USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 74
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Mr. Olsen was born in Brigham township, Towa county, Wisconsin, April 14, 1853. Until May 26, 1873. he lived with his parents and worked on the farm in his native county. On the date last mentioned he came to Jackson county in company with his brother-in-law, E. 0, Woien, and his sister. Kisten Wojen. Upon his arrival he bought the homestead right to the southeast quarter of section 30, Alba town- ship, from israel Smith, took op hi- residence on the place, and in time secured title to the land. At the time of taking possession the only improvements was a 12x12 feet shark. This he rebuilt and lived in until 1882; then he replaced it with a part of his present house. completing the building in 1900.
Within a very few days after his arrival came the first grasshopper visitation, Mr. Ol- son did not raise anything that year or for several years afterward, and he was obliged to support himself by working at odd jobs, on the railroad section, and threshing in Mar. tin county. After the hopper days Mr. Olsen came upon prosperous times, He added to his holling- fron, time to time by purchase until he now owns ISO arres of land, Of this he farms 320 peres, renting out the rest. Be- sides his general farming he engages in the raising of high grade cattle and feeds many head of hogs annually for market. He is the
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manager and secretary of the Farmers Cream- ery company of Brewster and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator company of the same village. Mr. Olsen has held a number of local offices during his long residence in Alba township. He was township elerk ten years and has served on the township board. He has helt the office of treasurer of school district No. 34 sinee ISSI. He has also served as assessor and road overseer.
The parents of our subjeet were Knute and Mary (Ness) Olsen. They were born and married in Norway, coming to the United States in 1850, shortly after their marriage, and located in Brigham township, Iowa county, Wisconsin, where they lived until their deaths in recent years. They lived a married life of over sixty years. Mr. Olsen died in 1901 at the age of 85 years; his wife died November 4, 1907, aged 85 years. They were the parents of twelve children. of whom are living: T. K., Cari, Alee and Adaline.
T. K. Olsen was married in Worthington, Nobles county, May 30, 1879, to Tena Rindy, who was born in Norway November 1, 1860, and came to America in IS6S. She is the daugh- ter of John and Susan Rindy. To Mr. and Mrs. Olsen have been born twelve children, of whom the following named eleven are liv- ing: John B .. born February 25, 1880; Jose- phine S., born April 29, 1881; Clark MI., born October 5, 1882; Cora M., born June 29, 1884; Orville K., born September 24. 1886: Ethel N., born February 8, IS88; Clayton O., born August 18, 1893; Tillie T., born May 26, 1894; Kunte E., born August 28, IS96; Hazel M., born June 16, 1900; Paul C., born July 8, 1903. One daughter, Martha M., died in infancy. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Brewster.
FERDINAND MILBRATH (IS76) is one of the pioneer settlers of Rost township and one of the township's most successful farmers. He owns 400 aeres of land on sections 18 and 20 and is an extensive farmer. Possessed of alnost nothing when he arrived in the county in the early days, he has prospered and has one of the fine farms and fine homes of Rost township.
Ferdinand Milbrath was born in Germany June 17, 1857. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents to the new world and loeated with them at Watertown, Wisconsin.
In 1875 the father of our subject came to Jack. son county and took a homestead claim in Rost township. Ferdinand came to the new home in 1876, but on account of the grasshop- pers he did not remain long, the whole family returning to their old Wisconsin home. In the spring of 1877 he went to Fillmore eounty, Minnesota, where he worked as a day laborer.
In ISSO MIr. Milbrath again came to Jack- son county, this time to reside permanently. As a result of his savings from money earned in Fillmore county, he now had a team of horses, some farm tools and $20 in cash. With the money he bought a eow in the village of Jackson while on his way to his mother's home in Rost township. His father had been killed in an accident the year before, and Ferdinand came to assist his mother in earing for the homestead. He resided with his mother until she proved mp on the elaim; then they sold the place and our subjeet, in 1881, filed a elaim to the northeast quarter of seetion IS, Rost, having bought a relinquishment to the quarter for $800. On that farm our subject has ever since made his home, having added the other lands by purchase.
