USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 55
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Carl was brought up on his father's farm in Belmont township, living with his parents on the old homestead on seetion 20 until he was twenty years of age. Then he started in life for himself and farmed rented land for about six years. In 1898 he bought his pres- ent farm, the west half of the northwest quar ter of section 29, then entirely unimproved, and has since made his home there.
Mr. Frantsen was married on the old Slaa- baken farm in Belmont December 29, 1898, to Obena Olson, who was born in Belmont and who is the daughter of Ole Olson, deceased. Her mother is now Mrs. William Johnson. Two children have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Frantsen: Juit, born December 20, 1901; Bert, born January 30, 1905. The family are mem- bers of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr. Frantsen is a director of school district No. IS.
ALBERT A. GRUHILKE (1869), cement worker of Jackson, has lived in the county since he was a boy eight years old. lle was born in Princeton, Fond du Lac county, Wis- consin, February 6, 1861, the son of August and Wilhelmina ( Reisler) Gruhlke.
When Albert was a few months old the fam- ily moved to Waseea county, Minnesota, and there they remained until 1869. On June 20 of that year Albert accompanied his parents to Jackson county, and from that time until 1891 he lived on the farm in Petersburg town- ship. Moving to Jackson, he engaged in the im- plement business four years and in the plumb- ing business nine years. Since then he has been engaged in the eement manufacturing business. During 1907-08 he was superintend- ent of construction of the Jackson county court house. Mr. Gruhilke owns property in Jaekson. He is a member of the M. B. A. lodge.
Mfr. Gruhlke was married in Petersburg township November 24, 1887. to Miss Rieke
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Helmke. Four children have been born to this union. as follows: Elvir A,, born February 17, 1859: Nellie D., born June 17. 1892; Daisy M., born March 9, 1896; Milton C., born July 21, 1900.
HENRY THIELVOLDT (1853), county com. missioner of Jackson county, representing the first district, and a prominent farmer of Mid- dletown township, has been a resident of the county twenty - six years. He owns the south- east quarter of section 11, four miles south of Jackson.
Mr. Thielvoldt is of German birth. having been born in the fatherland on the first day of December, 1849. llis father, Hans Thich- voldt, was a bookbinder and printer by trade and after coming to America in 1835, worked at his trade in Davenport. lowa, until his death four years later. Our subject's mother was Katrina (Muhs) Thielvoldt. She died in 1891. Henry is the only living chill of eight children.
At the age of five years, in 1855. Henry Thielvoldt came to the new world with his parents and located at Davenport. lowa. His father dying when he was nine years old, Henry was obliged to begin his struggle to help support the family at that tender age. In 1967 he moved with his mother to Walcott. Iowa, and Jater to Durant. lowa. He made his home with his mother until he was twen- ty.two years of age, and then married and established a home of his own. He farmed rented land in Muscatine county. Iowa. two years and then moved to Scott county of the same state, where he engaged in farming nine years. Mr. Thielvoldt arrived in Jackson county in 1853. bought a farm on section 25. Sioux Valley township, which was his home for many years. Ile sold out there in 1901 and bought his present farm in Middletown. where he has since lived.
Henry Thielvoldt has served as county com- missioner for the last seventeen years, and during that time has taken an netive part in the history making of the county. Politically he is a democrat. Hle has frequently held township and school offices. Ile is a member of the M. B. A. lodge and was a charter mem- her of the lodge at Jackson.
The first marriage of Mr. Thielvoldt of- curred at Davenport, Iowa. December 10. 1871. when he wedded Abel Puck, who was born in
Germany and came to America when a child. She died December 21, 1592. Seven children were born as a result of this marriage. as follows: John, born April 5, 1873: Willie, born February 2, 1875; Amanda, born February 14, 1879; Emma, born August 12, 1882; Amelia, born January 3. 1587; Laura, born December 21. ISSS; Hulla, born February 4. 1891, Mr. Thielvolet was married the second time in 1895 to Mr -. Dora Wiese, also a native of Ger- many. To them have been born three child- ren, as follows: Harry, born February 13, 1896; Clara. born June 10, 1898; Leonard, born May 2, 1900. By her first marriage Mrs. Thiel- voldt is the mother of two children: Howard, born February 12, 1891, and Emil, born Feb- ruary 20, 1893.
