USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 23
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 23
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In 1892 Carl Hermanson was married to Eda Dalin and to that union four children were born, Reuben, Edith, Ruth and Harvey, all of whom are still living at home with the exception of Edith, who married Ira Williams, a farmer of Benton county, Minnesota, and they have one daughter, Naomi. Ruth is a teacher in the public schools of her home township. The mother of these children died about nine years ago and Mr. Hermanson married Sophia Anderson, who was born in Sweden and who came to this country in 1892. The Hermansons are members of the Swedish Mission church.
NELS M. ANDERSON.
One of the public-spirited citizens and substantial farmers of Solem township, Douglas county, is Nels M. Anderson, who was born in Sweden, July 9, 1860. He is a son of Anders Monson and Hannah ( Nelson) Ander- son, both of whom were natives also of Sweden. Anders Monson was a farmer in his native land of Sweden, and came to America some years after his son, Nels M., had arrived here. Together they purchased a farm in Washington county, Minnesota, which they later sold at a very handsome profit, since which time Anders Monson has retired from active farm life. He and his wife are active members of the Swedish Lutheran church and are the parents of four children, Nels M., Anna, Swan M. and Mary, the latter of whom is the wife of Charles Soderholm.
Nels M. Anderson received his education in the public schools of his native land and grew to maturity there. In 1878, at the age of eighteen, he came to Minnesota, locating first in Washington county, where he started working at seven dollars a month. However, even with this small begin-
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ning. he was able to save some money and in 1884, after his father had come from Sweden, he and his father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington county, and after cultivating and developing that tract for about seven years, they disposed of it profitably, and Nels M. moved to Douglas county, where he moved on one hundred and sixty acres in section 6 of Solem township, which was a present from his father-in- law, He also owns eighty acres in section 7 of the same township. He has placed all of the improvements and buildings on his place, planting a fine grove, as well as putting out fruit trees, and in many ways adding to the general attractiveness and value of his farm. He raises all the crops coni- mon to this locality and also devotes considerable attention to the breeding and selling of live stock.
On March 14. 1888, Mr. Anderson was married to Carrie Oslund, the daughter of Erick Oslund and wife, natives of Sweden, and to this union five children have been born, Amanda ( wife of John Strom), Edwin M., Edna J., Adolph V. and Wilhelm F. The family are members of the Swed- ish Lutheran church, of which Mr. Anderson has been a deacon for twenty years.
Mr. Anderson is independent in politics and takes an active interest in everything that has for its object the betterment and upbuilding of his town- ship and community. He has served as clerk of the school board for some years and is ranked among the progressive citizens of his community.
EDWARD NELSON.
Edward Nelson, a farmer of La Grand township, Douglas county, is a native of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, where he was born on September II, 1867, the son of Embert and Inger (Ingerbrightson) Nelson, who were born in Norway, he on October 21, 1833, and she about the same time. They received their education in the land of their birth and there grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. They continued to reside in Norway until 1867, in which year they came to America. On their arrival in the United States they proceeded directly to Wisconsin, where they re- sided for a year, in La Crosse county, where Mr. Nelson engaged in farm- ing. In 1868 the family came to Minnesota and Mr. Nelson homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in La Grand township. Douglas county, where he now lives. The tract at that time was all timber and brush, which re- quired much time and hard lahor to clear, ready for the planting of the crops
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that were to supply himself and family with food. In time the farm was de- veloped and improved and became one of the ideal farms of the township. Mr. Nelson was a good farmer, a firm believer in intensive farming and thorough cultivation, and was quite successful with his general farming and stock raising. His quarter section was reduced by ten acres at the time the railroad was constructed through this section.
