USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 27
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 27
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On July 20, 1893, at West Union, Iowa, James A. Kinney and Ethel (18a)
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Hennings were united in marriage. To this union four children have been born : James Paul, a senior at Carleton College; Philip R., a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis; Elizabeth and Helen. Mrs. Kinney is a daughter of Thomas Hennings, of West Union, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Kinney are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Kinney is treasurer of the local congregation. His political affiliation is with the Democratic party and he is at present the deputy oil inspector for Douglas and Grant counties. Mr. Kinney's lodge affiliations are with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Wood- men of America, and the Yeomen, and he is secretary of the local lodge of Masons.
WALTER H. BOULTING.
Walter H. Boulting, a well-known retired farmer of Norcross, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, on January 21, 1859, the son of William and Matilda (Jackson) Boulting, the former of whom was born in Eng- land and the latter in the state of New York.
William Boulting emigrated to Canada in 1849 and located near Toronto, where he remained for some time. He later removed to Dubuque county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming, and where he made his home until his death some years ago. His widow died several years ago. They were the parents of five children, Walter H., Viola, Elsie S., Emma and William. Emma and William are deceased and Elsie is a resident of Alex- andria. William Boulting was the father of one child, a son, Sidney, by a former marriage, the mother having died in England. Sidney Boulting was a soldier in the Civil War and was present at many of the important battles.
Anthony and Ann (Greene) Boulting, the paternal grandparents of Walter H. Boulting, natives of England, emigrated to Canada and were located for a time near Toronto. The family had decided to remove to Iowa and had proceeded as far as Detroit, when Anthony Boulting died. After the death of his father, William Boulting, with his son Sidney, his mother and his brothers and sisters proceeded on their way to Iowa. They located in Dubuque county where they were among the early settlers of that section. Anthony and Ann Boulting were the parents of four children, William, Joseph, Annie and Ruth, all of whom came to America. The maternal grandparents of Walter H. Boulting were natives of England.
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They were married in the state of New York, but later removed to Ohio, where the grandfather died. The mother and children removed to Dubuque county, Iowa, having made the journey with horses and wagon. They later removed to southwestern Iowa.
Walter H. Boulting received his education in Dubuque county, Iowa, and there grew to manhood. After completing his schooling he engaged in farming in that county, where he remained until 1902. On his retire- ment as a farmer in Dubuque county, Mr. Boulting came to Minnesota county and located at Norcross, where he managed the elevator for the Hennepin Elevator Company for a number of years, since which time he has lived a retired life.
Fraternally, Mr. Boulting is a member of the United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs and served his township as chairman of the board before the village was incorporated. After the incorporation he served several times as president of the village. Being progressive, he has always taken much interest in assisting in the advancement of the town and was a strong factor in the successful effort to incorporate.
EMIL E. BERGH.
Emil E. Bergh, a well-known farmer of Brandon township, Douglas county, was born in that township on April 8, 1882, the son of Ellef and Petrine (Melhus) Bergh.
Peter Bergh, the paternal grandfather of Emil E. Bergh, was a suc- cessful farmer of Norway, where he died many years ago. The family was active in the work of the Norwegian Lutheran church. The maternal grandfather, Jens Melhus, was also a farmer in Norway and was an active member of the Lutheran church. Ellef Bergh, the father of Emil E. Bergh, was born in Norway and there received his education in the public schools and grew to manhood. In 1872 he came to the United States and located in Goodhue county, Minnesota. He remained there but a short time and then became a resident of Pope county, where he engaged in farming for three years. He then came to Douglas county in 1875, and here bought a farm in section 20, Brandon township. It was here that he lived the remainder of his life, his death occurring on August 19, 1906, at the age of fifty-seven years. His widow still lives on the home place with one of
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her sons, who purchased the farm. Mr. Bergh was very active in the work of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Brandon, which he helped to organize. He and Mrs. Bergh were the parents of the following children: Peter, Minda, Jennie, Emil E., John and Ole.
