USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 15
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 15
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W. T. Ziebarth received his early schooling in the public schools of Wright county and afterwards attended the School of Agriculture of the University of Minnesota from which he was graduated in 1892. In 1893, the year of his marriage, he moved to Grant county and located on a farm near Herman. He became the owner of a farm of four hundred acres and was there engaged in farming until 1902, when he removed to Herman and engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, in partnership with J. T.
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Lindem, and is still thus engaged, though continuing his interest in farming, in connection with his real-estate business.
In 1893 W. T. Ziebarth was married to Sadie A. Lutz, daughter of Conrad Lutz, and to this union eleven children have been born, Fritz, Ade- line, Dessie R., Jane, Sadie, Richard, Gertrude, Alexander, Robert, Thomas Woodrow and Elizabeth, all of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Zie- barth are members of the German Evangelical church. He is independent in politics and has served as village treasurer since he removed to town. He served nine years as a member of the board of county commissioners, and was president of the board when the Grant county court house was built. As a citizen and a public official, Mr. Ziebarth enjoys the confidence of the people of the town and county, is a man of wide influence and is re- garded as being eminently trustworthy in any duty to which he has been called.
Mr. Ziebarth holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in the Knights of Pythias, in the Modern Woodmen of America and in the Brotherhood of American Yeomen.
GEORGE T. STEVENS.
George T. Stevens, well-known real-estate dealer at Osakis, was born near Osakis, in Orange township, Douglas county, April 3, 1869, a son of W. H. and Mary L. (Marsh) Stevens, the former of whom was born in Wayne county, New York, May 28, 1840, and the latter, also in New York state, October 14, 1842. and who were married on October 27, 1865.
WV. H. Stevens is a son of Daniel L. and Miranda Stevens, the former of whom was born in Vermont and died in 1850. Daniel L. Stevens moved to Wisconsin in 1849 and died at his home in Dodge county the following year. His children were Sarah Ann, Lysander, Louisa, Mary C., John A., W. H., and Harriet, of whom W. H. Stevens is the only survivor. W. H. Stevens was partly educated in York state and was nine years of age when his parents settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, in the public schools of which county he completed his schooling. As a young man he worked on the farm and when the Civil War broke out he responded to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers to aid in the suppression of the rebellion and enlisted in Company C. Sixteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, with which command he served three years, nine months and four-
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teen days, receiving his discharge at Mobile, Alabama, September 2, 1865. The regiment to which W. H. Stevens belonged was a part of the army under General Grant at the battle of Shiloh. It was attached to Peabody's Brigade, in General Prentiss's Division, and was in the front at the begin- ning of the battle and in the hottest of the first day's fighting. Mr. Stevens was severely wounded in the battle of the first day, and was sent home to recover from his wounds. Returning to his regiment he participated in the battles of Ft. Gibson, Jackson, Mississippi; Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, second battle of Jackson, Spanish Fort, Blakely, Ala- bama, and numerous other battles and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged.
After the war Mr. Stevens returned to his home in Wisconsin and in May, 1866, came to Minnesota and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Orange township, Douglas county. He put up the neces- sary buildings and improved the land, and continued to live there until 1875, when he removed to Osakis, where he since has made his home. He had one hundred and twenty acres of land inside the corporate limits of this town and he retired from active farming about 1907. The children in his family are W. E., G. T. and Mabel J. W. H. Stevens is a Republican. He was the first treasurer of Orange township, served on the board of supervisors in Osakis for several years and has been a member of the village council for several years. He is an active, loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic. On October 27, 1915, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Stevens celebrated their golden-wedding anniversary.
George T. Stevens was educated in the public schools of Osakis, and was employed during early years in work on the farm. When he grew to manhood he began farming for himself on a farm in Osakis township. In the spring of 1889 he opened up a meat market in Osakis and carried on that business in addition to his farm work, having his residence in Osakis. About 1896 he changed his home back to the farm and lived there for three years. In 1903 he rented his farm and again took up his residence in town and gave his entire attention to his meat market. In 1907 he sold out his business and went on the road as a traveling representative for Van Duzen & Herrington, in the stock business, and was thus engaged for two years, at the end of which time he engaged in buying and selling live stock for himself and was thus engaged until 1913, since which time he has been engaged in the real-estate business in Osakis. He and his brother, W. E. Stevens, are the owners of four hundred and eighty acres of land in Todd county.
