USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 79
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Christ received a common school education in Demmark and served one year in the Dan- ish army. le came to the United States in 1850 and located at South Bend. Indiana, where for ten years he was employed in the wagon and buggy factory of Studebaker Brothers. le then came to Jackson county, arriving March 30, 1890, and in partnership with his brother, Nels Ludvigsen, opened a blacksmith shop at Jackson. A little later another brother, Eric Ludvigsen, joined the firm, and some years later Nels sold out to his brothers, and the firm of Ludvigsen Brothers has since been com- posed of Christ and Eric. They conducted the blacksmith shop until October, 1907, and -ince that date have been engaged entirely in the manufacture of their patent calks. Re- sides his interest in the manufacturing busi- ness Mr. Ludvigsen owns property in the vil- lage of Jackson and 320 acres of land in North
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Dakota. Ile is a member of the Lutheran church and of the M. W. A., Danish Brother- hood and Equitable Fraternity lodges.
Mr. Ludvigsen was married July 4, 1890, 10 Miss Maren Ericksen. To them have been born two children, as follows: Edward, born in 1801; George, born February 22, 1895.
The manufacturing plant of Ludvigsen Bro- thers is one of the principal industries of Jaek- son, and the history of the invention and growth of the manufacturing business is wor- thy a place in this history. While the broth- ers were engaged in the blacksmith business in Jackson they invented and made by hand, for their own use only, a sell sharpening ealk to be used on horseshoes. The aceompaning out gives an idea of what this is. The ealk consists of a hard plate in the center with a soft iron plate on either side, welded to- gether and forming a sharp calk during the process of manufacture. For several years they made these by hand and used them in con- nection with their blacksmithing business. Then they put them on the market, the out- put at the start being about 100 pounds per day. The demand inereased and they finally increased the capacity until the output was about one-half ton per day.
The calk was patented in the United States May 7, 1907, and in Canada Angust 6, 1907. When it became well known the demand so inereased that Ludvigsen Brothers, in October 1907, gave up their general blacksmith business and devoted their entire time to the mann- facturing business. The triphammers, which they had formerly used, could not turn out the work fast enough, and they invented and patented the calk machine-the only machine of the kind in the world-with which they are enabled to turn out a ton of the finished prodnet a day. Seven men are employed in - the factory, and the prodnet goes to every
state in the union and every province of Can- ada where a sharp calk is needed. The man- ufaeturing plant and headquarters are at Jack- son, while a branch house is maintained in Milwaukee to supply the eastern markets. Ludvigsen Brothers sell their produet to job- bers and wholesale houses.
ERIC LUDVIGSEN (1888) is a member of the firm of Ludvigsen Brothers of the preeed- ing sketch and is engaged in the manufae- ture of the welded steel center toe ealks at
Jackson. He was born in Denmark October 16, 1867, the son of the late George and Agnes (Jorgensen) Ludvigsen.
Erie was edneated in his native country and resided there with his parents until 1882. He crossed the water with his parents that year and located at South Bend, Indiana. He came to Jackson county with the family in 1888 and for three years lived on his father's farm in Middletown township. After his mother's death he moved to Jaekson and became a part- ner with his brothers in the blacksmith busi- ness. This was in 1891, and since that date he has continued a member of the firm.
Mr. Ludvigsen was married in Jackson April 12, 1895, to Carrie Nelson, a daughter of Danish parents and a native of Streator, Il- linois. Three eliildren have been born to this union, Elliot, Esther and Loren. Mr. Lud- vigsen is a member of the Danish Brother- hood lodge.
S. E. HEIDLEBAUGH (1890), rural free de- livery mail carrier on route No. 1, out of Lake- field, was born in Tama county, Iowa, July 5, 1865, the son of John and Mary ( Merick) Ileidie- bangh. He received a country school educa- tion and lived in his native county until twen- ty-one years of age. In 1886 he moved to No- bles county, Minnesota, and engaged in farm- ing two and one-half miles northeast of Worthington.
Mr. Heidlebangh became a resident of Jack- son county in October, 1890, when he moved onto a farm in West Heron Lake township, five miles northwest of Lakefield. One year la- ter he moved into Heron Lake township, farm- ed there a year and a half, and then moved back to West Heron Lake. In IS95 he located on a farm tive miles east of the present village of Wilmont, in Nobles county, and lived there a year and a half. Then he went to Legrand, Marshall county, lowa, remained there two years, and in 1899 located in Lakefield. 1Te remained there only a short time, when he again located on the farm near Wilmont. He sold out there and in 1900 again located in Lakefield, where he has ever since lived. He worked at various kinds of labor for a year, and on December 16, 1901, was appointed to the mail service as carrier for route No. I.
