USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 41
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William A. Cook spent his boyhood on the farm, and he received his education in the schools of Windom. He started out in life as a brakeman on the Omaha railroad, later was promoted to freight conductor. He fol-
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lowed railroading for a period of sixteen years, during which he was re- garded as a very faithful and trustworthy employee. In 1897 he located at Windom, buying a livery barn, which he conducted for two years, then sold out and rented his father's farm, which he operated with success until 1910, when he went to South Dakota and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, remaining there two years, then returning to Windom. In 1913 he was appointed state road overseer, which position he has held ever since, and has discharged his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit on himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He has done much to encourage better roads all over the commonwealth.
Mr. Cook was married in 1886, to Minnie Espey, a daughter of S. M. Espey and wife, and to this union four children have been born, namely : Gertrude, Esby, Richard, and Frank. They all survive and are all single. They have been well educated.
Politically, Mr. Cook is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Rebekahs. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
OLANS SYVERSON.
The life of Olans Syverson, elevator man of Ormsby, Watonwan county, has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance. He was born in Martin county, Minnesota, September II, 1878, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Jenson) Syverson, both natives of Norway, where they spent their earlier years. His father came to America about 1867. The mother had preceded him some three years, making the trip with her parents, the family locating in Mitchell county, Iowa, where Peter Syverson also located ,and there these parents were married in 1872. They located in Martin county, Minnesota, a little south of where Ormsby stands, the father taking up a homestead there in 1872 on which he spent the rest of his life, engaging in general farming. He died April 21, 1904. His widow is still living in Ormsby. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Olans, Edward, Emma, Henry, John, Otto, and Mabel. Peter Syverson was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Long Lake.
Olans Syverson spent his boyhood on the home farm in Martin county, and he received his education in the public schools. He continued farming on the home place until he was twenty-five years old. In 1903 he engaged
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in the harness and furniture business at Ormsby, which he has continued to the present time, with very favorable results all along the line. He car- ries a large and well-selected stock and has built up an extensive trade over the county. He bought one of the first stores established in Ormsby. In 1909 he became manager of the Ormsby Farmers' Grain Company, which he had helped to organize two years previously.
Mr. Syverson was married on June 8, 1904. to Tena Sorlie, of Arcadia, Wisconsin, a daughter of Jens J. Sorlie and wife. She was born in Trem- peleau county, Wisconsin, June 29, 1879. To this union three children have been born, namely: Myron, born October 16, 1906; Stanley, born May 21, 19II ; and Carol, born July 13, 1914.
Politically, Mr. Syverson is a Republican. He is at present village assessor, which office he has held ever since he came to Ormsby. He has also been clerk of the school board for the past ten years. He was for two years assessor of Galena township, Martin county. He has long been influential in the public life of his community.
BARNEY LOUGHRAN.
The venerable agriculturist, Barney Loughran, of Great Bend town- ship, Cottonwood county, was one of the earliest pioneers of this locality which he has seen transformed into one of the choice farming sections of the state, and he has performed well his part in the general upbuilding of the same. Although now eighty-six years of age he is hale and active, as a result of a well-spent life. He was born in Ireland in 1830, and is a son of Patrick and Alice (Quinn) Loughran, both of whom spent their lives in Ireland. The father was a carpenter by trade, also a small farmer. His family consisted of nine children, five of whom grew to maturity, namely: Elizabeth, who came to America and died at the home of the subject of this sketch; Patrick, who died in New York; John, who was very probably a Confederate soldier, was killed at the battle of Shilo; Michael, who died of cholera while on ship coming to America, and Barney of this sketch. The latter spent his boy- hood in Ireland and attended school there. In April, 1857 he landed in New York City, having previously been employed three years in some iron works in England. He worked for a lumberman in New York for one year after his arrival there, then came west to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1858, where he remained until the spring of 1860, working as a freight weigher, for the city. From there he came to St. Paul, Minnesota, and worked on steamboats
MR. AND MRS. BARNEY LOUGHRAN.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, IFNOY TILD: N
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on the Mississippi river during the Civil War, as fireman on mail packets, which hauled soldiers back and forth. He spent one winter in the Wisconsin pine woods with a lumber crew. In 1865 he came to Marquette county, on Lake Superior, where he worked for three years running a pump engine. In 1868 he came to Cottonwood county and pre-empted one hundred and sixty- seven acres, where he still lives, and later added eighty acres more, which he homesteaded. He and Robert Miller were the first two settlers in this community, and he has resided here ever since, a period of nearly half a century. He endured the usual hardships and privations of the pioneer set- tler and, by hard work and persistence, developed a good farm and a com- fortable home and became one of the leading men of his township. He hauled lumber for Mankato with which to build his first dwelling. He was here during the three memorial "grasshopper years," when these insects destroyed all crops. He owns a valuable farm of two hundred fifty-three and three-fourths acres and has here carried on general farming and stock raising successfully. He has the deed signed by President Grant for pre- emption, which was the first deeded land in Cottonwood county; also has a deed signed by President Hayes for his homestead.
