USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 37
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 37
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James F. Dicken grew up in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he attended school, later attending a seminary at Cumberland, Maryland. He worked on his father's farm until the fall of 1856, when he came to Min- nesota, partly to see the Indians, still wild here, and partly as a result of the glowing accounts a friend had given him in writing from here. He left the train at Dunleath, Illinois, opposite Dubuque, Iowa, and took a steamboat up the Mississippi river to Hastings, Minnesota, where he worked a week on the levee, then hired to the firm of Foster & Ramsey, the last-
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named member of which firm was later governor of Minnesota. Mr. Dicken drove a team between Hastings and St. Paul for that firm, hauling material for a big mill near Hastings. The following spring he went to Meeker county and took up a claim in Acton township, proving up on the same in the fall of 1858, having built a shanty and cleared about ten acres. In the spring of 1859 he left there and hired out to the Hudson Bay Com- pany, driving a yoke of oxen hauling goods between St. Cloud and George- town, Minnesota, but made only one trip. then helped put up one thousand tons of hay for use at Ft. Abercrombie. He then came to Alexandria, then a settlement of but two or three houses, and trapped and hunted in the winter, helping the settlers in the summer months until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted in the Minnesota Mounted Rangers, or Company D, First Cavalry, and saw considerable service against the Indians in North and South Dakota, taking part in Sibley's famous expedition, serving thirteen months in all. After he was honorably discharged he decided to seek a warmer climate and went to Missouri, but after a stay of six months he returned to Alexandria. not liking the South. He then took up a home- stead of one hundred and twenty acres in Ida township. Douglas county, and forty acres in LaGrand township, but all in one body. It was wild land, part prairie and part timber. He had no capital, but forged ahead and succeeded despite hardships and privations, developed his land and put it in cultivation, using oxen as a team for some time. His first house was of logs, in which he lived until about 1885. Mr. Dicken was the first man to farm with horses in his part of the county. He has remained on his place, which is now one of the choice farms of the township. modern in all its improvements, including a large. comfortable residence and convenient outbuildings. He has been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in the face of obstacles and unaided. He farmed actively until two years ago. despite his advanced age, but he has always been a man of unusual strength. His son is now operating the place. He purchased more land from time to time until he now owns three hundred and sixty-seven acres.
On December 1. 1863. James F. Dicken was married to Sarah Antoi- nette Darling, a daughter of Andreas and Antoinette Darling, who were among the earliest settlers in Douglas county, but who went to Missouri, where Andreas Darling was killed by bushwhackers. His widow then returned to Minnesota and died years afterwards at Long Prairie. The death of Mrs. Dicken occurred on July 6. 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Dicken eight children were born, namely: Mary, born on December 25. 1864, who mar-
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ried William Greenwood, who is farming at Deep Creek, Washington; Ida, February 20, 1867, who married John Busey, a concrete mason at Havana, North Dakota; Edward, December 21, 1868, who married Annie Mace and" lives at Elk, Washington; Alice, June 7, 1871, who married the Rev. Will- iam Hume, an evangelist, of Alexandria; Ethel, February 22, 1874, who married George McQuilan, of Wadena, this state, May 23, 1876, who married Sarah Glenn and is farming at Deep Creek, Washington ; Leroy, June 30, 1879, who married Gerda Beckman and farms the old homestead, living with his father, and Arthur, September 2, 1881.
Mr. Dicken is independent in his political views and has always taken an interest in public affairs. He was one of the three commissioners appointed by Governor Ramsey to organize Douglas county, serving on the board for about three years, and a part of his work was laying out roads in the county. He was chairman of the board of supervisors before Ida and LaGrand townships were divided, and was later chairman of the board of supervisors of LaGrand township for two terms. He was clerk of school district No. 9 for over forty years. He is the oldest resident liv- ing on a pioneer homestead in Douglas county. He has seen the country develop from a wilderness and has always taken a deep interest in that development. During the "home-coming week," celebrated at Alexandria in June, 1916, Mr. Dicken delivered an address before a large and apprecia- tive audience, narrating incidents and experiences of pioneer days, which was generally declared to have been one of the most interesting and informa- tive features of the excellent program arranged for that occasion.
