USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 22
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JACOB RUPP.
Jacob Rupp, one of the best-known young merchants in Cottonwood county, proprietor of a well-stocked store of general merchandise at Delft, and otherwise actively interested in the general affairs of that part of the county, is a native of Austria, but has been a resident of Minnesota since early childhood and has thus grown into the life and works of the great Northwest. He was born in the province of Galicia, Austria, April II, 1880, son of John and Christina (Mueller) Rupp, Galicians, who were mar- ried on February 13, 1870, and who came to the United States in 1882.
John Rupp was born on November 22, 1844, and grew up on a farm,
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becoming a farmer, as well as a blacksmith and stone-mason. In 1882, twelve years after his marriage, he and his family came to this country, proceeding at once to Minnesota and locating at Mankato, where he took up work in a blacksmith shop and for six years was there engaged with heavy labor, also, during the building seasons, contracting in masonry work. Mr. Rupp was an active Christian member of the Mennonite denomination and a strong leader in church in his earlier days. In 1888 he moved his family to this part of the state and bought a quarter of a section of land one mile from the village of Butterfield, in Watonwan county, where he established his home on the prairie. From a magnificent log he had secured at Mankato he had sawed sufficient lumber for the erection of a small house on his prairie farm and there he began his profitable farming operations. For the first few years his crops were confined to flax, until the land became suffi- ciently mellow for wheat. His flax he cut with a reaper and the first wheat crop he cut with a cradle, and in the early years he used oxen on his farm. He prospered in his farming operations and gradually enlarged his land holdings until he became the owner of three hundred acres, and there he made his home for twenty-four years, at the end of which time he retired from the farm and moved to Butterfield, where his last days were spent, his death occurring about six years later, March II, 1916. His widow is still living at Butterfield. To John Rupp and wife were born eight children, all of whom are living, as follow: Tillie, of Butterfield, widow of Arnold Kintzi; Mollie, who is at home with her mother; Edward, who married Mary Hubin and is farming about two and one-half miles southwest of Butterfield; Agnes, wife of Rudolph Linschied, a farmer living three miles northwest of Butterfield; Jacob, the subject of this sketch; Kate, wife of Gust Miller, a well-known merchant of Butterfield; John, a merchant, of Delft, and Sadie, who makes her home with her mother at Butterfield and is employed in the store of her brother-in-law, Gust Miller, in that village.
Jacob Rupp was a little more than two years old when his parents came to this country in 1882 and settled in Mankato. His early childhood was spent in that city and he had about two years of schooling there before the family moved to the Butterfield neighborhood, his schooling therefore being completed in the Butterfield schools. He grew up on the home farm and after completing the course in the public schools taught school for one termi four miles northeast of Butterfield. He then went into the confectionery business at Butterfield, in partnership with Gust Miller, his brother-in-law, and was thus engaged for a year, at the end of which time he sold his inter- est in the store and moved to Delft, where he rented a store room and
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opened a general merchandise store. Two years later he built his present store building, a substantial structure, twenty-six by thirty-eight, with a . warehouse, eighteen by thirty-two, together with other additions; has grad- ually increased his stock in trade and is recognized as one of the leading merchants of that progressive village. He carries general merchandise, groceries, dry-goods and boots and shoes and has done very well. Mr. Rupp owns a farm of forty-nine acres north of Delft, which he rents out; five lots in Delft, besides a couple of residence lots there, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of that part of the county. He is secretary- treasurer of the Delft Rural Telephone Company and in other ways takes an active interest in the general affairs of the business community. He is "independent" in his political views and he and his wife are members of the Mennonite church, in the affairs of which they take a warm interest.
On May 20, 1906, Jacob Rupp was united in marriage to Emily Schweitzer, also a native of Austria, born on March 8, 1884, who came to this country with a cousin in the summer of 1903, coming directly to But- terfield, Minnesota. For six months after her arrival here she worked at Westbrook, then for two months at Mountain Lake, after which she spent a term in school at Darfur and then went to Minneapolis, where she was working until the time of her marriage to Mr. Rupp. To this union three daughters have been born, Hilda, Mabel and Edna.
