USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 12
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George P. Sivertson was educated in his native land, and when twenty- one years of age came to the United States, in 1867, and located in Alamakee county, Iowa, where he remained until 1871 when he came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, taking up a homestead in Highwater township, which he developed into a fine farm and carried on general farming successfully, until he retired from active life and moved to the village of Westbrook in the year 1902. During the two years of the grasshopper plague which destroyed his crops he was compelled to leave his farm and work out. He homesteaded eighty acres, later buying eighty acres of railroad land.
Mr. Sivertson was married on April 12, 1876, to Martha Langland, who was born in Norway, November 6, 1854, daughter of Knute and Anna (Bjargo) Langland, from which country she came to America in early life with her parents, the family locating in Madison, Wisconsin; then to Winne- shiek county, Iowa, one year; then moved to Jackson county, Minnesota; later went to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and in 1871 came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, where they remained to the end of their lives. The
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mother, two sons and two daughters were massacred by the savages, the father and two daughters, Julia and Martha, escaping. Mr. Langland bought railroad land, in Westbrook township. During the massacre, Martha was a little girl and was hid in a cornfield, escaping notice, but her sister Julia, who was tomahawked, survived. Mr. Langland died on his farm in Westbrook township some years ago.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sivertson seven children have been born, namely : Knute, John, Peter, Gertrude, Anna, and Mabel. They are all living at this writing except Josephine, the youngest, who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Sivertson is a Democrat. While living on the farm he served as school director for some time, and also was road boss occasion- ally. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
JOHN HENDERSON.
A diversity of interests has been the outgrowth of the natural condi- tions found in Cottonwood county. It has been discovered that certain por- tions of her soil are well suited to be manufactured into brick and tile, and among those who are taking advantage of this fact is John Henderson, of Bingham Lake, formerly a banker.
John Henderson was born in County Donegal, Ireland, June 22, 1848, a son of William and Mary ( Russell) Henderson, who immigrated to Amer- ica and settled in Tama county, Iowa. William Henderson was a farmer and died in Iowa. Mrs. Mary Henderson died at Rhinebeck, Iowa. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Iowa and there received a com- mon school deucation. He began his active career in the banking business and conducted a bank at Goldfield, Iowa, for a period of fifteen years with gratifying results. It was first a private bank, then became the First National Bank of Goldfield. He was made president upon the organiza- tion of the institution and continued in the same position during his resi- dence in Goldfield. He removed to Bingham Lake, Minnesota, in 1902, where he started a private bank, which two years later was converted into the First State Bank of Bingham Lake, with Mr. Henderson as president, which position he retained until 1915, when he sold out to J. A. Redding. His industry, sound, conservative and honest methods made this institution a decided success. In' 1913 he took over the brick and tile manufacturing plant at Bingham Lake, which he has conducted on an extensive scale to
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JOHN HENDERSON.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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the present time, his products finding a very ready market owing to their superior quality. He also owns a valuable and well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres which lies immediately south of the village. He also owns seventy acres within the village limits, and on this he makes his home, having an attractive and modernly appointed residence. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the leading men of affairs of the county.
John Henderson was married in 1882 to Mary Elizabeth Small. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have no children of their own, but they adopted a child, Victor Rodgers, of Bingham Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the Presbyterian church and are active workers in the church.
GUSTAV MULLER.
Gustav Muller was born in Galicia, Austria, April 26, 1876, a son of Henry Muller and Magdalene (Lindscheid) Muller, both natives of Galicia, Austria.
Henry Muller followed the occupation of a blacksmith, and also engaged in farming in Austria. He came to America in 1880, and located in Cottonwood county, in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. The year following his coming to that place he removed to Rose Hill township, Cottonwood county, and took up a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres of gov- ernment land. Here he made his home for the remainder of his life. He died in 1900; his wife survived him and is now living at Reedley, Cali- fornia. She was the mother of twelve children: Peter, Christina, deceased; Gustav, died young; Edmond, deceased; Henry, deceased; Leona, deceased; Clara, Fridolm, Gustav, our subject; Theodore, Arthur, Herbert. The father and mother were members of the Mennonite church.
