to his land holdings, finally becoming the owner of two hundred and fifty-
two acres on the original place and twenty acres further north in section
7, Bear Park township. After a residence of nearly thirty years in this
township Mr. Hanson's strenuous labors on the farm came to a termination,
the "grim reaper" calling him from all earthly scenes in 1914. He had
during his long residence in the county enjoyed the friendship and good
will of the community, being generally recognized as a good citizen whose
worth was felt on all sides. Before coming to Norman county Ole H.
Hanson had married Carrie Brown and to that union the following children
were born : Lena, Ella, Minnie, Henry, Ida, Cora and Helmer, all of
whom are living. In addition to his farming operations, Ole Hanson gave
a good citizen's attention to civic affairs and served on the township board
and in the early days was a justice of the peace. He assisted in the work
874 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
of organizing two churciies in Sundahl township and also helped to organize
the creamery at Sundahl.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Hanson has been li\ing on the
farm, her sons Henry and Helmer renting the place from her. The sons
carry on the work with the same spirit of enterprise that characterized their
father's work. In addition to cultivation of crops they also breed a fine
strain of Shorthorn cattle. The wagon which brought the family to the
county is still in use on the farm, being prized as a kind of family heirloom,
though of anti(|uated jiattern.
G. C. LUCHAN.
G. C. Luchan, a prosperous farmer of Green Meadow township, Norman
county, where he owns a fine farm of two hundred eighty acres, a part of
which is the old homestead, was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, March
17, 1869, a son of J. P. and Jessie (Augustine) Luchan, both of whom
were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. Along
in the early fifties they decided to come to America, and after they had landed
here about that time, they located in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where the
subject of this review was bom. The family resided here until 1882, but
two years previous the father came northward to Norman county, where he
took a tree claim, near where the son. G. C., now lives, in Green Meadow
township. Two years later his family followed him to Norman county.
However, the father did not prove up his claim and he and his wife made
their home with their son Henry on the place where G. C. Luchan now lives,
and here he and his wife died.
G. C. Luchan spent his boyhood in Goodhue county, where he received
a part of his common school education and after the family's removal to
Norman county he continued his formal education for a while longer. He
has always made his liome on the place where he now lives since he came to
this county with his mother in 1882, contributing a goodly share of the
thrift and industry to the development and cultivation of the farm. After
the death of his parents, he purchased the farm from the estate and he has
added to his hoklings until he now is the proprietor of two hundred eighty
acres of well-improved land on which he carries on general farming. Some
years ago, he decided that the original buildings were inadequate for the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 875
then bountiful production of his holding, hence he replaced them with entirelv
new buildings, all of which comprise an excellent farm plant.
In 1898, Mr. Luchaii was united in marriage with Hattie Ditemke, who
was born in Germany. J\Ir. and Mrs. Luchan are the parents of four chil-
dren, namely : Raymond, Alice, Gladys and Wallace, all of whom are living.
The parents are well-known members of the Congregational church and in
the affairs of this denomination they have always evinced a conscientious
and consistent interest. Mr. Luchan has always evinced a strong interest
in the civic affairs of the locality in which he lives, and has served the people
of Green Meadow township as supervisor and is now a member of the town-
ship board. Not only is Mr. Luchan interested in the civic betterment of
the community in his official position, but when any movement is inaugurated
for any kind of civic or social improvement, it is assured of his unstinted
support.
ANDREW HAMRE.
.Vndrew Hanire, one of the younger, progressive and energetic farmers
of Spring Creek township, owner of a well-kept farm of one hundred and
sixty acres, is a native of the state of Minnesota, born in Goodhue county,
September 9, 1879, a son of Albert J- and Susie (Enerson) Hamre, both
born in Norwav and who came in later life to America.
.\lbert T- Hamre located first in Goodhue county, this state, and from
there enlisted in the Union army and served during the Civil War for four
years, at the end of which service he returned to Goodhue county and
worked on farms for some years. In 1880 he came north, traveling by
team and bringing a bunch of horses with him. which he sold in the vicinity
of Ulen, Clay countv. He homesteaded a quarter section of land in Gar-
field township, Polk county, about two and one-half miles east of Fertile.
Later, he bought and moved onto another place, also in Polk county, and here
he spent the remainder of his active life engaged in farming, his death taking
place in 1916 and that of his wife in 1915. Mr. Hamre and his wife were
earnest members of the Lutheran church, which he heli>ed to organize at
Fertile. He devoted a good portion of his time and attention to local affairs
of a public character and served on the Ixiard of Garfield township for many
years. He was one of the earliest to buy wheat at Fertile for the P. V.
Elevator Company, the first elevator at Fertile. Later, he helped to organize
the Farmers Elevator and the creamery at Fertile, and was always active in
876 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
community affairs, his death in 1916 being regarded as a distinct loss througii-
out the township. Albert J. Hamre and wife were the parents of six children
as follow : Carrie, deceased ; Ed ; John ; Mary, deceased ; .\ndrew, deceased,
and Andrew, the subject of this sketch.
Andrew Hamre was educatctl in the public schools of Fertile, Xurnian
county, and was reared on his father's place where he assisted in the lalxsrs
of the farm. When he started for himself he began farming in Liberty
township, Polk county, later moving to Spring Creek township in 191 1 and
has since lived in that place, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and
sixty acres of choice land, on which he carries on general farming, from the
commencement of his operations having done very well.
On August I, 1909, Andrew Hamre was united in marriage to Martha
Knutson, born in Norway, a daughter of Knut Knutson and wife, and to
this union six children have been born as follow : Signe, Arthur, Clifford.
Bertha, Bennie and Mabel, all of whom are living. Mr. Hamre and the
members of his family are affiliated with the Lutheran church at Fertile and
earnestly interested in all its good works.
PETER HASSEL.
Peter Hassel, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of
Bear Lake township, Norman county, is one of the real pioneers and old
setders of that county, having been a resident of this part of the Red River
valley since the spring of 1872. He was a homesteader in Lake Ida town-
ship, which township he helped to organize, and was a resident there for
seven or eight years before he bought his present place in Bear Lake town-
ship. Consequently he has been a witness to and a participant in the de-
velopment of Norman county since the very beginning of organized settle-
ment there, having been a continuous resident of this region from the time
of his settlement nine years before Norman county was formally organized
as a civic unit among the counties of the state. He helped to organize the
first school district within the confines of what is now Lake Ida township
and donated for school purposes a corner of his homestead tract there, the
lot on which the scliool house in that district .still stands. When later he
moved to Bear Park township he also helped to organize his school district
there and has ever been a wann friend of schools and all movements de-
signed to advance the common good hereabout.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. S//
Mr. Hassel may literally be regarded as a child of the waves, for he
was born on board the ship which was bearing his parents from their home
in Sweden to the shores of America, in October of the year 1853. His
parents were Peter and Margaret Hassel, both of whom were born in
Sweden and who left their native land in 1853 and sailed for the United
States with the determination to make their home in this country. Upon
their arrival here they located in the city of Chicago and there they re-
mained for three years, at the end of which time they came to Minnesota
and settled in Chisago county, later moving to Isanti county, where the
elder Peter Hassel entered a homestead claim to a quarter of a section of
land m the vicinity of Cambridge and established his home. He was living
there when the Civil War broke out and in the closing year of that struggle
enlisted in behalf of the cause of the Union and in June of that year went
to the front to help fight the battles of his adopted country. Not long after-
ward he was taken ill and his death occurred before Christmas of that year,
he then being still in the service of the Union. His widow some time later
married John Mattson and with him, in the spring of 1872, came over
into the valley of the Red river to help establish a home in what then was
regarded as new country, there having then been very little white settle-
ment effected here. The Mattsons pre-empted a claim to a tract of land
in what later came to be organized as Lake Ida township, Norman county,
and there established their home. On that original tract their son, John
Ludbeck, is now making his home. By her marriage to Peter Hassel Mrs.
Mattson was the mother of seven children, only two of whom grew to
maturity, the subject of this sketch and his sister Lizzie, who married Martin
Everson and died about twenty years ago.
When his mother and his stepfather came over into the Red River
country in 1872 the younger Peter Hassel was but eighteen years of age.
He at once entered into the spirit of pioneering and was a valuable aid in
the labors of developing and improving the tract on which the family had
settled in the wilds of what later came to be organized as Lake Ida town-
ship. In 1875 ^^ entered a homestead claim to a quarter of a section of
land in section 24 of Lake Ida township and lived on the same for seven
or eight vears. Ninety acres of that tract were under cultivation when
he sold it. He then bought a quarter of a section of railroad land in
Bear Park township, moved his family onto the same, he having meantime
married, and has ever since made this latter place his home, one of the
real pioneers of that section of the county. Mr. Hassel cleared and broke
878 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
his land and gradually created there a line farm plant, his place being now-
well improved and profitably cultivated and his family ver)- comfortablv
situated.
In 1881 Peter Hassel was united in marriage to Carrie Ellingson. who
was born in Norway, daughter of Knut Ellingson, and to this union have
been bi)rn five children, Albert. Edwin, Carl, Edion and .Mabel, ;dl i){ whom
are living save Carl, who died in his youth. The Hassels have a pleasant
home and have ever taken an active interest in local community afifairs. Mr.
Hassel's early activities in civic affairs are noted above. He took a useful
part in the organization of two of the townships of Xorman countv, lielped
to organize two school districts and donated land for school purposes in
one of these districts. In other ways also he has played the part of a good
citizen and as one of the real pioneers of the county he is fullv entitled to
the respect and consideration paid him iiy the community of which he has
been a jiart ever since the ])eginning of a social order here.
AUGUST G. NELSON.
It is a pleasure to anyone, whether farmer or not, to look over a well-
improved and finely kept farm like that of August G. Nelson of Oak Port
township, Clay county. He is a man who believes in keeping abreast of the
times, in adopting, so far as practicable, the most approved twentieth-cen-
tury methods in general farming.
Mr. Nelson was born in Sweden, March 20, 1869, a son of Olaf and
Elsie Nelson, both natives of Sweden, where they grew up, married and
established their home, but immigrated to .\merica about 1880, coming
directly to Moorhead, Minnesota, where they spent the rest of their lives,
dying there a number of years ago. Olaf Nelson followed civil engineering
in Sweden, and was highly accomplished in his line. He lived practically
retired after coming to America. His family consisted of five children,
namely: August G. of this sketch; Christina lives in .\ustralia; Axel,
Gertrude and Henrietta.
August G. Nelson spent his boyhood in Sweden, where he was educated.
He was about twenty-one years old when he came to the United States with
the rest of the family. He attended school a while in Moorhead. .As a
young man he worked at various things in different places. He saved his
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 879
earnings and in 1895 purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Oak Port
township, Clay county, where he has since resided. He worked hard develop-
ing the place and, prospering with advancing years, he later added eighty
acres, now owning two hundred and eighty acres of productive and well-
improved land. He erected suitable buildings and fences, also planted a
large grove. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock
raiser.
