USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 30
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county, Minn., and rented a 1,200-acre farm, for one year. Being a stranger to that busi- ness, he met with considerable loss ; but, with hopes for better success in the future, he stuck to the business, and a year or so later he purchased a farm in Greenleaf township. This place he sold in 1885. In the fall of 1886 he was elected superintendent of schools of Meeker county, which position he still holds, filling the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Soule is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is the present junior vice- commander of Frank Daggett Post, No. 35, at Litchfield. He is also a member of the Masonic order, having joined Phoenix lodge, No. 262, of Gowand, N. Y., while in that State, and has since retained his membership with them. Politically, Mr. Soule is a demo- crat. Ile was an active supporter of Grover Cleveland when he wasa candidate for sheriff of Erie county, N. Y., in 1869, there being in that campaign only two successful eandi- dates on the democratic ticket, Grover Cleve- land, for sheriff, and Stephen W. Soule (Tib- bitts J.'s father), for school commissioner.
Mr. Soule was married in 1873 to Miss Maria Anthony, of Boston, Erie county N., Y., and they have been blessed with four children, as follows-Sharlie M., born May 14, 1875 ; Helen M., born November 13, 1879; Ruth M., born January 29, 1886; and Louisa M., born September 4, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Soule are active members of the Episcopal Church.
ETER ELOFSON is one of the old set- tlers of Swede Grove township. He was born in Sweden on the 27th of March, 1845, and is a son of Elofson and Bertha An- derson. In 1857, in company with his mother and brothers - Nels and Andrew - he came to the United States, and they settled in Swede Grove township, this
county. In 1862 they were driven away by the Indians and went to Forest City, and later to Anoka, and he remained with them until the following spring, when he began working out at different lines of business. Three years later he returned to Swede Grove township and took a homestead on section 30, remaining there until 1878, when he sold out and bought forty acres on sec- tion 20, on which there was a small house. He lived there for two years, and, in the meantime, built on land which had been in- eluded in his mother's homestead. He also purchased more land, and now has a farm of 160 acres, a good share of which is under cultivation. Ile has considerable stock and is in comfortable circumstances.
Mr. Elofson was married on the 5th of February, 1870, to Miss Emma Nelson, a daughter of Nils and Ingra Pehrson. They have had the following children - Betsy, born December 12, 1870; Anna, born May 18, 1872; llenry, born January 15, 1874; Edward, born August 19, 1875 ; and William, born July 12, 1878. Mr. Elofson is a repub- lican in political matters and takes an active interest in all matters affecting his township. Ile has been road overseer for the past five or six years, and has been school treasurer for six years.
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OHN HALLGREN, a farmer and stock raiser residing on section 17, Greenleaf township,is one of those hospitable and open- hearted farmers whom it is a pleasure to meet and who reflect credit on the community in which they live. He is a native of Gothland, Sweden, and was born on the 1st of Novem- ber. 1839. He left his native land in 1867 for the United States, and settled in Michi- gan. While there he was married on the 6th of November, 1873, to Mary S. Swanson, and their union has been blessed with three chil- dren, as follows-John A., born December
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6, 1874; Emma C., born August 11, 1877 ; and John E., born May 10, 1884. All of these are living except John A., who died on the 2d of February, 1881, and was buried at Ishpeming, Mich. Mr. Hallgren remained in Michigan until 1885, when he removed to Minnesota and purchased the farm in Green- leaf township where he now lives. He has a valuable farm, a comfortable home and is in comfortable circumstances financially.
While in Michigan Mr. Hallgren followed his profession as an engineer and had the misfortune to lose his hearing, or at least to greatly impair it, while fixing the whistle on his engine, it being one of the largest in that State. The ice had formed about the pipe and he went up with an axe to knock it off. When the ice dropped it struck the lever which blew off the whistle, and the roar was so tremendous that it impaired his hearing as stated.
