USA > Minnesota > Polk County > Compendium of history and biography of Polk County, Minnesota > Part 23
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Mr. Steenerson was native to the soil of Minnesota and from it drew the invigorating forees that gave him his stature and his strength. He was born in Houston county February 9, 1855, and became a resi- dent of Polk county in 1875, when he was about
twenty years old. Soon after his arrival in this county he took up a homestead of 160 aeres near Climax, and this he inereased by purchases made later until he became the owner of 480 acres, of which he was the possessor at the time of his death, which occurred in Climax, at the attractive home he had built there, on May 18, 1908. Mr. Steenerson was a brother of Elias Steenerson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere and in which a full history of the family is given.
After living on his homestead for a number of years Mr. Steenerson moved to Crookston and became a dealer in farm machinery. He adhered to this line of mercantile life for five or six years, then re- turned to his farm and continued to live on it until
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1901, when he changed his residence to Climax, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was always publie-spirited and progressive in the affairs of the locality of his home, wherever it was, and among the public positions he held was the office of sheriff of Polk county, which he filled with great aceepta- bility for two years. His untimely death at the early age of fifty-three, when he was at the height of his vigor and the full measure of his usefulness, was universally lamented.
On October 10, 1881, Mr. Steenerson was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Flang, who was born in Norway and came with her parents to the United States when she was about twelve years of age. The
family located in Ottertail county, Minnesota, and there Mrs. Steenerson lived ten years, changing her residence to Polk county about 1879. She and her husband became the parents of seven children, four of whom are living: Steener, who is a resident of Crookston; Arne, who has his home at Climax; Nora, who is a school teacher, and Oretta, who is still liv- ing at home. The other three children died when they were very young. Mrs. Steenerson is a Lutheran in religious affiliation, and is earnestly interested in church work. She takes an active part in the aetivi- ties of several of the agencies at work in the commun- ity for the good of its people, and is highly respected by all classes of them.
AUGUST LINDBLAD.
Beginning life for himself as a blacksmith and working his way up by his native ability, good busi- ness eapaeity and persistent industry and good man- agement to the position of a leading merchant and business man, August Lindblad, one of the wide- awake and progressive residents of Climax, this county, furnishes in his successful eareer a fine illus- tration of the value of strong personality, determined perseverance and resolute self-reliance in a land of many exactions and keen competition in all the aetivi- ties of life, but, nevertheless, abundant in opportuni- ties for advancement.
Mr. Lindblad is a native of Sweden, where his life began July 12, 1871, and where he lived until he reached the age of twenty and learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1891 he emigrated to the United States and at once came West, loeating at Mar- quette, Michigan, and there finding employment in building bridges for a railroad company for two years. From Marquette he moved to Norman county, Minne- sota, and during the next two years worked at the forge in that county. He became a resident of Polk county in 1895, and for something over a year op- erated a blacksmith shop on the farm of Christian Steenerson in Vineland township, Polk county.
About the time when he was ready to give up his shop on the farm to seek a better opening he saw one in the village of Climax, and he at once opened a shop there. This shop he continued to conduct until 1905, when he sold it and began handling agricultural implements, a line of trade in which he is still engaged. He is also manager of the Climax Shipping associa- tion, which ineludes live stock and farm produce among the commodities it handles, and has been sec- retary of the Climax Co-operative Mercantile com- pany from the beginning of its activity in the com- munity.
The publie affairs of Climax have always deeply interested Mr. Lindblad, and he has taken an active and serviceable part in helping to administer them wisely, serving for many years as a member of the village council and three terms as mayor. In addi- tion to his other pursuits he assists in superintending the cultivation of 120 acres of land in Vineland town- ship, in which he owns a one-half interest.
Mr. Lindblad was married December 30, 1895, in Ada, the county seat of Norman county, to Miss Hilda Kirkevold, a native of Norway. They have six ehil- dren, Esther, Hardin, Pearl, Alvin, Russell and Ira. The parents are held in the highest esteem by every-
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body who knows them, and throughout the North- west Mr. Lindblad is regarded as a first class business man and a public-spirited and progressive citizen. He is genial, sociable and companionable, and enjoys
genuine and well-founded popularity in his home town as a man, as a merchant, as an influential force for good and as a social potency.
