USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 25
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there, long having been regarded as one of the most substantial farmers of that part of the county. As he prospered in his farming operations, Mr. Kleven gradually added to his land holdings until he now is the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He has improved the place in good shape, has a comfortable residence, well-kept farm buildings and is very pleasantly situated. Mr. Kleven has given close attention to local civic affairs and for years has been a member of the school board of his home township. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church and he is one of the trustees of his church, to the affairs of which he has ever given his earnest attention.
In 1880 Helge O. Kleven was united in marriage to Christine Thorson, also a native of Norway, whose father lived to be eighty-eight years of age, and to this union have been born four sons, Ole, Thor, Albert and Martin, all of whom are well-known and progressive young farmers of Ann township, who are doing well their respective parts in the common life of that community.
JENS C. HANSEN.
Jens C. Hansen, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres on the range line between Storden and Westbrook townships, a portion lying in section 19 of Storden township and the remainder in section 13 of Westbrook township, with the home situated in the former section, and a former merchant of that vicinity, is a native of Denmark, born on July 2, 1866, son of Hans and Karen (Larsen) Jensen, natives of that country, the former of whom spent his last days in Minnesota.
Hans Jensen was a farmer in his native land. In 1886 he came to the United States and located in Freeborn county, this state, his son, Jens C., having preceded him there a couple of years, and after a residence of sev- eral years there moved to Iowa, where he spent six years, at the end of which time he returned to Freeborn county and there spent the rest of his life. Hans Jenson was twice married. His first wife, the mother of Jens C. died in her native land, leaving four children, L. P., Jens C., Chris and Carrie. Mr. Jensen then married Anna Nelson and to that union six chil- dren were born, Peter, Ole, John, Walter, Herman and Fritz. Hans Jen- sen was a member of the Baptist church and his children were reared in that faith.
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Jens C. Hansen was reared on a farm in his native land, receiving his schooling in the public schools, and when he was eighteen years of age, in 1884, came to the United States and located in Freeborn county, this state, where for ten years he was engaged working on farms in that part of the state. In 1895 he came over into this part of the state, settling in Cotton- wood county, where, in partnership with O. C. Anderson, he started a country store in Storden township, and was thus engaged until the year 1900, when he sold his interest in the store and bought the farm of two hundred acres, where he has lived since then. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Hansen has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock, Holstein cattle, by preference, and has done very well. His farm is well improved and profitably cultivated and he has long been recognized as one of the substantial farmers of that section.
In 1897 Jens C. Hansen was united in marriage to Emma Pederson and to this union seven children have been born, Merrill, Ruth, Hattie, Edna, Elvin, Victor and Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Baptist church and take a proper interest in church affairs, Mr. Hansen being the clerk of the congregation. He is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in political affairs, but has never been an office holder. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes an active interest in the affairs of that organization.
ARTHUR O. STARK.
Arthur O. Stark, a well-to-do farmer of Amo township, proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres in the neighborhood of Storden, former chairman of the township board, a director of the Farmers Bank of Storden, one of the organizers of the companies controlling the farmers' elevator and the co-operative store at Storden and for years actively inter- ested in the promotion of the best interests of that section of the county, is a native son of Minnesota, born on a farm in the vicinity of Amherst, in Fillmore county, May II, 1865, son of S. S. and Miranda (Able) Stark, natives of the state of New York, who became pioneers of Minnesota in the early- sixties and were living in Fillmore county during the time of the Sioux outbreak. S. S. Stark was one of eight children born to his parents, the others being Richard, Charles, David, Andrew, Prucia, Josephine and Mary. Andrew Stark also came West and served through the Civil War as a member of a Wisconsin regiment. S. S. Stark became a well-to-do
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farmer in Fillmore county and he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives there. They were the parents of six children, as follow: Flora, Will- iam A., Arthur O., Ida S., Josephine and Edgar. Edgar and Flora are deceased.
Arthur O. Stark was reared on the paternal farm in Fillmore county and received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood. Reared to farming, he early began farming on his own account and for about ten years after his marriage lived on a farm in his native county, after which, in 1900, he came to this part of the state and bought the farm of four hun- dred and eighty acres on which he since has made his home in Amo town- ship and where he and his family are comfortably situated. In addition to his extensive general farming, Mr. Stark has given considerable attention to stock raising and makes a specialty of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. Mr. Stark has for years given his intelligent attention to the promotion of the best interests of his home community and is recog- nized as one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers in the Storden neighborhood. For eleven years he has been a member of the township board, a part of which time he served as chairman of the board, and for fifteen years has been a member of the school board. He helped in the organization of the Farmers Elevator Company and of the Farmers Co-operative Company at Storden, is a stockholder in both these organ- izations and for some time served as a member of the board of directors of the same. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Bank at Storden and in other ways is connected with the business and gen- eral interests of his home community.
