USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 13
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 13
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NICHOLAS ANDREW STEIDL.
Nicholas Andrew Steidl, manager of the Atlantic elevator at Carlos, manager of the local branch of the Central Telephone Company at that place, village clerk, former president of the village council, former re- corder of the village and for years actively identified with the growing interests of that thriving community, is a native son of Douglas county and has lived there all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Belle River township, Douglas county, September 18, 1871, son of Simon and Veronica
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(Deirr) Steidl, natives of Germany and pioneers of this section of Minne- sota, the latter of whom is still living on the old homestead place in Belle River township.
Simon Steidl was born in Bavaria on October 28, 1825, and grew to manhood in his native land, early entering the mines and becoming an experienced miner. After serving the customary period in the army he came to the United States, about 1855, and for four years was employed on government works at Galveston, Texas. He then returned to Bavaria and there married Veronica Deirr, returning straightway with his bride to the United States and was employed at St. Louis, Missouri, until about the time the Civil War broke out, when he went to upper Michigan and was there employed in the copper mines until 1870, in which year he and his wife and their six children came to Minnesota, following the tide of emigration that then was setting in strongly toward this part of the State. Simon Steidl bought the right to a homestead tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Belle River township, Douglas county, and there established his home in a small claim shanty that had been set up on the place. He began his farming with a yoke of oxen, his first crop being a few potatoes and a small garden. He presently built a log house which served as a domicile until he later was able to erect a more commodious and com- fortable frame dwelling. As he prospered in his farming operations he bought an adjoining "eighty" and became accounted one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood, remaining actively engaged in farming until late in life, the last few years of his life having been spent in practical re- tirement, the farm being managed by his sons. Simon Steidl died on his old home place on October 25, 1915, at the great age of ninety years, and his widow is still living there, she now being eighty-one years of age. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Simon, who married Elizabeth Walters and is now a farmer in Spruce Hill township, Douglas county ; Joseph, who married Clara J. Wright and is now a farmer and lumber man at Bemidji, this state: Anna, who is at home with her mother; John, who married Julia Tweet and is a lumber man at Bend, Oregon ; Sophia, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Michael, who married Mary Jerome and is now farming the old homestead place : Kather- ine, who died in the days of her youth; Josephine, wife of Peter Lithgow, who is engaged in the laundry business at Fargo, and Suzanne, wife of George H. Pennison, who is engaged in the railroad service.
Nicholas A. Steidl was reared on the homestead farm in Belle River
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township, receiving his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood and proving a valuable aid to his father in the work of developing the home place. About 1896 he and his brother, Michael, took charge of the farm and he continued actively engaged in farming, also interested in a threshing outfit and a saw-mill, for about nine years thereafter, at the end of which time, on July 1, 1905, he was made the manager of the Atlantic elevator at Carlos and has since then occupied that position, making his home at Carlos. In 1909 Mr. Steidl was made the local manager for the plant of the Central Telephone Company at Carlos and has since occupied that position. He also is the owner of one hundred and fifty-five acres of fine land, which he rents to his brother, Michael; is a stockholder in the Belle River creamery and owns a fine residence property at Carlos. Mr. Steidl is a Republican and for a year served as president of the village council at Carlos, then served for seven years as village recorder and as a member of the school board and is now treasurer of the school board.
On January 15, 1901, Nicholas A. Steidl was united in marriage to Eliza Malinda Jerome, of Miltona township, Douglas county, and to this union five children have been born, Agnes, Miles, Susan, Florence and Marie. The Steidls have a pleasant home at Carlos and take a proper interest in the various social activities of their home town and of the com- munity at large.
LARS J. HAUGE.
One of the successful and enterprising citizens of Ashby is Lars J. Hauge, cashier of the First State Bank of Ashby and former clerk of court of Grant county. He is a native of Norway, where he was born on July 20, 1859, the son of Jens Hauge and wife, the former of whon: died in Norway and the latter of whom is still living there. The parents - resided on a farm that belonged to the family for centuries.
Lars J. Hauge grew to manhood in his native country and there re- ceived his education. Having attended the public schools and later a school that is similar to our normal schools, he prepared himself for the teaching profession and followed that profession for some years in Norway. While his work there was pleasing to him, he realized that the opportunities were greater in America, and in 1881 he left his home and came to the United States, locating in Minnesota, where he taught school and worked as a farm hand for some years. He was a man of education and good address
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and made many friends. His ability was soon recognized among the peo- ple of Grant county and he had been a resident of the county but a short time until he was recognized as a leader and a man of progressive ideas. His influence was noticeable in all local functions and enterprises. He was always interested in social, church and civic affairs, his ambition being for the betterment of all local conditions.
