USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 42
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Mr. Lobben was married in 1884, to Julia Andersen, of Linden, Brown county, Minnesota. She is a daughter of Hans Andersen, a farmer, who first came to Fillmore county, and later to Brown county, where his death occurred. His wife also died there. The village of Hanska was built on a part of the Andersen farm, Mr. Andersen having sold thirty acres for a townsite. To Mr. and Mrs. Andersen the following children were born : Anton lives in New Ulm; Dorothy married Frank J. Gove, of Boise, Idaho, and she died about thirty years ago, leaving two children, William and Dorothy; Mads lives in New Ulm; Ellen is unmarried; Julia, wife of Mr. Lobben, is the youngest.
Mr. Lobben is a stockholder and director in the St. James Telephone Company. He owns land in Polk county, Minnesota. He is descended from an old and highly esteemed Norwegian family, which lived on the same farm in Norway for generations consecutively. His paternal grand- father was Lars Lobben, a son of Christian Lobben, who was a son of John Lobben.
ALFRED SLETTA.
Alfred Sletta was born in Riverdale township, Watonwan county, December 31, 1886, a son of Amund A. and Ingeborg (Ekorness) Sletta, who were both born in Norway. His father came to America when a young man, about 1877. Through friends from his native land who had preceded him to America, he had heard of the advantages offered ambitious young men in Minnesota, where many of his countrymen had found a home and a demand for their labor, so he came to this state directly after land- ing in New York. For the first year or two he found employment in differ- ent parts of the state. In 1885 he came to Wantonwan county and located on a farm in Riverdale township, where he still resides. His wife died on
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October 21, 1911. She was the mother of six children : O. E., Alfred, Ida A., John E., Anton I. and George. The father and mother were mem- bers of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Alfred Sletta received his elementary education in the district schools of Riverdale township, mostly in school No. 49, in that township. He after- ward attended the school at St. James, and some years took a business course in the Mankato Commercial College. Following this he was for four years in the employ of Wyman, Partridge & Co., in Minneapolis. In the fall of 1910 he came to LaSalle and engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness. In February, 1913, he was appointed postmaster of LaSalle, in which office he is at present serving.
Alfred Sletta was married in June, 1910, to Marie Larson. To this union four children have been born: Ingvald A. L., Signe Louise, Alice Marie, and Arnold A. Mr. and Mrs. Sletta are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Sletta is an active worker in the Democratic party; his lodge affiliation is with the Modern Brotherhood of America. His store is modern in all respects, carrying a general line of merchandise, and is complete in its variety.
HANS M. VAGSTAD.
Hans M. Vagstad belongs to the colony of Norwegian emigrants who came to Minnesota in the earlier history of the state, and who make up a large part of the state's substantial citizenship. He was born in Norway, February 14, 1863, a son of Mads H. and Gurine ( Riverdal) Vagstad, both natives of Norway. The father was a farmer in his native land and spent his entire life in that country. He died in 1913, his wife died in 1873, Hans M. being about ten years of age at the time of his mother's death. They had six children: Mathias, Hans M., Gabriel, Johanna, Kari and Sara.
Hans M. Vagstad received his education in the public schools of Nor- way, attending the high school for one year. He worked on his father's farm in his early years. In 1882, before he had reached his majority, with an ambition to seek a country where there was an opportunity for greater advantages for young men starting in life, he decided to come to America, where many others of his friends and countrymen had preceded him. In the early part of that year he came to this country and located in St. James, Minnesota. Here he worked for a time at the carpenter trade, and later
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entered the employ of Hans Olsen in the implement business. He con- tinued in this business for four or five years, in St. James, and then came to Ormisby and engaged in the implement business for himself. He has been in that business since 1901.
In 1912 Hans M. Vagstad and Anna C. Brumstad were united in mar- riage. She is the daughter of Ole Brumstad and wife of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Otis Herbert is their only child. Mr. and Mrs. Vagstad are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and a member of the Woodmen lodge.
Ole Brumstad and wife are both natives of Norway; they married there, came to America, settled in Chippewa county, Wisconsin, where they still live.
