USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 52
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On January 10. 1871. Mr. Kundson was ap- pointed deputy sheriff of Jackson county by Sheriff E. Sevatson and at the election that fall he was elected sheriff. He was elected county treasurer in the fall of 1873 and took possession of the office March 1, 1874: he was reelected in the fall of 1875 and served until March, ISTS. In the fall of ISTEhe was also elected to the office of judge of the probate court and held the two offices for two years.
On the 24th day of December, 1876, Mr. Knudson was united in marriage to Christine Tollefson, of Christiania township. She was born in the town of Belmont on the 3rd day of February, ISGI, and was the daughter of Tollef Olson Slaabaken and Ingebor Slaabaken. She was a twin sister of Ole Tollefson, who now lives on a fine large farm near Arville. North Dakota. During the Indian massacre
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in August, 1862, Mrs. Tollefson had to carry these twins in the flight from the Indians, Mr. Tollefson being in the army. To Mr. and Mrs. Knudson were born two children: Ida Anna, born March 18, 1879. and Christian Henry, born October 16, 1880. Mrs. Knudson died October 17, 1880, and Christian Henry died Angust 14, 1882.
In the spring of 1879 Mr. Knudson moved to a farm he owned on the south shore of Heron lake. During his residence there he founded the town of Jackson Center and was appointed postmaster. In 1882 he moved to Lakefield and was appointed postmaster there March 23, 1882, an office which he soon re- signed.
The second marriage of Mr. Knudson occur- red June 19, 1882, at Lakefield, when he wed- ded Jennie Olson, daughter of Ole Isakson and Inga. Isakson, of Nordre Aurdal, Valders, Nor- way. Mrs. Knudson was born in the same place as were her parents, the date of her birth being October 6, 1859. She came to the United States in 1880. To these parents have been born two children: Emma D. (Mlrs. L. T. Christenson), of Minneapolis, and Christian Oscar, who died September 18, 1889.
In 1886 Mr. Knudson moved to Heron Lake and in the fall of that year was again elected to the office of judge of the probate court, which office he held for the full term of two years. During this time he was also a mem- ber of the Ileron Lake village council and vil- lage justice of the peace, which offices he re- signed in 1893 on account of ill health and too much business. Mr. Knudson was the found- er, owner and editor of the Southwestern Min- nesota Farmer, a monthly publication which he started in 1888. Besides the offices men- tioned Mr. Knudson has held at one time or another nearly all the township offices. Ile has been a notary public and has been en- gaged in the insurance, real estate and loan- ing business. On September 1, 1891, he was authorized to act as agent before the depart- ment of the interior.
Mr. Knudson went to the Puget sound com- try for his health in 1893. but returned home to Heron Lake in the latter part of that year. In 1894 he went to California for his health and lived in Los Angeles until 1899. Then he returned to Heron Lake, where he has ever since resided.
JESSE A. PATTERSON (1866), deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of Jackson county and resided in Petersburg township for forty years. He was born in Grant coun- tv. Indiana, October 30, 1848.
He joined the army when less than fourteen years of age, enlisting as a member of com- pany C, of the 89th Indiana infantry, on Ang- ust 8, 1862, and serving until his discharge at Mobile, Alabama. July 19, 1865. Six months after leaving the army Mr. Patterson moved from Indiana to Chatfield, Minnesota, and during the summer of 1866 he located in Jack- son county. For several years he worked at different occupations. He worked out during the summer seasons, the first year in Fill- more county; he chopped wood at Jackson for Major 1I. S. Bailey, and he hauled groceries lo the new settlement from Winnebago City, which was then the nearest railroad point. For several years he operated a stage between Spirit Lake and Jackson and between Fair- mont and Jackson. Mr. Patterson secured a quarter section of land, by homestead, in Pet- ersburg township in 1866 and engaged in farming for many years, his widowed mother and five sisters residing with him. He suf- fered many hardships incident to the grass- hopper period and pioneer days. On one 00- casion he lost his barn and live stock from the ever-dreaded prairie fire. Mr. Patterson died at his home in Petersburg township January 4, 1906.
On August 8. 1875, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage to Maggie Jungbauer, who sur- vives her husband and makes her home on the farm in Petersburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Patter- son were born two children, as follows: Mar- tin llenry, who died at the age of two years, and lda May.
ANDERS OPPERUD (1870). deceased, was a pioneer settler and one of the best known farmers of Delafield township. his home being a short distance south of Wilder. He was born in Norway April 21, 1845, the son of Anders Anderson and Annie Anderson. These parents came to America during the eighties, but soon moved back to their native land and both are now deceased.