SYVERT IL. BERKNESS (1873). proprietor of a restaurant and confectionery store at lleron Lake, has resided in the county since he was a boy. By birth he is a Norwegian. the date of his arrival upon this earth being October 21, 1863. Ilis parents were Hans G. and Annie (Gudmunsen) Berkness. The father came from Norway in September. 1872, and was followed by the family the next year. The family located in South Minneapolis and there the mother of our subjeet died one month after her arrival. Hans Berkness con- tinned to make his home in Minneapolis until 1876; then he moved to Jackson county and home. steaded the east half of the northeast quar- ter of section 26. Heron Lake township. Ile died in the county March 25. ISSS, aged 55 years.
Syvert came from the old country with his mother and the other children when ten years of age. He lived in Minneapolis until the spring of 1875 and then came to Jackson county. He worked one year on a farm in Heron Lake township and the next year in Mower county. Returning to Jackson county. he made his home with his father on the farm until the latter's death in ISSS. Then he bought the farm and conducted it until IS93. when he sold out.
Mr. Berkness moved to Heron Lake village in the fall of 1893 and during the following winter worked at the carpenter trade. There- after until the spring of 1996 he worked at various occupations in Heron Lake. Then he rented a farm on section 25. Heron Lake town- ship, which he conducted until the fall of
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1902. Again taking up his residence in Heron Lake, he bought the Nels Larson restaurant, known as the Corner restaurant, and has since managed it.
While living in Heron Lake township Mr. Berkness held office frequently. At the age of twenty-one he was made road overseer and held the office a number of years. Later he served as a supervisor for several terms and was township assessor one year. He was a member of the lleron Lake village council during the year 1906. Mr. Berkness is a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church, hold- ing membership in the Salem church of Heron Lake, and has held nearly all the offices in that society. He is now a trustee and treas- urer and president of the Sunday school and young peoples' society. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., holding the office of receiver at present.
Mr. Berkness was married in Ileron Lake township November 6, 1886, to Mary Johnson, a native of Norway. To them were born five children, of whom the following four are liv- ing: Henry, Carrie, Anna and John. The youngest ehild, Minnie, was born May 3, 1894, and died August 3, 1894. Mrs. Berkness died September 30, IS94, at the age of 37 years. Mr. Berkness was married the second time in Heron Lake village June 27, 1900, to Mrs. Sophia Robson, who was born in Norway and came to the United States in May, ISSI. She is the mother of one child, Julins, of Minne- apolis, who was born under her first marriage to John Robson.
JOHN H. REE (1872) owns 240 acres of land on sections 26 and 25, Belmont township, and is an extensive grain farmer. He has lived on that farm ever since he was a baby five months old. His parents are the late Hans J. Ree and Bergetta (Kyllo) Ree, who came from Norway in 1872 and made their home in Belmont township. The father died there in 1900 at the age of 70 years; the mother lives with her son and is 72 years of age. There are five living children of these parents: Mrs. N. P. Alness, of Clark, South Dakota; Mrs. P. A. Olson, John Il., Mrs. O. Lillevik and Mrs. Ole Haugen, all of Jackson county.
John H. Ree was born in Norway December 4, ISTI, and when five months of age arrived in Jackson county with his parents and has
ever sinee made his home on section 26, Bel- mont. He worked for his father until the lat- ter's death in 1900; then bought the farm and bas since conducted it. Ile holds the office of school treasurer of distriet No. 79. IIe is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Mr. Ree was married at Farmington, Min- nesota, June 20, 1908, to Miss Matilda Strate, a native of Rice county, Minnesota, and a daughter of the late Ebrahat and Karen Strate.
FRED J. SELEEN (1870), manager of the Heron Lake branch of the Western Imple- ment company, has resided in Jackson county since he was an infant. He is a native of Sweden and was born December 7, 1868, the son of Ole and Stina (Anderson) Seleen.
These parents were born in Sweden. The father came to the United States in 1868 and the mother the following year. For a short time the family home was in Emmet county, Iowa, but in 1870 the family came to Jackson county and took a homestead claim in West Ileron Lake township. Ole Seleen died in Aug. ust, '1894, at the age of 60 years. His widow lives in Heron Lake and is 70 years of age. The subject of this sketeh is the eldest of a family of nine children, of whom seven are living. The other children are Herman, who died at Pocatella, Idaho, November 28, 1899; Emil, of Spokane, Washington; Emma (Mrs. Emil Peterson), who died in July, 1901; Erick, of Minneapolis; Oscar, of Weimer township; Palmer, of Minneapolis: Nate, of Heron Lake.