FRED SOLETE.
A study of the merchant, the professional man, the artist, the preacher, statesman or inventor reveals the fact that their lives are no more excellent than the lives of farmers. Fred Solete. now living in retirement in Win- dom, found life good and successful on a farm in Cottonwood county, as have many others.
Mr. Solete was born in Germany, September 14, 1860, and is a son of Anton and Christena Solete, both natives of Germany, where they grew up and were married, and there spent their lives on a farm, both dying many years ago. The father was a soldier in the German army and fought in the wars against Austria. Denmark, Prussia and France. His family consisted of six children, namely: Fred, William, August, Walter, Mary and Christena.
Fred Solete grew up on his father's farm in Germany, and there he received a common-school education. After leaving school he served four years in the German army, then worked as a farm hand in his native land until he immigrated to the United States in 1893, locating at Windsor, Minnesota. He worked on the Omaha railroad for two years, then rented a farm in Great Bend township. Cottonwood county, for five years; then bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He prospered through hard work, the exercise of sound judgment and careful management and added to his original holdings until he became owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable and well improved land on which he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale until 1915, when,
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having accumulated a handsome competency, he retired from active life, moved to Windom where he purchased two acres on which stands a com- modious home and is now living quietly, surrounded by all the comforts of life, as a result of his former years of activity along legitimate and well- defined lines.
Mr. Solete was married in 1888, to Anna Polzen, to which union three children have been born, namely: Fred, who married Louise Dahl, has one child, Violet; Walter married Anna Beber, and William, who is unmarried. These children were given good educational advantages.
Politically, Mr. Solete is an independent Republican. He has never sought political office, and has only served on the school board. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished unaided, having come to a strange land with very little capital, and by sheer courage and perseverance forged to the front over many obstacles.
GUNDER JACOBSON.
Gunder Jacobson was born in Norway, January 30, 1860. He was a son of Jacob Olsen, and Ingeborg (Gunderson) Jacobson, both natives of Norway. His father came to America in 1887 and settled among others of his countrynien in Riverdale township, Watonwan county, Minnesota, where he lived until about 1905, when he retired and removed to Madelia. He was the father of three children: Gunder, Ole and Jorgine. He was a mem- ber of the Norwegian church, and was a Republican in politics.
Gunder Jacobson received his education in Norway, and as a young man worked in a factory. He preceded his father in coming to America about five years. In 1882 he came to Madelia, Watonwan county, where he was employed as a clerk in the store of Bisbee & Olson for about five years. The second winter after coming to this state he attended school in Minneapolis, in order to acquire a better knowledge of the English language. In 1890, in partnership with Kyorlang Brothers, he opened up a general merchandise store in Madelia, and continued with this firm until 1897. In that year he sold his interest and went in partnership with S. Larson in an- other general merchandise store in Madelia. This partnership continued until 1902 when Mr. Jacobson sold his interest and started another store of the same line in partnership with Mr. Newgarll. In 1909 he again sold
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out and for about three years thereafter he was in the employ of M. Olson, in Madelia. In 1912 he came to LaSalle and took a position as secretary and manager of the Watonwan County Co-operative Company's general merchandise store, where he is at present engaged.
In 1884 Mr. Jacobson was united in marriage with Lena M. Anderson. To this union nine children were born : Peter, deceased; Julla, John, Arthur, Mabel, Ralph, Lawrentz, Ruth and Helen.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Republican. While residing at Madelia, he was for six years a member of the village council.
BENJAMIN C. SANBORN.
This biographical memoir has to do with a pioneer character of unusual force, for the late Benjamin C. Sanborn, whose life chapter has been closed by the fate that awaits all, was for a number of years one of the influential citizens of Watonwan county, having come to this section in the frontier days, and assisted in bringing about the transformation of the country from the wild condition found by the first settlers, to its latter-day progress and improvement.
Benjamin C. Sanborn was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1844, and was a son of David and Frances (Cressey) Sanborn, both natives of that city also, where they grew up, were educated and married, later moving to New Hampshire, thence to Minnesota, locating in St. Paul about 1856. In that city B. C. Sanborn carried the first newspaper published in St. Paul- The Pioneer. David Sanborn later moved with his family to near Owatona, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, he working at his trade of stone mason and also engaged in farming.
