USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 33
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 33
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JAMES R. MCCLELLAN.
James R. McClellan, a well-known farmer of Hudson township, Douglas county, was born on the old homestead farm in that township on January 8. 1867, the son of James McClellan and wife, the former of whom was born in eastern Canada on March 13, 1841.
James R. McClellan received his education in the public schools of Hudson township and there grew to manhood on the home farm. As a young man he started farming on his father's farm and in 1898 he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres and has since made this his home. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful, being particularly interested in the raising of Shorthorn cattle.
On October 21, 1893. James R. McClellan was united in marriage to Addie Stone and to this union four children have been born, Frank, Inez, Clara and Lola. The family are active members of the United Brethren church. Mr. McClellan is independent in his political views.
James McClellan, the father of James R. McClellan, was born in Can- ada, a son of John and Ellen ( Filmen) McClellan, the former born in Scot- land and the latter in the north of Ireland. John McClellan emigrated to Canada with his parents when but a boy, and made that country his home. He and wife were the parents of ten children, Ellen, John, Robert, James, Matthew, William, Jean, Margaret, Grace and Agnes. The parents were active members of the Presbyterian church and took much interest in church work.
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James McClellan received his education in the public schools of Canada and there grew to manhood. In 1866 he came to Minnesota and located in what later became organized as Hudson township, Douglas county, being thus among the very earliest settlers in that township. There he home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres in section 34. He later added forty acres to his original farm. He built a log house, in which he lived for twenty years. He at once entered into the task of breaking his land and preparing it for the planting of his crops. During the year the grass- hoppers were so bad, he devoted his time to the cutting of wood at wage of fifty cents a day. In 1868 and 1870 he paid as high as twenty-four per cent interest on borrowed money. It was a hard struggle during those trying days, yet in time he became a prosperous and successful farmer.
James McClellan was united in marriage to Agnes Bailey and to this union ten children were born, James, Janet, Charles, John, George, Henry, Hannah, Frank, Alfred and Ed. Mr. and Mrs. McClellan are members of the Congregational church and have always been active in church work, for years prominent in the social and religious activities of the community. Mr. McClellan has always taken much interest on local civic affairs and had much to do with the early life and government of the township. He has served as a member of the township board of supervisors and has always been held in the highest esteem.
HANS BIRKHOFER.
Hans Birkhofer, one of the successful business men of Alexandria, was born on November 1, 1860, in Germany, the son of Conrad and Barbara (Miller) Birkhofer. The parents were also natives of Germany and there lived their lives, they having died some years ago. The father was an officer of the postal department of the Fatherland and was a man of much influence and was highly respected by his neighbors.
Hans Birkhofer was of a family of seven children and received his edu- cation in the public schools of his native land, where he lived until he was thirty years of age. In 1890 he decided to locate in America, and upon landing in the United States came directly to Minnesota, locating in Minne- apolis, where he was for ten years connected with the Birkhofer Brewing Company. In August 1901 he purchased the brewing establishment of R. Wegner at Alexandria, since which time he has been the president and the
HANS BIRKHOFER.
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manager of the business. The brewery has been greatly improved and developed since its purchase by Mr. Birkhofer and is today one of the suc- fessful breweries of the state.
In iSSo Hans Birkhofer was united in marriage to Anna Stroebel, who was born and educated in Germany. To this union four children have been born. Freda. Antonia, Margaret and Conrad, the first-named of whom is the wife of Sherman Castello, a well-known resident of the county.
Hans Birkhofer has had a most active life and since young manhood has made his own way in the world. He is a man of pleasing address and has made many friends in the community in which he now lives. He has taken much interest in the development of the town in which he resides, and has done much toward the general development of the county. He and his family are active members of the Catholic church and have always taken much interest in church work.
EDWIN BOWMAN.
