USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 43
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 43
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
Algort T. Nelson received his education in the public schools of Douglas county, where he grew to manhood on the home farm and assisted with the farm work and in the clearing and development of the home place. In 1904 he was united in marriage to Martha Johnson, daughter of John M. and Breta (Anderson) Johnson, natives of Sweden, who came to Minnesota in 1891, locating in that portion of LaGrand township, Douglas county, that is now Lake Mary township, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have no children of their own, but have one adopted child, Archie, and an-
+39
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
other, Elmer Matson, whom they are rearing. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are active members of the Lutheran church at Alexandria and take much interest in church work.
Mrs. Johnson, before her marriage to Mr. Johnson, was the widow of Carl Anderson, who died some years after their marriage. They were the parents of three children, Daniel Anderson, Eda Berglin and Charles An- derson. By John M. Johnson she is the mother of nine children, Andrew P., Christina, Inga, Hannah, John, Mary, Martha, Otto and Oscar.
Algort T. Nelson has always taken a keen interest in the local affairs and has been active in the general development and growth of the community in which he lives. He has long been recognized as a careful and systematic farmer and stock raiser and has been successful. He and his wife are held in high esteem in the community in which they live and where they take much interest in social and religious activities.
FREDERICK BRUESKE.
Another farmer of Ida township, Douglas county, who hails from the old Badger state is Frederick Brueske, who was born in Dodge county, Wis- consin, on October 10, 1864. He is a son of Frederick and Celestena (Cos- sen) Brueske, mention of whom is made in the sketch of Emil Brueske, ap- pearing on another page of this work.
Frederick Brueske was reared on the farm where he worked when a boy and he received a common-school education. He was married on No- vember 16, 1885, to Bertha Schulz, a sister of the wife of Emil Brueske. To Frederick Brueske and wife the following children have been born: George, Clara, Emma, Elsie, Ulrika, Freda, Hertha, Ellis and Edwin.
Frederick Brueske has always followed farming. He owns one hun- dred and sixty acres, a part of the old homestead, on which the buildings stand. He erected a new dwelling in 1905 and a new barn in 1915. He has kept the place well improved and under fine cultivation and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He also owns an interest in the Leaf Valley creamery, also in the elevator and potato warehouse at Garfield. He served as a member of the school board in his district for a period of twelve years. He belongs to the German Lutheran church at Leaf Valley and is interested in church and public affairs, and is one of the en- terprising and public-spirited citizens of Ida township, where the name Brueske has long been well and favorably known.
440
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
H. B. HOBART.
Of the younger and well-known successful farmers of Carlos township, Douglas county, few are better known than is H. B. Hobart, who was born in Murray county, Minnesota, on July 18, 1884, the son of Hiley F. and Etta (Taylor) Hobart.
Neri Taylor, the maternal grandfather, lived his early life in the state of New York, where he was engaged in farming and as a blacksmith. He later came to Minnesota, where he homesteaded in Murray county and engaged in general farming for many years. Hiley F. Hobart was born in the state of New York, where he spent his early manhood. He later located in Nebraska, after which he came to Minnesota, where he engaged in farm- ing in Douglas county. For the past two years he has been living at Keller- ton, Iowa.
H. B. Hobart was the only child in the family and received his educa- tion in the schools of Murray county. After having graduated from the high school he engaged in teaching in his home county and later in Otter Tail county and then in North Dakota. On June 9, 1909, he was united in marriage to Pearl Gilmore, the daughter of M. S. Gilmore. To this union two children have been born, Gordon and Grant.
Soon after marriage, H. B. Hobart purchased one hundred and four- teen acres of land in sections 34 and 35 of Carlos township. This was in 1909 and he has since made his home there. The buildings were on the place at the time he made the purchase, yet he has made many other sub- stantial and valuable improvements that have added to the beauty as well as to the value of the place. He and his wife are active and influential mem- bers of the Methodist church and have always taken much interest in relig- ious affairs. They are prominent in the social life of the community and are held in the highest regard by all who know them. Mr. Hobart is much interested in the educational development of the township and the county. and his.efforts have ever been to assist in placing the schools on a higher plane, an advocate of all improvement possible in the present excellent system. For some years he has been treasurer of his home school district.
