USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
William W. Ewert was a farmer and lumberman in Russia, and lived all his life in that country. He died in 1871. Some years after his death the mother came to America with her children, arriving in 1878. They finally came to Minnesota and found a location in Mountain Lake township and engaged in farming. The children of the family were: Jacob, Wilhelm, David, and Abraham (deceased).
David Ewert received his education in Russia, and came to this country with his mother in 1878. For two years after arriving in Cottonwood county he remained with the family on the farm, assisting in the farm work. In 1880 he engaged in the general merchandising business in partnership with H. P. Goetry. After two years this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Ewert has since conducted the business alone. In 1881 he was married to Elizabeth Goetry, a daughter of Peter Goetry, and to this union two children have been born: Elizabeth and Anna. They are both students at the State University.
Politically, Mr. Ewert is a Republican. He has served as mayor of the
46
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
village of Mountain Lake for about thirteen years; as commissioner of Cottonwood county for about thirteen years ; and as a member of the school board for twenty years. He is at present serving as president of the First State Bank of Mountain Lake, and is also a stockholder in the State Bank of Jeffers, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. He also has an interest in the Mountain Lake Milling Company.
CARL CORNELIUS ANDERSON, D. V. S.
Dr. Carl Cornelius Anderson, a well-known veterinary surgeon, of St. James, is a native of Denmark, born in the city of Elsinore, on the island of Seeland, at the narrowest part of the Sound, the point where for many years the Sound dues were collected and the assumed scene of Shakespeare's tragedy of "Hamlet." Upon completing the course in the Latin school of his home town, he entered the Royal Veterinary College at Copenhagen and was graduated from that institution in 1892. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his profession, Doctor Anderson came to the United States in that same year and proceeded straightway to Minnesota. After a short stay at St. Paul, he came to this part of the state, arriving at St. James on August 17, 1892, and has ever since made his home in that city.
Upon arriving at St. James, Doctor Anderson opened an office for the practice of his profession and was soon firmly established in practice there, for years having been recognized as one of the leading veterinary surgeons in this part of the state. In 1895, about three years after locating at St. James, Doctor Anderson married and established his home in that city. He has a delightful home in Armstrong Park, in the northern side of the city, and he and his family are pleasantly situated. Doctor Anderson is a Repub- lican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has never been included in the office-seeking class. He is a Mason, a member of Libanus Lodge No. 96, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at St. James ; a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and for twenty-two years a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Doctor Anderson stands high in the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He has filled all the chairs in the local aerie of that 'order and is now department president of that body for the aeries situated in the second congressional district, including the cities of Mankato, Worthington and St. James. He also has served as a delegate to the state conventions of the Eagles and has done much to advance the cause
47
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
of that order throughout Minnesota. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and they take a proper part in the general good works of the community, ever displaying their interest in such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare hereabout.
It was on December 23, 1895, that Dr. Carl C. Anderson was united in marriage to Emma Matilda Carlson, who was born in Sibley county, this state, November 17, 1869, daughter of John and Ingred Carlson, natives of the kingdom of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1869, proceeding to Minnesota and settling in Sibley county, whence, the following year, 1870, they moved over into Watonwan county and homesteaded a tract of eighty acres of land in Nelson township, one-half mile east of the East Sveadahl church, where they established their home and where John Carlson spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1879, he then being forty-six years of age. His widow survived him twenty years, her last days being spent in the home of Doctor Anderson, where she died in 1899, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Anderson is the fourth in order of birth of the five children born to her parents, the others being as follow: Marie, deceased; Augusta, deceased; Caroline, wife of Nels Tropp, of Minneapolis, and Carl Herman Carlson, of northern Minnesota. To Doctor and Mrs. Anderson have been born five children, namely: Berda Eleanor, born on January 30, 1897, who was graduated from the St. James high school in 1915 and is now a student at Gustavus Adolphus College at St. Peter ; Eman- uel Cornelius, who died in infancy; Blanche Eugenia, born on January 30, 1901, now a student of the St. James high school; Harriet Roxanna, June 7, 1904, and Margaret Viola Walburga, February 24, 1910.