To Embert and Inger Nelson were born the following children: Chris- tian, John, Christ, Anna, Edward, Tilda, Alfred, Carrie and Ida. Christian, John, Christ and Anna were born in Norway and the first two died in that country, while Christ died at Osakis, Minnesota. Edward was born, as stat- ed, in Wisconsin, and the other children were born on the homestead in Douglas county. The family are active members of the East Moe Lutheran church and are active in church work. Mr. Nelson always took a keen in- terest in the affairs of the township and has had much to do with the civic life of the community, having served his township as a member of the school board, as supervisor and as road boss. While filling the latter posi- tion he did much for the improvement of the roads of his district and has ever been recognized as an exceptional road builder. As a member of the school board he accomplished much for the schools of the township, as he was a strong advocate for the best of schools.
Edward Nelson, received his education in the schools of Douglas county, having attended school in the old log school house of early days. He grew to manhood on the old homestead and there he has continued to live. His mother died in 1901 and his father lives with him. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful.
In 1906 Edward Nelson was united in marriage to Mary Lee, who was born in Urness township, Douglas county, the daughter of Thore and Amb- jor (Arneson) Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were natives of Norway and located in Urness township in an early day and there bought four hundred and eighty acres of land and became prominent and successful residents of the township. They took much interest in the social and religious activities of the community in which they lived and were held in high esteem by all. To Mr. and Mrs. Lee were born the following children : Halvor, Andrew, Arne, Mary, Sophia, Arne, Halvor, Nettie and Mary.
To Edward and Mary Nelson has been born, one child, a daughter. Elsie. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of the Moe Lutheran church and are among the prominent and active workers of the society. They take much interest in the social and religious activities of the community and are helpful in promoting all good works in that neighborhood.
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JENS TOLLEFSON.
Jens Tollefson, a succesful farmer and a well-known resident of Pelican Lake township, Grant county, was born in Norway, on May 2, 1841, being the son of Tolef and Bertha (Gruthong) Egstad.
Lars Egstad, the paternal grandfather of Jens Tollefson, was a farmer in Norway. He lived his life in the land of his birth and was a soldier in the war with Sweden, giving his country some years of good service. Thomas Egstad, the great-grandfather, was a farmer, and was perhaps one of the first to hold the farm estate that has been in the family for many years. Lars Egstad was born and lived on that estate and there his family of children were born. He died there in 1873 and several years after his death his widow came to the United States to join her children, who had already set- tled in this country. She was the mother of the following children: Lars, Ole, Jens, Anna, Tonetta, Lauritz, Andrew and Bernt. The family were prominent in their home community in Norway and have here established themselves in the social, religious and business life of their respective town- ships.
Jens Tollefson received his education in the public schools of Norway. There he engaged in farming and learned well the principles of the success- ful agriculturist. In 1873 he decided to come to America and after his arrival in this country he came direct to Minnesota and purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in section 8, Pelican Lake township, Grant county. That land he developed and improved and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he was successful. He is a firm believer in the principles of intensive farming and in the most thorough cul- tivation of the soil. The farm at the time Mr. Tollefson settled here was, for the most part, undeveloped and unimproved, and it has been by the closest application and the severest kind of work that the place has been made one of the ideal farms of the community. In his early days here he endured many of the hardships of the early pioneer life, yet he was deter- mined to succeed, and today he is recognized as one of the prominent and successful farmers of the township.
On September 20, 1886, Jens Tollefson was united in marriage to Anna Moe, who was born on May 30, 1849, and to this union the following chil- dren have been born: M. M., Oscar, Lewis, Theolena, Carrie, Josie and Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Tollefson are active members of the Norwegian Luth- eran church and have always taken much interest in church work. They have long been prominent in the social and religious life of the community,
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where they are held in the highest esteem by all who know them. Mr. Tol- lefson has always been interested in the local affairs of the township and has served as a member of the school board, giving careful attention to the progress and development of the schools of his district, as he has always advocated the best possible educational advantages for the children.
JOHN C. BATES.
John C. Bates, a well-known and successful farmer of North Ottawa township, Grant county, was born in Germany on February 2, 1864, and lived there until he was seven years of age. His parents died in the Father- land, when the young son was but a child. He attended school for one year in his native land, then he came to the United States with an aunt, Sophia Deetz, in 1871. The aunt located in Lee county, Illinois, and there John C. Bates received his education in the public schools. He remembers being in Chicago at the time of the great fire, although he was but a child at that time. As a young man he engaged in farming in LaSalle county, Illinois, · as a renter. He later removed to Sac City, Iowa, and later rented land in the county, and remained there for five years.