Mr. Loughran was married on December 16, 1872, to Mary Gallagher, who was born in Cook county, Illinois, and is a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Drugan) Gallagher, both natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. The father came to America about 1850, when fourteen or fifteen years of age, making the voyage alone. The mother came with relatives when a girl. These parents were married in Cook county, Illinois. Mr. Gallagher was quite a dairyman, but followed various lines of endeavor. From Illinois he removed to Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming, and in 1869 came to Cottonwood county, Minnesota, locating just across the lake from Mr. Loughran. He pre-empted and bought a homestead right, acquiring in all three hundred and fifty acres. Here the death of the mother occurred. In 1903 a tornado devastated the farm, destroying the buildings and killing Mr. Gallagher and two daughters. To Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher eight children were born, six sons and two daughters, namely: Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth, Rose Ann, Cahrles, Henry, Ellen and Jeanette.
To Mr. and Mrs. Loughran three children have been born, namely : John H., who is at home; Mary Alice, who is deceased; and T. Francis, who is at home. The daughter was the wife of Nick Jeffery.
Politically, Mr. Loughran is a Democrat. He has never taken an active interest in politics or sought office; however, he was at one time clerk of the local school board.
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GERALD DEMPSEY.
While the late Gerald Dempsey carried on a special line of work in such a manner as to gain a comfortable livelihood, ranking for many years among the leading farmers of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, he also belonged to that class of representative citizens who promote the public welfare while advancing individual success.
Mr. Dempsey was born in County Carlow, Ireland, August 29, 1845. He was a son of Charles and Lizzie (Kelly) Dempsey, both natives of the same locality in which Gerald was born, and there they grew up and were married. Both father and son were born on the same farm, which had been in the Dempsey family for several generations. Charles Dempsey and wife had two children, Louis, who still resides on the old homestead in Ireland, and Gerald, of this memoir. The great grandfather was a captain in the British army. The family has still in their possession a valuable ring which was given the captain by his troops in recognition of the esteem in which they held him.
Gerald Dempsey grew up on the homestead in his native land, and there he received his education, attending the monastery. He was twenty years of age when he immigrated to America. After spending a short time in Boston he went to Rochester, New York, then west to Iowa City, Iowa, in 1871, and there he was married on Thanksgiving Day, 1873, to Mary Ann Moore, who was born in Maryboro, Queens County, Ireland. She was a daughter of John and Ann (Fitzpatrick) Moore, both natives of Maryboro, Ireland, where they grew up, married and established their home, remov- ing to America in 1861, arriving at Frankford, Pennsylvania, June 4, that year. Remaining there until after the Civil War, they came to Iowa, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in March, 1908, and the mother in August, 1910. Mr. Moore was a carpenter by trade, but he always owned and lived on a farm.
After their marriage, Mr. Dempsey and wife moved to a farm in Greene county, Iowa, where they spent twenty years, then came to the place on which the widow still resides in Cottonwood county, Minnesota. It formerly belonged to Allen Gardner, and it now contains six hundred and thirty- four acres, having originally contained four hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Dempsey addd many improvements here, including the erection of a commo- dious dwelling house and other buildings. He was very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, and was a breeder of Hereford cattle. He
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always kept large numbers of cattle. He was a man of sound judgment and executive ability and was very successful in his chosen life work. He was independent in politics, but usually supported the Republican party.
