USA > Minnesota > Watonwan County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 43
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Edward Krause was the owner of a farm in Germany. He married on October 19, 1858, and continued living on that farm until the fall of 1873. when he sold out and with his family came to the United States, proceeding to Minnesota, locating at New Ulm, from which place, in the spring of 1874, he moved into Cottonwood county and homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in section 32, Germantown township, where he established his home. The country thereabout at that time was all wild and there were no roads established. Edward Krause built a dug-out, cov- ered the same with a sod roof and in that humble abode he and his family
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made their home until he was able to erect a more substantial dwelling in the spring of 1879. He suffered, as did all the pioneers in this section of the state, during the "lean" years of those early days, having no crop at all in the memorable grasshopper year, but presently began to prosper and eventually became a substantial farmer. He went in extensively for stock raising during the early years and did well. In 1899 he sold his farm to Nicholas Meyer and retired from active labor. In 1904 his wife died and he thereafter made his home with his son, Herman, the subject of this sketch, until 1913, when he died at his son's home. To Edward Krause and wife were born six children, of whom Herman C. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follows: Caroline, who married Rudolph Schmidt of Storden township; Minnie, who married William Matzke, of German- town township; Augusta, who married Albert Stern, of Springfield, upon whose death she married Edward Arnesdorf, of Lamberton; Anna, who is unmarried, and Mary, wife of Herman Senst, of Highwater township.
It was on this farm of Edward Krause that Frank and Jesse James stopped overnight about the 17th of September, 1876. Mr. Krause at that time had no house, only a dugout, and he had no horses, only oxen. Both Frank and Jesse James were wounded. Mr. Krause washed their wounds and put bandages around them ; they paid him for the work he had done, but Mr. Krause did not know that they were the James boys, nor of the bank robbery, till the day after they left.
Herman C. Krause was not three years old when his parents located in Germantown township and he grew up on the homestead farm there, receiving his schooling in the primitive school of that neighborhood. At the age of fifteen he began working on his own account and for five years was engaged working on farms in that locality, after which he began work- ing for his father and was thus employed for three years, at the end of which time he began working on the railroad, but after two years of that form of employment, in 1890, returned to farming and two years later, in 1892, bought a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved prairie land in section 29, Germantown township, which he set about improving. Following his marriage in 1896 he rented his father's farm and for four years operated that place as well as his own and began to do well in his operations. In the fall of 1899 he built a substantial barn on his own place and the next year erected a comfortable dwelling house, where he and his family ever since have been very pleasantly situated. Mr. Krause has his quarter section all under cultivation, well tiled and well improved, among the attractive features of the place being a fine grove of four acres. In addi-
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tion to his farming, Mr. Krause has found time to devote a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs ; served for some time as a member of the board of supervisors and for the past ten years has been a member of the school board in district 35. He also is a stockholder in the Highwater Telephone Company and in the Farmers Elevator Company, the State Bank and the farmers store at Jeffers. He is at present a director of the Highwater Tele- phone Company and also a director of the Farmers Elevator Company.
In 1896 Herman C. Krause was united in marriage to Mary Stern, of Springfield, Brown county, Minnesota, and to this union six children have been born, Otto, Rudolph, Ella, Erhart, Lydia and Arthur, all of whom are living save Otto, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Krause are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Krause for some time served as a member of the official board of the same.
NIELS SKJEDSER.
One of the excellent pioneer citizens of Watonwon county was the late Niels Skjedser, who, through his own efforts forged to the front as a general agriculturist, becoming owner of a good farm in Long Lake town- ship, where he was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends for his manly qualities. He was born in Norway, June 5, 1847, and was a son of Peter Nelson and Anna Nelson. The parents of the subject of this sketch were natives of Norway, where the father lived until the seventies, when he came to America, locating near Cassen, Minnesota, but soon there- after moved to Watonwan county, this state, where he spent the rest of his life on a farm. The mother died in Norway when our subject was nineteen years of age.
