USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 38
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Isack Isackson received his education in the public schools of Douglas county and continued to live on the old farm since first he came there with his parents from Wisconsin. He has devoted his life to general farming
387
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
and stock raising and has been quite successful. He has added to the original farm until he is now the owner of three hundred and fifty-one acres, all of which is well under cultivation and nicely improved, with substantial build- ings, which have been erected by Mr. Isackson. He is a firm believer in intensive farming and the keeping of good stock.
In 1901 Isack Isackson was united in marriage to Dordie Mauseth, a daughter of John Mauseth, a native of Norway. To this union the follow- ing children have been born: Ragna, Lannie, Mary and Gerhard. Mr. and Mrs. Isackson are members of the Trysil Lutheran church and are well known in the social and religious life of the community. Mr. Isackson is interested in the Holmes City Fire Insurance Company and in the Holmes City creamery.
CHARLES KLOEHN.
Charles Kloehn, a retired farmer and a well-known resident of Ida township, Douglas county, was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on Janu- ary 8, 1852, the son of William and Henrietta ( Shultz) Kloehn, who were born in Germany, and there received their education in the public schools and grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. In 1847 they decided to locate in the United States and after their arrival in this coun- try they proceeded directly to Wisconsin and located in Dodge county, that state. There they purchased a farm, which they developed and improved and on which they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Kloehn dying on October 8, 1908, and his widow, September 13, 1912, at the age of eighty-four years. William Kloehn was eighty years of age at the time of his death. He and his wife were the parents of five children, August, Charles, Fred, Amelia and Henry. The family were prominent in the community in which they lived and were highly respected.
Charles Kloehn received his education in the local schools of Dodge county, Wisconsin, in an old log school house. He grew to manhood there and engaged in farming. He was there married on November 13, 1872, to Albertine Bruske, who was born on October 21, 1851. To this union six children were born, William (deceased), Charles, Gustave, Dena, Anna and Amelia. Dena Kloehn married Carl Klug, who owns the old home farm, Mr. and Mrs. Kloehn living with them.
Before his retirement, Charles Kloehn was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 17 of Ida township, which he purchased
388
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
in 1884 and which he developed and improved and there engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising, in which he was quite successful. After having assisted his children to start in life, he sold the farm and retired from the activities of farm life. In addition to his farm interests, Mr. Kloehin was interested in the Garfield creamery, which interests he still holds. He is also the owner of stock in the farmers elevator and in the bank at Garfield.
Charles Kloehn has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has exerted his influence in the promotion of all enterprises that had a tendency toward the growth and the betterment of the township and the county. He served as township treasurer as well as township assessor for a number of years. He and his wife are active members of the Ger- man Lutheran church and are prominent in the work of the local society. Mr. Kloehn has had an active and useful life and has accomplished much that is good, not alone for himself and family, but for the community as well. He and his family are held in the highest regard and have long been active in the social and religious life of the township.
P. C. BROWN.
P. C. Brown, who is engaged in the insurance and loan business at Elbow Lake, was born near Colfax, Illinois, August 31, 1879, a son of J. M. Brown, born in Virginia, and Martha (Ray) Brown, born in Wood- ford, Illinois.
J. M. Brown served for four years as a soldier in the Confederate army, during the Civil War, participating in the battle of Gettysburg and many other engagements. Returning to his home in Virginia after the close of the war, he remained a short time and then removed to Illinois, and afterwards to Iowa. He now lives at Madelia, Minnesota. He is the father of nine children: Lillian, Charles, Viola, Maytie, P. C., Bessie, James (deceased), Edna and Erma.
P. C. Brown was educated in the public schools and the high school, at Blairsburg, Iowa. After his school years he turned his attention to farming and for six years farmed near Blairsburg and then for one year at Buffalo Center, Iowa. In 1910 he associated himself with his brother, C. E. Brown, in the real-estate business at Madelia, Minnesota. In the fall of that year he opened an office at New Richland, Waseca county,
389
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Minnesota, and took the management of that office. In the summer of 1912 he was traveling for the Ulland Land Company, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. In the fall of that year they opened up a real estate office in Elbow Lake, known as the Brown & Ulland Land Company, with Mr. Brown as manager. Mr. Brown is also president of the North Minnesota Land Company at Newfolden and is associated with real estate offices at Kensington, Fergus Falls and Ada, this state, and Cogsville, North Dakota. In addition to the general real estate business these offices also handle loans and insurance.
