USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 14
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James B. Atkinson remained at home with his parents until eighteen years of age, at- tending common schools most of the time. At the age referred to he began learning the printer's trade at Freeport, following that at various places until he was twenty-two, when he returned home and rented a farm for twenty-one months. The first fall from this experiment. the hay crop cleared him $600 above all expenses, including the rent for the full time. The following winter, March 20, 1845, he was married to Miss Abbie Sholes, of Allegheny City, Penn., but re- mained on the farm until the following fall, when he moved into Freeport and opened a butcher shop. Five or six years later, he sold out and began his afterward extensive business of railroad contracting. Ilis first contraet was one for $8,000 on the Allegheny
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Valley road ; next on the North-Western, now Pennsylvania, and from that to the Iron Mountain, on which he had a contract for over $100,000. His next move was to return to Freeport, where he bought a stock of general merchandise and conducted that business for one year. IIe then came West in search of a location, and spent some time in travelling through the eastern part of Iowa. In the spring of 1856, he decided to come to Min- neapolis, and, being pleased with the prospeet there, he returned to New York for goods, was taken sick and laid up for three months. For this reason he did not get back to Min- neapolis until August of that year and the same fall came out to Rockford and took up a claim, where he remained thirty days. The town of Rockford had been laid out only that spring : game was abundant and the pros- peet generally fine. After returning to Minneapolis, where he remained some six weeks, he went East for his family. ITis household goods were packed and shipped West, but the goods never arrived, nor have they ever been seen or heard of since. Early in the year 1857, he made his first trip to Meeker county, driving through with a team, bringing a load of goods and working his way through the "Big Woods." Upon his arrival he located at Forest City. The coun- ty had just been organized and that country village, being the county seat, was the prin- cipal point within its limits, although there were neither business nor business houses there at that time. Mr. Atkinson, having brought the first goods to the county, went immediately to work getting up a building. He then returned to Minneapolis for the balance of his goods.
Having, like all others, taken up a claim, he placed his family upon it, and going back to St. Paul, proved up on it, paid for it, and returning with more goods, removed to the village, where he opened his store for busi- ness, about March 1, 1857. Ile, the follow-
ing fall, erected the hotel, which he ran in connection with his other businesses until 1879. The store was kept by him until 1865, when he disposed of it to his partner, he having taken Mark W. Piper in with him in 1862. During the winter of 1861-2 Mr. Atkinson made a trip to Pike's Peak, but came home, arriving at Forest City, August 1, just seventeen days previous to the Indian outbreak. At the time of the organization of the' "Home Guards," at Forest City he was elected first lieutenant. The night previous to the attack upon the stoekade, ammunition being short, he volunteered to go after a supply, and starting after night, alone, traveled through the "Big Woods," beset with savage enemies, but, although aware of his peril, would not quail or flinch. His undaunted courage carried him through safely, and proeuring powder, lead, and soldiers to relieve the garrison, he returned. He had previous to this, in company with Geo. C. Whitcomb, been raising a company for the Sixth Minnesota Infantry, but the outbreak stopped proceedings. IIe then enlisted and served as private and seont, although favored by his superior officers to a degree unknown elsewhere, on account of his social position and certain promises made to him but not fulfilled, in Company D, Second Cavalry. He remained with them until the close of hostilities with the red- skins, when he was given a commission to recruit men at St. Paul. After following this for a time he raised a company which was mustered into the service as Company II. First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, with which he served as captain, being stationed chiefly at Chattanooga, until the elose of the war.
Captain Atkinson bas filled many offices of trust and honor in this community; he was the representative in the Legislature in 1857 and 1858, has filled the office of mem- ber of the board of county commissioners,
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served as town supervisor for years, was sheriff for three years, town assessor for seventeen years, and occupied the position of justice of the peace for nearly a quarter of a century. Ile is the parent of eight children : Hannah Elizabeth, Mrs. J. W. Mckean, of Indianapolis, Ind .; Charlotte M., Mrs. Henry Clinton, of Las Vegas, Cal .; Abigail A., now Mrs. E. H. Ilull, living at Mineapolis ; Frank, now Mrs. T. Richardson, of Forest City; Charles HI., of the same place; Kate, Mrs. C. E. Barkam, of Dallas, Tex .; Jessie B., Mrs. Charles Boynton, of Forest City; and James B., Ir., at home.
