USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 41
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 41
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Mr. Erickson was married on March 6, 1876, to Borgil Tvete, a native of Norway, and a daughter of Ole and Margaret Tvete, natives of Norway, where they lived and died. Mr. Tvete was a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Erickson : Marie, who is the wife of Axel Eckeberg, of Moorhead, Minnesota; Alice, the wife of Frank Stish, of Alexandria; John Theodore, who died in 1900, and Martha Olive, the wife of' Andrew Haselton, who lives on the home place, which he is operating successfully. He has kept it well improved and has put up a modern dwelling and a large barn. He and his wife have one child, Hubert Haselton.
Mr. Erickson was a Republican. He belonged to the Lutheran church. His wife died on January 9, 1910, and he passed away on November 6, 1906. .
HON. NELS E. NELSON.
Hon. Nels E. Nelson, former register of deeds of Douglas county, former representative in the Legislature and one of the well-known and substantial farmers of LaGrand township, Douglas county, was born in the laen of Wermland, Sweden, July 26, 1858, the son of Elof and Kari (Johnson) Nelson, both natives of that country, who received their edu- cation in their native land and were there married. After their marriage they continued to live in the land of their birth until 1870, when they decided to seek a home in America. During that year Elof Nelson left for the new land, leaving his wife and children at home. On his arrival here he spent a summer in Wisconsin, after which he came to Minnesota and home- steaded eighty acres in LaGrand township, Douglas county. That was in 1871 and his wife and children joined him that same year. On that farm
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Elof Nelson and his wife continued to live until the time of their deaths, lie having died twenty years ago and she in 1903. The tract at the time Elof Nelson homesteaded was a wild prairie, yet in time he made it one of the ideal farms of the township. There were no improvements at that time with the exception of a log hut, which was soon replaced by a more sub- stantial building. There he engaged in general farming and stock raising and became one of the substantial citizens of the county. He assisted in the organization of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which he and his wife were active workers.
To Elof and Kari Nelson were born the following children: Nels E .. Jens. Emil, Mary, Peter, Magnus, Otto, Edward and William Jens. Mary and Edward are now deceased. Before his marriage to Kari Johnson, Elof Nelson was married to Breta Johnson, who died, leaving one child. Lars Nelson, who came to America ten years after his father, and settled in Polk county, Minnesota, where he is a successful farmer.
Nels E. Nelson received his education in the schools of his native land and in Douglas township, where he came with his parents in 1871. As a lad and young man he assisted his father with the work on the farm and early in life became impressed with the dignity of the farmer's life. He soon engaged in farming for himself and obtained a farm of one hundred and eighty-two acres, in LaGrand township, where he has lived for the past thirty-two years. There he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising and is today recognized as one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of the county. He believes in intensive farming and in the most thorough cultivation of the soil. He has a highly produc- tive farm, which is well improved with modern and substantial buildings.
In addition to his many personal affairs, Mr. Nelson has always taken an active and prominent part in the civic affairs of the community. In 1887 lie was elected register of deeds of Douglas county, which position he held for twenty-two years. He organized the Home City Mutual Fire Insurance Company in January, 1884. and was its first secretary and for the past four years has been the president of the organization. In 1912 he was elected a member of the 1913 session of the state Legislature. as a repre- sentative from his district. which he represented with distinction and credit.
In 1881 Nels E. Nelson was united in marriage to Christine Johnson. who died after the birth of her one child. Don Nelson. In 1885 Mr. Nelson married Marie Jolinson and to that union the following children were born : Alfred. Ida C., John E., and Edna C. After the death of Marie Nelson, Mr. Nelson, in 1904. was united in marriage to Christine Peterson and to
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this union one child has been born, Dorris C. Mr. Nelson has long been held in high regard by the people of his county, who have the utmost confi- dence in his ability and integrity. He has always respected this demon- stration of their confidence and respect and during his long career in pub- lic office always exerted his best ability in behalf of their welfare.
ANDREW SANGSTEAD.
