USA > Minnesota > Polk County > Compendium of history and biography of Polk County, Minnesota > Part 22
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prominently associate with township affairs and has capably discharged the duties of various publie offices, as chairman and member of the township board, a member of the school board of MeIntosh and in sey- eral minor offices. He has been further identified with publie interests as the president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, serving for a term of
nine years. He was married in Dodge county, Minne- sota, to Martha Alrick, who is a native of Norway and they have reared a family of four children, Engvold, George, Minnie, who is the wife of Oliver Henson, and Mabel. Mr. Vaatveit and his family are faithful supporters of the Synod Lutheran church and are actively identified with all its interests.
EMIL JORGENSON.
Emil Jorgenson, of MeIntosh, loeal agent for the St. Anthony and Dakota Lumber Company, is a na- tive of Polk county, born in Knute township, June 15, 1885, the son of Marens and Hedda Jorgenson, na- tives of Norway, who settled in Polk county in 1884; the father becoming a well known farmer of the county, where they continue to make their home. Emil Jorgenson was reared on the Knute township home- stead and received his education in the country schools. He remained on the farm until he was twenty- two years of age and then entered upon his eommer- cial career, his first activity being in the lumber busi-
ness and with the exception of two years spent in the employment of a telephone company, has continued to devote his attention to the lumber interests, where his ability and successful experience have won him rapid promotion and wide recognition. In July, 1913, he located in McIntosh, as the local manager for the St. Anthony & Dakota Lumber Co. Mr. Jorgenson is one of the progressive and enterprising business men and citizens of the town in which he lives and is actively interested in matters of publie moment and in the promotion of the general welfare and growth. He is a member of the St. Johns Lutheran church.
JACOB P. SOES.
One of the leading merchants and the capable and popular postmaster of the village of Climax, this county, where he has lived and been well and favor- ably known by the people for many years, Jacob P. Soes is a very useful eitizen and is universally esteemed in accordance with his demonstrated merits as a business man, publie official and enterprising and progressive citizen of public spirit and breadth of view.
Mr. Soes is a native of Denmark, where he was born Feb. 14, 1871, and where he lived until he reached the age of seventeen years. He then emi- grated to the United States in May, 1888, and came direet to Crookston. During the first two years of his residenee in this county he was employed at the Artesian Water Works, selling the water all over Crookston. But he was frugal and thrifty, and had
ambition for a higher sphere in life. So he saved his earnings and applied them in preparing himself for a business eareer. He attended the Crookston Business college nights, and when he had completed its course of instruction he entered the employ of A. G. Anderson in the drug business.
Mr. Soes remained with Mr. Anderson nine years, and during that period he pursued a course of thor- ough training at the School of Pharmacy in Minne- apolis, thereby becoming a registered pharmacist and a complete master of his business. After leaving the employ of Mr. Anderson Mr. Soes made a visit of several months to his native land, and on his return to Minnesota in the fall of 1901 he located at Climax and engaged in the drug business, also serving as 'as- sistant postmaster under C. Steenerson for about twelve years.
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At Christmas, 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Climax, and this office he has held ever since. IIc has also been president of the village and a justice of the peace for a year. In these positions of trust and responsibility he has been able to put into practical operation the deep and intelligent interest in the welfare of the community which he has always felt and shown by active participation in every under-
taking for the good of the people. He was married in Crookston in 1904 to Miss Emma Oieren, who is a native of Minnesota but of Norwegian parentage. They have two children, their daughters Myrtle and Evelyn. In addition to his business and other hold- ings in Climax Mr. Soes owns 160 acres of land near the village of Erskine.
GUNNER HUSBY.
Gunner Husby, a retired farmer and well known citizen of King township, now residing at McIntosh, was born in Norway, April 13, 1852. He remained in his native land until thirty-one years of age, when he came to the United States and in the spring of 1882 took a homestead claim on section eight of King township in Polk county. He immediately engaged in the development of his land and devoted the efforts and interests of his snecessful farming career to this farm, building up one of the most prosperous prop- erties of the section. In 1914, after many years of business activity, he sold the homestead and has since
made his home at McIntosh. As one of the early set- tlers of the township he has been prominently iden- tified with public affairs and has taken an active interest in the promotion of the general welfare. He has capably discharged the duties of various local offices to which he has been elected and has served as a member of the school board and township board. Mr. Husby is a member of the St. Johns Lutheran church. He was married in Norway, to Marit Haaven and they have seven children, Magnhild, Louis, Peter, John, Ingvar, Gertrude and Gottfried.