Edwin Bowman, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Osakis township. Douglas county, was born in Rice county, this state, on May 1. 1865. the son of Jacob and Belinda ( Ferguson) Bowman, who were born in Ontario, Canada. While a resident of his native country. Jacob Bowman was engaged in farming and remained a resident of the land of his birth until 1858, in which year he decided to come to Minne- sota. He located in Rice county, where he lived until 1867. when he came to Douglas county, and here he homesteaded a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 27 of Osakis township. The family made their jour- ney from Rice county to their new home by ox-team in a covered wagon. There were still many Indians in the country at that time and on the way they saw a large band of redmen, marching single file, the line of march being a mile long.
After having prepared a home for the family, Mr. Bowman began the task of clearing and breaking his land, preparatory to the planting of his crops. After his crops were gathered and ready for the market it was necessary to take them to St. Cloud, which was the nearest market at that time. During his active life Mr. Bowman did much work in real estate and bought and sold much land. He was recognized as a successful farmer (22a)
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and stockman, and a man of much influence in the community. To such men the township and the county owe much, for it is such as these that have converted the wild prairie and forests into fertile fields, improved with the finest of modern and substantial buildings and dotted with herds of fine cattle.
To Jacob and Belinda Bowman were born five children, Maria, Edwin, May, Idella and George, the latter of whom died at the age of ten years. During the latter part of his active life Jacob Bowman lived on a farm in the corporate limits of the town of Osakis. There he served on the village council, did good service and had the confidence and respect of all.
Edwin Bowman received his education in the public schools of Osakis township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad he assisted his father with the work. After completing his education he decided that he would be a farmer and remained with his father until the latter's death in 1907. In 1910 Mr. Bowman built a fine residence in the town of Osakis, and there he has since made his home. He is an extensive land- owner and has some nine hundred and sixty acres in Douglas and Todd counties. He is at present street commissioner of Osakis and was for six years a member of the council. He manages his large farms, does much general farming and raises many cattle and hogs. His farms are highly developed and well improved.
In 1894 Edwin Bowman was united in marriage to Ida Masteller and to this union five children have been born, Lidia, William McKinley, George, Edwin and Russell. The family are prominent in the social life of the community and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them. Mr. Bowman has ever taken an active interest in local affairs and has always shown his readiness to assist in any worthy cause that would tend toward the betterment of local conditions.
HENRY A. MALMQUIST.
A venerable and respected citizen of LaGrand township, Douglas county, is Henry A. Malmquist, who has devoted his long life to business and agri- cultural pursuits, in which he has been successful, for he has not only worked hard but managed well. He was born in Sweden on March 11, 1838, and is a son of Andres Abramson, who lived and died in Sweden, having spent his life at general farming.
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Henry A. Malmquist ( who adopted his present name upon coming to America ) spent his boyhood in his native land, assisting his father with the work about the home place, and in the winter time he attended the common schools. He remained in Sweden until he was thirty years old, emigrating to the United States in the year 1868. After spending a short time in St. Paul, at that time little more than a village, he worked in many different places about the state of Minnesota. In the fall of 1881 he entered business in the village of Alexandria, where he remained until 1892, when he pur- chased his present farm in LaGrand township, but later moved back to Alex- andria and lived retired from active labor. In 1910 he built a fine modern home where he now lives in LaGrand township, and operates his well- improved eighty-acre farm. He has been quite successful in a business way and is very comfortably fixed. Mr. Malmquist has never married. He is a Republican and he attends the Swedish Lutheran church.
EMIL J. BRANDT.
Emil J. Brandt, former auditor of Douglas county and now engaged in the insurance business at Alexandria, was born in Sweden on July 14, 1873, a son of H. M. and Johanna (Ogren) Brandt, both natives of that country. The elder Brandt came to America in 1882 and followed others of his countrymen to Minnesota, where he found a location in Douglas county. He bought forty acres of land in Spruce Hill township and estab- lished a home. The following year he brought the rest of his family to this new home, and still lives on the homestead. He is the father of five children : Emil J., the subject of this sketch; Oscar B., Mary O., who married Ed Hanson; Charles M., who died in September, 1908, and Hannah E., who married August Anderson.
