USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 49
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 49
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Reared on the home farm in Sweden, E. J. Newman received his school- ing in the schools of his native land and in 1880, he then being twenty-four years of age, came to the United States and proceeded on out to Minnesota, locating at Stillwater, where for five years he worked in the pineries and in saw-mills during the winters and on farms during the summers and in 1885 came on out to this part of the state and bought a quarter of a section of railroad land in section 23 of Lien township. Grant county. Employing neighbors to break the land for him, he returned to Stillwater, but the next year returned to Grant county to take possession of his farm and has ever since resided there. In partnership with Mr. Okstrom he bought an addi- tional "eighty" and the two farmed the place together until Mr. Newman's marriage three years later, in 1889, when a division occurred, Mr. Newman retaining the original tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which he since has improved in excellent shape, he for many years having been regarded as one of the leading farmers in that part of the country. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has
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done very well. He also has given considerable attention to general local business affairs and has served as a member of the board of directors of the Barrett co-operative creamery, as president of the local telephone company and as president of the Farmers' Shipping Association. In his political affiliations, Mr. Newman is a Republican and has served as supervisor of his home township, was for twenty years treasurer of the township, school direc- tor and clerk of the board for twenty-five years, two years superintendent of roads for Lien township and in the campaign of 1916 was nominee of his party in his district for a place on the board of county commissioners.
It was in 1889 that E. J. Newman was united in marriage to Emma Asplund, who also was born in Sweden, daughter of John P. Asplund and wife, early settlers in the neighboring county of Traverse, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Lily, formerly a teacher in the public schools of Grant county, who married Gus H. Gustavson and is now the owner and operator of the roller mills at Barrett; David, who is at home, and Alice, a teacher in the public schools, also at home. The Newmans have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the various social activities of the community in which they live.
ANDREW I. HAUGEN.
Andrew I. Haugen, one of the best-known and most substantial farm- ers of Grant county, assessor of Elbow Lake township, member of the board of directors of the Wendell State Bank, a stockholder in the Farmers' Ele- vator Company at Wendell and in two such concerns at Elbow Lake, former clerk of his home township and for many years one of the most active factors in the civic and industrial life of his community, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was ten years old and has been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development of this section of the state since pioneer days. He was born at Sigdal, Nor- way, July 20, 1859, son of Iver and Ingeborg Haugen, natives of that same section, who came to the United States with their family in 1869, crossing in a sailing vessel that was six weeks in making the passage. Upon landing on the shores of this country the Haugens proceeded directly to Minnesota and settled in Houston county, where they remained until 1872, in which year they came over to this part of the state and settled in Grant county. During the year previous, in 1871, the eldest son, Halvor, had come over here and had pre-empted in behalf of his father a tract of one hundred and
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sixty acres in section 10 of Elbow Lake township and upon the family's arrival the next year a home was established there, the same being the place now occupied by Andrew I. Haugen. Upon settling on his homestead tract Iver Haugen, assisted by his sons, erected a log house and constructed a sod shanty for a stable, the same occupying the sites now occupied by the present comfortable farm house and modern barn on the Haugen farm, and in the home thus established Iver Haugen and his wife spent their last days, hon- ored and respected pioneers of that community. They were members of the Synod Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Halvor, the Grant county pioneer, who pre-empted the old Haugen homestead in 1871 and who died when he was about fifty years of age; Klemet, a merchant of Decorah, Iowa; Joran, who married Ole O. Canestorp and lives at Elbow Lake; Bertha, who married Andrew Soliah and lives over the line in Aastad township in the neighboring county of Otter Tail, and Anna, who married Ole C. Johnson and died on a farm near Wendell.