Mr. Nelson has remained unmarried. He belongs to the Lutheran church,
and takes a practical interest in community affairs tending to the public good.
PEDER H. OVERBO.
Peder H. Overbo, gardener of Moorhead. was born in Xorwav. August
15, 1862. He is a son of Plermund and Carrie Peterson (Urness) Overbo,
natives of Norway, where they spent their lives on a farm.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Norway and he attended
the public schools there. He immigrated to .\merica in 1874. locating first
in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he worked for his uncle, Nels Overbo,
who came to America with him. After remaining in Goodhue countv until
1881 he came to Moorhead, Clay county, and worked here on a farm for
the same uncle. This farm is now owned by the subject of this sketch.
His uncle preceded him to Clay county by about two years. Peder H.
Overbo bought thirty-one acres of his uncle in 1912, which land lies within
the city limits of Moorhead and is a very valuable tract. It is well improved
and under a high state of intensive cultivation. Mr. Overbo carries on
gardening on an extensive scale and is making a pronounced success of
his work. He is a hard worker, persevering and painstaking and a close
student of modern methods of trucking. His products, owing to their
excellent quality, find a ready market.
Mr. Overbo was married in 1893 to Anna Ivvam, a native of Norway.
She is a daughter of Melker and Anna fjohanson) Kvam, both natives
of Norway, where they grew up, were married and established their future
home on a fami, where the mother is still living, the father dying there
some years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Overbo six children have been born,
namely : Harry, Nels, Caroline, Rudolph. Myrtle and Pearl. Mr. Overbo
is a member of the Lutheran church.
88o CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
WALTER B. HOLMES, M. D.
Rising above the masses there have been men in all ages and in all places,
who by force of character and intellectual powers, leave a deep and abiding
impression upon the institutions of their time. The life record of Dr. Walter
B. Holmes, McDonaldsville township, Nonnan county, seems an exemplifica-
tion of the words of Gladstone, who said: "Be inspired with the belief that
life is a grand and noble calling, not a mean and groveling thing, that we are
to shuffle through as best we can, but an elevating and lofty destiny."
Dr. Walter B. Holmes, city health officer of Ada and for years one of
the best-known physicians of that city, is a British-American, a native of
the Dominion of Canada, from the province of Ontario, where he was bom
in 1866, in the city of Lindsay, the eldest son of Benjamin Alexander and
Lucia Ann (Holt) Holmes. His father was a native of Toronto, Canada,
and the mother of Concord, New Hampshire, who moved to the United
States in the seventies and settled in Minnesota. In this state Walter B.
Holmes grew to manhood and commenced his educational career, graduating
from the high school, valedictorian of his class. At an early age he moved
to the city of Minneapolis and became an active participant in the business
affairs of that city, and held the imi)ortant i)Osition of assistant secretary
of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce until 1884. Some time later Doctor
Holmes entered the L'niversitv- of Minnesota, matriculating in both the classi-
cal and scientific courses, and in the college activities organized and directed
the first mandolin and guitar club on the campus for several years.
After receiving his degree of Bachelor of Science in 1888, Doctor Holmes
occupied the position of hydraulic engineer of the Ramsey county water board
until 1891. In the latter year he entered the medical department of the Uni-
versity of Minnesota and was graduated from the same at the head of a class
of thirty-two members, with the Cum Laitde degree and degree of Doctor
of Medicine, in 1894. During the last two years of his course at the Uni-
versity, Doctor Holmes was a member of the University Press Club, repre-
senting the department of medicine on the editorial staff of the Education
Herald, of the university. He was elected class quizzitor in anatomy in
1892, and acted as prosector to the chair of pathology during the junior
and senior years of his course. During his college days Doctor Holmes was
an active member of the Epilson chapter of the Nu Sigma Nu fraternity,
and still continues to take a warm interest in the affairs of that popular Greek-
letter society ; he is at present one of the projectors and stockholders of the
magnificent chapter house erected on the campus.
THE f-^t-W Vu'rK
PUBLIC LIBPi-"
AS
TILDi
rmN- I
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 88l
In 1897 Dr. Walter B. Holmes came into the Red River valley conntry
and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Ada, where he has
since made iiis home, for years having been recognized as one of the leading
connty physicians of the Red River valley. The Doctor has served as county
physician and also as chairman of the board of health ; as a registered
pharmacist he is an active member of the State Pharmaceutical Association,
and active member of the Red River Valley Medical .\ssociation and of the
American Medical Association. He has ever given his earnest attention to
the general civic and commercial affairs of his home town, serving as presi-
dent of the .Ada Commercial Club, of which he is an active member. Doctor
Holmes is deemed by the state board of health and by the department of
epidemiolog}- of the State University, as one of the most efficient and capable
executives in the service of the state, and is now serving his seventh year as
city health officer. In 1907 Doctor Holmes was appointed physician and
surgeon of the Great Northern Railroad, in which capacity he has enlisted
his services under the cfiuncil of the railroads and national defense committee,
for the duration of the war. The Doctor is a Royal .\rch Mason, a Knight
Templar and Ijelongs to the commandery : he is a noble of the Ancient
.\rabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Zurah Temple No. 2t, at
Minneapolis, and for years has taken an active part in high Masonic affairs.
In 1906 Dr. \\'alter B. Holmes was united in marriage to Mrs. Valborg
( Schriver) Norhy. widow of Joris C. Norby, a former county auditor and
newspaper editor, a memorial sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
volume. Mrs. Holmes was born in Christiania, Norway, and came to the
Ignited States in 1888. Doctor and Mrs. Holmes are memljers of the
Protestant Episcopal church and are warmly interested in the general social
and cultural activities of the community in which they have resided for
several years, helpful in promoting all movements designed to advance the
common welfare. Mrs. Holmes is \ice-president of the Norman County
Red Cross Chapter and has successfullv organized the Red Cross branches
throughout the towns and villages of the county. She is an active member of
the board of education, president of the Womens Civic League, former presi-
dent of the Womans Christian Temperance Union, a member of the State
Federation of ^\"omens Clubs, president of and actively connected witli the
Schiller Literary Club, and ever giving of her time and abilities to the calls
of benevolence and charity, and is recognized throughout the community as
a woman of more than ordinary cultural and social attainments. Doctor
Holmes was appointed member of the exemption board I)\' Governor Burn-
r56a)
882 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
quist. for the Norman county draft, and in that capacity has been rendering
excellent service. The Doctor'.s surviving kinsman is an only brother, Dr.
Eugene Holmes.
Doctor Holmes is possessed of many pronounced natural attributes, and
brings to his labors in any direction a virile personality. While firm in his
convictions, he is none the less tolerant of the opinions of others, and is held
in high regard in and about the county and outside of it. He is an extensive
reader and student, well versed in world history and is accounted one of the
foremost scholars in the county. He has written many articles on sanitary
science and the prevention of disease, especially in schools, and which have
been published in the local press and copied into many papers in the larger
centers. Doctor Holmes assisted in the preparation of the history of the med-
ical profession in Norman county for the historical portion of this work.
C. JOHN S.\LOMONSON.
One of the energetic tillers of the soil in Highland Grove township. Clay
county, is C. John Salomonson, who not only seems to know how to carry
on the various departments of modern agriculture, but when to do a thing
and when not to do it, which requires discriminating tact.
Mr. Salomonson was born in Sweden, May 19, 1866. He is a son of
Bent Salomon and .Anna Brela (Johnson) Peterson, both natives of Sweden,
where they grew up, married and spent their lives on a farm, dying there.
They never came to .\merica. To these parents six children were born,
named as follow: C. John, the subject of this sketch: .August Wilhelm.
Stena, Gustav, i\rne and Mange. They are all li\ing at this writing.
The subject of this review spent his boyhood on the home farm in
Sweden, and there he attended the common schools. He went to school
only two days in the United States. He came to this country in 1889,
locating at once in Sibley county, Minnesota, where he worked one year,
then crossed the line into Nicolett county, remaining there a year, then spent
two years in Brown county, working out as a farm hand all these years.
He then farmed for himself on rented land in Xicolett county. He then
came to Clay count}- and located in Highland Grove township on the farm
on which he still lives. He has been ver)^ successful as a general farmer
and stock raiser and is now owner of a finely improved and productive farm
of two hundred and sixty-five acres. Ninety-six acres are in Clav countv
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 883
and the rest in Becker county, just across the Hne, but all in one body. He
has made all the necessary improvements on the place, which ranks among
the best farms of his locality. He has a splendid set of buildings, a good
orchard, etc. He cleared about forty acres himself, which was covered with
grubs.
Mr. Salomonson was married in May, 1895, to Jennie Matina Johanson,
who was born in Sweden, where she spent her girlhood and attended school.
She came to America about 1892, locating in Sibley county, Minnesota.
Her parents lived and died in Sweden. To Mr. and Mrs. Salomonson eight
children were born, all living at this writing, named as follow: Anna Elia-
beth, Gustav Robert, Albert Harry, Henry Merwin, Clarence, Leonard
Edwin. Carl Oscar, and Clifford Leroy. Air. Salomonson is a member of
the Lutheran church, which he attends with his family regularly.
MARTIN OLSON.
Martin Olson, who is engaged in the hotel and ice business in McJorhead,
was born in Norway, November 27), 1875. ^^ '^ a son of Marthinus and
Caroline (Lund) Olson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, were
married and established their permanent home. The mother died some
years ago, but the father is still actively engaged in farming there despite
his advanced age. He has also been a sailor during a considerable portion
of his life. The maternal grandparents were Iver and Anne (Lansem)
Lund, both natives of Norway. Mr. Lund came to America in 1861 and
enlisted in the Union army for service in the Civil War, proving to be
an excellent and faithful soldier. After being honorably discharged and
mustered out he returned to Norway, where his death occurred of ailments
brought on by exposure while in the American army. His wife came to Minne-
sota, locating in Hawley, Clay county, about 1887 and there her death
occurred. To Mr. and Mrs. Lund four children were born, namely: Anne,
Christine, Mary and Martin. They all came to Hawley, Minnesota, about
the year 1884, and there established their future homes.
Martin Olson grew to manhood in Norway and there attended the
common schools. He came to America in 1890, locating at Hawley, Clay
county, and he worked out as a farm hand in that vicinity for seven years;
then went to work for the North Dakota Ice Company at Fargo, remain-
ing with that firm for three years. He then purchased the property and
884 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
business of the Moorhead Ice Company, which he operated with success
until 1916, when he sold out. In 1914 he bought the People's Ice Com-
pany at Moorhead, which he also sold in 19 16. He then bought the Scan-
dia Hotel at Moorhead which he still operates. His hotel is one of the
popular hostelries in this section of the Northwest, the traveling public
finding Mr. Olson an obliging and courteous host and his hotel modern
and comfortable in every detail. He also owns the Lyceum Theater which
he built in 1913. He is still engaged in the ice business. l)eing a stockhcilder
in the Fargo Ice Company. He owned the Independent Ice Company of
Fargo for eight years, .selling out in 1915.