In 1902 John C. Bates left his home in Iowa and came to Minnesota and here he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in North Ottawa township, Grant county, where he is in partnership with his brother- in-law, Fred W. Kutter, in general farming and stock raising, Mr. Bates owning much the greater part of the farm and stock. Much has been done in the way of development and improvement and the place is one of the valuable ones in the township.
John C. Bates is a Republican and has always taken much interest in local affairs and the growth and the development of the township, although he does not aspire to office. The family attend the Evangelical church of the township, but Mr. Bates was reared a German Lutheran. He is liberal in his views and he and his family are prominent in the social and the religious life of the community and are held in high esteem by all who know them.
John C. Bates was united in marriage in 1893 to Rosa M. Kutter, who was born in Illinois on February 17, 1874, the daughter of Gottlieb and Rosa Kutter, who came from Germany in an early day and settled in La Salle county, Illinois, where the father died in 1906, at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother died in 1903, at the age of fifty-six years. To John C.
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and Rosa Bates have been born the following children : Mary, Sophia, Edith, Frank, Lillie, Jennie, George and Beulah, all of whom are living.
John C. Bates has lived an active life and has accomplished much that is of value, not to himself and family alone, but to the township and the county in which he lives. Coming to a strange land and among strange people, an orphan at the age of seven years, he had his own way to make in the world, and as soon as he was old enough he begin the task of looking after himself. Beginning life as a farmer, on rented land, he has today one of the best farm in North Ottawa township, all of which is under high cultivation, well im- proved and well stocked. His farm home is one of the best-kept places in the township and there he and his family live a contented and happy life, as well as a most independent one.
MARTIN JOHNSON.
Martin Johnson, one of the leading farmers of Pomme de Terre town- ship, Grant county, was born in Norway, November 8, 1863. He is a son of John and Ingeborg Johnson, both natives of Norway, from which coun- try they came to the United States, settling in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1868, and there the death of John Johnson occurred in 1870. His widow is now living at Waterford, Wisconsin at an advanced age. They were par- ents of four children : Gunder, who lives in South Dakota: Amund, who lives in Ottertail county, Minnesota; Martin, the subject of this sketch, and Gunder, second, who lives in Milwaukee. After the death of John Johnson, the father of the above named children, his widow married Ole Larson, who is now deceased. To that second union one child was born, Louisa, who lives with her mother in Waterford, Wisconsin.
Martin Johnson was reared on the farm in Wisconsin, and he received his education in the public schools, his text-book training, however, being very limited, for he had to start to work when only ten years of age. After the death of his father he was compelled to assist his mother make a living. He came to Minnesota in 1881 and worked out on a farm in Douglas county and, saving his earnings, in the fall of 1887 he hought one hundred and sixty acres in Pomme de Terre township, Grant county, adding eighty acres later, and now owns a valuable and well-kept farm of two hundred and forty acres, on which may be seen a splendid grove and convenient build- ings. Mr. Johnson carries on general farming and stock raising success-
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fully. He formerly had another farm of one hundred and sixty acres in an- other part of Pomme de Terre township. He lived awhile in the village of Elbow Lake, but is now back on his farm. After living a short period on his quarter section he sold it. Mr. Johnson is a Republican. He and his family belong to the United Lutheran church at Rock Prairie, in Stony Brook township.
Mr. Johnson was married in 1896 to Helga Foslen, who was born in 1863 in Norway, where her parents lived and died. To Mr. and Mrs. John- son two children have been born, Ida Josephine and Helmer Melvin. Mrs. Johnson had been previously married, her first husband having been Tean- der Torgeson, by whom two children were born, Stella, who is living, and Oscar, who died on December 29, 1915 at the age of twenty-two years. Mr. Johnson is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, for he started without capital; began farmning raw land with oxen and lived in a log house until 1899.
