USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 26
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On the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the fourteenth Regiment, U. S. Infantry, serving about three months, principally as a seont, and was then discharged for disability. Mr. Bogar's sons, like himself, were strong Union men. Joseph, the oldest. east one of the two Lincoln votes in Pike county, Ky., Moses II., the second son, enlisted in the same regiment as the father, and at the same time. John G., the third son, only a lad, later enlisted in the Thirty-Ninth Kentucky.
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In 1866, Mr. Bogar came to Minnesota bringing most of his family with him, and located on section 2, Collinwood, where he lived until the time of his death, November 1, 1868. The widow still lives on the home- stead, and Mrs. C. A. Pauley, her daughter, has lived with her most of the time.
- NDREW W. EKLUND is one of the leading and most successful farmers and stock-raisers in Danielson township, being a resident of section 5, in that subdi- vision of Meeker county. Ile comes from the same sturdy race which forms such a large element in Meeker county's popula tion, having been born in Sweden on the 31st of March, 1846, being a son of John and Bertha Olson. Ile remained in his native land until 1869, when he came to the United States, and, shortly after his arrival, he set- tled in Michigan, where he was employed in the iron mines and where he remained about seven years. At the expiration of that time, thinking that he could better his con- dition, financially and otherwise, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and purchased a farm on section 5. in Danielson township, where he has since lived. He now has a splendid farm of 160 acres, upon which he has put excellent improvements, having erected a fine house, barn and other farm buildings. Mr. Eklund is in very comfort- able circumstances, and he owes all he has to his own efforts and industry, as he was al- most penniless when he came to the United States, his sister having advanced him the money with which to pay his fare. Since coming to Meeker county he has lost several crops through the grasshoppers, but, con- sidering everything, he has been very suc- cessful and is now in comfortable cireum- stances. In political matters Mr. Eklund affiliates with the democratic party. He
takes a commendable interest in educational matters, and has held the office of school treasurer for eight years.
Mr. Eklund was married on the 24th of June, 1870, to Miss Sophia Larson, a daugh- ter of Lars and Bertha Olson, who was born on the 18th of December, 1849. Their mar- riage has been blessed with three children, as follows-Anna Sophia, born May 4, 1871 ; Mary Josephina, born April 28, 1873; and Charles William, born July 23, 1882.
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HARLES A. GREENLEAF, the junior member of the firm of W. II. Greenleaf & Son, lumber dealers of Litch- field, is, in the opinion of his fellow towns- men, one of the most promising young busi- ness men of the village. He was born in Meeker county, Minn .. Oct. 27, 1861, and is the son of Ilon. William H. Greenleaf, one of the most influential and leading citizens of the county. In his younger days, Charles received his primary education in the primitive log cabin school houses of the period, around whose rugged walls fond memories throw the glamour of boyhood's halcyon days. After the family removed to Litchfield, our subject commenced a more advanced course of schooling, finishing with a course in the excellent high school of Litchfield, and was graduated with the first class to finish in that institution. He at once assumed a position in his father's place of business and continued in his employ until attaining his majority in 1882, when he entered into the present firm. IIe is also engaged in the real estate business, owning and controlling an addition to the city of Minneapolis, in connection with H. S. Bran- ham; and also an addition to the village of Litchfield, in company with others.
January 18, 1887, Mr. Greenleaf was united in marriage with Miss Hattie D.