Emil F .. Bergh received his education in the schools of Brandon town- ship and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad he assisted with the farm work. After completing his school work in the township, he was in attendance at the Augsburg Seminary at Minneapolis for one year. On January 26, 1905, he was united in marriage to Minnie Strom, who was born in Brandon township, on June 9, 1883, the daughter of Anton H. and Anna (Haaven) Strom.
Anton H. Stromi was born in Norway, on October 23, 1855, and when but five years of age sailed with his father and mother for America. On the voyage the mother died and was buried at sea. The father and his two children. Annetta and Anton, landed at Quebec, Canada, and came direct to Minnesota, locating first in Goodhue county, where they remained for eight years, after which they came to Douglas county. Young Anton, after the arrival in Minnesota, was taken by one of their neighbors, and with that family he remained until he was twenty-three years of age, when he came to Douglas county to join his father. He was married on June 28, 1878, to Anna Haaven, and they were the parents of two children, Henry and Minnie. After coming to Douglas county, Mr. Strom engaged in active farming until 1910, when he retired from active farm life and moved to Brandon.
Emil E. and Minnie Bergh are the parents of four children, Henry, Phillip, Miriam and Lloyd. Since their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bergh have been living on the farm belonging to Mrs. Bergh's father in section 19, Brandon township. There Mr. Bergh is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is interested in Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Bergh owns stock in the Brandon Co-operative Creamery Association, of which he has served as secretary and manager for the last six years. He also owns stock in the Farmers and Merchants Union Elevator Company at Brandon. He has always taken much interest in local civic affairs and has served as clerk of his township for the past five years, and as chairman of the school board for the past two years. He and Mrs. Bergh are active in the social and religious life of the community and are held in high esteem by all who know them. Mr. Bergh is progressive and is a strong believer in the best of schools and
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good roads. Being broadminded and a man of ability, he knows the importance of the schools to the children of the community, and that the future of the state depends much upon the educational training of the young.
GUST NEWMAN.
One of the many substantial farmers and enterprising citizens of Alex- andria township, Douglas county, who are of Swedish birth, is Gust New- man, who was born in Sweden on December 7, 1860, the son of Carl New- man and wife, both natives of that same country. Carl Newman came with his family to Minnesota in 1881, locating at once in Alexandria town- ship, Douglas county, where he purchased forty acres of land in section 12, and on this farm he continued to live until his retirement from active farm life, at which time he moved to the city of Alexandria, where his death occurred on February 18, 1894. Carl Newman and wife were the parents of five children, Gust, Ludwig, Henry, Matilda and Walfred, the latter of whom died while young. The family were adherents of the Swedish Luth- eran church. The widow Newman, who was born on December 24, 1836, makes her home with her son, Gust.
Gust Newman received his education in the public schools of his native land. In 1880 he came to Minnesota, locating in Alexandria township, Douglas county. His first employment after coming here was on the rail- road, afterwards on farms in this neighborhood. In 1888 he purchased the farm of eighty acres on which he now lives, and started farming for him- self. This tract was all wild land at the time he acquired it, and Mr. New- man has placed all the improvements on the farm himself, his place now being one of the best in the township. He carries on a general system of farming and also engages in dairying to some extent, which branch of farm- ing he has carried on since 1910. He is also a breeder of blooded live stock, specializing in Guernsey cattle, in which business he has met with a very commendable success.
In 1890 Gust Newman was married to Mary Grandlund and to this union five children have been born, Minnie, Sadie, Ruth, Roy and Mildred, all of whom are living with the exception of Minnie, who died at the age of thirteen years. The family are all loyal members of the Swedish Luth- eran church. Mr. Newman is a Republican, and is interested in all public
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matters pertaining to the general welfare of his community. He has served as a member of the township school board. His wife is a daughter of Daniel and Christena Elizabeth (Pearson) Grandlund, both natives of Sweden and early settlers in Douglas county, who settled in Belle River township, where Daniel Grandlund took a homestead, on which he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1910, and where his widow still lives.
PETER CASSELL.