Anders came to the United States in 1868 and located in Fayette county, Iowa. After residing there two years he came to Jackson county and took as a homestead claim the
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southwest quarter of section 18, Delafield township. For two years he and his family lived in a combination sod shanty and dug- out, 14x14 feet in size, and his barn was built of straw. Later a small frame building was put up, and in time this was added to, re- sulting in the present house. Hard times were encountered during the grasshopper times, and Mr. Oppernd was obliged to spend the greater part of his time for six year- working in the vicinity of Albert Lea, while his wife and mother kept up the farm as best they might. Mrs. Opperud remembers that one year the only crop they harvested was five bushels of wheat and a few potatoes.
Mr. Opperud was a hard worker and a splendid farmer. He prospered and when he died on June 29, 1908, he left his family in comfortable circumstances. During his life- time he always took an active part in local political and business affairs. For eighteen years he was a member of the Delafield town- ship board and in the early days was identi- fied with the public school of his district. having served on the board. He was one of the directors of the National Bank of Windom. He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and was instrumental in the building of the first church creeted in Delafield town- ship. For a number of years he served as treasurer of the church society.
Mr. Oppernd was married at Elkader. lowa, April 8, 1869, to Johanna Gilbert-on, who was born in Norway October 17, 1850, and who came to the United States in 1865. Her par- ent- were Gilbert Berge and Gunela (Opperud ) Berge. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Oppernd, of whom the following named six are living: Josephine (Mrs. Sam Juleson), of Texas: Mrs. Anna Fawcett, of Wilder; Mrs. Ililda Potter, of Springfield. Minnesota : Mrs. Inga Schield, of Fall Creek, Wisconsin; Mrs. Matilda Fuller, of Lamberton, Minnesota ; John Arthur Opperud, of Delafield township.
JOHN FREDERICKSON (1879), one of the members and officers of the Lakefield Tile & Drainage company, cement tile manufacturers, has been a resident of Lakefield ever since the founding of the village. De is a native of Norway and was born September 9. 1846. be- ing the son of Frederick and Mary (Kulung- stad) Frederickson.
Our subject spent the first twenty-three
years of his life in his native land. He was educated in the public schools and later stud- jed the English language under a private tu- tor. In 1869 he emigrated to America and during the first three years of his residence in the new world lived at several different places, working on the railroad. He spent one month in Madelia and then worked on the Omaha road a short time at Mankato. Next he took a position with the Milwaukee road, but a little later went to St. Paul and for two years worked for the Northern Pacific. He spent one harvest season working near Ilast- ings, and then again took a position with the Northern Pacific.
In 1872 Mr. Frederickson located in the new town of Windom, where he secured a position in a lumber yard. Later he built a boarding house there, which he conducted several years. While living at Windom he took a homestead claim near Wilder station. On the first day of September, 1879, while the town was being founded. Mr. Frederickson located in Lakefield and that village has ever since been his home. For seven years he was manager of the Colman lumber company's yard and then engaged in the machinery business. He conducted the ma- chinery business alone for ten years. then sold a half interest to Charles MI. Gage, and later sold his remaining interest to E. 1. Gage. After going out of the machinery business he opened a land office, which he has conducted ever since. In 1908 he formed the Lakefield Tile & Drainage company and began the manu- facture of cement tile. The officers of this company are Anders Quivli, president: John Frederickson. secretary: John Grein, treasurer.
The subject of this biography, in partner- ship with Walter L. Seely, platted the addi- tion to Lakefield known as South Lakefield. lle has been a member of the board of educa- tion ever since the district was formed. He has served as a member of the village council a number of times, has been president of the council two terms and has served as village treasurer a number of years. He is a mem- her of the Methodist church and of the A. O. U. W. lodge.
Mr. Frederickson was married at Windom April 12, 1872, to Karen Foslie. To this union have been born the following named children: Fred. horn December 21. 1874: Martin, horn January 21, 1876: Charles W., born 1877: Ida, born November 17, 1878: Samuel, born April 18, 1880; Emma, born Septem-
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ber 19, 1881; Marens, born December 25, 1882; Lucy M .. born May 22, 1884; Clara J., born July 7, 1887; Benjamin F., born February 28, 1889.