Mr. Heidlebaugh owns eighty acres of land in West lleron Lake township and eighty aeres in Heron Lake township, as well as prop-
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erty in the village of Lakefiehl. He is a mem. ber of the German Lutheran church and of 1le 1. 0. 0. F. and M. B. A. lodges.
On March 24. 1891, Mr. Heidlebangh was married to Miss Jennie Johnson in Heron Lake township. One child, John Franklin, was born to this union on March 10, 1898.
ALFRED WATLAND (1897), in partnership with his brother, Bert, owns and farms 540 arres of land on sections 10 and 15. Des Moines township, two and one-half miles northwest of Jackson. The brothers are extensive fred- ers and shippers of cattle, hogs and sheep and raise thoroughbred Hereford stork.
The father of our subjeet was Bjorn J. Watland, who was born in Stavanger, Nor- way, March 12, 1854. He came to the United States with his parents in 1873 and located near Leroy, Mower county, Minnesota, where his parents homesteaded government land. Hle engaged in farming there until 1886 and then moved to Emmons county, North Dakota, where he conducted a sheep ranch ten years. During his residence there he had a government con- tract to supply the troops at Fort Vates with meat, wood and hay. He returned to Mower county, lived there one year, and in 1897 took up his residence in Jackson county. He bought the Des Moines township farm where his sons now reside, made most of the jm- provements on the place and engaged in farm- ing there until his death. which occurred May 13. 1904. While a resident of Leroy, Bjorn Watland was married to Elizabeth Spande, who was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota. De- cember 27, 1862, and who now makes her home with her sons on the Jackson county farm. Seven children were born to these par- pufs. as follows: Alfred. born May 4. 1885; Bert, born July 19, 1857: Mamie, horn Feb. ruary 22. 1890: Anna. born March 13, 1892; Corelin, born Angust 15. 1894: John. born June 24, 1896: Ella, born September 19. 1999.
Alfred Watland is the oldest of these chil- dren and was born in Leroy. Mower county. Minnesota. While yet a baby be accompanied his parents to Emmons county, North Dakota. and there he spent his boyhood days. After residing ten years in Dakota the family re- turned to Mower county and located near Adams. One year later, in 1897. Alfred came with his parents to Jackson county, and bas since resided on the farm his father bought at
that time. I'mtil his father's death he worked on the place, and after that event he and his brother took the management of the farm. Ile la- served as clerk of school district No. 7 for the past two years and is president of the Des Moines River Telephone company.
EDWARD ELNESS (Is74) is a Christiania township farmer and thresher who owns the east half of the northwest quarter of seetion 20 and the south half of the southeast quarter of section 17. Ile has spent his entire life in the county, having been born on the farm he now conduct- October 12. 1874, the son of E. N. and Ellen Elness. His father lives in Oregon; his mother is dead.
Mr. Elness received a common school educa- tion and assisted his father in conducting the farm. Later he engaged in farming for him- self and in the threshing Inisiness, which he has followed for the past fifteen years. He owns stock in the Christiania Creamery com- pany and in the Bergen Store company. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the Woodmen lodge of Windom.
Mr. Elness was married May 20, 1900, to Minnie Olson. They are the parents of three children; Clifford, born October 20, 1902: Lloyd, born March G. 1904: Leland. born May 10, 1906.
GUSTAV WIESE (1895) is one of the pro- gressive farmers of Sioux Valley township, where he owns and farms 200 acres of land. le engages extensively in stock raising and has large herd -. He has a nice home and a well improved farm.
Mr. Wiese was born in Schonberg. Holstein, Germany. April 25. 1872. the son of C. I. and Maggie (Harder) Wiese. His father was a veteran of the Danish war (1848 51) having served four years in the German army. He was a jeweler by trade and followed that op- oupation in his native land forty-three years. He died at Schonberg, Germany, September 8, 1902, at the age of 79 years The mother of our subject died in Germany in October. 1896, aged 65 years.
Gustav Wiese spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native town, receiving his edu- ration in the public schools. In the spring of ISAS he came to the United States and lo- cated at Holstein, Ida county, Jowa, where,
A. A. FOSNESS
Of Globe Milling Company, Lakefield.
LOUIS F. LAMMERS Attorney-at-Law of Heron Lake.
BRUNO POPPITZ Heron Lake Furniture Dealer.
JULIUS F. LIEPOLD Heron Lake Druggist.
