USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 34
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Upon completing his studies in the high school in his home country, Rudolf Hofstad began farming and has continued farming ever since. He married in 1879 and three years later, in 1882, came to this country, pro- ceeding directly to Minnesota and settling on a farm in Grenville county, where he lived for three years, at the end of which time, in 1885. he moved to this part of the state and located on his present farm in Storden township, Cottonwood county, where he has made his home ever since. Mr. Hofstad is an excellent farmer and has increased his original holdings there to two hundred and forty acres. He has erected all the buildings on the place and has brought the same to a high state of cultivation, long having been accounted one of the leading farmers in that part of the county. Mr. Hof- stad is an ardent Prohibitionist and has done much in his community to advance the anti-saloon cause thereabout.
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In 1879 Rudolf Hofstad was united in marriage, in Norway, to Anna Paulson. To that union five children have been born, Mary, Anna, Peter, Jennie and Caleb, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Hofstad are mem- bers of the Norwegian Methodist church and for years have taken an active part in promoting the affairs of the same in their neighborhood, as well as participating in all local good works.
OLE C. HOYT.
Ole C. Hoyt, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Westbrook town- ship, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Westbrook, is a native of Wisconsin, born on a farm in Green county, that state, December 1, 1861, son of Christian Lar- son and Caste (Gilbertson) Hoyt, natives of Norway, who upon coming to the United States located in Green county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1875, in which year they and their children came to Minnesota, driv- ing through by wagon and settling in Cottonwood county. Upon coming out here Christian L. Hoyt bought a farm in section 34, Ann township, established his home there, became one of the useful and substantial pioneers of that section and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in March, 1895. His widow is still living. She is an earnest member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, as was her husband, and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven children, of whom Ole C. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Christie, Lars, Gilbert, Lena, Randa and Mary; the latter died in infancy.
Ole C. Hoyt was about fourteen years old when his parents came to Minnesota in 1875 and he completed his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his new home in Ann township. As a young man he was engaged for some time "working out" on the farms of neighboring farmers and about 1884 he began farming on his own account in Westbrook township. The following year he took the tenancy of the farm on which he is now living, in section 4, Westbrook township, and after his marriage in 1890 established his home there. In 1897 he bought the place and is now very substantially situated, the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, well improved and profitably cultivated. Mr. Hoyt has made all the improvements on his place and has one of the model farms of that neighborhood. In addition to his general farming, he has given con-
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siderable attention to the raising of live stock. Mr. Hoyt is a Democrat and gives close attention to local political conditions. He has served as a mem- ber of the school board and in other ways has contributed to the public service.
On June 10, 1890, Ole C. Hoyt was united in marriage to Martha Josephina Skow, daughter of Paul and Agnetta (Jensen) Skow, who were the parents of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Hoyt is the eldest, the others being Mary, Emma, Bertha, Oscar, Dinah, Amanda, Martin, Edwin, Agnes and Pearl. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt ten children have been born, Ella, Joseph and Alfred (twins), Arthur, Willie, Henry, Helen, Clarence, Myrtle and Arnold. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a proper interest in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Hoyt is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
EDWARD F. SCHMOTZER.
Edward F. Schmotzer was born in Dale township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, November 27, 1884. He is a son of John and Rose (Muller) Schmotzer. His father was born in Germany in 1843 and his mother in Switzerland.
The father came to America in 1866 and located first in Indiana. In 1870 he came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Dale township. With the excep- tion of four years he lived on this land and made this his home until his death, which occurred on February 16, 1910. His first wife died in 1889. The children of this family were: Henry, who died young; Rose, who died at the age of six; Edward F., and Louis, who died young. His second wife was Dora Gundel. She was the mother of four children: Minnie, Louis, Harry, Walter. The family were members of the Lutheran church.