Fred Seleen accompanied his mother to America when less than one year of age. Aft- er one year spent in Emmet county, Iowa, he came with the family to Jackson county in 1870. Until he was of age he lived with his parents on the farm in West Heron Lake township and in Heron Lake, seeuring his edu- cation in the Ileron Lake public schools and working on the farm. Ile married in 1889 and engaged in farming four years on rented property. Then he moved to Oktibbeha coun- ty, Mississippi, engaged in farming in that southern state one year, and returned to Jackson county. He worked in the implement house of Frank Day, Ileron Lake, four years, and then bought the west half of the north- west quarter of section 31, Weimer township, and engaged in farming. During the past four years lie has been the manager of the
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Western Implement company's house at Heron Lake, while his sons conduet the farm. The officers of the company are Richard Lamb, president : B. B. Sontag. vier president ; J. W. Benson. secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Seleen was married in Jackson county January 2, 1889, to Annie Johnson. She Was born in Clay county, lowa. November 2. Ists. and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson, both natives of Norway. Eight chil. dren have been born to this union, named as follows: Elmer, born September 11, 1891: Carl, born December 2, 1893; Stella, born June 19, 1897: Emma, born February 19. 1899; John, born January 13, 1901; Panl, horn December 25, 1903: Ruth, born August 25. 1903: Lester. born June IS. 1909.
The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. in which organization Mr. Seleen has held all the offices at various times. Ile is a member of the M. B. A. and I. O. O. F. lodges. For two years he served as a member of the board of supervisors of West Ileron Lake township.
MOSES L. FROST (1871), of Jackson, is a breeder of thoroughbred stock. He was born in Jackson county on August 25, 1871, and is a son of those pioneer settlers, Nathaniel and Maryette (Root) Frost.
In 1874 the Frost family moved from the old homestead in Jackson to Mirabile. Mis- souri. After engaging in farming there four years, they returned to Jackson in 1878, and since that date Moves has made his home there. He was educated and grew to man. hood in Jackson, and after reaching manhood engaged in the stock business. He makes a specialty of thoroughbred O. I. C. hogs and Shorthorn cattle and has large herds. At the world's fair at St. Louis in 190t Mr. Frost exhibited his "Jackson Chief." No. 4759, Vol. 1. 0. 1. C., and that animal won the grand championship prize of the world for the best boar of any age.
Mr. Frost own- 100 acres of land in the limits of the village corporation and eighty acres in section nine, Des Moines township. He served as a member of the village council from 1903 to 1907 and has hold the office of constable. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge.
The village of Springfield was located on the home place before Jackson was founded,
and here one of the Wood brothers met his death in the Indian massiere of 1857. He was buried sixty rods north of the Frost home by Nathaniel Frost.
ALEXANDER FIDDES (Som). A pioneer resident of Jackson and a man held in the highest esteem by the residents of that vil. lage is Alexander Fiddes, the postmaster. For over forty years he has been a resident of the town and during all of that time has been engaged in business. His life's history is full of interest.
Mr. Fiddes was born in Campsie, Sterling. shire, Scotland, on March 15, 1810, the son of James and Jessie (Nisbet ) Fiddes, Until he was sixteen years of age he resided in his native village, securing an education. In 1856 he went to the city of Glasgow and served a five years' apprenticeship to the trade of en- gineer. The next five years were passed on the sea, cruising among the East Indies. At the time of the war between England and Abyssinia Mr. Fiddes was engaged in carrying dispatches between India and Abyssinia and was in the latter country at the time of the capture of King Theodore. Leaving his ship at Bagdad, on the river Euphrates, he proceed- ed to Bombay. thence up the Red sea to Snez. and across the desert to Alexandria. Taking ship there. Mr. Fiddes went down the Medit - errancan to Marseilles, thence to Paris and London and his home in Campsie, Scotland.
Early in the year 1869 Mr. Fiddes left home and crossed the sea to Canada. After visit- ing there a short time with two brothers, he moved to the little village of Jackson, arriving in July. 1809. He took a homestead claim in Hunter township and very soon after his arrival went into the general merchandise Im-iness in partnership with J. W. Hunter. He sold out in 1872 and started a hardware store. which he conducted until 1590, selling out at that time to W. B. Gillespie. Since that time he has devoted his time entirely to his duties at the postoffice. Mr. Fiddes owns his home in the city and 100 acres of land in Des Moines and Wisconsin township -.
