USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 33
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Daniel E. Wog grew to manhood on the homestead farm on which he was born, receiving his schooling in the old school house in district 33, Charlestown township, and from boyhood proved a valuable aid to his father in the labors of developing the home place. He also became a skilled painter and when not working on the farm was engaged in painting through- out that part of the country. In 1902 he bought the farm of two hundred acres on which he now lives, in section 23, Germantown township, Cotton- wood county, and proceeded to develop the same. All the improvements have been made by him and the place is regarded as one of the best-improved farms in that part of the country, substantial buildings and everything in keeping with the same. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Amboy township, eighty of which was inherited by his wife, he afterward buying the adjoining eighty. Mr. Wog not only has been a successful farmer, but he has given considerable attention to outside business interests. He is a director of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Sanborn, a director of the Westbrook Fire Insurance Company, agent for the Madelia Farmers'
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Cyclone Insurance Company and local agent for the Mutual Benefit Asso- ciation. He also has given close attention to local civic affairs and since 1908 has been a member of the board of supervisors of Germantown town- ship and has been serving as chairman of the board since 1912.
On March 7, 1910, Daniel E. Wog was united in marriage to Emma Grewatz, daughter of Ernest Grewatz, of Amboy. Mr. and Mrs. Wog are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in parish affairs, as well as in all local good works. They have a fine home and give proper attention to the various social activities of their home com- munity, being accounted among the leaders in all movements designed to advance the common welfare thereabout.
LINCOLN L. STORY.
Lincoln L. Story, a well-known and substantial farmer of Amboy town- ship, Cottonwood county, and former member of the board of supervisors of that township, is a native of Iowa, born on a farm in Winneshiek county, that state, July 2, 1861, son of William A. and Eliza (Brod) Story, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Indiana, who for years were residents of Cottonwood county. Both are now dead.
William A. Story moved from New York state to Ohio when a young man and in the latter state engaged in farming. He married there and shortly afterward moved to Iowa, settling in Winneshiek county, where he was engaged in farming until 1879, in which year he came to Minnesota and located at Sleepy Eye, in Brown county, where he remained until 1881, when he moved to Cottonwood county and located on a farm of eighty acres in Amboy township, where he lived until his death. For some years, during the early part of his residence in Amboy township, Mr. Story was the local postmaster in that neighborhood, keeping the postoffice in his house on the farm. He was a Republican and took an active part in local political affairs, long having been one of the leaders of his party in that part of the county. To him and his wife seven children were born, of whom Lincoln L. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Martha, Ella, Andrew, William, Rose and Liona.
Lincoln L. Story's early life was spent on the farm on which he was born in Iowa. He received his schooling in the district school in the neigh- borhood of his home and was about eighteen years old when he came with
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the family to Minnesota. As a young man he worked with his father on the farm and was thus engaged until after his marriage, in 1883, after which he began farming on his own account. He now has one hundred and sixty acres. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Story has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well. He is a Republican . and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, having for three years served as a member of the board of township supervisors. He is a Mason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Mutual Benefit Association, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
In 1883 Mr. Story was united in marriage to Almira Marcott, daugh- ter of David Marcott, of Amboy township, and to this union six children have been born, Altha, who married Harry Graff and lives in North Dakota; Hazel, Addie, who married Ivan Hoff and lives in Ironton, Minnesota ; Lloyd, Floyd and Gertrude. The Storys take a proper interest in the gen- eral social activities of their home neighborhood and are helpful in pro- moting all movements designed to advance the common interest thereabout.
AUGUST W. NICKEL.
August W. Nickel. a progressive farmer of Germantown township, Cottonwood county, and owner of a fine farm of four hundred acres which he has developed in excellent shape, is a native of Germany, but has lived in Minnesota since he was six years old. He was born on May 18, 1873, son of Wilhelm and Emma (Luck) Nickel, natives of that country, who came to Minnesota in 1879 and settled on a homestead tract of eighty acres in Germantown township, Cottonwood county. Wilhelm Nickel started his farming operations in the new country with one ox and one cow, but quickly began to prosper and he gradually added to his tract until he was the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. There he made his home until 1904, when he and his wife moved to Lamberton, where they lived until 1910, in which year they moved to Jeffers, where they are now living. Wilhelm Nickel is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church, in the faith of which their children were reared. There were seven of these children, of whom August W. was the second in order of birth, the others being Minnie, Emma, W. C., Amelia, Lena and Fred.
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August W. Nickel was six years of age when his parents came to Minnesota from Germany and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm in Germantown township, receiving his schooling in the public schools in that township. He early began farming on his own account and in 1894, when twenty-one years of age, bought the farm on which he is now living. Four years later he married and established his home there. When he bought the place it was an unimproved prairie tract and he has improved and brought the same to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Nickel is the owner of four hundred acres and has long been regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that section of the county. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock, paying particular attention to the breeding of Shorthorns.