Andrew Sangstead, deceased, was born in Sweden, where he was edu- cated in the public schools and where he grew to manhood. As a lad he assisted his father in the blacksmith shop and later learned the trade. For a number of years he worked at his trade in his native country and became an expert workman. He was ambitious to succeed and felt that the oppor- tunities were better in America for the young man. After having decided to leave the land of his birth, he set sail for his new home and after having landed in the United States went direct to Michigan, where he worked for a time at his trade in Muskegon. On leaving Muskegon, he came to Minnesota and located in Douglas county. He built a blacksmith shop on the state road, one mile east of where Garfield now stands. This shop was one of the first in the county and Mr. Sanstead, being a good smith, had plenty of work to do. After some years this shop burned and Mr. Sanstead removed his location to Garfield, where he built another shop, where he engaged in his work as a blacksmith for many years and was quite successful. He had much faith in the future success of the county and invested in many acres of land, much of which has been sold. The family now own one hundred and thirty-five acres of the original holdings of the father. This farm is now being managed by the sons, Edwin and Elmer, who are engaged in general farming and stock raising. They are pro- gressive and successful in their work and are recognized as among the promi- nent and well-known farmers of the township.
Andrew Sanstead was united in marriage to Mata Stegerman, a native of Germany, who came to Minnesota with her parents, they being among the early and well-known settlers of the county of Otter Tail, the father of Mrs. Sanstead being recognized as one of the prominent and suc- cessful farmers of his community. He took much interest in the civic life of the township and the county and was active in all worthy undertakings that had a tendency to advance the best interests of the community. He and
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his wife were active in the social and religious life of the township and were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them.
Andrew and Mata Sanstead were the parents of four children, Alta, Minnie, Edwin and Elmer, all of whom were educated and grew to man- hood and womanhood in Douglas county. Alta became the wife of Oscar Johnson, a prominent farmer of near Ashby, Minnesota. They are the parents of two children, Evelyn and Roy. Minnie lives with her mother and brothers.
MARVIN DANIEL RUSSELL.
Marvin Daniel Russell, one of the successful and well-known young farmers of Ida township, Douglas county, was born in that township on June 10, 1889, the son of Daniel and Martha Jane (Stewart) Russell.
Daniel Russell came to Douglas county as a young man and was mar- ried in the county. He first bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 17 of Ida township and later purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 19. The land at that time was all wild and required much work to make it one of the ideal farms of the township. Mr. Russell at once began the task of developing the place, but he worked with much difficulty during the first few years, as he had only oxen to do the work. Yet in a few years he began to prosper and became one of the successful farmers of that territory, engaging in general farming and stock raising there until the time of his death in 1898. After some years on the farm, the widow of Daniel Russell retired from the activities of farm life and moved to Alexandria, where she now resides. Daniel and Martha Jane Russell were the parents of four children, Della Priscilla, Benjamin Sylvester, Cora and Marvin Daniel, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of the latter.
Marvin Daniel Russell received his education in the schools of Ida township and remained on the home farm until he was fourteen years of age, when he began working as a farm hand and was thus engaged for five years. In the fall of the year he was nineteen years of age, he began farming for himself on the home place, since which time he has continued to operate the place. There on the farm of two hundred acres, a part of which is owned by his mother, Mr. Russell is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has been quite successful. He has a fine herd of Short- horn cattle and some fine Poland China hogs. Mr. Russell is progressive
T
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in his methods and believes in intensive farming and in the keeping of the best of stock. He is recognized as one of the successful and prominent farmers of the community.
On November 2, 1914, Marvin Daniel Russell was united in marriage to Elsie Johnson, a resident of Douglas county. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are active members of the Swedish Lutheran church and take an interest in church work. Mr. Russell has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has ever been ready to assist in any worthy undertaking that would tend to promote the interests of the township and the community. He is a stockholder in the Garfield creamery and has done much to promote its interests.
THOR JORGEN THORSON.