Andrew I. Haugen was but ten years of age when he came to the United States with his parents in 1869 and was about thirteen years old when the family moved from Houston county to Grant county, his schooling there- fore being acquired in the schools of his native land and in the schools of the two Minnesota counties above mentioned, though the schools of Elbow Lake township in his school days were primitive affairs, indeed. it not being until some little time after the Haugens had settled there that well established school districts were organized in the township. Mr. Haugen remained on the home farm, a valued assistant to his father in the development of the same, and in 1886 bought the farm and has ever since made it his place of abode. In 1895 he built a new frame house, and has since added to and remodeled the same, making it a very pleasant and comfortable residence. Soon after he bought the farm he built his present ample barn and the other improvements on the place are in keeping, the farm being looked upon as one of the best-improved places in the neighborhood. In addition to his general farming Mr. Haugen has given considerable attention to the breed- ing of high-grade live stock. He also has given his close personal attention to local business affairs, was one of the organizers of the Wendell State Bank, of the board of directors of which he is a member, and is a stock- holder in the Co-operative Creamery Company at Wendell, in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Wendell and in two such concerns at Elbow Lake. Mr. Haugen is a Republican and for many years has served in some public capacity or another in behalf of his home township, having been former
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township clerk, former township treasurer and for the past six years assessor of Elbow Lake township, while in other ways he has given unselfishly of his services in behalf of the advancement of the common good in his community.
On June 20, 1889, Andrew I. Haugen was united in marriage to Berit Rustand, a sister of Ole Rustand, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and to this union seven children have been born, namely: Iver, who is at home; Albert, a physician, at present an interne in the Cook County Hospital at Chicago; Hilda and Mabel, teachers in the public schools of Grant county, and Elmer, Cora and Joseph, at home. The Haugens are members of the Synod Lutheran church and take a warm inter- est in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good works of the community in which they live.
WILLIAM W. NIEMACKL.
William W. Niemackl, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Macsville township, Grant county, was born in Germany on October 19, 1855, the son of Engelbert and Francesco Niemackl, both of whom were born in Germany, where they received their education in the public schools and were married. There the father was engaged in farming and there. the family continued to live until 1863, when they came to the United States, locating in Calumet county, Wisconsin, and there engaging in farming until August, 1872, when they came to Minnesota, settling in Grant county. Here the father purchased one hundred and eighty-five acres of land from Francis Longe, a French half-breed, and also homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section 34 of Macsville township. He also bought the farm in section 33, where his son, William W. Niemackl, now lives, and where the father lived until the time of his death in 1886, at the age of fifty-six years. The widow died in 1892 at the age of sixty-two years and eleven months. They were the parents of three children, William W., An- thony and Engelbert. Anthony died in 1901 at the age of forty-three years and Engelbert is a resident of Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Niemackl were prominent in the social and the religious life of the community and Mr. Nie- mackl took much interest in the civic life of the township, and became one of the substantial and influential citizens. He was an advocate of substan- tial public improvements and did much for the growth and the development of the township.
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William W. Niemackl received his education in the public schools of Wisconsin and remained a resident of that state until 1872, when he came to Grant county with his parents. Here he assisted his father in the work of clearing and developing the farm. In 1883 and 1884 he was the manager of the Van Dusen elevator at Herman, and after that time he returned to the farm, where he has devoted his energies to general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful. He is now the owner of eight hundred and eighty acres of good land that adjoins the old home- stead. This he has developed and improved, having erected excellent build- ings and in other ways made the farm one of the most attractive in the township. Mr. Niemackl has always taken an active interest in local af- fairs and is one of the prominent men of the township. He is now a mem- ber of the board of supervisors, a member of the school board, township clerk and assessor, devoting the same careful attention to his duties as a public official that he does to his own individual interests. He is pro- gressive in his views and believes in the highest class of public improve- ments. He takes much interest in the success of the schools of the district and has exerted every effort to bring them up to their present high stand- ard, he fully realizing that the future of the district to a great extent de- pends upon the training the youth of the present generation receive.
In 1887 William W. Niemackl was united in marriage to Mary Hand- schug, who was born in Germany on December 23, 1870, the daughter of William and Florentiana Handschug, who were also born in that country. The parents came to Minnesota in 1882 and located in Grant county, where William Handschug became a prosperous and well-known farmer and stock raiser. He died on September 18, 1911. His widow is still living on the old home farm, at the age of eighty years.
