USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 14
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known members of his profession in this part of the state. The Doctor is a Republican and has given close attention to local political affairs, having served as a member of the city council, and is now a member of the city school board. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of these or- ganizations takes a warm interest.
On December 22, 1897, the year following his arrival in Windom, Doc- tor Beise was united in marriage to Blanche Johnson, of that city, daughter of Seth S. and Margaret (Evans) Johnson, pioneers of Windom, the former of whom, for years engaged in the flour and feed business in that city and later in the agricultural-implement business, and who died in 1900, since which time his widow has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Beise. To Doctor and Mrs. Beise three children have been born, Clark, born on October 13, 1898; Margaret, July 12, 1901, and Dorothy, April 22, 1905. Doctor and Mrs. Beise are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the Doctor is a member of the official board and one of the trustees. He has taken much interest in the affairs of Methodism in Minne- sota and was a delegate to the general conference of that church in Minnea- polis in May, 1912.
JOHN F. JOHNSON.
John F. Johnson, assessor of Amo township, Cottonwood county, and proprietor of a well-kept farm of eighty acres in that township, is a native of the kingdom of Denmark, born on June 25, 1866, son of P. C. and Caroline (Anderson) Johnson, both natives of that same country, who came to the United States with their family in 1874 and located at Minne- apolis. Six years later, in 1880. P. C. Johnson came to this part of the state and homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in Amo township, Cotton- wood county, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life. He was an excellent farmer and as his affairs prospered added to his original homestead a quarter of a section adjoining, thus becoming the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Andrew M., John F., A. W., Christian, Charles and Emma.
John F. Johnson was about eight years old when he came to this coun- try with his parents and he was about fourteen when the family moved from Minneapolis to Cottonwood county. He received his schooling in
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the public schools of Minneapolis and carly learned the carpenter trade, which trade he followed at Windom and elsewhere hereabout for four or five years after coming to this part of the state. He later equipped him- self with a threshing outfit and during the threshing season made a spe- cialty of threshing throughout the neighborhood. For years his chief in- terest has been farming. He has a well-kept and profitably cultivated farm of eighty acres in the Storden neighborhood and is one of the best-known residents of that part of the county. He has ever taken an active inter- est in local civic affairs and for fifteen years has served the public as as- sessor of Amo township, a position he now holds. For many years Mr. Johnson conducted the store and postoffice known as the Amo postoffice and store. This business was conducted until the town of Storden was established at the time the railroad was built through this section. Later the postoffice was also transferred to Storden.
In 1892 John F. Johnson was united in marriage to Augusta Grenager, who was born in Norway and came to America with her parents when quite small, settling in Wisconsin. To this union three children have been born, Chester, Mabel and Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper part in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good works of the neigh- borhood.
ALBERT L. THOMPSON.
Albert L. Thompson, a well-known and prosperous farmer of Amo township, Cottonwood county, proprietor, in partnership with his brother, Theodore Thompson, of a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres sit- uated on rural route 2, out of Windom, is a native of Wisconsin, born in Marquette county, that state, December 17, 1872, son of Ole and Martha Thompson, both natives of the kingdom of Norway, whose last days were spent in Faribault county, Minnesota.
Ole Thompson was reared in his native land and became a soldier in the Norwegian army. It was during his period of service that the differ- ences between the two branches of the dual government of Norway and Sweden, which years afterward resulted in an amicable separation of the two states, reached such an acute stage that the armies of the twin states were placed on a war footing with a view to resorting to the final arbitra- ment of arms, but, happily, these differences were adjusted without war
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and Mr. Thompson thus saw no active service. When he was twenty-six years of age he came to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where he presently married a Norwegian girl who had come to this country with her parents when she was four years of age and had grown to womanhood in Wisconsin. After his marriage Ole Thompson settled on a farm in Mar- quette county, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1884, in which year he and his family came to Minnesota and settled in Faribault county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, Henry, Theodore, Albert L .. Randolph, Bennie, Joseph, Rose, Anna, Lizzie and Alvina, who are still living, and Orin and Lizzie, who died in infancy. Ole Thompson and wife were members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith.
Albert L. Thompson was about twelve years old when his parents moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota and his schooling therefore was ob- tained in the schools of the former state and of Faribault county, this state. He remained on the home farm until his marriage in 1901, when he went to Polk county, where he was engaged in farming for two years, at the end of which time he and his elder brother, Theodore, bought the farm in Amo township, Cottonwood county, where Albert L. Thompson now lives, and the latter remained there for a couple of years, farming the same, after which he returned to Faribault county and was there, at Bricelyn, engaged in the livery business and retail meat trade for two years, at the end of which time he moved to Doland, South Dakota, and in the latter place was engaged in the same form of business for six years in partnership with his brother, Theodore. In 1911 Albert L. Thompson returned to Cottonwood county and resumed his place on the home farm, which he and his brother had continued and still continue to hold, the brother remaining in charge of the business at Doland, and he has ever since made his home on the farm, where he and his family are very pleasantly and comfortably sit- uated. Mr. Thompson is an excellent farmer and in addition to his general farming has given considerable attention to stock raising and is looked upon as one of the substantial and progressive farmers of that neighborhood.