In the early days the family dwelling was the usual sod shanty of pioneer times. Later they sold a span of oxen and with the pro- ered- bought lumber and built a frame house, 14x20 feet, which was considered a palace at the time. In 1884 Mr. Milbrath erected one of the largest barns in the vicinity on his own farm. Besides his farming operations MIr. Milbrath is interested in several other lines of business. He is a stockholder in the Farm- ers' creamery and elevator at Okabena and in the First State Bank of the same village. Ile is also a stockholder in the Western Imple- ment company. During his long residence in the county he has held many offices of trust within the gift of his neighbors. He was town- ship assessor twenty-seven years, was on the township board a number of times and for four or five years was chairman of the board, was township treasurer several terms and has held a school offiee ever since the district was organized. He has been treasurer of the school distriet for the last ten years. Mr. Milbrath is a member of the German Lutheran church and was one of those who organized the Rost township church in 1884.
Our subjeet is the son of the late Frederick and Louisa (Felt) Milbrath, who were born in Germany and who came to America in 1869
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and located at Watertown, Wisconsin. They came to Jackson county in 1875, homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 32, Rost town- ship. The father met his death August 12, 1879, in an accident while cutting grain with a reaper. He was 5t years of age at the time of his death. Ilis widow proved up on the homestead and afterward made her home with her son. She died April 15, 1895, aged 70 years. They were the parents of five children.
Ferdinand Milbrath was married in Rost township December 15, ISSI, to Matilda Meis- ter, daughter of Frank and Annie (Pine) Meis- ter, who were the first settlers of Rost town- ship on the west side of the Little Sionx river. Mrs. Milbrath was born in Menomince, Wis- consin, July 31, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Milbrath have five children, as follows: Frank Edward, born May 7, 1883; Carl Theodore, born Octo- her 1, 1885; George Reinhold, born March 27, 1888; Carl August and Anna Clara (twins), born August 1, 1890, died September 16 and 25, respectively, of the same year; Bertha Louisa, born September 18, 189]; Herminia Ilulda Theresa, born October 11, 1891.
ANDREW PETERSON (1870), who now lives a retired life in Heron Lake, is one of the first settlers of Weimer township and has been a resident of Jackson county for nearly forty years. He was born in Norway September 19, 1833, the second eldest of a family of five children. His parents were Peter and Bertha Peterson. The former was born in 1798, eame to the United States and to lowa in ISGS, and located in Spring Valley. Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1871. He died at that place aged 81 years. His wife died in Norway in 18GG.
Andrew was educated in Norway and learn. ed the shoemaker's trade. He came to the Uni- ted States in 1866 and located in Fayette county, lowa. There he resided four years, con- dueling a farm and working at his trade. In 1870 Mr. Peterson sold his farm and moved to Jackson county, taking as a homestead the forthea t quarter of section 22, Weimer town- ship, when the only other permanent residents of the township were Charles Winzer and Nels Moe. During the first summer of their resi- drive in Jackson county Mr Peterson and his family lived in a stable. Then he built a little log house, 12x16 feet, in which the fan-
ily lived two years, after which he erected a residence which still stands on the farm.
Mr. Peterson lived on his homestead a quar- ler of a century. In 1896 he moved to Heron Lake, where he bought fourteen acres in the north part of town and where he has lived ever since. During his long period of resi- dence in Weimer township Mr. Peterson served in various official capacities. He was chair- man of the board of supervisors four years, was assessor sixteen years and was a director and clerk of the school district for several years. lle is a member of the Norwegian Lu- theran church.
In Norway on the second day of January, 1862, Mr. Peterson was married to Betsy Gulek- son, who was born January 12, ISI. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson now live a retired life in Heron Lake, after having spent nearly a half cen- tury of married life together. They are the parents of seven living children: Adolph, born March 29, 1863; Amel; Olof, born May 16, 1872; Julia (Mrs. Oscar Benson). born June 3. 1868: Clara (Mrs. Albert Robson), born May 23, 1877: Ella, born June 9. 1880; Lena (Mrs. Charles Weiland). born March 21, 1883.
JOHN JACOBSON (1872) is one of the pio. neer settlers of Christiania township. having resided on the farm on the bank of Fish lake ever since he was nine years of age. Ile owns lot tive on section 1, consisting of thirty eight aeres.
Mr. Jacobson was born in Norway January 20, 1863, the son of Jacob Nel-on and Mary (Franson) Nelson. His father died when he was a baby, and in 1868 he came to America with his mother, settling in Dane county, Wis- consin. llis mother died there in 1872 and thereafter John made his home with his grand- father, John Franson. In June, 1872, he moved with his grandfather to Jackson county, the latter laking as a homestead the land which our subject now owns. There he grew to manhood, receiving a district school education. After the death of his grandfather in 1889 John became the owner of the farm, and upon it he has ever since lived.