Benjamin C. Sanborn received his education in the public schools, and was a member of the first class of Carleton College, of Northfield, Minne- sota. When the Civil War came on, he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and served gallantly throughout the war, part of his service being against the Indians. After the war he entered the newspaper business at Northfield, Minnesota, in partnership with a Mr. Wheaton, remaining there until the spring of 1871, when he came to Madelia and started The Times, the first newspaper in Watonwan county. He continued to publish the same successfully until the spring of 1899, when
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he retired and continued to live in Madelia, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1906. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1892. Before marriage, she was Martha A. Young, and was a daughter of William Young, a Methodist clergyman of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn were mar- ried in 1871. To their union the following children were born: Frances L., William Y., Jessie M. (deceased), and Eva A. Benjamin C. Sanborn was a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife was a Methodist.
William Y. Sanborn, publisher, of Madelia. was born in 1876 in that town, and there he grew up and attended the public schools, later was a student in Central high school of St. Paul for one year, also studied three years at Carlton College, which he left in the spring of 1899 to take charge of his father's newspaper, which he continued to manage with success until the spring of 1904. He served in Company B, Twelfth Minnesota Volun- teer Infantry, as a private, in the Spanish-American war. However, he did not get to the front. being stationed at Chickamauga and other southern points. After leaving Madelia in 1904 he went to Spokane, Washington, and other western towns, continuing newspaper work in the state of Wash- ington until 1915, when he returned to Madelia and started The News, which he is still publishing. Mr. Sanborn was married in Topeka, Kansas, in 1906, to Gertrude Cies. Fraternally, he belongs to the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.
JOHN DEWAR, SR.
Diversified farmning in its truest sense calls for a methodical practice of a thorough rotation of crops. These things have been clearly understood and practiced by John Dewar, Sr .. , now living in retirement in Lewisville, Watonwan county.
Mr. Dewar was born in the vicinity of London, Ontario, Canada, No- vember 3, 1841, and is a son of Duncan and Ann (Webb) Dewar, natives of Scotland and New York, respectively. The father came to America as a child with his parents, the family locating in the vicinity in which the sub- ject of this sketch was born, in pioneer days, when the land was timbered and there the father developed a home and a farm by years of hard work. John and Margaret Dewar, the grandparents, died in Canada, the grandfather meeting death by a falling tree, after a life as a farmer, having located on what was known as Canada Company land. His family consisted of seven sons and one daughter. Robert and Margaret (Harrison) Webb, the ma-
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ternal grandparents, were natives of England and Ireland, respectively. They first came to the state of New York, later moved to Canada, about 1838, locating near the Dewars, and there engaged in farming. Their fam- ily consisted of seven children. When advanced in years they came to Wisconsin, where the death of the grandfather occurred, after which the grandmother went to Michigan, where her death occurred. In his youth he was a sailor on a British man-of-war for many years, and took part in one of England's wars.
Duncan Dewar, mentioned above, grew up in Canada and was educated there and began farming in that country. In 1862 he came to Wisconsin, continuing farming in Marquette county until his death, and there also his wife died. They were the parents of ten children, named as follow: John, Robert, Margaret, Daniel, William, Betsie, Mary Ann, Duncan, Jennie and Katherine.
John Dewar, Sr. grew up on the home farm and he received his educa- tion in the common schools of Canada. He came to Marquette county, Wisconsin, about a year after his parents located there, and continued farming for awhile, removing to Minnesota in 1867, locating on land ad- joining what is now the village of Lewisville, homesteading eighty acres, and later bought additional land of the government. Here he has resided for nearly a half century. He broke and improved his land and made a success as a general farmer and stock raiser. However, during the three years when the crops were destroyed by the grasshoppers, he was compelled to go to Blue Earth county and work for wages awhile. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the village, which he finally sold. He also owns valuable timbered lands in northern Minnesota, and he retains his original one-fourth section at Lewisburg. In the fall of 1910 he built an attractive and modern home in the village and retired from active life. He is spending his declining years in the midst of plenty as a result of his earlier years of hard work and good management.