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AY F. CASE, the popular young drug- gist of the village of Dassel, is a native of Waupun, Dodge county, Wis., born February 12. 1855, and is the son of Roval T. and Almira (Fay) Case. He came to this county in 1873, with his parents, who settled at Bonniwell's Mill, where they made their home until their deaths, the mother in 1879, the father in 1886. At the time of the settle- ment of the family, Ray came to Dassel and entered the drug store of Charles A. Morris, the pioneer druggist, with whom he remained until that gentleman sold out to Dr. McCullom, with whom he continued. Jonas Rudberg, the successor of MeCullom, appreciating the merits of the young man, kept him in his employ, and Ray was still in the position of confidential clerk when Mr. Rudberg died. After that event, Mr. Case and Mrs. Rudberg formed a co-partnership to carry on the business, Mr. Case purchasing a half interest therein, and being managing
partner. Close attention to business and com- mendable economy enabled him, on the re- marriage of his associate in trade, in 1886, to purchase her interest, since which time he has carried on the business alone. IIe carries a full line of drugs, paints, oils, wall paper, fancy goods, tobaccos, cigars, etc., and is doing a handsome business.
Ray F. Case and Miss Ella G. Stocking, pledged their mutual faith at the marriage altar, September 8, 1882. The lady is a native of McLeod county, Minn., and a daughter of E. W. and Jennie Stocking, of Hutchinson. Mrs. Case, when an infant, was an inmate of the stoekade at Hutchin- son, during the attack upon that place by the Sioux Indians in the fall of 1862.
LIAS CARLSON, an enterprising and respected farmer and stock raiser, re- siding on section 30, Harvey township, is the present chairman of the board of supervisors of the township. He has taken an active part and interest in public affairs and is a leading citizen of his township. Ile is a na- tive of Sweden and was born on the 5th of December, 1837. Ilis parents were natives of the same country and his father was a farmer. Both of his parents died in the land of their birth.
The early life of Elias Carlson was spent in his native land, but in 1857 he came to the United States and made his way to Mine- sota, settling at Taylor's Falls, Chisago county. Ile remained there until August 20, 1864, when he came to Meeker county, Minn., and located in Harvey township, where he has sinee lived. Ile owns a valua- ble l'arm of 800 acres of land, a good share of which is under cultivation. He devotes his time to general farming and stock-raising and now has over fifty head of cattle on his place. Ile has been very successful in his
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farming operations and owes all his present prosperity to his own efforts and industry, as he was a poor man when he came here, as was the case with about all of the pioneers of Meeker connty. Ile has splendid improve- ments on the place and fine buildings.
Mr. Carlson was married on the 14th of November, 1861, to Mary G. Ahlstrom, and they have been the parents of fourteen children, one of whom, Frank, is married. Mrs. Carlson is also a native of Sweden. Mr. Carlson has spent the most of his time at farming, although he learned the wagon- maker's trade and followed that for a num- ber of years.
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ARNSWORTH R. HILL, one of Meeker connty's most successful farmers and stock-raisers, and one of the large land own- ers, is a resident of Forest City township, his home being upon section 33. He has a mag- nificent farm of 711 acres of fine land, em- bracing a large portion of sections 33 and 34, Forest City, and section 4, Darwin, much of which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Hill gives a large share of his attention to the raising of graded Holstein and Dur- ham cattle and graded Norman horses. His herd numbers now some 150 head, and he is extensively engaged in the manufacture of " gilt-edge " butter, which he ships to Min- neapolis for sale.
The subject of this personal history was born in Cumberland county, Me., February 20, 1842, and is the son of Reuben and Miriam C. Hill. Ile was reared in the State of his birth, and there received the elements of a most excellent common-school education. In his earlier days he followed Jumbering and farming in the " Old Pine Tree State," and af- terwards commenced lumbering operations in Minnesota. Ile was also engaged in the butchering business for some five years, all in the State of Minnesota. In the fall of
1877 he came to Meeker county, with L. D. Hill, and both settled in the town of Litch- field, but in about a year our subject removed to his present place of abode, where he has since lived.
Ile was united in marriage March 25, 1872, with Miss Etta Sanborn, a native of Cumberland county, Me., who died July 30, 1881, leaving two children-Emma L. and Charley R., both of whom are at home with their father. December 11, 1882, Mr. IIill contracted a second matrimonial alliance, with Miss Anna L. Peifer, a native of Meeker county, Minn., who is the mother of two children - Farnsworth L. and Winnie M. Hill.