Emil J. Brandt received his early education in the public schools of Sweden. He was ten years of age when he came to this country and he attended school for a time in Douglas county. As a young man he worked on the farm most of the time and his attendance at school was only. at such times as his service on the farm was not needed. During the winter of 1898 he took a business course in a commercial school at Minneapolis and in the fall of 1908 he was elected auditor of Douglas county and served three terms in that office, retiring in 1915, since which time he has devoted his attention to the insurance business.
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Mr. Brandt has been three times married. His first wife was Marie Hanson, to whom he was married in 1895. She died on December 2, 1896, without issue. His second wife was Christine Nelson, by whom three children were born, Lloyd A. L., Alfhild J. and Lillian C. The mother of these children died in February, 1903, and in 1910 Mr. Brandt married Katherine L. Bundy, to which union one child has been born, a daughter, Lucia E.
Mr. Brandt is a member of the Indianapolis Order of Odd Fellows and is an active worker in the order. He has long given his close attention to local political affairs and before his election to the office of county auditor served for two terms as assessor of Spruce Hill township. In 1905 he took an active part in the organization of the Rose Co-operative Creamery Com- pany in Spruce Hill township and in 1900 helped to organize the Farmers' Elevator Company at Eagle Bend, in the neighboring county of Todd.
PETER E. DAHL.
The late Peter E. Dahl, for years a well-known farmer of Solem town- ship, Douglas county, was born in Sweden in 1852, the son of Peter and Margaret Dahl, also natives of that country, where they continued to live until 1868, when they decided that they would locate in America. Upon their arrival in the United States they came directly to Minnesota, and home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Solem township, Douglas county, the farm being the one where the widow of Peter E. Dahl now lives. The farm at the time Peter and Margaret Dahl located here was, for the most part, wild land and without improvements. The place was later devel- oped and improved and there Peter Dahl engaged in general farming and stock raising and became successful. He soon entered into the civic and religious life of the township and he and his wife were among the organizers of the local Lutheran church, in which they were among the prominent and active workers. They were the parents of two children, Peter E. and Betsy, the latter of whom married Andrew Anderson.
Peter E. Dahl received his education in the public schools of Sweden, where he lived until he was sixteen years of age. At that time he came to the United States, his parents arriving one year later, and he remained with them for some years, assisting in the clearing and the developing of the old homestead. In 1882 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land
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in Land township, Grant county. This he later sold and purchased the old home place, where he lived until the time of his death. He engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising and became successful, adding eighty acres to his farm, having purchased the tract that adjoined his one hundred and sixty acres over the line in Grant county. He erected all the present substantial buildings and made many other valuable improvements, which added much to the beauty and value of the place, and there he was living at the time of his death in 1913.
In 1884 Peter E. Dahl was united in marriage to Karen Anderson, who was born in Sweden and came to the United States with her mother, in 1882, and were joined by the father in 1892. Mr. Anderson owned land in Becker county, but now makes his home with the widow of Peter E. Dahl. To Peter E. Dahl and wife were born seven children, Andrew L., Peter E., Olaf T., Gustav E., Carl A., John E. and Melvina. Peter E. Dahl is in Montana and the others are at home. Mr. Dahl was an active member of the Lutheran church, as is his widow, and always took much interest in church work and was prominent in the social life of the community in which he lived. He took much interest in local affairs and was recognized as a man of sterling worth, who exerted his best efforts to the growth and development of the township and the county. As a farmer and stockman, he was progressive, a believer in intensive farming and the keeping of the best of stock.
LEOPOLD FIDA.
The number of Austrians in Douglas and Grant counties is comparative- ly small, but those who are here have proven to be enterprising and law- abiding and are among our best farmers. One of this number is Leopold Fida, of Miltona township, Douglas county, who was born in Austria, on October 28, 1857, a son of Mathias and Barbara (Austria) Fida, and a grandson of Ignas Fida, who spent his life on a farm in the old country. Mathias Fida grew up in his native land and married there, emigrating to America with his family in 1882, landing in Baltimore, Maryland. He came on West to Minnesota and bought a farm in Carlos township, Douglas county, on which he spent the rest of his life, dying in May, 1913, at an advanced age. His wife died in early life, back in May, 1887. To these parents six children were born, Mary (deceased), Victoria, Leopold, Inge- bert (whereabouts unknown), Matthew and Julia.