During his long residence in the county Mr. L'iddes has often been called upon to serve in an official capacity. He served as postmaster of Jackson from October 4, 1877. to March, 1856: from August, 1889, to November, 1893. and from February 1. 1902. to the present
ALEXANDER FIDDES Postmaster of Jackson and a Pioneer of that Village.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TIDEN FOUNDATIONAL
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
writing. He was elected to the Minnesota legislature in 1877 and again in 1884. He was elected a member of the board of county commissioners in 1894 and served four years as chairman of the board. lle was clerk of the district court a short time in 1874, having been appointed to fill a vacancy. Mr. Fiddes was a member of the republican state eentral committee, having been chosen to that posi- tion in 1895. He served four years as presi- dont of the village council and for twenty-five years was treasurer of the Jackson sehool board.
Mr. Fiddes is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and a Knight Templar. He was made a Mason in Renfrew, Scotland, in 1865, becoming a member of Prince of Wales lodge No. 426, and five months later was made junior warden. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge.
Soon after his arrival to Jackson, on Sep- tember 16, 1869, Mr. Fiddes was united in marriage to Agnes llunter. To them have been born five children, all living. They are: Jessie (Mrs. A. B. Cheadle), of Jackson; James If., of Minneapolis: John S., of Jackson; David 11., of Colfax, Washington: Alexander T., of Jackson.
JOIIN M. OLSON (1972), ex-county com- missioner and a prominent farmer of Bel- mont township, is a native of Norway and was born October 12, 1845, one of a family of six sons born to Ole H. Mosand and Kari (Stor- budalh) Mosand. both deceased.
Our subject resided with his parents in Nor- way until he was twenty-two years of age, and during this time he received his odueation and worked in his father's lannery. Ile came to Ameriea in 1867 and first located in Win- neshiek county, Iowa, where he spent the sum- mer. During the next five years Mr. Olson worked in the pineries of Wisconsin and on railroads and farms in different parts of Iowa. He arrived in Jackson county in 1872 and homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 10, Belmont township, upon which he has ever since lived. A number of years later he bought the south half of the southwest quarter of section 10, he now has a farm of 240 acres.
Mr. Olson has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the county. He served as county commissioner from the fifth district from 1899 to 1906, inclusive, during which time two of
the hotly contested battles for the possession of the county seat were waged. During his incumbeney the contract for the present hand- some court house was let. He is clerk of the township board, an office he has held for many years, and for several years he was clerk of school district No. 39. Mr. Olson is a life- long republican, having east his first vote for U. S. Grant for president.
The marriage of Mr. Olson occurred in Al- Jamakce county, Iowa, September 10, 1872, when he wedded Mary Anderson. a native of Norway. They are the parents of eight living children, named as follows: Cora (Mrs. N. H. Strand), Obert, Christie (Mrs. John L. Strom), Peter, Julia, Ida, James and Mebel. The fam- ily are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Christiania township.
GEORGE E. NELSON (1876) is a member of the firm of Nelson Bros., clothing merchants and tailors of Heron Lake. He was born in Norway August 3, 1876, the son of Herman and Bertha (Olson) Nelson. Herman Nelson was a carpenter and cabinet maker and fol- Iowed those occupations all his life. He emi- grated to America and to Jackson county in 1876 and died in Heron Lake in 1882, at the age of 34 years. The mother of our subject lives in Ileron Lake and is 61 years of age. They were the parents of four children, of . whom Mrs. Gilbert Johnson died September 18, 1906, aged 34 years, and George, Hugbert and Julia are living.
George came to Jackson county when an infant and this has been his home ever since with the exception of a year and a half, in 1901 and 1902. when he was engaged in farm- ing in Becker county, Minnesota. He was educated in the schools of Heron Lake. After his school days he worked on the farm until after his marriage in 1897. Then he engaged in farming on his own account on rented land. He bought the southwest quarter of section 24, Weimer township, in January, 1902. and has since added to his holdings by the purchase of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of the same seetion. He engaged in farming until 1908. In February, 1909, he formed a partnership with his brother, ITugbert Nelson. and embarked in the clothing and tailoring business in Heron Lake.
Mr. Nelson was married in Jackson April 29, 1897, to Minnie Selnes, a native of Iowa
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and the daughter of Ole Selves, a pioneer set- tler of Weimer township. Mr. Selnes secured title to the southwest quarter of section 21, Weimer, under the first tree claim law. ile now resides in his native country (Norway). where he went a year ago and where he ex- peets to make his future home. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson has been born one child, Gordon born in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are mem. bers of the Lutheran church. He served as road overseer of Weimer township one year.