Mr. Olson was married in 1904 to Julia Thompson, of Twin \'alley,
Minnesota, and a daughter of P. P. Thompson and wife. She received a
good education and prior to her marriage taught school for some time in
Twin Valley. To Mr. and Mrs. Olson six children have been born, all
living at this writing, namely: William, Irwin, Carrol, Waswold. Alice
and Julia.
Mr. Olson is now serving his second temi as alderman from his ward.
He belongs to the Lutheran church, and fraternally is a member of the
Improved Order of Red Men and the .\ncient Order of Unitetl Workmen.
DAVID EMIL CARLSOX.
Da\id Emil Carlson, one of the skillful and painstaking carpenters of
the city of Moorhead, was born in Sweden, October 7, 1879. He is a son
of Carl and Clara Josephina (Svenson) Larson, both natives of Sweden,
where they grew to maturity, married and established their home and where
the father still resides. The mother died some years ago. In his early
life Carl Larson followed commercial fishing and later bought a farm, which
he operated until retiring from active life several years ago. He and his
wife had seven children, namely: .Adolph, deceased; Emil. deceased: Anna
and Agnes, both of whom still reside in Sweden: Arvid. who lives in New
York City: David E., the subject of this sketch, and Claus, of Moorhead.
David E. Carlson grew to manhood in Sweden and there attended the
public schools. In 1903 he immigrated to the New World, coming directly
to Minnesota, reaching Moorhead on October 14 of that year. Desiring
a higher education he attended the Minnesota State Normal at Moorhead
for two years. As a toung man he learned the carpenter's trade, at which
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 885
he became quite an expert in tlue course of time, and lie has continued to
follow the same ever since, being an adroit, prompt and honest workman
his services have always been in demand and his work is satisfactory in every
respect.
The subject of this sketch, wlio is unmarried, makes liis liome with his
brother, Claus Carlson, or rather they live together in tlie same home. Claus
Carlson was Ijorn in Sweden. February 21, 1881, and there he attended
the common schools. He came to Moorhead with his brother, David E.,
and here he has since resided. He attended the State Normal School here
about two years. As a young man he learned the cement business, which
he has since continued with gratifying results. About 1898 he returned
to Sweden for his bride, Hildur Carlson. After their marriage they
remained in the old country about a year, then he came back to Minnesota
and established his future home at Moorhead. To their union two children
have been born, namely Martin : and Gustav. The Carlsons attend tlie
Swedish Tutheran church.
FRANK JOHNSON.
Cultivation of the soil began with the desire on the part of the cultivator
to destroy weeds or plants not desired — plants that were likely to crowd
out and injure the ones in which he was interested. But we now know that
the destruction of weeds is a matter of secondary importance. We now
cultivate to conserve moisture and to promote chemical and biological activ-
ity. One of the up-to-date farmers of Highland Grove township. Clay
county, is Frank Johnson, who was born in Sweden, November, 8, 1861.
He is a son of John and .\nna Breta (Anderson) Anderson, both natives of
Sweden, where they grew to maturity, married and established their home,
and there the father spent his life, dying many years ago. His widow sub-
sequently came to the United States with her son Frank. But illness over-
took her en route and her death occurred about a week after arriving in
Clay county, Minnesota. She had six children, named as follow : Andrew,
deceased; Edward is living: Juel and Carl, deceased; Frank, of this sketch,
and Anton, deceased.
Frank Johnson grew to manhood in Sweden and there received a com-
mon school education. He came to America in 1880, when nearly twenty
years old, coming direct to Clay county, Minnesota. Besides his mother, his
brother Juel accompanied him. Frank Johnson worked out in Qay county
886 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
as a hired hand for some time, also worked a year in Canada on construction
work for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. He saved his earnings and in 1886
bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Highland Grove township,
Clav county, and here he has since resided. It was all raw land at the start,
but he broke the sod and developed a very productive and valuable farm
from virgin prairie, putting on all improvements, built a comfortable resi-
dence, numerous outbuildings and fences, planted a grove and otherwise
made his place one of the most desirable in his community. Under his
careful and systematic tillage the soil has not lost any of its original fertility
during his thirty years of diversified crop raising. He purchased the land
from a railroad company. He was one of the pioneers in this part of the
county and has lived to see many great changes inaugurated here.
Mr. Tohnson was married in 1888 to Mary Backman, a native of Sweden,
from which countrv she came to America with her ])arents when young.
She attended the common schools. She was a daughter of .\ndrew Berg,
a sketch of whom will be foimd on another page of this work. Mrs. John-
son's death occurred in 1889. in early life, about a year after her marfiage.
She left one child, Carl Johnson, who grew up on the hoiuestead, received
his educaticMi hi the local rural schools, and is now assisting his father oper-
ate the home farm.
Mr. Johnson has been a member of the school board in his district
continuously during the past fifteen years, or since 1902, and has done
much toward improving the schools of his vicinity. He assisted in building
the present Augustana Lutheran church in 1901.
FRANK KIMM.
All credit is due a man who wins success in his chosen field of endeavor
in spite of obstacles, who, by persistency and energ)', gains a competency
and a position of honor as a man and citizen. The record of Frank Kimm,
a farmer of Oak Port township, Clay county, is that of such a man, for
he came to this locality in the days of its rapid growth from primordial con-
ditions and here he has worked his way up from the bottom to definite
success.
Mr. Kimm was born in Bremer county, Iowa, February 16. 1866, a son
of John Francis and Julia (Downing) Kimm. The family moved from
Iowa to southern Minnesota in 1868, locating on a farm and there the father
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 887
tilled the soil until his death in 1886. The mother subsequently came to
Clay county, where she spent her last years, dying in igo6 at an advanced
age. To these parents the following children were born : Frank, whose
name introduces this biographical review; Nellie and Liliie, twins, and Fred,
deceased.
John F. Kimm, father of the alx)v^ named children, was a full-blooded
Frenchman, and was born in the year 1809. He grew to manhood in
Europe, being born in Germany, and he served for some time in the German
army, taking part in one of the wars of that country prior to coming to
the United States. During the Mexican War he served as chief cook for
Gen. Winfield Scott. He was an expert chef. When he crossed the Mexican
border on his way home he carried with him the sum of four thousand dol-
lars in gold, which he secreted in old-fashioned saddlebags, which were
thrown across his horse's back. Once he lost it, but retracing his steps was
fortunate enough to find it.
Frank Kimm grew to manhood on the home farm in southern Minnesota,
being two years old when his parents removed from Bremer county, Iowa.
He received his education in the early-day district schools of Blue Earth
county, this state, where be continued to reside until 1893, when he came to
Cla)- county and bought four hundred and eighty acres in Oak Port town-
ship. The farm is well located not far from the city of Moorhead. How-
ever, he did not move to this place until 1910, having operated the Benedict
farm in the meantime, operating it together with his own. The Benedict farm
is a large place lying just north of his own. He has carried on general farm-
ing and stock raising on an extensive scale. He now operates fourteen hun-
dred acres in all, raising large quantities of grain and great numbers of live
stock. He is one of the leading farmers of the county. He also runs a dairy,
keeping an average of thirty good cows, some full-blooded and high-grade
Guernseys. He uses a milking machine and his dairy is up-to-date in every
respect, special attention being paid to sanitary conditions. His land is
highlv improved in every respect, including a commodious home and numer-
ous, well-equipped outbuildings. Ever3^hing about his place denotes thrift,
good taste and excellent management.
Mr. Kimm was married in 1898 to Gertrude Pearson, a native of
Sweden, from which country she came to America when young. To Mr.
and Mrs. Kimm twelve children have been born, all living at this writing
but two, and all being still at home with their parents, namely: Frances,
888 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Annabel, Fred and Alice, both deceased; Benjamin. Louis, .Arthur. !\Ia1iel.
Robert, Alexander, Ruth Elenda, and Grace Vivian.
Mr. Kimin is a member of the Dihvorth Dairy .\ssociation. He is
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 1 le has served as town-
ship assessor and in the spring of 191 1 he became county commissioner, wliich
position he still holds, to the satisfaction of all concerned.
PETER BRUNSBERG.
One of the substantial and prosperous farmers of Bear I'ark township,
Norman county, where he enters unostentatiously into the good work of the
Cdnimunitv, was born in Thotcn, Norway, hebruary 24, 1850, a son of Die
and Mary Brunsberg, both of whom were natives of Norw^ay; however,
they spent their last days in .America. In 1867 the father came to America,
accompanied by his son, the subject of this sketch, to find a location, and some
years later he was joined by Mar\- Brunsberg, his wife. They were tlie
parents of eight children who grew to maturity : Peeler, deceased ; Lizzie,
Martha, Ole, deceased: John, Martin, deceased: I'eter, the subject of this
review, and Ed.
Peter Brunsberg was just entering the age of early manhood when he
left the land of his birth, where he had actpiired an elementary education
which the time and the place afforded, and came in 1867 in company with his
father to cast his lot with the agricultural interests of the New W'orld.
They came on out to Minnesota, and after a short stay in St. Peter. Nicollet
count)-, the father went into Sibley county, which joins Nicollet on the
north, where he took a homestead of eighty acres, His wife joined him there.
His death occurred on the homestead, but Mrs. Brunsljerg died later ai the
home of her son, Peter, near Fertile, Minnesota. After gaining some valuable
experience in the extensive agricultural o])erations of the Northwest, Peter
Brunsberg left his father's home, joined a party of settlers who were coming
north up into this state. He drove a yoke of oxen, and, after a tiresome
journey of three weeks, he arrived in Polk county, where he took a home-
stead of one hundred and sixty acres, two and one-half miles southeast of
Fertile. Since he had brought with him the necessary farming implements
and had driven some stock before him as he came up into this countrv, it
was not long imtil he was well started on the road to success in his farming.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 889
After he had remained there eight or nine years, he decided that a better
opportunity awaited him down in Norman county, hence he sold out and
bought one hundred and twenty acres in Bear Park township, this county,
where he has since continued to Hve. With liis wonted tlirift and industry,
he set to work to improve his new holding and now he has a well-cultivated
farm and an excellent farm plant, comprised of good buildings and a comfort-
able farm home, where he carries on general farming very successfully and
efficiently.
In 1875, ^'^^- Brunsberg was married to Johana Erickson, who was born
in Sweden, a daughter of Erick Peterson and wife, and to this union have
been born the following children : Ole, Martin, John, Albert and Emma,
all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Brunsberg are devoted members of
the Norwegian Lutheran church at Rindahl and the former helped to build
the church edifice of this congregation. They are also connected with all
the good works of the community. In politics, Mr. Brunsberg has never
sought after office, but he takes a good citizen's interest in the civil and
political affairs of the community.
