USA > Minnesota > Polk County > Compendium of history and biography of Polk County, Minnesota > Part 35
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perous enterprise and Mr. Ilole continued the sheet for several months after becoming the editor of the Erskine Echo and then consolidated the two papers and covers the combined circulation with the Echo. His plant is fully equipped with a power press and type setting machine and is one of the competent and popular country printing offices of the county. Mr. Hole has devoted every interest of his career to his paper and with intelligent appreciation of the respon- sibilities of his profession and the power of the press in public welfare is ably advancing the best interests of the county. He is also identified with public activities in an official capacity as recorder of the village, a member of the school board and the chief of the fire department. His marriage to Edna Wade- kamper, of Mentor, occurred May 4, 1905. She is a native of Ottertail county and is of German and Norwegian parentage. Five children have been born to this union, Earl, Ethel, Loren, Ray and Kenneth.
W. D. HAMILTON.
W. D. Hamilton, a successful merchant of Fisher and a member of the firm of Hamilton Brothers, is one of three brothers who have been prominently associated with the commercial activities of the county. They were born at Hibbard, Ontario, and the first removal to Polk county was made by Frank Hamilton in 1878. In 1880 he was joined by the father, Francis Hamilton, who resided at Fisher for two years and then removed to Grand Forks county, North Dakota. Frank Hamilton engaged in carpenter and contracting work for several years, and in 1886 opened a furniture store at Fisher, in which prosperons enterprise his brothers, W. D. Hamilton and Donald Hamilton, later became associated with him. W. D. Hamilton first became connected with the business in 1896 as elerk and continued in that position for two years and then became a partner, and in 1890 Donald Hamilton entered the firm. The latter retired from his mer- cantile relations in 1905 and has since engaged in
farming near Fisher. The business met with marked success and a rapidly growing trade that early warranted the addition of a hardware stock and agricultural implements which have been further sup- plemented in late years with the harness trade. Frank Hamilton remained at the head of the firm and active manager of the store until 1898, when he withdrew from active cooperation in the business to devote his attention to the undertaking profession. locating at Grand Forks, North Dakota. After a year there and in Fargo, in 1900 he removed to Seattle, and has since engaged in the undertaking business at that place, retaining his interest in the store at Fisher, where he was succeeded as manager by W. D. Hamilton. The present store building was erected by Frank Hamilton in 1895 and is still his property. The con- mercial reputation of the firm has been capably upheld by W. D. Hamilton, and under his direction its interests have steadily prospered. From the original
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investment of $2,000 the capital has increased to $20,000, with the annual sales amounting to some $30,000. Aside from his business activities Mr. Hamilton is interested in farm lands, both in Polk county and in Dakota, one farm of one hundred and sixty acres being near Fisher. The Hamilton brothers are all members of the Republican party and are well known in lodge eireles, where W. D. Hamilton is allied with the Elks, being a member of the chapter at Crookston, Frank Hamilton with the Masonic order and Donald Hamilton with the Elks and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. W. D. Hamilton was
married at Fisher to Mary Quigley, the daughter of Patrick Quigley, a pioneer farmer of Fisher township, who still resides on his old homestead near the town. Mr. Quigley located there in 1871 and recounts many interesting experiences of that time, recalling event- ful trips for provisions to the trading station kept by Bob Ray, at Frog Point across Red river, when the skiff used as a ferry ofttimes proved a perilous and disastrous conveyance for their goods. Mr. Hamilton and his wife have three children, Helen, Douglas and Catherine.
MATT ROSE.