TORVEL PEDERSON.
Desiring to please the traveling public, Torvel Pederson, who conducts a livery business at Stordon, is popular among his patrons, and he deserves to be.
Mr. Pederson was born in Amo township, Cottonwood county, Novem- ber 8, 1874. He is a son of Paul and Andrena (Nelson) Pederson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up and were married. They emi- grated to America in 1871, locating at Staten, Wisconsin, where they en- gaged in farming. In 1874 they came on west to Amo township, Cotton- wood county, Minnesota, where the father homesteaded a one-fourth section, which he developed into a good farm by years of close application. Here the death of the mother of Torvel occurred in 1881. The father removed from Cottonwood county about 1908 and resided on a farm in Anoka county, Minnesota, until he was killed by a train at Anoka in 1908. His family con-
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sisted of four children, namely: Anna, who is the wife of Peter Olson, of Anoka; Hattie, who is the wife of Andrew Johnson, of Minneapolis; Tor- vel, subject of this sketch. and John, who died in early life.
Torvel Pederson received his education in the public schools of Cotton- wood county. He grew up on his father's farm, and he remained on the old homestead in Amo township until 1913. actively engaged in general farm- ing, then purchased the livery and draying business at Storden, which he has operated successfully to the present time. He is well equipped in the way of good horses and vehicles and handles all his business promptly and is honest and courteous to his patrons. He sold the farm when he came to town, but he owns some good land in Aiken county, Minnesota.
Mr. Pederson was married in 1895 to Belle Matson, a native of Iowa, in which state she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Morgan Matson and wife. One child, Pearl, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peder- son.
REV. M. K. HARTMANN.
Contented to merely follow in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene, Rev. M. K. Hartmann, pastor of the United Norwegian Lutheran church of St. James, is doing a most commendable work and is one of the deservedly popular and highly esteemed men of Watonwan county, where he has done much for the general welfare of the people.
M. K. Hartmann was born in Benson, Minnesota, April 3, 1878, and is a son of Rev. H. A. and A. H. (Olson) Hartmann, both natives of Nor- way, where they grew up, attended school and were married. They emi- grated to the United States in 1877 and located at Benson, Minnesota. The father was a minister in the Norwegian Lutheran church and was pastor of the church of this denomoination at Benson for two years, then removed to Allamakee county, Iowa, and was pastor of a church at Lansing, that county, for a period of seventeen years, then returned to Norway, where he now resides. His wife died in Lansing in 1889. To these parents the following children were born: M. K., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest; Her- bert is in the United States navy; Allison, Charlotte, and Alphild are all living in Norway.
M. K. Hartmann received his education in the public schools of Lans- ing, Iowa, including the .high school. He then took the course at St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in
REV. M. K. HARTMANN.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENSX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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1900, also studied at the University of Minnesota for some time. He was graduated from the United Church Seminary, St. Paul, in 1903. Thus exceptionally well prepared for his life work he went to Portland, Maine, where he was pastor of the church of his denomination in 1903 and 1904, then moved to Cresco, Iowa, and was pastor there from 1904 to 1910, when he came to St. James and has since been pastor of the United Luth- eran church, which has a membership of over five hundred. He is also pastor of the Waverly Lutheran church in Martin county. He has built up the churches that he has served and has been popular with all his congre- gations. He is profoundly versed in the scriptures and is an earnest, force- ful and eloquent pulpit orator. He also looks after the general welfare of his congregation, being ready at all times to help in time of distress or sor- row-teaching and practicing a practical religion.