JACOB HURNER.
The Swiss have ever been known as a liberty-loving and independent
people. Switzerland has furnished an admirable example to many of the
larger nations of the earth and her government and institutions might be
emulated with profit by the kingdoms and monarchies whose subjects do
not seem to be as fortunate as the Swiss. Among this nationality in Clay
county is Jacob Hurner, a farmer of Spring Prairie township.
Mr. Hurner was born in Switzerland in 1852. He is a son of Jacob
and Anna (Moser) Hurner, Ijoth natives of Switzerland, where they grew
up, married and established their home, remaining there until 1873, wlien
thev immigrated to America, reaching here in the spring of that year,
joining their son Jacob, who had preceded them to the New World in
the autumn of 1872, locating in Nebraska. The father remained in that
state until his death, after which the mother went to Oregon, where she
died. To these parents six children were born, namely: Jacob, Emma,
Albert, Louis, Fred and Alexander.
Jacob Hurner grew up in Switzerland and there he attended the public
schools. He immigrated to America in the fall of 1872, single, and located
8qO clay and NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in Piatt county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming two years, then
moved to Boone county, Iowa, where he worked out as a farm hand ; he
also followed his trade of blacksmith, which he had learned in the old
country under his father, who devoted most of his life to blacksmithing.
Jacob Hurner also took up a homestead in Piatt county, which he improved
and lived on until 1896, when he moved to Spring Prairie township. Clay
county, buying the farm on which he still makes his home. He has pros-
pered through close application and good management and. adding to his
original holdings from time to time, he now owns three hundred and twenty
acres of excellent land on which he has made important improvements, in fact,
developed the land from the raw prairie to a high state of cultivation. His
first one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has made his home, was
railroad land. He has a good dwelling and outbuildings sufficient for all
his needs. He has been \ery successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
He has been one of the stockholders in the Glyndon Creamery since its
organization.
Mr. Hurner was married in 1882 to Minnie Fritzmyer. a native of
Iowa, where she grew to womanhood and attended the public schools. She
is a daughter of Simon Fritzmyer and wife. Ten children, all surviving
at this writing, have been born to Mr. and Airs. Hurner. namely : F.mma,
Caroline, Anna, Martha. Sarah. Lydia, Fred, Paul, Ruth and Benjamin.
Mr. Hurner has taken an active interest in local public afifairs. He has
l)een a member of the township board for many years, about thirteen in
all, includin£f the last seven vears, and is still in office.
NELS N. MELVEY.
Nels N. Melvey, a well-known contractor" living at Moorhead, Clay
county, was born in Norway, April 30, 1867. He is a son of Nels and
Marie (Hagness) Melvey. both natives of Norway, where they grew up,
married and resided until 1881. when they immigrated to America. After
stopping a while in St. Paul, Minnesota, they went on to North Dakota,
but not long thereafter located at Moorhead. Minnesota, where they estab-
lished their home, the father following the carpenter's trade in that town
the rest of his life. He and his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. They
were parents of six children, namely: Nels N., Mollie, Marin. Sarah and
Ingeborg, who died in early life, and Andrew, who is also deceased.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 89I
Nels N. Melvey spent his boyhood in Norway, where lie attended school.
He was about fourteen years old when his parents brought him to America,
and he finished his education in Moorhead, Minnesota. When a young man
he learned the carpenter's trade under his father and he has continued in
this line ever since, together with contracting in later life, starting contract-
ing for himself about 1910. He became an expert workman in early life
and his work has always been eminently satisfactory and his services have
been in constant demand. He is a close observer and a student of modern
building methods and he has kept fully abreast of the times in his chosen
field of endeavor. He is a stockholder and director in the First State Bank
of Moorhead. He is also a director of the Key City Building Association.
Mr. Melvey was married in the spring of 1887 to Ingeborg Vinger, a
native of Norway, from which country she came to America with her brother.
Her father. Johan Share, died in Norway, and her mother, Johana, remar-
ried and in 1883 came to America, her second husband, Erick Arneson,
establishing a home in Moorhead. To Mr. and Mrs. Melvey nine children
have been born, namely : Tilla Olphena, Jelmer Norine, Elert, Arthur,
Ernest, Nora, Fletchert Norwin, Harold Francis and Dorothy Hetel. They
are all living at this writing.
Mr. Melvey is active in local public affairs and has been an alderman
for ten years, during which time he has done much for the general good of
Moorhead. He belongs to the Lutheran church, and fraternally is a mem-
ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Wood-
men of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
BERNHARD JULIUS SOLUM.
One of the most enterprising and successful farmers of Tansem town-
ship, Clay county, is Bernhard Julius Solum, who was born in Norway, in
October, 1866. He is a son of Petrus P. and Bergetta (Klingen) Solum,
both natives of Norway, from which country they came to America in the
summer of 1868, locating in Winneshiek county. Iowa, where they remained
until 1 87 1, the father following the carpenter's trade, which he had learned
in Norway. From Iowa he made the overland journey with an ox-team hitched
to a prairie schooner, to Clay county, locating on raw land in section 4,
Tansem township. It was about half covered with timber, the other half
being open prairie. He began life there in true pioneer fashion, breaking
SgZ CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
the sod with liis oxen and niakhig necessary improvements and there he
engaged in farming successfully until his death about the year 1907. He
and his family were accompanied by Erick Hanson and family from lows,
and they were the first two settlers in the northern part of the township.
The widow of Petrus P. Solum is still living on the old home place in this
township. He helped organize Tansem township, and he served on the
township board in tlie early days. He also heljied organize the first ciuirch
in Clay county — the Greng Lutheran church at Rollag, where services are
still held. He also helped organize the Rollag Telephone Company, in which
he continued to be interested until his death. He was also a stockholder
in the Farmers Elevator Company at Pelican Rapids. His family consisted
of nine children, named as follows: Bernard Julius, of this sketch, is the
eldest; Christina, Julia, .Anna, Sana, Xettie, I'etra, I\'ter and .\lma. They
are all living at this writing.
Bernhard J. Solum, whose name introduces this re\iew. was educated
in the common schools of iiis native communit\ : the school house being
a number of miles away, in the winter time he went to and fro on skees
over the deep snows. Indians were still numerous in this locality in those
days. Young Solum remained on the home farm with his parents, assist-
ing with the general work, until he was thirty-one years old ; he then located
on his present farm in section 9, Tansem township, which he i)urchase<l. Tt
consists of one hundred and eighty acres. He cleared and improved it by
his own efforts. He operates his fathers old home place in connection
with his own and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock
raiser. About 1906 he started auctioneering and has continued this line
ever since, being known as one of the most successful and popular auc-
tioneers in this and adjoining counties, frequently crying sales in Clay, Otter
Tail, Becker and Wilkin counties. .At times his crowds number one thousand
people.
Mr. Solum was married on November 16, 1897, to Nellie Norheim,
who was born in Norway and is a daughter of M. H. and Gunhild Nor-
heim, natives of Norway, from which country they came to America with
their family, locating near Rollag, Parke township, Clay county, where
they lived for some time and where the death of the mother occurred. Mr.
Norheim later moved to Benson county. North Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs.
Solum the following children have been born : Joseph Norman, Gerhard,
Bertha Charlotta, Julius Raymond, Carl Herman and Esther Eleanor. They
are all living at this writing.
Mr. Solum is a justice of the peace, which office he has held for a number
CLAV AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 893
of years to the satisfaction of all concerned. He has been clerk of the local
school board for over twenty years. He is now township chairman, which
position he has held for three years, and he has been a member of the
township board for thirteen years. He is a member of the Rollag Lutheran
church which he helped organize. He has been one of the leading men
in his township since the pioneer days and is held in the highest esteem
bv all who know him.
ALBERT W. PERRY.
Among the well-known and successful residents of Ada, Xornian county,
is Albert W. Perry, a proficient plumber, who was born in Merrick county.
New Hampshire, July 26, 1858, a son of Harston J. and Emlie E. (Alorey)
Perry.
Harston J. and Emlie E. Perry were natives of the states of X'ermont
and Xew Hampshire, respectively, and were educated in their respective
communities. After their marriage they established their home in New
Hampshire, where they lived for a number of years, and where JMr. Perry
engaged in general farming. In 1885, they decided to leave the New England
state and seek a home in the West. It was in that year that they came
to South Dakota, and there in March, 1885, Mr. Perry homesteaded three
hundred and twenty acres near Northville. The territory was a new one
at that time and it meant much hard work anrl privation for the little family
to make a home. A house was erected and the task of developing the tract
was begun, which in time became one of the ideal farms of this section
of the state. The tract was later increased, until there were six hundred and
forty acres in the farm. Here Mr. Perry engaged in general farming and
stockraising for many years, and there the wife and mother died. The
father died some vears ago, when on a visit to his old home in the East.
They were highlv respected people and had much to do with the moral and
general development of the new settlement. They were the parents of the
following children: Albert W., Curtis H., Ida E. and Delia, all of whom
are now living. Ida and Delia are now residing in South Dakota.
During the Civil War two members of the Perry family enlisted in
defence of the L^nion, and gave their lives for that cause. Martin Perry,
an uncle of .\lbert \\'., entered the service as a drummer boy, and was
taken sick and came home and died. The other uncle, Morey, saw much
active service and wa^ killed in battle. The Perry family are of the same line
894 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
as Commodore Perry. The family were among the very first settlers in
this country, and Albert W. Perry has one of the broad axes, with which
the Pilgrim Fathers hewed the logs to build their houses. The ax has been
handed down from generation to generation, and is now in the home of Mr.
Perry and is to him one of his most valued possessions. Uri Perry, the
paternal grandfather of Albert W. Perry, was the son of Nathan Perry,
who lived and died near Marble Head, Massachusetts. The grandfather
was one of the pioneers of Mole county, Massachusetts, and there he cleared
a farm and made his home until the time of his death. He and the other
members of the Perry fainily had much to do with the early history of
that section of the country. Their education and progressive spirit had
much to do with the future greatness of the state, and today their names
and their work are held in grateful remembrance.
Albert \\. Perry recei\ed his education in the local schools and in the
Peoples Academy at Morristown. Vermont, and grew to manhood ainitl
the environments of the Xew England states. On March 9, 1882, he came
to Ashton, South Dakota, which was then the end of the Milwaukee rail-
road, and remained at that place for the rest of the summer. He then went
to Northville, that state, and associated himself with the firm of Britton
Yard & Company, land and locating attorneys. The firm did a large busi-
ness and practiced before the W'atertown land ofiice. In their capacity of
locating agents and attorneys, the firm located practically all the people in
the half of Spink and Faulk counties. After two years engaged in this
business, Mr. Perry homesteaded and tree-claimed three hundred and twenty
acres of land in Faulk county. This he improxed and developed, and there
he made his home for five years, when he returned to Northville. where
he had one hundred and sixty acres of good land, which he had pre-empted.