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Campbell, a native of Manchester, Conn., but reared in Hartford, the same State. Mr. Greenleaf is a careful business man and occupies a prominent place in the estimation of hus fellow citizens. Ile is at the present a member of the village council, represent ing the first ward. - -
ARL SCHULTZ, a prominent old set- tler of Meeker county, residing on section 23, in Harvey township, was born in the western part of Prussia, on the 24th of May, 1830. Ile remained in his native land during his boyhood days, and until the 1st of April, 1854, when he sailed for America, landing in the city of New York on the 17th of May. Two days later he went to Chicago, and remained near that city, working in a lime-kiln for about two months. Chicago was then only a small village. From there he went to the pineries of Northern Michigan, and remained there until 1855, when he returned to Chicago. In October, 1856, he started for Meeker county, Minn., landing at Forest City on the 1st of November, 1856, and remained there until the 10th of the following May. He then went to Minneapolis and worked dur- ing the summer on a farm near by, for R. P. Russell. The following winter he worked near Forest City, getting out fence rails. In the meantime, on the 1st of November, 1856. he had taken a preëmption on section 23, Harvey township, and during the sum- mer of 1858 he put in some crops and worked on the place, remaining upon it until . the spring of 1862, when he went to Mine- apolis, where he worked at the mason's trade until the following October. Ile then re- turned to Harvey, remained about a month and went to Fort Snelling, where, on the 10th of December, 1863, he enlisted in Com pany D, Second Minnesota Cavalry. Hle served in the Northwest, was with the Sully
expedition and remained in the service until the 1st of September, 1865, when he was discharged on account of sickness, and re- turned to Harvey township, where his brother Rudolph was living. He re- mained with his brother during the winter, until he was able to walk again, and then went to Minneapolis and spent the summer working on the Russell farm. The ensuing winter was spent in Harvey, and the follow- ing sunner he was engaged at mason work at Minneapolis. Then, in the fall of 1867, he returned to Harvey and has since made this his home.
On the 17th of November. 1867, he was married to Miss Minna Theile, and the fruits of their union have been five children, all of whom are still living, as follows- Louisa, Ida, Clara, Minnie and Carl. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are active members of the Lutheran Church and devout Christians. Mr. Schultz has taken an active interest in all matters calculated to benefit his town- ship, and is one of the most substantial and highly respected citizens of the county.
It may be of interest to state that Mr. Shultz's farm-house was used as headquarters by the Indians when the attack was made on Forest City in 1862.
AA ARCELLUS GREENWOOD, one of the " brave boys in blue," now liv- ing in Forest Prairie township, on section 26, came to the county in 1881, and bought eighty acres of land of Michael Flynn, where he now lives. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, August 25, 1832, and is the son of Carlos and Rosa Ann (Duquet) Greenwood, natives of Canada, who emigrated to New York in 1830, where they made their home until 1866. The mother died in the Empire State, after which the father of our subject removed to Sibley
James H Morris
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county, Minn. Marcellus was married, October 12, 1853, to Miss Rosanna Gesiner, who is also a native of St. Lawrence county. N. Y., and by this union there has been born a family of twelve children - Libby, Mary, Allen, Frank, Emma, Louisa, Sophia, Edward, Stephen, Jerome, Rosa and Maggie. All the children are married except the last tive. In his political views Mr. Greenwood coincides with the republican party. His family are zealous members of the Roman Catholic church.
During the late civil war, December 28. 1863, our subject enlisted in Company M. Eighteenth New York Cavalry, and served with that gallant regiment, being transferred to Company I, until May 31,1866, when he was mustered out of service at Victoria, Texas, and returned to his home. Ilis service was chiefly performed in Virginia, the regiment being attached to the Army of the Potomac.
A UGUST DAVIDSON, a farmer on sec- tion 18, Acton township, is one of the pioneers of Minnesota, having settled within its boundaries while it was vet a territory. Mr. Davidson is a son of David and Kate Nelson, and was born in Sweden on the 1st of June, 1838. He came to the United States in 1854, and eame direct to Chisago county, Minnesota He remained there a few weeks and then went to Wisconsin, where, for two years, he was employed by one man in farm- ing, after which he worked another year for a neighbor. Ile then went to the pineries and was employed at lumbering and "on the drive" until the fall of 1864. when he enlisted in Company D, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. They were sent South for service and participated in several skirmishes but not in any pitched battle. After a year's service, the war closed and being honorably dis- charged he returned to the pineries of Wis-
consin, where he worked until the spring of 1868. During that spring he came to Meeker county, Minn., and bought land in Acton township. He at once began farming, and has since made this his home. He has been very successful and now owns 270 acres of land, and has it improved with substantial farm buildings. Ile does a general farming and stock-raising business.
Mr. Davidson was married on the 25th of June, 1868, to Matilda Anderson, and their union has been blessed with the following named children - Levi, born May 20, 1869; George, born November 11, 1875; Clara, born June 9. 1882; and Arthur, born November 28, 18S4. The family are members of the Swed- ish Lutheran Church. In political matters Mr. Davidson affiliates with the republican party. The parents of Mr. Davidson still re- side in Sweden, their native land, while those of Mrs. Davidson are residents of Meeker county.