Rev. M. K. Hartmann was married on July 12, 1905, to T. Bockman, of St. Paul, Minnesota, a daughter of Dr. M. O. Bockman, president of the United Lutheran Church Seminary of St. Paul. To this union two chil- dren have been born, namely: Hildur L., born on May 2, 1910; and Char- lotte F., born on October II, 1912. Mrs. Hartmann is a lady of education and culture and has been of great assistance to her husband in his pastoral work.
FRED BURLEY.
Fred Burley, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Madelia township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty- seven acres three miles east of the city of Madelia, is a native of Germany, born on March 19, 1856. He was left an orphan at an early age and when a boy came to the United States with an uncle, the family settling in Wood- ford county, Illinois, where he remained several years, at the end of which time he went to Livingston county, same state, where he lived until his removal to Kansas. In Greeley county, in the latter state, he homesteaded a quarter of a section of land and after proving his claim to the same sold out and went to Phelps county, Nebraska, where he was engaged in farming for six years, at the end of which time he returned to Livingston county, Illinois, where he rented a farm and there made his home for eight years. He then disposed of his interests in that county and came to Minnesota, settling in Watonwan county, where for three years he was engaged in farming on a rented farm, after which he bought what is known as the
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Low farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and there made his home for seven years, at the end of which time, in 1910, he sold that place and bought the farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres in section 24, Madelia township, where he since has made his home and where he and his family are comfortably and pleasantly situated. Mr. Burley has made valuable improvements on his place since taking possession of the same, having erected all the buildings there, and is regarded as one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood.
In 1896, at Forest, Illinois, Fred Burley was united in marriage to Flora Fetters, who was born in Marshall county, Indiana, May 2, 1868, daughter to Isaac and Jane (Vouce) Fetters, and to this union six children have been born, Arthur, Jesse. George, Elmer, Harvey and Melvin. Jesse Burley married Maud Brandt and lives on a farm nearby the parental farm. The Burleys are members of the Christian church and ever have taken an active interest in the general good works of their neighborhood. Mrs. Bur- ley is a competent and valuable helpmate to her husband and has contrib- uted very largely to the success he has made of his farming operations.
IVER O. IVERSON.
Iver O. Iverson, town clerk in and for Highwater township, Cotton- wood county, and one of the well-known and substantial farmers of that township, owner of "Eureka Farm" of three hundred and twenty acres and actively identified with the civic and other interests of his home community, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was seventeen years old. He was born on a farm in the amt, or province, of Nordland on November 29, 1875, son of Iver and Pernelia (Hogensen) Iverson, the former of whom died in 1886, and who were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Anna and Jennie.
Iver O. Iverson received his schooling in the public schools of his native land and in 1892, when seventeen years of age, came to Minnesota and for two years made his home with his paternal uncle, Jacob O. Iverson, of Fillmore county, and then moved over into Cottonwood county to live with his mother's brother, Rasmus Hogenson, a prominent farmer of High- water township, and upon the latter's death, in 1899, inherited the farm of three hundred and twenty acres on which he now lives and which he has greatly improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. He rebuilt the
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house and has added largely to the other buildings on the place and now has one of the best-kept farms in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming. Mr. Iverson gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. Mr. Iverson also gives thoughtful attention to the various local business interests of his home community and is deeply interested in the various movements having to do with the advance- ment of the common cause thereabout. He was one of the organizers of the Westbrook Telephone Company and in other ways has done his part to build up the best interests of that part of the county. For about eleven years he has been township clerk and formerly served as justice of the peace and supervisor for the township.
In April, 1900, Iver O. Iverson was united in marriage to Martha Hofstad, and to this union five children have been born, Vivian L., Iver N., Raymond M., Agnes J. and Pearl H. The Iversons have a very pleasant home, and Mr. and Mrs. Iverson give proper attention to the various social and cultural activities of the community in which they live, being helpful in the promotion of all good movements thereabout.
KNUT OLSON.