When Mr. Dempsey left Ireland he was given a letter of recommenda- tion by Lord Wolseley, who owned an estate adjoining that of Mr. Demp- sey's father. The brother of the subject of this sketch now owns both the homestead and the Lord Wolseley estate.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Dempsey ten children were born, namely: Anna V. is the wife of Hugh Hammel; Elizabeth, Margaret and Mamie. Alice G. is a milliner by trade, but is now managing the home farm; Jane was next in order of birth; Sadie V. and Winnifred B. are teaching school; Catherine, who is now the wife of Walter Berger of Comfrey, Minnesota, was formerly a teacher; Martha A., the youngest child, is also a teacher. The late Mr. Dempsey was a Catholic and his family are members of that church.
The death of Gerald Dempsey occurred on June 29, 1914. There were in him sterling traits which commanded uniform confidence and regard, and his memory is today honored by all who knew him.
PETER P. FAST.
One of the farmers of Mountain Lake township, Cottonwood county, who is contented with his lot. is Peter P. Fast. He was born in Russia, March 10, 1868. He is a son of Peter and Anna (Tieszen) Fast, both natives of Russia, but the grandparents on both sides were born in Ger- many. Peter Fast, Sr., brought his family to America in 1874, locating in Turner county, South Dakota, where he took up a homestead. He came to the village of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, in 1898, retiring from active life, and here his death occurred in 1908. His widow is still living here. He was a deacon in the Mennonite church.
Peter P. Fast, the only child of his parents, grew up on the home farm and received a limited education, in a private school, kept up by the community in which he lived in South Dakota. He engaged in farming there until 1900, when he came to his present farm in Mountain Lake town- ship. Cottonwood county, where he now owns six hundred and twenty acres. He has made many valuable improvements here, including the erection of most of the buildings on the place, which are substantial and modern. He
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carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He assisted in organizing the First National Bank at Mountain Lake, in which he has been a director since its organization.
Mr. Fast was married in 1889, to Katie Duerksen, a native of Russia, and ten children have been born to their union, namely: Abram P., who lives in Midway township, this county; Peter P., Jr., who is farming in Mountain Lake township: Katie, who is the wife of John Stoesz; Mary, Lizzie, Jacob, Henry, Anna, Frank and George are living at home.
Politically, Mr. Fast is a Republican. He is now serving as clerk of the district school board, and is a member of the Mennonite church.
CLAUS MELHEIM.
Among those who have come to Minnesota from Scandinavia, is Claus Melheim, implement dealer of Butterfield, Watonwan county, who was born in Norway, January 17, 1856, and is a son of Iver and Karn (Moe) Mel- heim, both natives of Norway, where they grew up and were married, emi- grating with their family to Madelia, Minnesota, in 1871, where the father purchased eighty acres of land, but in 1872 moved to Odin township, Waton- wan county, and bought a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he lived until 1902, when he moved to Butterfield, in which place his death occurred in March, 1906. His widow is still living in Butterfield, having attained the advanced age of eighty-eight years. The paternal grand- parents, Bodollf and Gertrude Melheim, were natives of Norway, where he spent his life, but she came to America with the parents of Claus Melheim, and died on the farm in Odin township. The maternal grandparents, Peter and Karn Moe, lived and died on a farm in Norway. Iver Melheim, men- tioned above, devoted his entire active life to general farming. His family consisted of seven children, namely: Bodollf, Peter, Claus, Gertrude, Karn, Dorothy, and Enner.
Claus Melheim spent his boyhood in Norway and there he received most of his education, and began life as a farmer on the old homestead, where he remained until coming to Butterfield in 1892. He was in his sixteenth year when he accompanied the family to the United States. Upon locating in Butterfield, he engaged in the farm implement business which he has continued to the prèsent time with ever-increasing success. He car- ries a large line of all kinds of farming machinery and other articles.