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On August 14. 1893, George T. Stevens and M. Gertrude Satterlee, daughter of Rev. R. B. Satterlee, were united in marriage and to this union five children have been born, Lois G., Eunice, Zephyr Z., Richard H., and Edward B. Mr. Stevens is a Republican and is a member of the Work- men fraternity.
MADS C. RUSTAND.
Mads C. Rustand, a well-known and substantial farmer of Grant county, a former merchant at Wendell and now the proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres in North Ottawa township, where, in addi- tion to his general farming, he is extensively engaged in stock raising, is a native son of Grant county and has lived in the county all his life save for the time spent in going to college at Fergus Falls. He was born on the old Rustand homestead farm in North Ottawa township on February 22. 1883. son of Christian O. and Anna O. (Tofsrud) Rustand, natives of the kingdom of Norway and pioneers of Grant county, the former of whom died on July 1, 1908, and the latter of whom is still living on the old home- stead. In a biographical sketch relating to Ole K. Rustand, clerk of North Ottawa township, and an elder brother of the subject of this biographical sketch, there is set out in detail the history of the Rustand family in Grant county and to that sketch the reader is respectfully referred for additional information in this connection.
Reared on the parental farm in North Ottawa township, Mads C. Rustand received his elementary education in the district schools of that neighborhood and supplemented the same by a course in the Park Region Lutheran College at Fergus Falls, upon the completion of which course he returned to the home farm and there resumed his place as a valued assistant in the labors of developing and cultivating the same, being thus engaged until 1908, in which year he engaged in the farm implement business at Wendell. For about three years Mr. Rustand continued in business at Wendell and he then sold his store and resumed farming, being at that time the owner of a well-improved farm of three hundred and sixty acres in North Ottawa township, the place he still owns and which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation and improvement, his place being looked upon as one of the best farm plants in that part of the county. Two years later, in 1912, Mr. Rustand married and has ever since made his home on the farm, he and his family being very comfortably and very pleasantly situ-
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ated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Rustand has given consid- erable attention to the raising of live stock, keeping purebred sires, and has about thirty head of Shorthorn cattle and about fifty head of Poland China hogs. Mr. Rustand is a Republican and has served his township as supervisor and as assessor, and in other ways has demonstrated his interest in the public service.
It was on April 11, 1912, that Mads C. Rustand was united in mar- riage to Ottina Dybdal, a daughter of Asle E. Dybdal and wife, early set- tlers in the Wendell neighborhood, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Glenice, born on September 26, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Rustand are members of the Synod Lutheran church and take a warm interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all good works in the community in which they live.
AUVIGNE MASON RANDALL, M. D.
Dr. Auvigne Mason Randall, a prominent and successful physician of Ashby, was born in Sechlerville, Wisconsin, on December 8, 1880, the son of David Henry and Emma Elnora (Kennedy) Randall, the former born in Vermont and the latter in Wisconsin and who were residents of the latter state for many years. Emma Randall's parents were early farmers in the section of the state in which she was born. David H. Randall, as a young man, was a school teacher, but later learned to be a butter-maker, which vocation he followed for many years. In 1886 he and his family came to Minnesota where they have since resided. In 1915 he removed to Ashby, where he lives a retired life. To him and his wife two children were born, Cora and Auvigne Mason.
Auvigne Mason Randall received his early education in the public schools of Minneapolis and in the academy in that city. He later attended Hamlin College, from which institution he was graduated in 1903, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving his degree Doctor Randall located at Eagle Bend, but remained there but seven weeks, at the end of which time he located at Underwood, where he practiced until 1909, in which year he located at Ashby, where he ever since has been engaged in practice.