Edward F. Schmotzer was educated in the public schools of Dale town- ship. In 1901 he started to farming for himself on a farm in Dale town- ship. He continued to farm there until the spring of 1911, when he sold out and moved to Jeffers, where he lived for about two years; then lived in Comfrey, Minnesota, for a year. In October, 1913, he bought the Jeffers Review newspaper plant, and moved back to Jeffers and assumed charge of the paper. He has since been the publisher of this paper.
EDWARD F. SCHMOTZER.
THE NEW TOOK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Mr. Schmotzer was married on October 1, 1899, to Emma Whiteman, daughter of George Whiteman, of Hampton, Iowa. To this union seven children have been born: Wilbert, Alice, Orval, Beryl, Leonard and Leona (twins) and Erma. Leona died on March 19, 1915.
Mr. Schmotzer is independent in political faith and votes for the candi- date whom he considers the best man for the place, and not because he belongs to this or that political party. His fraternal association is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He conducts his paper on strictly non-partisan lines, advocating the interests of the public first and always. He uses his publication for the common interests of the people in this com- munity, fearlessly upholding the common cause, and never lending its columns to the sordid ambition of any man or set of men. He owns three hundred and forty acres of unimproved land in northern Minnesota.
AUGUST FREDRICKSON.
August Fredrickson, assessor of Storden township, Cottonwood county, former chairman of the board of supervisors of that township and for years one of the best-known farmers of that part of the county, is a native of Sweden, born on September 17, 1865, son of Capt. Frederick and Ellen (Peterson) Nelson, natives of that same country, both now deceased, who were the parents of four children, of whom August is now the only sur- vivor, the others having been as follow: Carl G., who died at the age of twenty-eight; Emma, who died at twenty-six, and Hulda, who died at twenty-five. Captain Nelson was the owner of a merchant vessel engaged in the coasting trade in Sweden. He died in 1884. His wife had preceded him to the grave about two years, her death having occurred in 1882.
After completing one year in the high school in his native town, August Fredrickson took to the sea and for a couple of years was engaged as a sailor on his father's vessel, after which he was' for a year engaged as a sailor on another merchant vessel. In 1882, being seventeen years of age, he came to the United States and proceeded to Minnesota, locating in Stor- den township, Cottonwood county, where he has made his home ever since. He married in 1889 and the next year established his home on the farm of one hundred and twenty acres he now owns in Storden township and where he ever since has resided. He has improved his farm in excellent shape
(23a)
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and has the same under profitable cultivation. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Fredrickson has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well. He is a Democrat and for years has given close attention to local political affairs. For years he served as chairman of the board of supervisors of his home township and is now serving in the im- portant capacity of township assessor.
In 1889 August Fredrickson was united in marriage to Fredericka Per- son and to this union six children have been born: Carl, who is deceased; Ellen, Axel, Elmer, Amelia and Amanda. Carl was twenty-five years old and was a telegraph operator at Milton, North Dakota, when he was drowned while bathing. Mr. and Mrs. Fredrickson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and take an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works, Mr. Fredrickson having served as trustee and as treasurer of the church.
CORNELIUS GOERTZEN.
Cornelius Goertzen, a well-known farmer of Cottonwood county, super- visor of Dale township and secretary of the Farmers Elevator Company at Carson, is a native of Russia, born on November 24. 1868, son of Jacob and Marie (Williams) Goertzen, who later came to this country and became pioneers of this section of Minnesota.