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Mr. Melheim was married in December, 1890, to Gertrude Falk, who was born in Norway, from which country she came to Wisconsin with her parents, and later the family located in Stephens county, Minnesota. She is a daughter of John Falk and wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Melheim four children were born, namely: Karn, Gertrude, Iver and Bodollf. They all survive.
Mr. Melheim has been active in public affairs. Politically, he is a Republican. He was chairman of Odin township for five years, and was county commissioner in 1893 and 1894 at the time the court house was built. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Butterfield.
O. A. BJOIN.
The first boy born in Riverdale township, Watonwan county, Minne- sota, is a distinction that is claimed for O. A. Bjoin, the subject of this sketch. This event occurred on October 26, 1865. His father was Ander- son Bjoin, a native of Norway, who came to America when a young man. He landed at New Orleans and drove an ox team from New Orleans to Minnesota. From here he went to Kansas, where he lived for a few years, and where he was married. He moved from Kansas to Illinois, making the journey by team over the entire distance. After farming for a few years in Illinois, he began loading up his personal chattels in a wagon and moved to Iowa. In 1864 he again moved, by the same method of transportation, coming to Riverside township, Watonwan county, Minnesota. Here he entered a homestead of eighty acres of government land on which he located and established his permanent home, and lived here the rest of his life.
Anderson Bjoin was twice married. By his first marriage there were three children: Anderson, who enlisted in the Fifteenth Regiment, Wiscon- sin Infantry, as soldier of the Civil War. He was killed in battle. Ole, the second son, was also a member of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and was killed in battle. Lisse is the third child by this first marriage.
The second marriage of Anderson Bjoin was to Julia Ronninggen, a native of Norway. Following are the names of children by this marriage : John, Andrew, O. A., Lisse, Edward and Julia. The father was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and a Republican.
O. A. Bjoin was educated in the public schools of Riverdale township, Watonwan county, and worked on the farm in his early years. In 1890 he
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bought a farm of eighty acres and started farming for himself. He con- tinued in this business until 1902, when he moved to LaSalle and took the position of manager of the Eagle Roller Mill Company. For the past ten years he has been buying hogs for A. J. Leonard, of St. James, in connec- tion with the management of the elevator.
Mr. Bjoin was married to Jennie Rinde, a daughter of Peter Rinde, of Madelia. To this union seven children have been born: Alma, Clara, George, Mabel, Stella, Lyda and Syvena. Mr. and Mrs. Bjoin are mem- bers of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Republican; his lodge affiliation is with the Woodmen, and the Modern Brotherhood of America.
S. J. SULEM.
S. J. Sulem is of Norwegian birth and Norwegian ancestry, another one of the Norwegian families that comprise a large part of the citizenship of Watonwan county, Minnesota. He was born in Lom, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, December 12, 1857. He is a son of John S. and Ingeborg ( Vur- vold) Sulem, both natives of Norway. The father was a merchant in Norway and came to America in 1873. He came to Minnesota and located in Long Lake township, Watonwan county, where he entered a homestead of eighty acres. Here he built a home and began the improvement of the land, which he continued to cultivate until 1905. In that year he sold his farm and removed to North Dakota, where he died in 1911. There were seven children in this family: S. J., Carrie, Bessie, Lezzie, Thomas, Mary and Helen. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
S. J. Sulem received his education in the public schools of Norway, working with his father during his early years. He came with his father to America in 1873, and worked on his father's farm for several years after coming here. In 1889 he went to Butterfield and was employed with the Scandinavian Farmers Trade Association for several years. In IQII he opened up a general merchandise store in Butterfield and gave his whole attention to that business, which he has since continued. He has established a good trade in the town and surrounding country and is doing a successful business.
In 1895 Mr. Sulem was united in marriage with Anna Rempel, daughter of W. W. Rempel, of Butterfield, Minnesota. The children born to this union are: Ada, E., Ethel W., John W., Willard T., Myrtle E., Pearl M.,
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Martha and Marie, (twins) Chester M. and Loraine. Mr. and Mrs. Sulem are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church; Mr. Sulem was an offi- cial in the local congregation.