Among the substantial farmers of Hudson township, Douglas county is Peter Cassell, who was born of sturdy Scotch parentage in Richland county, Wisconsin, January 5, 1863. He is a son of George and Jeanette ( Pennie) Cassell, both of whom were natives of Scotland, the former born in Fifeshire in 1831, and the latter born in Lockleaven. George Cassell came to America in 1850 and located in Whiteside county, Illinois, where he remained for ten years. In 1860 he moved to Richland county, Wisconsin, being among the pioneers of that county, operating a farm there until 1865. In the latter year he came to Minnesota, locating in section 36, of Hudson township, Douglas county, the first white man to settle in that township; and during all the first winter he was there, there were no other white men in the town- ship, his only neighbors being the Indians. The family followed him in September and lived in the wagon in which they had come overland from Wisconsin until their house was finished. Their nearest market was at St. Cloud, with flour selling as high as twenty-two dollars a barrel. In true pioneer style they lived in their home in the wilderness, improving and cul- tivating the land, and in 1877 Mr. Cassell sold the farm in section 36 and bought the farm where Peter Cassell now lives, in section 34. George Cas- sell was a successful farmer and at the time of his death was a substantial landowner. To him and his wife were born ten children, James, Thomas, Peter, John, William, George, Edward, Mary, Daniel and Jessie. The family were earnest and devout members of the Presbyterian church. The father died in 1903, while the mother survived until 1914.
Peter Cassell received his education in the public schools of Hudson township and as a young man assisted his father with the work on the home farm. In 1891 he and his brother, John, bought two hundred and forty acres of the home place. Four years later he purchased his brother's inter- est in that farm and has since added to his holdings until he now owns
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four hundred acres of fine farming land in Hudson township. He has one of the most thoroughly cultivated and best-improved farms in the township, and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Besides his farming operations, for the past thirty-three years Mr. Cassell has operated a thresh- ing-machine outfit in his home neighborhood.
In 1898 Peter Cassell was married to Maggie Taylor, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Maxwell) Taylor, both natives of Scotland. Joseph Taylor and wife came to America in 1907 and are now living in their own little home near Mr. Cassell's home. Peter Cassell and wife are the parents of three children: Allyn T., Mina Lovone and Una Janet. The family are adherents of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Cassell is a member of the board of trustees of the local congregations. Joseph Taylor and wife, the parents of Mrs. Cassell, had eight children: Barbara and David, who live in Scotland, and Mrs. Minna Pennie, Mrs. Josephine McClelland, Mrs. Jessie Waters, Miss Lizzie Taylor and John, in Douglas county.
Mr. Cassell is a Republican, and takes a warm interest in local political matters. He has held several township offices, having filled the positions of assessor and clerk, besides being a member of the school board for a period of ten years.
TORGER MOBRAATEN.
Farming is both pleasant and profitable when carried on in a manner like that employed by Torger Mobraaten, of Elbow Lake township, Grant county. He was born in Norway, June 14, 1862, and is a son of Chris- topher and Annie Mobraaten, natives of Norway, who came to this country in 1867, settling in Houston county, Minnesota, and on to Grant county in 1871. Here the father took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Elbow Lake township, to which he later added eighty acres. He planted a grove, erected buildings and developed his land into a good farm, on which he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1883, at the age of forty-six years. His widow survived him twenty-three years, dying in 1906, at the advanced age of cighty. They had but two children, Torger, the subject of this review, and Edward, who is engaged in business in Wendell.
Torger Mobraaten was five years old when his parents came to America. He grew up on the home farm and attended the public schools. He has always followed general farming and stock raising, and has been quite suc- cessful, now owning four hundred and forty acres, including the old home-
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stead, all his land being under excellent improvements. He has a fine grove which he set out himself, and all his buildings are modern.
Mr. Mobraaten was married on November 23, 1890, to Annie Furge- son, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Halvor and Tone Furgeson, who came from Iowa to Albert Lea. Minnesota, and then to Grant county, many years ago, and who now live in Elbow Lake township. Two children have been born to Mr. Mobraaten and wife, namely: Clarence, who married Esther Hultonder and lives on the home farm, which he helps operate, and Blanche, who is also at home.