H. A. Hobart is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful. He is progressive and believes in the keeping of the best that can be had. Mrs. Hobart has taken much pride in her chickens, and has won several prizes at the local fairs, and also at St. Paul and Minneapolis, and Fargo, North Dakota and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hobart is at present devoting much time and attention
MR. AND MRS. I. B. HOBART.
441
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
to his high-class Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mrs. Hobart also has some fine specimens of the bronze turkeys, some of which won for her the first prize at the Minneapolis poultry show. One of her chickens, a cock, won first prize at the fair at Fargo, North Dakota.
Mr. Hobart is a man of much ability and has devoted much of his time to the interests of the township. He is a firm believer in all public improve- ments that have tendency toward making the county better and greater. Mrs. Hobart is achieving noted success with her poultry and the reputation of her stock extends beyond the limits of the state.
LARS THORSON.
Lars Thorson, a successful farmer and a prominent citizen of Moe township, Douglas county, was born in Norway on October 1, 1849, the son of Thor and Ingeborg ( Larson ) Larson, also natives of Norway, where they received their education and were married. For many years after their marriage, they continued to live in the land of their birth. In 1866 they sailed for the United States and after their arrival in this country they located in Rock county, Wisconsin, where they resided for eight years, after which they came to Minnesota and purchased land in Moe township, Douglas county, and there they lived and engaged in farming until the time of their deaths, some years ago. They were active members of the Lutheran church at Brandon and took much interest in religions work. They were the par- ents of three children, Lars, Knute and Martin, all of whom are living.
Lars Thorson received his education in the schools of his native land and was there confirmed in the Lutheran church. He attended some school in Wisconsin, where he located with his parents. After his parents left Wisconsin, he continued to live there for a year and then came to Douglas county, where he has since resided. For the past forty years he has lived on his present farmi of one hundred and sixty acres, in Moe township. which he has developed and improved and has long been recognized as a successful farmer and stock raiser. His farm is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He believes in intensive farming and in the keeping of the best of stock.
In 1879 Lars Thorson was united in marriage to Anna Stuberg, a native of Norway and the daughter of Peter Stuberg and wife. who came to America when the daughter, Anna, was but four years of age. The
442
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
family later canie to Minnesota in 1875 and settled in Douglas coun- ty, where Mr. Stuberg died in 1914, at the age of eighty-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Thorson have been born the following children. Theodore, Alfred, Carl, Louisa, Dena, Selma, Martin, Minnie, Lorenz, Arthur, Oscar, Agnes and Lilian. The children are all living, with the exception of Alfred, and all live in the neighborhood of the old home in Douglas county, with the exception of Theodore, who lives in California.
Lars Thorson and family are active members of the Lutheran church and take an active part in church work. Mr. Thorson and his father were among the organizers of the local church at Brandon, known as the Luthe- ran Free church. In addition to his activities in church work, Mr. Thorson has always taken a keen interest in the civic life of the township. He assisted in the organization of the school district and was for thirty-four years clerk of the same, much of the success of the school in that district being due to his untiring efforts to make it among the best.
At the time Lars Thorson purchased his present farm there was only a dug-out on the place. The farm today is under a high state of cultiva- tion and well improved. He is engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing and has been quite successful. Mr. Thorson is recognized as a farmer of ability, a man of the highest integrity and possessed of sound judgment. His life has been an active one and he has won for himself the confidence and esteem of a host of friends and admirers.
OTTO WILHELM NELSON.