Mr. Sulem is affiliated with the Democratic party. He has served as village recorder for about ten years, and president of the school board for about six years. At present he is serving as mayor of Butterfield.
SAMUEL JACKSON.
Samuel Jackson, the subject of this sketch, belongs to one of the sturdy Norwegian families who emigrated to this country in the years fol- lowing the Civil War, and who have contributed so large a part to the development of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other northwestern states. Mr. Jackson was born in Norway, October 16, 1873, a son of Jacob S. Ekren and Kari (Nyhus) Jackson, both natives of Lesje, Gudbrandsdalen, Nor- way.
Jacob S. Ekren came to America in 1879 and settled on a farm in Chip- pewa county, Wisconsin, but did not live long after establishing himself a honie there. He died in 1881. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Ekren moved to Dover, Baron county, Wisconsin, and a few years after married her second husband, P. Murstad, of that place. She was the mother of four children by her first husband; Samuel, subject of this sketch; Mary, Peter and Julia.
The year after his father's death Samuel Jackson came to St. James to make his home with Gilbert Swensen. While here he attended the pub- lic schools of St. James for about two years. He then returned to Chetek, Barron county, Wisconsin, where he made his home with his parents. In 1895 he returned to St. James, Watonwan county, where he entered the employ of G. Swensen & Bro. in a general store, where he continued work until 1908. From 1909 to 1914 he served as deputy county auditor. In 1914 he was elected to the office of county treasurer of Watonwan county, which office he now holds.
In 1889 Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Bertha Dalager, daugh- ter. of Ole and Ingeborg Dalager, both natives of Valders, Norway, and who had settled on a farm near Austin, Mower county, Minnesota. To this union four children have been born: Evelyn C., Iva J., Alba R., and Oliver S. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members of the Lutheran church.
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JENS L. LOBBEN.
One of the able and successful lawyers of Watonwan county is Jens L. Lobben, of St. James, who has been a leader of the local bar for a number of years and a conspicuous figure in the courts of this locality. He was born at Eker, Norway. August 1, 1862. He is a son of Andres L. and Sophia (Stangeby) Lobben. The father was born at Eker, October 18, 1830, and the mother's birth occurred March 15, 1834. They grew to maturity in Norway and were married there, June 7, 1861, and in the spring of 1875 they set sail for the United States, locating in Jackson, Wis- consin. The father received a good education and became a minister in the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. For some time he preached in Jackson and Trempealeau county. He came to St. James, Minnesota, in 1879, and became pastor of the church of his denomination in Albion township, also of the church in Longlake township and Rosendale township. Watonwan county. He also preached in St. James and at a church in Odin township, and he owned a farm one mile from St. James, which claimed most of his attention. He finally retired from active life and died in St. James, July 26, 1904. His widow survived until January 23, 1908. To these parents the following children were born: Jens L., of this sketch; Lars is living; Olaf, deceased; Dorothy, deceased; Marie is living; Andres, deceased; Peter is living ; Carl, deceased.
Jens L. Lobben attended the public schools and a private school in Norway. He was twelve years old when he accompanied the family to Jackson, Wisconsin, where he attended the public schools for some time; later he was a student in the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa, for about three years. He came to St. James in 1879, and worked as a clerk and at other jobs, attending school during the winter months, including one winter at Mankato. He began the study of law in the office of J. W. Seager, and was admitted to the bar on January 30, 1896, and soon thereafter began the practice of his profession in St. James. After about six months he formed a partnership with his preceptor, Mr. Seager, under the firm name of Seager & Lobben. This partnership lasted until 1902, when it was dissolved, and Mr. Lobben returned to the office he occupied during the first months of his practice and has remained here to the present time. He has built up a large and satisfactory clientage and has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession. He was city attorney of St. James for a period of nine years, and he was elected mayor in 1914. He has been a member
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of the board of education for four years. As a public servant he has dis- charged his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He belongs to the Lutheran church. He is prominent in fraternal circles, and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Concordia Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, the Com- mandery, Knights Templar and Order of Eastern Star; also the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
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