Like his father, the subject of this sketch is a Republican, but he has never been active in public affairs or sought office. He and his family belong to the Lutheran church.
CARL O. PETERSON.
The late Carl O. Peterson, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Solem township, Douglas county, was a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred in Lavekulla, Jerda Socken, Kalmarlaen, on March 3, 1845.
Mr. Peterson received his education in the schools of his native coun- try, and as a young man came to America, locating first in Minneapolis, where he worked for a time. In 1866 he bought out the rights of a home- steader for fifty dollars. The homestead consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Solem township, Douglas county, where the family is still living, and which is now called "Plainview Farm." Mr. Peterson erected the first set of buildings on that farm, planted a grove, and in many ways improved and cultivated the place. In the early days he used to work during the summer seasons in the cities, and go out to the farm to trap and hunt during the winter, but later devoted his entire attention to farming, in time adding forty more acres to the tract. Since his death, which occurred on February 17, 1895, his sons have put up new and modern buildings on the farm and it is now one of the best in the township. His widow still lives on the farm.
In 1875, Carl O. Peterson was married to Augusta Dahlin, a native of Sweden, who came to the United States at the age of nine with her parents Lars Johan and Christina (Anderstotter) Dahlen. The family located first at DeKalb, Illinois, but later came to Minnesota, where they homesteaded land near Farwell.
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Carl O. Peterson and wife were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, the last-named being the wife of Frank E. Osterberg, who is a brother of A. L. Osterberg, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. The five sons are F. Robert, Theodore L., Carl .A., H. Fred, Joseph M. These five brothers are operating the farm together, and, with their mother, have five hundred and twenty-five acres under cultivation. They are engaged in general farming and stock raising, and have been very suc- cessful in their chosen lines. They also operate a threshing outfit during the season, which business they have conducted for fifteen years.
The family is a well-established and prominent one in their commun- ity, and all are earnest members of the Lutheran church.
JENS FRIGAARD.
One of the well-known and substantial farmers of Pomme de Terre township, Grant county, is Jens Frigaard, who was born at Stordal, in Trondhjem, Norway, February 16, 1849. He is a son of Jens and Gertie (Boraas) Frigaard, both of whom were also natives of Norway. the former born in 1824, and the latter in 1825. The father died in Norway in 1865, and the mother remained in Norway until 1877, when she came to America to join her son, Jens, who had come to the United States some time before. Here she was married to John Froirum, and she spent her last days in Good- hue county, Minnesota, her death occurring in the early eighties. Jens Fri- gaard and wife were the parents of seven children: Jens, the immediate sub- ject of this review; Sarah, who died at the age of eighteen: Ole. a farmer living in Goodhue county, this state: Louis, a retired farmer of Goodhue county ; Gunder, who died in Goodhue county; John, a farmer of Goodhue, and Jetina, who died in Norway at the age of sixteen weeks.
Jens Frigaard received his education in the public schools of Norway and was reared on a farm there. He assisted with the farm work in his native land until 1871, when he came to America. He settled first in Good- hue county, Minnesota, finding employment on the farms there, and later bought a farm and lived there until 1890. In that year he sold his farm in Goodhue county and moved to Grant county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Pomme de Terre township. This farm was raw prairie when he acquired it and he at once began the work of developing and cultivating it. He has placed many and various improvements on the place, including
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good buildings, as well as an orchard and grove. He has added to his hold- ings until he now owns two other eighty-acre tracts in Stony Brook town- ship, making a total of two hundred and forty acres, besides a quarter sec- tion in Elbow Lake township. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has made a decided success of his life work. Besides his farm- ing interests, Mr. Frigaard has other interests, being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at West Elbow.