Otto Wilhelm Nelson, a prominent resident of La Grand township, Douglas county, was born on the farm where he now lives on April 13, 1873. the son of Elof and Karin ( Johnson ) Nelson, natives of Sweden, who were married in their native land, after which they decided to seek a home in the United States. In 1870 Elof Nelson came to this country for the purpose of seeking a location before bringing his wife to the strange land. On his arrival he remained one summer in Wisconsin. He then came to Minnesota, homesteading eighty acres in La Grand township, Douglas county, where his wife joined him the same year, and there they continued to live for a number of years before his death, some twenty years ago. The widow died on the home farm in 1903.
Elof Nelson was a man of much business ability and an excellent
443
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
farmer and stockman. Coming to his homestead at a time when it was all wild and unimproved, he by hard work succeeded in making it one of the most desirable farms in the township. The log hut that was on the place at the time he came here, was in time replaced by a more modern and sub- stantial building. He erected other farm buildings as well as making many substantial and valuable improvements on the place. He became successful and soon purchased another tract of land, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. He became one of the prominent men of the township and took an active interest in local affairs. He assisted in the organization of the Swedish Lutheran church and was one of the active workers of that denomination. For a number of years he was a member of the board of supervisors of the township and had much to do with the development of that commonwealth. He always took much interest in the success of the schools and the betterment of the public highways.
To Elof and Kari Nelson were born the following children: Nels E., Jens, Emil, Carrie, Peter J., John E., Magnus, Otto W., and Edward. Jens, Carrie and Edward are now deceased, Carrie having died in infancy. Be- fore his marriage to Kari Johnson, Elof Nelson was united in marriage to Breta Johnson and to that union one child was born, Lars Nelson, who came to America some ten years after his father and settled in Polk county, Minnesota, where he is a successful farmer. Breta Nelson died at her home in Sweden some years before the marriage of Elof and Kari Nelson.
Otto Wilhelm Nelson received his education in the schools of Douglas county and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad and young man he assisted his father with the farm work. His home has always been on the old homestead, which he now owns and which he has increased to two hundred and forty acres, all of which is under cultivation and well im- proved: There he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful.
In 1901 Otto Wilhelm Nelson was united in marriage to Ingeborg Unumb, a native of Douglas county, the daughter of Peter and Olivia ( Han- gard) Unumb, natives of the kingdom of Norway, who came to the United States in 1866, locating in Madison, Wisconsin, where they resided until 1869, when they, with their family, came to Minnesota, where the father homesteaded a tract in Moe township, Douglas county, which he later con- verted into an excellent farm, soon coming to be recognized as a good farm- er and one of the substantial citizens of the county. He and his wife re- mained on the home farm until the time of their deaths, which occurred in
444
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
1913 and 1915, respectively. They were the parents of six children, E. O., Peter O., C. B., Oscar, Bertha and Ingeborg.
To Otto Wilhelm Nelson and wife have been born five children, Arch- ibald, Clarence, Rudolph, Marion and Robert, all of whom are living. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and take an active interest in church work. Mr. Nelson has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has served as township chairman and as treasurer for many years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Alexandria.
JULIUS LARSON.
Julius Larson, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Brandon township, Douglas county, was born in Norway, on February 13, 1862, the son of Lars and Johannah (Johnson) Olson, also natives of Norway, who died in that country many years ago, when the son, Julius Larson, was but a small boy. The father was a farmer and he and his wife were active mem- bers of the Lutheran church, and took much interest in religious work. They were prominent in the social circles of their home community and were held in the highest esteem and regard by all who knew them. They were the parents of the following children : Magnus, Ole, Johannus, Berget, Johannah, Martin (deceased), Julius and Lottie (deceased).
Julius Larson received his education in the public schools of Norway and there grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-two, in 1884, he decided that he would seek a home in America. Upon his arrival in New York City he came direct to Minnesota and located in Brandon township, Douglas county, where he worked by the day for some years, and also worked on the Great Northern railroad. In time he purchased one hundred and thirty-one acres in sections 8 and 17, Brandon township, to which he later added one hundred and sixty-nine acres in section 17. A part of the land had been developed, but Mr. Larson has placed the substantial buildings on the place, building the barn, thirty-two by ninety feet, in 1908. The house he built in 1913, on his Stone Lake farm, which borders the lake on the north and the west. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful.