In 1911 P. C. Brown was married to Charlotte Rice, daughter of Joseph Rice, of Madelia, and to this union three children have been born, Charles George, Clifton James and Harry Bernard. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Brown is at present secre- tary and treasurer of the Farmers and Merchants Club of Elbow Lake. He is a keen young business man, and a general all-around "booster" for the town.
AXEL MELIN.
Axel Melin, one of the well-known young farmers of Douglas county, was born in Leaf Valley township. that county, on June 24, 1884, the son of Andrew and Albertina ( Engstrom) Melin, natives of Sweden, who came to the United States, proceeding directly to Michigan, where Andrew Melin worked in the copper mines for a few years. He then came to Minnesota and purchased eighty acres of land in Douglas county at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. He remained on that farm for a few years and then removed to Leaf Valley township, where he purchased a farm in sec- tion 35, which he developed and improved and there he made his home until the time of his death in 1908, at the age of seventy-four years. His widow died in 1910 at the age of sixty-six years. They were the parents of six children, Charles, Albert, Victor, Hannah, Axel and Sophia. Mr. and Mrs. Melin were members of the Swedish Lutheran church and active in the social life of the community, where they were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them.
Axel Melin received his education in the common schools of Douglas county and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad he assisted his father with the work on the farm. He is now the owner of eighty acres of land in Ida township, which he purchased some years ago and
390
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has im- proved the farm with a large barn, thirty-two by fifty feet, that he built in 1914, and a substantial and modern house in 1915. He is a shareholder in the grain elevator and potato warehouse and local telephone company at Garfield. Mr. Melin is a man of excellent judgment and a thorough and systematic farmer. He is a firm believer in intensive farming and in the most thorough cultivation of the soil. Though still a young man, he is recognized as one of the progressive and successful farmers of the town- ship. He has always taken a keen interest in local affairs and is ever ready to assist in any worthy undertaking that tends to the betterment of the township and the county.
ERICK E. DAHL.
Erick E. Dahl, one of the well-known and prominent farmers of Moe township, Douglas county, Minnesota, was born in Norway on January 13, 1866, son of Erick S. and Ragnhild Dalen, natives of Norway, who spent their lives in that country, their deaths occurring many years ago. Erick S. Dalen was twice married. By his first wife, Kresti, he had six children, Sigurd, John, Lars, Hans, Frick and Kjersti. By his second wife, Ragn- hild, he had seven children, Knut, Ole, Hans, Erick E., Christina, Gurinne and Mary
After the death of his father, Erick E. Dahl took his mother and left the home of his nativity and came to America in 1890. He had received his education in the public schools of Norway and was there engaged as a farmer. On his arrival in the United States he proceded directly to North Dakota and there located in Cavalier county, where he remained for nine years, at the end of which time, in 1899. he returned to Norway, where he remained until 1900. He then returned to the United States, and again located in North Dakota, where he obtained a homestead in McLean county, which he developed and improved and remained a resident of that county for five years. In 1910 he came to Minnesota, where he located on his present farm, in section 14 of Moe township, Douglas county, where he has done much in the way of substantial improvement, having built his barn, thirty-four by sixty feet in 1916, as well as having placed many other improvements.
Erick E. Dahl was united in marriage to Anna Gustava Baglo, the
391
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
daughter of Andrew Baglo, and to this union four children have been born, Gladys, Emma, Edwin and Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl are devout mem- bers of the Lutheran church, and take much interest in church work. They are held in high esteem by all who know them.
