USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 86
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Mr. Baker is a member of the board of supervisors of Leota township and has served two years. He has also been treasurer of school district No. 105 for the last two years. lle was justice of the peace for nine years.
DAVID JONES, JR., in partnership with his brother, Daniel Jones, owns and farms the southeast quarter of seetion 9, Lorain township. lle is a son of David Jones, Sr., and Anna (Williams) Jones, residents of Lorain township. He was born in South Wales May 9, 1866, and came with his parents to America when two or three years of age. lle lived respectively at Peoria, 111., Tazewell county, Ill., and Marshall coun- ty. Ill., and came with his parents to Nobles county in ISS ?. In partnership with his father and brother he purchased the quarter section of land the boys now farm in the fall of 1891, and later the sons pur- chased the father's interest.
Daniel Jones was born in South Wales May 19, 1869, came to America with his parents when a baby. and has lived with them ever since.
ILANS R. TWEET owns and farms the northwest quarter of section 22, Lismore township. He was born in Norway Aug. 3, 1867, the son of Rasmus E. and Annie
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(Frette) Tweet. The father came from Norway in 1870 and settled in Illinois, in Ford county of which state he still lives, aged 66 years. The mother died at the age of 32 in the fall following her arrival to America.
At the age of three years Hans came to the United States with his parents and lived fourteen years in Kendall county, Ill. The family then moved to Ford county, Ill., and there our subject resided twenty-three years. He worked on his father's farm un- tit he was of age, and then began farm- ing for himself. He came to Nobles county March 5, 1907, bonght his present farm, and is now a resident of the county.
Mr. Tweet was married in Ford county, Ill., March 9, 1894, to Melinda Charenson, who was born in Flota, Norway, and came to America and to Ford county, Ill., in 1892. She is the only surviving member of a family of four children. Mrs. Tweet's father died when she was a child three years old. Her mother is now 72 years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Tweet have been born eight child- ren, of whom the following seven are living: Edna, born Jan. 12, 1896; Tena, born April 19, 1898; Rasmus, born Jan. 8, 1901; Hol- bort, born Nov. 2, 1903; Annie, born Sept. 25, 1904; Henry, born May 12, 1906; Loui, born April 8, 1908. The family are mem- bers of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
FORREST C. BRACE, Worthington jew- eler, is a native of Williams county, Ohio, where he was born Dec. 25, 1867. His father was E. C. Brace, who was born in Ohio, and who died in 1886 at the age of 70 years. His mother was Isabelle (Wagstaff) Brace, who was born in Williams county, Ohio, and who died when the subject of this sketch was 12 years old.
In his native county Forrest received a common school education and at the age of fifteen years went to Elkhart, Ind., where for three years he worked at various occupa- tions. He began learning the jeweler's trade when twenty-one years of age, and lias followed that occupation ever since. For several years he worked in different parts of the country, and in 1894 came to Worthington, where he has resided ever since. He opened a jewelry store and watch repairing shop, which he has conducted fourteen years.
Mr. Brace was married at Worthington Dec. 26, 1897, to Miss Winnifred Grace Myers, daughter of the late Geo. W. Myers and Elizabeth Myers, early settlers of No. bles county. Mrs. Brace was born Aug. 28, 1877. They are the parents of one child -- Forrest Trenham, born Jan. 28, 1905.
FRANK J. JOHNSON. Two miles north of Rushmore, in Dewald township, lives Frank J. Johnson, who has become ctosely identi- fied with the business affairs of central Nobles county during a short residence of eight years in the county.
He was born near Naperville, Il., Sept. 10, ISGS, the son of John and Mary (Mertz) Johnson, who now reside at Tripoli, lowa. The father is a native of Germany and came to America in 1864; the mother is native of Pennsylvania. When Frank a was two years of age his parents moved to Tripoli, lowa, and in that lowa town the subject of this sketch was raised. Dur- ing his boyhood days he secured an edu- cation in the schools of Tripoli, worked some of his father's farm, and worked out for wages part of the time.
In March, 1886, he left home and took up his residence in Reinbeck, Grundy county, lowa. There he worked out by the month at farm work and as a member of thresh- ing crews for four years. In 1800 he went to Dinsdale, lowa, and engaged in the hard- ware and implement business in partnership with D. J. Wilson and F. Ringe, with which firm he was connected for six years. In 1896 the firm traded its hardware and im- plement stoek for the south half of section 28, Dewald township, Nobles county. Mr. Johnsou purchased his partners' interests in this land in 1900, but disposed of it in the spring of 1902. When he became the sole owner of the property in 1900 he moved to the county, and it has been his home since. After disposing of his Dewald property in 1902 he invested in a quarter section in Olney township and another quarter in Traverse county. These he sold soon after and purchased his present place, the south- east quarter of seetion seven, Dewald.