NDREW S. MATTSON, a prosper- ous farmer whose land adjoins the village of Litchfield. is a native of Sweden, born September 7, 1852. His parents were Swan and Margaretta Mattson, who came to the United States with their family in 1858 and located in Carver county, Minn., where they were among the pioneers. A year or so after their settlement there, Mr. Mattson, the father died, and in 1859 Mrs. Mattson removed with her family to Meeker county and claimed eighty acres of Goverment land on Section 10, in Ness (now Litchfield) town- ship. When the Indian outbreak began, she removed to St. Paul, and remained there until after the close of hostilities, when she re- turned to her land in Meeker county, erected a small house and commenced improvements. She made this her home until 1885. She was married to Nels M. Pearson in 1867, and is now a resident of Darwin township.
Andrew S., the subject of this sketch, lived with his mother until they moved to Darwin, when the mother conveyed the farm to him. Since that time he has added about 81,150 in building improvements, and other- wise added to the value of the farm. Ile now has 115 acres of good land within eighty
rods of the incorporated limits of Litchfield village, where he carries on general farming and stock-raising.
LLONORABLE EVEN EVENSON, the present representative of Meeker county in the Lower House of the State Legislature, resides on section S, in Green- leaf township, and is one of the most prom- inent citizens of the county. Hle is a native of Norway, and was born on the 21st of November, 1844. His parents were Hans and Christine Evenson, who came to Ameri- ca in 1857, settling first in Scott county, Minn., where they remained one year, and then removed to Wright County, where they resided for two years, after which. in 1860, they settled in Meeker County, Minn., the father pre-empting a quarter of sec- tion 8 in the present township of Green- leaf. A full history of the father and other members of the family will be found in another department of this work. The fam- ily consisted of father, mother and five chil- dren, Even being the eldest son.
At the time of the Indian outbreak im 1862, Even was residing with his parents on the homestead. Although not yet eighteen years of age, he was a careful observer of events, and on the memorable 17th of Aug- nst was in attendance on the war meeting at. the old Ripley postoffice. That night he was one of the fearless little band of settlers who went to the Baker and Jones residences. and discovered the horrible butchery which the savages had committed so near their own doors. Ile remained with the squad that night and the following day, and, later in the same week. went with the family to Forest City, where he was doing guard duty when the Indians attacked the place in the night. A sentinel named llenry L. Smith was the first man to return the fire of the savages, and the second shot was fired by Even. During the following year, Even
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worked in St. Paul and Anoka, and in the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company I, See- ond Minnesota Cavalry. The regiment was assigned to duty on the frontier, and Even went with a detachment of his company as es- cort of Captain Fisk's immigrant train to the Idaho gold fields, and went as far as Fort Riee in Dakota. He remained with the command, doing frontier service until the fall of 1865, when he was musteredont. Ile returned to the old homestead, and has since re- mained there, with the exception of the sum- mer of 1867, when he was employed near St. Paul.
In November, 1869, Mr. Evenson was mar- ried to Helen Danielson, a daughter of Nels and Randi Danielson, who were among thie first settlers in Meeker county. She was born in Norway on the 28th of October, 1847. During the Indian outbreak she had a thrill- ing and dangerous adventure, she being one of the two women who were left in the thieket all night while the settlers were flying for their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Evenson have been blessed with seven children, the third born of whom, Robert E., is dead. The others are as follows: Ilenry Nicholas, born Octo- ber 24, 1871; Carl Richard, born December 17, 1873; Robert B., born July 27, 1877; Elmer Emanuel, born August 13, 1879; Anna Bertha, born September 25, 1881; and Nels Oscar, born April 13, 1884. The family are members of the Ness Norwegian Luth- eran Church.
Mr. Evenson's life has not only been a busy one, but an unusually useful one as well. Besides filling varions township offices, he has filled the office of county commissioner for eight years, the last four years of which time he was honored with the chairmanship of that body. He made a careful and effi- eient member of the board, and during his service was recognized as second to none in point of ability or influence. In 1886 Mr. Evenson was elected to represent Meeker
county in the Lower Ilonse in the XXVth Legislature on the republican tieket, and he has proven well worthy the trust reposed in him, making a record satisfactory to his con- stitnents and highly ereditable to himself. His ability was recognized in the formation of the llouse Committees as he was placed upon the Committees on Education, Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute, and on Roads, Bridges and Navigable Streams.
When the State Board of Trade was in existence Mr. Evenson was appointed by Judge Brown to represent the Twelfth Judi- cial District in that body, the most important work of which was the recommendation to the Legislature for the establishment of the State grain inspection system.