In 1898 August W. Nickel was united in marriage to Louise Pankonin, daughter of Louis Pankonin, and to this union six children have been born, Lydia, Henry, Ella, Selma, Ervin and Agnes. Mr. and Mrs. Nickel are earnest members of the Evangelical church and are active workers in the same, Mr. Nickel having held at one time and another practically every office in the local church organization, at present serving as superintendent of the Sunday school. They also take a warm interest in other community good works and have been helpful in promoting various movements for the betterment of conditions in the neighborhood in which they live.
OLE E. SLETTA.
Ole E. Sletta is of Norwegian nativity, born in Norway, November 17, 1881. He is an elder brother of Alfred Sletta, whose ancestral sketch is given in another place in this volume.
Ole E. Sletta, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of Riverdale township, which was the family homestead during his early years. As a boy and young man he worked on the farm. Soon after attaining his majority, in 1905, he engaged in farming for himself, and fol- lowed this occupation until 1907. At that time he came to LaSalle and opened up a blacksmith shop and was engaged in this business for two years. On August 1, 1909, he became the manager of the plant of the Great West- ern Elevator Company, and has been thus employed since.
Mr. Sletta was married in 1907 to Thora Blackstad, daughter of T. H. Blackstad, of Riverdale township, Watonwan county. To this union three
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children were born: Theo A., Ivan L., and Orval T. Mr. and Mrs. Ole E. Sletta are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is a Repub- lican, and is at present clerk of the village. His lodge membership is with the Woodmen and with the Modern Brotherhood of America.
KNUT SEVRIN THOMPSON.
The fact that Knut Sevrin Thompson, clerk of the court of St. James, Watonwan county, has attained a very creditable position in the community through his own efforts, which have been practically unaided from boyhood, renders him the more worthy of the esteem that is freely accorded him by his fellowmen. He was born in Norway, May 19, 1865, and is a son of Jens and Johanna Sevrine (Svensen) Thompson, both natives of Norway, from which country they immigrated to America, landing in Quebec, Can- ada, May 19, 1868.
Jens Thompson was a ship-builder by trade. Upon leaving Quebec he came to Rosendale township, Watonwan county, Minnesota, taking up a homestead of eighty acres, in section 10, his place being the most westerly of any in that part of the county. By hard work and close application he developed a good farm there on which he remained until his death in 1908, his wife having preceded him to the grave about ten years previously. He accumulated over two hundred acres of valuable land. His family consisted of the following children : Marie, Mrs. Henry Madson, Thomas J., who lives in Mobridge, South Dakota; Lizzie is the wife of E. N. Graven, Knut S., the subject of this review; Louisa is the wife of J. E. Johnson, and J. Caroline. They are all living at this writing. John C. Jacobsen was reared by Jens Thompson and wife and has always borne their surname. He is now residing in Mobridge, South Dakota. The parents of these children belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which faith they reared their family.
Knut S. Thompson grew up on the farm and attended the public schools, also spending three months in an evening school at Mankato, where he took a business course. He began life as a farmer and this has been his principal business. He remained on the homestead most of the time until in December, 1909, when he moved to St. James, having been elected clerk of the courts in the fall of 1908, taking office on January 1, 1910, and is still incumbent of the same. He has discharged his duties in an able,
KNUT S. THOMPSON.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIERARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN HEU'T DATIONS
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faithful and satisfactory manner. He has also held the offices of township assessor and justice of the peace and has been township clerk of Rosendale township. He left the last named office to become clerk of the courts. He has always been active and influential in public affairs, and for a number of years one of the local leaders in the Republican party. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which he is a trustee.
Mr. Thompson was married on May 3, 1897, at Canton, South Dakota, to Christine Thompson, a native of Norway, from which country she came to America alone when a young girl. To this union three children have been born, namely: Henry Julius, Irvin Sevrin and Lenora Marie.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Mutual Benefit Association.
AMUND ANDERSON.
Amund Anderson, a well-known and well-to-do 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 Norway, born on August 31, 1866, son of Andrew and Sevena ( Hanson) Peterson, who were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Hans. Andrew Peterson spent all his life in his native land and his widow is now making her home with her son in Madelia township, in her eighty- eighth year.
