USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 17
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R ASMUS NELSON, the junior member of the firm of Birch & Nelson, Litch- field. is a native of Denmark, born Febru- ary 11, 1844. His father was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and our subject was reared upon a farm, acquiring such education as the schools of his native land afforded
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until he was some fourteen years of age, after which his time was devoted solely to labor. In 1869 he emigrated to the New World and upon landing in this country, came to Minne- sota and purchased a farm on section 34, Aeton township, and upon that traet of land made his home for some sixteen years. While a resident in that portion of the county he was very active in the discharge of his duties as a citizen, and was duly honored by the people with election to several im- portant offices. He served three years as town supervisor, four years as county commissioner, and in a number of the minor ones, and on the school board.
In 1884 the subject of this sketch pur- chased the interest of Andrew Nelson in the clothing and gents' furnishing goods firm of Birch & Nelson, and has been actively en- gaged in mereantile pursuits in this line and place ever since. He is still the owner of some 400 acres of excellent farm land in the county, most of which is under cultivation. His house, which is a handsome one, is sur- rounded by a fine grove, and his place con- tains a thrifty orchard, and is generally con- sidered one of the best farms in the county.
Mr. Nelson was united in marriage in Den- mark, previous to his leaving his native land, with Miss Maren Peterson, a native of the same country, who died September 29, 1887. They were the parents of eight children- Nels P., Charles G., Annie, Carrie M., Gertie C., Walter W., Jennie and Arthur E.
ANS IVERSON resides on section 33, Acton township. The parents of the subject of this biography were Iver and Johanna Anderson, both of whom were born in Norway and lived in their native land until the time of their deaths. Hans Iverson was a native of the same country and was born on the 4th of May, 1846. He came to the United States in 1869, and
shortly after his arrival he proceeded to Dakota county, Minn., where he was em- ployed by various farmers until during the year 1873, when he came to Meeker county and bought railroad land on section 33, in Acton township, where he still lives. He has a good farm of 130 acres of land with a good portion of it under cultivation, a comfortable house, and other farm buildings, and withal is in comfortable circumstances. This has all been the result of his own in- dnstry and economy, as he was a poor man when he came to this country. He has met with some reverses, especially during the vear that the grasshoppers visited Meeker county, but as a whole his farming operations have been very snecessful.
Mr. Iverson was married in 1869 to Miss Ingeborg Pederson. She was born in Nor- way, on the 4th of April, 1848, and is a daughter of Iver and Martha Pederson. Iler father died in Norway and her mother is now living in Pope county, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Iverson have been the parents of the following children-Martin, born March 14, 1870; Idan, born December 29, 1873; Olof, born July 7, 1875; Mina, born Sep- tember 10, 1877; Ililda, born January 16, 1880; and Lydia, born July 23, 1882.
IMROD BARRICK, a farmer of Ells- worth township, lives on section 33, where he carries on agricultural pursuits, and confines his operations to grain and eat- tle raising.
Mr. Barrick was born in Cedar county, Iowa, September 20, 1851, and is the son of Alpheus and Minerva (Porter) Barriek, nat- ives of Virginia and Indiana respectively. who came to Mecker county in the spring of 1864, and settled in the town of Cedar Mills, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Alpheus Barrick were the parents of eight children- Isaac, Amos, Sarah, Scott, Nimrod, Nellie,
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John A. Sampson
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James and Ethan. Isaac, one of those " whose faith and truth on war's red toneh- stone rang true metal," enlisted in Com- pany II, Third Minnesota Infantry, and after nearly three years' service, died from expos- ure. Ethan died at the age of two years.
The subject of our sketeh spent a portion of his early life in Rice county, Minn., where his father followed his trade, blacksmithing, until war times, then enlisted in Company A, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serv- ing one year. During this time our subject attended distriet school, and in the fall of 1864 he, with the rest of his people, removed to Mecker county, Minn., and settled in Ce- dar Mills township, where he remained at home, assisting in the work and improving the place, until the fall of 1873, when he commenced life for himself and removed to the town of Ellsworth.
October 9, 1873, Mr. Barrick and Miss Julia Kennedy pledged their mutual vows at the marriage altar. The bride was a daughter of Dr. V. P., and Julia Ann (Rudisill) Kennedy, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respectively, and was herself born in Clay connty, Ind. A history of her parents is given elsewhere in the pages of this ALBUM, to which the reader is referred. By this umnon Mr. and Mrs. Barrick have become the parents of three children, Roscoe, Vincent and Baby, and their home is lightened by the merry sound of childhood's laugh and song.