Andrew Baglo, father of Mrs. Dahl, was born in Norway on Novem- ber 4, 1848, the son of Andrew and Johanna ( Raldatter) Borson, who spent their lives in Norway and reared a family of twelve children. Andrew Baglo received his education in the public schools of his native country and there grew to manhood. As a young man he learned the black- smith trade, at which he worked for many years. In 1880 he came to Min- nesota and located in Alexandria. He later purchased a farm of ninety acres in Brandon township, where he lived for two years. He then bought one hundred and two acres in section 14 of Moe township, where he has lived since 1884.
On January 29, 1874, Andrew Baglo was united in marriage to Gurn Anna Andersdatter Kvam, and to this union two children were born, Mrs. Dahl having had a brother, John Albert, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Baglo are active members of the East Moe Lutheran church and take a keen interest in church work. Mr. Baglo is a trustee of the local society and has served as leader of the church choir for many years. The family have been prominent in the social and religious activities of the township for many years.
PEDER MOXNESS.
Peder Moxness, one of the young farmers of Douglas county, was born in Norway on September 13, 1879, a son of Ole C. and Betsy (Gunder- son) Moxness, natives of Norway, where they grew up and were married. They brought their family to America about 1880, coming on direct from New York City to Alexandria, Minnesota. The father learned the car- penter's trade when a young man and followed that trade in the old country, but upon coming here he bought eighty acres of land in Brandon township where he spent the rest of his life engaged in farming, dying there at the age of sixty years on June 7, 1902. His widow still survives, having celebrated her seventy-seventh birthday on June 20, 1916. They were the parents of seven children, John, Gunder, Laura, Ole, Hannah, Peder and Julia. The father of these children developed a farm here from the
392
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
wild prairie, making all the improvements. He was an active member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Peder Moxness grew upon the farm in Brandon township, having been but a small child when his parents brought him from his native land. He received his education in the district schools here and has remained on the homestead, which he purchased eight years ago. It consists of eighty acres, as before stated, and he has kept the same well improved and well cultivated, but most of the present improvements were made by his father. He has remained unmarried and makes his home with his mother. Politi- cally, he is independent.
HERMAN SUCKOW.
Herman Suckow, a well-known resident of Ida township, Douglas county, was born in Germany on August 26, 1866, the son of Fred and Carolina Suckow, who were born in Germany and there were educated in the public schools, and there grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. Fred Suckow engaged in farming in his native country and was considered one of the successful farmers of the community in which he lived. He served two terms in the German army and became proficient in the manual of arms. In 1884 he and his wife decided to locate in America, and after landing in this country they proceeded directly to Wisconsin, where Mr. Suckow purchased a farm in Wakesha county, and there he engaged in farming for ten years, at the end of which time he and his family came to Minnesota. He purchased a comfortable house in Alexan- dria and now lives a retired life. Fred Suckow and wife are the parents of seven children, Anna, Theodore, Herman, Rudolph, Frank, Freda and Stena. Mr. Suckow always took an active part in local affairs and he and his family were prominent in the social and religious activities of the com- munity.
Herman Suckow received his education in the public schools of his native land and in Wisconsin, where he attended some schcol after coming to this country with his parents, at the age of eighteen years. After com- pleting his education, and on reaching manhood, he came to Minnesota and purchased ninety-five acres in section 25 of Ida township, Douglas county. The land at that time was for the most part in a wild state. This he developed and in time added to the original tract, until he is now the owner of two hundred and fifteen acres of land, one hundred and eighty acres of
HERMAN SUCKOW AND FAMILY, AND RESIDENCE.
393
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
which is subject to cultivation; seventy-five of which is now cleared, the balance in meadow, timber and pasture. The waters of Lake Carlos lap the border of the farm, adding much to the beauty of the place. During his early life on the farm, Mr. Suckow devoted much of his time to his trade, that of a carpenter, and in this way was enabled to add to his stock of cash while getting his farm in shape for cultivation. In 1915 he retired from his carpenter work and is now devoting his entire attention to his farm interests. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has met with much success. He has some fine Shorthorn and Durham cattle, most of which are dairy cattle. He keeps a few hogs which he feeds for the market. In addition to his hogs and cattle he keeps about seventy- five hives of bees, and sells much honey.
