USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 11
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 11
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As noted above, Ole K. Rustand was about nine years old when his parents settled in Grant county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in North Ottawa township, receiving his schooling in the local schools. From the days of his early youth he was a valued assistant to his father in the work of developing the home place and remained at home until his mar- riage in 1896, when he established his own home on a quarter of a section of his father's farm that had been given over to him. From the very beginning of his operations there he has been successful and has added to his holdings until now he is the owner of a splendid farm of four hundred and eighty acres, on which he has erected a fine house and a good set of farm buildings, supplanting the buildings he put up there when he first entered upon possession of the place. In addition to his general farming, he has
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given much attention to the raising of a good grade of live stock and has fine herds of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Rustand was one of the organizers of the farmers' co-operative creamery and is treasurer of the company operating the same. He also is a stockholder in the new Wendell State Bank and in other ways has displayed his interest in the gen- eral business activities of his home community. In his political views, Mr. Rustand is an ardent Prohibitionist. He has served as treasurer of his home township, for many years has been clerk of his school district and is now serving as township clerk.
In 1896 Ole K. Rustand was united in marriage to Hulda Lardon, who was born in the kingdom of Sweden, a daughter of Otto and Anna (Carl- son) Larson, old settlers of North Ottawa township, where the former died on July 18, 1916, and where his widow is still living, and to this union three children have been born, Arthur, Ethel and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Rustand are members of the Church of God and Mr. Rustand is a member of the board of trustees of the same, both taking a warm interest in the affairs of the church, as well as in all local good works, helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the welfare of the community in which they live.
THOMAS M. THAYER, M. D.
Dr. Thomas M. Thayer, a successful physician of Herman, was born at Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1876, the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Thayer. He grew to manhood at Gouverneur and received his early education in the schools of that place. After completing the high- school course he entered St. Lawrence University, where he remained one year, at the end of which time he entered the Homeopathic College at New York City, from which he was graduated in 1900. For a year thereafter he was engaged in general practice at Montreal and he then spent a year as a member of the staff of the state hospital at Middletown, New York. Doc- tor Thaver then came to Minnesota and for six years was attached to the staff of the state hospital at Fergus Falls, his extensive hospital work thus having been of inestimable value in his general practice. Upon leaving the hospital at Fergus Falls, Doctor Thayer located at Herman, where he has since been engaged in general practice.
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In 1908 Dr. Thomas M. Thayer was united in marriage to Mae Pardee. of Minneapolis, and to this union has been born one child, a daughter. In his political persuasion, Doctor Thayer is affiliated with the Democratic party.
PETER O. UNUMB.
Peter O. Unumb, cashier of the First National Bank of Alexandria, member of the common council of that city, president of the Farmers State Bank of Brandon, president of the Farmers State Bank of Hoffman and also actively identified with the real-estate interests of this section of the state, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this country since he was three years of age and of Minnesota since he was nine. He was born in the year 1863, son of Peter and Olivia (Han- gaard) Unumb, both natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 1866 and located in Madison, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1869, in which year they came to Minnesota with their family and settled on a homestead farm in Moe township, Douglas county. Peter Unumb was a good farmer and made an excellent farm out of his raw timber land, becoming one of the most substantial farmers in that part of the country. There he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1913. His widow survived him about two years, her death occurring in 1915. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being E. O., C. B., Oscar, Bertha and Ingeborg.
Peter O. Unumb received his schooling in the public schools of Alex- andria, finishing the course offered at that time, before the days of the commissioned high school, and in 1880, when seventeen years old, became a bookkeeper in the Bank of Alexandria, now the First National Bank, and has ever since been connected with that sound old financial institution. His work with the bank received the approval of the directing heads of the same from the very start and he was presently advanced to the posi- tion of assistant cashier and in 1900 promoted to the position of cashier, which position he ever since has held, long having been one of the best- known figures in the financial circles of this part of the state. Mr. Unumb has extended his banking interests in other directions, having been the organizer of the Farmers State Bank of Brandon and of the Farmers State Bank of Hoffman, of both of which institutions he is president. He also
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PETER O. UNUMB.
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has for some years been an extensive dealer in real estate throughout this section, both in Dakota and Minnesota, and in town properties in Alexan- dria and has done very well in that line. Mr. Unumb also has given close attention to the civic interests of his home town and of the county at large and is now serving as a member of the common council of the city of Alexandria. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
In 1889 Peter O. Unumb was united in marriage to Margaret Hovde, who was born in Douglas county. Her parents came to this country from Norway and settled in Douglas county in 1865. To Peter O. and Mar- garet (Hovde) Unumb the following children have been born, Vera, Archie and Percy, who are now attending Carlton College, and Merlin and Paul, who are still in school at Alexandria. Mr. Unumb is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and takes an earnest interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works, while Mrs. Unumb is affiliated with the Christian Scientists, both useful and influential factors in the promotion of movements designed to increase the general welfare hereabout.