Thor Jorgen Thorson, one of the successful and well-known farmers of Moe township, Douglas county, was born in Norway on March 19, 1860, the son of Thor and Mary ( Nelsdatter) Erickson, also natives of Norway, where they continued to live until 1861, in which year they decided to locate in America. On their arrival in the United States they came direct to Minneapolis and settled in Olmsted county, where the father engaged in farming and the development of his farm. He did not live to enjoy his new home in a new land. After his death the widow came to Douglas county, bringing with her the five children. She became the wife of John Arne- son, who had homesteaded in Moe township in 1867. It was on this home- stead, that Mrs. Arneson continued to live until the time of her death on August 8, 1916, at the age of ninety-three years. She had made many friends during her long residence in the county, and her death was mourned by all.
Thor Jorgen Thorson received the greater part of his education in the public schools of Moe township, where he has lived since 1867. After com- pleting his schooling he engaged in farming and is today the owner of one hundred and seventy acres of excellent land, all of which is under cultivation and well improved. He has lived on his present farm for the past twenty-six years and has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. Most of the buildings on the place have been erected by him and he also has made other valuable and substantial improvements. .
Thor Jorgen Thorson was united in marriage in 1890 to Ragneld Alena Helgeson, also a native of Norway, who came to Douglas county in 1883 1
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with her parents. To this union the following children have been born : Thea Matilda, Robert Clarence, Nora Alphea, Julia Olive, Henry Albert, Minnie Catherine (deceased), Theo Rudolph, Lillie Florence (deceased ), Peter Edwin, Alice Mary, Lawrence Francis and Marion Clifford. Mr. and Mrs. Thorson are active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take much interest in church work, Mr. Thorson having served as trustee of the church for several years. The West Moe church, of which they are members, was assisted in its early organization by the family of Mr. Thorson.
Thor Jorgen Thorson is one of a family of five children, the others being Erick, Nels A. (deceased), Martin Gurena and Gunel Torena. The family has always been prominent in the local community and active in the social and civic life of the township, a family believing in the general develop- ment and improvement of the county and favoring the best of schools.
LARS E. LEE.
Among the many Norwegian farmers who have made a success of their chosen vocation in Minnesota is Lars E. Lee a well-known and substantial citizen of Ida township, who was born in Norway, January 23, 1868, the son of Even and Maria (Larson) Lee, who are mentioned else- where in this work.
Lars E. Lee was brought to Minnesota by his parents at the age of four. He received his educational training in the public schools of Ida township, Douglas county, where his parents were early pioneer farmers. He and his brother, August, assisted their father greatly in the development and improvement of the home farm in the early days. He lived with his father until his marriage in 1895 and for some time afterward, assisting with the work and also working on neighboring farms. He later bought forty acres of land from his brother, August, which had formerly belonged to the old homestead farm. This place had a small house on it and Mr. Lee started at once to improve and develop his place. He gradually added to his land holdings until he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, all of which at one time belonged to his father. He has made many and various improvements on his land and in 1913 erected a new, two-story frame house. He has about seventy-five acres under plow, the remainder of his land being meadow, pasture and timber land. He
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carries on a general system of farming and stock raising and feeds all of the grain raised on his place to live stock, with the exception of his wheat. He has a fine herd of cattle and hogs on the farm.
In June, 1895, Lars E. Lee was married to Martha Monson, who is also a native of Norway, and who came to the United States with her mother and brother when she was fifteen years of age. The family lived in Grant county, Minnesota, for some time, and Mrs. Lee's mother now lives in Glenwood, Minnesota, while her brother, John, is a resident of Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are the parents of eight children, Eddie, Marie, Florence, Herbert, Emory, Lawrence, Evelyn and Leonard, the last-named being now deceased.
Mr. Lee is a Republican and has served as treasurer of the school board of district No. 68. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Alexandria.
SCOTT BUNDY.
Scott Bundy, a well-known and successful farmer of Carlos township, Douglas county, was born in the state of New York on February 27, 1853, the son of Granville and Catherine Jane (Simons) Bundy.