In 1887 Lars J. Hauge was elected clerk of courts for Grant county and assumed the duties of the office in 1889. He served the people of the county for nine years in that position, and completed his work with the respect and esteem of all. After his retirement as clerk, Mr. Hauge served as postmaster at Elbow Lake for some time and in 1910 he was elected cashier of the First State Bank at Ashby, which position he still holds.
In 1893 Lars J. Hauge was united in marriage to Annie Rygh, of Grant county, and to this union five children have been born, Vernon, Lawrence, Clifford, Margaret and Benjamin. The family are active mem- bers of the Lutheran church.
NILS S. SKINNEMOEN.
Nils S. Skinnemoen, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers of Grant county, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Stony Brook township, vice-president of the Farmers Ele- vator and Supply Company of Wendell, a stockholder in the Wendell State Bank and otherwise interested in the general business affairs of his home community, is a native son of Grant county and has lived there all his life. He was born on the old Skinnemoen homestead farm in Stony Brook township, April 30, 1875, son of Stener S. Skinnemoen and wife, early settlers of that part of the county, who are still living on the place on which they settled back in pioneer days and a biographical sketch of whom, presented elsewhere in this volume, gives further details of their exper- iences upon coming here in the early days of the settlement of this part of the state.
Reared on the old home farm, Nils S. Skinnemoen received his ele- mentary schooling in the schools of his home township and supplemented the same by a course in the Park Region Lutheran College at Fergus Falls, after which he returned to the home farm and remained there, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing the old homestead place,
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until 1902, when he started out farming on his own account, in the mean- time having become the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres one-half mile north of the home place. In the summer of the next year, 1903, he married and established his home on his place, putting on modern buildings and gradually developing a fine farm plant that is recognized as one of the most complete in that part of the county. Mr. Skinnemoen is developing a herd of Shorthorn cattle and is making a specialty of the cul- tivation of alfalfa and also of red-clover seed, the latter of which he sends. to experiment stations and seed houses. In addition to his general farm- ing and stock raising, Mr. Skinnemoen gives considerable attention to local business affairs of one sort and another and is a director and vice-president of the Farmers Elevator and Supply Company of Wendell and a stock- holder in the Wendell State Bank. In his political affiliation he is a Re- publican and for five years served as township supervisor and for thirteen years as treasurer of his school district. In 1910 Mr. Skinnemoen erected a fine new, modern dwelling on his farm and he and his family are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated.
On July 1, 1903, Nils S. Skinnemoen was united in marriage to Ida C. Lillemoen, daughter of H. G. Lillemoen and wife, early settlers of Grant county, and to this union three children have been born, Selmer, born on May 3, 1904: Kenneth, July 22, 1908, and Irene, October 24, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Skinnemoen are members of the United Lutheran church in the various beneficences of which they take a warm interest, and Mr. Skinne- moen served as a member of the board of trustees of the same for six years.
W. W. SHELDON.
W. W. Sheldon, one of the best-known and most substantial land- owners in Douglas county, for years one of the leading merchants of Alex- andria, former proprietor of the Sheldon Clothing House, now conducted by his sons; a member of the Alexandria city council and otherwise actively identified with the civic and commercial interests of his home town, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was twenty-one years of age. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, August 22, 1848, son of W. J. and Martha Sheldon, who moved to Guil- ford, New York, when he was but a lad and he received his schooling there.
In 1869, he then being twenty-one years of age, W. W. Sheldon left
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New York and came to Minnesota, joining his elder brother, Benjamin Sheldon, on a homestead farm in Hudson township, Douglas county, Ben- jamin Sheldon having homesteaded a quarter section in that township two years before. For years thereafter the brothers were engaged in develop- ing the extensive farming interests they gradually acquired in Hudson town- ship, and in 1886 W. W. Sheldon retired from the farm and moved to Alex- andria, where, in the spring of 1887, he bought an interest with John Sun- blad as a partner in a clothing store and engaged in business there, starting where the store of Gregerson & Company is now located. After several moves the firm erected the substantial two-story structure now occupied by the Sheldon Clothing House and the store has ever since been located there. Having acquired Mr. Sunblad's interest in the store some time be- fore, Mr. Sheldon, in 1910, turned the clothing business over to his sons, William J. and Clare, who have since been very successfully conducting the establishment, a modern, up-to-date and well-appointed clothing store, operating under the name of the Sheldon Clothing House, one of the best- known mercantile establishments in this part of the state.