ERICK O. OSLUND.
One of the pioneer farmers of Douglas county is Erick O. Oslund, who caine to the county when it was almost an unbroken tract of wilderness and he literally hewed out of the wilderness a beautiful home for himself and family by perseverance and indefatigable effort. He was born in Sweden on January 1, 1842, and is a son of Olaf Swenson and Karen Oslund, both of whom were natives of Sweden. Olaf Swenson came to America in 1873, some years after the arrival of his son, Erick O., and here he lived the re- mainder of his life. He was the father of three children, Swen, Mary and Erick O., the immediate subject of this review.
Erick O. Oslund received a limited education in the schools of his na- tive land and in 1870 came to America. He located in Douglas county, Minnesota, in Solem township where he bought three hundred and forty acres of land on Red Rock lake. There were no roads in those days and his nearest market was at Morris, two and three days being required to make the trip with a team. His first home was a small log cabin, twelve by twelve in dimensions, in which he lived for about two years, when he built a better one. He has made many and various improvements on his farm and has gradually added to his land holdings until at one time he was the owner of much land in Douglas and Grant counties. His home is beau- tifully located on the shores of Red Rock lake, and his is one of the most
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attractive farms in the township. He has always kept abreast of the times on all agricultural matters and has his farm well equipped with all the miod- ern machinery for farming. He once walked to Benson to buy a binder for his wheat crop.
In 1870 Erick O. Oslund was married to Annie Simonson and to this union have been born four children, Carrie, Annie, Ole E. and Selma. The family are earnest and devoted members of the Swedish Lutheran church and take an active interest in the affairs of that denomination. Mr. Oslund was one of the organizers of the Swedish Lutheran church in his commun- ity and has served as trustee of the local church.
Mr. Oslund is indeed one of the sturdy pioneers of this north country, and to such as he are we indebted for the beautiful homes and well-tilled acres which go to make Douglas county one of the beauty spots of the state.
OLE O. SAND.
Ole O. Sand, one of the best-known farmers of Elbow Lake township, Grant county, was born in Norway, September 18, 1863. He is a son of Ole H. and Annie Sand, natives of Norway where they grew up and mar- ried, immigrating with their family to Clinton, Illinois, in June, 1871, and in 1872 they came on to Freeborn county, Minnesota, and the following year to Grant county where the father took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Elbow Lake township, to which he later added until lie had four hundred and eighty acres, which he improved and on which he carried on general farming extensively until his death, June 27, 1913, at the age of seventy-six years. His widow survives, being now seventy-six. The father was independent in politics, he belonged to the United Lutheran church, to which the mother also belongs. They assisted in organizing the church at Elbow Lake. To these parents the following children were born : Ole O. of this sketch; Henry O. was next in order; Annie is a teacher in the Minneapolis schools, she attended Columbia University, New York, dur- ing the summer of 1916; Kittle O., was next in order; Sarah is the wife of K. Christopherson of Elbow Lake; Lars O. lives in the village of Wendell ; Mary is the wife of E. A. Dybdal of Elbow Lake. These children are all living at this writing ( 1916).
Ole O. Sand was reared on the homestead, and he received a public school education. He has always engaged in farming and is now owner of
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one of the choice farms of Lawrence township, consisting of four hundred and twenty acres, including the old homestead, which he has kept well im- proved and under a fine state of cultivation, and is carrying on general farming and stock raising on a large scale. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Wendell, in which institution he is a di- rector, his father having also been a stockholder and director. Politically, he is an independent voter. He has served both as assessor and as a mem- ber of the school board. He belongs to the United Lutheran church. He has remained unmarried.
HANS O. HANSON.
