USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 44
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 44
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the United States he devoted a considerable part of his time to the work of the order and many of the lodges in the country owe their existence to his careful work and assistance. He has traveled over the greater part of the United States giving lectures on the good of the order and has received much praise and favorable comment on the excellence of his work.
In addition to his shop and his home, Mr. Wolf is the owner of thirty acres of land one mile northwest of Holmes City. He takes much interest in agricultural pursuits, and is well read on plant and animal industry. He is an extensive reader on nearly every subject and has a fine library, in which he takes much pleasure and delight. He is a believer in doing well that which is to be done and has the reputation of being one of the very best workmen in this section of the country. His life has been an active one and he has accomplished much that is good, not only for himself, but for his fellow man. He is kind and affectionate, takes pleasure in disseminating cheerfulness and happiness wherever he goes, and is held in the highest regard by all for his generous spirit and manly traits of character.
In 1889, Oscar F. Wolf was united in marriage to Charlotta Johnson, a native of Sweden and the daughter of Jonas Johnson, a well-known man in his community. To this union eight children have been born, Lilian, Ethel, Hilda, Herbert, Julia, Alice, Rudolph and Eva, all of whom are living. The family are active members of the Lutheran church and take much interest in church work. Mr. Wolf has always taken a keen interest in local civic affairs, having been justice of the peace for the past twenty years, and has served as clerk of the school board of his town.
THEO RINGDAHL.
Theo Ringdahl of Holmes City township, Douglas county, has suc- ceeded as a general farmer because he has been willing to work hard and patiently wait for results. He was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, February 24. 1885. He is a son of N. O. and Minnie (Paulson) Ringdahl, both natives of Sweden, from which country they came to the United States while single and were married in Goodhue county, this state, where they made their home until the year 1900, when they came to Douglas county. The father purchased one hundred and twenty acres here which he developed and on which his widow still resides, his death having occurred in 1910. To these parents three children were born, L. J., Theckla and Theodore.
(29a)
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Theodore, or "Theo," Ringdahl, as he is familiarly known, grew up on the homestead where he worked hard during his boyhood, assisting his father with the crops, and in the winter time he attended the district schools in Goodhue county. He accompanied the family to Douglas county in 1900 and has resided on the home place ever since, purchasing the same in 1913. He has kept it well improved and under a high state of culti- vation and has been successful as a general farmer.
Mr. Ringdahl was married in 1912 to Effie Elvira Kron, a daughter of Victor Kron and wife, of Holmes City township, Douglas county. After a brief married life she was called from earthly scenes on January 7, 1916, while young in years. To Mr. and Mrs. Ringdahl two children were born, Arley Theodore and Oren Kenneth.
Mr. Ringdahl was reared in the Lutheran faith. His mother is a member of the Oscar Lake Lutheran church, to which his father also belonged. Politically, he is a Republican.
LAURITZ SYVERSON.
Lauritz Syverson, a successful and well-known farmer of Moe town- ship, Douglas county, was born in that township on July 16, 1867, the son of Syvert and Martha (Christianson) Olson, who were born in Norway, he on January 1, 1831, and she, December 4, 1832. They were married in June, 1855, and continued to live in the land of their birth for four years after their marriage, or until 1859, when they decided to come to America. On their arrival in this country they proceeded to Wisconsin, where they lived for four years. They then came to Minnesota and located in Goodhue county, where they resided for four years. In 1867 Syvert Olson came to Douglas county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 10 of Moe township. He there erected a log house, in which the family lived for ten years. The land was gradually developed and improved and there Mr. Olson engaged in general farming and stock raising and be- came successful, in time becoming the owner of more than six hundred acres of fine land, all of which was developed and improved. When he first located on the farm it was necessary to market the products of the farm at St. Cloud, a week being required to make the trip. In addition to his farm duties, Mr. Olson for two years was associated with Hans Peterson in the buying of wheat and other grains at Garfield.
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To Syvert and Martha Olson were born the following children: Car- oline, Ole, Peter, Olena, Lauritz, Sophia, Taulo and Nellie. Mr. and Mrs. Olson were long active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and were prominent in church work, Mr. Olson for many years being one of the trustees of the local society in Moe township. He took much interest in local affairs and did much for the township and the county of his adoption. His death occurred on August 4. 1903, thus ending a good and useful life.
Lauritz Syverson received his education in the public schools of Moe township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad he as- sisted his father with the work on the farm. Early in life he decided that he would be a farmer and as a young man engaged in that work for hin- self. He owns one hundred and sixty acres located in sections 10 and 23, Moe township. This farm he has developed and improved, having erected all the buildings. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he is successful. He is interested in Shorthorn cattle and is develop- ing a fine herd.