Matt Rose, a prosperous farmer of Brandsvold township, was born in Norway, January 30, 1859, the son of Peter and Olena Rose. His parents came to the United States when he was ten years old and settled in Freeborn county, Minnesota, where they bought forty acres of land. In 1875 Peter Rose re- moved with his family to Iowa, buying school land in Winnebago county and engaged in farming there for six years, during which time his crops were de- stroyed by the devastating chinch bug and his mis- fortunes culminated in the loss of all his property with the exception of his stock. He then returned to Minnesota, living in Faribault county for several years. In 1884 the family came to Polk county and Matt Rose and his brother, John Rose, bought the claim rights for the southeast quarter of section eight of Brandsvold township from a homesteader, for one linndred and fifty dollars. The parents made their home here until their deaths. The mother's death occurred in 1888 and the father survived her until his eighty-ninth year. The homestead land was un- developed and a small log house with a sod roof had been erected on it. The brothers shared in the ardu- ous labor of clearing the land and after proving up on the claim, divided the tract. They had put over one hundred acres under cultivation when the death of the older brother, John, occurred and since that
time the farm has been under the management of Matt Rose, he having acquired the title to his brother's share after the latter's death. On coming to Polk county, he owned a team of horses and was able to stock his farm with several head of cattle and during the first seasons before the land could be broken, he worked at farm labor in the neighborhood. He en- dured his share of the misfortunes and adversities which visit the pioneer farmer and with unfailing industry has won his way to his present prosperous position, building up one of the fine farm properties of the county. He has erected good buildings and in 1910 built the pleasant country home which occu- pies a well chosen and sightly location. The place is conveniently situated five miles north of Fosston and the same distance east of MeIntosh. Several small ponds have been drained with ditches and all the land has been made productive, with one hundred and forty acres under cultivation and the balance used for pasturing purposes. Mr. Rose has installed a fine water system, using a well fifty-eight feet deep, equipped with an engine which supplies the large water tanks. He is successfully engaged in stock raising, breeding high grade stock, and keeps a herd of dairy cattle, selling cream to the creamery at Foss- ton. As a citizen, Mr. Rose has given able and effec- tive service in the office of township supervisor for
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
seven years. He is a member of the United Lutheran church at Fosston. Mr. Rose was married in Fari- bault county, in 1888, to Gertie Giste, who was born in Norway in 1862, and seven children have been
born to this union, Olena, Peter, Minnie, Hilda, Thor- wald, Annie and Gina. The sons, Peter Rose and Thorwald Rose are now in charge of the Rose farm.
PAUL J. HUSHAGEN.
Paul J. Hushagen, a well known farmer and early settler of Eden township, was born in Norway, August 19, 1864. His mother died in his early child- hood and his father, J. P. Hushagen contraeted a second marriage and in 1876 brought his family to the United States, settling in Ottertail county, Min- nesota, where he took a claim of one hundred and twenty aeres and has since devoted his interests to this farm which is operated by his son, John J. Hush- agen, the father being now in his eightieth year. Paul J. Hushagen was reared on the Ottertail home- stead, attending the country schools during the few months that could be spared from the many duties and hard labor on the frontier farm. He continued to make his home there, assisting his father until he was twenty-four years of age and then embarked upon an independent career as a farmer. He came to Polk county in 1887 and located on land in Eden township, filing his elaim in June of the following year when the region was opened for settlement. The first house was built of logs ent from the land with a sod roof but a good wood floor and he entered upon the responsibilities of a newly established home and the laborious task of developing a farm, with a capital of three dollars in eash, a yoke of oxen and wagon and a meager household equipment. From this start, with ambitions and able efforts and hard work, he has gained success and built up a fine prop- erty with one hundred aeres under enltivation. Dur- ing the first summer on his claim, he worked in the harvest fields in Red river valley and was not able to give much time to the elearing of his own traet but industry and thrifty management soon put his operations on a profitable basis. He has engaged in general farming activities, making wheat his prinei-
pal erop and is interested in dairy farming and the raising of thoroughbred stoek, having started a herd of thoroughbred Guernsey eattle. As a stock farmer, he also keeps sheep. The present home was ereeted in 1902 and the place is well equipped with good buildings, the large barn having been built in 1914. Mr. IInshagen has ever taken a publie spirited inter- est in matters of public moment and has been aetively identified with the affairs of the community, eapably discharging the duties of citizenship in the elections of the township and in official eapaeity, having given service as poor master and in charge of road eonstruc- tion. He is associated with local business interests as a stockholder in the cooperative ereamery at Olga, the Farmers Elevator and Store companies at Foss- ton and the Farmers Elevator company at Trail, on the Soo railroad. He is prominent in church circles as an active supporter of the Zion United Lutheran church, in which he has given faithful service as an offieer for many years and it was largely through his influenee that the initial efforts were made to effect its organization. Mr. Hushagen was married in May, 1888 during the first year of his residence in Eden township to Anne Anderson of Ottertail county. She is a native of Norway and was brought to Min- nesota by her parents in her fourth year. A family of four sons and two daughters have been born to them, Jorgen; Joseph; Anton and August, who now live in Alberta, Canada, where they have land in Peace river valley; and Inga and Clara, who reside with their parents. Jorgen Hushagen was married to Petra Flathang, of Hill River township and was a student in the agricultural college at Crookston for two years. He is now the proprietor of a flour and feed store at Trail. Joseph Hnshagen is associated
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
with his father in his farming interests and is the manager of the home farm. He was married to Caro- line Swenson, of Pelican Rapids. The Hushagen
farm is located on seetion eighteen of Eden township, twelve miles north of Fosston and four miles from Trail.