ODD EIDE.
During the last fourteen years this prominent and enterprising young business man of Polk county has been a resident of Fertile and actively engaged in helping to build up and improve the village and min- ister to the enduring welfare and comfort of its inhabitants. He is now only thirty-two years old, but he has already established himself in the confidence and regard of the community around him as a good business man and a progressive, enterprising and pub- lie-spirited citizen with the welfare of the town al- ways foremost in his mind.
Mr. Eide is a native of Norway, where his life began Feb. 16, 1883, and where he lived until 1899, when he came to the United States. In 1901 he located at Fertile and began his business career as a clerk for his uncle, Andrew Opheim, with whom he
remained until death ended the uncle's labors on April 5, 1915. Mr. Opheim was one of Fertile's hon- ored pioneers. He was born and reared in Norway and became a resident of the United States in 1871. In 1882 he located in Polk county and opened a drug store one mile east of Fertile, where he remained until 1887, then moved his store to Fertile, forming a partnership in the drug trade and general mer- ehandising with Dr. Arne Nelson, which lasted from 1882 until 1893. When he died Mr. Opheim owned 600 aeres of land in Polk county, and throughout his residence here he took an earnest interest and an active part in pushing forward the growth and improvement of the county.
Mr. Eide was appointed administrator of his unele's estate and succeeded him in the management of the
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
store and the unele's other business. He was mar- ried in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, November 30, 1910, to Miss Clara Nelson, who was born in Fertile
and is a daughter of the late Dr. Arne Nelson. They have two children, their son Knute Arne and their daughter Anna Bessie.
HARVEY CHASE MISNER.
Harvey Chase Misner, pioneer business man of the state and for a number of years prominently identi- fied with the business interests of Crookston as vice president of the First National bank and president of the Wheeler-Misner Loan company, was a native of Wisconsin, born near Batavia. January 9, 1854. the son of Ira l'. and Arvilla (Chapin) Misner. The latter was a native of Michigan. Ilis father, Ira P. Misner was born in Pennsylvania, went to Wisconsin in his early manhood and there spent the many years of his aetive and useful career as a farmer and citizen. In 1861 he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and gave gallant service in defenee of the Union throughout the four years of the great struggle and was thrice wounded. His death oeeurred in 1905, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Ile was survived by the wife of his seeond marriage and three sons by his first wife. Harvey C. Misner was reared on the Wisconsin farm and attended the schools at Fond du Lae. After being employed for a time as elerk in a feed store, he made his first independent business venture and engaged in the tea and coffee business in Fond du Lac. In 1879 he came to Minnesota and located in Euclid where he opened a general store under the firm name of Misner & Lindsley. This business was later reor- ganized as E. Taylor & Company and was still later known as HI. C. Misner & Company and was most suecessfully and profitably conducted by Mr. Misner for a number of years. In 1904 he removed to Crooks- ton and founded one of the important business organi- zations of the city, the Wheeler-Misner Loan company and was aetively identified with the substantial pros- perity of this eorporation as seeretary and treasurer and for the last two years of his life, as president, having been elected to that position in 1912. He was also prominently associated with the financial inter-
ests of the county as vice president and manager of the First National bank, one of the largest banking institutions in this seetion. From January, 1912, to January, 1914, he was extensively interested in farmi lands and in the agricultural development of the northwest. After many years of indefatigable effort and achievement but with a future bright with pros- pects of larger activities, failing health necessitated his withdrawal from the business world. This was in January, 1914, and his death occurred on June 1 of that year. Ile had a long and successful experi- ence in his ehosen occupations and in every phase of his busy life demonstrated his peculiar adaptation to business and his sterling integrity as a progressive eitizen, and enjoyed the esteem and confidenee of all who knew him. Mr. Misner was married, June 15, 1881, to Ida May Taylor of Lyons, Iowa, who sur- vives him, retaining her residence in Crookston. She is the daughter of Alfred C. Taylor, one of the early settlers of Iowa, a worthy pioneer citizen who gave his services to his country in the war of the rebellion, with an Iowa regiment. Three children were born to Mr. Misner and his wife, two of whom died in in- faney. Harvey W. Misner, one of the leading young business men of Crookston, has succeeded to his father's interests in the firm of Wheeler & Misner. Mr. Misner was a faithful supporter of the prinei- ples of the Republican party and took an active part in the direction of the political affairs of the state as a member of the county and state eentral committees. In fraternal orders he was widely known and was a prominent member of the Masonie order, a thirty- second degree Mason, a member of the Seottish and York Rites, and served in 1908 as the eminent commander of the Crookston commandery. He was also an Elk and a charter member of the Modern
H. G. misner
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
Woodmen of America. Although not a member of any religious organization, he was interested in the church and its purpose and gave his generous support
and services as trustee and treasurer to the First Presbyterian church of Crookston.