In the spring of 1885, Mr. and Mrs. Bar- rick moved to Brown county, D. T., but becoming dissatisfied there, returned to Meeker county in the fall of the same year.
Our subject is republican in his principles, and affiliates with that organization. In local politics he takes considerable interest although, in no way a professional politician or an office seeker. In 1882 he was honored
by the citizens of Ellsworth township, by having had bestowed upon him the office of town supervisor, and for four years filled that position. Several minor offices have, also, in him found a worthy and trusty administrator and he merits and receives the respect and esteem of the whole community.
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ENRY MARTIN, a snecessful and en- terprising farmer residing on section 9, Cedar Mills township, has been a resident of Meeker county, with the exception of one vear, since 1873. He is a native of Monroe county, Wis., and was born October 8, 1855.
When Henry was seven years of age he removed to Kedron, Fillmore county, Minn., with a man named Hale, who had adopted him. He remained there until 1873, when he came to Meeker county, Minn., and located in what is now the town of Cosmos. After remaining there a year he went to Stevens county, Minn., where he also remained a year, and then returned to Meeker county. After his return he lived in Greenleaf town- ship until the spring of 1884, when he pur- chased his present farm on section 9, Cedar Mills township. Since that time he has resided upon his farm and devoted his time to diversified farming and stock raising. He has a valuable farm of 160 acres, consider- able of which is under cultivation, and is in very comfortable circumstances.
Mr. Martin was married on Jannary 9, 1878, to Miss Alma R. Nevens. She is a native of Maine, born November 26, 1861, and is a daughter of Daniel and Eveline Nevens, who were among the earliest set- thers of Greenleaf township. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of four children, as follows-Luman D., born January 28, 1880; Mary E., born May 28, 1882 ; Sarah A., born April 28, 1885; and Lettie G., born Septem- ber 22, 1887, all of whom are now living.
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MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
OHN HUNTER, SR. The subject of this sketch, who is one of the most promi- nent and respected farmers and stock raisers in the northern portion of the county, is a resident of section 18, Union Grove township. He comes of a race which make the best citizens in Minnesota's population, and a race which is proverbial for their integrity, in- dustry, frugality, and genial and hospitable temperament, for it is an old and true saying that "no man goes hungry from a Scotch- man's door."
Mr. Hunter was born in the county of Barrackshire, Scotland, on the 10th of April, 1826. His early life was spent in the land of his birth, where he received the training and education afforded by the facilities of those days, and imbibed the principles of honesty, industry and economy, which are characteristic of the Scotch people. Economy and industry were essential in those days to make a living, and the wage earnings of that day would now be considered a pittance. About the year 1849 he came to America and settled in Canada, where he remained for sixteen years. He then, in 1865, came to Meeker county, Minn., and located on section 18, in what is now Union Grove township, where he has since lived. At the time he came here there were only three settlers within the limits of the township, as all the earlier settlers had been driven off by the Indians and had not returned as yet. Mr. Hunter had a good deal to contend with during those early days and had to encounter difficulties and disadvantages to which most men would have surrendered. When he arrived here his earthly possessions consisted of one yoke of oxen and a cow, and for two years he had very little to eat, living a good share of the time on wheat boiled in milk. Flour was worth $16 per barrel, and potatoes $1.25 per bushel, and at one time he traded a two-year- old steer, even, for a 100-weight of flonr. They were obliged to go to Cold Springs, a
distance of twenty-five miles, to mill and the trip usually took three days. No work could be found, and there was no money in the country. and at times it looked as though starvation stared them in the face, but during all the trials and hardships his courage and enterprise never forsook him and it has not been unrewarded, as he is now rated as one of the most solid and substantial citizens of the township in which he lives. He has a fine farm of 250 acres and a comfortable home.
Mr. Hunter was married on the 1st of April, 1849, to Agnes Brown Lee, and their union has been blessed with seven children, as follows-Mary, Jane, James (deceased), Jolın, Charles. Charlotte, and George (deceased).