During all the years he was connected with the clothing business Mr. Sheldon continued his connection with his brother, Benjamin Sheldon, in the general agricultural business and was also heavily interested in the cattle trade, being one of the heaviest buyers of live stock hereabout, and continues to operate about five hundred acres of land in Douglas county, a part of which is rented. Mr. Sheldon is a Republican and has for years given his close attention to local political affairs, being now a member of the city council at Alexandria. His brother, Benjamin Sheldon, who was born on July 5, 1846, also is a Republican and has been one of the active members of that party since he came out here in pioneer days and took up his residence as one of the earliest settlers in Hudson township. He home- steaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in that township, erected a small claim cabin on the same and started in to develop his land. That was in 1867 and two years later he was joined by his younger brother, W. W. Sheldon, since which time the two brothers have been very closely con- nected in their farming and land operations. Benjamin Sheldon is un- married.
It was in 1876 that W. W. Sheldon was united in marriage to Caddie Hawley, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Harry O .. who is engaged in the jewelry business at Bottineau, North Dakota; Elsie, wife of Henry Schafer, who is connected with the Farmers National Bank of Alexandria; William J. and Clare, who are now operating the
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Sheldon Clothing House at Alexandria, and Marion, who is in school at Minneapolis. The Sheldons have a very pleasant home at Alexandria and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the city and of the community at large, helpful in advancing all agencies having to do with the promotion of the common welfare thereabout. Mr. Sheldon is a mem- ber of the local lodge of Masons and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.
NELS PETERSON.
Among the early settlers of Douglas county, that stalwart breed of pioneers who came out here on the outposts of civilization in the latter sixties and laid the foundations for the wonderful development that has marked this region within the past generation, few names are held in better memory hereabout than that of the late Nels Peterson, who was one of the first settlers in LaGrand township and who built up a fine piece of farming property in that neighborhood, becoming one of the most sub- stantial and useful residents of that community and spending the rest of his life on the farm he had reclaimed from the wilderness, his death oc- curring in 1904. His widow, ever a competent and valuable helpmate to him in the arduous task of developing the home farm, is still living, mak- ing her home in comfortable retirement in the city of Alexandria, where her sons, the Peterson Brothers, are actively and successfully engaged in the automobile garage business, being among the best-known and most energetic business men of that city.
Nels Peterson was a native of the kingdom of Sweden, born in 1843, and lived there until he was about twenty-three years old, when, in 1866, he came to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling in Meeker county, where he remained a year or two, at the end of which time he came to this part of the state and homesteaded a quarter section of wild land in LaGrand township, Douglas county, thus being among the very earliest settlers of that part of the county. In addition to his home- stead he bought a nearby "forty" and proceeded to improve and develop the same. In 1870 he married and later sold the homestead tract, buying an "eighty" adjoining the "forty" above mentioned and on this latter tract established his home, gradually developing a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring, as noted above, in 1904. His
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widow is now living at Alexandria. She was born, Anna Johnson, in the kingdom of Sweden and came to this country with her parents, the family settling in the early days in Douglas county on a homestead farm, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Peterson in 1870. To that union nine children were born, namely: Emma, who died in her youth ; Andrew, a member of the firm of Peterson Brothers at Alexandria; Ole, a member of that same firm; Alfred, who died in his youth; Emma, who married Olaf Olson and now lives at Valley, Nebraska ; Della, who is at home with her mother in Alexandria; Amanda, who is now living in St. Paul; Ellen, who married Reuben Dunnere and lives in Alexandria, and Alfred, who is now the managing member of the firm of Peterson Broth- ers at Alexandria.
It was in 1911 that Andrew, Ole and Alfred Peterson started an automobile garage at Alexandria, operating the same under the firm name of Peterson Brothers, and have done very well. They have a well-equip- ped place of business and in addition to their general garage business deal extensively in automobile accessories, the firm having a wide reputation for service among automobile owners in and about Alexandria.
JOHN THEO LINDEM.
John Theo Lindem, former sheriff of Grant county, now engaged in the real-estate and insurance business at Herman, was born in Norway, August 17, 1853, son of A. H. and Marem (Wham) Lindem, both natives of Norway.
A. H. Lindem came to America in 1867 and located in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming. He lived there about six years and then removed to Polk county, Minnesota, where he lived for the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of five children, Hans (de- ceased), John Theo, Anton, Martin (deceased) and Jennie. The father and mother were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
John Theo Lindem received what little schooling he obtained in his early years while living in Norway, where he attended the public schools. He had little opportunity to attend school after coming to this country and as a young man he found opportunity for employment in the northern pine- ries, on the river and on the farm. In 1876 he removed to Grant county, and entered a homestead of eighty acres of government land in Roseville
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township. He added to his original acreage, from time to time, until he be- came the owner of four hundred and twenty acres. He has done very little active farming since 1907. From 1880 to 1890 Mr. Lindem served as sheriff of Grant county. Since 1907 he has lived in Herman and has given most of his attention to the real-estate and insurance business. He has been secretary and treasurer of Delaware Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1907.