GILBERT GILBERTSON.
Gilbert Gilbertson, one of the well-known and prominent retired farmers of Erdahl, was born in Norway on December 5, 1843, the son of Gilbert and Anna (Olson) Olson, also natives of Norway, who there received their edu- cation in the public schools and there grew to manhood and womanhood and were married, and there their children were born. Gilbert Olson was a farmer in his native land, and he and his wife were prominent in the social and the religious life of the community in which they lived. They con- tinued to reside in the land of their birth until 1861, when they came to the United States and spent the remaining days of their lives with their son Ole, in Wisconsin. They were the parents of eight children, Ole (deceased), Thoren, Ofe (deceased), Thora (deceased), Olia, Mary, Gilbert and Anna.
Gilbert Gilbertson received his education in the public schools of his native land and there grew to manhood. He remained a resident of the land of his birth until 1861, when he decided that he would come to America. On his arrival in the United States he located in Wisconsin, where he worked (8a)
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as a farm hand for one year. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-seventh Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at Madison. He was first sent to Columbus, Kentucky, and then to Vicksburg, where he served under General Grant in the memorable siege of that city. After the siege of Vicksburg he was with the command of General Steele, in the cap- ture of Little Rock, Arkansas, where he remained for nearly two years. After the fierce battle at Jenkins Ferry, where they captured the commands of Generals Price and Marmaduke, under General Canby, Mr. Gilbertson was sent to Mobile, Alabama, where they captured the old Spanish fort and Fort Blakely, after which they started in the campaign up the Alabama river, and were on this latter expedition when the war came to a close. Although the war was over, Mr. Gilbertson was transferred to Mobile, and later to Texas to recover some guns that had been sold to the Mexicans in an unlawful manner. He received his discharge at Brownsville, Texas, on September 25, 1865, and returned to Wisconsin, where he remained for some five years, engaged as a farm hand. In 1870 he came to Minnesota and took a soldier's claim to one hundred and sixty acres in Swift county. There he built a log slianty, obtained a good team of oxen and engaged in farming until 1875, when he sold the place and moved up to Grant county, where he purchased eighty acres of land in section 5 of Erdahl township, having driven up from Swift county. This was all wild land, covered with scrub timber and brush. He built a good log house and started to clear the place and plant his grain. The most of the first crop was taken by the grass- hoppers. With much perseverance and hard work he succeeded in clearing and improving the farm and erected good and substantial buildings. There he continued his general farming and stock raising until 1903, when he sold the place and moved to Erdahl village, and there purchased fifteen acres of land, on which he is now living, having retired from the greater responsi- bilities of farm life. He built a fine new residence and made many other valuable improvements, adding much to the value and the beauty of the place.
In 1871 Gilbert Gilbertson was united in marriage to Mary Lee and to this union twelve children have been horn, Ellen, Gustav, Mina, Oscar, Sena, Otto, George, Clara, Arthur, Martin, Martin Arnold and Mabel, the last three of whom are now deceased. Ellen is the wife of John Comstock and resides at Fergus Falls ; Gustav is a resident of Canada; Mina married Austin Thompson and lives at Hankinson, North Dakota; Oscar is in the grain business at Rugby, North Dakota; Sena is the wife of William Mooe, a wheat buyer at Judd, North Dakota; Otto, Clara and Arthur are at home
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with their parents, and George resides in Erdahl. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson are active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and have long been prominent in the social and the religious life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem. Mr. Gilbertson, has always taken a keen interest in local affairs and has had much to do with the civic life of the township and the county. He assisted in the organization of the town- ship and was the first clerk of the same. He also served as clerk of the school district, which he helped organize. For four years he was county commissioner, in which capacity he rendered excellent service, retiring with the confidence and the respect of the entire county.
ARTHUR L. OSTERBERG.
Arthur L. Osterberg, manager of the Kensington Mercantile Company at Kensington, Douglas county, and for some years'one of the most active factors in the business life of that village, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a homestead farm in Nora township, in the neighboring county of Pope, December 17, 1882, son of August and Christina (Johnson) Osterberg, natives of Sweden, born in Westergotland, who came to America in 1869, immediately following their marriage, and proceeded directly to Minnesota, settling in Pope county.
Upon settling in this state August Osterberg homesteaded a tract of land in the immediate vicinity of Glenwood, in Nora township, Pope county, where he and his wife established their home and where they reared their children, remaining there until about the year 1900, when they retired from the farm and moved to Kensington, where their last days were spent, Mr. Osterberg dying in 1905 and his widow surviving a little more than a year, her death occurring in December, 1906. August Osterberg for years took an active part in community affairs in Pope county and became one of the most substantial farmers in his neighborhood. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Swedish Mission church and their children were reared in the faith of the same. There were ten of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the seventh in order of birth and all of whom were born on the old homestead farm in Nora township, the others being Mamie, Cecelia, Frank, Robert, Esther, Huldah, Harry, Edith and Ebba.