A portrait of Mr. Evenson will be found . upon another page in this ALBUM.
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ILLIAM HUKRIEDE, the genial pro- prietor of the Mansard House, the leading hotel of Eden Valley, is a native of Westphalia, Germany, born September +, 1838. He was reared in that elassie land, receiving in youth the education which is the birthright of the rising generation of his fatherland. He was there, in 1860, married to Miss Mary Christopher, a native of West- phalia, Germany, and daughter of Henry and Lizzie Christopher. In 1873, with his family, he emigrated to America, and pur- chasing a farm on section 23, in Manannah township, commeneed life here. On this place he made his home until the fall of 1887, when, in connection with his son llen- ry, he came to Eden Valley and bought the Mansard Ilonse, and has continued at the head of its affairs ever since. Mr. Hukriede has a family of eight children, as follows: Fred, born May 28, 1861; Henry, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume; Reka, born October 6, 1865; William, born February 1, 1868; Ernest, born January 28,
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1871; August, born April 15, 1873; Minnie, born March 1, 1876; and Annie, born No- vember 14, 1878.
ENRY HUKRIEDE, the partner of his . father in the proprietorship of the Mansard House and who is, also, engaged in operating a blacksmith's shop in Eden Val- ley, is a native of Westphalia, Germany, born January 5, 1863, and is the second son of William and Mary(Christopher) Hukriede. Ile came to the United States in 1873, with his parents, and remained upon their farm until the spring of 1882, when he went to Litchfield and there learned the blacksmith's trade. In the spring of 1886, he came to Eden Valley while the graders were still at work here and bofore the iron upon the railroad was laid and started a blacksmith's shop, and has followed that trade ever since. In 1887, in connection with his father, he bought the hotel and maintains connection therewith.
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OHANNES OLSEN, a well-to-do and re spected farmer, residing on section 32, Acton township, is a native of Norway, born January 31, 1837, and a son of Ole and Sophia Johnson. He came to the United States in 1857, and first stopped at St. Paul. where he hired to a man, named Fred Erick- son, who held a Government contract for fur- nishing hay. They cut the hay on the Minne- sota River bottoms near Fort Snelling, and the ground was so wet that they were obliged to carry it on poles to higher land for stacking. After spending some time in this way, he, with six others, went to Howard Lake, Wright county, and selected claims. Two of the party remained during the win- ter to make the improvements necessary to hokl the claims, while the others returned to St. Paul to earn and send provisions to their two comrades. The following spring Mr. Ol- sen returned to his claim, expecting to find a
house erected and other improvements, but as nothing had been done he went back to St. Paul to find work. He had a hard and dis- couraging time of it, but in the fall he secured a job on the railroad between St. Anthony and St. Cloud, and on the southeast side of the Minnesota River, above Mendota. This was a very wet season, and they were obliged to lay plank tracks in order to run their wheelbar- rows. Returning then to St. Paul he did not succeed in finding employment until after Christmas when he got work cutting cord wood, which lasted until spring. Ilis next move was to Point Douglas, where he hired to a farmer for six months at $10 per month. At the expiration of that time he returned to St. Paul and worked at building flat boats, and in the spring went with them to St. Louis, where he was paid off. During the summer he worked at farming on Paint Creek Prairie, AHlamakee county, Iowa, and split and cut rails during the winter. The following spring-April 14, 1860-he was married to Miss Mary Paulson, a daughter of Mathias and Mary Paulson. After his marriage he rented a farm for two years, but the first season the chinch bugs destroyed most of his crop. In 1864 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and took a homestead on section 32, Acton township, where he has since lived.
Mr. and Mrs. Olsen have been blessed with the following children-Mathias, born No- vember 10, 1862, died July 15, 1885 ; Sophia Elizabeth, born October 12, 1864 ; Ole, born March 15, 1867; Paul Emanuel, born Sep- tember 17, 1869 ; and Carl Johan, born Feb- ruary 16, 1877. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. In politi- cal matters Mr. Olsen affiliates with the re- publican party. Both of Mr. Olsen's parents died in Norway. His wife's parents are also deceased-the father, Mathias Paulson, died in Acton July 26, 1883; and the mother died September 19, 1880.
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ARTIN HOUK, a well-known, suc- cessful and highly respected farmer, residing on section 36, Ilarvey township, was born in Owen county, Ind., on the 3d of November, 1844, and is a son of John and Evelin (Crouse) Ilouk. His parents still re- side in his native State.