Mr. Lindem married Julia Hanson, daughter of Ole Hanson, and to this union five children have been born, Anton, Martin, Zelma, Clara and Alpheus. Mr. Linden is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He has served as a member of the village council. He was one of the first settlers in the township of Rose- ville, was one of the organizers of the township, and was the first town- ship clerk. He has always manifested an interest in the affairs of the township and in the town of which he is a citizen and is a thoroughly rep- resentative citizen. He is a Freemason, a member of Prescott Lodge No. 162.
LOUIS GINTHER.
Hon. Louis Ginther, former mayor of the city of Alexandria and for years the well-known and popular proprietor of the Letson House in that city, is a native of lowa, born on a farm in Dallas county, that state, Aug- ust 9, 1866, son of John A. Ginther and wife, substantial and useful resi- dents of that community.
Receiving his schooling in the schools of his home neighborhood, Louis Ginther remained on the home farm in Dallas county until he was twenty years of age, when he became employed in the engineering department of the Soo Line Railway and was thus employed for something more than six- teen years, at the end of which time he engaged in the general mercantile business at Drake, North Dakota, where he remained for six years. In the meantime, in 1896, he had married Gertrude Harrell and in 1908 he disposed of his business interests at Drake and moved to Alexandria, where he bought the Letson House and has ever since remained there, proprietor of that popular hostelry, one of the best-known hotels in this part of the state.
For years Mr. Ginther has taken a warm interest in political affairs and upon locating at Alexandria manifested his active concern in civic
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affairs thereabout. In 1913 he was elected mayor of the city and gave such excellent service in that capacity that the public showed its appreciation by re-electing him twice as the chief executive of Douglas county's flour- ishing county seat, his third term in that important office terminating in the spring of 1916. During his incumbency in the mayor's office Mr. Ginther was a consistent and steadfast advocate of public improvements and much substantial advancement was made along that line during the time he held the reins of local government in his home town. He is now a member of the board of public works. Mr. Ginther has taken an active interest in local fraternal affairs and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in the local doings of which or- ganizations he takes a warm interest, being one of the best-known and most influential figures in fraternal circles hereabout, even as he is in the civic and business circles of the community.
JAMES BERNARD HOVE.
James Bernard Hove, president of the First State Bank of Carlos and one of the best-known and most progressive bankers in Douglas county, is a native of the adjoining state of South Dakota, but has been a resident of Minnesota the most of his life and has been connected with banking interests since the days of his young manhood. He was born at Elk Point. South Dakota, January 20, 1873, son of John S. and Marie (Monson) Hove, natives of Norway, the former born at Throndhjem and the latter at Bergen, who became early settlers at Elk Point. John S. Hove died in 1877 and his widow survived him but three years, her death occurring in 1880. The only one of their children now living is the subject of this sketch.
Bereft of his father when he was four years of age and of his mother when he was seven, James B. Hove was reared by kinsfolk at Minneapolis, receiving his elementary education in the city schools there, and later spent some time in the native land of his parents, completing his schooling in . the schools of Bergen, his mother's native city. Upon his return to Minne- apolis he became engaged in commercial pursuits and in 1899 left there for Hampton, this state, where he remained until 1904, when he located at Carlos, since which time he has been engaged in the banking business in
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that thriving village, president of the First State Bank of Carlos and wide- ly known in banking and commercial circles hereabout. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Hove is the owner of two hundred and fifteen acres of land and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Douglas county. He is a Republican in his political affiliations and has given close atten- tion to local civic affairs, having served as village treasurer and as school treasurer at Carlos for years, up to the year 1912. Mr. Hove is a Mason, a member of Social Lodge No. 48, at Northfield, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
James B. Hove was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Ida T. Thompson, who was born at Miltona, in Douglas county, February 10, 1876, daughter of Tollef and Inger Thompson, pioneers of that neighbor- hood and the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Hove was the last- born, the others being Gilbert T., Herman, Lillian O., Helen E. and Mrs. Torina Lanager. To Mr. and Mrs. Hove two children have been born, sons both, Bertram and James. The Hoves have a very pleasant home in Carlos and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home town. They are members of the Lutheran church and take an earnest in- terest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works, helpful factors in the promotion of all agencies designed to ad- vance the general welfare hereabout.
AARON J. OSTROM.
Aaron J. Ostrom, well-known and progressive merchant of Evansville, dealer in hardware and lumber ; vice-president of the Evansville State Bank, former city councilman and for years 'actively identified with the general business interests of that village and of Douglas county, is a native son of Minnesota and has been a resident of this state all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in the immediate vicinity of Afton, in Washington county, this state, May 20, 1868, son of Nels and Mary A. Ostrom, who later moved to Nicollet county. where they are now living.
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