Niels Skjedser grew up in Norway and there attended school, immi- grating to the United States during the latter sixties, and homesteaded land in Odin township, Watonwan county, Minnesota, but never proved up on it ; however, he developed three farms in Long Lake township. He resided in St. James during his last days, where his death occurred, April 16, 1907. He was a member of the school board.
.Mr. Skjedser was married on November II, 1881, to Sophia Onstad, who was born in Nicollet county, Minnesota, and is a daughter of Ole and Ingeborg (Onstad) Onstad, both natives of Norway, from which country they came to America in 1863, locating at Coon Prairie, Wisconsin, their
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nearest market being LaCrosse, about thirty miles distant. In the spring of 1865 they moved to Nicollet county, Minnesota, about the time of the Indian outbreak, and the father hauled provisions to the soldiers at Ft. Ridgely. Later he came to Watonwan county and took up a homestead on the shore of Long Lake, to which he moved in 1867, and there continued to reside for a period of fifteen years, with the exception of three years spent at Oclair, during the grasshopper plague. He finally removed to Polk county, this state, where he and his wife still reside, now living retired, after successfully farming for a number of decades. The house they built in Watonwan county, served for the first postoffice in the community, and was also the general stopping place for all travelers. Mr. Onstad cut the timber near Mankato, which he had sawed there, then hauled the lumber to his homestead here. The postoffice was retained at his place several years, even after the village of St. James was started. It was known as Nor- wegian postoffice. Mr. Onstad's wife and two children, Peter, who now lives at Ada, and Sophia, widow of the subject of this sketch, lived in a dugout, while he was away getting lumber for their house. During this period a terriffic snow storm drove three pioneer trappers to the dugout, where they remained three days, and traded furs for mittens which Mrs. Onstad had made.
The widow of the subject of this sketch remarried, in 1909, to Andrew Shellum, of Nelson township, Watonwan county. He was a son of Andrew Shellum, Sr. The second husband died on February 15, 1910. To her first marriage two children were born, namely: Anna, who married Ole Iverson; and Olaf, still at home. Their father was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
LAURITZ LARSON.
One of the successful farmers of Long Lake township, Watonwan county, who has tried to apply the most modern methods of tilling the soil is Lauritz Larson, who was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, June 21, 1867. He is a son of Hans and Karen (Buroson) Larson, both natives of Norway, where they resided until immigrating to America in 1855, locating in Jeffer- son county, Wisconsin, on government land, and there resided until 1870, then came to Watonwan county, Minnesota, buying the farm on which the subject of this sketch now resides, in Long Lake township, the father becon- ing owner of two hundred and eighty acres here on which he erected the
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buildings and made general improvements, and here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, both dying on the farm in 1913. They were members of the Long Lake Norwegian Lutheran church. He was active in the affairs of the community and for some time held the office of township supervisor. His family consisted of six children, namely : Borea, Ole, Thorwald, Johanah, Anna and Lauritz.
The subject of this sketch grew up on the home farm and worked with his father when a boy. He received a common-school education. He has remained on the homestead and owns three hundred and sixty-seven acres of well improved and productive land. He has erected the present substan- tial and attractive buildings. He carries on general farming and stock rais- ing on an extensive scale, making a specialty of breeding full-blood Jersey cat- tle and full-blood Clydesdale horses. His fine stock are greatly admired by all who see them.
Mr. Larson was married in 1892, to Sophia Olson, who was born in Sweden, from which country she came to America when young. She is a daughter of Ole Olson, who came to Watonwan county many years ago. He is now deceased. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Larson : Henry, Carl, Ludwig, Otto, Amel, Alma, the latter being deceased ; Ella, Anna, and Samuel.
Politically, Mr. Larson is independent. He has held the office of clerk of the school board in his district for the past twenty-two years and is still He is a member of the Long Lake Norwegian Lutheran church.
in office. He has been chairman of the township board for nearly two years.