During the first year that Mr. Hunter and his family were here, they had neither team nor cow ; they had to carry their house-logs out of the woods-Mr. Hunter carried one end and old Mr. Beaumont the other. The boys each had to hold forked sticks to reach to the log so as to help. When they got their oxen, they did all their hauling, sum- mer and winter, on a sled. Deer and elk would often come into the dooryard, while bear was by no means an unfrequent visitor. On one occasion, they found by the tracks, that a bear had climbed upon the wood-house and from there to the roof of the cabin, which was covered with sod. In those days they were afraid that some night they might come down the fire chimney. Wolves were numerous, and in addition to this they were constantly on the lookout for Indians. These were some of the trials, experiences and hardships which the early settlers endured.
L UGH DOWLING, harness maker and dealer in horsemen's goods, Litch- field, is a native of Bath, Me., born Septen-
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ber 29, 1848, and is the son of Edward and Lizzie (Hanlon) Dowling, natives of the Em- erald Isle, who had settled in Maine shortly before the birth of Hugh. The father of our subject worked at ship-carpentering until 1850, in Bath, after which he came to Minne- sota, and remained until 1855 in St. Paul. He then, in company with a Mr. Egan, removed to Dakota county, this State, and was one of the first settlers in the town of Egan. Ile took up a homestead there, and made it his home until 1866, when he sold out and came to Meeker county and bought a farm. Ile died here December 27, 1870.
Hugh Dowling resided at home on the farm until he had attained the age of twenty-five years, when he commenced to learn the har- ness-making trade. In 1879 he opened a shop of his own, which burned down March 4, 1885, with a loss of $1,900, only part of which was covered by insurance. Recover- ing himself, our subject soon afterward opened his present place of business, where he carries in stock all kinds of harness, robes, blankets, trunks, etc.
Mr. Dowling and Miss Kate E. Dougherty were nnited in marriage January 11, 1880. The lady is a daughter of Thomas and Cath- erine (Ward) Dougherty, natives of County Donegal, Ireland, who were among the very earliest settlers in this county, coming here in July, 1856. Mrs. Dowling is a native of Will county, Il.
OB B. SHERMAN, a prominent resident of Litchfield, is a native of Erie county, N. Y., born in 1840. His parents were Jo- seph and Mercy (Willitt) Sherman ; the father a native of Massachusetts who had settled in Erie county, N. Y., in 1823, and the mother a native of New York. They remained upon their old homestead in Erie county from the time of their settlement un- til the time of their deaths.
Job B. remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he en- listened in Company K, One Hundred and Sixteenth New York Infantry, serving two years and nine months. During this time he was in thirteen different battles, and was wounded twice-first at Port Hudson, La., by a minie ball entering his left cheek and coming out at the back of his neck; and again at Cedar Creek, Va., by a spent minie ball entering his left cheek. The first wound was serions, and unfitted him for duty for about six months, seven weeks of which time were spent in the hospital. After receiving his discharge from the army, Mr. Sherman re- turned to Erie county, N. Y., and engaged in farming, remaining there until 1885, when he settled at Litchfield. With the exception of one year spent in Kansas, Litchfield has been his home since that time. He followed his trade (carpentering) until the spring of 1887. when he was appointed policeman for the village, which position he still holds. Mr. Sherman was married on the 25th of December, 1865, to Miss Hannah E. Sole, of Erie county, N. Y., and they are the parents of two children -Grace D., who was born December 5, 1867 ; and Blanche H., born July 29, 1878. Mrs. Sherman is one of the most active members of the Woman's Relief Corps, No. 17, and is the present secretary of the corps. The family are members of the Episcopalian church. Mr. Sherman is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and also the Odd Fellows.
LE HALVERSON NESS is one of the most prominent old settlers of Meeker county. Hle was born in Hullingdal, Nor- way, October 6, 1824, and is a son of Halver Munson and Ingeber Ness. His father served for thirty-six years in the Norwegian army,
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and Ole H. saw six years' service in the same army, with the rank of sergeant. In 1846 he was married to Margaret Christian, a daughter of Christian Knudson, who was born in 1821. One week after his marriage Mr. Ness embarked for America with his parents, and settled in Rock county, Wis. In 1856 he sold his farm there and came to Meeker county, Minn., his family being one of the three original families who settled in Litchfield township. The party came through by " prairie-schooner " conveyance, and were charmed with the delightful scenery of Min- nesota in June. During the summer the family lived in " eamp-life style " on the land where Ole II. had taken up his claim, and in the fall he completed one of the first cabins erected in the township, and moved into it.