HELLOLIBRARY YORK
"TOR, LENOX AND
IGGY FOUNDATIONS
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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY.
however, he remained only three months. He then went to Ewing, Itolt county, Nebraska, where he lived a year and a half, working on the farm of his brother-in-law. The next three years were spent working on a farm in Shelby county, Iowa. This brings us up to the year 1893, when he returned to his old German home for a six months' visit. Re- turning to America in the spring of 1894, he again located in Shelby county, Iowa. In the fall of 1894 he came to Jackson county and bought 120 acres of his present farm in Sioux Valley township. In the spring of 1895 he returned to the county to make permanent residence. For two years he worked at the car- penter trade in Lakefied and in the vicinity of Lake Park, Iowa, and then, in 1897, he lo- cated upon his farm and has ever since been engaged in farming.
Mtr. Wiese was married in Sioux Valley township February 16, 1897, to Emma Untidt, danghter of Ifenry and Alvina Untidt. Mrs. Wiese was born in Scott county, Iowa, July 7, 1878. To Mr. and Mrs. Wiese have been born the following named children: Hellmuth, born February 23, 1899; Rudolph, born De- cember 14, 190t; Alvina, born August 30, 1903; Bertha, born October 20, 1905; Norma, born June 25, 1907.
LELAND L. ZENOR (1907), real estate dealer and broker of Heron Lake, is a native of Story county, Iowa, where he was born April 12, 1870. In his native county he lived until he was thirty years of age. After re- ceiving a common school education he attended Iowa State college at Ames and completed his education with a business course in Drake university, Des Moines.
After his school days Mr. Zenor engaged in the hardware and implement business at Ames, Iowa, and four years later he opened a real estate office in the same city. He con- ducted the business at Ames until the year 1900, when he moved to Crookston, Min- nesota, and there engaged in the real estate business until 1907. That year he moved to Heron Lake and opened a real estate and brokerage office, which he has since conducted. He deals principally in Texas, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota lands, and does a thriv- ing business. In partnership with L. F. Lam- miers Mr. Zenor owns a large ranch in Texas and he personally owns a large ranch in Mon-
tana, besides several farms in Jackson county and village property in Ileron Lake and Win- dom.
Mr. Zenor's grandparents were among the early settlers of Iowa, having located there in 1849. Ilis parents are W. J. and Mary E. (O'Brien) Zenor, who were born in Indiana and married in Iowa in 1868, and who now live retired lives at Ames, Iowa. Leland is the eldest of a family of three children, the others being Celand C., who is in his brother's employ, and Gretta (Mrs. C. E. IIolmes), of Ames, Iowa.
Mr. Zenor of this sketeh was married at Ames May 22, 1894, to Cora P'. Skelton, a na- tive of the town in which she was married and a daughter of William and Anna Skelton. Two children bave been born to Mr. and Mrs. Zenor: Marie, born April 30, 1895; Helen, born May 30, 1899. Mr. Zenor is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Elks lodges.
JOIIN C. EDLIN (1878) is one of the pros- perous farmers and big landowners of Middle- town township. He owns 408 aeres of land in Minnesota and a quarter seetion in North Da- kota. He has a fine farm, equipped with all modern improvements for its successful cul- tivation. He engages extensively in stock raising and has nothing but good grades.
Mr. Edlin is a native of Sweden and was born February 9, 1848, the son of Carl and Christina Edlin. He was raised on a farm and received a common school education. At the age of twenty-one years he left home and came to America, locating first in Rockford, Illinois, where he worked about six months. From that point be came to Minnesota and stopped at Mankato, working on the railroad for two years. He then engaged in farming in Cottonwood county and was so occupied five years. Mr. Edlin went to Red Wing in 1877, worked one year in that place, and then, in the fall of IS78, arrived in Jackson county, which was destined to be his home for many years. He bought a farm in Middletown that fall, then went east, and in the spring of 1879 came to reside permanently.
During his residence in Middletown Mr. Edlin has served seven years as a member of the township board, twelve years as a director of the school board and eight years as road
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
overseer. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Edlin was married October 25, 1883, to Miss Louise Swenson, and to them have been born the following named children: Charles 1., born January 26, 1885; laidwig L., born April 25, 1887; Adolph, born March 1, 1889; Albert Edgart, born February 12, 1891, died I.vbruary 12, 1894; Oscar Rudolph, born Decem- ber 5, 191.
EMIL TROSIN OSSh owns a two hundred acre farm in Heron Lake township a short distance northeast of Lakefield. where he has a fine home and well improved farm.