VICTOR H. HOGLUND.
This enterprising, progressive and broad-minded business man of Fertile is engaged in several under- takings which minister to the service, enjoyment and improvement of the people of his home community and help to make life more tolerable and comfortable for them, as well as to add to their facilities for carrying on their several occupations and pursuing their chosen pathways of advancement in business or social activity.
Mr. Hoglund is a native and wholly a product of Polk county, having been born on his father's farm in Garfield township July 23, 1885, and having been reared on that farm and educated in the school in the neighborhood. IIe is a son of Eric and Christina (Johnson) Hoglund, natives of Sweden, and residents of this county for thirty-five years. The son remained at home with his parents and worked on the farm until he reached the age of twen- ty-one years. He then turned his attention to tele-
phone work, in which he was employed for six years. At the end of that period he installed an electric light plant at Fertile, which he began operating March 15, 1910. IIe erected the building in which the plant is located and he now has in the neighborhood of 100 patrons, and the number is steadily increasing.
For two years Mr. Hoglund was superintendent of the Gordon Valley Telephone company, and his experience in that position has been very valuable to him in his own business. Hle owns 160 acres of well improved land in Columbia township, and is also pro- prietor of the Picture theater at Fertile. Every branch of his business seems to be in direct line with his tastes and mental trend, and he is making the utmost of his opportunities in cach, using every gain in his progress as a step to something higher and more advanced, for he is enterprising and far- seeing, and knows his business thoroughly to date and is always studious of its further possibilities.
ANTONE M. GAMME.
Having come to this country at the age of twenty- two years with no capital but his resolute spirit, strong physique and well-balanced mind, and having won from the soil of Polk county a substantial com- petence, Antone M. Gamme, a prominent farmer now living retired from active work in the village of Fer- tile, has shown that he chose wisely when he sought the United States as a land of opportunity in which industry, thrift and good management were bound to win success and prosperity. By his activity in public affairs as a good citizen but not as an office seeker, he has also shown that the country gained in sturdy and sterling manhood when he became a resi- dent of it.
Mr. Gamme was born in Norway April 23, 1861, and remained in his native land until 1883. He was reared on a farm and obtained a common school edu- cation. Late in the spring of 1883 he emigrated to America, landing at New York and coming direct to Polk county, Minnesota. During the first eight years of his residence in this country he worked as a farm laborer. At the end of that period he pre- empted eighty acres of land in Godfrey township which he proved up on, owned and improved for a number of years, then sold it.
In the spring of 1891 Mr. Gamme took up a home- stead in Rice township and subsequently purchased an additional tract of 160 acres. On this land he had
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
his home and expended his labors, improving it with good buildings and bringing the greater part of it to advanced productiveness, and oceupying it until the spring of 1915, when he gave up all active work and moved to Fertile. Ilis land is all in Riee town- ship, and, during the years of his activity, he carried on a general farming enterprise with vigor, pro- gressiveness and success, making his farm one of the best in the township in fruitfulness and an attractive one in appearance.