He then purchased three hundred and twenty acres more of land and there
made his home for three years, after which he left the farm and moved to
Minneapolis, where he entered the employ of the Lake Belt Supply Com-
pany, and there learned the heating and plumbing business. He remained
in Minneapolis until the year 1909, when he returned to the farm at North-
ville, and erected fine buildings on the place, and jnit down an artesian well.
His buildings were all modern and substantial, and were among the best in
that locality. He remained on the farm for three years, during which time
he managed his extensi\e interests and engaged in the heating and plumbing
business in the village of Northville and the surrounding countr\-. He met
with the greatest success in his business enterprise, and in 191 1 he came to
Ada, Norman county, where he has since been successfully engaged in the
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 895
business of heating and plumbing. He is today one of the substantial and
successful business men of town, and is oijerating a growing business. He
has a beautiful home, motlern in every respect and nicely located, and one
that is a credit to the little city.
On April 4, 1883, Albert W. Perry married Hattie Garrison, a native
of Governeur, New York, a daughter of Nathan Garrison and wife, who
were born and educated in Massachusetts, and who later settled in the state
of New York, where he died when Mrs. Perry was but a young girl. To
Albert VV. and Hattie Perry have been born the following cliildren : Fannie
L., Mazzie, Albert H. and Zuleime. Mr. Perry is a member of the Congre-
gational church. He and his wife have long been active in the social life
of the community in which they live and where they are held in the highest
regard and esteem by all. Coming to the West, as he did, when but a
young man, Mr. Perry has by his own efforts met with success, and has
become one of the ])rominent and substantial men of the county.
OLE A. DAHL.
Ole A. Dahl, a substantial farmer of Bear Park township, Norman
county, where he is the owner of eighty acres of well-improved land and
where he is interested in the common business enterprises of the community,
was born in Bear Park township, on the farm where Otto Dahl now lives,
November 26, 1883, a son of Andreas and Oleana (Evanson) Dahl, who
were both natives of Norway, from which country they came to America
in 1883.
Andreas Dahl was a son of Ole and Kari Grytdahl. both of whom spent
their whole lives in Norway, where the father^ was a farmer. They were the
parents of twelve children, as follow : Carl, deceased ; Ingeborg, Marie,
deceased ; Davet Johanas, deceased : Karena, Otto, Nils O., Ole, Andreas, de-
ceased; Taale and Augusta. Reared on the old home farm back in his native
Norway, Andreas Dahl there acquired habits of industry which were of great
use to him when he came to this country. Some years after his marriage in
Norway,. he decided to immigrate to America and landed on the soil of the
New World in 1883. He and his wife came directly out to Minnesota, where
they stopped for a short time at Ada and from thence they went to the
home of Ole Garden, in Bear Park township. While at the home of his
friend, Andreas Dahl looked about for a location and in 1884 took a home-
896 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES. MINNESOTA.
Stead of one hundred and sixty acres in Bear Park township, where his son.
Ole A. Dahl, now hves. IniniecHately he began the improvement and cuUi-
vation of his new holding. l)ut he was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of
his labors for long, as his death occurred in 1890. His wife, who re-married
now resides in Winger, Minnesota. To Andreas Dalil and wife were born the
following children: Ole A., the subject of this review; Eliza and Peter,
all of whom are living. Both the father and mother were devoted memljers
of the Norwegian Lutheran church, belonging to a congregation of that faith
in Waukon township.
Reared on the home farm, to the development of which he contributed
a great amount of labor, since he was the oldest child and since his
father died at a rather early age, Ole A. Dahl early understood the responsi-
bility which rests upon a settler in a new country. Under his management
the farm continued to produce bountifully and now he owns eighty acres,
which comprises one-half of the old homestead. He has remodeled all the
buildings and now is the owner of a well-appointed farm plant. He carries
on general farming operations and is quite successful in the same.
In 1906, Mr. Dahl was married to Ingelwrg I-'liflet. who was born in
Norway, a daughter of Lars Fliflet and wife, and to this marriage six
children have been born, namely: Arthur. Leonard, Tilda, who is dead:
Ralph, Melvin, deceased, and 01)ert. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl are consistent and
conscientious members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Rindahl, and
they are rearing their children in that faith.
Mr. Dahl is interested in the co-operative agencies of the communitv.
holding shares in the creamery at Rindahl and in the Fanners Store at Bear
Park. He has never sought public office, but gives a good citizen's attention
to the civil affairs of the communitv.
HAIA'OR W. THUNE.
Halvor W. Thune, a photographer and one of the successful business
men of Ada, Norman county, Minnesota, was born in Winneshiek county,
Iowa, on August 11, 1857, and is the son of Thomas W. and Sarah (Hagen)
Thune, natives of Norway, and there they were educated in the public schools
and grew to manhood and womanhood, later coming to this country. They
were of the farming class in that faraway northern country, and after their
marriage in this country established their home on a farm in Winneshiek
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 897
county, Iowa, where they continued to Hve until the death of the father in
1874. The mother died in 1896. They were among the progressive people
of the district, and became prominent in the affairs of their home township.
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were ever
devoted to the cause of religion and education. They were the parents of
the following children : Halvor W., Jane, Edwin, George, Mary, Alfred and
Oscar.
Halvor W. Thune received his education in the early district schools
of Winneshiek county and was reared on the home farm. After reaching
manhood he engaged in general farming for some years and then, in 1881,
he entered a photograph gallery, with the intention of learning the business.
After having become proficient in the art he, in the year 1883, came to Ada,
Minnesota, where he has since been successfully engaged in the business.
Although he has devoted the greater part of his active life to the interests of
his business, he has always been interested in farming, and is now the owner
of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near his home town. His life
has been an active one and he has met with much success in his chosen work.
He was never content unless his finished products were the best that the pro-
fession could produce, and his reputation as a photographer is well known
throughout a large territory.
On May 16, 1887, Halvor W. Thune was united in marriage to Sarah
Grinde, who was born in Norway, daughter of Erick Grinde and wife. To
this union the following children were born: Elmer T., Herman, Ruth, Alta
L., Victor F. and Florence L. Mrs. Thune died some years ago, and in the
year 1914 Mr. Thune was married to Mrs. Dena (Hagen) Uggen, the daugh-
ter of Ole Hagen, of Winneshiek county, Iowa. Mr. Thune and family are
active members of the Lutheran church and are prominent in the affairs of
the local society. The Thune family have, since coming to the United States,
been prominent in all local affairs with which they were concerned. The
early members of the famil\-, having come to this country with the intention
of establishing a home in the undeveloped region of Iowa, demonstrated their
ability as successful men and women on the plains of that state. Their early
lives were hard ones, yet thev were determined in their efforts and in the end
met with success. The later members of the family were no less determined
in their eft'orts to meet with success, yet perhaps in a different line of en-
deavor. They, too, have been interested in the final development of the dis-
trict in which they have established their homes and where they have been
instrumental in the growth of the moral, educational and religious sentiment.
(57a)
898 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Ever since engaging in the sterner realities of life, Mr. Thune has taken
an active interest in all the affairs of his home town and district. For a
number of years he has been court commissioner and chief of the fire depart-
ment. For two terms he served as mayor of Ada. and is now secretary of the
local school board. To the duties of all of his official positions he has given the
most careful care and attention, has served the people well and honorably,
and today is held in high regard on account of the service that he has ren-
dered.
WILLIAM O. ISHAUG.
It is a pleasure to look over a well-kept and well-stocked farm like that
of William O. Ishaug, of Tansem township, Clay county. He was born in
Fillmore county, Minnesota, December 27, 1863, a son of Goodman O. and
Ingeborg (Stanshole) Ishaug, both natives of Norway, where they grew
up, married and made their home until 1861, when they immigrated to
America, coming direct to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they bought
land and established their future home on a farm. Ten years later, in 1871,
they came overland, driving an ox-team to a prairie schooner to Clay county,
the trip requiring four weeks, being among the early pioneers here, when
neighbors were few and trading posts far remote. The father pre-empted
the land, the place on which the subject of this sketch now resides. He
broke the prairie sod with his oxen, erected buildings and put the land
under cultivation and had one of the best one hundred and si.xty acre farms
in the township. His children have kept the land well improved, clearing
some of it, and they have also erected new and more modem buildings. There
occurred the death of the mother in 1913. Goodman O. Ishaug went to
Polk county, this state, in 1883, where he homesteaded one hundred and
sixty acres on which he resided for a period of fifteen years; he then returned
to Clay county, making his home on the farm with his son, William O.
He helped organize and build the first church — the Snejd Lutheran church,
in his locality. His family consisted of five children, namely: Oleana,
the wife of Peter Ameson; Bertha, the wife of John Peterson; Hannah,
deceased; Hannah, the second, deceased; and William O., of this sketch.
William O. Ishaug grew to manhood on the home farm. He was eight
years old when the family moved from Fillmore to Clay county. He
attended the district schools. He has remained on the home farm in Tan-
sem township and now owns three hundred and twenty acres, constituting
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 899
an excellent and well-improved farm, on which he has erected a fine group
of buildings. He carries on general fanning and stock raising and is a
breeder of Shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Ishaug was married in 1884 to Sophia Nelson, who was born
in Norway, from which country she came to America with her parents
when young. She is a daughter of Christian Nelson and wife, who were
pioneers in Tansem township, where they became well established on a
farm as the result of their industry and perseverance. Thirteen children,
all living at this writing, but one, have been born to William O. Ishaug
and wife, named as follow : Carl, Josephine, deceased ; Oscar, Hilda, Alfred,
Josephine, Helmer, Emma, Henry, Melvin, Selma, Victor and Ferdinand.
ADOLPH GUSTAVSON.
Adolph Gustavson, a successful farmer of Cromwell township, Clay
county, belongs to that type of adventurous men who spread civilization in
new countries, giving vent to that mysterious quality in the blood of primi-
tive people to push on to the edge of things.
Mr. Gustavson was born in Sweden, July 4, 1853. He is a son of
Gustav and Ann (Melberg) Erickson, natives of Sweden, where they grew
up, married and established their permanent home on a farm and died there.
They never came to America. They were parents of ten children, five of
whom grew to maturity, named as follows : Adolph, of this sketch ; John,
foreman in a glass factory in Sweden; Tilda, who lives on the old home-
stead in Sweden; Christie, the wife of Andrew Erickson and they make
their home in North Dakota, and Emil, who lives on his father's old farm
in Sweden, and in connection with farming he operates a butcher shop.
Adolph Gustavson grew up on the home farm in Sweden and he helped
his father with the general work on the same when a boy. He received his
education in the common schools. He immigrated to America in 1884,
first locating in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he spent two and one-half
years, first securing employment in a planing mill; he later worked for a
farmer and gardener, who owned a farm between Minneapolis and Anoka.