Knut Olson, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers of Watonwan county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres in section 7 of Riverdale township, situated a mile and a half north- west of LaSalle, is a native of Sweden, born in the southern part of that country, November 28, 1850, son of Ole and Ellen (Peterson) Munson, natives of Sweden, who owned a small farm. Ole Munson was a soldier and he and his wife spent all their lives in their native land. They were members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were five of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last born, the others being Nels, Bengt A., Hannah and Elna.
When he was thirty-one years of age Knut Olson came to the United States and located at Rockford, Illinois. After a year there he came to Minnesota in 1882, and located in Watonwan county. In 1890 he bought the farm of one hundred and eighty acres on which he is now living and pro- ceeded to develop the same. The next year he married and established his home there, the year following erecting his present comfortable and substan- tial residence. In 1907 he built his present large and well-equipped barn and
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for years has given special attention to dairying, long having been regarded as one of the most progressive dairy farmers in that part of the county. Upon taking possession of his farm, Mr. Olson planted trees liberally, in- cluding a fine orchard, and these now add wonderfully to the general at- tractiveness of his well-kept place. In addition to his general farming and dairying, he also has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well.
It was in 1891 that Knut Olson was united in marriage to Ida Mary Johnson, and to this union three children have been born, Frithjof, who married Eleanor Youngquist, and has one child, a daughter, Vera, and Albin and Arthur. The Olsons have a very pleasant home and take a warm inter- est in the general social activities of their neighborhood, being identified with all measures promising to promote the welfare of the community.
GILBERT SWENSON.
Gilbert Swenson, a well-known and progressive young farmer of High- water township, Cotonwood county, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on March 8, 1881, son of Syver and Ingeborg ( Olson) Swenson, natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota, becoming pioneers of Cottonwood county, where their last days were spent.
Syver Swenson was born on November 17, 1841, and was reared on a farm in his native land. He married Mrs. Ingeborg (Olson) Erickson, who was born in 1849, widow of Ole Erickson, who, by her first marriage, was the mother of one child, a daughter, Randi, and in 1869 came to Minnesota, settling in Olmsted county, whence, the next year, in 1870, he moved over into Cottonwood county and homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in High- water township, established his home there and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1912. His wife had preceded him to the grave about three years, her death having occurred in 1909. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Ole, Mary, Ruth, Swen, Emma, Lena, Enga and Helen.
Gilbert Swenson grew up on the homestead farm on which he was born in Highwater township,, a valuable assistant to his father in the work of developing the same. He received his elementary education in the schools
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of his home township and supplemented the same by a course in the Minne- sota State College of Agriculture, from which he was graduated in 1903. Upon completing his agricultural studies, Mr. Swenson rented the place on which he is now living and in 1910 bought the same. He married in 1912 and has since made his home there, he and his family being very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Mr. Swenson has improved his farm in strictly up-to-date fashion and has one of the best-kept places in that part of the county, the buildings and other improvements being of an approved and sub- stantial character and the farm cultivated according to modern methods.
It was in 1912 that Gilbert Swenson was united in marriage to Ger- trude Sabin, daughter of Andrew Sabin, and to this union two children have been born, Hazel and Stanford. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an active interest in the affairs of the same, Mr. Swenson being a member of the board of trustees of the church. They also are properly interested in other local good works and are helpful in promoting all agencies for the betterment of local conditions in their home community.
OLE ANDERSON.
Ole Anderson, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Madelia township, Watonwan county, is a native son of that same township and has lived there all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm there, December 24, 1873, son of Bertel A. and Oline (Hermanson) Anderson, both natives of Norway, who became substantial and influential pioneers of Madelia township.