HANS C. SORBY.
Hans C. Sorby, for many years a prominent citi- zen of IIill River township, was one of four brothers who were associated in their farming operations in that township. He was born in Skane, Norway, May 11, 1852, and was reared in his native land. With his brother, Lewis, he went to sea, as a sailor on merchant ships, and it was on one of their voyages that Lewis Sorby received an injury, while in the port of Quebee, which disabled him for active duty for the time and lie decided to visit a sister, who was then living in Stevens county, Minnesota. In 1881, he located in Minnesota and in the following year was joined by his brothers, Andrew and Christ Sorby. Hans Sorby eame to Polk county in 1883 with his parents and three sisters, Margarita, Sophia and Jacobine, Margarita being now the only one living. She married Christ Olson, a farmer of Eden town- ship. Sophia Sorby was married to E. A. Engebret- son, a sketeh of whose life is found in this work and died at her home in Eden township in 1911 and Jaeo- bine Sorby became the wife of Lars Rasmusson of Stevens county, where her death oceurred in 1915. The father erected the house which is the present farm residence and was associated with his sons in the management of the place until his death in 1888. Ilis wife survived him a number of years and died in 1903. The Sorby brothers continued to be associ- ated in the management of the homestead, which is situated eleven miles north of Fosston, and in all
their business interests, their joint enterprises meet- ing with unvaried success and prosperity. They made many profitable land investments, adding to the original tract and have displayed keen business ability in all their operations. Their agricultural in- terests have been devoted to general farming and they have engaged to some extent in dairy farming and are shareholders in the cooperative ereamery. Hans C. Sorby was ever prominently identified with public interests of the county and gave almost con- tinual serviee in official capacity from the time of the first elcetion held in the township when he was made supervisor. He was later elected treasurer of the township and then returned to the office of township supervisor. His able services and unselfish response to other demands than those of private interests, to- gether with his native geniality won him many warm friends throughout the county. He was one of the substantial and progressive eitizens whose loss is deeply regretted by the community in which he lived. He died, July 25, 1915, in his sixty-third year, and is survived by his wife, Moneta (Paulson) Sorby and their five children, Melvin, Christopher, Selmer, Helga and Alvina. Hans C. Sorby was the only one of the brothers who married. In 1914, Andrew Sorby and Christ Sorby visited their native land and returned to Minnesota well pleased with the farm home which they have made for themselves in their adopted country.
WILLIAM E. MCKENZIE.
With a longer record of continuous service in news- paper work and a more varied and spectacular experi- enee in it than almost any other man now in the northern part of this state, or perhaps in the whole 15
Northwest, William E. Mckenzie, founder and editor of the Crookston Daily Times, has had excellent preparation for the work in which he is so suceess- fully engaged, and his career in it shows that he had
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHIY OF POLK COUNTY
made his training tell in all respects to his advantage and for the benefit of the people for whom he labors.
Mr. MeKenzie was born in Dunkirk, New York, in 1863, the son of James and Margaret (Laughlin) MeKenzie, the former born in Glasgow, Scotland, and the latter a native of Ireland. They were married in this country, however, in the state of New York, and became the parents of two sons and five daughters, but. William E. is the only member of the family now living in Minnesota. The parents died in Crookston, where they located in 1883. The father learned his trade as a machinist in his native city and was em- ployed on boat construction there and on the Clyde until about 1845, when he came to the United States and obtained a position as assistant superintendent in the Brooks Locomotive Works at Dunkirk, New York, where he was employed for over a quarter of a century.