He then came to Clay county, and helped build the first hotel at Ulen.
He had learned the carpenter's trade in Sweden. Not long after coming
to Clay county he bought eighty acres of railroad land, which he developed
into a good farm on which he has since made his home, with the exception
900
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
of one summer, when he rented out his land and herded stock for George
S. Barnes, near Glyndon, soon after coniino here. He worked hard to
get his land under cultivation. He first trained steers with which he broke
up the sod, and continued farming with oxen for seven or eight years. He
erected good buildings in due course of time and set out a large grove,
which is now one of the attractive features of his place. He did all this
work himself. Prospering with advancing years he added another eighty,
buying all his land from a railroad company. He now has one of the
choice farms of his locality, and is carrying on general farming and stock
raising, with very gratifying results.
Mr. Gustavson was married in the fall of 1886 to Ulricka Gustavson.
who was born in Sweden, where she spent her girlhood and attended school.
She came to America on the same ship with the subject of this sketch, and
on to Minneapolis with him. She was also accompanied by two sisters
and her father. This family came on to Clay county and located in High-
land Grove township, where the father, Gustav .Anderson, located on a
farm. Ten children, all living at this writing, have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Gustavson, namely: .Anna, Regena. Alma, Ellen, Einar. David, Effie,
Hilga and Freda are twins, and Herbert. Mr. Gustavson is a member of
die Lutheran church.
HERBRAXD ENGEN.
Herbrand Engen, a farmer of Skree township, Clay county, was born
in Norway, September 30, 1875. He is a son of Herbrand and Turi (Tors-
datter) Engen, both natives of Norway, where they grew up and were
married and made their home until 1906, when they immigrated to America,
to make their home with their son Herbrand of this sketch. The mother
is now deceased. The father was a farmer in the old country. He is a
member of the Lutheran church. His family consisted of six children,
namely: Bergit, Viel, Herbrand, Thor, Nels and Kittle. The last named
is deceased. The living children all make their homes in Clay county, with
the exception of Bergit, who lives just over the line in Becker county.
Herbrand Engen grew to manhood in Norway and attended school there.
He came to America in 1893. making the long trip directly to Hawley, Clay
county. He worked out as a farm hand for some time, and in 1907 bought
two hundred and forty acres in Skree township and here he has since
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 9OI
resided, caiTying on general farming and stock raising with most gratifying
results. He has made many improvements on his place, including the erec-
tion of a barn and granary. He is also interested in the Farmers Creamery
at Hawley, being one of the stockholders since it was first organized.
Mr. Engen was married in January, 1898, to Ragna Hieberg, a daugh-
ter of Soren P. and Maren Hieberg, natives of Norway, where they grew
up and married. They immigrated to America about 1880 and hnmesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres in Skree township. Clay county, which they
improved and on which they established a very comfortable home, where
her death occurred over twenty years ago. Air. Hieberg is still living on
his fine farm tliere, which consists of two hundred and eighty acres. He
has two children, Hilda, wife of Hans Aim, and Ragna, wife of the subject
of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Engen ten children have been born,
namely : Trace, deceased ; Helena, deceased ; Tilda, Selvin, Theodore,
Lilian, Helena, Herbrand, Jr.. Norman and Vernon are twins.
Mr. Engen has served as justice of the }>eace and as road overseer,
discharging his duties as a public servant in an able, faithful and highly
satisfactory manner. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
EMIL EUREN.
Emil Euren, for many years a leading contractor of Moorhead, Clay
county, was born in Sweden, September 13, 1859. He is a son of Per
and Clara (Hendricksdatter) Euren, both natives of Sweden, in which
country they lived and died. The father was a farmer; he also followed
the trades of bricklayer and plasterer. His family consisted of thirteen
children, eight of whom are still living, namely ; Lars. Erick, Aren, Louisa,
Sophia, Emil, Gust and Theodore.
Emil Euren grew to manhood in Sweden and there attended the public
schools and learned the trades of brick mason and plasterer under his father.
He was twentv-one years old when, in 1880, he made the long trip from
Sweden directly to Fargo. North Dakota, where he soon found work at
his trades. In 1881 he located in Moorhead, where he has since made his
home, remaining at his present location for thirty-six years. He built the
home where he lives — a comfortable, modernly appointed residence that
would be a credit to towns much larger than Moorhead. He continued
working at his trades until .about 1887, when he began contracting for
(58a)
Q02 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
himself, both in brici<laying and plastering. He is an e.xiiert in each
and his services ha\e been in constant demand, for his work lias always been
high-class and promptly and honestly done. He has always been a close
student of modern methods in his line of work.
Mr. Euren was married in 1881 to Marie Halltiuist, a native of Sweden
and a daughter of Gust and Henrietta (Rasmusson) Hallquist. l)Oth natives
of Sweden, where they established their home on a farm and where the
mother still resides, the father dying some time ago. To these parents six
children were born, all still living, namely: Marie, wife of the subject
of this sketch; Caroline, who lives in Sweden; Henrietta, who also resides
in the old country; Sophia lives in Boston. Massachusetts; Alga lives in
Sweden, and Anna makes her home in Boston.
Mrs. Euren came to Fargo in 1880. She has borne her husband eight
children, all of whom survive at this writing, namely: Oscar, Alga, who
is the wife of G. E. Freburg; Eddie, Signe, Hjalmer, Iver, Conrad and
Gertrude. Mr. Euren has been a member of the city council from his ward
at two different periods. He is a member of the Swedish Mission church.
JOHN C. FOSTER.
John C. Foster, a well-known and successful farmer and stockman of
Lockhart township, Norman county, was born in England on October i,
1859, a son of Frank and Elizabeth (Collins) Foster. His parents were
also natives of that country, and highly resi>ecte(l people, who lived and died
in the land of their nativity.
John C. Foster received his early education in the schools of England,
where he lived until he was eleven years of age, when in 1870 he came to
America alone. On his arrival in this countrj- he proceeded to the state of
Illinois and located at Jackson\-ine, ^vheTe he continued to reside until
191 5, when he came to Lockhart, Minnesota, and purchased the old Lock-
hart fami of one thousand two hundred and four acres.
In 1874, John C. Foster was united in marriage to Emma Parkin, of
English parents, but she was born and reared in Scott county, Illinois. To
this union the following children have been born: Charles, Richard, Bert.
Roy, Leslie and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are active members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent in the activities of the com-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 9O3
munity in which they live and wliere they are lield in the highest regard
and esteem by all who know them. Mr. Foster is a member of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and takes much interest in the growth and
success of that organization.
The parents of Mr. Foster were of the farming class in England and
the father spent his life as a laborer on farms there. The opportunities
were small for the young man without funds, with which to start on life's
work, and being an energetic youth, John C. Foster decided when but a
small boy to seek his fortune in America. He left his home and came to
the United States at the age when most boys are in school. The parents
of Mrs. Emma (Parkin) Foster were Richard and Sarah (Robinson) Parkin,
who received their education in the schools of England and later came to
this country and established their home in the state of Illinois many years
ago. Their home was near Jacksonville and in the vicinity of the farm
of two hundred and forty acres of John C. Foster.
Few men have risen to a higher degree of usefulness and influence than
has John C. Foster. Coming to America, a mere lad, alone and without
funds, he has by his own efforts became one of the substantial and successful
men of the community in which he lives. His success has been due to correct
living, hard work and the practice of economy. He has always taken much
interest in local affairs and is held in high esteem.
J. H. POWERS.
J. H. Powers, well-known professor of music, was born in Potsdam,
New York, in 1882, a son of James L. and Charlotte (Swift) Powers, both
natives of New York, the father of Louisville, and the mother, of Pots-
dam, of that state. James L. Powers was a farmer in New York state,
where he lived and reared his family.
J. H. Powers received his elementary education in the public schools of
Potsdam, New York, and afterwards attended the Potsdam Normal School,
from which he graduated in 1903. He early evinced a desire for a musical
career and completed a course in the Crane Institute of Music and graduated
in 1904. In 1905 he came to Willmar, Minnesota, where he had charge of
the music in the public schools for one year. He then went to Hutchinson,
Minnesota, and took charge of the music in the schools of that place for
three years. From 1908 to 1909 he was in Crookston, Mitinesota, engaged
904
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in the same line of work, and came ttJ .Moorhead in the latter year. He
has been director of music in the normal school at Moorhead since 1909.
In 1908 J. H. Powers and Mary Brainard were united in marriage.
To this union four children have l)een born : Doratha, Dudley, Harold and
Arthur. Mr. Powers is an adherent of the Congregational church in Moot ■
head, and his fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order.
HENNING E. GRUTLE.
Henning E. Grutle, manager of the Twin Valley Telephone Company
and formerly and for years one of Norman county's best-known school teach-
ers, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of
Minnesota since the days of his infanc)- and of Xorman county since he
was about three years of age. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of the
city of Bergen, one of the most important Norwegian seaports, January 31,
1876, son of Reinert and .Martha (Ellingson) Grutle, also natives of Norway,
who came to America in that same year, the subject of this sketch thus
having been but an infant in arms when he arrived in the United States,
and proceeded on out to Minnesota, settling in Goodhue county.
Reinert Grutle had but few possessions when he came to this country
and after a few years of residence in Goodhue county decided that a better
start could be made up in this part of the state, where land was cheaper
and the opportunities for the newcomer were a bit more equal than in the
more populous sections of the state; so in 1880 he came uj) into the Red
River valley and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in what
later came to be organized as Fossum township, Xorman county, where he
established his home, presently becoming accounted one of the most substan-
tial and influential pioneers of that section of the county. Mr. Grutle had
acquired an excellent education in his native land and not long after l)ecom-
ing a resident uf Xorman county was selected as the teacher of the parochial
school in the neighborhood in which he had settled and was for twenty-
five or thirty years maintained in that important and useful position, tinis
exerting a wide and wholesome influence upon the youth of that neighbor-
hood. In igio he and his wife left the farm in Fossum township and mo\ed
to Twin Valley, where they are now living. Thev are members of the
Lutheran (Synod) church and have ever taken an interested and helpful
part in the good works of the community of which they have been resi-
dents since pioneer days.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 905
Reared on the home farm in Fossum township, Henning E. Grutle
received an excellent education under the careful direction of his learned
father and when little more than a boy began teaching school in the district
schools of Norman county, meanwhile continuing his labors on the farm
during the summers, and for eleven years was engaged as a teacher. In
the year 1906 he became one of the organizers of the Twin Valley Tele-
phone Company at Twin Valley and has ever since made his home in that
village. Upon the organization of the telephone company and the estab-
lishment of the telephone plant Mr. Grutle was made manager of the same
and has ever since been retained in that important position, having done
much during that time to extend the telephone service throughout the terri-
tory covered by the Twin Valley exchange, and has long been regarded as
one of the most energetic and substantial citizens of that thriving village.