Arthur L. Osterberg was reared on the homestead farm near Kin- sington and finished his common-school schooling in the high school in
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that city, supplementing the same by a course in the Glenwood Academy, after which he began clerking in a store at Kensington and with the excep- tion of one year spent at Elbow Lake has ever since lived in that village. After clerking for some time he began to buy grain at Kensington and when not thus engaged resumed his work as a clerk and was thus engaged until 1912, when, upon the organization of the Kensington Mercantile Company, he became a partner in the same and was made general manager, a position he ever since has held, and in the performance of the duties of which he has come to be recognized as one of the most enterprising and energetic business men thereabout. Mr. Osterberg also has been called on at one time and another to act as administrator of various estates in probate in that section of the county.
In 1905 Arthur L. Osterberg was united in marriage to Christine Head- strom, who was born in Salem township, Douglas county, and to this union five children have been born, the first-born of whom, Weldon, died in infancy, the others being Walter, Irene, Ethel and Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Oster- berg are members of the Swedish Lutheran church at Kensington and take a warm interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works, being earnestly concerned in all movements having to do with the betterment of conditions in the community in which they live.
ELLEND N. ELLINGSON.
Ellend N. Ellingson, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Grant county, one of the most active and influential residents of Stony Brook township, is a native son of that county and has lived there all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Stony Brook township, January 19, 1883, son of Nils and Sigri (Dybdal) Ellingson, natives of Norway and early set- tlers in Grant county, who came out to this part of the state from Houston county, Minnesota, in 1878 and settled in Stony Brook township, where they are still living. A biographical sketch of Nils Ellingson, presented else- where in this volume, gives details of the history of the Ellingson family back through the days of Grandfather Ellingson, who came with his family from Norway in 1868, settling in Houston county, this state, later locating in Grant county, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives.
Upon completing his schooling in the common schools of his home town- ship, Ellend N. Ellingson entered the Park Region Lutheran College at Fer-
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gus Falls and after a comprehensive course there returned to the home farm and has ever since, with the exception of a year spent as a clerk in a hard- ware store at Wendell, been engaged in farm work on his father's place and on adjoining land which he rents on his own account, and has been quite successful in his farming operations. In his political affiliations Mr. Elling- son is a Republican and by religious persuasion is a member of the synod branch of the Norwegian Lutheran church, taking an earnest interest in the civic affairs of his home community and in all movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare hereabout.
ANTON J. LORSUNG.
The pleasant village of Millerville has been a good enough place for Anton J. Lorsung to spend his life in, and there he is now well established as a merchant. He was born there on August 6, 1877, a son of Peter and Katherine (Miller) Lorsung. John A. Miller, his uncle, was probably the earliest settler in Millerville township, the village now being built on land that was formerly his farm. He and Peter Lorsung each gave twenty acres to the Catholic church of Millerville and helped organize the church there. Mrs. Katherine Miller, mother of John A. Miller, also took up a homestead in that vicinity and the village was named after the Miller family, the town- ship later being given the same name. Peter Lorsung, the paternal grand- father, was a native of France. He married Johannalı Raymark. They came to America, settling on a farm near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, although he was a wagon-maker by trade, and there his death occurred, after which his widow came to Minnesota and spent the rest of her life with her son, John Lorsung, who had previously taken up a homestead near Millerville. Peter Lorsung, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany on December 10, 1830. He was twelve years of age when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents and he lived at Pittsburgh until the spring of 1859, when he came to Minnesota, arriving in Douglas county on May I. He took up a homestead in what is now Millerville township, and there he underwent the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, developed a good farm and there spent the rest of his days, dying on January 9, 1908, at an advanced age. He survived his wife twenty-eight years, her death hav- ing occurred on June 2, 1880, at the age of forty-two years. To these parents six children were born, Johannah, Joseph, Peter P., Mary F., John
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P., and Anton J. The father of these children was active in local affairs and helped organize the Catholic church at Millerville. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade and continued to work at it at intervals. He built the first church of his denomination at Millerville and also a number of other buildings still standing in that locality. . He also made several wagons for his neighbors.
Anton J. Lorsung grew up on the home farm, and was educated in the common schools of his district, later taking a short business course at Sauk Center. He remained on the farm until he was sixteen years old. In 1898 he started a general store at Millerville, in partnership with his brother, J. P. Lorsung, and five years later he bought his brother's interest and has been operating the store alone ever since. He carries a well-selected stock of general merchandise and has always enjoyed a good trade with the people of the town and surrounding country. He carries about a seven- thousand-dollar stock. His brother, John P. Lorsung, is also a merchant at Millerville. He was born on June 25, 1872, and in 1900 he married Katherine Kojlin.