JENS T. MUSLAND.
Jens T. Musland, a well-known and substantial farmer of Storden township, 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 August 8, 1872, son of Torgger and Elizabeth (Landa) Musland, farming people, who are still living in their native land and to whom six children have been born, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being Michael, Torgger, Ingwahl, Hans and Anna.
Jens T. Musland received his schooling in the public schools of his native land and in 1888, he then being sixteen years of age, came to the United States, locating in Story county, Iowa, where he remained about five
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years, at the end of which time he moved to Ida county, same state, where he remained about ten years and where he married in 1902. The next year, 1903, he and his wife came to Minnesota and settled in Cottonwood county, first locating in Springfield township, but presently moving to Rose Hill township, where they remained until 1913, when Mr. Musland bought the farm on which he and his family are now living in Storden township. The Musland farm is a quarter section in section 20 of Storden township and is one of the best-kept places in that neighborhood, well improved and culti- vated along modern lines. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Mus- land has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well, being regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that section of the county. He is "independent" in his political views on questions of local government and takes a good citizen's interest in politics, but has not been a seeker after public office.
As noted above, Jens T. Musland was married in 1902, the year before he came to Minnesota, his wife being Louise Olson, to which union two chil- dren have been born, Elizabeth and Melvin. Mr. and Mrs. Musland are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in all local good works, being willing promoters of any cause designed to advance the common welfare hereabout.
CHARLES H. COOLEY.
Charles H. Cooley was born in Washington, Fillmore county, Minne- sota. July 31, 1870, a son of George B. Cooley, born in St. Lawrence county, New York, December 6, 1824. His mother's maiden name was Catherine Garber, born in Pennsylvania. She died in 1871. His father was again married, to Evelyn Houck. The children of the first wife were: William L., now living in California, and Charles H. Children by the second wife were: Herbert, Albert, Nellie, Fred and Eva.
George R. Cooley followed the occupation of farmer and dairyman in St. Lawrence county, New York. In 1860 he came to Fillmore county, Min- nesota, and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and engaged in farming this land until about 1890. At that time he retired from active work and moved to Heron Lake, Jackson county, Minnesota, where he still lives.
Charles H. Cooley, subject of this sketch, received his education in the
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public schools of Fillmore county, and afterward attended school at Heron Lake, Jackson county. In his younger years he was employed for a time as a clerk in a store at Heron Lake. In 1889 he came to Madelia, Minnesota, and took a position as clerk in a store at that place, and held that position for about ten years. In 1905 he opened up a general hardware and imple- ment store in Madelia and has continued in that business since.
On July 8, 1896, Charles H. Cooley and Mary E. Hammond were united in marriage. Mrs. Cooley is a daughter of John and Anne W. (Thomas) Hammond, of Madelia, Minnesota. To this union four children have been born : John G., Eunice, William R. and Russell C. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley are members of the Christian church.
Politically, Mr. Cooley is independent, exercising his own judgment as to the character and qualification of the candidate for whom he casts his vote, without regard to the party affiliation of the candidate. He has not been an aspirant for office himself, being content to devote his energies to his private business and discharge his duties as a private citizen of the community. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the Woodmen.
FREDERICK ABEL.
Among the thrifty German farmers who have established homes in Long Lake township, Watonwan county, is Frederick Abel, who was born in Germany, September 19, 1850. He is a son of Michael and Anna (Huske) Abel, both natives of Germany, where they grew up, were married and established their home. There the father spent his life, but after his death the mother immigrated to America, in 1883, spending the rest of her life in DeWitt county, Illinois.
Frederick Abel grew up in the country, his father being a farm foreman, and he received a limited common-school education in his native land. When twenty-two years old he set sail for the new world, landing in Baltimore, June 29, 1872. He spent two years at Annapolis, that state, then came to Chicago, where he spent two years, and for eighteen years he worked in Cook and DeWitt counties, Illinois, coming to Watonwan county, Minnesota, in 1892, locating on the farm where he still lives, in St. James and Long Lake townships, where he owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty- three acres, which he has placed under a high state of improvement and cultivation, carrying on general farming and stock raising most successfully.