Jacob Goertzen was born in Germany, but when a boy moved with his parents to the southern part of Russia, where he grew to manhood and where he married Anna Loewens, to which union five children were born, two of whom, David and Henry, came to the United States, the others remaining in Russia. Upon the death of the mother of these children, Jacob Goertzen married Marie Williams and after a continued residence of ten or fifteen years in Russia came to the United States with his family, in 1878, and proceeded directly to this section of Minnesota, arriving at Mountain Lake on July 6, that year. Upon arriving here Jacob Goertzen bought the partly improved southwest quarter of section 7, in Carson township, and during the first year of his residence there built a new house. He later pur- chased a nearby tract of one hundred and twenty acres and was engaged the rest of his life in the cultivation of these farms. In addition to his general farming he went in heavily for the raising of cattle and sheep and did quite well in his operation, becoming one of the substantial farmers of that neigh- borhood. His death occurred on September 17, 1888, he then being seventy-
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three years, one month and sixteen days of age. His widow survived hin until August, 1904, she being sixty-eight years old at the time of her death. They were the parents of seven children, John J., who is the present post- master at Bingham Lake; Abraham J., a farmer of Dale township; Justina, wife of William Ewert, of Bingham Lake; Cornelius, the subject of this review ; Isaac J., a farmer of Saskatchewan, Canada; Frank, a farmer living in Manitoba, Canada, and Dietrich, clerk in a store at Saskatchewan.
Cornelius Goertzen was about ten years of age when he came to this country in 1878 with his parents. He had received about three years of schooling in the government schools of his native land, and upon his arrival here, was placed in the German schools, but after an attendance of four months there was transferred to the public schools and there continued, diligent in his studies, for four terms. He was not yet twenty years old when his father died, and for a year thereafter, or until his marriage in the fall of 1889, he remained at the old home. Previous to his marriage he had purchased a quarter section of improved land in Dale township, the farm on which he is now living, and after his marriage began housekeeping in the house which then stood on that place. Eight years later he erected his present commodious two-story, modern residence on the place and he and his family are there comfortably situated. Since then he has also built a substantial new barn and in 1914 erected the first cement block silo in the vicinity of Delft. In addition to his general farming he has given consider- able attention to the raising of cattle and has done well in his operations along this line. He has purchased more land from time to time and is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres, all of which, save fifty acres, which he rents out, he farms himself. Mr. Goertzen is a Republican, and has for years given careful attention to local political affairs. For several years he was clerk of school district 77, and for the past ten years has served in the capacity of township supervisor. He has also given proper attention to various semi-local business enterprises and is secretary of the Farmers Elevator Company at Carson, and a stockholder in the local creamery com- pany at that place. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite church, and take a proper interest in the affairs of that organization.
On October 24, 1889, Cornelius Goertzen was united in marriage to Katherina Dick, and to this union six children have been born, namely : Mary, who died in youth; Katie Dora, who married David Walter Peterson, the butter-maker at the creamery at Delft, and Cornelius Oliver, Dietrich Jacob, Nicholas Edward and Anna Olga, who are at home with their parents.
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JOHN H. FAST.
John H. Fast, a well-to-do farmer of Midway township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Mountain Lake and actively identified with the rapidly developing inter- ests of that part of the county, is a native son of Cottonwood county, born on a farm in Midway township, March 15, 1880, son of the Rev. Henry and Mary (Hamm) Fast, prominent and influential residents of that community, who now live in the village of Mountain Lake.
The Rev. Henry Fast, one of the best-known ministers of the Mennonite faith in Minnesota, is a native of southern Russia, born on August 28, 1849, son of John and Sarah (Peters) Fast, natives of that same country, who came to the United States with their family in 1875, and in August of that year settled in Cottonwood county, becoming influential members of the con- siderable Mennonite colony that even then had gathered hereabout. John Fast homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Midway township, bought an adjoining quarter and there established his home, but did not live to realize the hopes he had built up in connection with his coming to the new country, his death occurring in the December following his arrival here, he then being sixty-six years of age. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring on July 4, 1908, she then being seventy-nine years of age. They were the parents of six children, Henry, Sarah, Gerhart, Herman, Elizabeth ( deceased ) and Agatha (deceased). By a previous marriage John Fast was the father of five children, Anna, John, Lena, Katherine and David, all of whom are dead save Lena.