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OHN J. SUNDQUIST, the photographie artist and notion and clothing dealer of Dassel, is a fair representative of the class of self-made men who have "climbed the ladder rung by rung" to an easy competence. Born among the wild and picturesque scenery of Sweden. April 28. 1846, the son of John and Keser Johnson, his boyhood and youth were passed in his native land. His father served in the Swedish National Guards, and re- mained in that kingdom until his death.
The subject of our narrative, when about twenty-three years of age, feeling the impos- sibility of raising himself financially above the estate in which he was born in that country. determined to seek his fortune in the newer countries across the sea, and embarking, landed upon the shores of America. and made his way to Pepin county. Wis. On his arrival there, with but fifty cents in his pocket, he was taken down sick, and felt that
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the fortune of the poor emigrant was at a very low ebb. As soon as he recovered, he started for Minnesota, and on reaching the river, opposite Lake City, had but twenty- five cents to his name. Something to eat cost fifteen of this, and ten cents to eross the river, landed him in Minnesota totally penni- less and friendless, and the prospect looked dark to him indeed. Instead of sitting down to grieve about it, however, he found work with a farmer near Rochester, with whom he remained until fall. In the spring of 1870 he commenced work on the river division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail- road, grading, and was soon made foreman of a gang of men. The following spring he went to Seott county, this State, when he commeneed contracting for grading on the Hastings & Dakota railroad, and worked hard until the fall, when he went to St. Paul and there bought a boarding house and saloon which he only ran a short time. About the last of 1871, he removed to Car- ver county, and took some more contracts for grading, and there remained until the stoppage of work in 1872. Purchasing some land in connection with others, he platted and established the village of Norwood, where he made his home until 1885, follow- ing railroad construction during the summer months, and photography in the winters. The restless activity that ever prompted him to better his condition, induced him in the | spring of 1885, to sell out his interests in Norwood, and remove to Dassel village, where he purchased ten acres of ground adjoining the town site, where he put up his residence. Later the same season, he pur- chased some town lots and put up the brick store building which he now occupies, laying out in these improvements about 84,500. In the summer of 1886, Mr. Sundquist put in a stock of drugs, but a few months later dis- posed of them and opened a stoek of notions, to which he added afterwards, clothing and
boots and shoes. In connection with this business he carries on the photographic art gallery, the second story being fitted up for that business.
Mr. Sundquist was married in October, 1871, to Miss Anna Swenson, a native of Sweden. Since becoming a citizen of Dassel, Mr. Sundquist has taken a deep interest in all matters relating to his adopted home, and the people, believing that a man who has been so snecessľul in his own affairs, would be so in the public's, eleeted him to the posi- tion of member of the village board of trustees in 1889.
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B P. NELSON, one of the most promi- nent and successful business men in the county, is a member of the firm of Nelson, .Johnson & Larson, dealers in general mer- chandise at Litchfield. Mr. Nelson is a native of Sweden, born on the 29th of October, 1840, and is a son of Nels and Johanna Anderson. His early life was spent in the land of his birth, but in 1862, with his parents, he embarked for America, and after a voyage of eleven weeks they landed on the shores of the new world and proceeded to St. Paul. It had been their intention to settle on Foot Lake. in Kandiyohi county, Minn., but, learning of the Indian outbreak, their plans were changed, and shortly afterward B. P. Nelson, our sub- ject, went to Galesburg, Knox county, Ill., where he remained from October, 1862, umtil the following May. We next find him in Chicago, where he remained for six months at work in a brickyard. The following win- ter was spent in the pineries of Michigan, after which he settled at St. Paul, Minn., and for two years and a half worked in an agricultural warehouse for Bigelow, Murdock & Co. After leaving there, for about a year he was at various places, principally in Mec- ker county, and in Cottage Grove, and then went to Nicollet county, and started a store
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at New Sweden. Two years and a half later he sold his business to his brother in-law, John Burke, and came to Litchfield, arriving here during the year 1871. Upon his arrival he, with his brother, Andrew Nelson, engaged in the general mercantile business, and con- tinned in it for three years, when the business was sold to A. Cairneross. After this our subject was engaged in farming and buying grain until 1880, when the present firm of Nelson, Johnson & Larson was formed, and he has since devoted his time to the interests of the firm.
