USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
After his discharge from the army Mr. Stevens returned to Dodge county and again took up his farming duties. In 1878 he came to Nobles county and settled in Leota township, taking as a homestead the northeast quarter of seetion 10. He farmed that property until the beginning of the year 1887, when he moved to Worthington, which place has since been his home. lle
407
BIOGRAPHICAL ILISTORY.
was elected clerk of court in 1886 and served twelve consecutive years, having been leelected in 1890 and 1894. During his resi- dence on the farm he took an active part in local politics. Hle assisted in the organiza- tion of Leota township, and held several offices under the township goverment. After his last term of office expired, Mr. Stevens held. the office of justice of the peace in Worthington village for a number of years, and during the last nine years has been court commissioner. He is a member of Stoddard Post No. 34, G. A. R.
Mr. Stevens was married at Croydon, N. H., July 4, 1856, to Ilelen M. Mitchell, a native of that state. She died at Worth- ington Jan. 31, 1891. Five children were the result of the union, of whom the follow- ing three are hving; Herbert E., Henry and Nellie M. Mr. Stevens was married the second time to Hannah lloynes, of St. Paul, in 1893. To them was born one child, a son, who died.
HANS C. CARSTENSEN, proprietor of the hotel and saloon at Round Lake and owner of several pieces of business property in that village, was born in Germany May 16, 1866, the son of A. Carstensen, who died in his native land in 1907, at the age of 71 years. The first sixteen years of his life were spent in Germany, where he received an edneation and worked in his father's bnteher shop.
Mr. Carstensen came to the United States in 1882 and located near Davenport, lowa, where for five years he worked at farm work. lie went to California in 1887 and remained there two years. Returning to Davenport he spent two years teaming and then went back to California and for two years en- gaged in gold mining in Eldorado county. In 1894 he located at Holstein, lowa, and in 1897 at Walcott, lowa, where he engaged in farming three years. Hle moved to Jack- son county, Minn., in the spring of 1901, and engaged in farming in Ewington township three years. His next move was to Round Lake village, where he started a saloon on September 1, 1903. Ile bought the hotel property in 1906 and in October, 1907, re- modeled the building, installed steam heating apparatus and water works, and refurnished it throughout. Ile has one of the finest appointed hotels in Nobles county.
At Davenport, Iowa, May 21, 1897, Mr.
Carstensen was married to Mrs. Emma (Nieu- aber) Walker, a native of Muscatine county, lowa, and a daughter of Fred Nienaber. To Mr. and Mrs. Carstensen have been boru two children: Hilda and Marie. By her . former marriage Mrs. Carstensen is the mother of seven children: Lena (Mrs. 11. Kunze), Han- uah (Mrs. B. Bliedorn), Emma (Mrs. M. Reistoffer), Laura, Lilly ( Mrs. John Bliedorn), Annie and Peter.
DR. EDWIN RAY HUMISTON, of Worth- ington, has resided in that eity since he was a boy four years old. He was born in Cleveland, Lesueur county, Minn., March 29, ISGS, the son of Edwin R. and Mary A. (Davis) Humision, who are now living in Worthingtonu.
In the spring of 1872 the Humision fam- ily came to Worthington to share the for- lunes of the colonists, and Ray grew to man- hood in that eity. He received a common school education in the Worthington public schools, and in 1886 began working in C. W. Smith's drug store. in 1889 he be- came a student in the pharmacy department of the Northwestern university, of Chicago, from which he received his diploma in 1890. Returning to Worthington, he purchased a half interest in the drug store of E. E. War- ren, and in 1893 bought out his partner's in- terest. Ile condueted the drug store until 1900, when he sold out and moved to St. Paul. During the time he conducted the store at Worthington he served nine years as a member of the Minnesota board of phar- macy, having been appointed by Governor Merriam in 1890. During the last two years of his service he was president of the board.
Upon his removal to St. Paul in 1900 he become a student in the medical depart- ment of the University of Minnesota, and three years later was graduated from that institution. Ile spent one year practicing in a St. Paul hospital, and then eame to Worth- ington and commenced the practice of his profession, in which he has since been en- gaged.
Dr. Humiston was married in 1892 to Miss Kitty Moulton, a native of Boston, Mass., and a former teacher in the Worthington public schools. To them have been born two children, Burr and Kathryn.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Humiston are mem-
108
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
bers of the Union Congregational church of Worthington. The doctor is a member of the M. W. A., the A. O. C. W., the W. O. W. and K. P. lodges. He served one term as a member of the Worthington city coun- vil. having been elected in 1907.