D. J. VOTH.
The subject of this sketch was born in Carson township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota, September 10, 1885, a son of Jacob and Justina (Loewen) Voth, natives of southern Russia.
The father and mother came to America about 1875 and located in Carson township, Cottonwood county, Minnesota. Here they have con- tinued to make their home on a farm of two hundred acres, engaged in general farming. Eight children have been born to them: Lena, D. J., Jacob, Justina, Henry, Isaac, Peter and Abraham. They are members of the Mennonite church; the father is independent in politics.
48
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
D. J. Voth was educated in the public schools of Carson township, and in the high school at Windom. Later he took a course in the Mankato Business College, where he acquired an education fitting him for the banking business, in which he afterwards engaged. In June, 1909, he took a position in the First State Bank, at Bingham Lake, as assistant cashier; in 1910 he was made cashier of this bank and has since continued in that position. On January 29, 1913, Mr. Voth was married to Anna Heibert, daughter of C. F. Heibert, of Bingham Lake, Minnesota. To this union one child, Richard D., has been born.
Mr. Voth has a good knowledge of the banking business in all its details and commands the confidence of the patrons, and of the community in gen- eral, as a man of upright character and strict integrity. He is not only interested in the banking business but among the leading public spirited citi- zens of the community, ready to give aid and encouragement to every cause that tends to the promotion of the welfare and prosperity of the town and county of which he is a citizen. He is not allied with any particular political party, reserving the right to give his support to the candidate whom he deems best qualified for the office to which he aspires, regardless of the party faith to which the candidate subscribes.
REV. FRANTZ C. E. NORMAN.
Rev. Frantz C. E. Norman, pastor of the United Norwegian Lutheran church at Windom, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of Minne- sota since he was nine years old and has therefore been a witness of and a participant in the wonderful development of this region during the past generation. He was born on June 13, 1862, son of John E. and Martha (Hartvikson) Norman, both natives of Norway, the former of whom came to the United States in 1869 and prepared a home for the reception of his family near Rochester, this state. The family came over in 1871 and shortly thereafter John E. Norman and his family located on a farm south of Byron, in Olmstead county, where they lived until 1875, in which year they left the farm and moved to Mankato, where Mr. and Mrs. Norman spent the rest of their lives, both dying in 1898, he at the age of eighty-one and she at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last born, the others being Aletta,
-
REV. FRANTZ C. E. NORMAN AND FAMILY.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ARION, LENAY LOEN FOURDATI NO
49
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Ulrikka, Jennie, Caroline and Arnt S., of whom but two now survive, the Rev. Frantz C. Norman and his sister, Ulrikka.
Frantz C. E. Norman was about nine years old when he came to this country and his studies, which had been interrupted when he left his native land, were resumed in the Minnesota schools, his elementary education being received in the schools at Salem, Olmsted county, and at Mankato. Having early consecrated himself to the gospel ministry he then entered Augsberg Seminary at Minneapolis and upon completing the course there was ordained a minister of the United Norwegian Lutheran church in 1892. His first pastorate was at Watertown, South Dakota (five congregations), at which place he served during the period 1892-99, in which latter year he accepted a call to the circuit at Brookings, South Dakota (two congregations), and was pastor there until 1904. He then was called to Fosston, in Polk county, this state (four congregations), and served there until 1907, in which year he was called to Seneca, Illinois (three congregations), where he remained until the call to the churches at Windom, Heron Lake and Brewster, came to him in 1910, since which time he has made his home in Windom and has proved himself one of the most potent forces for good in that entire com- munity. The Reverend Mr. Norman is a preacher of much power and has a large and devoted following in his congregation at Windom, his church exerting a wide influence in the way of promoting the best interests of the city and surrounding country.