JOIIN J. ALRICK.
John J. Alrick, a well known citizen of McIntosh, was born at Vernon, Dodge county, Minnesota, Sep- tember 13, 1872. His parents, John and Mary (Ten- nefos) Alrick, were natives of Norway and came to this country in the spring of 1872, settling in Dodge county, where they made their home until 1898, when they removed to McIntosh and have since continued to reside in that place. They reared a family of ten children, of whom John J. Alrick is next to the young- est. He grew to manhood on the homestead in Dodge county and attended the common schools. On remov- ing to Polk county, he located in Winger township and spent seven years in successful farming activi- ties in that township. Subsequently he engaged in
the restaurant business but since 1907, has given liis attention chiefly to his service as a rural mail carrier, which position he holds at present. Mr. Alrick has given able service to the public interests as citizen and official and has ever been influential in promoting the best interests of the community. He is a member of the Synod Lutheran church and in fraternal organiza- tions is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Scandinavian Workingmen of America. Mr. Alrick was married in Dodge county, Minnesota, March 3, 1897, to Mary Thorsness, who is a native of that county. Three children have been born to this union, Landor O., Milo B., and Eunice N.
HANS SAMUELSON.
After passing many years in active pursuit of vari- ous kinds in a number of different places, making cach occupation minister to his advancement in life by his industry, constant attention to duty and good management, Hans Samuelson, formerly one of the leading farmers of Vineland township, is now living retired from hard labor, maintaining his residence in the village of Climax but still exercising active personal supervision over the management and op- cration of his fine farm of 160 acres, all of which is under cultivation and yielding good returns for the labor spent upon it.
Mr. Samuelson was born in Norway November 6, 1864, and emigrated to the United States in the sum- mer of 1882. He landed in New York and from there came direct to Minnesota, locating in Grant county and there working at farm labor for two years. He then went to North Dakota and during the summer
months found employment on a large farm in that territory. The following winter he passed working in the lumber woods of Michigan, and when spring came he took up a timber claim in the neighborhood of Bemidji, on which he passed the next three years.
Early in the nineties Mr. Samuelson moved to Polk county and bought 160 acres of land in Vineland township. On this land he lived until the Great Northern railroad was built through from Halstad to Crookston. He next kept a hotel and saloon in Climax until 1905, when he sold his business in the village and resumed his farming operations, but continued to live in Climax, where he owns an at- tractive residence. He has always taken an active interest in the public affairs of Climax and Vineland township, serving as constable in the township and president of the council in the village, filling the latter office three terms. He has also been a member of the
TOM MORRIS
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board of school directors for some years and is now its chairman. Being a strong advocate of temperance, he has rendered important service to the cause as a member of the County Option League.
On October 20, 1890, Mr. Samuelson was married in Polk county to Miss Anne Stecnerson, who was born in Houston county, Minnesota, May 1, 1860. She is the daughter of Stcener and Bergit (Rohalt) Knut- son, and lived with them in Houston county until the fall of 1876, when she came to Polk county and began a useful career as a school teacher, her first school being in Traill county, North Dakota, which she taught during the winter of 1876-7. She con-
tinued to teach in that state and Minnesota for about five years and was then assistant postmistress at Fisher, this county, for three years. After that she attended the University of North Dakota two years and then again taught school in this county five years.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson have two children living, their daughter Bergit and their son Stanley. Bergit is a graduate of the State Normal School at Moor- head, Minnesota, and Stanley is a student in the Crookston High School. Their first born child, Hans A., died at the age of seventeen, and another son, named Stanley B., at the age of two years.
MADS W. JENSEN.