Mr. Hill is one of the honored and re- spected citizens of the township, and has. served the people in the responsible position of supervisor for some time, and is always. interested in the public affairs of the county. He is a republican politically.
ANDREW LEE. The subject of this. biographical notice is a respected farmer, who resides on section 15, Greenleaf township, where he has a valuable farm, a comfortable home, and building improve- ments which reflect much credit upon his enterprise and thrift.
He comes of the same nationality which has made so many sturdy and substantial citizens of Minnesota, having been born in Sweden on the 31st of August, 1847. ITis parents were natives of the same country, his father having been born there in 1809, and died in the land of his birth in 1862, while his mother is now a resident of Meeker county. Andrew left his native land in 1872 for America, and settled in Chautauqua county, N. Y., and two years later, in 1874, again took up his westward march and settled in Minneapolis, Minn. Three years
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later, in 1876, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Greenleaf township, where he has since lived. Since that time he has purchased an additional forty, and also ten in Ellsworth, which makes his present farm 130 acres, a good share of which is under cultivation. Ile devotes his time to general farming and stock-raising, and has a good number of head of cattle on the farm.
In 1875 Mr. Lee was married to Miss Mary Anderson. Hler parents were natives of Sweden; her mother died there when she was only seven years old, and her father now lives in Meeker county. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have been the parents of seven children, all of whom are living. Their names are as fol- Jows - Frank E., born Inne 4, 1877 ; Ernest V., born February 13. 1879: Alex. T .. born December 30, 1880; Hjalmar E .. born Octo- ber 23, 1882; Hilma V., born May 27. 1884: Carl E., born December 30, 1885, and Polly O., born June 20, 1887.
LON. CHARLES E. CUTTS, one of the pioneers of Meeker county, who has always been prominently identified with its progress and development, and who has held some of the most exalted offices in the gift of the people of this portion of the State, is the subject of this biographical history. Ile came to Forest City, where he located, in 1856, and is still a resident upon the land where he first settled, on section 22.
Mr. Cutts first saw the light at Orwell, Ad- dison county, Vt., on the 2d of August. 1835, and is the son of Lorain and Emeline (Murray) Cutts, both of whom were natives of the " Green Mountain State." He received his primary education in the district schools of his native State, and in 1853 spent one year at the academy at Fort Plain, Montgom- ery county, N. Y., after which he remained
at home until 1856, when he came West and settled in Minnesota, as mentioned above. He found, on his arrival here, a beautiful land, that far surpassed anything the other side of the Big Woods, and determined to stay and help develop the country. But a few settlers were here at the time, this being but a short time before an almost unknown land. Brought up as he was upon the rocky soil of New England he was more than pleased with the aspect of the new land, for
"Here no stony ground provokes the wrath of the farmer; Smoothly the plough-share runs through the soil as a keel through the water."
Ile at onee took up his claim and settled down to the hard life of a Western pioneer upon the border. For a while he kept bach- elor's hall, but April 17. 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Betsey Larson, a native of Sweden, who had come to the United States the previous year. Hle has always followed farming, except in 1859, when he held the office of county treasurer. In 1871, Mr. Cutts was elected State Senator from this district and represented the people of Meeker county in the Senate chamber through the sessions of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth General Assemblies.
Mr. and Mrs. Cutts are the parents of the following children-Alice, Mrs. J. W. Wright of Litchfield; Rollin E .. a student at the State University : Willie E., Custer and Garfield. In polities our subject is an unswerving re- publiean, and is quite active in all local campaigns. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
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UDOLPH SCHWARZ, the village blacksmith of Manannah, came to Mecker county on 1883, and commenced his work on the spot where he now has his smithy. He is a native of Mecklenburg, Germany, born on the 14th of September, 1853. At the age of fifteen he became ap-
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prenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, and served some three years, and then pursued that calling as journeyman, beneath his native skies until 1882, when, with the com- mendable ambition to better his fortune, he emigrated to America. For a short time he remained in Milwaukee, Wis., after his ar- rival in this country, and afterward removed to Duluth. In 1883 he came to Manannah, as above mentioned.