Bertel A. Anderson, who is still living on his old home place, which is now owned by his son, Osten M. Anderson, was born on January 20. 1839, son of Andrew and Rachel ( Anderson) Anderson. His father died in his native country and later he and his mother came to Minnesota, settling in Madelia township, Watonwan county, where other members of the Ander- son family from Norway had previously settled. Bertel A. Anderson bought a farm, married a daughter of one of the pioneers of that locality, she also having been a native of Norway, born on May 5, 1843, and established his home in Madelia township, where he is now living, and where he became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which, upon his retire- ment from the active labors of the farm, he sold to his son, Osten M., who is now operating the same. To Bertel A. Anderson and wife eight children
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were born, Ella, Ole, Soren, Sarah, John, Herman, Osten and Abraham, all of whom are living save the last named. The mother of these children died on March I, 1915. She was an earnest member of the Lutheran church, as is her surviving husband, and their children were reared in that faith.
Ole Anderson grew up on the old home farm, where he was born and, being the eldest son, early began to be a valuable aid to his father in the work of developing and improving the place. He received his education in the schools in the neighborhood of his home and remained on the home farm until 1897, in which year he and his brother, Soren, bought a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land in Madelia township, four and one-half miles northwest of the town of Madelia, and entered upon the task of developing and improving the same. In 1902 they built the present sub- stantial farm house and it was not long until they had one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farms in that section of the county. In 1910 Ole Anderson bought his brother's interest in the farm and has since been operating the same alone and is doing well, being recognized as one of the leading farmers of his neighborhood. In 1914 he built the present substan- tial barn and the other farm buildings are in keeping with the same, the entire farm plant exhibiting the progressive and up-to-date methods of the owner. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Anderson has given con- siderable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well with Short- horn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs.
DIETRICH D. PETERS.
Dietrich D. Peters, a well-known and substantial farmer of Dale town- ship, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on Rural Route No. 2, out of Windom, and prominently identified with numerous business interests in that part of the county, is a native of Russia, though he has been a resident of this part of Minnesota since he was two years of age and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the general development of this region during the past generation. He was born on November 5, 1874, son of Dietrich and Maria (Voth) Peters, farming people, who came to the United States from their native Russia with their family in 1876 and proceeded directly to this part of Minnesota, settling in Carson township. Cottonwood county, where they established their home, being among the pioneers of that section.
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Upon settling in Cottonwood county, the senior Dietrich Peters bought forty acres of wild land in Carson township, made and burned a kiln of bricks from the clay on that land and erected a substantial brick house, which he covered with a thatch of hay, and in that house he lived many years. That early brick house is still standing and is still in use, but it has long ago been covered with a shingle roof. Dietrich Peters was a good farmer and prospered in his operations. He gradually enlarged his land holding and for years farmed a place of two hundred acres. In 1913 he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Mountain Lake and is still living there. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : Henry D., proprietor of "Springdale Stock Farm," adjoin- ing that of his brother, Dietrich; George, a farmer living northeast of Delft; Helen, wife of George D. Ewart, a farmer living in Kansas; John, who died when six years old; Abraham, who lives on the old home farm in Carson township, and Mary, wife of P. J. Peters, a Nebraska farmer.
Dietrich D. Peters was about two years old when his parents came to this country in 1876 and he was reared on the home farm in Carson town- ship, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and also acquiring an excellent knowledge of German under the care- ful tutelage of his father. From boyhood he proved a valuable aid to his father in the labor of developing the home place and remained at home until after his marriage, in 1897. Previously he had bought eighty acres of wild land in section 36, of Dale township, and in 1899 built a house and estab- lished his home there. About ten years later he remodeled and enlarged his house, built a good-sized and modern barn and has otherwise improved his place, bringing it up to its present well-kept condition. As he prospered in his operations, Mr. Peters added to his farm and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has under excellent cultivation. He also has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well in that line. Mr. Peters is an "independent" Republican and has served for three or four terms as road overseer in his district. He gives proper atten- tion to local enterprises and is a stockholder in the Carson Farmers Eleva- tor Company, the Delft Creamery Company, of which concern he is one of the directors, and is also a stockholder in and a director of the Delft Rural Telephone Company, in the affairs of all of which concerns he takes an active interest.
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