MATT PINT, of Ellsworth, has been a resident of Nobles county for the past twenty-four years, lle is the son of the late Matt Pint and Lucy (Lichter) Pint.
Matt Pint, the father of our subject, was one of the best known and highly respected residents of western Nobles county. Ile was born in Germany in 1833 and was a wagon- maker by trade. lle came to Canada in J854, where he followed his trade one year. Moving from there to Chicago, he worked at his trade two years, and then located at Racine, Wis .. where he worked in tlıe Mitchell wagon shops one year. In 1858 he located in Kenosha county, Wis., and engaged in farming for several years. He moved to Belleplaine, Scott county, Minn., in 1863, and that was his home until the spring of 1884, when he came to Nobles county. Upon his arrival here he purchased the northeast quarter of section 4. Grand Prairie township, and that was his home until his death, which occurred Nov. 4. 1907. The mother of our subject was also of Ger- man birth. She came to America when a child and was married to Mr. Pint at Racine, Wis. She died at Belleplaine in 1883, aged 42 years.
Matt Pint. of this sketch, was born in Brighton. Kenosha county, Wis,, on Dec. 6, 1862, and the next year the family moved to Belleplaine, Minn. The trip was made overland, the Mississippi river being crossed at MeGregor, lowa. In 1884 he came with his father to Nobles county, which has been his home since that date. He worked on the farm for his father until 1891. after which he engaged in farming for himself for several years. In 1897 he moved to Ells- worth and engaged in the saloon business, in which business he continued eleven years. Disposing of his business interests, he has cinco been engaged in writing insurance.
Mr. Pint was married in Allenton, Wis .. Feb. 5. 1891, to Miss Maggie Ruffing, who was born in that village May 20, 1862. She is the daughter of Peter and Margaret
(Miller) Rutling. Her father, who is now 73 years of age, resides on a farm in Wis- consin and is a native of Germany. Mrs. l'int's mother died at Allenton, Wis., in 1890, aged 50 years. Mr. and Mrs. Pint are the parents of the following children, all of whom reside at home: Eva, born April 5, 1892; Katie, born Nov. 9, 1893; Elanora, born Oct. 22, 1895; Verna, born Nov. 1, 1898; Victoria, born Oct. 5, 1901; Lucas, born May 6, 1904. Both parents are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Pint is a member of the C. O. F. and of St. Joseph's society.
While residing on the farm Mr. Pint served as township assessor during the year 1895. He was also clerk of school district No. 33 one term and for six years was constable of Grand Prairie township.
CHRISTOPHER R. WEST is cashier of the Brewster State Bank and a large holder of Nobles county real estate. While he has bcen a resident of Nobles county only about six years, he has taken an active inter- est in the business and social life of the community and is one of the best known citizens of Brewster.
Mr. West was born near Marshalltown, Iowa, Oct. 23, 1862, the son of Soren and Anna C. (Ravnos) Oleson, he having taken the name of West in 1882 on account of mail complications. Soren Oleson was born near Stavanger, Norway, in the year 1827, came to the United States and to Mani- tuwac, Wis., in 1854, and after a short resi- dence there moved to llenry county, lowa. There in 1858 he was married to Anna C. Ravnos, the mother of our subject. Soon after the marriage the couple moved to the wilds of Marshall county, Iowa, and were pioneers there and the first Norsemen to locate in that part of Iowa, where is now a large population of that nationality. Soren Oleson died in Marshall county, where he had lived so long, on Sept. 9, 1879, at the age of 52 years. Anna C. Ravnos was also born near Stavanger, Norway, the date uf her birth being March 31, 1832. She came lo the United States in 1856 and is now living with a son, O. S. West, at Paulina, lowa. She is 76 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Oleson were the parents of four child- ren, of whom three are now living-O. S.
409
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
West, of Panlina, Iowa; Mrs. Julia A. Norland, of Gaza, Iowa, and the subject of this biography.
Christopher was raised on his father's farm in Marshall county. lle received a dis- triet school education and was a student one year at Friend's academy, of LeGrand, Iowa. Later in life he took a business conrse in the Sioux City Business college. When our subject was seventeen years of age his father died. Altliough then young in years he took the management of the farm and ran it until 20 years of age. Then with his mother and the other children of the family he moved to Paulina, Iowa, where they bought a farm and where our subject lived until 1895. Having ' been elect- ed treasurer of O'Brien county in the fall of 1894, he took office at the beginning of 1895 and served a two year term. lle then opened an abstract office in Primghar, Iowa, which he conducted two years, and during the next three years was engaged in the real estate business in the same town.