In the year 1912 H. E. Grutle was united in marriage to Gida Gulling.s-
rud, daughter of Ole Gullingsrud and wife, and to this union three children
ha\'e been born. Reinert, Grace and Olive. Mr. and Mrs. Grutle have a
very pleasant home at Twin Valley and take a proper interest in the general
social and cultural activities of that village and of the community at large.
They are members of the Lutheran (Synod) church and take an interested
part in church work, as well as in the general good works of the community
and are helpful in promoting such mo\-ements as are designed to advance
the common welfare.
JAMES BURNS.
Life in the open country : life in the growing grass, the wax'ing fields
of wheat, the springing corn; life is in the trees and birds, and in the develop-
ing animals on the farm. Any man who works on the land is bound to feel
that he is closer to the real springs of nature, the most genuine sources of
inspiration. That is one reason why the life of the farmer is the best.
One of the contented farmers of Eglon township. Clay county, is James
Burns, who was born in the state of New York in 1S73. He is a son of
Patrick and Anna Burns, both natives of Ireland, where they spent their
earlier years, the father in the city of Dublin, his birthplace. He was about
twenty-five years old when he immigrated to the L^nited States. After
working in the copper mines in Michigan for some time he came to Clay
county in 1874 and took up a homestead in section 6, Eglon township, his
place consisting of eighty acres. He developed his farm and made a com-
go6 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
fortable living. His sons later added more land to the original place. He
was married before leaving Ireland. The death of Patrick Bums occurred
in 1898 at the age of fifty-two years. His widow survived until 1906.
dying at the age of seventy years. To Patrick Burns and wife six children
were born, namely : James, subject of this sketch ; John, married and lives
on the home farm in Eglon township; Edward, who makes his home in
Montana; Thomas, who lives in Nevada; Lizzie, the wife of Ben Frazier.
and William, who makes his home in Salt Lake City, L'tah.
James Burns was but an infant when his parents brought him to Clay
county. Here he grew to manhood on the home farm where he has since
resided. He received his education in the local district schools. He has
kept the home place well improved and well cultivated, assisted by his
brother, John. They have a good home and good general improvements.
A great deal of grain and live stock is marketed annually. A good grade
of live stock is kept. James owns two hundred and four acres, and John,
eighty acres. James is unmarried and makes his home with John, who
married Julia Roach in 1907. John Burns and wife have three children.
namely: Roselia, Cathryne, and an infant son .
The Burns brothers are members of the Catholic church, and take a
warm interest in communitv affairs.
THEODORE H. ANDERSON.
Although, doubtless, most people would like to remain on the old home-
stead where they "played away the happy hours of innocent childhood,"
but few are permitted to do so, from one cause or another ; for there is always
a sentiment alx)ut the hearthstone where the family gathered when we were
children that cannot be replaced. So one who, like Theodore H. Anderson,
one of the young farmers of Eglon township, Clay county, is fortunate enough
to spend his life at his birth-place, is to be envied.
Mr. Anderson was born in the above designated vicinity, in the year
1890. He is a son of Carl and Louisa (Bostrum) Anderson, both nati\es
of Sweden, where they spent their childhood and attended school, but came
to America single, he about the year 1867 and the mother making the
trip unaccompanied, when twentj'-five years old. She is still living on the
home place in Eglon township, being now (191 8) sixty-one years old. The
father died about the year 1903. at the age of fifty-four years.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 9O7
Carl Anderson worked out as a farm hand in Wisconsin after coming
to America for some time. He was married about 1880, and a year or two
thereafter homesteaded the farm wliich his son, Theodore H., now occu-
pies in Eglon township. He wori<ed hard and managed well and in a few
years had a good farm and raised large crops of grain and numerous live
stock. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres. To Carl Ander-
son and wife four children were bom, namely: Albert, deceased; Alfred,
married and employed on the section gang of the Northern Pacific railroad ;
Theodore H., of this sketch ; and Ella, who lives at home with her mother.
Theodore H. Anderson grew to manhood on the home farm, where he
has always remained, and when a boy he attended the district schools. He
is operating the place successfully, carrying on general farming and stock
raising. He has kept the place well improved and it is now in better condi-
tion than ever before. He is a persevering and painstaking worker and
manages well. He is unmarried. He belongs to the Swedish Mission
church. He was at one time president of the Young Peoples Society of
the same, and has long been active in churcli affairs.
OLE H. KASIN.
The properly managed farm not only becomes an annual income pro-
ducer, but leads on to what is tantamount to an endowment policy or an
annuity during the declining years of the farmer, and, finally resolves itself
into a provision for the family the farmer leaves Ijehind. One of the suc-
cessful general farmers of Hawley township, Clay county, is Ole H. Kasin.
Mr. Kasin was bom in Norway in i860. He is a son of Halver and
Gunda (Olson) Carson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up,
were married and established their home and there the mother is still living
at the advanced age of eighty-one years. The father was a farm laborer
during his active life. He died in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years. To
these parents nine children were born, four of whom are now deceased;
those living are Halver, Swengen, Hilge, Gunial and Ole H.
Ole H. Kasin grew to manhood in Norway and there he attended the
common schools. He was twenty-eiglit years old when he immigrated to the
United States in 1888. He came to Clay county in 1903 and bought one
hundred and si.xty acres in section 36, Hawley township, also eighty acres
in section 35, and. prospering with advancing years through close applica-
908 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
tion and good management, he has added to his original holdings until
he now owns one of the choice farms of the township, consisting of four
hundred acres, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement
and cultivation. He has a large comfortable home and numerous sul>
stantial outbuildings. He carries on general and mixed farming, raising
a great deal of grain annually, which he feeds to live stock, always keeping
a good grade of cattle and hogs as well as horses. He sells a numljer of
carloads of stock for the market every year. He came liere witli but little
capital, but he has forged to the front b}' his own unaided efforts along legiti-
mate lines. At this writing (June, 191 7), he has a fine iX)tato crop of
thirty acres. He is in the great potato belt.
Mr. Kasin was married in Iowa in 1889. he having spent his first
few years in that state, to Bergert Olson, who was born in 1864 in Norwav
and there she spent her girliiood and attended school, coming to America
in 1887 and locating in Iowa. To this union eight children have been born,
named as follows : Halver, married and living in Clay county ; Julia, mar-
ried and living in North Dakota : Emma, married and living in Clay county,
and Oscar, Isaac, Gilbert. Olga and Gena are all at home.
Mr. Kasin takes an active interest in local public affairs, and has l)ecn
treasurer of the school toard in his district for the past twelve years. He
has been a member of the township lx)ard for two years and has filled these
offices in a conscientious and faithful manner. He is a member of the Lutheran
church.
OLF. LARS BECKMAN.
Ole Lars Beckman, a skilled bricklayer of Moorhead, was born in Swe-
den, March 5, 1858. He is a son of Lars and Karen (Olson) Halverson,
lioth natives of Sweden, where they grew up, were married and continued
to make their home until 1888, when they came to Minnesota, locating in
Moorhead. Lars Halverson followed farming in Sweden. He and his wife
spent nearly all the balance of their lives in Moorhead, his death occurring
at the advanced age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of four
children who grew to maturity, namely : Lars, Martina. Ole I^rs and Karen.
Ole Lars Beckman spent his boyhood in Sweden, where he attended
school and worked out as a farm hand. He came to America in 1881 and
until 1883 he worked in ^Montana on construction work on the Northern
Pacific railroad. He then located at Moorhead. where he has since made his
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 9O9
home. He worked at various vocations there until 1887, when he began
learning the trade of brickmason under John L. Burquist, the first contrac-
tor in either Moorhead or Fargo. Mr. Beckman remained with Mr. Bur-
quist until shortly before the latter's death. Since then he has worked for
various contractors. He is regarded as an expert bricklayer and his serv-
ices are always in demand. He is not only swift and painstaking, but is
familiar with modern forms of architecture.
Mr. Beckman was married in Moorhead, in 1883, to Ingeborg Matison,
a native of Sweden, and a daughter of Mat and Karen (Larson) Matison,
both natives of Sweden, where they spent their lives. Their daughter Inge-
borg came to the United States on the same ship with her future husband,
and worked in Minneapolis until her marriage. To this union two child-
ren have been born. Emma and Ella. The Beckmans are members of the
Lutheran church.
WATERED DANIELSON.
One of the famous lines of "The Old Homestead," a popular plav a
generation ago, was "Young blood tells." This phrase applies not alone
to a man's social advancement, but in business life particularly, where the
old men are dropping out and the younger generation stepping into their
shoes. This fact is not true so much in the farming world as in the trades
and professions, but one of the enterprising and most prominent of the younger
farmers of Eglon township. Clay county, is Walfred Danielson.
Mr. Danielson was born in 1890 in Swift county, Minnesota. He is a
son of Edwin D. and Christine (Anderson) Danielson, both natives of
Sweden. They came to America when young and were married in Swift
county, this state, about the year 1876. After their marriage they estab-
lished their home on a farm in that county, owning a good farm, which they
operated for a period of twenty-five years, then sold out and bought the
place on which their son Walfred now resides, a place of two hundred and
forty acres in sections 7 and 8, Eglon township. Edwin D. Danielson
made all the improvements now seen on the land, including a cosy residence,
a large barn and outbuildings and fences. However, his sons have remodeled
the residence and erected new buildings since his death. The father carried
on general farming and stock raising successfully imtil his death, which
occurred in 1907 at the age of sixty-four years. He was regarded as an
piO CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
honest, hardworking, public-spirited citizen. His widow is still living on
the homestead, and is now sixty-five years old.
Edwin D. Danielson served as road supervisor for some time, also
was a member of the local school board. He was a member of the Swedish
Mission church, to which his widow and children also belong, and lie was
faithful in attending the same. To Edwin D. Danielson and wife nine children
were born, named as follows : Emma, who is married and lives at Red
Wing, Minnesota: Amiel, who is married and lives in Swift countv, this
state; August, living on the home place, which he helps operate, also looks
after a farm in North Dakota; Adolph, married and living near Red Wing;
Anna, tlie wife of Albert Dahl. a farmer of Eglon township: David, who
lives at home, but works out: W'alfred, of this sketch: Helen, wlio lives
at home; and Richard, who works in Fargo, North Dakota, is the youugest.
Walfred Danielson was a child when his parents brought him to Eglon
township from Swift county, and here he grew to manhood and attended
the district schools. He has remained on the home farm, which he is
managing in an able and successful manner, carrying on general farming
and stock raising. He is unmarried. He was road boss in his district one
year. He is a member of the Swedish Mission church.
JOHN E. GRINDE.