After experiencing the hardships and tri- als incident to pioneer life, he had just begun to get a foothold in the wilderness, and was looking forward to the brighter days of civ- ilization, when the outbreak of the Sioux Indians eame. Bred in the school of the intrepid Norwegian soldiery, Mr. Ness did not for a moment quail or hesitate before the onslaught of the savage redskins, but sprang to the defense of his home and fireside. On the night of the shedding of the first blood. a few miles from his own door, he was one of the few who dared to go to the scene of the slaughter in the darkness, and who, after finding the bodies of the five slain persons, stood faithful watch until they were buried. Then O. II. Ness went home, and, although the whole populace seemed to be on wheels to get out of the way of the savages, he remained at home with his family until Sat- urday following the massacre at Acton, when he took them to Forest City. His horses being pressed into service, he spent a few days at Kingston and then returned to For- est City, and superintended the building of fortifications there. His family occupied apartments over the postoffice at the time of
the Indian attack, and he first discovered it while going out to change the guard, and had just time to arouse the people and get them into the fortress. After remaining at Forest City until the latter part of Decem- ber, 1862, Mr. Ness removed his family to the farm and kept them there during the entire winter-the only case of the kind in the whole county. The Indians destroyed fully 82,000 worth of property for him.
Mr. Ness' first marriage was blessed with eleven children, whose names are as follows -Sarah, Halver O., Christian, Margaret, Mar- tin O., Lina, Caroline and Karl. Margaret is married to Abt Mattson, Lina to Paul P. Olson, and Caroline to George Beach. The first wife died in August, 1877.
Mr. Ness has retired from all active par- ticipation in business affairs, and is now pleasantly passing the evening of his life with his second wife. All his children have grown up about him, and are comfortably settled in life.
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NE of the most intelligent and enter- prising farmers in the southern part of the county is L. M. JOHNSON, a resident of see- tion 22, Greenleaf township. He is a native of Sweden, and was born on February 25, 1844. His parents were also natives of Sweden, where they are still living, his father following the voeation of a farmer.
L. M. Johnson, the subject of our sketch, was reared in early life on a farm, but later, while still in the old country, was employed at the milling business, and at the carpen- ter's trade. In 1867, he left the land of his birth and came to the United States, and after spending some three weeks in Chicago, he went to Marquette county, Mich., where he worked at the carpenter's trade. On May 8, 1869, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and settled upon a farm on section 17, in
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Greenleaf township. In 1871 he entered a homestead of forty acres, where he now lives, on section 22, and moved onto it dur- ing the same season. He now has a splendid farm of 180 acres, a large portion of which is under cultivation, and his buildings, which are among the best in the township, reflect great credit upon his enterprise and good management. He has a large amount of stock and carries on diversified farming, together with stock raising. Ile has taken an active interest in publie matters.
Mr. Johnson was married on July 4, 1867, to Sarah C. Olson. Her parents were born in Sweden, where her father died, and her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been blessed with the following chil- dren-Johanna T., born June 24, 1869; Esther E., born October 6, 1870; Mary S., born July 11, 1873 ; John W., born October 8, 1874 ; Ida N., born August 9, 1876 ; Ruth J., born May 16, 1878; Joshua E., born August 24, 1881; and a pair of twins that died at the time of their birth, August 28, 1868. The family are members of the Church of God. Mr. Johnson has five brothers and two sisters living in this country.
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INCENT COOMBS. The subject of this sketch, a successful farmer and stock raiser, residing on section 11, Cedar Mills township, is one of the oldest settlers in the southern portion of the county. He is a native of Indiana, and was born on April 30, 1841.
He arrived in Meeker county, Minn., on the 7th of July, 1857, with his parents, Mil- ton and Elizabeth Coombs, he being at the time only sixteen years of age. The father, Milton Coombs, took a claim in the town of Ellsworth, but only remained on it a few days ; not being satisfied with the location, packed up his goods, preparatory to starting for Iowa. Upon arriving at Cedar City he
was persuaded to take a claim in Cedar Mills township, and he accordingly selected 160 acres of land on section 2. For some time they lived at Cedar City, working the farm in the meantime, however, and in 1859 they moved to the place. When the Indian out- break occurred, they with others went to the "Point" in Cedar Lake, where they built fortifications, and later went to Hutchinson. In the spring of 1863, they, with George Nichols and family, returned to Cedar Mills -they being the first to return.