OLAUS ANGEN.
An enterprising farmer of Brandon township, Douglas county, is Olaus Angen, who was born in Norway, January 30, 1854. He is a son of John Johnson and wife, who are mentioned in the sketch of Jens J. Angen, appear- ing on another page of this volume.
Olaus Angen grew to manhood in Norway where he was educated in the public schools. He came to America with his father in 1869, landing in Quebec, Canada, but he came on west to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and from there came by team to Douglas county, where he worked out for eighteen months, then bought a tract of school land-his present place-in section 36 of Brandon township. He has worked hard and now has a good farm of
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one hundred and twenty acres. He has made all improvements now seen on the place. He carries on general farming and stock raising. He is also a stockholder in the elevator at Garfield and has an interest in the potato warehouse there.
Mr. Angen was married in 1883 to Olene Seiverson and to this union eight children have been born, namely: John (deceased), Mary, Severt, Mariah, Joel, Carrie (deceased ), Rudolph and Carrol. The Angens are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
G. T. WINKJER.
G. T. Winkjer, one of the most influential pioneers of Moe township, Douglas county, is a native of Norway, born on February 27, 1840, the son of Thomas and Mariett Winkjer. The father was a farmer in Norway and after retiring from the activities of life, came to the United States to live with his children. He and his wife were the parents of five children, Lars, G. T., Serianna, Gurianne, and Ole.
G. T. Winkjer received his education in the public schools of Norway and there grew to manhood on his father's farm, where as a lad he assisted with the work about the farm. He remained a resident of his native coun- try until he was twenty years of age, when he left for Australia with a company of gold seekers. He remained in that country for three years, after which he went to New Zealand, where he remained for a year. In Australia and New Zealand he was successful as a miner, but later returned to Norway where he remained for a year amid the scenes of his childhood and with relatives and friends. In 1864 he decided that he would come to America, and after landing in Quebec he came directly to Minnesota and located in Goodhue county and was there four years, at the end of which time, in 1886, he came to Douglas county and homesteaded his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Moe township. He later added to the farm, making it two hundred and ten acres, and has been the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in the community of Garfield. He remained on the old homestead for forty-eight years, during which time he has devoted himself to the development and improvement of the tract and engaging in general farming and stock raising. For fourteen years, he was engaged in the lumber business at Garfield, in connection with his work on the farm.
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His large farm is one and one-quarter miles from Garfield, and is recog- nized as one of the best in that community.
G. T. Winkjer was united in marriage to Karen Anna Helle and to this union the following children have been born: Johan Taulo, Peter Joel, Jonetta, Jonetta, Anne Maria, Gideon, Lena, Jonathan, Josias, Theodore G. and Kraft. The two Jonettas, Lena, and Josias are now deceased. The family are active members of the local Norwegian Lutheran church, of which Mr. Winkjer was one of the organizers and for many years a trus- tee. He also has taken much interest in local civic affairs and was one of the organizers of the township of Moe. He was one of the organizers of the Moe and Urness Fire Insurance Company and was connected with the movements that led to the organization of the Farmers Elevator Com- pany, the Co-operative Creamery Company and the Farmers Telephone Com- pany at Garfield and has held offices at various times in these companies. Mr. Winkjer was one of the delegates from Douglas county to the farmers convention held at St. Paul for the purpose of urging the state Legislature to introduce the manufacture of twine at the state prison, which proposition, after a vigorous fight, was adopted, the Legislature appropriating a fund sufficient to get the matter started. Mr. Winkjer has ever been a man of
large influence in the community and is held in the highest regard by all who know him. His life has been a busy one and he has accomplished much that is good. Though now in his seventy-seventh year, he is still active and in good health and retains the liveliest interest in current affairs.