In 1890 Arthur O. Stark was united in marriage in Fillmore county, this state, to Della Griffith, who was born in that county, daughter of Edward and Clarissa ( Burbank) Griffith, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in this country, of German descent, who were early settlers in Fillmore county, where their last days were spent, both being buried in the same cemetery in Fillmore county in which rest the remains of Mr. Stark's parents, the two families having been close neighbors. To Mr. and Mrs. Stark have been born five children, Elsie, Leroy, Vivian, Donald and Alice. Donald is deceased. The Starks are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in the various benefi- cences of the same, as well as in all local good works, being accounted among the leaders in the various social activities of their home community. Mr. Stark is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
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HENNING L. SWENSON.
Henning L. Swenson, one of the most substantial farmers of High- water township, Cottonwood county, is a native son of that township, born on the old homestead farm where he has lived all his life. He was born on May 5, 1879, son of Lars and Birgit (Ophiem) Swenson, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to Minnesota in 1870 and later became pioneer settlers in Cottonwood county, where the latter is still living.
Lars Swenson was born on April 2, 1845, and was reared on a farm in his native land. In 1870 he came to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and located in Olmsted county. In 1871, he came to Cottonwood county and homesteaded a quarter of a section in Highwater township, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on November 10, 1902. Lars Swenson for years was one of the leading citizens of Cottonwood county, taking a prominent part not only in civic affairs, but in the general life of the community in pioneer days, and proved a strong and helpful factor in the development of the new country hereabout. He served his community in numerous minor official capacities and in 1890 was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and continued serving in that important public capacity until his death. He was successful in his farming operations and became one of the largest landowners in the northern part of the county, this land now being owned and operated by his children, all of whom are doing well their respective parts in the community. His widow is still living on the old homestead place, that portion of the farm now being owned and operated by Henning L. Swenson, the subject of this sketch. Lars Swenson was an earnest member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as is his widow, and their children were reared in that faith. There were ten of these chil- dren, of whom Henning L. was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Swen L., Halvor and Olena, who died in infancy; Halvor, Orin, Theodore, Olene, Hannah and Laura. .
Henning L. Swenson was reared on the old homestead farm on which he was born, receiving his elementary education in the schools of High- water township, and later took a course in the State Agricultural School, after which he began farming on his own account on the home farm. After his father's death he became the owner of two hundred acres of the estate, including the old homestead tract, and is now living there with his aged mother. Mr. Swenson is carrying on his farming operations according to
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modern methods and has his place in fine shape. In addition to his general farming, he has given considerable attention to raising live stock, with par- ticular reference to Holstein cattle, and has done very well. He gives thoughtful attention to the civic affairs of his home county and does a good citizen's part in the promotion of all agencies having to do with the better- ment of local conditions.
LARS P. PEDERSON.
Lars P. Pederson, marshal of the village of Westbrook, chief of the fire department, president of the Westbrook Electric Light Commission, owner of the leading garage in the village, for ten years street commissioner and for many years one of the best-known threshermen in Cottonwood county, is a native son of that county and has lived there all his life with the exception of a few years spent in the village of Revere in the neighbor- ing county of Redwood. He was born on a pioneer farm on the present site of the village of Westbrook, September 27, 1871, son of Ole A. and Allete (Larson) Pederson, natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota in 1866 and located near Lamberton. A year later they moved over into Cottonwood county and in Westbrook township Ole A. Pederson entered a homestead claim to a tract of eighty acres and pre-empted an adjoining "eighty" in the western part of the township and there established his home. He later bought an adjoining quarter section and thus was the owner of a full half section of land, becoming one of the most substantial farmers in that part of the county. He was active in civic affairs during the early days of the settlement of the county and at one time and another held prac- tically all township offices. He was the first postmaster of Westbrook and for fifteen years kept the postoffice in his home, around which the village of Westbrook gradually grew up and became a flourishing community. Some time after his wife died, Ole A. Pederson moved to the village of Windom, about 1900, and there spent the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, Louisa M., Peder A., Lars P., Josephine T., Ole A., Ellen E. and Adolph A., all of whom are living save the last- named, who died when one year old.
Lars P. Pederson grew to manhood on his father's homestead farm, receiving his schooling in the district school in that immediate vicinity, and when grown started out for himself, engaging in threshing and well- digging and was thus quite successfully engaged until 1902, a part of the
LARS P. PEDERSON.