November 24. 1s91, Mr. Jacobson was married to Matilda Olson. a native of Norway. To them have been born two children: Clinton M., born Jume 22. 1893; Grant E., born April 2, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson are members of the
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Methodist church of Windom. He has held the office of constable for the last eight years.
JENS J. JOHNSON (1870), ex-sheriff of Jack- son county and a successful farmer of Dela- field township. is one of the pioneer settlers of the county. Ile owns a 120 acre farm in Del- afield and Christiania townships, on which he has lived many years.
Mr. Johnson was born in Norway July 21, 1842, and lived in his native land until he was twenty years of age. After becoming old enongh to earn wages he went to work in a saw mill. making his home with his par- ents until fifteen years old. At that age he was confirmed and until 1859 made his home with a minister. He again took up his resi- dence with his parents and lived with them until he sailed for the United States in 1862. Arriving in the new world, he located at Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin. There he worked two and one-haif years and then he located at Grand Rapids, of the same state. where he worked in a sawmill during the win- fer and rafting logs during the summer. He again returned to Dane county, where he en- gaged in farming three years.
In 1870 Mr. Johnson came to Jackson county and on October S took as a homestead claim the south half of the northeast quarter of section 12, Delafield township. Here he built a house, 14x18 feet, of lumber, in which he and his family lived until it was supplanted by a commodious structure in 1883. In the old shack he passed the early days, fighting grasshoppers and striving to make a living in the devastated country. He planted the groves and has made all the improvements his farm now has.
In 1883 Mr. Johnson conducted a grain ele- vator at Windom in addition to his farming operations, and in 1887 he moved to Windom. where he engaged in the lumber business ton years. Mr. Johnson was elected sheriff of Jack- son county in 1875 and served four years. Ile has been justice of the peace and clerk of his school district. and was a federal census ent- merafor in ISSO. He is a member of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church and of the A. O. U. W. lodge.
Our subject is the son of Johannes Nilson and Ingeborg (Peterson) Nilson, who came from Norway in 1873. The former died in Windom April 15, 1892, aged 80 years; the lat-
ter died in Jackson county in 1881. Jens is one of a family of eleven children born to these parents, of whom three are now living.
Mr. Johnson has been married three times. His first marriage occurred at Grand Rapids. Wisconsin. June 30, 1866, when he wedded Mary Peterson. She died October 25, 1869, leaving no children. Mr. Johnson's second marriage occurred September 3, 1870, when he wedded Sarah Johnson, who was born in Nor- way and who came to America when six years of age. She died April 28, 1890, aged forty- iltree years. The following named eleven chil- dren were horn as a result of this union: Julia (Koeford), Mary (Peterson), Oscar E., Carl G., Casper E., Sophia (Barber), Albert B. and Jens E. Mr. Johnson was married to his present wife at Windom, Minnesota, January 13, 1894. She was Mary Ann Nelson, a na- tive of Norway. They have no children.
JAMES R. ROST (187]), blacksmith and dealer in farm machinery at Lakefield, comes from one of the well known and pioneer fam- ilies of western Jackson county and is himself a native of the county, having been born in Rost township December 26, 1871. He is the son of Herman and Augusta (Newman) Rost.
Herman Rost and family came to Jackson county in 1869 and homesteaded the south- west quarter of section 22 in what is now known as Rost township. Frederick Rost, the father of Herman Rost, also came at that early date and homesteaded on section 26, of the same township, and it was in his honor the township was named. The father of our subject was born in Germany and came to America when nine years of age. He still lives on the homestead le took forty years ago. James is one of a family of five children, named as follows: Mary, James R., Herman A., Reinhart R. and Clara M.
Until he was nineteen years of age James Rost attended the district school and worked on his father's farm. He then moved to Lake- field and for four years worked in the black- smith shop of R. D. Pietz. In 1896 he bought the blacksmith shop of Ernest Tank, and in the fall of the same year moved to the present site, erecting a building, which has since been enlarged until now it covers an area of 42x50 feet. He does a general blacksmithing and re- pair business and conducts a wagon and ma. chine shop. In 1900 Mr. Rost started in the
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farm machinery bu-ine -- in connection with hi- blacksmith shop and handles a full line of farm machinery. threshing machinery. gas- line and steam engines and automobiles.