On July 15, 1891, Mr. Gamme was married to Mrs. Baroline Shefloe, the widow of Isaac Sheffoe. She,
also, was born in Norway, her life beginning on June 23, 1856, and was thirteen years old when she came to the United States. In 1882 she became a resident of Polk county, and here her first husband died, pass- ing away at Beltrami when he was at the age of fifty- two. By her first marriage she had three children, Mortimer, Amelia and Florence. She and her present husband are the parents of four children, Elmer and Joseph, twins, and Jessie and Orlie. The father and mother are zealous members of the Lutheran church and devoted to the welfare of the congregation they are in.
KNUTE NELSON.
When Knute Nelson, the present capable and oblig- ing postmaster at Fertile, this county, was appointed to that offiee by President Wilson on August 25, 1914, he was well prepared for the duties he had been selected to perform, for he had already performed similar duties in other places at different times, had served as assistant postmaster at Fertile, and had rendered the publie good service in other positions of trust and responsibility. Moreover, he is a man of extensive general intelligenee, good judgment and a resourcefulness that makes him equal to any re- quirement.
Mr. Nelson was born in Norway February 28, 1857, the son of Nels A. Nelson, who died in that country May 16, 1915, at the age of eighty-nine years. Ilis son Knute was the fourth of his eight children in the order of birth. He remained in his native land until he reached the age of sixteen, then came to the United States, arriving in 1873. In June of that year he located in Dodge county, Minnesota, and for two years thereafter he devoted himself wholly to hard labor as a farm hand. During the next two years he worked on a farm and attended sehool, and in 1877 and 1878 he was clerk in a general store in Vernon Dodge county, in which the postoffice was kept, and he also acted as assistant postmaster in that town while clerking in the store.
On May 1, 1879, he started driving a "prairie schooner" across the state to the Red river valley and reached Crookston on May 15. He at once took up a homestead in Garfield township, this county, on which he filed on May 19, and at that time he, his brother Ener and his uncle, Lars Bolstad, were the only white settlers in that township. During the summer and spring of 1879 he worked on his home- stead, and in the winter of 1880 began clerking in a store in Crookston, and after doing that for about five months he returned to his claim and went on improving it and making it productive.
By this time Mr. Nelson's ability had become known to his neighbors, and they looked upon him as one of the men among them best fitted for public offiee. In June of that year he was appointed as- sessor for the townships of Garfield, Gordon, Bear Park and Sundahl, and in the fall he became assistant grain buyer at Edna station, a position which he filled for two months, after which he again turned his attention to elerking in a store and looked after the Edna postoffice until April, 1881.
Soon afterward he opened a store at a small place named Aldal, and there he was appointed postmaster during President Garfield's administration and served until the office was discontinued in August, 1887. IIe was also in the lumber business at Fosston and in
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Columbia township, Polk county, until 1889, and from then until 1908 he gave his whole attention to his farm- ing operations, which he had continued at intervals all the time. In 1910 and 1911 he kept a store at Rindal, Polk county, and during the next three years he clerked in a store in Clearwater county. Through- out a large part of this time his family was living at Fertile, and when he was appointed postmaster there he was reunited with it, and he also returned to an old job, for he had been assistant postmaster under his brother, Dr. A. Nelson, who died in 1909, and also under Brown Duckstad from May 1, 1898, to January 15, 1899.
Mr. Nelson was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1882. Ile has also been a justice of the peace and filled other local offices. Always enterprising and progressive, he has been an important factor in build- ing up and improving his township and county, help- ing to organize the Farmers' Elevator company in
June, 1893, and serving as its secretary for eleven years. In political affiliation he has been a Democrat since 1890, taking an active part in all campaigns and frequently serving as a delegate to county con- ventions of his party. His religious connection is with the Lutheran Synod church, and he has been zealous and energetic in its service also.