In 1894 Herman Suckow was married to Emma Quast, a native of Wisconsin, and to this union has been born one child, Eddie, who works in a garage at Alexandria. Mr. and Mrs. Suckow attend the Lutheran church and take much interest in church work, liberal subscribers to the support of the local church. Mr. Suckow has always taken much interest in local affairs, particularly in the success and development of the schools of the township, and for a number of years has served as treasurer of the school board.
ALFRED FOSLIEN.
Alfred Foslien, a successful and well-known farmer of Moe township, Douglas county, was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, September 19, 1875, the son of F. K. and Anna Mary ( Gilbertson) Foslien.
Knut and Anna ( Kittleson ) Foslien, the parents of F. K. Foslien, were natives of Norway and were there educated in the public schools and there grew to manhood and womanhood. Knut Foslien came to America in 1848 and located in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farm- ing and stock raising, and lived until the time of his death, many years ago. After the death of the husband and father, the widow came to Minnesota with her children and located in Brandon township, Douglas county, where she is still living. To Knut and Anna Foslien were born the following children, F. K., Rachel, Mary, Anna, Julia, Carrie, Charley and Ole.
F. K. Foslien was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, on September 3, 1850, and received his education in the public schools and at Clinton Junc-
394
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
tion. As a young man he worked on a farm and later conducted a photo- graph gallery at Clinton Junction. In 1876 he came to Minnesota and pur- chased a farm of one hundred and ninety acres in Moe township. The tract at that time was a wild prairie, a part of which was covered with thick brush. The place was later cleared and improved with good and sub- stantial buildings, and there Mr. Foslien has engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has since made that farm his home, although he is now retired from the active duties of farm life.
In 1874 F. K. Foslien was united in marriage to Mary Gilbertson, and to this union three children have been born, Alfred, Julia, and Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Foslien have long been members of the Lutheran church and have taken much interest in church work, Mr. Foslien having served as deacon for many years. In addition to his many other duties, he has always taken much interest in local affairs and was for years the clerk of the school board.
Alfred Foslien received his education in the public schools of Moe town- ship and later attended school at Brandon. He grew to manhood on the home farm and as a young man farmed with his father. In 1896 he started farming the place for himself, where he is now active and successful in gen- eral farming and stock raising. He has been, for the past twelve years interested in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, and today has a fine herd of thirty head. He also has a fine bunch of Yorkshire hogs. In connection with his other work, Mr. Foslien has for the past two years been the man- ager of the Farmers Shipping Association at Garfield.
In 1895 Alfred Foslien was united in marriage to Emma Larson, who died on March 24, 1905. To that union, six children were born, Freddie, Arthur, Clarence, Evelyn, Cora and Emma. In April, 1907, Mr. Foslien married Johanna Nessgaard, who died on March 11, 1914. To this union five children were born, Mildred, Florence, Henry, Arnold and Neoma. On October 12, 1915, Mr. Foslien was united in marriage to Lena Thompson, the daughter of J. Thompson, a prominent resident of the county. The children of Mr. Foslien are all living.
Alfred Foslien and family are active members of the Lutheran church, and are active in the social and religious life of the community. Mr. Fos- lien has always taken a keen interest in local affairs, and has served as a member of the township board of supervisors, of which he was chairman. He has been an insurance agent for the past eight years and is now the agent for the Moe and Urness Fire Insurance Company; also vice-president of the
395
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Farmers Elevator Company at Garfield. Mr. Foslien is widely known locally as a musician and has successfully taught music. In 1910 he organized the Scandia Concert Band of Moe and has also acted as instructor for the Brandon band, the Garfield band and the Moe and Urness band, rendering valuable service in that connection.
ERICK JOHNSON.