On November 11, 1906, Anton J. Lorsung was married to Anna Kots- chaver, and to their union six children have been born: Alyojies, Mathias, Hilta and Mircilla (twins), Attlebirt, and Jerome.
Mr. Lorsung is a member of the Catholic church, and of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Politically, he is independent. He has served as vil- lage recorder since the place was incorporated. On September 14, 1903, he called a meeting of the leading citizens of the village, who met in his store for the purpose of incorporating the village, which was accordingly done, he being elected recorder, which position he has held ever since.
HENRY G. LILLEMOEN.
The long years of strenuous effort as a general farmer put forth by Henry G. Lillemoen, of Wendell, has been rewarded by a large measure of material success and he is now able to spend his declining years in retire- ment. He was born in Norway, November 23, 1848, and was five years of age when, in 1853, his parents came to the United States and settled at Decorah, Iowa, where he grew up and attended school. In the fall of 1864, he then being but sixteen years of age, Henry G. Lillemoen enlisted in Com- pany I, Sixteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served with that
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command until the close of the Civil War. After his honorable discharge he returned to Iowa and for some time followed boating on the Mississippi river, also worked one year in the luniber woods and in rafting logs and on steamboats plying between Iowa cities and St. Louis, Missouri. He came to Minnesota in 1871, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section 6 of Stony Brook township, Grant county, and also secured a tree claim of one hundred and twenty acres. He worked hard, cleared and developed his land into an excellent farm; set out a grove and erected good buildings, and engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising until the fall of 1915, when he retired from active life, removing to the village of Wendell, where he bought property and now resides, renting out his farm.
In 1869, in Winneshiek county, Iowa, Henry G. Lillemoen was married to Ingeborg Sneserud, who was born in Norway, February 2, 1849, a daugh- ter of Stiner Sneserud, a pioneer of Wisconsin, who settled there about 1853 and in 1860 removed with his family to Iowa, locating in Winneshiek county, where he spent the rest of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Lillemoen the following children have been horn: Stiner, Ole, Henry, Ida, who is now the wife of Nils Skinnemoen; Emma, who married Charles Setra and lives at Minot, North Dakota; Christopher, a harness maker in Wendell, and Helma, who married Lawrence Anderson.
Politically, Mr. Lillemoen is an independent voter, and he has long been active in local public affairs. He served very ably as county superintendent of schools about the year 1874 or 1875. He has also served on the local school board, and as supervisor of Stony Brook township, of which he was the first township clerk. He belongs to the Synod Lutheran church, which he helped build and since moving to Wendell attends the church there, which he also helped to build.
OSCAR J. WALLEN.
Among the younger business men of Douglas county who is rapidly ascending the ladder of success through his own endeavors is Oscar J. Wallen, banker of Evansville. He was born in Lyon county, Minnesota, June 14, 1879, and is a son of Jacob and Anna Wallen. The father who devoted his active life to contracting and building was a resident of Lyon county until 1884, when he moved to Glenwood, this state, later locating in . Tacoma, Washington, where his death occurred some time ago. His widow still
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resides in that city. To these parents five children were born, the subject of this review being the second in order of birth.
Oscar J. Wallen completed his schooling in the high school at Glenwood and on April 1, 1900, entered tlie employ of the Benton County State Bank at Sauk Rapids, where he remained until July 1, 1902, when he went to Evansville and helped organize the Evansville State Bank, of which he became assistant cashier. That position he held until 1905, when he was made cashier, the duties of which position he continues to discharge in an able manner, highly satisfactory to the stockholders and patrons of the bank.
On July 14, 1910, Oscar J. Wallen was married to Amanda Anderson, a daughter of John Anderson and wife of Evansville, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Dorothy. Politically, Mr. Wallen is a Republican. He has been active in the affairs of the village of Evansville and has filled the offices of treasurer and clerk of the same with general satisfaction.
ANDREW JACKSON GILKINSON, M. D.
Dr. Andrew Jackson Gilkinson, of Osakis, is a native of West Vir- ginia, born in Wayne county, that state, March 23, 1863, a son of A. W. and Matilda Jane (Caylor) Gilkinson, both of whom were born in that same county.
A. W. Gilkinson is still living in the county in which he was born, and has been all his life engaged in farming. He is the owner of a farm of two hundred and fifty acres of land in that county. His wife died in 1876. They were the parents of five children, Andrew J., Armilda, Nevada, Laura and Martha. The father is a member of the Methodist church, and is a member of the Masonic order. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army and served under Col. John B. McCoslin, in "Stonewall" Jackson's brigade, in the eastern Virginia division. He served until the close of the war and was with his regiment in all the battles and campaigns in which it partici- pated, except during the year 1863, when he was absent from his command for about one year on account of sickness.
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