(29a)
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Mr. Abel was married on February 25, 1873, in Annapolis, Maryland, to Emilia Golz, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1871, with other members of her family, her parents, Henry and Eva Golz, coming in 1872. Later they came on to Chicago, where he died. The mother's death occurred about twenty-eight miles from Chicago. Mr. Golz served several years in the German army. He devoted his active life to farming.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Abel: Tillie, deceased; William, living; Emilia and Anna, both deceased; Daniel, living; Fred, deceased; Gustav and Hulda, all three deceased; John and Henry, both living; Mary, deceased; Fred, living; Herman, deceased; Selma, Lydia, both living; Minnie and Alma, both deceased.
Politically, Mr. Abel is a Republican, sometimes voting independently. He is active in the affairs of his community, is now serving his second term as justice of the peace, and for twelve years was school director, filling these offices most ably and acceptably. He and family are members of the Lutheran church of St. James, of which he has been a trustee for twenty years and an active worker.
Emma Abel, the seven-year-old daughter of Gustav Abel (deceased), son of subject, is now living with Frederick Abel and wife. She goes to school.
JOHN C. HUFFMAN.
John C. Huffman, a well-known and substantial farmer of Storden township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a well-kept farm of eighty acres in the vicinity of Storden, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Schuyl- kill county, that state, August 23, 1876, son of William and Elizabeth Huff- man, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania, who later became pioneers of this section of Minnesota and are now living com- fortably retired at Jeffers.
William Huffman was born on February 14, 1853, son of Martin and Barbara Huffman, German farming people, who spent all their lives in their native land and who were the parents of six children, William, Kizmer, Anna, Agnes, Josephine and Elizabeth. When he was nineteen years old William Huffman came to the United States, arriving in Pennsylvania in October, 1872. He began working in the coal mines in Schuylkill county and there married. In 1875 he came to Minnesota and located at St. Peter, where he worked in the limekilns for about two years, at the end of which
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time he moved over into this part of the state and homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Storden township, Cottonwood county, where he established his home and where he lived until 1910, in which year he sold that farm and moved to another farm in that same township, where he lived until his retirement and removal, in 1912, to Jeffers, where he now lives. William Huffman is a Democrat and has for many years given close atten- tion to local political affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being William (deceased), Mar- garet, Martha, Tracy, Henry (deceased), William, Josephine and Elizabeth.
John C. Huffman was but an infant in arms when his parents came to Minnesota from Pennsylvania and was but two or three years old when they took up their residence in Cottonwood county. He grew to manhood on the paternal homestead in Storden township, receiving his schooling in the public schools in the neighborhood of his home, and when a young man began farm- ing on his own account. In 1899 he bought the farm on which he is now living and where he has lived ever since that time and he and his family are very pleasantly situated there. Mr. Huffman has a well-improved farm of eighty acres and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of that part of the county. In addition to his general farming he has given consider- able attention to stock raising and has done very well. He is a Democrat and for years has been a member of the school board in his home township.
Mr. Huffman has been twice married. In his young manhood he mar- ried Emma Frederickson and to that union three children were born, Elmer, Blanche and Gordon, the latter of whom is deceased. Following the death of the mother of these children Mr. Huffman married, May 24, 1904, Emma Carey, who was born in Cottonwood county, daughter and only child of John and Zelia Arzalia Carey, pioneers of that county. John Carey, a native of New York state, was an honored veteran of the Civil War, having served throughout the struggle between the states as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, attached to General Butler's brigade. A few years after the war he came to Minnesota and shortly thereafter settled in Cottonwood county, one of the useful and influential pioneers of this section of the state. Mrs. Huffman for sixteen years previous to her marriage was one of the best-known members of Cottonwood county's able corps of public-school teachers and in that connection rendered a most valuable service to the community at large. To John C. and Emma (Carey) Huffman two children have been born,
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Zelia Mary and Nora Belle. Mrs. Huffman is a member of the Baptist church and both she and Mr. Huffman take a warm interest in neighborhood good works, influential factors in the development of the community's best interests in a general, social and cultural way.