Ephraim and Lucy (Shepard) Bundy, the paternal grandparents of Scott Bundy, were natives of the state of New York, where the grandfather was a well-known farmer. A brother of the grandfather was a noted rafts- man on the Susquehanna river. The great-grandfather, Peter Bundy, emi- grated from Old Salem, Massachusetts, to Otsego county, New York, mak- ing the journey with a team of oxen in an early day. That part of the state of New York at that time was considered far west and it required a journey of nearly three weeks from Massachusetts. Otsego county at that time was known as the "Promised Land," and there Peter Bundy settled about 1790. He was of that sturdy stock, who, with ox teams and on foot, braved the hardships and the dangers of the forests, to make for themselves and their posterity homes in the new land. Leaving his home, in the state of his nativity, in the dead of winter, with his wife and five small children, he made the journey with a team of oxen and a wood-shod sled. They brought their all, which consisted of part of a barrel of pork, some flour and some little bedding. The brine on the pork was later boiled down in order to save the salt. The little party moved slowly, much of the way having to
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RESIDENCE OF SCOTT BUNDY.
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cut through the timber and the brush, the oxen feeding on the brown leaves of the trees. On their arrival a log house was erected, twenty by thirty feet, with slab roof and greased paper for the windows. The widow of Peter Bundy stated many years later that the only thing the family had to eat at times was maple sugar.
Amid the primitive surroundings in Otsego county, New York, Gran- ville Bundy was born in 1817, and there he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. He married Catherine Jane Simons and to that union five children were born, Francelia, Scott, Estella, Dalton and Howard. Fran- celia died in 1916 at the age of sixty-six years. Estella lives in Binghamton, New York: Dalton and Howard live at Delphi, New York.
Scott Bundy received his education in the public schools of the state of New York, at the Hartwick Seminary and at the Gilbertville Seminary. He was married on June 29, 1879, to Julia Kelehan, and to this union six children were born, Catherine Lnella, Howard G., Clarence W., Francis M., LeRoy and Floy Viola. Julia Kelehan Bundy died on May 25, 1901, at the age of forty-one years, and on February 14, 1906, Scott Bundy was married to Marie Foss of Granite Falls, Minnesota.
Scott Bundy remained a resident of his native state and county until 1876, when he came to Minnesota, and located in Yellow Medicine county, where he purchased a farm in Minnesota Falls township. There he had eighty acres of land and engaged in general farming for twenty-six years. He was married in Yellow Medicine county in 1900. He moved to Doug- las county and purchased one hundred and forty-eight acres of land in Carlos township, which he has developed and improved, and there he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful. He and his wife are active members of the Baptist church and take much interest in religious work. Fraternally, Mr. Bundy is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Politically, Mr. Bundy is a Republican and has always taken an active interest in local affairs. He has served as village assessor, as a member of the board of supervisors and as clerk of the town, and has been justice of the peace for fourteen years. He has always taken much interest in his farming and is especially interested in his Holstein cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He is recognized as a successful farmer and a high class stock man. Mr. Bundy was the original owner of the site on which the town of Carlos now stands.
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CHRISTOPHER B. HANSON.
Christopher B. Hanson, a successful and well-known farmer, of Moe township, Douglas county, was born in Norway on August 3, 1870, the son of Hans and Pernelia (Christopherson) Olson, also natives of Nor- way, who spent their lives there, dying when the son, Christopher B., was but nine years of age. The father was a farmer and fisherman. Chris- topher B. Hanson was the youngest of seven children, the others being Christian C., Thea, Ole, Peter, Karen and Larcena.
Christopher B. Hanson received his education in the public schools of his native land and lived in that country until he was eighteen years of age, as a lad and young man engaging in farming and fishing, as had his father before him. In 1888 he decided to seek a home in America, where so many of his countrymen had settled. The accounts of the opportunities for the young and industrious man gave him the desire to make for himself a home in the United States. On his arrival in this country he came directly to Minnesota, and located in Urness township, Douglas county, where he joined his brother, Peter, who had settled in township some years before, and for a number of years after locating in the county, Christopher Hanson worked at the carpenter trade with his brother, continuing in that work until 1896. All members of the family have an interest in the farm, where they are successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. The place has been thoroughly developed and excellent buildings have been erected, the farm being known as one of the best in the community.