Gustav Muller, our subject, was educated in the public schools of Rose Hill, township, working on his father's farm during his early years. At the age of fourteen he left the farm and was employed as a clerk in the store of J. W. Benson & Company, at Heron Lake, Minnesota. He was in this employment for two years and then took a business course at Wilder. He worked for about one year for H. P. Lewis, at Fulda, Minnesota. In 1894 he came to Windom and entered the employ of .G. A. Peterson & Com- pany, clothiers, remaining with them until 1905, at which time he, with (9a)
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F. T. Anton, bought the clothing stock of R. R. Jennes, of Windom. This partnership continued until December, 1913, when Mr. Anton died; since that time Mr. Muller has conducted the business alone, dealing in a general line of clothing, men's furnishings and shoes.
Mr. Muller was married, in 1900, to Anna M. Anton, daughter of Ole Anton. Five children have been born to this union: Roland H., Alden G., Alice M., Waldo F., deceased, and one infant, deceased. Mr. Muller is a Socialist in politics. He has served as a trustee on the city council, and is at present mayor of the village. He is a member of the American Order of Woodmen, and also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
THOMAS OFFERDAL.
Thomas Offerdal was born at Long Lake, Watonwan county, July 30, 1875. He is of Norwegian ancestry, his parents being among the large num- ber of Norwegian families who found a home in this, and in other counties of Minnesota, in the early history of the state, and who contributed so large a part in the state's physical and social development.
The parents of the subject of this sketch were Ole and Mary (Jensen) Offerdal, both natives of Norway. The father was a farmer in his native country. He came with his wife to America in 1867, and followed the footsteps of other of his neighbors and countrymen to Minnesota. In the case of these worthy emigrants "following the footsteps," is not altogether a figurative expression, for their means to pay travel expenses were exhausted when they reached Mankato, and they walked all the way from that place to Watonwan county. Minnesota, carrying a small child. Their meager belongings were hauled by Hans Johnson Berdell, who was fortunate enough to own a yoke of oxen. They found a desirable location in Long Lake township, Watonwan county where they took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of government land. Here they established a home and lived the rest of their lives. They both died the same year, 1910. They were a frugal, industrious people and their industry was rewarded with a very desirable competence. They were the parents of seven children: Jens, Sarah, Thomas, Mary, Nelius, Carl and Emma. They were both members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Thomas Offerdal was educated in the public schools of Long Lake township, Watonwan county, and in the high school at St. James, from
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which he was graduated in 1892. During his school days he worked with his father on the home farm, and afterward engaged in farming on the same on his own account. From 1889 to 1914 he bought grain and con- ducted a general store at Echols, Watonwan county. In 1914 he moved to St. James and the following year he engaged in the real-estate business, and also acted as agent for the Studebaker automobile. In 1915 he was elected vice-president of the Citizens National Bank, of St. James, and in September, of that year, he became actively engaged in the business of the bank.
Mr. Offerdal was married, in 1901, to Hilda Schoyen, daughter of H. M. Schoyen of Long Lake township, Watonwan county, Minnesota. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
JACOB HENGTGEN.
Jacob Hentgten, a well-known and prosperous farmer of Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-three acres lying in sections 22 and 27 of Storden township, and actively identified with the general affairs of that community, is a native of Iowa, born on a pioneer farm in Jackson county, that state, January 22, 1852, son of Barney and Anna (Rystoffer) Hengtgen, natives of Germany and early settlers in that part of Iowa.