Erick Johnson, a well-known and successful farmer, of Ida township, Douglas county, was born in Sweden on March 7, 1858, son of John and Christina (Erickson) Johnson, also natives of Sweden, who remained resi- dents of their native country, engaged in farming, until 1879, when they came to Minnesota, John Johnson homesteading forty acres of land in Ida township, Douglas county. He also bought eighty acres of railroad land in that same township. The tract at that time was all undeveloped and unim- proved, being covered with some heavy timber and much brush. He built a small log house in which the family lived for some years. The land was later developed and improved, good and substantial buildings were erected and there John Johnson engaged in general farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1908, at the age of seventy-five years.
To John and Christina Johnson were born four sons, Erick, John (deceased), Charles and Axel. Charles Johnson is a well-known farmer of Ida township, his farm being located near that of his brother Erick, and Axel Johnson lives in Cass county, Minnesota, where he is successfully engaged in the saw-mill business. After the death of Christian Erickson Johnson, John Johnson was united in marriage to Hannah Louise Anderson. He and his family were prominent in the social and religious life of the township and were highly respected by all who knew them. Mr. Johnson's life was an active one and he was regarded as a man of much ability and force of character. He took an active interest in all local affairs and did much toward the development and improvement of the community in which he and his family lived.
Erick Johnson received his education in the public schools of his native country and remained a resident of the land of his birth until he was twenty-one years of age. On his arrival in the United States he located in South Dakota, where he remained for two years, engaged as a farm hand. He then came to Minnesota, where he lived with his parents, who
396
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
had located in Douglas county. He remained at home for some years and was employed in grading on the railroad for about ten years. He then engaged in farming in section 18 of Ida township, where he had bought eighty acres of land, which at that time was covered with timber and brush. There he built a small frame house and proceeded to clear and develop the tract. He remained there some years and then removed to Marshall county, this state where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and pur- chased eighty acres more. He remained there eight years, at the end of which time he sold the land and returned to Douglas county, again taking up his residence on his farm in Ida township, where he made valuable improvements, erected excellent buildings and there he has continued to reside, engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been successful. His farm is under a high state of cultivation and his residence is one of the best in the community.
Twenty-five years ago Erick Johnson was united in marriage to Hilma Mod and to this union the following children were born: Emily, Oscar, Edward. Carl and Alma, and Paul and Annie, deceased. Mrs. Hilma John- son died a number of years ago and Mr. Johnson later was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Ida Maria Anderson, a widow and the mother of four chil- dren, Alex, Fritz, Harold and Olga, by her first marriage.
Mr. Johnson is a Republican and has always taken an active interest in local affairs, ever ready to use his influence in the promotion of any project that would tend to the advancement of the township. He is a stockholder in the Garfield creamery and has done much toward its success. He and his wife are prominent members of the Mission church and take much interest in church work.
CONSTANT A. WESEN.
Constant A. Wesen, farmer of Holmes City township, Douglas county, was born in Pope county, Minnesota, December 23, 1872, a son of Claus and Anna (Oberg) Wesen, both natives of Sweden. The father was born in 1843, and when ut twenty-one years old, in 1864, he came to America, locating for a short time in Illinois, where he engaged in railroad construc- tion work. He helped survey for the Northern Pacific's main line through Minnesota. He was married after coming to America and he and his wife both cooked for the railroad workers. His first permanent location was
397
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
when he homesteaded forty acres in Holmes City township, Douglas county, later buying one hundred and twenty acres adjoining, which he finally sold. He now lives in North Dakota, having been retired for ten or twelve years. He took up a homestead there of one hundred and twenty acres. His family consisted of fourteen children, Minnie, Jennie, Charles, Constant, Theo, Adolph, Oscar, Edgar, Elmer, Emma, Anna, Victor, Louis and Albin, all of whom are living but the last nanied.
Constant A. Wesen grew up in Douglas county where he attended the common schools. He began farming for himself by renting land one year, then in 1901 he went to North Dakota, locating in what is now Renville county, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he spent six and one-half years. He added to his original holdings until he owned two hundred and forty acres. He returned to Douglas county in 1907, soon thereafter buying his present farm of seventy-five acres in Holmes City township, to which he later added twenty acres, and here he has since resided, carrying on general farming and stock raising.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.