In 1894, Lauritz Syverson was united in marriage to Anna Levang, and to this union two children have been born. Mabel and Harvey. The family are members of the Moe township Norwegian Lutheran church, of which Mr. Syverson has acted as trustee. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs and for fifteen years he was township clerk. In 1916 he was elected a member of the board of township supervisors and is now serving the public in that capacity.
WILLIAM J. CRABB.
William J. Crabb, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Carlos township. Douglas county, was born in Michigan on March 12, 1876, the son of John C. and Eliza Jane ( Stephen ) Crabb.
John C. Crabb was born in Cornwall, England, on September ber 7. 1847, and died on July 24. 1915. On coming to America as a young man, he worked in the state of New York and in Pennsylvania. During the last few years that he was in Pennsylvania, he worked in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. He later left that state and located in Keweenaw county, Michigan, and there he was united in marriage to Eliza Jane Stephen. It was while the family were residing there that the son William J. was born. After some years of residence in that county, John C. Crabb and wife came
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to Minnesota and located in Douglas county. After a residence here of a few years the family removed to Ouray, Colorado, where they remained but a few years and then returned to Douglas county, and located in Belle River township. There Mr. Crabb purchased land and engaged in general farming and stock raising and was successful. As a young man he had devoted much of his life to mining, and was considered an expert in that line. He and his wife were the parents of three children, William J., Mary Jane and Steven. Jane Crabb married James Walker of Douglas county.
William J. Crabb received his education in the public schools, and after reaching manhood engaged in farming. He is unmarried and has rented from his uncle, John Rosemergy, the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has operated for the past two years. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has been most successful. He deals in Durham cattle and mixed grade of hogs. His father having died in 1915, his widowed mother is living with him. Mr. Crabb is progressive and believes in the modern methods of conducting a farm. He is a believer in intensive farming and in the thorough cultivation of the soil and has demonstrated the value of that means of operating the modern farm.
HENRY HANSON.
Henry Hanson, one of the well-known and prominent farmers of Moe township, Douglas county, was born on the old Hanson homestead in that township, on December 29, 1870, the son of Hans and Syverine Peterson, also natives of Norway, where they received their education in the public schools and where they grew to manhood and womanhood. Hans Peterson remained a resident of the land of his nativity until he was eighteen years of age, when he came to the United States, settling in LaCrosse county, Wis- consin, where he engaged in farming for a number of years. In 1867 he came Minnesota and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Moe township. Douglas county, a tract of land in the wild state and difficult of cultivation. The family suffered many of the hardships of pioneer life, but with a firm determination they succeeded and in time had one of the best farms in the township, Mr. Peterson becoming the owner of two hun- dred acres of excellent land, all of which he put under cultivation and im- proved by the erection of substantial buildings, and there he and his wife spent their last days.
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Hans and Syverine Peterson were the parents of five children, Peter, Mary, Martha, Henry and Hannah. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were active members of the Lutheran church and took much interest in church work. Their family have long been prominent in the social and religious life of the community, and are held in the highest regard by all. Mr. Peterson also took much interest in the civic affairs of the township and ever gave of his time and ability to advance the interests of the county.
Henry Hanson received his education in the public schools of Moe township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a young man he engaged in farming with his father. In 1897 he went to the Pacific coast, where he remained for one year. On his return to Douglas county he again engaged in farming and in 1901 began farming for himself. being now the owner of one hundred and twenty-seven acres of land, on which he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has done much in the way of development on the farm and has placed all the present sub- stantial buildings on the same.
Henry Hanson was united in marriage to Mary Salveson, the daughter of Ole Salveson, a prominent resident of the county, and to this union four children have been born, Harold, Glenville. Luella and William. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson are active members of the Lutheran church, and have always taken much interest in church work, Mr. Hanson having served for three years as trustee of the local society in Moe township. He has also taken much interest in the schools of the township and has served on the school board for a number of years.
ANTON HOLING.
Anton Holing, one of the well-known young farmers of Brandon town- ship, Douglas county, was born on the old Holing homestead in that town- ship, on February 28, 1883. the son of Haagen and Anna (Lillemoe) Holing.
Haagen Holing was a native of Norway and there received his education in the public schools. He continued to reside in his native land until he was twenty-two years of age, when he came to the United States, proceeding directly to Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand for several years, at the end of which time he came to Minnesota, locating at Minneapolis, where he was engaged in a lumber yard until he came to Douglas county. Here
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he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 33 of Bran- don township, where he continued to live until the time of his death on February 8, 1907, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife died on January 9 of that same year, at the age of sixty-five years. They were the parents of six children, Martin, Bertine, Nettie, Hannah, Anton, and John.