It was during his residence in South Dakota that the Rev. Frantz C. E. Norman was united in marriage, at Bruce, June 13, 1895, to Emma Agnes Olsen, who was born in Wisconsin, June 13, 1872, daughter of Andrew and Mary Olsen, natives of Norway, the former of whom came to this country in 1863 and the latter in 1860. Andrew Olsen and his wife were married at Highland, in Fillmore county, Minnesota, later moving to Coral City (later Whitehall), Wisconsin, where Mr. Olsen engaged in the mercantile business, but later returned to Minnesota and engaged in business at High- land, where he remained for eleven years, at the end of which time he went to South Dakota and engaged in farming near the town of Bruce, in Brook- ings county, and was thus employed for twenty-five years. He and his wife are now living retired at Brookings, he at the age of seventy-five and she at the age of seventy-one. To them six children were born, those besides Mrs. Norman being Dora, Edward (deceased), Clara, Eva and Orrin.
To the Rev. Frantz C. E. and Emma Agnes (Olsen) Norman five children have been born, as follow: Margaret, born on September 13, 1896, (4a)
50
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
who was graduated from the Windom high school in 1914 and is now a student in the music department of the South Dakota State Agricultural College; Clarissa E., December 4, 1897, who was graduated from the Windom high school with the class of 1916; Elsie F., May 13, 1900, now a student in the Windom high school; Victor F., January 9, 1907, and Andrus S., October 31, 19II.
.
REV. FRANCIS JOSEPH PROKES.
The Rev. Father Francis Joseph Prokes, pastor of the Catholic church of St. Francis Xavier at Windom and one of the most popular clergymen in this part of Minnesota, is a native of the state of Illinois, born in the city of Chicago, but has lived in Minnesota since he was six years old and is there- fore as ardent and loyal a son of Minnesota as though "native and to the manor born." He was born on April 4, 1886, son of John and Catherine (Koranda) Prokes, both natives of the kingdom of Bohemia, who came to America in 1882 and located at Chicago, where John Prokes engaged in busi- ness as a contractor in general masonry work and where they made their home until 1892, in which year they came to Minnesota and settled in Jackson county. Mr. Prokes bought a farm there and on that farm made his home until his retirement some years ago, since which time he and his wife have resided at Jackson. They are the parents of three sons, of whom the subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth, the others being Joseph, who resides at Jackson, this state, and Wesley, who is operating the home farm in Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Prokes are earnest members of the Catholic church and their sons were reared in that faith.
Francis Joseph Prokes was about six years old when his parents moved from Chicago to this state and he was reared on the farm in Jackson county. Upon completing the course in the local schools he entered St. Procopius College at Lisle, Illinois, from which he was graduated in June, 1908. He had early consecrated himself to the service of the church and upon leaving college entered the St. Paul Seminary at St. Paul, for the further prosecution of his theological studies, and after two years' study in philosophy and four years in theology was graduated in 1914. On Febru- ary 15 of the latter year Father Prokes was ordained to holy orders and on May 15, 1914, was given pastoral charge of the church of St. Francis Xavier at Windom, where he since has been located and where he is doing a noble work. Father Prokes also has charge of the missions at Westbrook
51
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
and Jeffers and under his excellent administration his parish is advancing rapidly, both spiritually and materially. Father Prokes is public-spirited and energetic and takes a warm interest in the general affairs of the community, being held in the highest esteem, not only by the members of his immediate parish, but by all throughout this part of the state who have come under the genial influence of his kindly personality.
ANDREW M. HANSON.
Restlessness causes many to leave our paternal halls and seek our fortunes in distant lands. Some feel this wanderlust spirit so strongly that they have no control over it. Andrew M. Hanson, cashier of the Citizens National Bank of St. James, and formerly county treasurer of Watonwan county, is one of the large band of foreign-born citizens who has come to this locality and has succeeded.
Mr. Hanson was born in Sweden in 1862, and is a son of John and Christina (Nelson) Hanson, both natives of Sweden, in which country they grew up, were married and established their home, but eventually moved with their family to America, settling in Scott county, Minnesota, in 1865, removing to St. James in 1870. The father was a tailor by trade. In 1869 he took up a homestead in Long Lake township, which he transformed into a good farm. He is now living in St. James, retired from active life, spend- ing his declining years in ease and comfort.