Mr. Rost was married in the township which bears his name on December 6. 1893. to lda 1. Welder, a native of Best township and a daughter of August Webber, a pioneer settler. From 1902 to 1907 Mr. Rost was a member of the Lakefiehl village council. He has been a member of the Lakefell fire department since December 5. 1902. He was chief for four years and has held the office of treasurer for the past five year -. lle is a member of the Lutheran church.
( LAUTS WIEBENER (1887) owns and farms a half section faim in Sioux Valley township. where he has lived many years. He is a Ger- man by birth and was born July 8. 1865. in the province of Holstein. He spent his early yours attending school and helping his father, who was a brick mason by trade.
At the age of nineteen years Claus emigra- ted to the United States and located in Ce- dar county. Jowa, where he worked as a farm hand three years. He came to Jackson county in 1857. worked out in Sioux Valley township two years, and then bought the northwest quarter of section 20, of that township, and engaged in farming. He made all the im- movement- on that fram, which was his home until 190%. That year he bought the southwest quarter of section 20 and moved onto his new place. ITe still owns his old farm and farms the whole half section. Mr. Wiebener raises considerable stock and is an extensive hog feed- er. Ile raised 2,500 bushels of corn during the year 1909. Mr. Wiebener is a member of the German Lutheran church and of the Ma- sonic and Woodmen lodges. He has held a school office during nearly all the time he has lived in the county.
Claus is the youngest of a family of four children, his brothers and sisters being Gretch- en. Fritz and John. all living in Oklahoma. His parents were Peter Christian Wichener and Anna (Struve) Wichener The former died in Sions Valley township in 1905, his mother having died in 1893.
Mr. Wiebener was married on his farm in Sioux Valley township in 1991 to Mary Died. erich, who was born in Germany December 12. 1875. They are the parents of the following
named seven living children: Christiana, born October 19, 1804: Anna, born October 11. 1996; Marie, Jon September 0. 1599; Lilly, hon April 30. 1901: Harry, born March 12, 1902: Elza. born September 19. 1907: Christina, born September 8, 1908. One child, Claus, has died.
WILLIAM PETER (Sam) is a homesteader of Weimer township and one of the oldest settlers of that precinct, having resided on his present farm continuously for nearly forty Years. He is a German by birth, having ben born in the fatherland April 25. 1848, the son of Angust and Catherine (Matthews) Peter.
At the age of five years William accompanied his parents to the new world and grew to manhood in Fond du Lac county. Wisconsin. which was his home until he came to lack -on county in 1870. In IsAd, at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Peter enlisted in the regular army for frontier service and served an enlistment of three years and six months. The first year of this service was in Arkansas. where troops were stationed to preserve order during the turbulent times following the civil war. The next year was spent in Kansas and Colorado. acting as a detail to escort mail stage- over the plains and protect them from the In- dians. Nine months were spent in the command of General Brooks, who sub- jugated the roving bands of Navajo Indians. captured seven thousand of them and placed them on reservations in Mexico and Arizona. After his service in the army Mr. Peter was for a time employed as a government mail carrier on the plains of eastern Arizona and New Mexico, between Santa Fe and Allaquer- que.
Jeturning to his old Wisconsin Fome from the western frontier. Mr. Peter soon decided to make a home for himself in some new country, and being then of age decided to take up por- ernment land and engage in farming. In 1870 he arrived in Jackson county and at once filed a homestead claim to the northwest quarter uf section 26. Weimer township, where he has ever since resided. The land at the time was. of course, raw prairie and he has made all the improvements on the place. He enconutered many hardships in the early days, but sue- cessfully weathered the terrible times, and is today in prosperous circumstances. He owns an eighty avre tract adjoining his homestead,
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and he and his son John own 400 acres of land in Aitkin county. Minnesota.
Mr. Peter was married in Jackson county in February, 1875, to Kate Dobriner, who was born in Germany in 1857. To this union have been born nine children. of whom the following eight are living: John. William, Eddie, Ar- thur, Katie, Minnie, Etta and Beriie.
Mr. Peter is one of the members of Weimer township's board of supervisors. lle has also served as a director of school district No. 39 and as road overseer. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Wilder and of the Farmers Elevator company of Heron Lake. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of lleron Lake and of the M. W. A. and Degree of Ilonor lodges.
