USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 19
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 19
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Politically, Mr. Rustand is a Republican and has served as assessor four years in North Ottawa township and as clerk six years. He has also been a member of the school board in Stony Brook township and has been
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chairman of the township board for about seven years, which position he still holds. He is active and influential in local public affairs.
Mr. Rustand was married, in 1894, to Inga Anderson, who was born in Norway in 1872. She is a daughter of Iver and Karn Anderson, who came to Grant county, Minnesota, in 1893, the father buying eighty acres of railroad land, which he later sold and took up a homestead in North Dakota. That he also sold, then bought a farm in Stony Brook township, Grant county, but later sold it to his son Ole, and is now living retired in the village of Wendell. His wife also survives.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rustand the following children have been born: Annie, Mabel, Hildora, Josephine, Clarence, Walter, David, Leonard, Stanford, Tenny and Ervin, all of whom are living. Hildora and Josephine attended high school at Wendell and the rest of the children were educated in the county schools.
GEORGE STROMLUND.
George Stromlund, a successful business man and banker of Nelson, was born in Sweden on March 29, 1876, the son of Sven and Maria (Jaren- son) Stromlund, both of whom were natives of Sweden.
Sven and Maria Stromlund were educated in their native land and there grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. They made that country their home until 1891 when they came to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and locating at Garfield village, in Douglas county. They remained there but a few years, at the end of which time they returned to Sweden, where Sven Stromlund died. They were the parents of seven children, only one of whom, the subject of this sketch, is living in Douglas county.
George Stromlund completed the work in the common schools in his native country and was fifteen years of age when he came to Douglas county with his parents. For a time he worked as a farm hand and then entered a store at Garfield where he was employed for one year as a clerk. He then clerked in a store at Alexandria for a time and then entered the employ- ment of C. H. Larson, general merchant, at Nelson, and was thus engaged for eight years, during which time he became a director in the Nelson State Bank, at its organization in 1907, and in 1909 was elected to his present position as cashier of the bank. In connection with his duties in the bank, Mr. Stromlund is interested in farming, owning sixty acres that adjoins the
GEORGE STROMLUND.
NELSON STATE BANK
---
NELSON STATE BANK.
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grounds of the bank. He is interested in general farming and stock raising, has an ideal farm and believes in intensive farming.
In 1905 George Stromlund was united in marriage to Hannah M. Erick- son, who was born at Nelson, the daughter of Olaf Erickson and wife, early pioneers of Douglas county.
Mr. Stromlund has always taken an active part in the affairs of the community. His judgment and ability being recognized, he is held in high regard by all. For a number of years he was a councilman in Nelson and for a time was president of the village. He is treasurer of the Nelson Creamery Association, as well as treasurer of the school board of consoli- dated school district No. 103. He and his wife are active members of the Swedish Lutheran church.
CHRISTIAN C. GRINDER.
- Christian C. Grinder, a progressive farmer of Stony Brook township, who was born under an alien flag, but who has been loyal to the Stars and Stripes since coming here, was born in Norway on January 10, 1858. He is a son of Christian and Ulricka Grinder, both natives of Norway, where they spent their earlier years and were married. They immigrated to America in 1868, locating in Rice county, Minnesota, but moved to Grant county in 1871, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Elbow Lake township. This they improved, erecting buildings and set- ting out a grove, and here they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying on November 6, 1896, and the mother in October, 1894, the former at the age of seventy-two and the latter at the age of sixty-three. Their children were named as follow: Tosten, Ole, Herman, Christian C., Olaf, Olive, Axel (who died while the family was en route to America and was buried in the Atlantic ocean), Ulrich and Mary, twins.
Christian C. Grinder grew up in Norway, where he was educated in the public schools, and also attended school three years after coming to Rice county, Minnesota. He has devoted his life to farming. When twenty-one years old, in 1879, he took up a homestead in section 34, Stony Brook town- ship. He went to work with a will, developed it into a farm, and he has added to it until he now owns three hundred and twenty acres, on which may be seen a substantial group of buildings and a large grove. He is carrying on general farming and stock raising successfully.