Theodore G. Winkjer received his education in the public schools in the village of Garfield and later attended the School of Agriculture at the University of Minnesota, being graduated from the latter institution with the class of 1915. After completing his schooling, he returned to the home farm, where he and his brother Kraft, are operating the place. In 1914 they built the large barn, thirty-six by seventy feet, and the next year they erected a silo, fourteen by forty feet. In the spring of 1916 a modern building was erected on the site of the old barn, making use of the base- ment for an ideal hog house, with a machine shed and repair shop above; the building being twenty by forty feet with an excellent location. At the present time Theodore G. Winkjer has the entire responsibility of the place, as his brother Kraft is in California on account of his health, but will soon return to assume his share of operation of the farm. Having com- pleted a course in the automobile school at the Los Angeles Young Men's Christian Association, Kraft Winkjer is at present working as a mechanic
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and will be thus engaged until his return home. Theodore G. Winkjer is a young man of pleasing personality, and possessed of excellent judgment. Having decided that he would be a farmer, he prepared himself in a practical manner for his life's work. The course at the Agricultural School has placed him in a position to carry out the highest ideals in modern and scien- tific farming and stock breeding. He believes in the system of intensive farming and in the keeping of the best of stock. His ability as a careful and prudent farmer has been demonstrated, as his work has been quite successful. In November, 1916, Theodore G. Winkjer was united in mar- riage to Ellen Peterson, daughter of Frank Peterson and wife, of Brandon township.
ANTON H. STROM.
Anton H. Strom, one of the well-known retired farmers of Brandon, was born in Norway on October 23, 1855, the son of Hans A. and Randie Strom, also natives of Norway, who, for some years after their marriage, continued to reside in their native land, and in 1860 decided to come to America. Mrs. Strom never realized her hopes of having a home in the United States for herself and little family, for she died during the voyage and was buried at sea. The father, after his arrival in Quebec, with his two children, Anton H. and Annetta, came directly to Minnesota and set- tled in Goodhue county and for eight years was a resident of that county, after which he came to Douglas county. At that time Mr. Strom was united in marriage to Margarete Larson, and to this union four children were born, Lars, and three who died in infancy. On locating in Douglas county Mr. Strom purchased land and was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, which he developed and improved. He and his family were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Strom died in 1898 at the age of seventy-nine years.
Anton H. Strom was educated in the public schools of Goodhue county and there grew to manhood. Soon after his arrival in the county with his father he was taken by a neighbor, who raised him. At the age of twenty- three years he came to Douglas county to join his father, who had settled here some years before. On June 28, 1878, Mr. Strom was united in mar- riage to Anna Haaven and to this union two children have been born, Henry, who died at the age of twenty-five years, and Minnie, who is the wife of Emil E. Bergh, a well-known farmer of Brandon township.
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On his arrival in Douglas county Anton H. Strom engaged in farming and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 19, Brandon township, and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1912, when he retired and became a resident of Brandon. He was a suc- cessful farmer and business man. He is the owner of stock in the potato warehouse in Brandon and also in the Farmers and Merchants' Union Ele- vator Company and was vice-president of the Brandon First National Bank for three years. While on the farm he took much interest in the social and civic life of the township and served as clerk for a period of twenty-five years, and was also a member of the board of supervisors for a number of years. He has served for three years as assessor of the village of Brandon. For some years he has been secretary of the Moe and Urness Farmers' In- surance Company of Douglas county.
Mr. Strom is a man who has lived an active and useful life. Beginning life under such adverse circumstances, early suffering the loss of his mother and reared by strangers, he has succeeded in becoming a successful farmer and business man, who is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
LUCAS FIDA.
Another Austrian who has made good as a farmer in Douglas county is Lucas Fida, of Belle River township. He was born in Austria on October 17, 1867, and is a son of Frank and Elizabeth (Brenner) Fida, natives of Austria, where they resided until 1880, when they brought their family to Douglas county, Minnesota, settling on a farm in Belle River township, where they spent the rest of their lives, both dying some time ago. They had devoted their lives to farming, having owned land in the old country as well as here. The father served as a soldier in the war of 1866, losing a finger on his left hand, a bullet striking him during a battle. He became owner of one hundred and ninety acres in Douglas county and was a success- ful farmer. He and his wife belonged to the Catholic church at Belle River. Four children were born to them, Charles, Frances (deceased), Lucas and Rosie, the latter of whom married Joe Trisko.