CHARLES W. ROST (1870), of Petersburg township, is one of the early settlers of Jaek- son county and one of the very first in Rost township, which was named after the family. He is of German birth and first saw the light of day October 18, 1844. His parents, Frederick and Rika (Reitz) Rosi. are both deceased.
Charles Rost came to America with his par- enis when a child, and until the year 1860 lived with them in Dodge county, Wisconsin, forty miles west of Milwaukee. From the age of sixteen years until he was twenty-six he engaged in farming. In the early summer of 1870 Charles accompanied his parents on their overland trip to Minnesota and arrived in the county of Jackson in June. They passed through the county and camped one night on the banks of Okabena lake at a point which is now the center of the village of Worthing- ton. There they decided to turn back and lo. cate at a point on the Little Sioux river which they had passed on their way west, and this they did, taking a claim in what is now Rost township. The nearest neighbor the fam- ily had lived seven miles away.
During these pioneer days Mr. Rost suf- fered all the trials of the pioneer settlers. During grasshopper times he suffered severely. Hle would buy grain each year, plant it, and then would come the grasshoppers and take everything. On season he had a fine ten acre field of barley which he inspected one Sunday. By Monday noon it had entirely disappeared, having been eaten by the ravenous pests. Many stories of the doings of these posis are told by Mr. Rost-how they would dull the
edges of scythes and other sharp instruments left exposed, eat holes in the women's dress- es while making a trip to the neighbors, and make the dogs and chickens seek shelter from their onslaught -.
Mr. Rost made his home in Rost township until 1903. Ile then moved to Martin county, but after a residence there of three years re- turned and located in Petersburg townsbip, where he has since lived. He now lives a re- tired life, leaving the working of the farm to his sons. During his residence in Rost he served on the township board twenty years. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.
Mr. Rost was married March 29, 1869, to Miss Mina Wagnuf. Thirteen children have been born to these parents, as follows: Eva, born December 31, IS7I; Lizzie, born May 27, 1873: Jeanette, born December 14, 1874; Mol- lie, born November 18, 1876; Henry, born April 30, 1878; Carl, born September 11, 1879; Alvina, born April 6, I881; John, born Novem- ber 7, 1882; William. born January 30, 1884; Etta. born December 24, 1885: Clara, born April 30, 1887: Stella, born May 14, 1889, died May 4. 1904: Eddy. born April 3. 1892.
OLE J. OLSON (1862). There are few resi- dents of Jackson county who have a period of continuous residence of greater length than Ole J. Olson, of this sketch, who owns a farm on sections 34 and 35, Belmont township. He is the son of John Olson and Anna ( Ellingson) Olson. whose arrival in the county and ad- ventures in this frontier region have been told in the historical part of this volume.
John and Anna Olson were born in Tolen, Norway, and soon after their marriage in 185I they came to America. They resided in Rock county, Wisconsin, several years, and came to Jackson county in 1862, where they took a homestead-the land upon which the son now resides. John Olson died in 1879. His wife, who is now 84 years of age, resides with her son on the old homestead. They were the parents of seven children. five of whom are now living, as follows: Christie. Anna, Lena (Mrs. P. H. Berge), of Jackson; Ole J., Peter J., Petria (Mrs. Louis Ellingson), of Polk county, Wisconsin; Mrs. Ingebor Hoaas, de- ceased ; Peter, deceased.
Ole J. Olson was born to these parents in Rock county, Wisconsin, December 17, 1858,
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and in 1802 he was brought to Jackson county. The head of the family homesteaded the south half of the southeast quarter of section 34, land which had included part of the old Bel mont townsite, and on that place Ole JI. Olson has ever since resided, excepting one year. For many years the family home was in a log rabin which had been erected by the townsite boomers. Soon after their arrival to the fron- tier country enme the terrible Sioux war and the Belmont massacre. The family were on the west side of the river on that memorable Sunday and escaped the slaughter that took many of their neighbors. One of Ole's uncles was killed and a cousin was badly wounded and left for dead.
After the massacre the family fled south and for a year lived at Spirit Lake. Then they returned in Belmont. Ole was a member of the party which met disaster in a prairie fire on the return while near the pres- ent village of Jackson. a detailed account of which is to be found in the historical section of this volume. He continued to make his home with his parents and as a child and young man encountered many hardships and adventures incident to the settlement of a new country. After his father's death in 1879 Mr. Olson conducted the farm a few years for his mother and then bought the place and has since operated it on his own account. Mr. Olson has never married. He makes his home with his mother and a sister. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
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