It was in 1902 that Mr. West moved to Brewster and entered the banking business, in which he has been engaged since as cash- ier of the Brewster State Bank. This in- stitution was organized August 1, 1902, and succeeded the Bank of Brewster, which had been organized in 1897 and which had been conducted by Geo. W. Patterson and Samuel Stewart. The first officers of the later or-
ganization were: C. C. Moffit, president; A. P. Jacobs, vice president; C. R. West, cashier; T. T. Strand, assistant cashier. The only changes in the personnel of the management have been in the matter of vice president. D. II. McKeller succeeded MIT. Jacobs to the office and Geo. W. Voak has since succeeded him. The bank has a surplus and capital of $28,000 and deposits of $73,000. The directors are the above officers and W. M. Smith, of Sheldon, Iowa, who is a stockholder. The bank building was put up in the sunimer of 1902 and cost, with the fixtures. $6,000.
Mr. West owns 600 acres of well improved land adjoining the village of Brewster on the south, 368 acres in Graham Lakes town. ship and 400 acres in northern Minnesota, and has an elegant home in Brewster. IIe holds the office of president of the Brew-
ster school board, was mayor of the town in 1905 and recorder in 1903 and 1904.
At Paulina, lowa, on May 10, 1887, Mr. West was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Crosbie, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. West have an adopted son, Theodore Sampson West, aged 17 years.
NEWTON FAUSKEE, sheriff of Nobles county, although a young man, is one of the oldest pioneers now living in the coun- ty, he having resided here for the last thirty-eight years. He was born in De- corah, Winneshiek county, Iowa, April 27, 1869, the son of Ole Fauskee and Isabella (Snortum) Fauskee. His parents, hoth of whom are still living in Indian Lake town- ship, are natives of Norway, coming to America about 1866. In the spring of 1870, when Nobles county was inhabited by only a few families (settlement being confined ex- elusively to Graham Lakes and Indian Lake townships), the Fauskee family came to the new country and became pioneer settlers. Mr. Fauskee settled on section 6, Indian Lake township, where he has ever since re- sided. Then Worthington was undreamed of, and Jackson was the nearest trading point, and from that frontier village the supplies were secured. No railroad was as yet built in the county, and the nearest trading point was many miles away.
Newton, at the time of his arrival in the county, was a baby one year old. His boy- hood days were spent on his father's farm. In the country schools of Indian Lake and nearby townships he acquired his education, attending school until 18 years of age. Dur- ing the summer months he worked on his father's farm during these years he was obtaining his education. Later he acquired an interest in land and other property, and in partnership with his father engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until the fall of 1897.
At that time he moved to Worthington and accepted a position as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Gilbert Anderson. For three and one-half years he acceptably filled this office. Hle was reappointed deputy sheriff in January, 1901. by Sheriff Mike Reiter, served until April 30, of the same year, and then resigned. After his resignation he went to
110
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
work for the McCormick Machine company traveling salesman, and continued in that business until the fall of 1902.
lie then became a candidate for the office of sheriff, being nominated on the republi- can ticket at the primary election, defeating L. L. McCartney, Chas. King and Levi Rue for the nomination, and at the general elec- tion in November being elected over the democratie nominee, Mike Reiter. He was reelected in 1904, defeating Matt Bryan and ( has. leitritter for the republican nomina- tion by a majority vote, and being elected Wer J. N. Holbrook at the general election by an enormous vote. Again was he victor- ions at the polls in 1906, securing the re- putdican nomination over Messrs. Scriven and W. M. Cline by a majority vote of 013 out of a total vote of less than 1.600. At the general election he had no opposition. Mr. Fauskre has made an excellent record as sheriff of Nobles county. He has done hi- diny without fear or favor, and he has become a terror to evil doers.
On August 17. 1904, Mr. Fauskee was united in marriage to Miss Josephine John- son. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. John- son. of Dewald township. Two daughters, Genevieve and Alice, have been born to this union.
HAKEN JOHNSON, although an actual resident of Nobles county only a few years, is entitled to be classed as one of the pioneer settlers. He lived on a farm in Jackson county only two miles from Dundee for many years, and since 1901 has resided in the village. Ile is a large property owner, being the proprietor of 725 acres of farming
Mr. Johnson was born in Sweden in 1851 and secured a common school education in his native land. He came to America in INGS and located at Red Wing. Min. In the spring of 1879 he moved to the Dundee country, buying land two miles cast of
farming and moved to Dundee. He went into the implement business and was so engaged five years. Mr. Johnson is a mem- ber of the Swedish Lutheran church, of the Scandinavian Relief association of Red Wing, and of the M. W. A. lodge.