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Leopold Fida spent his boyhood in Austria, where he attended school. He accompanied the family to Minnesota thirty-four years ago, and was married in Douglas county, about 1888, to Mary Dottler, whose death occurred in January, 1898. To their union the following children were born: Mary, who is the wife of Frank Olson, of Fargo, North Dakota; John, Amelia and Emma. Following the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Fida in May, 1902, married Mrs. Anna Ahrentz, widow of Ignas Ahrentz, to which union one child has been born, a son, Peter. By her first marriage Mrs. Fida was the mother of five children, Rosie, Theresa, William, Joseph and Clara (deceased).
Mr. Fida bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 36 of Miltona township thirty-three years ago, since which time he has made a comfortable living as a general farmer. He cleared most of the land and has put on all the improvements. He also owns stock in the Belle River creamery. He and his family are members of the Catholic church at Belle River.
JOHN A. HINTZEN.
The Hollanders have always been known as skillful farmers and en- terprising merchants; or, in fact, in most any line of endeavor, and they have been able to make comfortable livings from soil on which other peoples would have failed. They have developed many communities in the New World, and America has always extended them a hearty welcome. One of this number in Douglas county is John A. Hintzen, a merchant of Miltona, in Belle River township. He was born in Holland on January 17, 1877, a son of Leonard Hintzen, pioneer settler of Douglas county, who settled in Belle River township in an early day and bought a good farm, which he developed and on which he established the future home of the family. Fuller mention is made of him in the sketch of Nicholas Hintzen, presented else- where in this volume. His wife died on July 14, 1916.
John A. Hintzen was young in years when his parents brought him to Minnesota from Holland, and he grew to manhood on the homestead in Belle River township, where he worked during the summer months, attending the district schools in the winter time. He remained with his father on the farm until his marriage on November 23, 1903, to Mary Holsworth. To this union five children have been born, Lester, Eugene, Harry, George and Leonard, the latter of whom was named for his grandfather. John A. Hintzen bought
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a general store at Miltona in 1910 and is still conducting the same, having built up a good trade with the town and surrounding country. He carries a ten-thousand-dollar stock of clothing, hardware, shoes and general merchan- dise, and is prompt, fair and courteous in dealing with his many customers. He also owns a good farm of twenty acres in Miltona township and a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Clearwater county, Minnesota. Mr. Hintzen served as postmaster at Miltona for five years, and while living at Bejou, Minnesota, was postmaster there for five years. While living in that place he was also engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was also for a period of five years engaged as station agent for the Soo line railroad at Miltona, and is now secretary and treasurer of the Farmers' Shipping Association at that place. Mr. Hintzen is a Republican and is serving as treasurer of the school board in district No. 55.
JOHN T. HALVORSON.
John T. Halvorson, a well-known and successful farmer of Elk Lake township, Grant county, was born in Boone county, Illinois, on July 2, 1858. the son of Tosten and Gunhild (Olson) Halvorson, natives of Norway, who continued to live in the land of their nativity until 1854, when they decided to come to America. On their arrival in the United States, they located in Boone county, Illinois, where they continued to reside until 1867, when they came to Minnesota, locating in Urness township, Douglas county, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. That farm Mr. Halvor- son developed and improved and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising until the time of his death. At the time the family settled here the farm was for the most part a wild tract and required much work to bring it under cultivation. The nearest market was at St. Cloud and the neigh- bors were few and far away. In time the family became prosperous and were prominent in the social and the religious life of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Halvorson were the parents of eight children, Albert, Ole, Esther, Tilda, John T., Annie, Fred and Lena. The father and mother were active members in the Norwegian Lutheran church, took much interest in church work and were held in the highest regard and esteem by all who knew them. The father took much interest in the civic life of the community and was recognized as one of the influential men of the township.