Barney Hengtgen left his native land and came to the United States when a young man, locating in Jackson county, Iowa, in 1847, thus having been among the pioneers of that county, and there, some years later married Anna Rystoffer, who came to this country with her parents from Germany in 1849, the family locating in Jackson county, Iowa. To that union four children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born the others being Anna, Nicholas and Maggie. Following the death of the mother of these children, Barney Hengtgen married Mary Thyson and to that union six children were born, Theodore, Michael, Peter, Elizabeth, Margaret and Katherine. Barney Hengtgen remained a farmer all his life, his death occurring on his home farm in Iowa in 1911. He was a member of the Catholic church and his children were reared in that faith.
Jacob Hengtgen was reared on his father's homestead farm in Iowa and received his schooling in the primitive school in the neighborhood of his home. As a young man he started farming on his own account in Plymouth
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county, Iowa, and there he remained until 1909, in which year he disposed of his holdings there and came to Minnesota, settling in Cottonwood county, where he bought his present farm of two hundred and thirty-three acres in Storden township and has ever since made his home there. Mr. Hengtgen has his farm well improved and has been quite successful in his operations. In addition to his general farming, he has given considerable attention to the raising of live-stock and has done very well.
In 1886, in Plymouth county, Iowa, Jacob Hengtgen was united in marriage to Minnie Walters and to this union eleven children have been born, Edward, Mary, Frank, Eliazbeth, Anna, Leo, Clara, Lena, Margaret, Florence and Roy. The Hengtgens have a pleasant home on their well- kept farm and are very comfortably situated. Mrs. Hengtgen is a member of the Lutheran church and the children have been reared in that faith, the family ever giving proper attention to local movements having to do with the advancement of the best interests of the community in which they live. Mr. Hengtgen is a Democrat, but has not been a seeker after office.
GOTTLIEB HASENHEYER.
Gottlieb Hasenheyer, a well-known and well-to-do retired farmer of Watonwan county, now living in comfortable ease at St. James, is a native of Germany, born on January 16, 1857, son of Andrew and Mary Hasen- heyer, both natives of that same country, the former born in 1824 and the latter in 1826, who came to the United States in 1867 and settled on a farm in Will county, Illinois, where both spent the remainder of their lives, her death occurring in 1894, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his, the next year, 1895, he then being seventy-one years of age. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Mary (deceased), Andrew, Johanna, Frederick, August, Fredericka and Herman.
Gottlieb Hasenheyer was about ten years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1867 and he completed his schooling in the dis- trict school in the neighborhood of his home in Will county, Illinois. From the age of fifteen years to twenty-three years he worked on a dairy farm, when, in 1880, he went to Chicago, where for sixteen years he was profitably engaged in the milk business. In 1886 Mr. Hasenheyer made a trip to this part of Minnesota and bought two hundred and forty acres of land in sec-
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tion 31, St. James township, Watonwan county, regarding the same as a most excellent investment against the future. Ten years later he and his family moved out here, arriving on October 25, 1896, and established their home on that farm. With characteristic energy Mr. Hesenheyer proceeded to add to the improvements he already had projected on the place, set out a grove, erected substantial buildings and soon had one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farms in that neighborhood. On October 10, 1913, he sold his farm and on January 30, 1914, moved to St. James, where he had bought a fine residence at the corner of First street and Sixth avenue, and there he since has made his home. Mr. Hasenheyer is a Republican and during his residence on the farm served for some time as a member of his local town board and also served for one term as township assessor. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and in his fraternal relation is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.
On October 14, 1883, Gottlieb Hasenheyer was united in marriage to Caroline Gronert, who was born at Concord, Wisconsin, July 9, 1861, daugh- ter of William and Ernestine Gronert, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1858, settling in Wisconsin, where William Gronert died in 1871, at the age of forty-four. William Gronert was born in 1827. Ernestine Gronert was born on June 30, 1836. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Hasenheyer was the third in order of birth, the others being Minnie, Amelia, Frank, Martha, William, Emma and Mary. The Widow Gronert married, secondly, Ferdinand Stack, and to that second union two children were born, Frederick and Malvina. Mrs. Stack is now living at Norwood, this state, at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Hasenheyer died on March 24, 1907, leaving three children, namely: Martha, born on June 29, 1884; Alice, April 25, 1895, and Leslie, June 29, 1888, who mar- ried Ida Swick, of Princeton, Wisconsin, and has two children, Myrtle Eve- lyn and Leslie.