To William and Mary Niemackl have been born the following chil- dren : Frances, William, Mary, Bertha, Englebert, Florence, Alice, Carl. Katherine and Joseph Donald, all of whom are living and at home, with the exception of William, who is in Minneapolis, where he is successfully en- gaged in the automobile business. Mr. and Mrs. Niemackl are members of the Lutheran church and take an active interest in church work. They have long been prominent in the social life of the community and are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them. They have a beau- tiful farm home, with every modern convenience; the buildings are substan- tial and surrounded with beautiful groves and the fields are under a high state of cultivation, the farm and surroundings being among the most de- sirable in the county.
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CLEMENT H. BRONSON.
Clement H. Bronson, editor and proprietor of the Osakis Review, was born in Charles City, Iowa, October 26, 1871, a son of the Rev S. M. and Anna (Nicholson) Bronson. On his father's side he is descended from a family of that name who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary War. On his mother's side his lineage runs back and is connected with the Pennsylvania-Dutch colony.
The Rev. S. M. Bronson was born in New York state in 1817, and was there reared and educated. In early life he determined to prepare him- self to become a minister of the gospel, and applied himself to such studies as would qualify him for that profession. In due time he completed his preparatory studies and was licensed to preach by the conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, the denomination to which he belonged. For several years he was a member of the northern Iowa conference of that denomination and his ministerial labors were within the bounds of that con- ference. In 1877 he came to Minnesota and took a charge in Alexandria, leaving his family for about two years in his former home in Iowa. Later he brought his family to this place, and afterwards removed to Evansville, Minnesota, where he continued to live until his death, which occurred in 1887.
The Rev. S. M. Bronson and Anna Nicholson, of Pennsylvania, were married in 1835. She died at her home in Evansville, Minnesota, in 1907. She was the mother of six children: William N., Nellie M. (deceased), Stella, Gertrude, Rollin and Clement H.
Clement H. Bronson was educated in the public schools of Alexandria, Dassel and Evansville, Minnesota, where his father was stationed at various times. In 1889 he was a student in the high school at Evansville and left school to take a position as a job printer in an office at St. Paul, Minnesota, and held that position for about a year and a half. For about one year afterward he was employed in the office of the Grant County Farmer, at Ashby, and in 1892 he went to Osakis, and bought the plant of the Osakis Review, a newspaper founded there in 1889 by A. L. Heikes, and has con- tinued as editor and publisher of this paper since that time. He has added to the mechanical equipment of the office and now has an up-to-date news- paper plant, with facilities for the various kinds of work required in a mod- ern print shop. Mr. Bronson is now the dean of the newspaper fraternity in Douglas county, having been engaged in continuous newspaper publication
CLEMENT H. BRONSON.
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longer than any other man in the county. In addition to his newspaper work Mr. Bronson is extensively engaged in the real-estate and insurance business and has large investments in farm lands.
In 1895 Clement H. Bronson was united in marriage to Mabel J. Stevens, a daughter of W. H. and Mary L. Stevens, of Osakis, and to this union three children have been born: Carol Gladys, born on June 4, 1896, who is now a student in music and liberal arts in St. Benedict's academy at St. Joseph, Minnesota : Agnes Lucile, February 24, 1899, and Helen Louise, May 8, 1902.
The Osakis Review is a Republican paper, reflecting the sentiments of its editor and publisher, who is an ardent advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and actively identified with all his party's affairs. He has served as village recorder, was for four years justice of the peace and was a member of the school board for six years. He served as postmaster of Osakis for eight years, having been first appointed to that office by President Roosevelt, and re-appointed by President Taft.
Mr. Bronson is a member of Osakis Lodge No. 180, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has taken the eighteenth degree in the Minneapolis consistory. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America at Osakis. As a citizen Mr. Bronson is held in high esteem. He is an intelligent, public spirited, all-around "booster" for the town and community, and is actively interested in every movement for the promotion of the general business of the community and of the welfare of the people. He is the present president of the Osakis Commercial Club and has done much to increase the activities of that admirable organization.