John T. Halvorson received his education in the public schools of Urness
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township and at Alexandria, and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad and young man he assisted with the farm work. Early in life he decided that he would be a farmer and in 1890 he bought his present farm of two hundred acres in sections 12 and 13 of Elk Lake township, Grant county. He has erected all the buildings and made all the developments on the place and is now engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful.
In 1896 John T. Halvorson was united in marriage to Carolina Elling- ing, daughter of Syver Ellinging and wife, well-known residents of the county, and to this union two children have been born, Hazel C. and Esther J. Mr. and Mrs. Halvorson are active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and have long been prominent in the social and religious life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Halvorson has always taken a keen interest in the civic life of the township and has had much to do with the growth and the devel- opment of the district. He is at present a member of the school board and has served his township as assessor. He is a progressive citizen and is an advocate of substantial public improvements and of the maintenance of the highest grade of schools.
NICHOLAS HINTZEN.
One of the young farmers of Belle River township, Douglas county, is Nicholas Hintzen, who has been contented to remain in his own locality. His birth occurred there on March 15, 1879. He is a son of Leonard and Mary E. (Fox) Hintzen, pioneer citizens of Douglas county, a separate sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume.
Nicholas Hintzen was reared on the homestead in Belle River town- ship, where he worked during the crop seasons, attending the neighboring schools in the winter time. He was married on September 9, 1902, to Hermina Hainzl, who was born on April 26, 1871, in Germany, from which country she came to Minnesota with her parents when young, the family settling in Douglas county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hintzen two children have been born, Frank M. and Clifford P.
Mr. Hintzen began life for himself as a farmer and he is now owner of eighty acres in section 17 of Belle River township and twenty acres in section 5 of that same township. It is all in one body and is a part of his father's old home place. He has kept this land under good improvement and
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cultivation and is making a comfortable living as a general farmer. He is also a stockholder in the Belle River Creamery Company and is president of the same, his able management of its affairs having resulted in the pro- nounced success of the enterprise. Mr. Hintzen is a Republican and has served as treasurer of his township and as chairman of the school board of district No. 62. The family are members of the Catholic church in Belle River township.
MAGNUS ANDERSON.
Magnus Anderson, a prominent and successful farmer of LaGrand township, Douglas county, was born in Sweden on June 24, 1853, the son of Andrew and Mary (Olson) Anderson, also natives of that country, who spent all their lives there. The father was a shoemaker by trade, but also worked at cabinet-making and blacksmithing. He was a man of prominence ยท in his community and was held in high regard by all. He and his family were active members of the Lutheran church and were prominent in the social and religious activities of their community. Andrew Anderson and wife were the parents of seven children, Magnus, Mary, Stena, Andrew, Daniel, August and one who died in infancy.
Magnus Anderson received his education in the public schools of his native country and there grew to manhood. He was married in 1878 to Christina Olson, and to this union two children were born in the old country, Anna O. and Magnus M. The following children were born on the home farm in Douglas county: Tilda, Victor, Ellen, Emil, William, Oscar and Christian, the latter of whom died at the age of one year. The eldest son, Magnus M. Anderson, died in Canada on March 5, 1916.
In 1882 Magnus Anderson decided to seek a home in America, and after bidding his wife and children good-bye, he set out for the much-talked- of American country. Upon his arrival in the United States he came direct to Minnesota, arriving at Alexandria on May 22, 1882. For the next two years he worked as a farm hand in the county, during which time he saved enough from his meager earnings to send for his wife and two children, who joined the happy father on June 24, 1884, at Alexandria. That same year Mr. Anderson purchased eighty acres in LaGrand township, which is a part of his present farm. The tract at that time was heavy timber, with the exception of four acres that had been cleared. He bought the farm of a homesteader, and the little shanty that was supposed to be on the farm was
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