On July 22, 1905, Doctor Randall was united in marriage to Anna Mortinson, of Underwood, daughter of H. P. Mortinson, a prominent
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farmer of that locality, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Carter Gordon.
Fraternally, Doctor Randall is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is also a member of the local, state and national medical socie- ties. He takes an active interest in the Park Region Medical Society, the local organization, and is secretary of the same. He is the present deputy coroner of Grant county. Doctor Randall has always taken an active interest in all local affairs and his efforts have ever been directed toward the advancement of the best interests of the community. His judgment and ability are recognized by the residents of his home town and he is at pres- ent the village president, as well as president of the local school board. He is also secretary and manager of the Ashby Telephone Company.
WILLIAM F. MEISSNER.
William F. Meissner, one of the prominent and well-known business men of Brandon, was born in Millerville township, Douglas county, on July 10, 1871, the son of Gotlieb Meissner.
Gotlieb Meissner was born in Germany and there received his educa- tion in the public schools. He remained a resident of the Fatherland until 1869, when he came to the United States. On landing in this country he came directly to Minnesota and located on a farm in Douglas county. He died in 1890 and his widow in 1916. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, Ernest, Frederick, Fredericka, Herman, Amelia, William, Henry and Mary, all of whom are living save Frederick. Mr. Meissner was a suc- cessful farmer and stock raiser on his two-hundred-acre farm in Miller- ville township. He and his wife were active members of the German Lutheran church.
William F. Meissner received his education in the public schools of Millerville township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad he assisted his father with the farm work. In May, 1893, he was united in marriage to Julia Woida and to this union nine children have been born, Fred, Mary, Robert, Lilly, Clara, Raymond, Clarence, Virginia and Dorothy. Fred Meissner married Hattie Willis.
On leaving the farm some years ago, Mr. Meissner located in Brandon and was there employed in the flour mills for six years. For the past four years he has been engaged in the buying of grain for the Brandon
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Grain Company. In addition to his other duties he has for the past twelve years been the owner and the proprietor of the Brandon House, a well- known hotel of that village. Until four years ago he conducted a livery business in connection with the hotel.
THOMAS A. SYVRUD.
Thomas A. Syvrud, head of the firm of Syvrud & Meyers, proprietors of an extensive garage at Alexandria and dealers in automobile accessories, is a native of the Badger state and has been a resident of Alexandri for the past thirteen or fourteen years. He was born in Dane county, Wiscon- sin, December 18, 1864, son of Thor and Carrie (Lein) Syvrud, both natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to the United States about 1858 and located on a farm in Dane county, Wisconsin, where Thor Syvrud spent the rest of his life and where his widow is still living. They were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and their three sons, Knute, Thomas and Theodore, were reared in that faith.
Thomas A. Syvrud was reared on the family homestead in Dane county, Wisconsin, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and supplementing the same by a course in the Lutheran Col- lege at Decorah, Iowa. About 1890 he engaged in the hardware business in Wisconsin and in 1891 was married. He continued in business in Wis- consin until 1902 and about a year later came to Minnesota, locating at Alexandria, where he engaged in the real estate business, in which he con- tinued for about five years. In 1912 he engaged in the automobile garage business at Alexandria, under the firm name of Setter & Syvrud, which firm, in 1913, became Syvrud & Meyers, which continues actively in busi- ness at Alexandria and to which flourishing concern Mr. Syvrud devotes his whole attention, the firm having built up a fine business among automobile owners in and about Alexandria.
It was in 1801. in Dane county, Wisconsin, that Thomas A. Syvrud was united in marriage to Carrie Berge, of that county, and to this union three children have been born, Clifford, Mary and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Syvrud are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the same, helpful factors in the work of pro- moting the various beneficences of their church, as well as all community good works.
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THOMAS OLSON.
Thomas Olson, a well-known and substantial Grant county farmer, pro- prietor of a well-improved farm of eighty acres on the very edge of the village of Norcross, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of the United States since he was eight years of age and of Grant county since he was twenty-one. He was born in Christiansand on April 14, 1858, son of Ole O. and Severina (Torgerson) Berkland, both natives of that same city, whose last days were spent in Minnesota.