KNUT O. FJOSLIEN.
Knut O. Fjoslien, one of the largest landowners and most substantial and progressive farmers of Pomme de Terre township, Grant county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this country since he was twenty-one years of age. He was born in the stift of Christi- ania on March 27, 1861, son of Ole Siverson and Sigrid ( Haakonsdatter ) Fjoslien, both natives of Norway, the former born on November 13, 1810, and the latter some years later, and both of whom spent all their lives in their native land. Ole S. Fjoslien was a farmer and landowner and he and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this
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sketch was the ninth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Haakon, born on September 19, 1844, who is still living in Norway; Aase, December 15, 1845, married and also lives in Norway; Gunil, August 23, 1847, a widow, living in Norway; Halvor, October 22, 1849, who died in his native land in 1916; Joran, December 28, 1851, a widow, living in Norway; Erik, April 11, 1854, who also continues to make his home in his native land; Ole, March 6, 1857, who lives at Pelican Rapids, this state; Gunder, January 8, 1859, who lives in Norway; Bergit, November 6, 1863, who lives in Norway, and Christopher, March 15, 1867, who also continues to make his home in his native land.
Knut O. Fjoslien grew to manhood on the home farm in Norway and received his education in the schools of his home neighborhood. In 1882, he then being twenty-one years of age, he came to the United States and settled on Jefferson prairie, in southern Wisconsin, about eight miles east of Beloit, where he worked on a farm for a year, at the end of which time, in 1883, he came over into Minnesota and settled in Grant county. During the first year of his residence in this part of the state, Mr. Fjoslien bought a tract of eighty acres of land in section 30 of Pomme de Terre township as an investment, but for four years thereafter continued working as a farm hand during the summers and during the winters as a blacksmith at Aastad. He then moved onto his farm in Pomme de Terre township and after his marriage in 1891 established his home there, in the meantime having bought an additional "eighty," and there he continued to live for about eleven years. In 1900 Mr. Fjoslien bought a farm of three hundred and sixty acres in section 19 of that same township and moved over to that farm, where he and his family have ever since made their home and where they are very pleasantly and comfortably situated. In 1903 he erected a fine, new two- story brick house on the place and in the following year put up a modern barn on the place. As he prospered in his farming operations, Mr. Fjoslien bought additional land until now he is the owner of eight hundred and forty acres of land all in one piece, besides various strips of land here and there elsewhere in the county, and has long been recognized as one of the leading farmers in the community. In addition to developing his landed interests in excellent shape, Mr. Fjoslien has given considerable attention to other forms of business and has served as president of the Viking Telephone Com- pany, as a director of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Elbow Lake and as a director of the Bank of Elbow Lake. He is independent in his political persuasion and for some years has served as a school director in his local district.
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On July 14, 1891, Knut O. Fjoslien was united in marriage to Tina Thorson, who was born in the neighboring county of Otter Tail, daughter of Andrew Thorson and wife, early settlers of that county, and to this union . ten children have been born, all of whom are living save Sigrid, the seventh in order of birth, and another, the eighth in order of birth, who died in infancy, the others being Ole, owner of a garage in North Dakota, and Sigrid, Andrew, Aase, Haakon, Henry, Sigurd and Christy Torella, who are at home. The Fjosliens are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Aastad and take a warm interest in the general good works of their home community.
MARTIN LARSON WICK.
Martin Larson Wick, a well-known and well-to-do retired pioneer farmer of Grant county, proprietor of an excellent farm in Lien township, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has lived in this country since 1869 and was a homesteader in Grant county as early as 1871. He was born on a farm in Norway on July 24, 1842, son of Lars Ingebrigtson and Andrea (Anderson) Wick, natives of that same country, both of whom spent all their lives in their native land. Lars I. Wick was a considerable landowner . and he and his family were quite well circumstanced. His wife died in 1886, at the age of seventy years, and he survived until 1897. being ninety- five years of age at the time of his death. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follows: Margaret, who married Kolden Anderson and died years ago in her native land; Peter, a school teacher, who also died in Norway; Caroline, who married Anders Jergenson and upon his death mar- ried Ove C. Brevig and is still living in Norway; Anton, a farmer in Nor- way, and Ellen, who died in infancy.