REV. JOHN MEYERS.
Rev. John Meyers, pastor of the Catholic church of St. James, Waton- wan county, was born in Germany in 1874. He is a son of George and Anna Mary (Bures) Meyers, both natives of Germany, where they grew up, were educated and married. In 1881 she brought their family to St. Paul, Minnesota, where the father secured employment in the great flour mills, later moving to Dakota county, this state, on a farm, later locating
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near Hastings, that county, where he purchased a farm on which he spent the rest of his life, dying there in 1905. His widow is now making her home in Hastings. The farm, which the family retains, is rented. To these parents the following children were born: Catherine, is the widow of John Schmitz and lives at Hastings, Minnesota; Nicholas operates the home farm near Hastings; Frank is farming in Dakota county; John, the subject of this review; Lucia makes her home with the subject of this sketch; Leonida is superintendent of the Holy Angels Academy at St. Cloud, this state; Mary is the wife of Jerry Kenny of Bradwell, Canada; George is connected with the postoffice service in Minneapolis.
Rev. John Meyers received his early education in the parochial schools of St. Paul and the public schools of Dakota county, Minnesota; later attended St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee and was graduated from St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1903, in which year he was ordained priest. He then went to Claremont, Dodge county, Minnesota, and had charge of the churches at Kasson, Mantorville, Deerfield and Dodge Center for six years. He came to St. James in 1909 as pastor of St. James Catholic church and here he has since remained. He organized the church at Mantorville.
ALBERT E. JOHNSON.
Albert E. Johnson, a well-known and substantial farmer of Madelia township, Watonwan county, who is also the owner of a farm in the neigh- borboring county of Blue Earth, is a native son of Watonwan county and has lived there all his life. He was born on the old homestead farm on which he still makes his home, November 1, 1867, son of Erick and Hansine (Iverson) Johnson, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to the United States after their marriage and settled in the vicinity of Leland, Illi- nois, where they were engaged in farming until 1864, in which year they came to Minnesota and settled in Watonwan county, thus having been among the earliest settlers of this part of the state. Erick Johnson homesteaded eighty acres in section 12, of Madelia township, and there established his home. He was an excellent farmer and it was not long until he was reck- oned as among the most substantial farmers of that part of the county. As he prospered he added to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-three acres and there he spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring in 1893. His widow, who still survives
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him, has always continued to make her home on the old homestead and is still living there, the subject of this sketch also making his home at the same place, where he has lived all his life. Erick Johnson and his wife were the parents of nine children, John, Eddie, Albert, Henry, George, Willis, Clarence and Josipha.
Albert E. Johnson was reared on the paternal homestead place, receiv- ing his education in the district school in that neighborhood, and after his school days continued to make his home there, a valuable assistant to the labors of developing and improving the farm. He married Josie May Bundy, who died some years later, leaving two children, Helen and Elma. Mr. John- son then married Mary Kroeger. In addition to his management of one hundred and fifty-two acres of his father's estate, Mr. Johnson is also engaged in the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and twelve acres which he owns over the line in Blue Earth county, and is doing very well, being recognized as one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church and he and his wife are members of that church, taking a proper interest in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Ancient Order of Yeomen and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both of these organizations.
ANTON ELLINGSBERG.
Anton Ellingsberg, a well-known and substantial farmer of Madelia township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Madelia, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born on May 21, 1866, son and only child of Iver and Anne Ellingsberg, natives of that same country and farming people. They were earnest mem- bers of the Lutheran church and their son was reared in that faith.