Martin, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in his native State. working on a farm and attending school, according to the facilities of that day. He was married in Indiana on the 23d of January, 1870, to Miss Mary F. Doll, and in 1874, with his wife and two children, started for the West, arriv- ing in Meeker county, Minn., on the 15th of October, 1874. 1Ie first settled in Man- annah township and remained there for one year, and then removed to Harvey . town- ship, settling on section 36, where he has since lived. He has three brothers living in Meeker county.
Mrs. Houk's parents reside in Ilarvey township, Meeker county.
Mr. and Mrs. Hlouk are the parents of seven children-five girls and two boys-all of whom are living. Their names are as follows: James F., Josephine, Alice M., Eve- lin, Henrietta, Jessie and Mareus R.
IMON MAYER, residing on section 23, is an ex-Union soldier, and is one of the most prominent and successful farmers and stock-raisers in Union Grove. He is a son of Gregor and Mary (Winterholden) Mayer, and was born in Würtemberg, Germany, on the 20th of October, 1834. Ilis parents died when he was fifteen years old, and he was apprenticed to learn the turner's trade. When he was eighteen years old, in 1852, he came to the United States and for three years worked at his trade in New York city and in Paterson, N. J., after which he came to St. Paul, where he remained for two days, but as he could not find work, he left his
trunk at the hotel and walked to Stillwater, one Sunday night. Ile secured work on a raft and made three trips to St. Louis, thus spending one summer. He next worked on farms and spent one winter in the pineries ; also worked for L. D. Bartlett, running a ferry from Lakeland to Hudson, for several suminers. In the fall of 1861 he went to Fort Snelling and enlisted for three years in Company B, Third Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, and went Sonth the same fall. IIe participated in many skirmishes, but not in any pitched battle. When his three years were ended he re-enlisted at Little Rock, Ark. The Third was surrendered to General For- rest at Murfreesboro and was paroled and sent to Benton Barracks, Mo., and from there was sent to the relief of the settlers in Min- nesota, and started for Forest City. Seven- ty-five men of the Third reported at Forest City. A history of their movements will be found in the chapter devoted to the Indian troubles. When they landed at Fort Snell- ing Governor Ramsey made them a speech and requested them to march for Forest City that night, which they did. From this cam- paign they went to Sibley Camp, Fort Ridge- ly, and joined Sibley in his expedition through the Northwest. Mr. Mayer participated in the bloody fight at Wood Lake. The Third Regiment left Sibley and joined Governor Marshall, and captured the Indians who were hung at Mankato. January 15, 1863, Mr. Mayer returned South and served until Au- gust, 1865, when he was mustered out at Fort Snelling.
Ile then went to Hudson, Wis., and was married to Ellen Moody, October 16, 1865. She was a daughter of Arnold and Olive Moody, and was born November 16, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer have been the parents of two children, as follows: William, born January 11, 1868; Della, born October 4, 1873.
Mr. Mayer is a republican in political mat-
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ters, and has taken an active and prominent part in township affairs. Ile has held vari- ous township offices, having been chairman of the supervisors three years, school treas- urer twenty-one years, road overseer, and in other minor positions. He is one of the best posted and most intelligent men in the town- ship, and is a careful busmess man. Ile stands high, wherever he is known, for his integrity and uprightness, and is one of the leading citizens of his township.
Mr. Mayer now owns 500 acres of land, a good deal of which is under cultivation, and he has good building improvements.
- RS. ELIZABETH GARDNER of Das- sel township, came to Meeker county in July, 1866, with her brother-in-law, Andrew Davidson, bringing with her her only ehild, Peter, who was then four years of age. She, at onee, took up a homestead of eighty acres of land on section 14, Das- sel township, where she has since made her home. She is the widow of Bradford Gard- ner.
The husband of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, who, when a young man. came west to Wisconsin and settled, where he was united in marriage with Elizabeth McCalister, a native of Scotland, born in Whitehorn, Wigton Shair, 1836, who had eome to America in 1855 and subsequently located at Caledonia, Wisconsin. After their marriage they lived in Sauk County, in the "Badger State," until November 20, 1863, when Mr. Gardner, being drafted, entered Company D, First Wisconsin Infant- ry as a recruit and served with that gallant regiment until the battle of Buzzard's Roost, in the Atlanta campaign, when he fell mor- tally wounded, and died in the hospital at Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 8, 1864. Filling an honored soldier's grave, his life offered up a sweet sacrifice upon the altar of
his country, his mission on carth was accom- plished, and while the comrades regret his loss, they dare not murmur against the de- cree of the Most High, that snatehed him from his loving widow and his boy.