Henry Fast was twenty-six years of age when he came to Minnesota with his parents and the other members of the family. He had received an excellent education in his native land and had studied with particular refer- ence to entering the gospel ministry in the service of the Mennonite church. When his father died he bought the home place of three hundred and twenty acres and upon his marriage, in 1876, the year after his arrival here, estab- lished his home there, continuing to make that his place of residence for thirty-six years, or until 1910, when he and his wife moved to Mountain Lake, where they now live. The Rev. Henry Fast was ordained a minister of the Mennonite church in 1877, two years after locating in Minnesota, and ever since then has been an active and influential minister of that faith, being known widely throughout that connection in Minnesota and the Dakotas, now pastor of the church at Mountain Lake. He also has been a farmer
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and before his retirement from the farm had brought his place in Midway township up to a high state of development.
In 1876 Rev. Henry Fast was united in marriage to Mary Hamm, who also was born in southern Russia, April 25, 1853, daughter of David and Mary (Eitzen) Hamımı, earnest Mennonites, who also had come to Minne- sota in 1875 and settled in Cottonwood county. David Hamm bought a quarter of a section of land in Midway township, and there he established his home and spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on July 29, 1891, at the age of seventy-three years. His widow survived him but a year, her death occurring in 1892, she then being sixty-three years of age. They were the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. Fast was the first born, the others being David, Abraham, Anna and Susanna. To Rev. Henry and Mary (Hamnı) Fast ten children have been born, namely: Sarah, born in 1877; Mary, 1878; John H., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; David, born in 1881; Henry, 1885; Helena, 1885, now deceased; Gerhard, 1887, also deceased; Gerhard, second, 1889; Elizabeth, 1891, deceased, and Abraham, who died in infancy.
John H. Fast was reared on the paternal farm in Midway township, receiving his schooling in the public schools, and remained at home to assist his father in the work of developing and improving the home place, until after he had attained his majority, when, in 1902, he went to North Dakota and homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Billings county and pro- ceeded to "prove up." The next year he married a daughter of one of the pioneer families of that section and established his home on his homestead place, continuing to make his home there until 1910, in which year he sold out to advantage and returned to his old home in Cottonwood county. Upon returning here, Mr. Fast bought a tract of two hundred and forty acres in sections 17 and 18 of Midway township, and there has made his home ever since, being now regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that part of the county. He has added quite materially to the improvements that were on the place and has brought the farm up to a high state of cultivation. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade stock and has done very well. Mr. Fast gives proper attention to local civic affairs and is now serving as a member of the local school board.
On June 25, 1903, John H. Fast was united in marriage to Helena Schmidt, who was born in that state on March 8, 1880, daughter of John and Elsie (Schultz) Schmidt, pioneers of Billings county, both of whom died in 1891, she in October and he in the following December, and to this union
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eight children have been born, as follow: Henry, born on May 14, 1904, who died in infancy; Mary, May 28, 1905, who died on June 8, of that same year ; Henry, September 28, 1906; Mary, March 15, 1908; Lena, November 14, 1909; Sarah, July 8, 1911; John, March 31, 1913, who died in infancy, and Elsie, December 18, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Fast are members of the Men- nonite church and give proper attention to the various beneficences of the same, as well as to all local good works and are doing well their part in the community in which they live.
E. O. FESTER.
E. O. Fester, former chairman of the board of supervisors of High- water township, Cottonwood county, and one of the most substantial farmers of that township, is a native of Norway, but has lived in Minnesota since he was eighteen years old. He was born on July 18, 1875, son of Olai and Juditte (Ericksen) Fester, who were the parents of two sons, E. O. and Johan. The mother of these sons died and Olai Fester married Karen Carl- son, to which union four children were born, Olaf, Carl, Juditte and Hen- rika.
Olai Fester was a fisherman in his native land and his eldest son, E. O. Fester, was reared to that calling, which he followed until he was eighteen years of age, when, in 1893, he came to Minnesota and located at Lamberton. For about two years thereafter he worked at various occupations there and in that vicinity, his principal occupation, however, being farming, and in the fall of 1897, following his marriage, bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he is now living in section 27 of Highwater township, Cottonwood county, and has since made his home there. Mr. Fester set about the improvement and cultivation of his place in up-to-date fashion and has one of the best-improved and most profitably cultivated farms in that section. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable atten- tion to stock raising. In his political views, Mr. Fester is a Republican and has given close attention to political affairs since he came to this country. For ten years he served his home township as a member of the board of supervisors and for three years was chairman of that board, while in other ways he has ever done the part of a good citizen in the advancement of the interests of the community in which he lives.