(13a)
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Politically, Mr. Grinder is a Republican. He has been clerk of the local school board during the past thirty years, also a member of the board of supervisors for many years, acting as chairman of the same most of the time. He belongs to the Synod Lutheran church of Wendell.
Mr. Grinder was married on March 14, 1880, to Christina Nelson, who was born in Norway in 1862. She is a daughter of Elling and Annie Nel- son, both natives of Norway, from which country they came to Minnesota in 1868, settling at Spring Grove, moving on to Grant county in 1877. Here the father took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Stony Brook township, to which he added land from time to time until he owned four hundred acres, and here he and his wife died. To Mr. and Mrs. Grinder nine children were born, namely: Charles, Ulda (deceased), Adolph, Olive ( deceased ), Elma, Oscar, Clara, Elmer and Arthur.
HALVOR LARSON KAASA.
One of the older agriculturists of Stony Brook township, Grant county, is Halvor Larson Kaasa, who was born in Norway, August 18, 1842. He is a son of Lars and Karn (Olsen) Kaasa, who spent their earlier lives in Norway, coming to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1867. They moved from there to Albert Lea, Freeborn county, Minnesota, in 1870, and to Grant county in 1874, buying eighty acres in Elbow Lake township, and on this farm the father died in 1881, at the age of sixty-six years; his widow survived until 1891, dying at the age of seventy-eight years. Five children were born to them, namely: Annie, deceased; Halvor Larson, of this sketch; Rena, Gunel and Ole.
Halvor L. Kaasa spent his boyhood in Norway, where he attended school and where he served for some time in the regular army. There he was married, in 1865, to Gunel Haustad. They immigrated to America in 1868, locating in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they remained until 1875, when they came to Freeborn county, Minnesota. In 1878 they came to Grant county and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Elbow Lake township, which Mr. Kaasa later sold, after which he removed to Stony Brook township, in 1899, buying one hundred and sixty acres, to which he later added one hundred and twenty acres. He now owns one of the best farms in the township, consisting of two hundred and seventy acres. He has made many important improvements, including the erection
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of good buildings and the setting out of a large grove. He is a general farmer.
Politically, Mr. Kaasa is a Republican and has served on the school board in Elbow Lake township and as road overseer in Stony Brook town- ship. He is a member of the Synod Lutheran church. He has belonged to four different churches since leaving Norway.
Mr. Kaasa has been twice married. His first wife, who died in 1884, bore him the following children: Halvor and Hans, twins, the latter of whom died while the family were crossing the Atlantic ocean to America; Karn; Hans, second; Ole, Lars, Andus, John and Gena; there were also three others, Lars, Genna and Theodore, who are deceased. In 1885 the father of the above-named children married for his second wife, Sarah Strand, who was born in Norway, August 10, 1862, and to this union the following children have been born: Kena (deceased), Carl, Nettie, Ole, Henry, Theodore, Selmer, Laura, Selma (deceased), Gilbert, Alfred and Palmer.
OLE ASLESON. .
Ole Asleson, a farmer of Stony Brook township, Grant county, was born in Swift county, Minnesota, June 10, 1876. He is the son of Asle and Mary (Bjornrud) Asleson, both natives of Norway, where they spent their earlier years, immigrating to Minnesota in 1871 and locating in Kandi- yohi county. They moved on to Swift county in 1875 and in 1878 came to Grant county, Mr. Asleson buying one hundred and sixty acres of rail- road land in Stony Brook township, also forty acres of school land in an adjoining section, thus making a farm of two hundred acres, which he improved and operated along general lines until his death, which occurred on March II, 1913, at the age of seventy-six years. He became one of the leading farmers of his township and was well and favorably known. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1906, at the age of sixty-two years. To them the following children were born: Even, Asle, Jr., and Kjerstie are all deceased; Rena, Mary, Belle, Ole are living; Edward is deceased; Emma is living and Laura is deceased.
Ole Asleson was reared on the homestead here and received a. common school education. He has always engaged in general farming and stock raising on the home place, which he now owns and to which he has added another forty, making in all a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres,
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which is under excellent improvements. His father erected good build- ings and set out a large grove on the same, but the son also erected a modern home. He is a breeder of thoroughbred Holstein cattle, his fine herd being admired by all who are interested in good stock.