Julius Larson was united in marriage to Mattie Augdahl, the daughter of Frederick and Olivia (Christopherson) Augdahl, natives of Norway, who were married in that country and in 1872 came to Minnesota, locating
445
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Brandon township, Douglas county, which they developed and improved and later added eighty acres. There the father lived until the time of his death on August 30, 1901, at the age of sixty-eight years. The mother is living on the home farm, with her son, Carl O. Augdahl, at the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of two children, Mrs. Larson and her brother, Carl O.
To Mr. and Mrs. Julius Larson four children have been born, Olga, who married Arthur Johnson, of Minneapolis, and Lewis, Myrtle and Leon. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and have long been prominent in the social life of the community. Mr. Lar- son has taken much interest in local affairs and has for some years been a member of the school board. He is a public-spirited man and believes in the substantial development of the township and the county.
MARTIN DAHLBERG.
Belle River township, Douglas county, can boast of a large number of scientific tillers of the soil, among whom is Martin Dahlberg. who was born in Gefleborgs, Sweden, December 9, 1861. He is a son of Peter and Eliza- beth (Swenson) Dahlberg, natives of Sweden, where they spent their lives. They lived on a farm, where they died many years ago. They had but two children, Catherine and Martin.
Martin Dahlberg grew to manhood in Sweden, assisting his father with the work on the farm, and attended the common schools. He immigrated to Canada in 1889, landing at Quebec, but he came on to Minnesota, where he purchased eighty acres in Stearns county, which he later sold and in 1899 moved to Douglas county, where he has since resided. He first located in section 32 of Belle River township, on eighty acres, where he lived until 1907, when he sold out and purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and on which he carries on mixed farming. He is also a stockholder in the Nelson creamery.
Mr. Dahlberg was married in Sweden to Johanna Erickson, a native of that country, and to their union five children have been born, Edwin, Andrew, Albin, Agnes and Ellen, all unmarried. Mr. Dahlberg is a Repub- lican and has served on the school board in district No. 40. He belongs to the Swedish Lutheran church at Osakis.
446
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
HON. HENRY L. LEWIS.
A well-known and highly respected citizen of Douglas county, among the farming element, is the Hon. Henry L. Lewis, of Holmes City township, former representative in the Legislature from this district. He was born in Sweden, August 20, 1845, a son of Peter and Carrie Lewis, natives of Sweden, where they established their home and where the mother died when Henry L. Lewis was young. The father brought his children to America in 1857, locating on a farm near McGregory, Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life, dying there many years ago. To the above-named parents six child- ren were born, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely: Martha, Carrie, Henry L., Peter, Anna, and Samuel. The father married again, and had two children, Christena and John, by his last wife.
Henry L. Lewis spent his boyhood in Sweden, being twelve years old when his father brought him to Iowa. He assisted with the work on the farm in that state and attended the public schools. When eighteen years old he enlisted, December 18, 1863, in Company I, Twenty-seventh Regi- ment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and saw considerable service during the Civil War. He participated in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, and also in several fights in Louisiana. He also participated in battles in Mis- sissippi, including the Battle of Tupolo; also in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, and Mobile. A cousin of his, H. Lewis, was killed while a member of the same company. He was honorably discharged on January 2, 1866, and remained for a while thereafter in Alabama, engaged in reconstruction work. After his discharge he returned to McGregor, Iowa, but in April, 1866, came to Minnesota, "squatting" on land in Holmes City township, Douglas county, which he later homesteaded-about one mile south of where he now lives, the place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. Selling out he bought the place he now occupies in 1868 and has lived there practi- cally ever since. He is one of the pioneers of his township and has taken an active part in the development of his locality. In the early days he did a great deal of teaming between here and St. Cloud and between the latter town and Ottertail City. His present farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres. It was all timber land when he took possession. He cleared and developed it, and increased his acreage to an aggregate of two hundred and forty-eight, which he retained until early in 1916, when he sold off a portion of his land. He cleared and improved an original quarter section, erected good buildings and has been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
447
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
He is now living retired from active work, one of the substantial men of the township.