WILLIAM F. RIDGEWAY (1869), of Des Moines township, is one of the early settlers of Jackson county, having resided here since he was eleven years of age. lle owns twenty- two and one-half aeres of land on the Des Moines river a short distance up from Jackson. He does very little general farming but he is a successful chicken raiser and deals in wood.
The father of our subject is Franeis J. Ridgeway, who lives in Jackson and is 75 years of age. He was born in Ohio and moved to Indiana when yonng, where he was married and lived until 1857. That year he settled in Goodhne county, Minnesota. He enlisted in company F, of the Second Minnesota volunteer infantry, served two years in the army and was discharged on account of disability. Later he reenlisted and fought the Sioux Indians in the Black Hills country one year. During one of the Indian campaigns Franeis Ridge- way eamped at the Joseph Thomas home where Jackson is now located. After his dis- charge from the army he lived in Goodhue county until 1869. Then he and family eame to Jackson county, took a homestead on sec- tion 14, Wisconsin township, and a tree claim on section 10, of the same township, and re- sided on the farm until 1889. Since then he has resided in Jackson. Francis Ridgeway's first wife, the mother of our subject, was Mar- tha Jane Druley, who was born in Ohio. She died several years ago at the age of 70 years. Francis Ridgeway later married Mrs. Anna Ridgeway, his brother's widow.
William Ridgeway was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, November 12, 1858. JIe accompanied the family to Jackson county in 1869, and until he was twenty-one years of age lived on the farm on seetion 14, Wisconsin township. After his marriage, which occurred in 1879. he farmed four years in Wisconsin township and then moved to Jackson. In 1896 Mr. Ridgeway bought the land he now owns on seetions 10 and 11, Des Moines, and that has since been his home. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Mereantile company of Jack- son. For three years he was treasurer of his school distriet.
Our subjeet was married at Mankato, Min-
nesota, February 15, 1879, to Cora L. Fan- cher. She was born in Indiana and died Feb- ruary 20, 1884. One child. Cora, was born to this union. She was married to William II. Blakeley and died January 22, 1904. Mr. Ridgeway was married the second time to Mary R. Goodwin, who was born in MeKean county. Pennsylvania, and came to Jackson in 1868, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas . Goodwin, of Wilder, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Ridgeway are members of the Mod- ern Brotherhood of America, and Mrs. Ridge- way is also a member of the W. R. C. and R. N. A. orders.
ABRAHAM JOHNSON (1869), deceased, was one of the very early settlers of Heron Lake township. He was born in Norway January 7, 1830, the son of George and Gro Johnson. He came to America at the age of twenty-four years and settled in Houston county, Minne- sota, where he resided until 1869. He served one year in the civil war, enlisting from Chi- eago in company F, of the twenty-third regi- ment of Illinois volunteer infantry.
Mr. Johnson came to Jackson county in 1869 and bought railroad land in Heron Lake town- ship. Ile lived on that place fourteen year- and then bought school land on section 36. West Heron Lake township, upon which he re- sided, engaged in farming, until his death, which occurred October 4, 1908. At the time of his death he owned 160 acres of land on sections 36 and 25, where he had builded a fine home. Ile was a member of the Norweg- ian Lutheran elmrch and for several years was an officer of his school district.
Mr. Johnson was married in Heron Lake township November 1, 1872, to Rachael Tim- rud, who was born in Norway November 2, 1852, and came to the United States when eight years of age. Her parents were Ole and Tone Timrud, who settled in Houston county, Minnesota, before the civil war, and who later moved to the Red River valley, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born five children: Tilda, born November 20, 1874; Olof. born July 30, 1877; Gena, born Novem- ber 7, 1879; Julius, born January 10, 188]; Henry, born March 15, 1887. Mrs. Johnson re- sides on the home farm, which is managed by her sons, Julius and Henry.
George Johnson, a brother of Abraham John- son, resides near the home of his late brother,
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where he owns six acres of land. He was lege, and now a clerk in the First National born in Norway in 1828, came to the United Bank of Heron Lake. States at the age of twenty-nine years, and located in Houston county. Minnesota. He served one year in the union army during the civil war. le came to Jackson county in IST and home-traded in West Heron Lake township. He engaged in farming until seven- teen years ago. when he retired from active pursuits.
JESSE P. PRESCOTT (18G%), of Heron Lake, is one of Jackson county's pioneers, hny: ing resided here nearly forty-two years. Ile was born in Penobscot county, Maine, June 7. ISIo, the son of Jeremiah and Mary (Miles) Prescott. The mother of our subject was born at Newport. Maine. December 3, 1804, and was married to Mr. Prescott December 16. 1823. The family moved to Ilinois in 1817 and seven years later to Allamakre county, lowa. There, with the exception of two years spent in California and Oregon, the parents of our subject spent the rest of their lives.