THE NET WTA PUBLIC LIBRARY
TILD' N .C
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time making his home in the village of Revere. In 1902 he returned to Westbrook and has since then been marshal of the village. For ten years also he was commissioner of streets and is now, in addition to his other official duties, chief of the fire department and president of the electric light commission. Mr. Pederson continued operating his threshing-rig until 1911, in which year he established a garage at Westbrook and has since been engaged in the automobile business. In the summer of 1914 he built his present garage, a substantial structure of brick, fifty by one hundred feet, and has a very well-appointed place. In addition to his general garage business, in connection with which he conducts a first-class service station, Mr. Pederson also acts as agent for the Overland car throughout that locality and has done very well.
On August 14, 1902, Lars P. Pederson was united in marriage to Miriam Jacobson, daughter of the Rev. J. C. Jacobson, now of Windom, and to this union five children have been born, Lila, Myron, Harriet, Kern and Arline, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Pederson are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Pederson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
JAMES J. WALSH.
James J. Walsh was born in England on May 17, 1865, the son of Anthony and Barbara (Gillespie) Walsh. Anthony Walsh and family came to the United States in 1866, when James J. was but one year of age. They landed in New York City and came direct to Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Here they made their home for three years, when they came to Watonwan county and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Fieldon township, in section 25. The farm was increased until there was four hundred and eighty acres in the tract. Mr. Walsh retired from active life in 1896 and moved to Madelia, where he died in June, 1907. Mrs. Walsh died in 1904. Anthony Walsh and wife were the parents of the following children: Ellen, James, Bar- bara and William. The family are all members of the Catholic church.
James J. Walsh grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the schools of Fieldon township. In January, 1906, he was married to Catherine Kennedy, and to this union one child has been born, William Clyde, who was born on September 24, 19II.
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James J. Walsh is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 25 and 26, and the place where he now lives, which was a part of his father's farm. He does general farming and feeds some five hundred head of sheep and one hundred hogs each year. He also conducts a large dairy. Mr. Walsh and family are members of the Catholic church at Madelia.
JOHN E. KOPPERUD.
John E. Kopperud, a well-known and substantial farmer of Ann town- ship, Cottonwood county, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the old Hudson farm, on rural route No. I, out of Revere, and actively identified with the work of developing the interests of that community, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of this country since he was thirteen years old. He was born on December 23, 1879, son of Knute E. and Emma Kopperud, who later became residents of Cottonwood county, where the latter is still living.
Knute E. Kopperud was reared as a farmer in Norway and later moved to Christiana, where he was engaged in the milk business. In 1891 he came to the United States with his family and settled in Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he farmed for eight years, at the end of which time, in 1899, he came to Minnesota and located in Cottonwood county. He bought two hundred and forty acres of wild land in section 23, Ann township, and there established his home and was beginning to have the place well improved when death put a stop to his labors in the spring of 1904. His widow is still living on the home farm. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, of whom John E. was the first in order of birth, the others being as follow: Christina; who died in infancy; Charlotte, who married J. Takle, a farmer of Ann township; Severn, who is farming south of Tracy, this state; Jorgen, who died at the age of four years in Iowa; Eimar, a farmer, of Ann township; Evald, who is farming south of Walnut Grove; Elma, who is with her mother on the home farm, and Juel and Cora, also at home.
John E. Kopperud was about twelve years old when he came to this country with his parents in 1892. He continued his studies for awhile in Iowa and helped in the work of the farm there, remaining with his parents when they came to Minnesota about 1899. Four years after he came to this state, on December 29, 1903, he married Amelia Josephine Hanson, and started out for himself on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section
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23, Ann township, which he rented for a year, at the end of which time he went to North Dakota, where he bought a quarter of a section of wild prairie land in Ransom county, which he set about improving, but a year later traded that place for a farm of eighty acres in Ann township, Cotton- wood county, and returned to the latter place. In addition to farming that eighty he rented the old Hanson farm and operated both places, presently selling his own tract of eighty acres to his brother and buying the Hanson place of one hundred and sixty acres, where he since has made his home. He has built a new barn on the place and otherwise improved it and is now very well situated. He rents eighty acres of the old Kopperud farm, oper- ating the same in addition to his own place, and gives some attention to the raising of live stock in addition to his general farming and is doing very well. Mr. Kopperud is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Revere.
In his political views he is an independent Socialist. For some time he was clerk of school district No. 4. Mr. and Mrs. Kopperud have an adopted son, Louis Arthur. They are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a proper part in all neighborhood good works.
BERTEL A. ANDERSON.