At the time Haagen Holing settled on his homestead, the same was a practical wilderness and the nearest neighborhood was four miles away. There were still many Indians in the country and they gave the settlers much bother. A log cabin was erected, in which the family resided for many years. The land was broken with oxen, their only team for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Holing were active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and were prominent in church work, Mr. Holing having been one of the organizers of the local society at Brandon. Mr. Holing also took much interest in local affairs, and much to do with the development of the town- ship and for thirty-five years was the township treasurer. His keen inter- est in the success of the schools made him a pioneer in the organization and perfection of the schools of the community and for many years he was a member of the school board. He assisted in the organization of the Farmer's Elevator Company at Brandon and had much to do with its future success. He was successful as a farmer and stock raiser and at the time of his death was the owner of four hundred acres.
Anton Holing received his education in the public schools of the town- ship, at Augsberg Seminary, Minneapolis, and at the business college at Fergus Falls. Upon completing his schooling he returned to the old home- stead, where he has since lived. On June 26, 1909. he was united in mar- riage to Gina Knudson, and to this union three children have been born, Alta, Vernon and Arnold. In 1915, Mr. Holing took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the Berthold reservation, North Dakota, and now has it all under cultivation, in 1916, having had one hundred acres of flax growing on the place. He also formerly owned three hundred and twenty acres of land in Montana, which he sold in 1913. He is now managing two hundred and forty acres of his father's estate.
Mr. and Mrs. Holing are active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Brandon township and take much interest in church work. Mr. Holing has been assessor of his township for two years and has served as treasurer of the school board. He is a stockholder in the local creamery, as well as in the Farmers and Merchants Union Elevator Company, in the Farmers Bank at Brandon and in the Peoples Bank at St. Paul.
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PETER M. ENGLUND.
Peter M. Englund, a well-known and successful farmer of LaGrand township, Douglas county, was born at Gummarskog, Wermland, Sweden, on May 28, 1865, the son of Magnus and Bertha (Svendson) Nelson, also natives of that country, who were married there and continued to live in their native land until 1882, when they came to Minnesota and for a time located in Minneapolis, but soon came over to Douglas county, where the father homesteaded in LaGrand township, on the farm now the residence of . Hans Erickson. In 1869 Mangus Nelson had come to the United States and at that time homesteaded in Moe township but did not prove up on the claim before returning to Sweden, where he had left his family, but in 1882, when he returned to America with his family, he came to stay. In LaGrand township he had eighty acres of land, which he developed and improved, and there he died in 1889. His widow survived until 1902. They were the parents of five children, Nils, Andrew, Marie, Peter and Ole. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were for many years members of the Lutheran church and took much interest in church work. Mrs. Nelson later united with the Swedish Baptist church and was a member of that denomination at the time of her death. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were held in high regard by all who knew them, and they made many stanch friends in the neigh- borhood in which they lived.
Peter M. Englund received the greater part of his education in the public schools of his native land and in the church schools and was con- firmed before the family came to the United States. After coming to Douglas county, he attended school one hundred and ten days in the schools of LaGrand township. He was seventeen years of age when he came with his parents to this country and he did much to assist his father with the work of clearing and breaking the land on the home farm. As a young man he engaged in farming and has followed that occupation all his life. At the time he engaged in farming for himself he obtained the farm of one hundred and ten acres where he now lives, and there he has developd on of the best farms in the township, having improved the place with excel- lent buildings. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising.
On December 29. 1891, Peter M. Englund was united in marriage to Christiania Johnson, who was born in Sweden, the daughter of Johanas and Stina (Nelson) Johnson, both of whom died in Sweden. To this union have been born the following children, David, Samuel, Joseph, Arvid, Victoria,
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Gideon, Ruben, Amanda, John, and Richard, all of whom are living. Vic- toria Englund won the prize at the county oral spelling contest and repre- sented the county in the state contest. Mr. and Mrs. Englund were always active members of the Swedish Baptist church. Mrs. Englund died on Janu- ary 31, 19II, after a useful and active life, and her death was mourned by all who knew her.
Mr. Englund has always taken a keen interest in local civic affairs, and for eighteen years served as a member of the school board, one year as township treasurer, two years as justice of the peace and for seven- teen years as township clerk, which latter position he is still holding. Being a man of good judgment and wide experience, he has had much to do with the growth and the development of the township. He has always been interested in the success of the schools and has done much to further the cause of education in his community.
CLAUS PETERSON.
Claus Peterson, a hard-working farmer of Ida township, Douglas county, was born in Sweden, March 4, 1863. He is a son of Emmanuel and Mary (Valine) Peterson, who were born, reared and married in Sweden, from which country they came to America in 1882, landing in New York and proceeding directly to Minnesota, locating on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres two miles east of Garfield, in Douglas county. Emmanuel Peter- son sold his thirty-acre farm in Sweden when he left there, receiving the sum of fourteen thousand dollars for it. Having plenty of capital when he arrived in Douglas county, he soon became well established and was a sub- stantial and influential citizen. His death occurred there in 1892, at the age of sixty-five years. His widow survived him many years, dying in 1911, at the age of seventy-eight years. They were parents of six children, Claus, Charles, Betsy, Hilda (deceased), Anna and Ida. Emmanuel Peterson served in a number of local township and church offices, and was known as a man of fine character.