Mrs. Gardner and her son remained at their home in Wisconsin until they came to Minnesota, grieving after the brave soldier who had lain down his life in defense of his country and who is enshrined in every patri- ot's breast.
Peter has always remained with his be- loved mother. He was born in Sauk county, Wis., May 14, 1862, and was married De- eember 24, 1885, to Miss Sarah Arrowood, a native of Minnesota, and daughter of G. D. and Louisa Arrowood, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, who came to this town in 1865.
OHN CHRISTENSON, a highly re- spected and successful farmer residing on section 32, Union Grove township, was born in Sweden, on the 22d of August, 1828, and is a son of Christen and Betsy Eliason. llis early life was spent in the land of his birth, where he acquired the habits of indus- try, economy and integrity which are char- acteristic of the people of his nationality. In 1868 he came to the United States with his family and came to Meeker county, Minn .. where he took a homestead of eighty acres on section 6, Swede Grove township. Seven years later he moved to section 5, where he bought 280 acres of railroad land, and lived there until the spring of 1887, when he settled upon his present farm on section 32. Union Grove township, having purchased eighty aeres there in 1886. Ile has divided the rest of his land among his children, giving them a start in the world.
Mr. Christenson was married on the 27th of December, 1850, to Miss Anna Pehrson, and their union has been blessed with ten
E. Evenson
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children, as follows : Christopher, born Oe- tober 3, 1832; Hannah, born February 5, 1855; Elias, born May 14, 1857; Ella, born May 27, 1859; Nels, born April 2, 1861, died August, 1861; Nels F., born June 28, 1862; Andrew, born September 28, 1864; Alfred, born May 12, 1866, died July 1, 1868; Alfred, born July 12, 1868, and Her- man, born July 19, 1870. - OCTOR V. P. KENNEDY, of Litch- field, besides being a pioneer, is one of the best known citizens in this part of the State. Doctor Kennedy was born in Butler county, Penn., on the 11th of July, 1824. When he was five years of age his parents removed to and became pioneers of Indiana, where the subject of this sketch remained until 1856. His younger days were spent upon a farm, but when twenty-one he entered the Asbury University at Greencastle, Ind., where he spent two years, and then went to Rockville, Ind., where he began the study of medicine. A year later he went to Louisville, Ky .; later to Chicago, and in 1851 finished his course and graduated from Rush Medical College. In 1875 he took an ad-eundum degree at the Bellevue Hospital College, New York.
Doctor Kennedy's parents were Martin and Elinor [ Pellett ] Kennedy .. The father died when the Doctor was ten and the mother when he was six years of age. Ile was then thrown upon his own resources and for a time lived with an uncle; but when sixteen he left his uncle's roof and began the battle of life on his own account. In June, 1856, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and took the same claim which had been held by Dr. Frederick N. Ripley, which is mentioned at length elsewhere in this volume. Ripley had been frozen to death in March of that year. Dr. Kennedy at once began improve- ments in a light way, building a little cabin
on the place, but he lived in Cedar City, McLeod county, until the spring of 1857, when he settled on his claim. During the season of 1856 he had "broke" some land and raised a few potatoes, the Indians, how- ever, getting the benefit of his labor. Doctor Kennedy remained on his claim until the fall of 1860, when he was elected to the State Legislature. Ile was re elected in the fall of 1861. In the spring of 1862 he entered the United States service as surgeon of the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and remained with his regiment until the 1st of May, 1865, when he was mustered out at Montgomery, Ala. The following summer was spent upon his farm, and in the fall he received the appointment of physician for the Chippewa Indians at Red Lake, and remained there from November, 1865, until March, 1867. He again returned to Meeker county, and bought what was known as the Cedar Mill and ran that until 1869, when he came to Litchfield and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1880 he went to Brown county D. T., and took a claim, but continued his practice at Litchfield until 1883, when he removed to Ordway, D. T., and engaged in the drug business, also becoming postmaster. In the fall of 1885 he was elected to the Dakota Senate and took an active interest in shap- ing Territorial legislation. In the spring of 1886 his family returned to Litchfield and for some time the Doctor was back and forth between the two points, but the latter place is now his home.
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