Lucas Fida spent his boyhood in Austria, being thirteen years old when he accompanied the family to Douglas county. He attended the public schools. He assisted his father with the general work on the farm until his marriage to Regetta Schlosser, a native of Austria. She was three years
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old when her parents, Andrew Schlosser and wife, brought her to Minnesota, the family being among the pioneers in Douglas county. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fida: Anna, Elizabeth, Peter, Mary, Clara, Bernard and Albert.
Mr. Fida has always farmed. He located on his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 18 of Belle River township in 1910. He also owns twenty acres in another section. He has put on a number of important improvements, including a substantial residence. In connection with general farming he raises considerable live stock, handling a mixed grade of cattle and hogs. He is a Catholic.
JOHN BERGSTROM.
John Bergstrom, a successful farmer of Holmes City township, Doug- las county, was born in Norway, on June 27, 1863, the son of Halvor and Martha (Anders) Bergstrom, natives of Norway, who were there educated in the public schools, grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. As a young man in his native land, Halvor Bergstrom engaged in farming, and wishing to continue his farm work and feeling that the opportunities in America were better than in his own country, he and his wife decided, in 1866, to come to the United States. On their arrival in this country, they came at once to Minnesota and settled near . Red Wing. There they remained one year, after which they moved to Douglas county, locating in Holmes City township. Soon after their arrival in the county, Halvor Bergstrom filed on one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 2 of that township, but owing to sickness the first winter he was unable to erect his buildings, and so sold his right. The following year he homesteaded the farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 2 of Holmes City town- ship, on which his son, John, now resides, and there he made his home until his death in 1884.
At the time Halvor Bergstrom located on his land he was sick and in debt and it was with much difficulty that he was able to live and hold the claim. He built the first blacksmith shop in Holmes City, and there for one year he worked at his trade and was thus enabled to live. His near- est market was at Sauk Center and the first wheat crop that he raised he ground in a coffee mill. During those early and trying times, there were but few days that Indians were not seen passing the home. To Halvor
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and Martha Bergstrom were born three children, John and Jennie (twins) and Andrew, the latter of whom died when but a child. Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom were active members of the Swedish Lutheran church, and were among the most prominent and influential members of the local society, Mr. Bergstrom being one of the organizers of the Oscar Lake church.
John Bergstrom received his education in the public schools of Holmes City township, and there grew to manhood, as a lad assisting his father with the farm work. As a young man he began farming for himself on the home place where he has since resided. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he has made all the present substantial improve- ments. He was married in 1890 to Rachel K. Swenson, the daughter of Ole K. Swenson, and to this union the following children have been born; Halvor, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Ole, Martha, Minnie, the latter of whom died at the age of three years, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Bergstrom died in July, 1904.
Mr. Bergstrom and family are active members of the Lutheran church, of which he has been a trustee for the past thirty-two years. He has always taken much interest in local affairs, and has been a member of the school board for twenty years and was for a number of years a member of the township board of supervisors.
JOHN NICHOLAS BROWN.
John Nicholas Brown, one of the best-known and most prominent farm- ers of Belle River township, Douglas county, the owner of "Brown's Dale Stock Farm," was born at Belleplaine, Scott county, Minnesota, on June 24, 1867, the son of Nicholas and Susanna ( Reuter) Brown, both of whom were born in Luxemberg, Germany, where they were educated. For a num- ber of years Nicholas Brown was employed on a vessel that plied in German waters and in 1857, at the age of twenty-one years, he decided to locate in America. Upon landing in this country he proceeded to Milwaukee, where he remained for a short time, after which he located at Belleplaine, this state, and for the next two years was employed as an engineer on a river boat that plied between Memphis and New Orleans. On November 7, 1865, he was united in marriage to Susanna Reuter, daughter of Nicholas and Josephine (Mozel) Reuter, natives of Germany, who came to this state in an early day.