John E. Grinde, a farmer of Kragnes township, Clay county, was
born in Norway in March, 1868. He is a son of Elling and Gertrude (Huke)
Grinde, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, married and made
their home until 1870, when they immigrated to America and engaged
in farming in Rice county, Minnesota, where the father died in 1899, at tlie
age of sixty-eight years. He owned a good farm there. His widow
continued to live on the home place there until her death in 1915, at the
age of seventy-four years. To these parents nine children were born, named
as follows: Anna, married and lives at Rugby Junction, North Dakota;
Unna, who was married and died some time ago: Sunawa, married; John
E., of this sketch: Seviert, who hves in Mankato, North Dakota: Edward,
who died in 1915: Carrie, married and li\ing at Rugby Junction, North
Dakota: Erick, who is married and lives on a rented farm of one hundred
and thirty acres in section 22, Kragnes township, and Gertrude, married
and living at Mankato. North Dakota.
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. QI I
John E. Grinde was an infant when his parents brought him to America
in 1870. He grew to manliood in Rice county, Minnesota, where he helped
his father with the general work on the home fann during the summer
months, attending the district schools there in the winter time. As a young
man he began farming for himself. He came to Clay county in 1896. In
his earlier days he spent some time in Wisconsin. He first bought one
hundred and sixty acres in Moland township, which he sold later and bought
the one hundred and sixty acres where he now lives, in 1903. The land
lies in section 23, Kragnes township. He has kept it well improved and
under a fine state of cultivation. His land is well adapted to potato raising
and he has planted as many as twenty-five acres at one time. He has put
up all the buildings on his place and keeps them in good repair.
Mr. Grinde was married in Oxford Village, Wisconsin, in 1902 to
Lottie Syntegaard, who was born in 1872 in that town and there she grew
to womanhood and attended school. To Mr. and Mrs. Grinde five children
have been born, namely : Myrtle, Edward, Alice, Cora and Esther. Mr.
Grinde has been treasurer of school district No. loi for about thirteen years
and is still in ofifice.
IVER SCHEIDE.
Iver Scheide, who conducts a furniture store and hairness shop at
Perley in the southwestern corner of Norman county, was born in Norway,
February 20, 1867. He is a son of Johannes and Bertha fGrena) Scheide,
both natives of Norway, where they grew to maturity, were married and
established their home, spending their lives there on a farm. To these parents
fi\e children were I>orn, namely : Ingeborg, Iver, Augusta, Louisa and
Ingvold.
Iver Scheide grew to manhood in his native land and there he attended
the public schools. As a young man he worked on the liome farm, also
followed commercial fishing. He immigrated to America in 1887, locating
at Perlev, Norman countv. and here he has resided continuously ever since.
During his residence here of thirty years he has seen the country develop
from a sparsely settled region to one of the leading agricultural sections
of the state. During the first ten years here he worked out as a farm
hand. He saved his earnings and started a furniture and undertaking busi-
ness in Perlev, wliich he has since conducted with growing success. He
has also engaged in carpentering, l^ecoming quite a highly skilled workman:
912 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
he also does paper hanging and work on telephone line?. He is a man who
can take up most any trade f|uickly, having a natural bent in that direction.
In 191 5 he purcha.secl a harness shop and has huilt up an excellent business,
carrying, a complete line of harness and saddlery ; he also still conducts the
furniture business.
Mr. Scheide was married to Mrs. Matilda Myere, widow of ]u\m Myere
and a daughter of Martin Olson and wife. One child was born to Mr. and
Mrs. Scheide, Megnon Scheide. One child was also Ijorn of Mrs. Scheide's
union with JdIiu Myere, namely: Syvert Myere. Iver Scheide has been a
member of the village council of Perley. He and his wife are nieml^ers of
the Norwegian Lutheran church at Perley, of which he was a deacon for a
number of years, and has long been active in church work.
M. COLEMAN BARRY
M. Coleman Barry, the well-known potato buyer of Hawley, Clay
county, hails from the fair JMncrald Isle, having been born in Galway, Ire-
land, October 7, 1S57. He is a son of Roliert and Barbara (Connolly) Barry,
both natives of Ireland, the father of Galway and the latter of Lettermullen.
The grandparents, James and Mary (Cabill) Harry, were both born in Cork,
Ireland. James Barry spent practically all of his life on his splendid estate,
called "Carna," in County Galway. His son, Robert Barry, grew to man-
hood in the latter countw and theie he attended the common schools. As a
young man he worked on the homestead: in fact, operated the estate for
about twenty years. In 1874 he came to .America, and located among his
sons in Wabasha county, Alinnesota, where they had settled some time
previously, having lived on farms there several years. There he and his
wife spent the rest of their lives, both dying in the year 1875, dying only
a few months apart, her death having occurred first. These parents were
members of the Episcopal church. To Robert Barry and wife the following
children were born: Joseph. Margaret, James, William, M. Coleman and
Mary Ann.
M. Coleman Barry received his education in the iniblic schools of County
Galway, Ireland. When sixteen years old, in 1872, he catne to America
and began working on a farm with his older brothers in Wabasha county,
Minnesota, where he remained until 1882, in which year he came to E\ans-
ville, Minnesota, and taught the \illage school one year. He went to George-
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 9I3
town, Clay county, in 1883, where he was employed to buy grain for the
Pillsbury & Hulbert Elevator Company, continuing successfully in that line
until 1900, when he invested in timber lands in the North. He spent his
time looking after his timber holdings until 1907, when he turned his
attention to farming in Becker county, Minnesota, continuing as a general
farmer with gratifying results until in 1916, when he traded his farm for a
store in Richville, Otter Tail county, this state, but a few months later he
moved his stock of goods to Hawley, Clay county, and carried on a large
and growing business there until he was burned out on January 25, 19 17.
Since September, 1916, he has been buying potatoes for Leslie \\'elter.
Mr. Barry was married in 1887 to Minnie Belle Herbert, and to that
union one child has been born, Joan Barry. Mr. Barry is a member of
the Congregational church.
ARCHIE WHALEY.
Archie Whaley, editor of the Clay County Herald, published at Hawley,
Minnesota, was born at Waukon, Iowa, November 21, 1862. He is a son
of Archie and Mary (Olson) Whaley. The father was bom in Oneida
county, New York, and the mother in Christiania, Norway. Archie Whaley,
Sr., spent his earlier years in the East, removing to Iowa about 1845, being
one of the pioneers of that state. He established his future home at Waukon,
where he engaged in farming and the milling business, remaining there until
1 881, when he came to Hawley, Clay count}', where he spent the rest of his
life. He was twice married. Six children were born of his first union,
namely: Theodore, Eliza, R. S., M. C, Caroline and Lauretta. After the
death of his first wife he married Mary Olson, and five children were born
to them, namely : Archie, of this sketch : Otis, deceased, and Delia, Roxey
and Judd.
.\rchie Whaley grew to manhood at Waukon, Iowa, and there attended
the public schools. He came to Hawley, Minnesota, in 1880, and engaged
in farming near there the first two years, then conducted an implement busi-
ness at Hawley for about six years, enjoying a good trade with the sur-
roimding country. He then turned his attention to farming again for a
few years. In 1894 he established the Clay County Herald and has been
interested in its publication ever since and has been sole owner during the
gi4 CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
past twelve years. He has a good plant and his i)aper has gradually increased
in circulation and influence in this section of the state under his manage-
ment.
In 1906 Mr. \Vhale\- was elected sheriff of Clay county, which office
he held for eight years, discharging his duties in an able, faithful and satis-
factory manner. He has held all the town offices of Hawley. including that
of mayor; he also served sexeral years as deput\ sheriff of the county.
As a public servant he has had the confidence of all parties. He was reared
in the faith of the Congregational churc-h and affiliated with the same. He
moved to Moorhead in 1906 and has since resided there.
Mr. Whaley was married in 1899 to Cecelia Swenson. Vive children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whale>-, namely: Leora, John, Ralph,
Esther and Irvin.
L.AMBERT HERMAN, JR.
One of the alert inisiness men of Georgetown, Claj- county, is Lambert
Herman, Jr., contractor and builder, who was born in Germany, July 30,
1877. He is a son of Lambert and Angelica (Keiser) Herman, both natives
of Germany, the father born on December 17, 1835, and the mother on Novem-
ber 9, 1855. They grew up in their native land, married and continued to
reside there until 1870, when they immigrated to America, locating in
Michigan, in the mining region. Two years later they moved to Georgetown,
Clay county, and have since resided here. The father is owner of about
two hundred and seventy acres of excellent land, two miles southwest of
the village, and he has been verj- successful as a general farmer and stock
raiser. His place is well improved and he is well known throughout George-
town township, which he has seen develop into an excellent and populous
farming locality, from the wild prairies during his residence here of thirty-
six years. He has played well his part in this transfoniiation.
The following children have been born to Lambert Herman, Sr.. and
wife; Belle, Lambert. Jr., Joseph, John, Edward, Katherine, Carrie, Andrew
and Grace. They also have an adopted son, Philip.
Lambert Herman, Jr., grew to manhood in Clay county, Ijeing tw'Q years
old when his parents brought him from Germany. He was educated in the
public schools of Georgetown. He assisted his father with the work on
the home farm during \acation periods, but not taking kimlly to the life
of a farmer in the north, he learned the carpenter's trade when a young
CLAY AND NORMAN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA. 9I5
man. at whicli he has become quite expert and he lias since continued this
trade with success, being one of the best-known carpenters and builders in
the northwestern part of Clay county. His services are in good demand
and his jobs are always satisfactory. He is a keen observer and a student
of modern architecture and his work is always up to date. He does all
kinds of building work, and residences, barns and public buildings as well as
business houses all over this part of the county stand as monuments to his
.skill as a builder.
Mr. Herman is unmarried. He is a member of the village council at
Georgetown. He was reared in the Catholic faith, from which he has not
departed.
HENRY V. ANDERSON.
Henry V. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, is of Swedish ancestry,
his father and mother, E. G. Anderson and Hannah Anderson, lx)th being
natives of that country. Henry V. Anderson was torn in Carver county,
Minnesota, December 20, 1872.
E. G. Anderson came to America before the Civil War and enlisted
as a soldier in that war. He served two years and was with his regiment
in many engagements and campaigns in which it participated until the close
of the war. After the war he returned to Carver county, where he continued
to live until his death, which occurred in 1914. He was the father of ten
children: C. F., Sophia, Selma, J. O., A. V., Henry V., A. W., H. A.,
R. F. and Freda.
Henry V. Anderson was educated in the public schools of Carver county,
Minnesota. While yet a young men he engaged in the grain business, and
for the last twenty-three years he has been buying grain for the Great
Western Grain Company. In 1907 he came to Hitterdal to take the man-
agement of their elevator at this place and has been thus engaged ever since.
Mr. Anderson has a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Highland Grove
township, where he makes his home and conducts general farming, in addi-
tion to his work incident to the management of the grain ele\ator.
Mr. Anderson was married, in 1897, to Tille Bursley, and to this union
five children have been born: Russell H., Gail, Wilfred, Hazel and Ken-
neth. He holds membership in the Woodmen.
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