Mr. Nelson was married in Garfield township June 24, 1882, to Miss Martha Brunberg, who was born in Wisconsin March 2, 1863. They have nine children : Norman O., Richard A., Edd R., Luella, Leonora, Knute M., Olga I., Arthur and Thea L. The parents own a good farm of 160 acres in Garfield township, on which the father has expended a great deal of labor to good advantage, making it productive and improv- ing it according to present day ideas. The farm is located in Section 16, and was all wild land when he took possession of it. It is wholly the product of his skill and industry, and is highly creditable to him.
SVEN PHILIP SWENSON.
The late Sven Philip Swenson, a leading farmer of Vineland township for many years, was a pioneer of Polk county, having become a resident of it about 1874. He located on a homestead in section 20 which he took up soon after his arrival in the county, and on which he passed the remainder of his days. When lie located in that township it was yet almost wholly a wilderness, and his own land was virgin to the plow and yielding nothing for his sustenance. But he made a good farm of it and added to it until, at the time of his death he owned 340 acres, all of which he had under cultivation.
Mr. Swenson was born in what is now the city of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on November 21, 1845, and came to Houston county, Minnesota, about 1860. A short time after reaching this state he moved on up into the northwestern part of it and for two years was employed on the Red river. In 1874 he became a resident of Polk county, taking up the homestead al- ready mentioned. He worked on his place when he
had opportunity and followed other pursuits for a living for several years, but always looked forward to having his home on the farm which he was grad- ually bringing to productiveness.
On July 3, 1882, Mr. Swenson was married to Miss Elizabeth Aasmork, a native of Norway, and they at once took up their residence on the Vineland town- ship farm. From then until his death, which occurred on April 20, 1903, he continued to improve and cul- tivate his land, and when he was able put up good buildings on it. He and his wife were the parents of six children all of whom are living. They are Knute, Olianna, Lena, Annie, Ole and Carl. Olianna is the wife of Edward Opsahl and Lena is the wife of Henry B. Hanson. The father was well esteemed as a sturdy and upright citizen and an industrious and progressive farmer. He took a good citizen's helpful part in local public affairs, although he never sought or desired prominence or influence as an office holder or active partisan politician.
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KNUTE SWENSON, the oldest son and child of Sven P. and Elizabeth (Aasmork) Swenson, who is now one of the leading citizens of Climax, and a courteons and companionable gentleman, has followed in his father's footsteps as an active force in the affairs of his township, but in a more direet and energetic way. He has served the public well as a constable and as village recorder, and has had an influential
voice in reference to all matters connected with the government of the township. He was born and reared on his father's farm in Vineland township, and was edueated at the country school near it. On July 3, 1912, he was united in marriage with Miss Nora Louisa Poulson. They have one child, their son Earl N.
MARTIN IIOOGENSON.
Martin Hoogenson, of MeIntosh, a well known farmer and real estate dealer, has been a resident of King township since early infancy. Ile was born in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, July 12, 1883, the son of Lauris and Kjestine (Rudshaugen) Hoogenson, na- tives of Norway. On coming to the United States, Lauris Hoogenson located in Otter Tail county and later removed to Polk county and took a homestead in King township, where he made his home until his death in 1900. Martin Hoogenson was the eldest of three children and grew to manhood on the farm in King township and received his education in the common schools. His interests have always been identified with that township, where he is extensively
associated with the farming activities, owning two hundred aeres of land. Since 1913 he has resided at MeIntosh and has established a prosperous real estate business at that place. Mr. Hoogenson has always faithfully discharged the duties of citizenship, taking an active interest in township affairs and has given able service in official eapaeity, as justice of peace and assessor. He is a member and a faithful sup- porter of the United Norwegian Lutheran churel. Mr. Hoogenson was married in King township, March 1, 1906 to Anne Tronby, the widow of Peter Tronby, and they have three children, Berthur, Melvin and Lillian.
ANDREW STEENERSON.
Revered as a pioneer of Polk county, successful in business and enterprising and broad-minded in re- gard to publie affairs, the late Andrew Steenerson of Climax was esteemed during his life as one of the county's useful and progressive citizens, and he is remembered sinee his death with eordial appreciation as a man of sterling worth, steadfast integrity and a citizenship that was elevated in itself and elevating in its influence on others.
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