D. W. PULVER (1871) is an implement dealer of Jackson and carries one of the larg- est lines of implements in Jackson county. He is a pioneer of the county and has lived here since he was ten years of age. He is the son of Martin V. Pulver, who died in 1854, and Sarah (Wolcott) Pulver, who died at her home in Lakefield, May 28, 1902, aged 80 years.
D. W. Pulver was born to these parents in Jackson, Michigan. May 14, 1861, In 1865 the family moved to Oakfield, Wisconsin, and one year later to Martin county, Minnesota. Two miles cast of the village of Fairmont the family located on a preemption claim and re- sided there until July, 1871. At that time the father of our subject located a homestead claim on section 2, Hunter township, two miles east of the present village of Lakefickl, and in a sod shanty on that claim D. W. Pulver began life in Jackson county. In 1881 he left the farm and moved to Jackson, taking a position as local and traveling salesman for the Huber Manufacturing company, in which capacity he served four years. The next four years he held a like position with the Dowag. aic Drill company. He severed his connection with that company in 1892 and for several years following was engaged in buying, selling and operating threshing machinery. In 1901 he opened a store of general implements and has built up an excellent business. Mr. Pul- ver owns 200 acres of land in llunter township and property in Jackson. He is a member of the M. W. A. lodge.
Mr. Pulver was married August 7, 1857, to Carolina M. Arnesen. To them were born four children, only one of whom is living. Grace L., born January 11, 1859. The second marriage of Mr. Pulver occurred February 15, 1906, when He wedded Bedina Volden.
WILLIAM CARLESTROM (1871) is the proprietor of a general merchandise store at Wilder. He has spent his entire life in Jack - son county, having been born in Delafield township October 21, 1871, the son of C. 1). and Mariah Christiana Carlestrom. Ilis par- ent-, who were both natives of Sweden, came to Jackson county in 1871 and took a home- stead on section 28. Delafield township. There C. D. Carlestrom and a ten year old son, Clar- ice, met death in a blizzard on January 12, 1:72. The mother of our subject married Aug- ust Linstrom and now resides in Wilder.
William Carlestrom was educated in the district schools of Delafield township and in the Breck school at Wilder, in which institu- tion he was a student one year. In 1894 he left his mother's home and for three years worked out on the farm. He then rented a farm, which he conducted three years. In 1899 Mr. Carlestrom moved to the village of Wilder and has since made his home there. He conducted a dray line three years and then for three and one-half years was man. ger of the D. L. Riley lumber yard. In the spring of 1907 he engaged in business on his own account. opening a general merchandise store. In August of the same year he was burned out. but immediately bought his pres- ent place of business and put in a new stock.
Mr. Carlestrom was married in Weimer township in 1897 to Anna A. Knudson, who was born in Sweden and who came to the United States when six years of age. At the age of seven she was adopted into the fam. ily of Chris Kundson. To Mr. and Mrs. Carlo. strom have been born five children: Clarence, George A., Ansel, Velma I. and Myrtle. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. Carlestrom was a member of the Wilder village council two years and served as street commissioner the same length of time.
JAMES B. MOSES (1877) is an early day settler of Jackson county and a pioneer of Minnesota, having come to the commonwealth in territorial days. Ile owns a 210 acre farm in Middletown and Petersburg townships, three miles south of Jackson, his residence being in the former precinet.
Mr. Moses descends from Pilgrim and rey- olutionary stock. His parents, Shepherd and Sarah ( Hering) Moses, were born in the state of Maine, came to Minnesota with their fam-
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ily in 1855, and lived to advanced ages, his father dying at the age of 95 years and his mother at the age of 92 years. Of nine chil- dren of this family five were veterans of the civil war. Seven of the children are still liv- ing.
The subject of this biography was born in Piscataquis county, Maine, on the second day of January, 1843. He lived in his native state until twelve years of age, and all the educa- tion he received in schools was obtained dur- ing the first twelve years of his life. In 1855 he accompanied his parents to Steele county, Minnesota territory, where his father took a preemption claim. His early ambition was to become a school teacher, but because of the lack of school facilities he was unable to se- cure the education he craved. But by home study and diligent reading he acquired a fair education, and after reaching his majority took up teaching as his profession.
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