In Goodhue county, Minn., in 1874, MIr. Johnson was married to Miss Maggie Land- berg, a native of Sweden. She died in Aug- ust, 1890. llis second marriage occurred in Cottonwood county in 1892, when he was wedded to Miss Betsy Erickson, who was a native of Goodhne county. Mr. Johnson is the father of seven children, four of whom were borne by his first wife. They are as follows: Henry, Hilma (Mrs. V. I. Miller), of Westbrook, Minn .; Ole. Oscar, Arthur, Harry and Harwood. All the boys live at Dundee.
OLE A. BRANDT, of Larkin township, has lived on his present farm a quarter of a century and is one of the old time set- tlers of the township. He is a native of Norway and was born Nov. 1, 1831. His parents died in their native land, the father when our subject was a child, the mother in 1501.
Mr. Brandt came to America and to No- bles county in ISTS, and first settled near Ellsworth. After residing four and one- half years in that part of the county he moved to, Larkin township in the spring of 1883. bought a homestead relinquishment to the northwest quarter of section 22. proved up on it and has ever since engaged in farming it. llis farm is well improved and has a fine grove surrounding the buildings. He engages in stockraising to a consider- able extent and makes a specialty of sleep raising.
family are members of the Norwegian Luth- cran church. Mr. Brandt is a member of the Larkin board of supervisors and has served in that capacity during the last six years. Jle has served on the school board of di-triet No. 60 in various capacities.
In Norway in 1877 Mr. Brandt was mar- ried to Miss Mary Nelson, and to them have been born nine children: Minnie (Mrs. Henry Thompson), of Rushmore; Olga (Mrs. Carl Salte), of near Lismore; Albert, John, Dundee, and there he lived and engaged in . Ida, Anna, Clara, Emma and Olive. The farming for twenty-two years. For a short time he served as a commissioner of Jack- son county, having been appointed to fill a vacaney, and held various township and school oflives during his long residence there. 11 1901 Mr. Johnson retired from active
411
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
PETER LEBENS is one of the early day settlers of Willmont township, having taken the claim to the farm upon which he now resides thirty years ago. Ilis farm cousists of 320 acres of land on sections 28 and 33. Mr. Lebens is a Ilollander by birth. Ile was born March 1, 1851, the son of John N. and Annie (Kakals) Lebens. The former died in Scott county, Minn., in 1898, aged SS years, the latter in Carver county, Minn., at the age of 56 years. Peter came to the United States with his parents in 1863, when he was twelve years of age, and located in Carver county, Minn. There he was raised on his father's farm and there he made his home until 1880. During the last three years of his residence there he rented his father's farm and engaged in business on his own account.
In October, 1878, Mr. Lebens came to No- bles county and filed on the southeast quar- ter of section 28, Willmont township. Im- mediately after making the filing he return- ed to his home, but came back again in the following spring with a brother. Ile broke thirty acres of his claim, erected a sod shanty that year, but did not make his per- manent residence here that year. In the spring of 1880 he brought his family to the new home, erected a frame building, and be- gan farming. On that farm he has ever since resided.
Mr. Lebens was married at Shakopee, Minn., Oct. 20, 1875, to Margaret Thole. She was born in Westphalia, Germany, Oct. 13, 1854, and died at the family home in Willmont township Feb. 20, 1892. This imion resulted in the birth of the following children: Annie (Mrs. Peter Bonselet), of Watertown, S. D .; Jomm, marshal of Wil- mont village; Joseph, of Lismore; Lizzie, of lowa; Herman, of North Dakota; Henry, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Peter, of North Dakota; William, of North Dakota.
The second marriage of Mr. Lebens occurred in St. Paul Jan. 25, 1894, when he wedded Maggie Schnier, who was born in Scott county, Minn., in October, 1858. To them have been born the following children: Clara, Mary, John (deceased), Maggie, Frances and Charles. The family are members of the Catholic church of St. Kilian. Mr. Lebens served as supervisor of Willmont township two years and was road overseer three years.
JOHN DeBOER, senior member of the firm of DeBoer & TenCate, proprietor of the general merchandise store at Leota, is a native of Dolton, Cook county, Ill., where he was born Aug. 7, 1868.