Mr. Schwarz was married September 21, 1886, to Miss Addie Shepherd, a native of Meeker county, Minn., and danghter of Charles and Adaline (Hartman) Shepherd. Mr. Schwarz is the son of Christian S. Schwarz and wife, who still live in their native land, Mecklenburg, Germany.
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ILLIAM HAMILTON, an ex-Union soldier, and one of the most intelli- gent and prominent citizens in the northern part of Meeker county, is a resident of section 36, Forest Prairie township, where he has lived since about the year 1870.
Mr. Hamilton was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on the 17th of March, 1833, and is a son of Thomas and Belle Hamilton. The mother died in Ireland, when William was six years of age, and in 1841, the father brought the family to America, and settled in Bellview, Eden county, Mich., where he lived until the time of his death, in 1880. At the time of his death the father was about eighty years of age. He was an educated man and a school teacher for many years; clerk in the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an exemplary member, and otherwise was prominent in the locality in which he lived.
William Hamilton, the subject of this sketch, began life for himself when about twenty years old. Ile came to Minnesota in 1858, and remained at St. Paul and Minne-
apolis until 1861, when, on the 26th of August, he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Volun- teer Infantry, and went into service, his regi- meat being assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps. Ile saw very active service, partici- pating in the battles of Chickamauga, Hoover's Gap. Mill Spring. Berryville, besides many skirmishes. In one of these battles he lost the use of his left arm. IIe finally was honorably discharged at St. Paul, in August, 1864, and returned to Miebigan.
Mr. Hamilton was married at St. Anthony, now East Minneapolis, in September, 1864, to Miss Martha J. Dayton, a native of l'enn- sylvania. They have five living children- Thomas C., Minna B., Earl, Katie and Olive G. Minna B. is now married to A. J. Lynn, a resident of Kingston township.
In political matters Mr. Hamilton is a re- publican, and in religious matters the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ANIEL N. DANIELSON, a prominent farmer and stock raiser, residing on section 1, Danielson township, is a son of Nils Danielson, the earliest settler in the township, and after whom it was named. Daniel N., the subject of this sketch, was born in Norway on the 15th of August, 1853. In 1855 his parents brought him to the United States, and they settled on Rock Prairie, Wis., and after remaining there for two years they came to Meeker county, Minn., and bought eighty acres of Gov- ernment land on section 25 in Aeton town- ship. In 1863, the father, Nils Danielson, took a homestead on section 2, Danielson township, and moved his family upon it, thus becoming the first settler within the limits of that township, and it afterward was named in honor of the family. The father lived there until the time of his death, July 10, 1870, and his widow still lives on the old
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homestead with her son, A. N. Danielson. There are six of the children still living, as follows-A. N., Daniel N., Hans, Henry, Ilelen, wife of Hlon. Even Evenson, and Mary, wife of Ole Nelson of Danielson.
Daniel N. Danielson, the subject of this biography, came to the United States with his parents, and lived under the parental roof until 1878, when he erected a house on a farm which he had become possessed of on section 1, Danielson township. For some time he kept bachelor's hall and worked his farm, and was then, for two years, employed at car repairing at Fergus Falls, Barnesville and Glyndon. On the 17th of June, 1887, he was married to Miss Betsy Hartz, and their union has been blessed with one child, named Nils Oskar, born March 30, 1888. Mrs. Danielson was born February 6, 1869, and is a daughter of Ole and Johanna Hartz, who are now residents of Acton.
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WELL KNOWN old settler in the southern part of Meeker county, is J. M. PITMAN, a resident of section 14, Cedar Mills township.