Anton Ellingsberg received his education in the schools of his native land and was well grown when he came to this country. His mother came six years later. After his marriage in 1891, he then being about twenty- five years of age, he located on the quarter section in Madelia township which he now owns and where he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Ellingsberg is an excellent farmer and has brought his place to a fine state of cultivation. The farm is well improved and carefully tended and shows
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many evidences of its owner's progressive and modern methods of agricul- ture.
It was on February 27, 1891, that Anton Ellingsberg was united in mar- riage to Susan Fedje, who was born in this state on August 7, 1869, daugh- ter of John O. and Brethe (Suphammer) Fedje, natives of the kingdom of Norway, the former of whom was eighteen years of age when he came to this country with four younger sisters, settling in Minnesota, and the latter of whom was eleven years old when she came to America with her mother and four sisters, they also being pioneers of this state. John O. Fedje was an honored veteran of the Civil War, having served in behalf of the Union cause throughout that struggle between the states as a member of the Eleventh Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Upon the conclusion of his military service he homesteaded a tract of land in section 12, Madelia township, Watonwan county, and established his home there, becoming one of the substantial and influential pioneers of that part of the county, and there he died in 1911, at a ripe old age. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellingsberg ten children have been born, John, Carl, Helmer, Anna, Martha, Alma, Edwin, Helen, Earl and Luther. The Ellingsbergs are members of the Lutheran church and take a warm interest in the general good works of their com- munity. Mr. Ellingsberg is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes an active interest in the affairs of the same.
MABEL S. MADSON.
Few counties in the state of Minnesota have a better system of educa- tion than Watonwan. This is due in a measure to the commendable work of Mabel S. Madson, the present county superintendent of schools, a lady who has spared no pains in order to properly equip herself for this respon- sible position and who takes a deep interest in advanced and progressive methods of instruction, keeping fully abreast of the times in all that per- tains to her chosen vocation.
Mabel S. Madson was born near the village of Madelia, Watonwan county, and there she grew to womanhood. She is a daughter of Henry and Christina Marie (Thompson) Madson, an old and highly respected fam- ily of this locality, a biographical sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume. .
Miss Madson received her education in the public schools, graduating
MABEL S. MADSON.
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from the Madelia high school in 1907, and later attended the State Nor- mal School at Mankato, Minnesota, making an excellent record. Thus well equipped for her professional career, she began teaching school, which she followed with success for five years, her services being in great demand. Her ability and general qualifications attracting attention throughout the county, she was elected superintendent of schools for Watonwan county in the fall of 1912 and took office on January 1, 1913, which position she still holds. She has discharged her duties in a manner that reflects much credit upon herself and to the eminent satisfaction to all concerned. She pos- sesses rare executive ability and has inaugurated a splendid system in all the schools and is popular among teachers and pupils. Personally she is kind, congenial, obliging, and finds her chief pleasure in helping others.
WALTER M. HALE.
Walter M. Hale, station agent for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad Company, at Windom, clerk of the city council and for years actively interested in the affairs of this part of the state, is a native of the great Empire state, born in Herkimer county, New York, June 28, 1862, son of Edward and Martha (Iles) Hale, both natives of England, who came to this country with their respective parents in the days of their youth and were married in New York.
Edward Hale was a stone mason by trade and in the early eighties came to Minnesota, locating at Windom, where for some time he followed his trade and later became proprietor of the old Pioneer hotel in that city. He is a Mason and a member of the Episcopal church and took an active part in both church and lodge affairs. His wife died at Windom some years ago and he is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Jens Peterson, at Chippewa Falls, this state.
Walter M. Hale was reared at Mohawk, Herkimer county, New York, receiving his education in the schools of that town and a business college at Utica, New York. He early began the life of a railroader and became an expert telegraph operator. Upon locating at Windom in 1883 he was made operator in the station of the "Omaha" road at that place and after about eighteen months of that service was transferred to the station at Mount- tain Lake, where he was the agent for eighteen months, at the end of which time in 1886, he was transferred back to Windom and there installed as
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