Bertel A. Anderson, a well-to-do retired farmer, of Madelia township, Watonwan county, still living on the old home farm in that township, though having sold the same some years ago to his son, Osten M. Anderson, one of the most substantial young farmers in that neighborhood, is a native of Norway, born on January 20, 1839, son of Andrew and Rachel ( Anderson) Anderson, natives of that same country. Andrew Anderson died in his native land and his widow and her son, Bertel A., shortly afterward came to Minnesota to join other members of the family who previously had set- tled in the Madelia neighborhood.
Upon his arrival here Bertel A. Anderson bought a tract of land in Madelia township. One year before leaving Norway he married Olina Her- manson, also a native of Norway, born on May 5, 1843, and established his home on the farm, where he is still living. He did well at his farming opera- tions and gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, which he farmed until advancing years warned him to relax his labors. He then sold the place to his son, Osten
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M. Anderson, who is continuing the cultivation of the farm, the father meanwhile continuing to make his home on the old place. Bertel A. Ander- son was well past the school age when he came to this country. He had acquired his education in his native land and has never taken the trouble to learn the English language. He is an earnest member of the Lutheran church, as was his wife, who died on March 1, 1915, and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, namely : Mrs. Ella Anderson, a widow, at home in Madelia; Ole, unmarried; Soren, who married Ransie Johnson; Sarah, unmarried; John, unmarried; Herman, who married Mary Ask; Osten M., unmarried, the present owner of the old home place, and Abraham, deceased.
Osten M. Anderson was born on the farm which he now owns on November 22, 1882. He received his education in the schools in the neigh- borhood of his home and has always made his home on the farm, a valuable assistant to his father in the work of developing and improving the same. The farm is well improved. A substantial new house was erected in 1890, and in 1896 the present barn was built. O. M. Anderson is a good farmer and the appearance of his place gives evidence of his progressive methods. In addition to the old home farm he also is the owner of another tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres, thus being the possessor of three hundred and sixty acres in all and is regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that part of the county.
LAURITS PETERSON.
Laurits Peterson, one of the most substantial pioneer farmers of Ma- delia township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in the vicinity of Madelia, where he has made his home for more than forty years, is a native of Norway, born on November 7, 1847, son of Peter and Carrie (Lumberg) Peterson, natives of that country, who became pioneers of this section of Minnesota and spent their last days here.
Peter Peterson was the son of Peter Peterson, a Norwegian farmer and a trained soldier, who spent his whole life in his native land. The younger Peter Peterson grew up to the life of the farm in his home country and there married. continuing to farm there until he and his wife came to the United States, locating in Washington county, Iowa, where they re- mained for two years, at the end of which time they came to Minnesota and
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joined the pioneer settlers who were beginning to occupy the choice lands in this part of the state. Peter Peterson bought a tract of land in Madelia township, Watonwan county, established his home there and there he and his wife spent their last days, honored pioneers of that community, the former dying in 1901 and the latter in 1902. They were earnest members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were four of these children, of whom Laurits was the first born, the others being Catherine, Gillis (deceased) and Nicholas.
Laurits Peterson was twenty-two years old when he came to this coun- try. He had received his schooling in the government schools of his native land and had grown up to the life of the farm. Upon coming to Minnesota in 1873 he took an active part in the work of developing the homestead farm, a valuable assistant to his father, and early became recognized as one of the substantial pioneers of that community. In 1876 he homesteaded the farm of one hundred and eighty acres, on which he still is living and after his marriage, in 1879, established his home there and quickly brought the place to a high state of cultivation. Twenty-eight years ago he re- placed the pioneer house in which he and his wife began their home-keeping by the present substantial residence and later erected more substantial build- ings in keeping with the general well-kept condition of the farm. Mr. Peterson, in addition to his general farming, gave considerable attention to the raising of high-grade cattle and hogs and did very well. Of late years he has practically been retired from the active labors of the farm, the man- agement of which he has turned over to his son, Carl, who is carrying on the work of the farm in progressive fashion, in accordance with modern agricultural methods and is recognized as one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood.
It was .on December 6, 1879, that Laurits Peterson was united in mar- riage to Augusta Marie Sunberg, who was born in Norway on December 19, 1858, and who had come to this part of Minnesota with her parents in pioneer days, and to this union were born five children, four sons and one daughter, all of whom are living, as follow: Peter, unmarried, who lives at Montrose, South Dakota; Carl, also unmarried, who has traveled exten- sively throughout the middle West, and who is now managing the old home- stead farm for his father; Joseph, who married Minnie Winder, and is now living in southern Minnesota; Edward, who married Clara Winder, and is also living in Minnesota, and Mary, who married Bert Johnson. The Peter- sons are members of the Lutheran church and for many years have been regarded as among the leaders in the work of the local congregation of that
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