Mr. Pitman is a native of Belknap county. N. II., born on the 26th of May, 1819, and is a son of Ebenezer Pitman. He received a thorough education in his younger days, both preparatory and collegiate, and was grad- uated from Dartmouth College. an educational institution of high rank, in 1841. He began teaching while still a boy, and remained in his native State until 1853, when he came West and located in Wisconsin. He first taught school in that State, on Sand Prairie. near Beloit, and the following spring went to Menomonie, where he remained. following his profession, for six years, the greater portion of the time, being a teacher in a private school at that place. In 1860 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and took
a pre-emption claim of 172 acres on section 2, Cedar Mills township. During that year he put in a crop covering an aere or so of land, and erected a log house on his claim. lle remained steadily upon the land until the time of the Indian outbreak when he, as did all the rest. left for safety. He helped to fortify "the Point" in Cedar Lake, when the settlers gathered there. Later he went to Hutchinson, and when the " Hutchinson Gnards" was organized at that place he joined them, and took charge of the commis- sary department. After the out break, Mr. Pitman occupied his time with teaching in the winter and farming in the summer, until about 1870, after which he devoted his at- tention entirely to the farm until 1887, when he sold out and has since retired from participation in the cares of business. During the early days of this country Mr. Pitman preached occasionally to the people on Sunday, and on the 22d of September, 1867, assisted in organizing a Baptist Church in Greenleaf, one of the early religious organ- izations effected in the southern part of the county. He has always taken an interest in all matters relating to the welfare of the township. When the organization of the township was effected in 1870. he was elected chairman of the supervisors, and retained the office for five successive years, and he was again elected to the same position in 1885.
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O. LINDGREN, one of the active, en- terprising business men of the village of Dassel, is a member of the firm of Thomp- son & Lindgren, general merchants. IIe was born in Sweden, July 13, 1857, and is the son of Olaf and Anna Lindgren, natives of the same kingdom. Ile came to this country in 1879, and came to Meeker county direct, and during the summer of that year worked on a farm near Litchfield. In
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November he removed to the village of Das- sel, and attended school until spring, when he entered the store of Angust Sallberg, as clerk, with whom he remained some two years. Ile, at the expiration of his engage- ment, went to Minneapolis and engaged in business for a time. In the summer of 1883 he returned to Dassel and formed a partner- ship with John Thompson, and the following September opened a stock of general mer- chandise in a building that they had erected. They have continued in that line of trade ever since, and are now doing a large and increas- ing trade, their fair dealing and uprightness in all business matters winning them hosts of friends.
Mr. Lindgren has taken great interest in all local politics, and was elected one of the village trustees in 1884. In 1885 he was chosen to fill the position of recorder, and has been re-elected his own successor ever since, and now fills that office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason by Cakato Lodge, No. 134, in 1884.
The marriage of Mr. Lindgren and Miss Mary Peterson took place in August, 1885.
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EORGE S. BELKNAP is one of the most prominent citizens of Swede Grove township. He is a son of Stephen and Elizabeth Belknap, and was born on the 28th of March, 1828, in the village of Blooming- burgh, N. Y., eighty-four miles from New York city. Mr. Belknap traces his ancestry baek through some of the most notable fam- ilies in American history. He is à grandson of Lient. William Belknap, who entered the service of his country in Col. Henry Beekman Livingston's Fourth Regiment, and continued in the service until the conclusion of the war. He was an original member of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, formed by the officers of the American army of the rev-
olution at the cantonment on the banks of the Iludson river in May, 1783. Gen. George Washington was elected president-general of the society, and held that honor until the day of his death. The officers of the American army having generally been taken from the citizens of America possessing high venera- tion for the character of that illustrions Roman, Lucins Quintius Cincinnatus, who was found following the plough when the statesmen of his country sought him as the only one capable of leading their armies to victory, and clothed him with absolute power, and who, having achieved the salva- tion of his country, laid aside that power and gladly returned to his plough and the ob- scurity of domestic life, they thought they could with propriety denominate themselves the Society of the Cincinnati.
The original design or idea seems to have been of an institution bearing resemblance to a military order. The subject of this sketch was elected a member of this organization July 4, 1861.
George S. Belknap received an academical education, then went to New York City and learned the tailor's trade, at which he be- came an expert, and was promoted to the po- sition of dranghtsman, at a salary of $2,500 per year. During the war he was inspector of army supplies and equipage in the quarter- master's department, under Depnty Quarter- master-General, Colonel Vinton, which posi- tion he held until the close of hostilities, and then reengaging in his former business with his old-time employer. In 1877 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and settled upon the farm where he now resides, on section 6, Swede Grove township, having previously taken the farm on a mortgage. A short time later he rented the farm and stock for a term of five years, and returned to New York, but a short time later was obliged to return, as his tenant proved a very poor manager.
Mr. Belknap was married, on the 23d of
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