Andrew M. Hanson was about three years old when his parents brought him to America. He grew to manhood in Minnesota, and received his education in the public schools of Watonwan county, and here he engaged in farming until 1904, when he was elected county treasurer, the duties of which office he discharged in an able, faithful and highly acceptable manner for a period of ten years; then, in February, 1915, he became cashier of the Citizens National Bank of St. James, which position he still holds and is giving high-grade service. He is also engaging to some extent in the real- estate business.
Andrew M. Hanson was married in 1889, to Ellen Pearson, who was born in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Clara, Hazel, Leota, Wallace.
Mr. Hanson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Republican, and has long been active in party affairs and influential
52
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
in his locality. Besides the office of county treasurer, he served as clerk of Long Lake township for six years, and was chairman of the township board for several years, and clerk of the local school board for six years, or until 1914. He is president of the Commercial Club of St. James, and is one of the town's most public-spirited citizens ; he is also a member of the board of education.
HON. J. E. JOHNSON.
The Hon. J. E. Johnson, former member of the Legislature from the Windom district, a former member of the Windom city council, a former merchant of that city and for years a well-known general dealer in real- estate in that city, is a native of Norway, but has been a resident of the United States since he was two years old and a resident of this section of Minnesota since he was six years old, consequently has become as deeply imbued with the spirit of the great Northwest as one native born here. He was born on March 25, 1865, son of Erick and Ingeborg (Grine) John- son, both natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 1867 and located on a farm in the vicinity of Staughton, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1871, in which year they came to Minnesota and located in Cottonwood county. Upon coming here, Erick Johnson homesteaded a tract of eighty acres, four and one-half miles south of Windom and there he and his wife spent their last days, becoming useful and influential pioneers of this section. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Lena, Bennie E., Martha, Arthur E., Ida and Emma. Erick Johnson was a Republican and took an active part in political affairs in the early days here.
J. E. Johnson was about two years old when his parents came to this country and was about six years old when they moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota. He grew up on the home farm, completed his schooling in the schools at Windom and when about seventeen years old began clerking in the store of John Hutton in that city, being thus engaged for nine years, at the end of which time, in 1891, he embarked in the general merchandise business for himself at Windom and was for eleven years regarded as one of the leading merchants of Windom. At the end of that time, in 1902, Mr. Johnson entered the real-estate business at Windom and has since then
53
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
been engaged in that business, senior member of the Johnson & Lund Land Company, one of the foremost general dealers in realty hereabout. Mr. Johnson, even from the days of his boyhood, has given his thoughtful attention to local political affairs and has been active therein. In 1897 he was elected representative from his home district to the lower house of the Minnesota General Assembly, on the Independent ticket, and served in that capacity for one term. He also has given his time to the public service as a member of the Windom city council.
In 1894 J. E. Johnson was united in marriage to Louise Thompson, daughter of Jens Thompson and wife, and to this union two children have been born, Ellsworth and Irene. The Johnsons are members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the sanie, as well as in the general good works of the community at large.
T. N. DRYDEN.
T. N. Dryden, a well-known stock buyer, of Windom, is a native of Illinois, born on a farm in Coles county, that state, December 8, 1850, son of W. A. and Amizilla Dryden, who were the parents of eight children, only one of whom, the subject of this sketch, is a resident of Cottonwood county. W. A. Dryden was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, and grew to manhood there. He then moved to Illinois with his parents, the family settling in Coles county, that state, where he worked with his father in a blacksmith shop. Not long after his arrival in Coles county he married a daughter of one of the pioneers of that section and in the early fifties moved to Wisconsin, settling on a farm in Dane county, about twenty miles west of Madison, where he established his home and where he remained until 1862, in February of which year he and his family moved to Marion county, Iowa, making the trip by ox-team. After a residence of three years there he moved, in 1865, to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm and remained there until his retirement from the farm and removal to the town of Argyle, that state, where for a number of years he was engaged in the buying of live stock. He then moved to Castana, in Monona county, Iowa, where he remained until he came to this state and located at Windom, where his last days were spent.