It was in 1901 that Albert L. Thompson was united in marriage to Grace Foster, and to this union three children have been born, Viola, Gerald and Madge. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in the general good works and social activities of the. neighborhood in which they live. Mr. Thomp- son is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of that organization takes a warm interest.
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EDWARD MCCAULEY.
Edward McCauley, a well-known, progressive and prosperous farmer of Amo township, Cottonwood county, the proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and forty acres situated on rural route 5, out of Windom, is a native of the Emerald Isle, born in County Antrim, in the north of Ireland, January 19, 1862, son of James and Ellen (Killen) McCauley, the former a native of that same county and the latter of Scotland, both of whom spent their last days in Ireland, the father dying when his son, Edward, was ten years old. James McCauley was a farmer and stock raiser. He and his wife were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, James, John, Jane, Sarah, Ellen and Edward.
Edward McCauley was reared on the home farm in his native land, receiving his education in the government schools, and when twenty-one years of age, in 1883, came to the United States, landing at the port of New York on March 7 of that year. He proceeded directly to Piatt county, Illinois, where he remained for eighteen months, at the end of which time he came to Minnesota and located at Windom. He presently was engaged as a "hand" on the farm of W. H. Benbow, in Amo township, and has ever since had his residence in that township, having scarcely been out of the county since then, save for two trips made back to Ireland. After working eighteen months on the Benbow farm, Mr. McCauley took service on another farm in that same township and at the end of two years of employ- ment on that farm bought the relinquishment of a dissatisfied homesteader's claim to a homestead and timber claim to two hundred and eighty acres in that township and proceeded to improve and develop the same. That was in 1888 and Mr. McCauley ever since has made his home on that place. He prospered in his farming operations and in due time enlarged his holdings by the purchase of another quarter section, in section I, Amo township, and is thus the owner of four hundred and forty acres, which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation. The improvements on his place are of a sub- stantial character, an excellent house, and farm buildings in keeping with the same, and he long has been recognized as one of the leading farmers in that neighborhood. In addition to his general farming, Mr. McCauley has also paid considerable attention to the raising of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and has a fine herd.
It was in 1893, during one of his trips back to his native land, that Edward McCauley was united in marriage, in County Antrim, Ireland, to Anna Martin, who was born in that county, and to this union two sons
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have been born, Edward James and Crawford Brice. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Cauley are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good works of the community in which they live.
WILLIAM ARTHUR PETERSON.
William Arthur Peterson, a highly skilled draughtsman of Windom, Cottonwood county, was born at Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin, Febru- ary 22, 1856. He is a son of Cyrus N. and Ellen Maria (Nason) Peter- son, both natives of Vermont, where they spent their earlier years, moving to Ohio, then to Dane county, Wisconsin, about 1855, removing in 1858 to near Mankato, Minnesota, whither the father had come in 1857, taking up a pre-emption homestead in Blue Earth county-eighty acres-on which he resided until about 1867, in which year he went to Faribault county and bought a farm, but removed to Cottonwood county in 1870, locating in Springfield township, homesteading the south half of the northeast quarter of section 12. Here he developed a good farm on which he spent the rest of his life. He was also a carpenter and builder. His family consisted of two children, namely: Elias N., a veteran of the Civil War, having served in Company H, Fourth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and Will- iam A., the subject of this sketch.
William A. Peterson grew up on the farm and received a common school education, and he also attended the high school at Windom. He remained on the home farm until he was about twenty-three years of age. He taught two terms of school, the first one when eighteen years of age. On November 20, 1878, he began working in the field agents' department of what is now known as the "Omaha Railway," and was located at Worth- ington seven years, then was transferred to St. Paul as chief clerk and assistant land commissioner, which position he held until November 1, 1895. He returned to Windom, where he engaged in the real-estate business until 1905, later becoming chief draughtsman for C. W. Gove, ditching contractor, which position he still holds.
William A. Peterson has been twice married, five children being born of the first union, of whom two are living, namely: Eva, the wife of Harry Strange, of St. Paul, and Edna, the wife of T. J. Jennes, of Win-
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domn. Mr. Peterson was married, secondly, to Richie Maxwell, February 22, 1908.
Politically, Mr. Peterson is a Prohibitionist. He was formerly village recorder of Windom. He was at one time surveyor of Nobles county, Minnesota, while living at Worthington. He was justice of the peace at Windom for six years. He and his family are Baptists, and he is treasurer and trustee of the local church of this denomination. He has also taken a good citizen's part in the general development of the communities in which he has lived. Fraternally, he has belonged to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons since 1883, and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since about 1901.