Mads W. Jensen, postmaster at MeIntosh, has been identified with interests of the region of the Thirteen Towns since 1880, when he settled on land in Gar- den township. He is a native of Denmark, born August 15, 1854, and came with his parents to Wau- paca county, Wisconsin, in 1863. There he attended the country schools and made his home on the Wis- consin farm until 1879 when he went to Goodhue county, Minnesota, and in the spring of the follow- ing year, removed to Polk county and took a home- stead in Garden township. He was one of the first settlers in that section and was prominent in the or- ganization of the township and the carly adminis- tration of its affairs. He remained on the farm until 1889 when he came to McIntosh and engaged in the milling business, in partnership with Anton Jensen, J. P. Johnson and O. P. Johnson, under the firm name of M. W. Jensen & Co. After several years of suc- cessful operation as a miller, Mr. Jensen sold his in- terest in the company and has since given his atten-
tion to various business activities. For ten years he was employed as a rural mail carrier and in 1915 was appointed postmaster at McIntosh, an appointment which met the hearty commendation of the citizens of the town. He has given able service in official capacity as village assessor and has held the office of justice of peace for sixteen years. As a public spirited and progressive citizen, Mr. Jensen has been actively influential in promoting the best interests of the com- munity and has put his interest and service into every project to advance the growth and prosperity of the village. He was married in 1879, at Red Wing, Minnesota, to Hannah Johnson. She is of Norwegian parentage and was born in Goodhue county, Minne- sota. They have a family of three daughters and one son, Marie L., who married A. K. Anderson, Wil- lie A., Florence, the wife of J. H. Espeseth and Mabel. Mr. Jensen is a member of Modern Woodmen of America.
TOM MORRIS.
Tom Morris, mayor of Crookston and a pioneer business man of that city, is a native of Canada, born at Goderich, Huron county, Ontario, June 22, 10
1857. He is the son of Mark and Ann C. (Stoddard) Morris, the latter a native of Scotland. Mark Morris was born in Waltshire, England, and came to Canada
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in 1831, where he engaged in farming and worked at his trade of millwright, erecting many of the small saw mills in the region where he lived. He died in 1866, the victim of an accidental death by drown- ing. His wife survived him for many years, living to the age of seventy-seven. Tom Morris spent the early years of his life in his native town and there attended the publie schools. In 1873 he came to Waupun, Wis., and as a lad of twelve began to fit himself for an efficient career in the business world, apprenticing himself to the jewelry trade. He re- mained in Wanpun for three years and then removed to Milwaukee. Two years later, in 1878, he came to Crookston and in partnership with Mr. W. W. Hough- ton established the pioneer jewelry firm of this eity. The firm was dissolved the following year, Mr. Mor- ris having owned and eondueted the business from that time. Aside from this prosperous enterprise and his private interests, he has been notably asso- ciated with publie affairs and the history of the devel- opment and rapid expansion of Crookston. As a wide-awake citizen and merchant he merits the re- speet and popularity which is his. It is his privilege to compare the little hamlet surrounded by the prini- tive forest with the city of today and to know that his zealous services were freely given to promote its
welfare and prosperity. He is particularly identified with organization of the city fire department. His efforts in this part of eivie service became state- wide and he was made president of the state asso- eiation and has been elected a life member of that body. It was after the first big fire in Crookston, in 1880, that he instigated the organization of the first fire company. Ile was chief of the department until 1883, when it was reorganized into its present form. Although the period of his most active service is past, he continues his connection with the department. Several offices of publie trust have been conferred upon Mr. Morris by his fellow citizens. In 1881 he was elected alderman and has served in the office of mayor since 1912. On January 22, 1890, he was mar- ried to Nellie Heith, who is a native of Wisconsin. In fraternal orders, Mr. Morris is prominently and widely known throughout the state. He has been affiliated with Masonry sinee 1883 and has filled all the chairs, occupying that of Master for thirteen years. In 1906 he was elected the Grand Master of Minnesota and is the present Grand Captain General of the Commandery. He is a charter member of the Elks lodge and was chosen the second Exalted Ruler. He is a member of the Republican party.
EDDY BOLSTAD.
Prominent and successful in business; a man of commanding influenee in local public affairs; every- where recognized as an upright, progressive and highly serviceable citizen, and a foreefnl factor in all undertakings for the farther development and im- provement of his home town and county, Eddy Bol- stad, the present mayor of Fertile, has reached an elevated place in the regard of the people around him, but he richly deserves his standing and has won it wholly by his own efforts and genuine merit.