Jesse P. Prescott accompanied his parents from Maine to the west when seven years of age, and he resided with them until the carly sixties. In Isot he engaged in farming, hav- ing previously bought land in Allamakee coun- ty. lowa, but a year and a half later enlisted a- a member of company A. Thirteenth lowa infantry, and served until the close of the war. Ile farmed two years after the war, and in the spring of 1868 moved to Jackson county, taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 30, Des Moines township. Mr. Pres- cott engaged in farming lis homestead five years and then located in the village of Heron Lake, where he has since resided. engaged in various occupations.
At Lansing. Allamakes county, lowa. Mr. Prescott was married in 18tt to Sophronia Topliff. To them were born four children, as follows: Ednh M., born July 5. 1863, died August, 1858; Iva B., born November 10. 1867. married Hemy Conrad, died April 3. 1909: Al- vah P., born September 29, 1872, married Lil- die Long: Lelah B. born December 1, 1881. married C. A. Kellam June, 1907. The second marriage of Mr. Prescott occurred at Sibley. lowa, October 7, 1889, to Mary MeNair, a na- tive of t'ister county. New York. One child has been born to this union, Harvey H., born October 11, 1890, a graduate of Mankato col-
MARK D. ASHLEY (1867), proprietor of the Ashley house, Jackson, came to that vil- lage with his parents when less than one year of age and the greater part of his life of for- ty two years has been spent there. He was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, August 21. 1866, son of the late Benjamin W. and Juliet (Robbin-) Ashley. The next spring he came with his mother to the site of the future village, his father and grandfather having come out the year before and platted the vil- lage.
In the pioneer village Mark grew to man- hood. He was educated in the Jackson public schools, completing his studies with a two years' course in the Curtis Business college of Minneapolis and Bowers' Shorthand school of the same city. For a number of years after graduation he was employed in different parts of the country. His first position was with George M. VanLeuven. pension attorney at Lime Springs, lowa. Later he went to Mt. Pleasant, Jowa, where he was a clerk in a lumber, mining and milling company's office. His next position was with the C. B. & Q. railroad, holding a clerkship for a time in the offices at Burlington, lowa. and later being transferred to the offices at Hannibal, Mis- souri. From this work he returned to the twin cities and for a number of years held clerk- ships in different offices in St. Paul and Min- neapolis, during the last five years of his resi- dence there being cashier for the Lehigh Coal & Iron company.
In 1898 Mr. Ashley returned to JJackson and for three years engaged in the real estate and insurance business. In 190] he leased the Ashley house for a term of three years and at the expiration of the lease bought the prop- erty and has since conducted the business. The Ashley house is one of the oldest and best known hostelries of southwestern Minnesota. The original Ashley house was built hy Ben- jamin W. Ashley and his father in 1870. It Was then a frame building, constructed of na- tive lumber. The Ashley house of today is a handsome brick building, well appointed and modern in every way. Mr. Ashley is the own- er of the hotel property and Jackson county farm lands. lle has held the office of village recorder and for a number of years was jus-
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tice of the peace. Fraternally, he is a Mason, Workman and K. P.
In Waseca, Minnesota, on May 13, 1903, Mr. Ashley was united in marriage to Miss Dora M. Child. daughter of the Honorable James E. Chill, of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Ashley have been born two children, Juliet Marcia and Miriam Constance.
OTTO HANSON (1871) is one of the very earliest settlers of Weimer township. He was born in Norway June 12, 1842, the son of Hans Olson and Marian Olson, both of whom died in their native land. Otto is the oldest child in a family of three boys and one girl, all living in the United States. The others are A. C. llanson, of Mendora, Wisconsin; Matt Vannebo, of Montana; Ilannah Kmdson, of Mendora, Wisconsin.
Until he was a young man Otto lived with his parents in his native land. He then took a. position on a farm. where he was employed until he came to America at the age of twen- ty-seven years. He worked on a farm near LaCrosse, Wisconsin, two years and then, in 1871, came to Jackson county. He took as a tree claim the southwest quarter of section 20, Weimer township, located on the place at once and began its improvement, erecting a little shack, 12x18 feet, in which he lived for several years. Ile has ever since resided on the place.