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MR. AND MRS. NICHOLAS BROWN.
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In 1869 Nicholas and Susanna Brown moved over to Douglas county, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 18, Belle River township. The tract at that time was covered with heavy tim- ber and brush, without any improvements. The family for the first year lived in a tent, after which a log house was constructed, in which the family resided for a number of years. For years Mr. Brown had only oxen with which to do his farming and assist him in the clearing of his land. In time the farm was cleared and good and substantial buildings took the place of the log structures that had housed the family, as well as the stock, during those pioneer days. There Mr. Brown engaged in general farming and stock raising and was successful. In time he purchased more land until he became the owner of five hundred and twenty acres. In 1908 he retired from the activities of the farm life and moved to Shakopee, where Mrs. Brown died on August 5, 1913. They were the parents of the following children: John Nicholas, the subject of this sketch; Josephine, who was drowned in a well at the age of six years; one who died in infancy, and Susanna, who married Thomas Nickoley, superintendent of the Scott county schools, to which union five children have been born, Cecelia (deceased), Clement, Genevive, Georgina and Virginia.
John Nicholas Brown received his education in the public schools of Douglas county and in St. John's University, at St. John's, Minnesota. As a lad and during his summer vacations, while attending school, he assisted his father with the work on the farm, and remained at home until his marriage on October 5, 1897, to Sophia Hintzen, who was born in Douglas county, daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth (Fuchs) Hintzen. At that time John Nicholas Brown had one hundred and sixty acres in section 18, a part of the old homestead, and there he and his wife lived until 1908, when they took up their residence at the old home of the father of Mr. Brown, in section 7, where he is operating three hundred and twenty acres of land and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has some excellent registered cattle and hogs and is recognized as one of the most successful breeders in the county, his cattle and hogs finding ready sale. Of his cattle that deserve special mention are two cows, "Alexandria Aaltje Dekol, sev- enth, No. 135444 H. F. H. B.," and "Lady Gerti Aaltje Dekol, No. 243785 H. F. H. B." He also has a registered sire that has attracted considerable attention. His cattle are all of. the Holstein-Fresian breed and are the best that can be produced. His hogs are Duroc-Jerseys, among which is a boar, "Jim No. 161401" and a sow, "Brown Betty No. 498852," that are most (25a)
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excellent specimens of the breed. Mr. Brown keeps one of the finest dairy herds in the county.
John Nicholas and Sophia (Hitzen) Brown are the parents of four children, Josephine, Marion, Elizabeth and Nicholas. Josephine Brown is taking a course in nursing at the Illinois Post-Graduate Hospital, Chicago. Marion Brown is a graduate of St. Benedict's Academy, at St. Joseph, Minnesota, and Elizabeth and Nicholas Brown are attending public school. The family are devout members of the St. Nicholas Catholic church and are among the highly respected people of the township and county, active in the social and religious affairs of the community in which they live. Mr. Brown has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has done much for the general advancement of the district. He has served as a mem- ber of the board of supervisors and as a member of the school board.
ISACK ISACKSON.
Isack Isackson; a native of Wisconsin, and one of the well-known and successful farmers of Holmes City township, Douglas county, Minnesota, was born on August 31, 1857, the son of Lars and Anna ( Ballestad) Isack- son.
Lars and Anna Isackson were natives of Norway and there grew to manhood and womanhood. Lars Isackson came to the United States in 1843 and Anna Ballestad came in 1849. In 1865 they were married and settled in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where they resided until 1868. Lars Isackson was a soldier in Company D, Forty-seventh Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in 1865. In 1868 he and his wife came to Minnesota. Here Lars Isackson purchased one hundred and eighty-five acres of timber- land of a homesteader, the farm being the one Isack Isackson now owns in Holmes City township. Here the father erected buildings, cleared some of the land and engaged in general farming. Here he and his wife made their home until the time of their deaths some years ago. They were the parents of three children, Isack, Carrie and Anton. Carrie and Anton are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Isackson were prominent and active members of the Trysil Lutheran church and took much interest in church work.
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