Mr. Nelson was married on the 31st of May. 1878, to Emily E. Johnson, and they are the parents of four children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other three-Archie E., Clara E. and Bertram C .- are living.
Mr. Nelson has taken a prominent and active interest in all matters of a public nat- ure, and he has been closely identified with the growth and development of business enterprises of Litchfield. He has been one of the directors of the Meeker County Bank ever since its organization.
NDREW CARLSON, a successful far- mer residing on section 17, Greenleaf township, was born in Sweden, on the 17th of February, 1825. His parents were both natives of the same country, and lived there until the time of their deaths. Andrew learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at that and other vocations in his native land until 1869, when he sailed for America. Shortly after his arrival he went to Mich- igan, where he was employed chiefly at min- ing, and remained until 1874, when he came to Meeker county, Minn., and purchased the farm in Greenleaf township, where he has since lived. . He has a well-cultivated farm of 120 acres, and devotes his attention to gen- eral farming and stock-raising. Mr. Carlson
was married, in 1856, to Maria C. Olson, a native of Sweden. She bore him two chil- dren, and died in Sweden on the 23d of Feb- mary. 1868. The children were Andrew G. and Alfred G. Anderson. Andrew was born in 1860, and died in infancy.
Alfred G. Anderson, the second chikl, was born in Sweden, on the 21st of December, 1863, and came to America when still a lad, with his father, with whom he still lives. Alfred was married, on the 4th of July, 1885, to Augusta E. Ilagerstrom, and the couple have had one child-Elmer T., born May 12, 1886.
The father and son are both intelligent, progressive citizens. They are prohibition- ists in political matters. The family are members of the Swedish Baptist Church.
AUGUST SWANSON, a progressive and successful farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 17, Cedar Mills township, is a native of Sweden, where he was born on the 15th of June, 1844. His early life was spent in his native land, where he remained until he had reached the age of twenty-four, and then came to the United States. Upon his arrival he went to Marquette County, Mich., where he secured work in the iron mines. Hle remained there for about five years, and then started West, and on March 13, 1874, in company with his brother, Fred Swanson, he arrived in Meeker county, Minn., and together they purchased the farm which had been originally taken by J. V. Branham, in the northern part of Greenleaf township. August lived there with his brother until 1876, when he sold his interest in the place. After that he worked in that township for two years, and in 1878 he pur- chased the farm on section 17, Cedar Mills township, where he still resides, erecting the house in which he lives, in 1880. He has a
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valuable farm of 200 acres, a good share of which is under cultivation, and has substan- tial and comfortable building improvements. He devotes his attention extensively to stock- raising in connection with his farming, and by his integrity, industry and enterprise he has gained the reputation of being one of the most substantial and most highly respected citizens of the township.
Mr. Swanson was married, November 24, 1879, to Mrs. Christina Erickson, a native of Sweden, who was born October 7. 1832.
OHN C. KRUGER, a prominent and rep- resentative citizen of Ellsworth town- ship, living on section 8, came to this county May 27, 1862, and settled on section 8 of the same town, where he remained until the Indian outbreak that fall. At that time he went to Forest City, Kingston, and Clear- water, but soon came back and remained that winter in Forest City. In the spring he moved to a farm in that vicinity, and from there after one season spent in Greenleaf township, came to his present residence, where he took up eighty acres under the homestead law, to which he has added some 300 acres, and now has an excellent farm.
Mr. Kruger was born in the northern part of Germany, May 1. 1815, and is the son of Charles D. Kruger, who was the parent of five children -four besides our subject - William, Herman, Charles and Mary, the latter the widow of John Putzer, of Green- leaf.
Mr. Kruger remained in the " fatherland " until 1851, when he sought in free America the chance for achieving a competency denied in the land of his birth, so down-trodden is it by military despotism. He located in Ilinois, where he remained until coming to Minnesota. Before leaving his native conn- try, October 20, 1846, he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Mary Long, a native of the same Empire, a daughter of Fred Long. She was born March 20, 1824. By this union there have been born five children, as follows - Charles, Ferdinand, Mary, Minnie and Lizzie. In his political faith Mr. Kruger strongly elings to the republican doctrines, and sup- ports the candidates of that party.