William E. MeKenzie obtained his edueation in academie lines in schools in Ontario, where the family lived abont four years; and in Buffalo, New York, where he was graduated from the high school. Ile then pursned a course of special training at Bryant & Stratton's College in that eity. He began his news- paper career with Norman E. Maek, whom he helped to start the Morning Times of Buffalo, with which he was connected for a few months as reporter and part owner. When the Morning Times was discontinued and before the Evening Times, which is still in exist- enee, was started, Mr. Mckenzie came to Crookston. This was in the winter of 1881, and after a stay of a week or two went to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he finished the winter, returning to Crookston in March, 1882. He was at once engaged as foreman on the Weekly Chronicle, which position he filled until the fall of that year. Then, in company with W. R. Dunn, he founded the St. Hilaire Speetator. The railroad had not yet reached St. IFilaire and the presses and other equipment for the Spectator had to be taken to that city from Crookston by ox teams. One year later Mr. MeKenzie sold his interest in the Spectator to Harry Ives, who until four years ago owned and conducted the paper.
When he left St. Hilaire Mr. MeKenzie again took charge of the Crookston Chroniele, which he published for J. G. MeGrew until 1885. But in that year he joined hands with F. J. Rothpletz in founding the Crookston Weekly Times. Mr. Rothpletz soon parted with his interest in this paper and Mr. MeKenzie con- tinued to publish it only as a weekly until 1891, when the daily edition was started, and this is still in active and increasing circulation. In 1905 a stock company was formed to take charge of the two papers, and on January 1, 1906, Mr. Mckenzie retired from the active management of the publications, but retained a one-half interest in the business, which he held in that way until the company was reorganized in its present form in 1912. When the stock company was organized Mr. MeKenzie had retained as his own the job and book department of the Crookston Times, and had carried it on in partnership with E. W. Robbins under the name of the MeKenzie-Robbins Printing company. Mr. Robbins had charge of the business while Mr. MeKenzie went to Seattle, Wash., and founded a wholesale business under the name of the MeKenzie-Hunt Paper company, and he continued to carry on that enterprise until June, 1911, when he sold out and after settling up his business affairs again returned to Crookston in 1912 and bought the interests of Mr. Dotson and others in the Daily Times company and consolidated it with the MeKenzie-Roh- bins Printing company, and since then the two indus- tries have been combined under the management of a stock company of which Mr. MeKenzie is president and treasurer and Mr. Robbins is secretary. The Daily Times supports the Republican party in its political poliey. It has a eireulation of about 8,000, independent of the weekly edition, and is prosperous, wielding a strong influence throughout a considerable scope of country and standing well in newspaper eir- cles in all parts of the Northwest.
Mr. MeKenzie, in addition to his other work in the newspaper field, founded the MeIntosh Times at the town of MeIntosh, in this county, and the Michigan City Times, at Michigan City, North Dakota. In 1893 Mr. MeKenzie bought the Grand Forks Plain Dealer,
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
which was eondueted for many years by W. J. Mur- phy, now of the Minneapolis Tribune. In conducting the Plain Dealer Mr. McKenzie was associated with E. C. Carruth, and they were in charge of it until 1910, when they sold it. He is at present vice presi- dent of the Merchants National Bank of Crookston and a director of the Crookston Milling company, the Crookston Cordage company, and the Northern Town- site company, which founded the towns of Strathcona, Middle River and Greenbush in this state. Frater- nally he is a member of the Masonic Order, the Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. In Freemasonry he is a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic
Shrine. While firm in his loyalty to his political party he has never sought any of its honors or emolu- ments for himself. In 1883 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Emma Mason, a native of Wisconsin. They have three sons, Norman W., Glenn E. and Donald A., all of whom are associated with their father in conducting his business. Ile has won high and widespread regard for the success with which he has managed his business affairs but his chief title to public esteem, aside from his excellence as a citizen, is his eonspieuous ability as an editorial writer, which has fixed his fame at a high mark throughout the Northwest.