Since coming to the county he has be- come interested in many enterprises besides his farming. lle was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Rushmore, which opened for business in July, 1906,
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
and is a large stockholder in that institu- tion. During the last two years he has been a director and vice-president of the bank. Hle was also one of the organizers of the Rushmore Mercantile company, which began business in 1903, but later disposed of his Interests there. Since coming to the county he has been interested to a considerable ex- tent in the threshing business. In addition to his straight farming interests he is now engaged in raising thoroughbred stock, having Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs. Besides his business activity he also takes an interest in school and township matters. lle was clerk of school district No. S9 for three years, and has been treasurer of district No. 9 for the last two years. He has been clerk of Dewald township since 1900.
Mr. Johnson was married March 22, 1898, to Elizabeth Black, daughter of the late John Black. Mrs. Johnson was born in Canada.
GERHARD LEWIS, Olney township farmer and breeder of thoroughbred Shorthorn cat. tle, resides a mile and a half south of Adrian, where he owns a half section of land.
Mr. Lewis is of German deseent, his fath- er and mother having been born in the Fatherland. llis facher, Matt Lewis, died in Lemars, lowa, Feb. 8, 1886, aged 59 years. llis mother, Elizabeth (Ross) Lewis, still lives in that lowa town. To these parents Gerhard Lewis was born in Brown county, Wis., Oct. 16, 1862. Jle was raised on his father's farm. After obtaining a district school education he became a student at a Catholic school of higher learning in Mil. waukee, from which he was graduated when sixteen years of age.
When he was eighteen years of age Mr. Lewis went to Lemars, lowa, near which town he lived until 1902. For the first five years he worked out as a farm hand, then farmed rented land three years, and there. after was a landowner as well as a farmer. In the spring of 1902 he sold out his prop- erty in lowa and moved to Nobles county, purchasing the southwest quarter of sec- tion 30 and the northeast quarter of see tion 31. Olney township, where he has since resided, and where he has one of the finest faim homes in the vicinity.
Mr. Lewis was married Feb. 20, 1889, at Lemars to Annie Ahlers, a native of Du- buque, lowa, and a daughter of Henry and Matilda (Fuskee) Ahlers, both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born the following named children: llenry, John, Clara, George, William, Annie, Mary, Threse and Frank, all of whom reside at home. The family are members of the Adrian Cath- clic church. Mr. Lewis was one of the incorporators of the Adrian Cooperative Grain company and is its president. Ile is chairman of the board of supervisors of Olney township and has served on the board three years. lle is also clerk of school district No. 43.
REV. FR. WILLIAM E. F. GRIFFIN, pas- tor of the Ellsworth Catholic church, is a native of Rochester, N. Y., where he was born May 16, 1875, the son of John and Ellen (C'ourneen) Griffin, who are now resi- dents of Harrington, Washington. The fath- er was born in heland May 13, 1838, and came to the United States when fourteen years of age. lle lived in Rochester, N. V., for many years. The mother of our subjeet was born in Ireland March 20, 1839, and came to America when twelve years ot age.
Rev. Fr. Griffin resided with his parents at Rochester until fourteen years of age, at which time he began his studies for the priesthood. At the age of nineteen he was graduated from St. Andrew's preparatory school. Ile then took a two years' course in philosophy at St. Bernard's seminary in Rochester, after which he took up his theo- logical studies. One year in study was spent in St. Mary's seminary of Cincinnati, Ohio, and three years in the St. Paul sem- inary, of St. Paul, Min. Ile was ordained hy Right Rev. Joseph Cotter in the eathe. dral at Winona, Minn., on June 27, 1900.
Father Griffin's first mission was at Fair- mont, Minn,, where he started a church, over which .he presided thirteen months. In October, 1901, he was given a parish of his own at Conception, Minn. There he reorgan. ized the parish, built a fine church, im- proved the residence, and ministered to his people three years. It was in October, 1904, that Father Griffin was assigned to the Ellsworth charge, of which he has since had
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charge. Under his administration the paro- chial school was built and opened in Sep- tember, 1906, and it is one of the finest in southwestern Minnesota. Father Griffin is
the superintendeut of the school, the teachers being the Francis Sisters from the mother house at Rochester, Minn. In the school is taught the regular grammar course and four years' high school course, the in- structions equalling that of any high school in Minnesota, the students being finished for any college or university they may wish to enter. Father Griffin teaches the lan- guages and other high school branches. The school has 150 students enrolled.