Alr. Trosin was born in the Fatherland Or- tober is, 1s69, the son of Frederick and Christina (Mattzlof) Tro-in, both deceased. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parent- to the new world and came with them to Jackson county. For five years he lived with his parents on their farm on section 28, Heron Lake township, and for the next six years he worked on the farm of D. W. Ko -. lander. The next year he spent working for his brother in Emmet county, lowa, and then he and his brother engaged in farming in Martin county. One year later Mr. Tro- sin again moved to Jackson county and located upon his present farm, which he had bought two years before. The place was practically unimproved at the time and all the improve- ments on the farm are the result of his la- bors. During the summer of 1909 he erected a fine nine-room residence at a cost of $2,200.
Mr. Trosin was married in Rost township April 10, 1898. to Annie Zach, who was born in Jackson county June 2, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Trosin have no children of their own, but they have an adopted son. Fred E. Istel, aged nineteen years and a native of Milwaukee.
Mr. Trosin is a member of the lleron Lake town-hip board of supervisors and he has held the office of president of the Ileron Lake Creamery company for the last six years.
AUGUST SCHEPPMANN (1902) is one of the large land owners and successful and in- thiential farmer- of West lleron Lake town- ship. Ile owns Sto acres of land in West Ileron Lake and Alba townships, his home place being the north half of the northwest quarter of section 17, one half mile south of Okabena.
Ile i- the youngest of a family of nine chil- dren Forn to Henry and Wilhelmina (Denne) Schepjanann, and he was born in Germany January 4, 1850. Both his parents died in the old country, hi- father when he was only nine years of age. At that tender age he had to assist in earning money to support the family, although he was able to attend school until he was fourteen years of age. After growing up he worked in the coal mines and was so engaged until thirty years of age.
Mr. Scheppmann emigrated to America in 1880 and first located in Tazewell county, Illinois, where he engaged in ditching and well digging two years. Then he engaged in farm- ing, having bought farm lands in Tazewell and Iroquois counties, living in cach of those counties eleven years. In 1902 Mr. Schepp- mann sold out in Illinois and located in Jack- son county, investing his money in lands south of Okabena. Ile has prospered and is in casy circumstances. Ile is greatly interested in the development of the county and is interested in several lines of endeavor besides his farm- ing interests.
From 1903 to 1906 Mr. Scheppmann was manager of the Okabena creamery. Ile took an active part in the organization of the Oka- Ina Cooperative Farmers Elevator company, of which he is the president. The company was organized and incorporated August 21, 1909, with fifty-three stockholders, and began business September 7, 1909. The officers of the company are: August Scheppmann, presi- dent: Som Frederickson, secretary: John Gru- seng. vice president : John Koster, treasurer; Sam Dahl, Will Hussong, Frank Anderson, directors.
Our subjeet was married in Germany August 3. 1877. to Recka Beckschulte. To them have heen born the following children: Bertha, Freda, Angust. Sam, Henry, Minnie, Willie, Lycha. Eddie and Loni. Mr. Scheppmann is a member of the Christian Apostolic church.
E. RICE (1897). a farmer residing in Jack- son, was born May 23, 1853, in Steuben county, New York, the son of Warren and Amy (Kent) Rice. When our subject was five years of age the family moved from New York state to Winneshick county, lowa, and there the sub- jeet of this biography resided sixteen years, receiving an education in the schools of Or- leans township.
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When he reached his majority, in 1874, Mr. Rice moved to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, took a homestead, and engaged in farming it twenty-one years. Ile sold out in 1895 and moved west, locating in Yakima county, Wash- ington. He came to Jackson in September, 1897, and has since been engaged in farming.
Mr. Rice was married at Ridgeway, Iowa, September 4, 1877, to Miss Ida May Clough. To this union have been born the following named children: Warren M., born June 15, 1878; Carlton B .. born September 17, 1881, died October 3, 1897; Mattie P. and Minme M. (twins), born April 23. 1888; Nellie B., born July 19, 1892. Mr. Rice owns 112 acres of land in Des Moines and Wisconsin town- ships. Ile and family are members of the Methodist church.
Mrs. Rice is one of the pioneers of Jack- son county. She is the daughter of those pio- neer settlers, Marcellus Clough and Mary (Young) Clough, and was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, May 28, 1858. At the age of three years, in the spring of 1861, she accom- panied her parents to the wild and sparsely settled Jackson county country. In January, 1862, the family moved to Mankato, resided there one year, and then returned to the form- er home in Winneshiek county. In the spring of 1865 the family again returned to Jackson county and Marcellus Clough took a preemp- tion and homestead near the spot where Jack- son was built. He and John Young each built frame houses on their claims, the first erected in Jackson county. The Clough home burned down a few years later, but the Young home still stands. In 1872 Ida May Clough accom- panied her parents back to Winneshiek coun- ty, and there in 1877 she was married to Mr. Rice.