NEAL C. SORENSEN.
Neal C. Sorensen, the well-known manager of the creamery at Butter- field and the owner of a fine farm in the vicinity of that flourishing village, is a native of the kingdom of Denmark, but has been a resident of the state of Minnesota since he was fourteen years of age. He was born on Febru- ary I, 1875, son of Christian and Ingeborg Sorensen, natives of Denmark, the former born in 1842 and the latter in 1849, who came to Minnesota in 1889 and settled at Big Lake, in Sherburne county. There Christian Soren- sen died in the following spring, the spring of 1890, leaving his widow with nine children. The widow Sorensen kept her family together and continued to make her home at Big Lake until 1895, in which year she moved to Sher- burn, in Martin county, later moving to a farm near Walnut Grove, in Mur- ray county, where she spent her last days with her daughter, Mrs. Charles M. Johnson, her death occurring on July 6, 1914.
Of the nine children born to Christian and Ingeborg Sorensen all are still living. The two elder sons, Samuel S. and Christian L. Sorensen, were the first of the family to come to the United States. They took passage on the steamer "Denmark," which was wrecked in the vicinity of the Azores. The passengers and crew were taken off by a cattle-ship and the brothers, after some delay, made their way safely to this country, proceeding almost directly after their landing to Minnesota, from which point they sent back such glowing reports that the rest of the family shortly afterward followed. One child was born after the family came to Minnesota, born at Big Lake, shortly after the death of the father in the spring of 1890; the others all were natives of Denmark. Of these children the subject of this sketch was
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the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Samuel S., who is now manager of the creamery at Lamberton, this state; Christian L., mana- ger of a creamery at Madelia; Andrew, a farmer, living in the vicinity of Chewelah, in the state of Washington; Anna, who married L. P. Hanson, who for some years was a butter maker at Windom and is now engaged as a contractor at Vanhook, North Dakota; Martin M., a butter maker at Dun- nell, this state; Mary E., wife of Charles M. Johnson, of Walnut Grove, this state; David D., now manager of a creamery at Arlington, this state, and Herman C., born at Big Lake, who also grew up in the creamery busi- ness and was for some years engaged in that business at Janesville, but is now engaged in farming in the vicinity of Welcome, in Martin county.
Neal C. Sorensen was fourteen years of age when his parents came to this country. He had received careful schooling in his native land, but owing to the death of his father so soon after coming over here, necessitat- ing the work of all hands to keep the family together, was unable to con- tinue his studies in school for very long in this state. His first work here was on farms in the vicinity of Big Lake and on the railroad there and at the age of eighteen he began learning the creamery business and has ever since been engaged in that line, having come to be one of the best known and most competent creamery men in the state. His first managerial posi- tion was at Alson, South Dakota, but after a short stay there was called back to Minnesota to take charge of a creamery plant at St. Michael, in Wright county, where he remained until he was called, February 1, 1896, to take charge of the creamery at Odin, in Watonwan county. There he remained nine years, becoming one of the most influential of the early resi- dents of that village. During his residence in Odin township, Mr. Sorensen also engaged in the mercantile business there and served as postmaster of the township for some time. On September I, 1904, Mr. Sorensen was made manager of the creamery at Butterfield and has ever since occupied that posi- tion, having done there a fine work, the products of the Butterfield creamery being in wide demand wherever introduced. Mr. Sorensen has done well in his business and is recognized as one of the substantial citizens of his part of the county. He formerly owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 26 of Butterfield township, but after awhile sold that place and bought a farm of eighty acres in section 52 of the same township, which he now owns. By political persuasion Mr. Sorensen is a Prohibitionist and for years has been one of the most active workers in behalf of the principles of that party and the cause of temperance generally in Watonwan county. In 1906 he was his party's nominee for representative from this district to the
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state Legislature and has done much to advance the cause of temperance hereabout. For eight or nine years he was a member of the school board at Butterfield and was treasurer of the same at the time the fine new school house was built there. In other ways he has been an active factor in the work of developing the interests of his home town and has long been re- garded as one of Butterfield's most useful and influential citizens.