Mr. Ilanson was married in LaCrosse conn- ty, Wisconsin. in December. 1870, to Amie Lorueen, also a native of Norway. Three chil- ilren were born to this union: Peter, a ma- chinist at Okabena; Anker, a Weimer town- ship farmer; Hans, of Minneapolis. Mr. Han- zon is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
GILBERT H. GILBERT (1869), farmer and thresher of Petersburg township. is a native of the county, having been born in Petersburg township August 22, 1969, the son of Hogan and Mary (Olson) Gilbert.
Gilbert lived on the home farm until the summer of 1892, when he located in Esther- ville, Towa. The next summer he went to Sherburn, Minnesota, and took a position as clerk in a general merchandise store, In 1894 he went back to Estherville, remained there about a year, and then went back to Sher-
burn. After spending eight months in the latter place he returned to Jackson county and for three years made his home on his father's farm. Then in 1898 he bought his present farm of eighty acres in section 35 and has since lived there. During the last twelve seasons he has been engaged in the threshing business as well as condueting his farm. The first three seasons he operated with horse pow- er; since that time he has had steam power. Mr. Gilbert owns stock in the Petersburg Creamery company and was a member of the board of directors for three years. He also is interested in the store at Petersburg. He was assessor of his township for six years and justice of the peace two years. He is a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
On July 6, 1898, Mr. Gilbert was married to Randena Mickelson, of Wallingford, lowa. To these parents have been born five children: Howard M .. born May 11. 1899; Olof B., born July 31, 1902; Mabel A., born December 24, 1904; Gilmore R., horn October 1, 1906; Clar- ence J., born February 28, 1909.
JOHN NESTRUD (1870) is one of the most prosperous farmers and an early settler of lleron Lake township, having resided upon his pres- ent farm nearly forty years. He owns and farms 320 acres on sections 20 and 21. When he located there in 1870 there was not a build- ing or stick of timber on the place; now he has a fine home, surrounded by a beautiful grove, which was planted in 1877.
Mr. Nestrud is a Norwegian by birth, hav- ing been born JJuly 16, 1845, the son of Hans C. and Johanna A. (Whem) Nestrud. John is the youngest of a family of six children born to these parents. His parents came to Ameri- ca in 1869 and made their home with their son until their death, the father dying in 1898, at the age of 89 years, his mother in 1891, at the age of 88 years,
Our subject resided in Norway until he was twenty-three years of age. During this time he attended school and worked on his father's farm and at outside work. He came to Ameri- ca in 1868 and for two years resided in Hous- ton county, Minnesota. He arrived in Jack- son county in June, 1870, took as a preemption claim the northeast quarter of section 20, Her- on Lake township, and that has ever since been his home. Later he bought the north-
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west quarter of section 21, and he farms the whole half seetion.
During his long residence in the county Mr. Nestrud has taken an active part in its busi- ness, social and political life. He has been justice of the peace of his precinct during nearly all of the time he has resided in the county, was township treasurer eleven years, assessor nine years, township clerk since 1890 with the exception of two and one-half years, and road overseer for many years. lle held the office of clerk of school district No. 56 he- fore the reorganization of the districts because of the increase of territory of the Lakefield district, and he has been treasurer of district No. 66 for ten or twelve years. Mr. Nestrud owns stock in and is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Lakefield and owns stock in the Farmers Elevator company and the Jackson County Cooperalive Store com- pany. He was one of the organizers of the East Heron Lake Creamery company. furnish- ed the plans and specifications for the build- ing and was secretary of the company the first four years of its existence. lle is one of the stockholders of the Delafield Farmers In- surance company and has held an office in the company since it was organized in 1889.
Mr. Ne-trud was married in Jackson county June 14, 1873, to Miss Inge Maria Peterson, who was born in Norway December 25, 1857. Iler parents are Hans and Peroile (Arneson) Peterson, who reside in Heron Lake township upon land they homesteaded in 1870. Sixteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nest- rund, as follows: Hans P., born December 23, 1873. died September 13. 1874: Josephina. boro November 22. 1874; Petria, born December 24, 1875; launal C., born April 20, 1877: Helen M., born May 20. 1878; Adolph, born October 1.t. ISS1; Olof. born February, 1883; Julia. born January 3. 1880: Laura, born November 10, 1886; Clara, born September 25, 1888: Emma, born January 10, 1891: Alta, born July 11, 1893: Inga. born January 10, 1896; Ja]- mar, born September 20, 189S, died October 5. 1SOS; Lloyd W., born June S, 1901. The fam. ily are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Lakefield.
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