BRUCE YALE, a Worthington capitalist, was boru in Franklin Grove, Lee county, 111., May II, 1862, the son of Milo and Eve- lyn Matilda (Tolman) Yale.
The Yale family is one of the oldest in the United States and was founded by a family who came from Wales about 1621 Milo Yale was born in Camden, Oneida county, N. Y., December 15, 1822. He moved to Illinois with his parents in the early forties, and Lee county was his home for nearly forty years. Moving to Guthrie coun- ty, Iowa, in 1877, he accumulated many acres of land and engaged in farming there until about 1898. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, where he now resides with his son. The mother of our subject was born in Erie county, N. Y., and died March 10, 1895, at the age of 67 years. Bruce is the youngest of a family of nine children, of whom six are living.
In Lee county, Ill., Bruce lived with his parents until 1877, and then he moved with them to Guthrie county, Iowa. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Franklin Grove, Ill., in the Guthrie county high school of Panora, Iowa, in the Iowa Business college of Des Moines, and in Bryant & Stratton's Business college of Chicago. He lived with his parents near Yale, Guthie county, until reaching his majority in 1883. Then he engaged in farming in the same community, which he followed until the fall of 1890. He and his brother, Charles Yale, then engaged in the banking busi- ness at Yale, Iowa, a town named in honor of their father. They conducted the bank until the spring of 1900. Selling out at
that time Bruce went to Worthington, where he invested in 800 acres of land in Elk and Ilersey townships, buying also a quarter section in Jackson county. The fol- lowing fall he moved to Worthington, where he has since made his home, looking after his landed interests and leading a retired life.
Mr. Yale was married in Jefferson, Iowa, Oct. 18, 1894, to Harriett Beard, a native of Jefferson and a daughter of Samuel and Martha Beard, both deceased. Mrs. Yale died in Butte, Mont., June 14, 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Yale was born one child, Ber- uice, born September 20, 1897.
WILLIAM HARDEKOPF owns and farms the northwest quarter of section 21, Se- ward township, having made his home there during the last seventeen years. Ile is a na- tive of Germany, having been born there April 20, 1860. llis father, John llardekopf, died in Iroquois county, Ill., in the early eighties. His mother, Amie (Ostermyer) IJardekopf, died in Germany in 1873.
In I874 William llardekopf came America, and although of tender years be- gan to make his own living, working at farm work. Three years were spent in Will county, Ill., five in Bremer county, Iowa, four in Iroquois county, Ill., three in Bremer county and five in Iroquois county. During the last two years of his residence in the last named place he engaged in farm- ing. for himself, having bought an eighty acre farm. Ile came to Nobles county in 1891 and bought the northwest quarter of section 2I, Seward township, when the place was . without improvements, and has made his home there ever since. Ilis farm is now finely improved.
Mr. Ilardekopf was married in Iroquois county, Ill., July 26, 1888, to Anna Eliza- beth Gleim, daughter of Ernest and Cathar- ina Elizabeth Gleim, both deceased. Mrs. ITardekopf was born in Germany and came to America in 1882 when nineteen years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Hardekopf have been born two children: Henry (deceased) and William. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hardekopf are members of the German Lutheran church, of which he has held the office of trustee for twelve years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ALBERT SELBERG owns ant farms 320 acres of land on sections Is and 7, Bigelow township, having been a resident of that township for twenty-one years.
Ile was born in Sweden June 21, 1866, the son of P. M. and Johanna (Selberg) Daniel. son. Ilis parents live in Sweden, his father at the age of 72 years, his mother aged 71. Our subject is one of a family of eight children, of whom one brother and two sis- ters reside in the oldl country, the others be- ing residents of the United States. Albert came to America in 1883 and settled at Gib- son City, in Ford county, Ill., where he farmed four years. Ile came to Nobles county in February, 1887, and bought an eighty acre tract of land on section 8, Bigelow township. After farming that four years he sold and bought the northwest quarter of section 18, in the same township, and has made his home there ever since, adding to the acreage of his farm in 1902 by the purchase of the southwest quarter of section 7. adjoining.
Mr. Selberg was married in Bigelow town- hip to Minnie Peterson, daughter of E. L. Peterson. She was born in Syeamore, III., in 1876. To them have been born the following children: Ray, born May 24, 1891; Edna Florence, born April 2, 1897; Mabel Joseph- ine, born Feb. 15, 1904; Harold Albert, born March 30, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Selberg are members of the Swedish Lutheran church of Worthington.