In 1897 E. O. Fester was united in marriage to Amelia Jensen, and to
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this union nine children have been born, Olaf, Mabel, Hilda, Harold, Alfred, Elmer Joseph, Agnes and Juditte. Mr. and Mrs. Fester are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in the general beneficences of which they take an active interest, Mr. Fester having been for six or seven years a member of the board of trustees of the church, and they also are concerned in all move- ments having to do with the betterment of conditions in the community in which they live.
G. T. NATTERSTAD.
G. T. Natterstad, a well-known and substantial farmer of Storden town- ship, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Storden, is a native of Norway, born on March 21, 1869, son of Tommaes and Martha (Hjalmeland) Natterstad, natives of that same country and the parents of five children, of whom G. T. was the third in order of birth, the others being Belle, Johannes, Mary and Knute. Tommaes Natterstad is a farmer and is still living in his native land.
After completing the course in the public schools of his native land, G. T. Natterstad took up farming and also served a term in the army, his military service being completed in 1892. The next year, he then being twenty-three years of age, he came to the United States and located in Ida county, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1895, when he came to Minnesota and located in Cottonwood county, where he has made his home ever since. For two years after coming here, Mr. Natterstad worked on a farm in Amo township and then for three years worked at Windom. He then, in the fall of 1908, bought the quarter section on which he is now living, in Storden township, and ever since has made his home there. The farm is well improved and profitably cultivated and Mr. Natterstad is looked upon as one of the substantial citizens of that community. He and his family have a pleasant home and are comfortably situated.
It was in 1905, about ten years after coming to Minnesota, that G. T. Natterstad was united in marriage to Anna Vang and to this union four children have been born, Martha, Elsie, Johann and Gerda. Mr. and Mrs. Natterstad are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take a warm interest in the general affairs of the same, being helpful in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Natterstad is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but is not included in the office-seeking class.
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JOHN G. GRANT.
John G. Grant, one of the best-known farmers in Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm in Lakeside township, is a native son of that county and has lived there all his life. He was born on the farm on which he now lives, March 12, 1880, son of J. F. and Mary (Geddes) Grant, early settlers of this part of the state.
J. F. Grant is a native of Canada, born in the province of Ontario, September II, 1845, and became one of the pioneers of this section of Minnesota, having been one of the men who organized the government of Cottonwood county. It was in 1869 that he came out here. Upon locating here he filed on a homestead tract in what later became Carson township and shortly afterward traded that pre-emption claim for a homestead in Lakeside township, where he established his home. He was not only one of the earliest settlers of Cottonwood county, but was one of the most in- fluential in the early days. He was one of the organizers of the county and for many years was a member of the school board, in which capacity he performed an admirable service in behalf of the early schools of the county, also serving for some time as county commissioner. He became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Lakeside town- ship and there made his home until 1905, when he moved to Windom, where he lived until 1911, in which year he disposed of his interests in that city and moved to Eugene, Oregon, where he and his wife are now living in comfortable retirement. J. F. Grant has been thrice married. His first wife, who was Emma Greenfield, died many years ago, leaving one child, a daughter, Emma. who married J. E. Frost. Mr. Grant then married Mary Geddes, who was born at Albany, New York, in 1854, and to this union six children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being George W., Charles F., James A., Fred R. and Mary A. Mrs. Mary (Geddes) Grant died on November 2, 1902, and Mr. Grant later married Mrs. Hermena Schroader, which union has been without issue. Mr. Grant is a member of the Presbyterian church; Mrs. Grant is a Baptist.
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