Mr. Dewar is a Republican, but independent in politics, and formerly held various offices in Antrim township. He belongs to the Christian church.
Mr. Dewar was married on May 15, 1864. at Oxford, Wisconsin, by Rev. T. Black, to Jane E. Marsden, and to this union five children have been born, namely : Annie M., Katie, Alice M., Thomas B. and Jessie J.
Mrs. John Dewar was the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Nixon) Marsden. Thomas Marsden was born in Ireland. They were married in
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Ireland and came to this county about five years after marriage. To them were born eight children-five girls and three boys, as follows: John, Jane, Catherine, Mary Ann, Ellen, Elizabeth, Thomas and Christopher. The par- ents are dead. The mother died in Jackson, Minnesota; the father in Ox- ford, Wisconsin.
JOHN A. BROWN.
One of the best known citizens of Cottonwood county is the editor of the historical portion of this work, John A. Brown, of Windom, who is rendering efficient service as county commissioner and who has in many ways contributed to the welfare and advancement of his county. Mr. Brown was born in Symington, Ayrshire, Scotland, on August 8, 1841, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Brown. To these parents were born, besides the subject of this sketch, three other sons, namely: S. W., of West Salem, Wisconsin; J. S., of Eugene, Oregon, and W. L., of Linton, North Dakota. After securing some schooling in his native land, John A. Brown, in June, 1856, came to the United States, locating first at West Salem, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1878. He then came to Windom, Minnesota, where, until 1890, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In November, 1890, Mr. Brown moved into the village of Windom, where he has since resided. In former years Mr. Brown was active and successful as a farmer, but has now relinquished the heavier labor of the farm and confines his active work to lighter gardening. He is financially interested in several local enterprises, being a stockholder in the Farmers Co-operative Elevator Company, at Windom, and the State Bank of Storden.
Politically, Mr. Brown is a Republican and has taken an active part in public affairs. In 1890 he was elected auditor of Cottonwood county, serving two years; was deputy county auditor from 1893 to 1900, when he was again elected county auditor and, by successive re-elections, served as such until 1910. In °1912 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, his term as such expiring the present year (1916), thus making practically twenty-four years of almost continuous service in the public offices of his county. This record is not only remarkable because of the years of service. but is a marked testimonial to the personal popu- larity of Mr. Brown, as well as to his efficiency and faithfulness as a public servant.
Fraternally, Mr. Bown is a member of Prudence Lodge No. 97, Ancient
JOHN A. BROWN.
BITER' ATHPA!
A
مناسك عمله خيرا
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Free and Accepted Masons, and LaGrange Post No. 79, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is adjutant. Mr. Brown's membership in the last- named order suggests an important epoch in his career. At the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion he enlisted, at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in Com- pany B, Second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, of which he was appointed corporal, and then, quartermaster-sergeant. The regiment served in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi and was engaged in num- berless raids and expeditions, and participated in the successful siege of Vicksburg, serving under Generals Grant and Sherman. After the con- clusion of the Civil War, the Second Cavalry, with other cavalry regiments, under the command of General Custer, marched overland from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Austin, Texas, there being signs of trouble with Mexico. They remained in Texas until November 15, 1865, when they were hon- orably discharged, and on December 10, 1865, were paid off and mustered out at Madison, Wisconsin.
In his religious views Mr. Brown is a Presbyterian, but is affiliated with the Baptist church at Windom.
Mr. Brown was married. on October 22, 1880, at Windom, Minnesota, to Edith C. Allen, who was born near Lansing, Iowa, in October, 1857. To this union have been born the following children: S. Allen Brown, born August 19, 1881, is now auditor of Cottonwood county; E. Robert Brown, born March 22, 1883, is engaged in the banking business at Min- neapolis ; Lucy E. Brown, born December 26, 1885, is at home.
JAMES P. THORNE.
James P. Thorne was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, New York, April 3, 1865, a son of William A. and Mary G. (Snyder ) Thorne, both natives of New York. His father was a shoemaker by trade. About 1880 he moved to Vineland, New Jersey, where he lived his remaining days.