THOMAS HUTTON, a farmer who owns and resides upon the northwest quarter of section 29, Worthington township, is a na- tive of Ilancock county, Indiana, where he was born Jan. 22, 1851. His parents, Thomas and Martha Hutton, both died in illinois in 1855. They were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively.
In Hancock county. Indiana, our subject lived until his thirteenth year. Thereafter until 1890 he resided in Effingham county, Ill., during which time he engaged in farm- ing. On the last named date he came to Nobles county and purchased a farm in Lo- main township. After farming there one year he moved to section 28, Ransom town- ship. and engaged in agricultural pursuits three years. He then returned to Lorain and farmed there six years. In 1902 he pur-
chased his present farm, three and one-half miles west of Worthington, and that has been his home since.
Mr. Hutton was married in Effingham county, Ill., June 11, 1874, to Mary M. Thompson, daughter of John Thompson. Mrs. Hutton was born in Indiana. They are the parents of two children: Clinton \\ .. of Kandiyohi county, and David Edwin, of Worthington township.
A. OBELE, who owns and farms 320 acres on sections 12 and 13, of Leota township, has one of the finest improved farms in his neighborhood. He came to Nobles county in 1892, bought the farm when there were no improvements whatever on it, and has made it what it is today.
Mr. Obele was born in Bavaria, Germany, March, IS, 1853, the son of Peter Obele, who now resides with his son, and Elizabeth (Maldaner) Obele, who died in December, 1897. When our subjeet was three years old the family eame lo America and lora- ted at Mankato. Minnesota territory. In that town he lived until 1881. After growing to manhood he engaged in teaming and later learned the blacksmith trade, which occupation he followed four years in Mankato. He mov- ed to Beaver Creek, Rock county, in 1881 and opened a blacksmith shop, which he con- ducted eleven years. Coming to Nobles county in 1892, he has since been engaged in farming in Leota township.
At Fort Dodge, lowa. on Feb. 8, 1876, Mr. Obele was married to Catherine Rolow, a daughter of Lonis and Mary Rolow. Mrs. Obele was born in Indiana Feb. 28, 1858. To them have been born the following children: Elizabeth, of Colorado; Louis, Leota town- ship farmer; Annie (Mrs. J. E. Knowlton), of Kenneth; Jennie (Mrs. E. Knowlton), of Kenneth; Dora (Mrs. J. Webber), of Kemp- ton, N. D .; Kate (Mrs. M. Knowlton), of Kenneth; Edna (Mrs. F. E. Walters), Bur- lington, Col .; Nell, Mabel and Alfie, at home.
The family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Obele is clerk of school district No. 63, which he has held thirteen years.
AUGUST JOHNSON, proprietor of the Dundee meal market, has been a resident of Nobles county twenty-eight years. lle was
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born in the southern part of Sweden August 10, 1858, the son of John Johnson and Annie Johnson. The father died when August was twelve years of age and the mother four years later.
Until he was past twenty-one years old the subject of this sketeli lived in his na- tive country. In 18SO he came to the new world and at once took up his residence in Worthington. Tle lived in the county seat town six or seven years, during which time he was employed at different kinds of labor. The next eight years he spent in Round Lake village. During the greater part of this time he was section foreman, but dur- ing the last year there he operated a butcher shop. Disposing of his interests there he returned to Worthington, spent one win- ter there, and the next spring opened a meat market at Kinbrae. For nine years he was engaged in that business there, and then, in 1905, moved his shop to Dundee, where he has since conducted the Dundee market.
Mr. Johnson was married at Worthington Jan. 15, 1884, to Christine Olson. She is also a native of Sweden and came to Amer- ica in ISSI. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of two children, Elmer and Delia, both of whom reside at Dundee.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Presbyterian church of Kinbrae He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica lodge of Dundee and the A. O. U. W. of Worthington.
WILLIAM BERNARD TREGONING. faim. er and stock raiser of Olney township, is a Nobles county settler of twenty-two years standing. llis home is on the east half of section 6, which he owns.
Mr. Tregoning was born in Iowa county, Wis., Aug. 16, 1860, the son of S. U. and Mary (Halloun) Tregoning. The father, who now lives in Cobb, Wis .. was born in Cornwall. England, came to the United States when sixteen years of age, located in Wisconsin, and became an extensive land owner. The mother of our subjeet was born in Rutland, England, came to the United States when a young woman, and was mar- ried to Mr. Tregoning in 1857. She died in Inwa county, Wis., March 15, 1903, aged 80 years. William is the eldest of a family of three children, of whom the others are
John Cuthbert and Mrs. G. A. Billings, of Cobb.