Politically, Mr. Asleson is a Republican. He has been a member of the local school board for a period of fifteen years and is now one of the supervisors of his township, which position he has held for four years. He belongs to the Synod Lutheran church to which his parents also belonged.
Mr. Asleson was married in 1903 to Clara Stave, who was born in Ottertail county, Minnesota, August 17, 1878. She is a daughter of Chris- tian P. Stave, mention of whom is made in a separate sketch in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Asleson the following children have been born, all living: Ernest Arthur, Muriel Constance, Lulu Idella, Clifford Orion, Borghild Gurina, and Waldemar Lester.
MELVIN LEROY ADAMS.
One of the best known and most progressive and public-spirited citizens of Grant county is Melvin L. Adams, of Wendell. He was born at Angola, Indiana, August 22, 1854, and is a son of George H. and Julia (Furry) Adams. His maternal grandparents, Jacob and Lucy Furry, were pioneers of Steuben county, Indiana, but later in life removed to Hillsdale county, Michigan, where her death occurred. The parents of the subject of this sketch were natives of the state of New York, the father's birth having occurred on September 24, 1817, and the mother's on December 28, 1831. They were brought to Indiana when young by their parents and were married there on December 18, 1852. The father was a wagon-maker, carpenter and general mechanic. He remained in Angola, Indiana, until 1858, when he moved to Alger county, Michigan, where he remained until about 1881, when he came to Grant county, Minnesota, to join his son, M. L. Here he entered one hundred and sixty acres of whole prairie land, which he developed into a farm, on which he spent the rest of his life, dying on August 24, 1907; his wife preceded him to the grave on December 12, 1888. They were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. They were parents of four children, namely : Almira married L. H. Fowler and they live in Alger county, Michigan; Melvin L. of this sketch; Clarence died in Butte, Montana; Sylvester died in Illinois.
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Melvin L. Adams received his education in the public schools of Mich- igan and was reared on the farm. He came to Minnesota in 1878 and set- tled in Grant county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land in Lawrence township. He built a shanty and by hard work developed a good farm, later purchasing one hundred and sixty acres additional in the same township. He remained on his farm until retiring from active life, in November, 1913. when he moved to the village of Wendell, buying his present home. He was very successful as a general farmer.
Mr. Adams was married on January 19, 1887, to Lula Stickney, who was born on October 1, 1868, and died on August 2, 1890. To their union two children were born, Roy, born November 16, 1887, and Frances, born November 18, 1888; both died on the same day in 1895, of diphtheria. Mr. Adams was again married December 3, 1892, to Kari Asleson, a native of Norway, whose father, Asle Asleson, was an early settler of Grant county. He was born in Sigdal, Norway, where he grew up and married Sigri Gun- derson. In 1871 they came to America and settled in Winnishiek county, Iowa, where they lived on a farm five years. In 1876 they came to Grant county, Minnesota, and entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, in what is now Stony Brook township, where the town of Wendell now stands. He erected a small shanty and began improving his land. His wife died during the first winter ( 1877). After proving up, he sold out and returned to Norway, where he spent three years, then returned to Minnesota, where he spent the rest of his life, dying when past sixty years of age. His family consisted of seven children, namely: Jens lives in Crookston; Nor- way, who was a homesteader in Grant county, died here; Julia married Nels N. Brevig and they live in Stony Brook township; Ole lives in Winnishiek county, Iowa; Christ is farming in North Dakota; Gilbert died in infancy in Norway; Kari, wife of Mr. Adams.
To Mr. Adams and his second wife five children have been born, namely : Stella is a graduate of Elbow Lake high school and has taught two years; Albert, who was educated in Elbow Lake high school, is a carpenter ; Julia is now attending the Elbow Lake high school; Clara and Alice are at home.
Politically, Mr. Adams is a Republican. He has served as supervisor, being chairman of the board; as township clerk and school clerk for twenty- four years in succession, and as county commissioner for two and one-half terms. He is a member of the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America. His wife belongs to the Lutheran church.