Mr. Bolstad was born in Dodge county, Minne- sota, May 3, 1872, the third child of Knute and Inge- borg (Olsen) Bolstad, natives of Norway. The family
moved to Polk county in 1880, when the future mayor was but eight years old, and settled on a homestead which the father entered in Garfield township and on which he is still living. Hle and his wife are the parents of twelve children. They are industrious and thrifty farmers and are held in esteem by all classes of the people wherever they are known.
Their son Eddy grew to manhood in Polk county and obtained his education in its schools. At the age of sixteen he left home and began his business career as a clerk in the store of Messrs. Nelson & Opheim at Fertile. When the partnership was dissolved two years later and Mr. Opheim became the sole proprie-
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tor of the store Mr. Bolstad remained in his employ and continued to elerk for him seven years longer. At the end of that period he became a clerk in the clothing store of Leo Baer, with whom he was asso- eiated in that capacity for eight years. In 1907 he bought the business of Mr. Baer, and he has conducted it himself ever since.
Throughout his manhood Mr. Bolstad has taken an earnest interest and an active part in the civil affairs of his community, and has been very helpful to it. He has served as village assessor, and in that office he gave the people serviee so entirely satis- factory that in the spring of 1915 he was elected mayor of the village. As the chief village executive
he is performing his duties with the same zeal, in- telligence and fidelity that he exhibited in the office of assessor and has always shown in the management of his private business and personal affairs.
In religious affiliation Mr. Bolstad is connected with the Synod Lutheran church, and in fraternal relations he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. On August 31, 1895, he was united in marriage with Miss Tina Westad, the marriage being solemnized in Crookston, this eounty. They have one child, their danghter Edith Thehna. Mrs. Bolstad is a Norwegian by nativity but has been a resident of this state and county for many years.
LEWIS M. HESSELDAHL.
While he has sought nothing of renown or speetaen- lar display in his life to the present time, but has been content to live as a plain, industrious, frugal, upright and useful eitizen, Lewis M. IIesseldahl, a retired farmer now residing at Fertile, this county, has, nevertheless, had some exeiting experienecs in the service of his adopted country and seen the other side of the world from here while rendering that serv- ice. He was a United States soldier in the Spanish- American war and as such was assigned to duty in the Philippines during that short but decisive contest.
Mr. Hesseldahl is a native of Denmark, where his life began February 24, 1874. When he was but one year and a half old his parents brought him to this country and took up their residence in Kendall county, Illinois. Some time afterward they moved to Minnesota and located in Faribault county, and there their son Lewis remained until 1901, when he came to Polk connty and located on a farm near Fer-
tile. His farm is in Garfield township and contains 240 acres. It is well improved and by his skill and industry in cultivating it he has brought it to a high state of productiveness. A few years ago he gave np aetive work on the farm and moved to Fertile, where he has since had his home, but he has continued to superintend the operations of his farm industry.
On March 4, 1905, Mr. Hesseldahl was united in marriage with Mrs. Anna (Frandahl) Underdahl, for- merly the wife of Reginald Underdahl, who was born in Norway. They also moved from Faribault eounty, Minnesota, to Polk county in 1901, and settled on a farm in Garfield township. Mrs. Hesseldahl was born near Madison, Wisconsin, November 28, 1856, and was married to Mr. Underdahl in Faribault eounty. She has six children living, the fruits of her first marriage. They are: John, Julius, Ole, Christina, Ada and Eddie.
JOSEPH MELAAS.
While he has been a resident of Fertile but five years Joseph Melaas, manager of the Monareh Ele- vator company, has made his mark on the business
activities of the village and established a reputation for good judgment, enterprise and determined per- sisteney in whatever he undertakes and has risen to
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a high rank in the estimation and regard of the people as a business man and a wide-awake and progressive eitizen, keenly alive to the general welfare of the com- munity along all wholesome lines of development.