William Tregoning grew to manhood in his native county. After receiving a common school education he took a business course in the Northwestern Business college of Madison, Wis. ITe came to Nobles county in 1886, farmed in Grand Prairie township one year, and then moved to Olney township, buying the northwest quarter of section 20. He sold his farm there in 1899 and the next year moved to his present place, wbere he lias since resided. At the time of locat- ing he bought one quarter; the other he bought in 1907.
In Dodgeville, Wis., Mr. Tregoning was united in marriage to Lillie Marr, who was born in Dodgeville Dec. 3, 1864, the daughter of Joseph and Alice (Teague) Marr, early settlers of Wisconsin. Her father was an un- dertaker and cabinet maker and followed that trade many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Tregoning have been born the following children: Henry C., born Aug. 21, 1887; Greta L., born June 23, 1894; Mary Alice, born May 10, 1897.
Mr. and Mrs. Tregoning are members of the Methodist church, and he is a member of the M. W. A. lodge. For a num- ber of years Mr. Tregoning was clerk of the school district in which he resides, and he is now clerk of Olney township.
SAMUEL TOW is one of the large land owners and successful farmers of Hersey township, his residence being just a short distance west from the village of Brewster. Mr. Tow was born in Norway, Benton county, Iowa, April II, 1863. His parents, Lars and Julia (Strang) Tow, reside in Benton county. Our subject was raised on his father's farm. He received his primary education in the public schools of the vil- lage of Norway. Later he attended Blairs- town academy three terms and completed his education with a three terms' course in the Cedar Rapids Business college.
In 1887 Mr. Tow came to Nohles county and for two years engaged in breaking land near Brewster. He then bought a farm in section 35, Hersey township, and has since been engaged in farming. He has added tn the dimensions of his farm until today he owns 604 acres, all in section 35. During
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the year 1907 he erected one of the finest farm residences to be found in the com- munity, and his place is otherwise well im- proved.
Mr. Tow was married at Worthington Dec. 17, 1889, to Mandy Toren, daughter of Gustaf Toren, of Lorain township. To Mr. and Mrs. Tow have been born the fol- lowing children: Ethel (deceased). Clinton, 1.inley. Myrtle and Glenn.
STANLEY MOORE, proprietor of the Worthingon hotel, is a native of the city of St. Paul, where he was born Feb. 16, 1857. Ilis father was Asa Moore, a native of New York state, who came to St. Pan! in 1855, when that place was a little hamlet. Later he moved to Watertown, in Carver county. Asa Moore was a veteran of the civil war. During his service in the south he died in ISGI at the age of about thirty years. The mother of our subject was Louise (Meyers) Moore, now Mrs. William Sparks. of Sioux City, Stanley is the eldest of a family of six children. In July. 1908. all were present at a family reunion in Sioux City.
It was when Stanley was one and one- half years of age that the family moved from St. Paul to Watertown, Minn .. and in that village he lived until the fall of 1862. In the summer of that year occurred the Indian massacre, and Stanley. then a boy of five years, was in the stockade at the time of the outbreak. After the massacre the family resided in Carver county until IS71, when they moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where they now reside. In 1868 Stanley went to Minneapolis, and in that city our subject resided until he became a resident of Worthington in 1903. Hle engaged in the theatrical business, ran a billiard hall a number of years, and during the last ton years of his life there was with the Minne- apolis Tribune in the circulation department.
In Minneapolis on November 25, 1903, Mr. Moore was married to Josephine Allen, a native of Ripon, Wis., and a danghier of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Allen, of Worthington.
Mr. Moore is a member of the Masonic. Knights of Pythias and Elks lodges.
ALBERT DAHLHEIM, whose farm is in Bigelow township only a short distance
southwest from Worthington, was born in Germany Feb. 8. 1872, the son of John and Lizzie (Paehale) Diflheim, who are now residents of Elk township.
The family came to America in 1874 and for ten years resided near the city of Chi- cago. The next two years were spent on a farm in O'Brien county, Iowa, and then the family came to Nobles county and Joea- ted in Elk township, where the father bought land. Albert lived on the Elk town- ship farm until he was 21 years of age. IIe then married and started farming for him- self. He bought an eighty acre farm in Worthington township and resided thereon five years. Disposing of that property. he bought 160 acres in Lorain township, near Brewster, which he farmed four years. Ile then sold out and bought a half section in Larkin township. near the village of Wil- mont, farmed that four years, and then purchased his present place in the spring of 1907. He still owns 240 acres of his Lar- kin township farm.
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