In 1872 Henry L. Lewis was married to Christine Falen, who was born in Sweden, from which country she came to America in 1867, making her home with her brother in Holmes City township. Her father died in Sweden, and her mother later came to America. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, namely: Albert, who has traveled extensively as a construction engineer ; Christine, who is at home; Hattie, who is at home, and Oscar, who is operating the home place, and in connection with general farming, is a breeder of Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs.
Mr. Lewis is a member of George F. Reynolds Post No. 51, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is a Republican and has been active and influential in his party for many years, doing much for its success in this part of the state. He has served in a number of minor local offices, such as township supervisor, township treasurer and school director. He was elected twice as representative to the Legislature, first, in 1884, and second, in 1893, making a miost praiseworthy record each term. On January 7, 1873, Mr. Lewis traveled to Morris with a load of wheat and encountered a severe storm, in which a number of people who were exposed perished. He finally reached his destination after enduring severe hardships.
FREDRICK KLUG.
Germany has not sent as many of her sons to Douglas county as Sweden, Norway and possibly Denmark, but those who, have come here have been enterprising and have profited by the move from their native land. One of this number is Fredrick Klug, a farmer of Ida township. He was born in Germany, August 25, 1841, and is a son of Fredrick Klug and wife, natives of that country, where the father was for some time in the regular army. He removed to Wisconsin with his family where he engaged in farming. His children were Charles, Albertine, Fredrick, Fred- erica, Wilhimena, Anna and Gustav.
Fredrick Klug was about seven years old when his parents brought him to America. He received his education in the common schools of Watertown, Wisconsin. About thirty years ago he came to Minnesota, and has been engaged in general farming in Douglas county ever since, owning a good farm in Ida township, which place was wild land when he took
448
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
possession of it. He has made all the improvements on the same, includ- ing an excellent set of buildings, including a new dwelling. He has worked hard and has succeeded.
Mr. Klug was married in 1870 to Bertha Kronfeldt, a native of Ger- many, and a daughter of Karl and Albertina (Kickhafer) Kronfeldt, and to their union twelve children have been born, namely: Anna, Christiana, Louise, Adelia, Henry, Alexius, Frederick, Robert, Martin, Antone, Bertel and Walter. Mr. Klug belongs to the German Lutheran church.
OSCAR F. WOLF.
Oscar F. Wolf, a well-known and successful blacksmith, of Holmes City, was born in Sweden on November 25, 1862, the son of Svante and Carolina (Olson) Wolf, natives of Sweden, who spent all their lives in their native land. They were educated in the public schools and became well known in the industrial and social circles of their home community. The father was a soldier in the Swedish army for twenty-five years, after which he received an honorable discharge. During the winter months, while not in active military service, he engaged in carpenter work and in the building of wagons, and was recognized as a successful workman in his line. He and his wife were the parents of five children, Charles, John, Theo, Oscar F. and one who died young.
Oscar F. Wolf received his education in the common schools of his native land and there grew to manhood. As a young man he learned the trade of a blacksmith, at which he worked in his home country. In 1882 he came to America and located in Trenton, New Jersey, where he worked at his trade in a large factory. He remained there for a year and then, in 1883, came to Minnesota, locating at St. Paul, where he worked in one shop for ten years. In 1893 he moved to Holmes City, where he purchased the only shop that was then there. He later erected a new shop, where he has continued to carry on his trade. He has a substantial home in the village, where he resides.
Oscar F. Wolf is a man of exceptional ability, a good organizer and a successful leader. In 1891 he made a trip to Scotland, where he obtained a charter for the Independent Order of Good Templars for this country. It was necessary for him to visit the I. N. S. P. lodge and there meet the grand officers, in order to obtain the charter which he sought. On his return to
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.