Hans O. Hanson, member of the firm of Hanson Brothers, merchants, of Holmes City, is one of the enterprising men of Douglas county and is entitled to mention in a work of this nature. He was born in Sweden, a son of P. and Mary ( Waginus) Hanson, both natives of Jemtland, Sweden, where they grew up and were married. They continued to reside there until 1891, when they emigrated with their family to America, coming direct to Minnesota and settling in the Holmes City neighborhood. The father learned the tailor's trade in his native land, which he followed there, but after settling in Douglas county devoted his attention to farming, becoming owner of a small farm. His family consisted of the following children : Hans O., the subject of this sketch; Albert, who is a member of the mer- cantile firm of Hanson Brothers, of Holmes City, and Paul W., who makes his home at Superior, Wisconsin, where he follows his profession of optometrist.
Hans O. Hanson spent his boyhood in Sweden and there received a common-school education. After coming to Minnesota he engaged in vari- ous occupations until 1911 when, on November 10 of that year he and his brother, Albert, purchased the stock of goods of S. O. Waginus at Holmes City, and have since conducted the store under the firm name of Hanson Brothers. They carry a general line of merchandise and enjoy a large and growing trade with the town and surrounding country. In the fall of 1912 they erected a substantial and attractive new building.
The subject of this sketch devotes his attention to. the management of the store, while his brother operates the well-improved and valuable farm which the firm owns near Holmes City. They have been very successful
HANS O. AND ALBERT HANSON.
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in a business way owing to their industry and fair dealings. They were reared in the faith of the Baptist church, to which their parents belonged from early life. Politically they are independent.
Albert Hanson married Hilda Oberg and lives near Holmes City on the farm. Hans O. Hanson has had a somewhat varied career. At one time he homesteaded a tract in Roseau county. He proved up the same and still owns it. While there he organized the town of Huss and served for some time as postmaster there.
CARL NELSON.
Among the many successful farmers of Pelican Lake township, Grant county, is Carl Nelson, who was born in Sweden on October 4, 1854, the son of Nels and Marie ( Pearson) Johnson, also natives of that country, who were there educated in the public schools, grew to manhood and womanhood and were married, and lived the greater part of their lives in the land of their birth. When well advanced in years, they came to the United States in 1874, to join their children, who had located in this country some years be- fore. Here they made their home with the son, Johnas, who lived in Peli- can Lake township, where Nels Johnson died in 1880, at the age of sixty- eight years. His widow died in 1896 at the age of eighty-five years. They were devout members of the Lutheran church, and during younger days took much interest in church work. They were excellent people and held in the highest regard by all who knew them. They were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being John, Johnas, Gustaf, Lizzie and Mina, all of whom are living save the latter.
Carl Nelson received his education in the public schools of his native country and there grew to manhood. He decided that he would come to America and after landing in this country, proceeded to Rock county, Wis- consin, where he lived for some years. He was married on October 18, 1884, to Christina Newhouse, who was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, the daughter of Christopher and Ture (Halvorson) Newhouse, natives of Nor- way. Soon after their marriage, Carl Nelson and wife came to Minnesota, and here Mr. Nelson purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in sec- tion 8 of Pelican Lake township, Grant county, to which he later added an- other quarter section. Mr. Nelson purchased his first land in the township (16а)
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in 1879, some five years before he was married. The farm he has developed and improved and today has one of the ideal farms of the township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful.
Carl and Christina Nelson are the parents of four children, Clarence, Charles, William and Henry. Clarence Nelson married Agnes Elberling, and to this union five children have been born. He lives on one of his father's farms, where he engages in general farming and stock raising. Carl Nelson and wife are active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and are prominent residents of the community, where they are held in the highest esteem. In addition to his farm interests, Mr. Nelson is a stockholder in the creamery company at Ashby.
Christopher Newhouse was born on July 13, 1812, and came to the United States in 1839, landing at New York on September 27 of that year with but ten dollars. He located in Wisconsin, and later owned one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. He married Ture Halvorson, the daughter of Halvor Halvorson, and to that union five children were born, Oliver and Christopher (both deceased), Christopher, Torgan, and Christina. Mrs. Ture Newhouse is now deceased. She and Mr. Newhouse were active mem- bers of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and highly respected people.
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