RANK MCINTYRE, a well-to-do and prosperous farmer of Manannah town- ship, has his beautiful home upon section 26, and is surrounded by his magnificent estate of 440 acres of as fine land as any in the county. He is a native of County Cavan, Ireland, born May 12, 1832, and is the son of James and Mary (Clark) MeIntyre. He remained in the land of his birth until nineteen years of age, when perceiving the impossibility of getting ahead in that landlord ridden land, he emigrated to the New World, landing in New York city, staying there a year; in the fall of 1852, came West, and located in Joliet, Il., where he was employed in the stone quarries until 1865. a good share of the time as foreman. In the meantime, however, he spent four months in Cuba, laying the first street-car tracks in Havanna.
In June. 1863. Mr. MeIntyre made a trip to Meeker county with the intention of taking np a homestead. Part of the way was made on foot, notwithstanding the warnings and expostulations of the parties along the line of his march, as there was a fresh Indian scare that summer growing out of the killing of Captam Cady. Arriving at Forest City, the water was too high to eross, so on the advice of F. McCusker, he decided to take a homestead on section 26. This was the first claim made north of the Crow river. Ile returned to St. Cloud, and filed his entry on the homestead, and returned to Joliet. where he staid until 1865. In July of that
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year he brought his family by team as far as LaCrosse and then he returned to Joliet to finish some work. The family continued their journey from LaCrosse in company with his wife's brothers and father,and upon arriv- ing here the wife stayed with the McCusker family -(her brother-in-law). A cabin was commenced on McIntyre's claim, which was the first house erected in the township north of the Crow river. October 18 thecabin was raised - those who helped being JJames and Peter McIntyre, Owen Quinn, Peter McMa- hon, Fergus McCusker, Edward Murphy, Michael and James McNulty and possibly a few others. Mrs. MeIntyre cooked their din- ner under an oak tree. On the 22d of Novem- ber Mr. McIntyre arrived and at once began finishing the cabin, but it was not finished with doors, etc., until the 20th of December. In the meantime, however, they decided to occupy the cabin, so he waded the river and brought over his wife and they accordingly "moved in." One of their first mishaps was the loss of their only pan of bread dough which their dog made a meal of, and Mr. MeIntyre had to go hungry until his wife went to McCusker's for more provisions. During the following winter, 1865-6, he completed his stable, finishing it about dark New Year's day. His horses refused to go into it for the first time in the dark, so he was obliged to blanket them and let them stand outside till daylight. A storm - came up which made it severe for the dumb animals, but they could not be forced into their new quarters until light gave them confidence. As he was the first settler on that side of the Crow river, he was often cut off from neigh- bors by high water. He at once went to work to develop the place, and from this humble beginning, by incessant labor, natm'- al business tact, and commendable frugality, has built up his present fortune. Mr. MeIn- tyre devotes considerable attention to stock, having now a fine herd of about sixty head
of cattle, besides horses. His building im- provements are among the finest in the town- ship, being surrounded by a fine natural grove.
The subject of this sketch was married August 20, 1856, to Miss Mary McNulty, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, who is the mother of four children as follows- Mary, born May 9, 1857 ; James P., born March 9, 1859; Charles F., born December 6, 1862 ; and Rosa A., born August 25, 1864.
The first Catholic services in the township were held in the log cabin referred to above, by Father Anthony, of the Benedictine Order. This was on the 3d of August, 1866, when Michael McNulty, the father of Mrs. McIntyre, died.
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ILLIAM H. SEGAR, a prominent and influential agriculturist of Dar- win township, is a representative of the thrifty, progressive and enterprising New England people, who have pushed their way through every obstacle, in every clime and every land, and have carried with them everywhere the civilization and progress of their forefathers, as well as that of the present age.
Mr. Segar was born in Massachusetts, July 7, 1832, and is the son of Charles H. and Ursula (Taylor) Segar, both of whom have passed to their reward beyond the grave. In his New England home our subject was reared, and there received the education which is the birthright of every citizen of that portion of our great Republic. In Jan- mary, 1854, he left the barren soil of the " Okl Bay State," and came to the fertile West. settling in Jackson county, Iowa. Two years later, finding that part of the State too hilly for him, he removed to Jones county .. the same State, where he remained some two or three years. Monroe county was the next scene of his labors, but in 1868 he re-
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