Ole O. Berkland was born on April 14, 1816, and grew to manhood in his native land, marrying Severina Torgerson, who was born on July 19. 1835, and in 1866 came to the United States with his family, the sailing vessel on which they crossed being seven weeks in making the passage. Upon landing in this country, the Berklands came West and settled in the neighborhood of Bangor, Wisconsin, not far from LaCrosse, where Mr. Berkland homesteaded a tract of forty acres of land and there established his home, remaining there for thirteen years, at the end of which time he came over to this part of Minnesota, locating in Grant county. He home- steaded forty acres in section 2 of Gorton township, raw prairie land, erected there a set of buildings, broke the land and established a home, later moving to Verndale, in Wadena county, where he spent his last days, his death occurring on August 19, 1904, he then being eighty-eight years of age. Following Mr. Berkland's death his widow made her home with the sub- ject of this sketch, where she died on June 5, 1913. They were members of the Synod Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Tobias, who became a homesteader in Grant county, but later returned to Norway, where he died; Julia, who married John Ireland and died at Glidden, Wisconsin; Tilda, who married Peter Lystad and lives at Sauk Center, this state; Mary, who married Hector McGinnis, and is now deceased; Otto, a farmer, who died in Grant county; Andrew, who lives at Duluth; Oscar, a farmer, liv- ing in Gorton township, and Selma, who married Knute Larson and died at her home near Norcross.
As noted above, Thomas Olson was but about eight years of age when his parents came to this country and he grew to manhood on the farm his father had homesteaded near Bangor, Wisconsin, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood, remaining there until 1879, when he
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came over to this part of Minnesota, settling in Grant county, where he ever since has made his home. Upon coming out here Mr. Olson home- steaded a quarter of a section of prairie land in section 2 of Gorton town- ship and proceeded to develop the same, one of the notable improvements he made upon the place being the planting of a grove which grew to be a very attractive feature of the landscape. He later put up a good set of buildings and there made his home until 1900, in which year he sold the farm and bought another place, right in the village of Norcross, put up a good set of buildings there and has ever since made his home there. On this farm of eighty acres, Mr. Olson carries on general farming and has done very well in his operations. He is a Republican and has served his com- munity in an official way as a member of the board of township super- visors and as a school director.
In 1888 Thomas Olson was united in marriage to Caroline Peter- son, who was born in Wisconsin on April 29, 1862, daughter of Arne and Annie (Olson) Peterson, natives of Norway, and old settlers in Wisconsin, the former of whom was a veteran of the Civil War, and to this union the following children have been born: Oswald, who is at home; Alice and Adolph, twins, the latter of whom died in infancy and the former of whom died at the age of twenty-five years; Mabel, at home; Agnes, also at home; David, who died at the age of three years, and Arthur and Clara, at home. The Olsons are members of the Synod Lutheran church and have ever taken a warm interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works.
JESSE M. CURTIS.
Success has come to Jesse M. Curtis, hardware merchant at Osakis, because he has been willing to pay the price necessary to obtain it-the price of unremitting and honest effort. He was born in Osakis, December 2, 1874, and is a son of Alanthus and Martha (Tannehill) Curtis, the father a native of Shelbyville, Indiana, and the mother of Lewistown, Ohio. The father came to Minnesota when a young man and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, in Osakis township, Douglas county, but a few years later moved to St. Cloud, where he spent the rest of his life, dying a number of years ago. He served three years as a soldier in the Civil War, a member of an Indiana regiment.
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Jesse M. Curtis, the only child of his parents, received his education in the public schools of Osakis and at St. Cloud. He began life for him- self by teaching, which vocation he followed for about three years; then conducted a restaurant three years in Osakis, after which he was employed in the First National Bank of Osakis for three years; then spent three years in the Bank of Villard, after which he transferred his services to the State Bank at Osakis, remaining there five years. In all these positions Mr. Curtis gave eminent satisfaction, being alert, progressive in his ideas and cour- teous and reliable. In 1913 he became interested in the Osakis Hardware Company, of which he is at present secretary and treasurer. He has con- tributed to the general success of the firm in no uncertain manner, and a large and growing business has been built up, the company carrying a complete stock of general hardware.