Amund Anderson came to the United States when he was twenty-five years of age and proceeded directly to Minnesota, locating in Faribault county, where friends of his from the old country previously had settled. There he remained for three years, at the end of which time he returned to his native land on a visit, remaining seven months, during which time he married Carrie Anderson. Upon his return to America with his wife, Mr. Anderson came to this part of the state and located on the quarter of a sec- tion, which he ever since has owned and where he ever since has lived, in Madelia township, and where he has done very well in his farming opera- tions, being regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. He has made all the improvements on his place and besides the comfortable residence, capacious barn and other farm buildings to match, he has spent more than a thousand dollars in properly draining his place. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Anderson has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has excellent grades of cattle and hogs on his place.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson seven children have been born, Andrew, Albert, deceased; Henry, Robert, Dena, Albert and Julius. Of these chil- dren, Andrew, Robert and Henry are married and have homes of their own. The Andersons have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social affairs of the neighborhood in which they live. They are members of the Lutheran church and take a warm interest in the work of the same.
ELOF ERICKSON.
Elof Erickson, one of the most prosperous farmers in the vicinity of St. James, proprietor of a fine farm in section 35 of St. James township, Watonwan county, is a native son of Minnesota, born on a pioneer farm in Goodhue county, March 10, 1869, son of Swan and Besje Erickson, both natives of Sweden, the former born in 1830 and the latter in 1835, who are still living on their old homestead farm in Goodhue county.
Swan Erickson came to the United States in 1854, he then being twenty-four years of age, landing at New York, and in 1856 came to Minnesota, settling in Goodhue county, where he entered a tract of govern- ment land, being one of the earliest settlers of that part of the then Territory of Minnesota. In June, 1866, he married Besje Chellson, who had come to that same part of the state the year before, and established his home on the homestead tract. In 1873 he bought an adjoining quarter section and it was not long until he became recognized as one of the most substantial farmers of that section. He and his wife took an active part in the or- ganization of the first Swedish Lutheran church in Vasa township, Good- hue county. Mr. Erickson is a Republican and has ever given close attention to political affairs in his community, on several occasions being elected to local office. Not long after the opening of this western part of the state to settlement he came over here and bought a tract of land in section 35, St. James township, Watonwan county, and an "eighty" in section 7, Long Lake township, later selling the latter tract and buying another "eighty" in sections 2 and 3 in Long Lake township, on which latter tract his son, John B. Erickson, is now making his home. To Swan Erickson and wife eight children were born, of whom Elof was the second in order of birth, the others being Hilda, Esther, John B. and Jennie (twins), Edward A. and Annie (twins), the latter`of whom died in infancy, and Anna A.
Elof Erickson was reared on the paternal homestead in Goodhue
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county, obtaining his schooling in the primitive schools of that time and place, and remained on the home farm, a valuable aid to his father in the development of the same, until he was twenty-five years of age, when, in the spring of 1894, he came to this part of the state and took charge of the tract of land his father had bought in the vicinity of St. James and there he ever since has made his home. He at once set about improving the place, planting a fine grove and in other ways beautifying the tract, and soon be- came recognized as one of the substantial and progressive farmers of that section. Four years after coming here he married and established a com- fortable home on his place and has long held a responsible and dignified position in the community. He not only has prospered in his farming operations, but has found time to give a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. He is a Republican and for eleven years or more has been a member of the town board and for some years a member of the local school board. He and his wife are members of the St. James Swedish Lutheran church and take a general interest in local good works. On June 15, 1898, Elof Erickson was united in marriage to Christine Linquist, who was born in Nicollet county, this state, November 26, 1869, daughter of Gustav and Augusta Linquist, natives of Sweden, who are now residents of Long Lake township, Watonwan county. The Ericksons have a very pleasant home on their well-kept farm and take a proper part in the general social activities of their neighborhood.
JACOB M. GLASIER.
Jacob M. Glasier, one of the best-known farmers and stockmen in Watonwan county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Rosendale township, in the vicinity of St. James, and widely known through- out this and neighboring states as a breeder of high-grade swine, is a native of Illinois, born on a farm near Pontiac, in Livingston county, that state, November 8, 1878, son of Peter and Anna (Fair) Glasier, natives of Ger- many, the former of whom was born on March 12, 1825, and the latter, May 5, 1840.
Peter Glasier and wife came to the United States in 1874 and located at Trenton, New Jersey, where they remained for a year, Mr. Glasier being employed in the wire mills there, he being an expert iron-worker and black- smith. They then came West and settled in Livingston county, Illinois, where Peter Glasier bought a small farm in the neighborhood of Pontiac,
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in Livingston county, erected a blacksmith shop on the same and there lived for nearly twenty years, farming and blacksmithing. In the spring of 1894 he disposed of his interests there and moved to Kossuth county, Iowa, where, in the vicinity of Whittemore, he was engaged in farming until 1901, when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved into Whittemore, where he died on July 9, 1911, and where his widow is now living. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being as follow: A daughter, who died in infancy in Germany: Lena, who was born in Germany; Elizabeth, who was born in Trenton, New Jersey; another daughter, born in Livings- ton county, Illinois, who died in infancy ; Peter J., born in Livingston county ; Dr. William F. Glasier, born in Livingston county, who is now a practicing physician at Sisseton, South Dakota, and John T., also born in Livingston county.