T. N. Dryden was little more than an infant when his parents moved from Illinois to Wisconsin and his schooling was obtained in the latter state.
54
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Not long after leaving school he rented a farm in the neighborhood of the paternal farm and was engaged in farming there until 1874, in which year he moved to Pottawattomie county, Iowa, where he rented a farm on which he made his home for two years, at the end of which time he went to Monona county, same state, where he bought a farm and was there engaged in farming until 1900, when he sold out and came to this part of Minne- sota, locating at Windom, where for a time he was engaged in the general real-estate business, but presently turned his attention to the buying and selling of live stock and has been thus very successfully engaged ever since, being now recognized as one of the leading stockmen in this part of the state. Mr. Dryden is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to political affairs, but has never been included in the office-seeking class.
. T. N. Dryden was united in marriage to Joan E. Howery, and to this union five children have been born, Guy, George, Reuben, Vernie and Genevieve. Guy Dryden married Clara Lanham and has two children, Ruth and Glenn. Reuben Dryden married Florence Barber and has one child, a son, Lowell. Genevieve Dryden married Dana Goss, and Vernie married Helen Kerr and lives at Harlan, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Dryden are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Dryden being a member of the official board of the church, and they take an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works. They have a very pleasant home at Windom and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural activities of their home town.
ABRAHAM JANZEN.
In these days of large commercial transactions, when credits cut a large factor in the daily round of business, the province of the banker is very wide and very important. The excellence of the banks of the present compared with those of the past gives to all classes of business men first- class security for their deposits, assistance when they are in need of ready money to develop their buiness, and a means of exchanging credits that could be accomplished in no other way. Abraham Janzen, of Mountain Lake, is one of the enterprising bankers of Cottonwood county.
Mr. Janzen was born in Germany, May 2, 1862, and is a son of Johan and Anna (Thiessen) Janzen, both natives of Germany, in which country they grew to maturity, were married and spent their lives on a farm. Mr.
55
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Janzen grew up on the home place, where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the public schools of Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1884, locating at Mountain Lake, Minnesota, where he has since resided. He first worked in a store and the postoffice, later ran a lumber yard, then became cashier of the First National Bank, soon after its organization and this position he still holds.
Mr. Janzen was married in 1889, to Margaret Nickel, of Mountain Lake, and to their union the following children have been born: Abram A., John Alfred, William Henry, Hilda, Rudolf, Erna, Victor, Margaret and Kuno.
Mr. Janzen is a Republican and he has been village recorder and for many years a member of the school board. He belongs to the Mennonite church. He has been one of Mountain Lake's best citizens.
NELS ANDERSON.
No foreign born citizens who come to America are more heartily wel- comed than the Swedes, for they are industrious, loyal to American institu- tions and make excellent citizens. One of this vast number in Cottonwood county is Nels Anderson, a highly skilled merchant tailor of Windom.
Nels Anderson was born in Sweden, October 16, 1858, and is a son of Andrew and Inger (Larson) Nelson, both natives of Sweden, where they were married and spent their lives, dying there some years ago. Nels grew up in his native land and was educated in the public schools there. He came to the United States in 1880, locating at Darlington, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he worked at the tailor's trade several years, engaging in business for himself part of the time. He then went to Pierre, South Dakota, where he resided from 1889 to August, 1895, when he came to Windom, where he has since been engaged in merchant tailoring, enjoying a large patronage, drawing many of his customers from remote parts of the surrounding country. He has a neat, well-equipped and modern shop and turns out high-grade work promptly. He built a fine, up-to-date resi- dence in this city in 1914. Although starting out a poor boy he has accumu- lated a comfortable competency through his industry and good management.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.