In 1875 Jens Frigaard was married to Annie Setran, a sister of H. G. Setran, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, and to this union have been born twelve children: Julia, who became the wife of Charles Nelson, a farmer of South Dakota; Gustav, who died at the age of thirty; Ole, who is operating his father's farm in Elbow Lake township; Regina, who became the wife of Ole Johnson, a farmer of North Dakota; Richard, living at home; Julius, still at home; Annie, at home; Bernhard, at home; Selina, at home; Henry, at home; Alma, at home, and one other who died. The family are all members of the Lutheran church, in which they take an active interest. Mr. Frigaard is still hale and hearty, and takes an active part in the farm work. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and served his township as school director for three years.
HOGAN G. SETRAN.
Hogan G. Setran, a successful farmer and stock raiser of Pomme de Terre township, Grant county, was born in Norway, March 7, 1859. He is a son of Gunder and Berit (Setran), both natives of Norway, from which country they came to Minnesota in 1866, locating in Goodhue county, the death of the father occurring not long after settling there. His widow survived for some years. They were parents of three children, Anne, Hogan G. and Runda (deceased.) The mother of these children married again, her last husband being Ralph Burgsen, and to that union five chil- dren were born, Geta, Gurina, Carl (deceased), Bessie, and Ludvig.
Hogan G. Setran had no opportunity to obtain an education, and he never attended school. He was seven years old when his parents brought him to America. He has devoted his life to farming and has succeeded as a result of his close application. He came to Grant county in 1887 and purchased eighty acres in Pomme de Terre township, to which he later added one hundred and twenty acres, thus making his present farm two hun- dred acres. He set out a large grove upon coming here which is now of
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good size, and he has added other valuable improvements from time to time, putting up modern buildings and is well fixed in every way. He is a Repub- lican and a member of the United Lutheran church.
Mr. Setran was married in 1880 to Marrit Borseth, who was born in Norway in 1854. She is a daughter of Gunder and Sigret Borseth, both natives of Norway, in which country the father died and where the mother is still living, being now eighty-six years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Setran ten children have been born, Gunder, Gustav, Sebert, Bernard, Martin, Hannah (deceased), Albert (deceased), Richard, Annie and Bertha. Gunder Sctran married Pauline Viger and to that union four children have been born, Sebert, Henry (deceased), Bernard and Willie. Hannah Setran, now deceased, married Beril Ostrom and was the mother of two children, Bennie and Milda.
KNUTE DYBDAL.
There was no better farmer or more highly respected citizen of Stony Brook township, Grant county, during the generation that is past than the late Knute Dybdal, who was born in Norway on June 13, 1865. He was a son of Ellend Dybdal and wife, mention of whom is made in another part of this work.
Knute Dybdal was two years old when his parents brought him to the state of Iowa, from his native land, and there he spent his boyhood and attended the public schools, and worked on the farm in the summer time. He was about sixteen years old -when he removed with the family to Grant county, Minnesota. When starting out in life for himself he bought eighty acres in Stony Brook township, which he later sold -and in 1890 bought one hundred and sixty acres in the same township. To that he added forty acres, on which he set out a grove, put up modern buildings and made various other improvements, and there he spent the rest of his life successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Dybdal was married in Grant county, December 9, 1891. to Rena Mohagen, who was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, March 13, 1870. She is a daughter of Lars and Ingeborg Mohagen, both natives of Norway, from which country they came to America in 1867, locating in Goodhue county, and from there to Grant county in 1871, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Elbow Lake township, later buying
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another one hundred and sixty acres in the same township, on which Mr. Mohagen set out a grove and put on modern improvements, including a good set of buildings. There he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1912, at the age of seventy-two years. His widow is still living on the old homestead, at the age of seventy-six years. To these parents seven chil- dren were born, Edward, Rena, Mary (deceased), Ragna (deceased), Ole, Ida and Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Mohagen were members of the Synod Lutheran church at Elbow Lake. To Mr. and Mrs. Dybdal six children were born, Elmer, Isaac, Lilly, Melvin, Blanche and Kenneth, all of whom are living. The death of Mr. Dybdal occurred on the home farm in Stony Brook town- ship, January 6, 1908.
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