Mr. Melaas was born and reared on a farm in Win- neshiek county, Iowa, one of the younger of the fif- teen children of A. John and Grunhild (Blegeberg) Melaas, natives of Norway. He obtained a good com- mon school education in his native county, and after attaining the age of twenty-one years elerked in a store at Ridgeway, in that county, for a period of five years. In 1902 he went to North Dakota and took up a homestead on which he lived until the spring of 1906. He then sold his claim and moved to Clearwater county, Minnesota, where he was occupied in the liv- ery business for two years, and also served as census enumerator of four townships in Clearwater county. and in addition he was a member of the Shevlin school board and the village couneil.
In November, 1910, he located at Fertile and again entered the livery business, which he followed here
for one year. During the next year he was employed by the Thorpe Elevator company at Milnor, North Dakota, and at the end of that period was appointed manager of the Monarch Elevator company at Fer- tile, which position he has held continuously since, and since he came to Fertile he has held the office of village assessor here. His farm of 160 acres in Godfrey township, this eounty, is well improved and nearly all under cultivation. It is very productive and steadily inereasing in value, for he gives it in- telligent attention and eonducts its operations aceord- ing to the most approved methods of present-day farming.
Mr. Melaas was married June 6, 1903, in Wild Rice church at Twin Valley, Norman county, Minnesota, to Miss Louise Ask, a native of that county. They have two children living, Beatrice J. and Vera E. The parents are members of Synod Lutheran church and take an active part in all its good works for the im- provement of the community, throughout which they are well esteemed as they richly deserve to be.
STEEN A. HOFTO.
Having come to the United States a boy of thirteen years of age and successively worked as farm hand, as a farmer on his own account, as a merchant and again as a farmer, Steen A. Hofto, one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of the vil- lage of MeIntosh, this county, has had a varied experi- enee in life and borne his share of trials and priva- tions. But through every part of his career he has made steady progress financially and in the good will and regard of his fellow men.
Mr. Hofto was born in Valle, Norway, February 13, 1855, and is the son of Arne and Gunnel (Aakre) Hofto, who were also natives of Norway. They emi- grated to the United States in 1868 and located on a farm in Waseea county, Minnesota, on which they lived about twelve years. In the spring of 1880 the family moved to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, where the father died when he was seventy-three years
old. The mother died at the home of her son Steen after she had passed the age of eighty. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Steen A. was the fifth in the order of birth.
He came to this country with his parents in 1868 and lived with them in Waseca county, Minnesota, until 1878. He then accompanied them to Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and there took up a homestead of 160 aeres and a tree elaim of 160 aeres in Amerieus township. He lived on his land until 1891, breaking and cultivating it and putting up good build- ings for the shelter of his family and himself and the protection of his erops and his live stock.
In the fall of 1891 Mr. Hofto moved to Polk county and entered the hardware business in MeIntosh in partnership with his brother, Knute Hofto, and during the next five years they conducted the business to- gether under the firm name of IFofto Bros. At the
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end of five years he bought his brother's interest in the business and became its sole proprietor. After- ward he again turned his attention to farming and followed that occupation for about ten years in King township, this county, and at the expiration of that period rented his farm and took up his residence in McIntosh, where he has since had his home. He still owns his farm of 160 acres just east of McIntosh, which he has improved with commodious and comfort- able buildings. He also erected the block just north of the West Hotel in McIntosh.
While living in North Dakota Mr. Hofto held sev- eral township offices, among them that of township assessor, of which he was the first incumbent, and since locating in Polk county he has served as a mem- ber of the village council of MeIntosh and township assessor of King township. In the autumn of 1883 he was married in Grand Forks county, North Dakota, to Miss Gyro S. Jora, who was born in Norway August 23, 1863. They have three children, Arne, Samuel and Knute. The parents are active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
ERIC J. ERIKSON.
Having come to this country and settled in Polk county in the full maturity of his manhood and with his ambition for his own advancement and the im- provement of the land of his adoption in full vigor, and having devoted all his time and energy to the accomplishment of his desires, Eric J. Erikson, one of the leading business men of Fertile, has proven himself to be a very useful citizen and a productive power for good in the community of his home.
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