In 1896 Christopher Hanson was united in marriage to Hilda Olson, who was born on the farm that adjoins their present home, the daughter of Sven Olson, and to this union nine children have been born, Harold S., Hjalmer, Walter, Victor, Ruben, Hannah, Alfred, Elsie and Muriel. The family are active in the work of the Lutheran church, where Mr. Hanson was for twenty-two years organist. Mr. Hanson has taken much interest in the civic life of the township and was for a number of years a member of the board of township supervisors. As a public official he took much interest in the general development of the township, and was a strong advo- cate of good roads and good schools. He and his family are prominent in the social life of the community and are held in high regard by all.
Sven Olsen, father of Mrs. Hanson, was born in Sweden in 1833, the son of Ole and Stena Shegeby, both of whom were born and died in Sweden. The father was a farmer, the owner of a considerable farm, and was recog-
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nized as successful in his chosen work. Ole Shegeby was the father of three children by his first wife, of whom Sven was one. He was also the father of several children by a second marriage.
Sven Olson received his education in the schools of Sweden and there grew to manhood. He came to the United States before the Civil War and at the outbreak of that conflict enlisted in Company I, Twenty-second Regi- ment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. After having seen much active service, he was wounded in battle and taken to a hospital, where he remained until the close of the war. Upon receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Wisconsin, where he married Hannah Williams, a native of Drobach, Norway, who came to Wisconsin in 1867, to join a brother. Mr. and Mrs. Olson were married in 1868 and the next spring they came to Minnesota and later purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Douglas county. He later added one hundred and sixty acres to his farm, this being the present home of his daughter, Mrs. Christopher B. Hanson.
Mr. and Mrs. Olson were the parents of two children, Mrs. Hanson having a sister, Matilda S., now the wife of Anton Hauglie. The family were active members of the Lutheran church, Mr. Olson being one of the founders of the local society in Moe township and for many years one of the prominent workers in that organization. He was a man of much influence and did much for the growth and the development of the town- ship and the county, he being recognized as a man of sound judgment and ability. He was always a strong advocate of general progress, the build- ing of good roads and the establishment of good schools.
KNUT OBERG.
There is no more painstaking tiller of the soil in Brandon township, Douglas county, than Knut Oberg, who was born in Sweden, December 10, 1858. He is a son of Leonard and Mary (Oberg) Ossrink, both natives of Sweden, where they spent their entire lives, the father engaging in mercantile pursuits in the town of Gefle. They had three children, Leonard, Jerda and Knut, the last-named of whom was the only one of the family to come to America, which was in the year 1883, when he was twenty-five years old. He had married in Sweden and came to join the family of Andrew Erick- son, his wife's sister's people, who were among the early settlers of Brandon township, Douglas county. The wife of Mr. Oberg, who was known in her
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maidenhood as Anna Peterson, was born on October 10, 1855, in Sweden, a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Anderson) Erickson, who lived and died in Sweden. They had two children older than Mrs. Oberg, Sarah and Johan- nah. Peter Erickson was twice married, his second wife being Marie Gerf- bert, and to them one son was born, Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Oberg were married in Sweden on April 7, 1890. To them six children have been born, namely: Knut, who married Nettie Kossen and lives in Canada; Matilda'; Mary; Helmer, who married Sarah Shaw and lives in Canada; Jerold, who is attending school in Minneapolis, and Elsie, the youngest.
Mr. Oberg worked out after coming to Douglas county, at first receiv- ing only fifty cents a day. He finally bought sixty acres in section 14 of Brandon township, where he still lives. He owns an interest in the Brandon creamery. Politically, he is a Republican. He and his wife are Lutherans in their religious belief.
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