Reared on the home farm, Martin L. Wick grew to manhood there, receiving his schooling in the local schools, and upon attaining manhood was for some years engaged in fishing. In 1869 he came to the United States and proceeding on out to Minnesota settled in Goodhue county, where he remained four years, working on farms. In the meantime, in 1871, he came out to this part of the state, homesteaded a quarter of a section in section 2 of Lien township, Grant county, and proved up on the same. During the time he was proving his claim Mr. Wick constructed a dug-out on his place. planted a grove and did considerable in the way of breaking the virgin soil.
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He started farming with an ox-team and gradually brought his place under cultivation, planted more trees and soon became recognized as one of the leading farmers of that part of the county. In 1878 he erected a small frame house and in 1902 built his present comfortable and commodious residence. Some years later he practically retired from the active labors of the farm, giving the place over to the management of his son-in-law, Sivert Shervey, who has since been in charge, at the same time operating his own place of eighty acres nearby.
In 1874 Martin L. Wick was united in marriage to Kari Larson Berge, who was born in Norway on February 9, 1833, daughter of Lars and Mar- tha ( Toskedal) Berge, natives of that same country, who spent all their lives in their native land, and to this union was born one daughter, Lena, born on December 19, 1874, who married Sivert Shervey, also a native of Norway, and a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this vol- ume, and has seven children, J. Martin, Caroline, Selmar, William, Adolph, Agnes and Lillian. Mr. and Mrs. Wick are members of the Synod Lutheran church, and for many years have been active and earnest supporters of the same. Mr. Wick is a Republican and gives proper attention to local civic affairs, but has never been a seeker after office.
OLE HANSON. .
Ole Hanson, one of the best-known and most substantial retired farm- ers of Grant county, now living very pleasantly situated in the city of Elbow Lake, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of this country ever since he was twenty-one years of age. He was born on October 14, 1846, son of Hans and Mary (Olson) Olson, natives of Norway, and grew up to the carpenter's trade in his home country. In the spring of 1868, in company with his mother, his brother, Gunder, and his two sisters, Dorothy and Mary, he came to the United States, the father and another sister, Betsy, remained on the other side until a new home could be estab- lished in this country.
The mother and her two sons and two daughters landed at the port of New York practically penniless and for the first year of their residence in this country lived at Jamestown, New York, where Ole Hanson worked on the railroad. In 1870 the family came West and located in Clayton county, Iowa, where Ole Hanson began working at his trade as a carpenter. For
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two years the family remained in Clayton county, during which time they were joined by the father and the other sister and the reunited family, in 1872, came to Minnesota, settling in Sherburne county, where they remained for six years, during which time Ole Hanson took a homestead of eighty acres and where, in 1875, he married Anna Thompson, also a native of Nor- way. During his residence in Sherburne county he continued following his trade, at the same time developing his homestead tract, his brother, Gunder, also acquiring a start in the same fashion by developing a homestead tract. In 1878 the family disposed of their interests in Sherburne county and came up into this part of the state, settling in Grant county. Ole Hanson and his brother. Gunder, bought a tract of five hundred and forty acres in San- ford township, just north of the village of Elbow Lake, and later bought an additional tract of three hundred and twenty acres about one mile east of the village, on which latter tract Ole Hanson established his home. Pre- vious to that the brothers, who continued their farming operations largely in partnership, had both made their homes on the original tract north of the village, Gunder part of the time making his home in the village. It was in 1891 that Ole Hanson moved to the farm east of Elbow Lake and there he and his wife made their home until about 1908, when they retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Elbow Lake, where they built a substantial residence and where they still live, well-to-do and useful citizens of the county-seat town. They are members of the United Lutheran church and take an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works, for years having recognized as among the helpful factors in the work of promoting all proper causes having to do with the betterment of conditions in the community in which they live and for which they have done much since coming out here in the pioneer days.
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