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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 


ASU 


Oi^i 


\AAA.Or^A 


tJL. 


CJXAjC/^^J 


•'IFK 


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 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PMPTTP  LIBRARY 


\^T'!H,   LENOX 


THE   NEW.  VOHK 

L  PUBLIC  •■-  ;y 

ASTOR,    LENQX 
TILDEN   fOrj.N-D,vT,ON,s 


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 


THE  NEW  YORK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


JTOR,  LEM©X. 

N    fOUNDATlONS 


1 

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 


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Th.,    .  . 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

ASTOR,   LEN©X 
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 


■PM 

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ALBERT  J.  WRIGHT. 


THE   NEW   YORK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


TILDE.N 


vVlONS 


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. 


y. 


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. 


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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 

PI 

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fl 

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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 


> 

73 


a 
o 

73 

o 

> 


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. 


THE   NLvV   YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,   LEN0X 
TILDEN    f OUNDATIONt 


K;^   -'•  ■                               ■   ■•     -       ■--        "                          '    -      -1^       iS        1^ 

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H               "•-"■"  ^  r'—^v^'"  ?. i^.-            ..  ..^ 

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OLD  AND  NEW  HOMES  OF  ERNEST  PINSKE. 


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4i  {jM  V , 

liii 


THE  BEST  FIELD  OF  RYE  RAISED  IN  MINNESOTA  IN  1917  (PINSKE  FARM). 


THE   NEW   Y^^HK 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


ASTOR,  LENBX 
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. 


•^e. 


f