In 1893 Jesse M. Curtis was married to Anna Patrick and to their union five children have been born, namely: Dorothy N., Marvin A., Alice M., Howard J., and Robert. Politically, Mr. Curtis is a Republican and he has served on the village council for three or four years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Modern Woodmen.
CHARLES S. GOODELL.
Charles S. Goodell, a well-known merchant at Herman, was born in Brandon, Vermont, May 16, 1863. His father, Charles F. Goodell, was born in Brandon, Vermont, in 1840; his mother, Jennie M. (Spooner) Goodell, was born in Sudberry, Vermont, in 1839.
Charles F. Goodell was engaged in the marble business for over forty years. He first started in the business at Brandon, Vermont. In 1876 he removed to Northfield, Minnesota, where he continued the same business, and also had some farming interests while living at that place. He died on March 25, 1911, and his widow is now living at Seattle, Washington. Their children are: Elizabeth M., who married John F. Hunter and lives in Seattle, Washington; Charles S., the subject of this sketch; Mable L., who married B. H. Phinney and lives at Fergus Falls; Flora M., who mar- ried E. S. Hixson and lives in Zurich, Montana, and Paul S., who lives at Herman. Charles F. Goodell, affiliated with the Democratic party and his fraternal affiliation was with the Masonic order.
Charles S. Goodell was educated in the public schools of Northfield,
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Minnesota. As a young man he worked for eight years with his father in the marble business. In 1888 he moved to Stevens county, and for thirteen years was there engaged in farming. In 1902 he moved to Herman and opened a store, handling a line of groceries, confectioneries and fruits. During the summer seasons he handles the marble and granite business.
In 1885 Charles S. Goodell and Meribah E. Spencer, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, a daughter of Joseph Spencer, were united in marriage. Jean L. is their only child. She married Leslie G. Boerner and is the mother of two children, Ruth E. and Mae E.
Mr. Goodell affiliates with the Democratic party and is at present a member of the village council. His lodge affiliations are with the Masonic order, with the Order of the Eastern Star and with the Woodmen.
CONSTANT LARSON.
Constant Larson, attorney-at-law, of Alexandria, city attorney and chairman of the charter committee of that city and for years actively identi- fied with all movements having to do with the advancement of the best interests of Douglas county-and this part of the state in general, is a native son of Douglas county and has lived there all his life. He was born on a homestead farm in Alexandria township on February 7, 1870, son of Gustav P. and Carolina (Larson) Larson, natives of the kingdom of Sweden, who came to Minnesota at an early day in the settlement of this region and here spent the remainder of their lives, honored and influential pioneer citizens of Douglas county.
Gustav P. Larson was reared on a farm in his native land and there became a skilled cabinet-maker. He married Carolina Larson, a daughter of Johan and Christina Larson, and in 1868, with his wife and the latter's father and mother, came to the United States, the family proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling in Douglas county, both Gustav P. Larson and Johan Larson entering claims to homestead tracts in Alexandria township and there establishing their homes. Gustav P. Larson's homestead entry was in section 14 and he was just beginning to see his way clear to the suc- cessful development of the same when his earnest pioneer labors were stopped by death in 1874, his widow thus being left with four small children to con- tinue the maintenance of the home. Of these children the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Charles
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H., who is now living on the old homestead farm in Alexandria township; Amanda, who married George Lee and is now living on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Hampshire, Wyoming, and Augustus T., a lawyer, who is practicing his profession at Minneapolis. Mrs. Carolina Larson later married Charles Anderson and to that union two sons were born, A. Emil Anderson, a farmer, of Douglas county, and Adolph J. Anderson, a farmer, living in the vicinity of Wadena, this state.
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