MIKE J. MILLER (1883) engages in farm- ing on section 30, Wisconsin township, a short distance southeast of Jackson, where he owns a quarter section of land, upon which he has lived many years. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Kessler) Miller and is one of a family of five children, John, Barbara, Ger- trude, Mary and Mike J. The father was born in Germany and came to America when four- teen years of age. He located in Wisconsin in the early days and died in Dane county of that state twenty-five years ago. The mother
of our subject lives in Dane county and is 74 years old.
To these parents at Columbus, Dane county, Wisconsin, on September 10, 1861, Mike J. Miller was born. He received a district school education and until twenty-two years of age resided on his father's farm in his native county. He came to Jackson county in 1883 and settled upon the land where he has ever since lived. This farm was formerly owned by Mr. Miller's grandfather, who lived upon it in grasshopper days, and the old log cabin in which his grandfather lived still stands on the farm. The land was later bought by our subject's father, and later still Mike Miller acquired the property. The latter bas made all the improvements on the place, including the erection of a fine house, large barn, ontbuild- ings and grove. Mr. Miller owns in addition thirty acres of timber land along the Des Moines river. Ile has served as chairman of the township board.
Mr. Miller was married at Columbus, Dane county, Wisconsin, November 29, 1884, to Lena Ullrich, who was also born in Dane county and who was brought up in a neighboring family. She is the daughter of Chris Ullrich and has four brothers living in Petersburg township. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born four children, as follows: Elma, Agnes, Ben and Mike.
ALEX SULLIVAN (1872) is one of the large landowners and successful farmers of LaCrosse township as well as one of the pioneer set- tlers. Ile is an extensive feeder of cattle and hogs and a big grain raiser. He farms 480 aeres of land. He owns 320 acres individu- ally and in partnership with his brother Jerry owns 640 acres on sections 17 and 21.
Mr. Sullivan is a native of Sibley county, Minnesota, where he was born December 24, 1861, the son of Owen and Mary (O'Neil) Sulli- van. He spent his childhood days in Sibley county and came to. Jackson county with his parents in 1872. With the exception of one and one-half years spent in St. Paul during the years 1878-79, he has ever since been a resident of the county. His parents homesteaded in LaCrosse township and on his father's farm he grew to manhood. His father died when he was sixteen years of age and thereafter he continued to make his home with his mother. When he was about twenty-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
one years of age the home place-the south- east quarter of section 4-was turned over to him and he has ever since been engaged in farming it. He has prospered and from time to time has added to his possessions by pur- chase.
Our subject and his family are members of the Catholic church of lleron Lake and he is a member of the Yeomen and Catholic Order of Foresters lodges. lle ha- hekt the office of clerk of his school district.
Mr. Sullivan was married in Heron Lake May 27, 1806, to Agnes Bohupool, a native of Germany. To them have been born three children: Gene, Paul and Bernice.
FRANK J. HASSING (1892) is the proprie- tor of a wagon maker's shop at Alpha, of which village he is one of the oldest residents. lle was born at Easton, Faribault county, Minnesota, May 14, 1867, the son of John H. and Rocine (Kerser) Ilassing.
In his native county Frank llassing grew to manhood, residing with his parents until he reached his majority. In ISSS he went to Albert Lea and worked out one year. Re- turning to Easton, he worked at the carpenter trade for a year and a half. In August, 1892, he became a resident of Jackson county. For two years he lived on a farm southwest of Jackson, then lived a few months in the vil- lage of Jackson, and early in 1895 located in the village of Alpha, then just started. He worked at the carpenter trade in Alpha for eleven years, and in 1900 bought the wagon maker's shop from Theodore Jasper and has since conducted it.
Mr. Hassing was married Jannary 8, 1895, to Catherine Steiner, of Jackson. To them have been born four children. Charles A., who was the first child born in the village of Alpha, was born November 6, 1895. The other child- ren are John C., Clara M. and Lawrence 11. The family are members of the Jackson Cath- olie church and Mr. Hassing is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters of Jackson, of which organization he has held some of the principal offices. He owns a quarter sec- tion of land in St. Louis county, Minnesota. Mr. Hassing was president of the Alpha vit lage council three years.
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