Lucy Furry, maternal grandmother of Mr. Adams, was born in Ver-
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mont, July 27, 1798, and was married near Catskill. Her husband died when living near Toledo, Ohio, and, with her children, she moved to Indi- ana, locating near Pleasant Lake, Steuben county, buying a farm, which she paid for with money she earned by weaving. She was a woman of much courage and ability and reared her family in comfort. Her death occurred in 1877, at the age of eighty years. She had eleven children, named as fol- low: Freeman, Pernina, Maria, Lydia, George, Eliza, Richard, Lucinda, Julia, Francis and Elmer.
JENS PLETAN.
One of the best-known citizens of Stony Brook township, Grant county, is Jens Pletan, who was born in Norway, March 6, 1842. His parents lived and died in that country, and there he grew to manhood and attended school, and married. In 1869 he came to America, locating in Winnishiek county, Iowa, but the following year came on to Grant county, Minnesota, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Stony Brook township, to which he added until he had three hundred and twenty acies. He has added all improvements on the same, including an excellent group of buildings, and has been very successful as a general farmer. Politically, he is a Republican, and he belongs to the United Lutheran church. He was married in Norway, in April, 1869, to Sigred Nelson, who was born in Norway, December 8, 1839, and who died in her native land. Eight chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pletan, namely: (1) Julia, born in 1869, is the wife of Gunder Ashland, of Iowa, and they have these children, Christ, Isabel, John, Tilda, Edward, Ole, Christina, Carl and one that died in infancy. (2) Nils, who was born March 14, 1871, in Ottertail county, grew up on the home farm in Grant county and attended the dis- trict schools. He is now the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grant county and two hundred and forty acres in Ottertail county, but rents his land out. Politically, he is a Republican and served as supervisor in Stony Brook township. He was married, in 1909, to Net- tie Thoreson and to them one child was born, Andrew, who was drowned in 1913, when nearly four years old; the wife and mother died on August 16, 1915. (3) Edward was born in Grant county in 1873, grew up on the home farm, attended the public schools and is now farming in North Dakota. He married Julia Stave and they have the following children : Rudolph, Constance, Hulda, Joseph, Paul, Clifford, Elvina, Christopher,
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Clara, Norman. (4) Gilbert was born in 1874, was reared on the home farm and attended the public schools, and is now engaged in farming in Stony Brook township, Grant county. He married Ida Stave and they have four children, Signe, Cora, Kenneth and Margaret (5) Bertha was born on December 2, 1876, grew up on the homestead and attended the local rural schools. She married Ole Lillemoen, of Stony Brook township, and they have four children, Stella, Edna, Howard and Juliet. (6) Ole was born on June 14, 1879, grew up on the homestead and attended the public schools. He is farming in Stony Brook township. He married Sophia Asleson and they have the following children: Norlin, Antonie (who was drowned) and Stanley. (7) Ingeborg was born on March 2, 1881, grew up on the home farm and attended the district schools. He married Nicole Lilebo, of Saskatchewan, Canada, and they have five chil- dren, George, Serena, Leonard, Enoch and Otto. (8) Grunder was born on March 29, 1883, grew up on the home farm, attended the rural schools and is now farming on his place of one hundred and twenty acres in Stony Brook township, but lives at home. He was married, in 1910, to Selma Anderson, who was born in Stony Brook township in 1893, a daugh- ter of Sven and Julia Anderson, of Stony Brook township. Gunder Pletan and wife have the following children : Burnett, Gladys, Verna and Judith.
OTTO KUCHENBECKER.
Otto Kuchenbecker, a well-known farmer and stock man of Erdahl township, Grant county, Minnesota, was born in Germany on October 18, 1874, being the son of John and Matilda Kuchenbecker. John and Matilda Kuchenbecker were born in Germany, where they received their education in the public schools and there grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. As a young man, Mr. Kuchenbecker learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for many years. During the war with France in 1870 and 1871, he served in the German army and saw much active service. He and his family continued to reside in the fatherland until 1881, when they came to America. On their arrival in the United States, they located in Plymouth county, Iowa, and there the father worked as a farm hand for some time. He later homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, all of which was wild prairie. Here he built a small frame shanty, in which they lived for some years. In time, he became a successful farmer and stock
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raiser and built a splendid frame house and other buildings. Here he lived until 1888, when he sold the farm and moved to South Dakota, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land near Madison. He at once started to develop and improve the place, but died the next year. The widow is still living on the farm in South Dakota. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, of whom Otto is the eldest.