GUSTAV LINDQUIST.
The present generation owes a debt of gratitude to the old pioneers who braved the wilds and the Indians of Watonwan and adjoining counties, carved out homes in the wilderness and made this country what it is today. Gustav Lindquist, a venerable farmer of Long Lake township, is of this worthy band. During the half century that he has lived here he has noted great changes on every side and has been a useful and honored citizen.
Mr. Lindquist was born in Sweden, March 25, 1839. He is a son of Johan and Marie Lindquist, both natives of Sweden, from which country they came to America in 1867, locating in Scandia, near Stillwater, Wash- ington county, Minnesota, and there the mother died, the father's death occurring in Stillwater. They lived on land in Washington county, which their son Gustav had bought and given them. To these parents eight children were born, namely: Anna, Stina, Melisina, Gustav, Augustina, Carrie, Orin, and Andrew.
Gustav Lindquist grew to manhood in Sweden, where he attended school, and he immigrated to the United States in 1865. He located in Washington county, Minnesota, where he worked in a tannery and also in a sawmill for some time, later became a railroad contractor at Lake Crystal, being boss for two years of a construction gang, working from LeSueur to Lake Crystal, when the Omaha railroad was built through this part of the state. In 1869 he homesteaded eighty acres in section 10, Long Lake township, Watonwan county. He paid sixteen dollars for lumber with which to erect a shack, leaving him only six dollars with which to hire it hauled from Mankato to his claim. He lived in this rude dwelling for five years without any further expense on it. He has continued to reside on this land for a period of forty- seven years. He gradually improved his land and finally erected a large and substantial home and a number of convenient outbuildings, also added to his original holdings until he now owns over one section of excellent land. and is one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers in his township, making a specialty of raising full-blooded Percheron horses, keeping a fine stal-
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lion of this breed; also raises full-blooded Shorthorn cattle. He has owned four fine stallions since he first started in the business. He has done much to encourage better stock raising in his community. He owns a share in the farmers elevator at St. James, and has three valuable residences in St. James.
Mr. Lindquist was married in 1869, in Nicollet county, to Augusta Carl- son, a native of Sweden, who came with her parents to Nicollet county, Min- nesota, where they located. Five children, all living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lindquist, namely: Christine, born on November 26, 1869, is the wife of Elof Erickson; Edward J., February 14, 1872; C. Albert, May 25, 1874; Tilla E., February 19, 1877, is the wife of O. K. Hogen; August E., September 26, 1879.
Politically, Mr. Linquist is a Republican. He has never been very active in political matters, not caring for office. He belongs to the Kansas Lake Swedish Lutheran church.
HANS A. HAUGEN.
Hans A. Haugen, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Rosendale township, Watonwan county, proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 2, and long recognized as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood, is a native of Norway, born in Lom, Gudbrandsdalen, on March 18, 1874. He is a son of Anders and Sisil Vekkin, who are still living there, parents of five children, of whom Hans A. was the first-born, the others being Anna, Inga, Bertha and Embjor.
Hans A. Haugen received his education in his native land and when eighteen years of age, in 1892, came to the United States, settling in Winne- bago county, Iowa. He worked on a farm there for a couple of years, at the end of which time, in 1894, he came to Minnesota and located in Watonwan county, where he worked on farms until his marriage, in 1897, when he rented different farms until 1912. In that year he bought his present farm, where he ever since has made his home. In 1915 he built a fine residence on the farm and has otherwise improved the place, until it is now regarded as one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farms in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Haugen has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. he and his family now being comfortably situated.
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