The parents of our subject were John and Anke (Sieben) DeBoer. The father was born iu Edam, Holland, in 1834, and came to the United States in the early sixties. He bought a farm in Cook county, Illinois, adjoining Chicago on the south, where he. resided until his death in 1878. This farm was held by the heirs until 1907, when it was sold for $500 per acre. Anke DeBoer was also born in Holland. She died in Cook county July 16, 1884, at the age of 39 years. John is one of a family of seven children.
John DeBoer lived in Cook county, 1H., until he came to Nobles county in 1892. During the first eighteen years of his life he lived on his father's farm. He then be- gan working at the carpenter trade, which he followed in Chicago aud the suburban towns for a number of years. In January, 1892, he came to Nobles county and in part- nership with his brother, Nicholas DeBoer, and James TenCate, established the firm of DeBoer & TenCate and started a store in Leota township, where the little village of Leota has since made its appearance. At the time the only other building in the vicinity was the Dutch Reformed church. The store has been conducted under the same management ever since, and the part- ners have always enjoyed a prosperous busi- ness.
Mr. DeBoer was married in South Holland, Cook county, Ill., March 4, 1898, to Mande Bode, a native of Riverdale, Ill., and a daugh- ter of Henry Bode, of South Holland. This union has resulted in the birth of four children: John S., Henry B., Anke and Elizabeth.
Mr. DeBoer owns the northwest quarter of section 2, Leota township, and six acres in Leola village. Ile is the chairman of the Jeota township board of supervisors and has hell the office four years. lle served as township treasurer two years.
WILLIAM E. MADISON, mayor of Worth- ington, and member of the firm of Oliver Madison, proprietor of the Worthington
412
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
meat market, has lived in Nobles county since he was three years old. He was born in Columbia county, Wis., April 16, 1868, the son of William and Sarah G. (Ellis) Madison. William Madison, Sr., was born in Lincoln, England, came to the United States in 1848, to Nobles county in 1871, and died in Wisconsin. Our subject's mother was also born in England. She now resides ia Wisconsin.
On November 22, 1871, when the first No- Dles county town was just being founded, the Madison family came to Worthington. The head of the family took as a home- stead claim the northwest quarter of sec- tion 4, Lorain township, a few miles north- (Ist of the town, and that was the family home five years. The family home was then established in Worthington, where the elder Madison purchased the meat market then owned by Otis Bigelow. He conducted that until 1881, when he returned to his old home in Wisconsin. The subject of this sketch. however, remained in Worthington, and that has been his home ever since. He secured an education in the Worthington public school-, and during the last few years his father was in business there assisted in the shop. After Mr. Bigelow again entered into the butchering business Will Madison took a position with him, learned the butch- er's trade. and. with the exception of a few years, has followed that occupation ever since. In the spring of 1892 Mr. Madison and William E. Oliver purchased the Bige- low market, and under the firm name of Oliver & Madison condneted the store until November. 1901, when they sold to E. L. Nance. Thereafter until Feb. 1, 1907, the partners were engaged in the stock business. Then they repurchased the meat market and have since been its proprietors.
Mr. Madison has taken an active part in village affairs, and on numerous occasions has been called to serve the city in an of- ficial capacity. He served as a member of the council in 1898 99-01 and 1905, was vil- lage recorder in 1904. and president of the council in 1906, and was again elected to that position in 1908.
At Lake Park. Iowa. on Oct. 15, 1891, oc- ourred the marriage of Mr. Madison to Clara C. Pearson. To them have been born two children -- Marie and Helen.
P. F. NOLAN, farmer and stockraiser of Little Rock township, is a native of county killare, Ireland. Hle was born nineteen miles east of the city of Dublin on July 20, 1838. llis parents, John and Mary (Bhiinnen) Nolan, both died in their native land.
Until he came to the United States in 1801 Mr. Nolan, after growing to manbood, worked on a stock farm and became very proficient in the care of stock. Hle located at Woburn Center, Middlesex county, Mass., in 1801 and learned the leather manutac- turing trade, which he followed twenty years. During the last thirteen years of his residence in Woburn Center he was foreman in the plant in which he worked so long.
In [os] he joined the Catholic colony and came to Nobles county. He purchased his present farm, the southwest quarter of see- tion 17, Little Rock township, paying there- for $6.50 per acre, and has ever since been engaged in farming. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred stock and has large numbers of cattle, hogs and horses. lle is a member of the Catholic church of Ells- worth. For nine years he held the office of director of school district No. 13.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.