EVAN A. ENGEBRETSON.
Evan A. Engebretson, a well known farmer of the county and one of the first settlers of Eden township, was born in Norway, November 26, 1868, the son of Andrew and Auna Engebretson. He was brought to this country by his parents in his early infaney. In 1869, they came to Goodhue county, Minnesota, later removing to Faribault, Minnesota, where they lived for eight years. In 1878 Andrew Engebretson located on frontier land in Ottertail county and, the family made their home on that farm until 1886. In that year they came to Polk county, taking claims in the old Indian reservation land which had' been opened for settlement. They located on land in what is now Eden township, this was before a survey of the land had been made and Peter Dunrud, Ole Edevold and John Erickson were the only other settlers in the township. Andrew Engebretson continued to make his home on his homestead in seetion thirty until his death in 1897, the farm having since been sold. His wife survives him and has lived at Clearbrook, in Clearwater county, Minnesota, during the past ten years. E. A. Engebretson and his sister Anna, who was married to Peter Dunrud, are the only members of the family now residing in the county. The ma- ternal grandmother had accompanied them to the new home in Eden township and also took a homestead
claim in section nineteen and adjoining that of her son-in-law. Evan Engebretson made his home with her in the little log cabin which she had built on the traet and which has long since disappeared. On his coming of age, she gave him the land, which with able effort and industry he has developed into his present valuable farm property. Mr. Engebretson has given his attention to general farming and keeps a herd of dairy cows, selling his dairy produce to the cooperative creamery at Olga, in which he is in- terested as a shareholder. He has met with success in all his activities and eondnets his agricultural en- terprises with the most modern and efficient methods. He has converted several acres of marsh into valuable fields by building ditches to which a county ditch gives outlet. His first home was a log house, in which he lived for eighteen years and which still stands on the place. He ereeted the present comfortable coun- try home in 1906. Aside from the management of his private interests, he has aided in the promotion of important business activities and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator and Cooperative store com- panies at Fosston and in the elevator company at Trail, located on the Soo railroad and about five miles north of his farm which is situated ten and a half miles northeast of Fosston. Mr. Engebretson has
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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF POLK COUNTY
also given able service in public office and has been a member of the township board for many years and for twelve years was chairman of the board. He is a member of the United Lutheran church. He was married to Sophia Sorby, the daughter of a promi. nent pioneer family of Hill River township and her death occurred February 14, 1911. A family of nine
children was born to this union, Alma, Laura, Clara, who is a student in the high school at Fosston, Amanda, Dagana, Carl, Ena. Esther and Lloyd. On January 10, 1912, Mr. Engebretson was married to Otilda Reas of Fargo, North Dakota, who had been a life long friend of the mother of his children and who has given them loving care.
HIANS L. HANSON.
Hans L. Hanson, a prominent citizen of Hill River township, was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, June 20, 1862. His parents were natives of Norway and were among the first of their countrymen to emigrate to the United States. The father located in Wiscon- sin in 1848 and a little later bought government land in Mitchell, Iowa, and was prominently identified with the early history of that section. The father devoted his life to his farming interests and was also one of the promoters of the organization and platting of the town of St. Ansgar. Hans L. Hanson was reared in his native county and made his home there until 1884 when he came to Polk county and took a homestead claim on the southwest quarter of sec- tion twenty-nine of Hill River township. His first home was a log sbanty in the woods which he later replaced with a more comfortable log house. The clearing of the land progressed slowly, as he owned no team and he had no erop during the first year. For several seasons, he worked in the Dakota harvest fields and after a few years was able to purchase a team and to devote his attention to the development of his farm and has put the greater part of the place under enltivation, reclaiming some of the low land with ditehes. He has also invested in land in Dakota and spent one year on that farm but with this ex- ception has been a continnous resident of the county since 1884. He has engaged in diversified farming, raising grain and is particularly interested in elover culture, for which his land has proven peculiarly adapted, although, as is generally the ease in this see- tion, his experiments with alfalfa have not been profit-
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