Otto Kuchenbecker received his education in the public schools of Iowa and South Dakota and grew to manhood on the home farm. He was but fifteen years of age at the time of the death of his father, yet, being the eldest of the family, he took charge of the place for his mother and operated it for four years. At that time he gave over the operation of the place to the other members of the family and began farming for himself. He rented a farm near Madison, South Dakota, where he remained until he was twenty- five years of age, when he removed to Davidson county, South Dakota, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. The tract at that time was all wild land and without improvements of any kind. He later bought the adjoining farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which had been improved with buildings. Here he engaged in farming for twelve years and then, in 1912, sold the farm and came to Minnesota. Here he purchased three hun- dred and sixty acres in Erdahl township, Grant county, and has developed and improved the farm with splendid buildings. He built a new barn, fifty- two by eighty feet, which is especially arranged for the handling and the feeding of much stock. His granary is one of the best in the community, and he has a fine garage, in which to store his seven-passenger Studebaker automobile. He has planted over eighteen thousand trees and has a splendid young grove.
Otto Kuchenbecker devotes the greater part of his time to the breeding and raising of fine stock, owning a herd of high grade stock and always keep- ing a pure-blooded sire. He now has in his herd over eighty fine cattle and many hogs, the latter being pure-blood Duroc-Jerseys and a registered sire. His stock is recognized as among the best in the county, his special effort being to breed to the highest standard of perfection.
In November, 1899, Otto Kuchenbecker was united in marriage to Min- nie Franklin, a native of South Dakota, and to this union the following chil- dren have been born : Altha, Emma, May, Tillie, Earle, Lora, Hildred, Clar- ence and Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. Kuchenbecker are prominent in the social life of the community and are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them. They are most hospitable and enjoy entertaining their
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neighbors and friends. Their home is often the scene of happy gatherings and the young people of the family receive every care and attention. Mr. and Mrs. Kuchenbecker are most kind and indulgent parents and wish to give their children every possible advantage.
Politically, Otto Kuchenbecker is identified with the Republican party and has taken much interest in the civic life of the township and the county. He has served as a member of the township board of supervisors and as a member of the school board in district No. 22. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Erdahl and has for some years served as a member of the board of directors. He takes much interest in the success of company and has had much to do with its success.
OTTO C. THRONSON.
Otto C. Thronson, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Erdahl township, Grant county, Minnesota, was born in that township on May 28, 1874, being the son of Carl F. and Anna Thronson. Carl F. Thron- son was born in Ringerike, Norway, on June 17, 1842. There he and his wife grew to manhood and womanhood, were educated in the public schools, and were there married on May 8, 1867. One year after their marriage the young couple decided to come to America and on their arrival in the United States they came to Minnesota, locating in Grant county. Mr. Thronson homesteaded in Erdahl township, where he and his family endured the early life in true pioneer style. Many were their hardships at that time, yet they were brave, and in time Mr. Thronson became one of the prominent and suc- cessful farmers and stock men of the county. He was most firm in his advocacy of civic progress, religion and temperance reform, yet he granted the same liberty of thought to all who differed from him on the important questions. His life was a most upright one and he had the confidence and the respect of all who knew him. His life was an active one; the greater part of it being devoted to agriculture. A few years before his death, in 1916, he retired from the activities of the farm life and resided in Evansville. He and his wife, who still survives him, were the parents of twelve chil- dren, eleven of whom are living, namely: T. C., who is a well-known farmer of Douglas county; Ingvald, of Evansville; Christian, who is a commercial traveler ; Otto C., who lives on the home farm in Erdahl township; Emil, in the implement business at Kramer, North Dakota; Mrs. David Davidson, of
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