Jacob M. Glasier was fifteen years old when his parents moved from Illinois to Iowa and his schooling was completed in the public schools of Kossuth county, in the latter state. He became an experienced farmer and early began farming on his own account. In 1909 he married and a couple of years later, in 1911, disposed of his interests in Iowa and came to Minne- sota, settling in Watonwan county, where he since has made his home. Upon locating here, Mr. Glasier bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 17 of Rosendale township and proceeded to improve and develop the same until now he has one of the best-kept and most profitable farms in the vicinity of St. James. Mr. Glasier had had much success with the raising of hogs in Iowa and upon coming to Minnesota began operations on an extensive scale along that line, paying particular attention to the rais- ing of pure-bred Poland China swine, with which he had been very success- ful in Iowa, for some years previous to coming to this state he having held annual sales of his high-grade hogs which attracted attention among stock breeders far and near. These annual sales have been continued on the Rosen- dale township farm and attract wide attention. Mr. Glasier ships his hogs into adjoining states, as well as throughout this state, and is a well-known exhibitor at state and county fairs. Mr. Glasier is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker.
In 1909, in Iowa, Jacob M. Glasier was united in marriage to Anna Kennedy, of Algona, that state, daughter of John and Catherine (Mimsgarn) Kennedy; the former died in 1913 and the latter is still living at Algona, and to this union four children have been born, Catherine Bernice, Anna Stella, Theresa Beatrice and Dorothy Cecelia. Mr. and Mrs. Glasier
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are members of the Catholic church and take an earnest interest in parish affairs, as well as in the general good works of the community and are a helpful influence in the neighborhood in which they live.
WV. S. SWAIN.
W. S. Swain, one of Cottonwood county's most extensive farmers and the assessor of Amboy township, is a native of Canada, was reared in the state of New York and has been a resident of Minnesota since he was twenty years of age. He was born on a farm in the province of Ontario on September 13, 1865, son of Norman and Catherine (Garlough) Swain, who moved from Canada to the state of New York in 1866, settling on a farm, where Norman Swain died in 1869, leaving four sons, of whom W. S. was the second in order of birth, the others being James, Herbert and Bert, the latter two are twins. Mrs. Swain later married Silas Bump, but none of the children of that union are now living.
After the death of his father, W. S. Swain went to live with his maternal uncle, James Garlough, in St. Lawrence county, New York state, and there he lived until he was twenty years old, receiving his schooling in the public schools and growing up to the life of the farm, becoming a very competent farmer. In March, 1886, he came to Minnesota, locating at Windom. Shortly afterward he was engaged as superintendent of a big farm in Great Bend township and was thus engaged for four years, at the end of which time he started farming for himself in Dale township. Four years later he was employed in the real-estate business and was quite suc- cessfully engaged in that line for two years, at the end of which time he returned to New York, where he remained a year, returning then to Cot- tonwood county, where for a year he was engaged in farming in Lakeside township. After that, for a couple of years, he was employed in the livery business at Windom and then engaged in the milk business at the same place, being thus engaged for a year, after which he resumed farming and for a year farmed in Dale township and a year in Storden township, after which, in 1909, he rented his present tract of one thousand acres in Amboy town- ship and has ever since been operating that great place, long having been regarded as one of the most extensive farmers and stockmen in this part of the state. Mr. Swain is a Republican and gives a good citizen's atten- tion to local affairs, at present serving as township assessor.
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In November, 1890. W. S. Swain was united in marriage to Sarah Williams, daughter of WV. B. and Jane ( Allen) Williams, of Windom, and to this union five children have been born, Herbert, Leon, Grace, Lester and Lucy. The Swain family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in all movements having to do with the promotion of the common welfare hereabout. Mr. Swain is a member of the Windom lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Mutual Benefit Associa- tion and of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the affairs of all these organizations.
RUDOLF HOFSTAD.
Rudolf Hofstad, a well-known and substantial farmer of Storden town- ship. Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Storden, and for many years actively identified with the work of developing the community in which he lives, is a native of Norway, born in Helgoland, October 14. 1853, son of Peter and Marie (Lund) Hofstad, natives of that same country, who spent all their lives there. Peter Hofstad was a farmer and a sailor. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Johannes, Hans (deceased), Morton, Jacob (deceased), Peter, Knute (deceased), and Ole (deceased ).
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