The family of Milton Coombs remained in Cedar Mills township until 1865, when they moved to the town of Greenleaf.
In the fall of 1869 the family moved to Delano and later to Minneapolis, and thence to IIinckley, where they now reside.
In the fall of 1862, Vincent Coombs en- listed in Captain Herrington's three months State Militia, and served during his term of enlistment. In the following spring he en- listed as a scout under General Sibley, and served with the Sibley expedition through the West. He was one of the scouts who picked up the son of Little Crow to the south of Devil's Lake. Mr. Coombs was in the In- dian country during most of the time while the trouble lasted. He was one of the four men who went into the timber to look after Caleb Sanborn, and found his body where the Indians had killed him, near his own house. Ile was also one of the party that went from Hutchinson to recover the body of Daniel Cross, who was killed by the Indi- ans north of Cedar Lake.
In the fall of 1864 Vincent Coombs sold the farm in Cedar Mills and took a home- stead in Greenleaf township. In the spring of 1869 he was married to Miss Lydia A. Abbott, of Forest Prairie. Mrs. Coombs died on the 18th of November, 1878, leaving her husband five small children to care for, her last request being that her children be kept together, and it has been faithfully fulfilled.
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Mr. Coombs was again married in the spring of 1883, when Sarah J. Jordan, of Cedar Mills, became his wife. Our subject resided in the town of Greenleaf until the spring of 1887, when he sold his place and purchased the Pitman farm, of a fraction over 332 acres, located on sections 2 and 11, Cedar Mills township. While in Greenleaf, Mr. Coombs held many offices of a local nature, and took an active and prominent part in polities, township matters and educational affairs. He is a member of the Masonic order, having joined Golden Fleece lodge, No. 89, A. F. & A. M., in 1872, and Rabboni chapter, No. 37, Royal Arch, in 1887. When the Grange movement started he was one of the leading members in the organization and was master of the Greenleaf lodge.
Mr. Coombs has now one of the best farms in the town of Cedar Mills, he and his wife together owning 412 acres of the finest land in this region. Mr. Coombs has good substantial buildings and a nice artificial grove, set out by Rev. J. M. Pitman about twenty years ago. In conversation with Mr. Coombs, he said : "I am my mother's best boy-being the only boy in ten children."
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P. PETERSON, attorney at law, of Litchfield, came to Meeker county in May, 1867, with his parents, Olof and Hedda F. Peterson. E. P. Peterson was born in Goodhue county, Minn., in June, 1855, and was therefore twelve years of age when he came here. ITis father took a homestead in Harvey township and remained until 1883, when he removed to Nicollet county, and later to Des Moines, Iowa, where he still lives.
E. P. Peterson remained at home attending school, and also spent one year in the State University, and when he had arrived at the age of nineteen he began teaching school,
and followed that profession for three years. Then, in company with his brother H. I., he bought the Litchfield Independent. In 1880, selling his interest in the paper to his brother, he began the study of law with Campbell & Spooner, of Litchfield, and about two years later was admitted to the bar. Since that time he has devoted his time exclusively to his profession, and has been very successful.
HOMAS F. PRICE, a prominent old settler of Meeker county, residing on section 18, Harvey township, is a native of Gilmanton, N. H., and was born on the 18th of Angust, 1838. His parents were Thomas and Ann E. Price. The father was born in Gilmanton, N. H., and remained there until the time of his death, February 14, 1849. The mother was a native of Medway, Mass., born August 26, 1809. She came West with her family in the fall of 1856, and for six months remained at Minneapolis, after which she settled at Kingston, in Meeker county, and made her home in this county, after- ward, however, removing to Harvey township, until the time of her death Jannary 10, 1877. She was formerly Ann E. Burlen from Med- way, Mass., and was united in marriage to Thomas Price, of Gilmanton, N. H., October 30, 1836. After coming West she endured many hardships and privations, especially during the outbreak of the Indians in 1862, but still maintained great fortitude and courage through all-always cheerful and looking on the bright side, until the last. and, at sixty-seven years, passed away, after suf- fering acutely for over one year. She was a member of the Congregational church, with her husband. Iler remains were buried at Manannah cemetery. There were five children in her family, four of whom-E. A., of Big Stone county, Minn., Thomas F., Harriet M., and Augusta A .- are still living.
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