On February 12, 1897, while living in Odin township, Neal C. Soren- sen was united in marriage to Frances G. Sorensen, who was born in Den- mark on February 29, 1876, daughter of Peter and Maran Sorensen,, who came to Minnesota in 1893 and settled at Welcome, later moving to Sher- burn and now living with their son, Jolın T. Sorensen, at Okanogan, Wash- ington. To Neal C. and Frances G. (Sorensen) Sorensen four children have been born, namely: Earl Lincoln, born in 1898, who supplemented his schooling in the public schools of Butterfield by a course in the Business Col- lege at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and is now a traveling salesman for the Whole-Wheat Milling Company, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Martha Washington, born in 1901, who is adding to her work in the public schools a special course in music; Paul Neal, born on April 15, 1904, and Marian Frances, June 14, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen are members of the Pres- byterian church at Butterfield and take an active interest in church work, as well as in all local good works, Mr. Sorensen having served the local con- gregation as a member of the board of trustees of the church, treasurer of the same, and was for some years superintendent of the Sunday school.
THOMAS BONDHUS.
Thomas Bondhus, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Amo township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, known as "Fairview Farm," south of the village of Storden, treasurer of Amo township, former assessor of that township, secretary of the Storden Grain Company and of the Storden Co-operative Company and otherwise active in the general affairs of that part of the county, is a native of Iowa, born on a farm in Clinton county, that state, February 3, 1880, son of Ole and Olena (Oyre) Bondhus, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to the United States in 1868 and located in Clinton county, Iowa, being thus among the pioneers of that section of the state, and remained there until 1883, in which year they moved to Ida
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county, same state. where they lived until coming to Minnesota in the fall of 1895.
Upon coming to this state, Ole Bondhus and his family settled in Amo township, Cottonwood county, where they established their home. There Mr. Bondhus and his wife lived until their retirement from the active labors of the farm and removal to the village of Storden, where they are now liv- ing, very comfortably situated in their declining years. They are members of the Lutheran church and their children have been reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Thomas, who died in infancy; Lena, who married Oscar Thompson; Sella, who mar- ried A. J. Tjentland ; Mary, who married Simon Olson; Hattie, Torris, John and Herman.
Thomas Bondhus was about fifteen years old when he came with his parents to Minnesota and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Amo township. When he was eighteen years old he supplemented the schooling he had received in the public schools by a course in a business college at Minneapolis and upon returning from college was employed as a bookkeeper in Johnson Brothers store at Westbrook and was thus engaged for two years and six months, during which time he also served in the capacity of assistant postmaster. Not finding a mercantile life at all to his liking, Mr. Bondhus then returned to the farm and ever since has been engaged in farming. He remained on the home farm until after his marriage in 1908 and has lived on his present farm since 1911. He has a half section of land, well improved and profitably cultivated and has done very well in his farming operations. Mr. Bondhus has not been unmindful of a good citizen's duty toward the public service and has contributed of his time and his energies in that behalf. For three years he served as assessor of Amo township and is now serving in the capacity of township treasurer. In the general business life of the community he also has displayed much activity and has long been regarded as one of the most public-spirited and progressive citizens of that township. He helped to organize the Storden Grain Company and the Storden Co-operative Company (mercantile) and ever since their organization has served as secretary of these two useful companies.
In the fall of 1908 Thomas Bondhus was united in marriage to Carrie T. Thompson, who was born in the kingdom of Norway and who came to this country with her parents in 1904, and to this union four children have been born, Agnes L., Ole H., Helma I. and Truman A. Mr. and Mrs. Bondhus take a warm interest in the general social life of the community
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in which they live and are regarded as among the leaders in all movements designed to advance the common interest in and about Storden and through- out the county at large.
OSCAR J. THOMPSON.
Oscar J. Thompson, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Amo township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Storden, former member of the board of supervisors of that township and for years "road boss" in his district, is a native of Norway, but has lived in this country ever since he was fif- teen years old and has been a resident of this section of Minnesota since the year 1897. He was born in 1871, son of Jens T. and Karna J. (Flatebo) Oyre, both of whom are still living in Norway, their native land, the for- mer of whom, a former soldier of his country, is now a retired farmer. To Jens T. Oyre and wife ten children were born, of whom two only came to this country, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Andrew, living in Cottonwood county, also a resident and well-known farmer of Amo township. But two of the remainder of the children are now living, Tor- bjon and Kristhe J. Oyer, still residents of their native land.
Upon completing the course in the government schools in his native land, he then being about fifteen years of age, Oscar J. Thompson, in 1886, came to the United States, locating at Holstein, Ada county, Iowa, where he began working as a farm hand, and in that vicinity he continued to live for about ten years. There he married and established his home, but something more than three years after his marriage he came to Minnesota, arriving in Cottonwood county in 1897. He settled on a farm in Spring- field township and there he and his family made their home for thirteen years, or until moving onto their present farm, a quarter of a section of excellent land in Amo township, which Mr. Thompson bought in 1910. Mr. Thompson is an excellent farmer and his place is well improved and well kept. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done well, long having been regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood. He also has given considerable attention to local civic affairs and during his residence in Springfield township served for three years as a member of the board of supervisors of that township. The year after his removal to Amo town- ship he was elected "road boss" in his district there and has ever since oc-
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