Claus Peterson spent his boyhood in Sweden where he was educated in the common schools. He was married in 1892 to Josephine Sylverson, whose death occurred on May 21, 1893. To that union one child was born, Edwin Peterson, who married Maud Roach and has one child, Fern. Edwin Peter- son lives in the village of Garfield, where he operates a livery barn.
CLAU'S PETERSON.
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Claus Peterson bought his present farm in Ida township thirty years ago. It contained one hundred and forty-eight acres, on which he has made all improvements and has been carrying on general farming and stock rais- ing successfully. He makes a specialty of raising Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He is a stockholder in the elevator at Garfield, also in the creamery there. Politically, he is a Republican and has served on the village board for some time.
C. H. LARSON.
C. H. Larson, president of the Nelson State Bank and a prominent and well-known farmer of Alexandria township, Douglas county, was born in Sweden on April 30, 1864, the son of Gustave and Carolina Sophia (Larson) Larson.
The maternal grandparents of C. H. Larson were Johanas and Christina Larson, who came to America in November, 1868, and came directly to Min- nesota, where they homesteaded in Alexandria township, Douglas county, on a farm just adjoining the present home farm of C. H. Larson, and there they spent the rest of their lives, their deaths occurring some years ago.
Gustave P. and Carolina Sophia Larson received their education in the schools of their native land, where they grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. In 1868 they decided to locate in America, where they hoped to make a home for themselves and family. They came to Minnesota and the next year the father homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, where the son, C. H. Larson, now lives, and it was there that he made his home until his death in 1873. His widow died some years later, at Dazey, North Dakota, where she was making her home with a daugh- ter. To Mr. and Mrs. Larson were born the following children, C. H., Amanda S., Constant and Augustus. After the death of Gustave Larson, Mrs. Larson married Charles Anderson and to that union were born two children, A. E. and Adolph J.
C. H. Larson received his education in the public schools and was reared on the home farm, where as a lad he assisted with the farm work and where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Alexandria, where he was employed as a clerk in a store, after which he engaged in the shoe business for one year. He then moved to Garfield, where he conducted a general store for two years and was postmaster. In
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1894 he disposed of his business at Garfield and established a general store at Nelson. There he erected two large business rooms in which he conducted his business until August 7, 1913, when he returned to the old homestead of his father and there he now resides. For the past ten years Mr. Larson has been extensively engaged in the real-estate business and has been quite successful. He is now president of the Nelson State Bank, which he helped to organize and establish.
In 1887 C. H. Larson was united in marriage to Ida C. Peterson, who was born in Sweden, the daughter of A. P. Peterson, who came to Minnesota about 1868 and settled at Benwood and later at Alexandria. To this union the following children have been born: Hector (deceased), Edna, Hugo (deceased), Elmer V., Grace O., Herman R., Edith S., Reuben M. (deceased), Wallace and Donald M. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church, are prominent in the social and religious activities of the community and are held in high esteem by all who know them. Mr. Larson has always taken a keen interest in the development of the community in which he lives and has had much to do with its develop- ment. Being a man of broad views and sound judgment his advice and influence are of much value.
AARON ANDERSON.
Another young farmer of Belle River township, Douglas county, who has made an excellent start in his chosen vocation is Aaron Anderson. He was born in the above-named township and county on May 2, 1880, a son of John and Christine Anderson, both natives of Sweden, in which county they spent their earlier years. The father came to the New World in 1848, before his marriage, and located in Minnesota, where he worked out as a farm hand for some time. When the Civil War came on he enlisted in the Fourth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in which he saw considerable hard service at the front. After the war he returned to Minnesota and located in Carver county, moving thence, in 1868, to Douglas county, where he took up a homestead of a quarter section in Belle River township, thus being among the early pioneers of Douglas county. He is still living on that place, which is one of the choice farms of the township. During his residence here of forty-eight years he has noted great changes in the country and has played well his part in develop-
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ing the same. He has gradually improved his farm from time to time and has been successful as a general farmer. His family consisted of the following children : Emma, Albert ( deceased ), Walter. Hannah, Aaron and Victor ( deceased).
Aaron Anderson grew up on the homestead farm, where he worked during the crop seasons, when he became of proper age, and during the winters he attended the district schools of Belle River township. He has remained on the home place, which he purchased a few years ago, although his father still lives at the family home. General farming is carried on and special attention given to stock raising, large numbers of Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs being raised annually. Both father and son are stockholders in the Belle River creamery. The son is unmarried. Politi- cally. he and his father are Republicans. The family affiliate with the Lutheran church.
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