James P. Thorne was educated in the public schools of Albany county, New York, and as a young man he learned the shoemaking trade, working with his father. About 1882 he gave up the shoemaking business and took a position in a store as a clerk. For several years he was thus employed in a retail store, and then took a similar position in a wholesale drug store at Albany, New York. Then for about a year he was in the employ of O. S. Pullman, as traveling salesman. In 1887 he came to Elmore, Minnesota, and
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entered the employ of W. O. Dustin, with whom he continued for fourteen years. In 1901 he came to Jeffers and opened up a general store in partner- ship with Mr. Dustin, under the firm name of Thorne & Dustin. In a short time this firm established a good trade and they have continued to do a pros- perous business, with an increase of patronage from year to year.
Mr. Thorne was married, in 1902, to Marian Derdge. They have no children. Mr. Thorne is a Republican and has served as a member of the school board, and also as village treasurer. He is a stockholder and director of the State Bank at Jeffers. His fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order. including a membership in the blue lodge at Westbrook; the chapter at Windom; the commandery at Fairmount and the shriners, at Minneapolis.
Mr. Thorne's store is up-to-date in all of its features. His stock is ex- tensive and includes a splendid variety. His story enjoys a splendid patronage throughout the community.
CHRIS L. OTTUM.
Chris L. Ottum, a successful farmer, of Long Lake township, Waton- wan county, was born in Norway, March 18, 1859, and is a son of Lars C. and Gertrude (Serum) Ottum, both natives of Norway, where they lived until immigrating to America with their family in 1862, locating in Wiscon- sin, but a year later they came on to Olmstead county, Minnesota, where they spent two years, then moved to Steele county for one year. In 1866 they came to Watonwan county, locating in section 22, Long Lake town- ship, homesteading eighty acres, later buying eighty acres additional, and improving a good farm from the raw prairie, on which these parents spent the rest of their lives. They and their children helped to organize the Long Lake Norwegian Lutheran church. There are five of the children, namely : Anna is the wife of Ed. Olson, Christina, Chris L. of this sketch, John, and Julia is the wife of John H. Burdell.
Chris L. Ottum was three years old when his parents brought him to America. He received his education in the public schools here and helped his father with the work on the farm and has remained a farmer. He has lived on the same farm, which consists of two hundred acres, for the past thirty-two years. He also owns eighty acres of the old homestead and forty acres in Martin county. He has placed his land under excellent improve- ments, especially his home place, which he has developed from the wild prairie. He has a comfortable home and such convenient outbuildings as
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his needs require. In connection with general farming he raises consider- able live stock, especially a good grade of Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs.
Mr. Ottum was married, March 18, 1883, to Mary K. Qualley, who was born in Moore county, June 13, 1857, in Nevada township, Moore county, Minnesota. She is a daughter of Knut and Anna J. (Rudie) Qualley, natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota many years ago. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ottum: Anna Jose- phine, born December 31, 1883, died April II, 1914; Clara Louisa, born July 23, 1885: Ella Celina, born August 3, 1887; Gertrude, born July 19, 1889; Selma Melissa, born September 6, 1891; Otto Leonard, August 16, 1896; Clarence John, born November 24, 1894; died February 2, 1898, and Clarence John, born September 13, 1898.
Politically, Mr. Ottum is a Republican. He was formerly township supervisor. He is a member of the Long Lake Norwegian Lutheran church. He came to Minnesota four years before his wife came, and married in Iowa; then came to Minnesota.
HERMAN C. KRAUSE.
Herman C. Krause, one of the best-known and most substantial farm- ers of Germantown township, Cottonwood county, owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on rural route No. I, out of Sanborn, and for years identified with the work of developing the interests of that part of the county, is a native of Germany, but has lived in Minnesota ever since he was two years old. He was born on December 6, 1871, son of Edward and Elizabeth (Warm) Krause, both natives of Germany, the former born on October 2, 1833. the latter born on November 14, 1836, and who became pioneers of this section of Minnesota.
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