USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 5
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 5
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Johannes Evenson came to America in 1867 and located first in Fill- more county, this state, where he remained for one year. In 1868 he went to Pope county. where he entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of government land. He made all the improvements on that land, building a house for a residence and putting up the necessary farm buildings. He added other acres to his original homestead until he was the owner of a farm of two hundred acres. He was the father of four children: Evinda, who married Ole M. Ramstad; Nels MI., Amar J. and Albert J. Mr. Evenson was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Nels M. Everson received his elementary education in the public schools of Pope county and afterward attended a business college at Minneapolis, where he completed a commercial course. He then taught school for two years in the public schools of Pope county and then was for about two years with A. G. Englund, of Starbuck. He was afterward employed as traveling salesman for Deering and McCormick harvesting machinery, following that business for about two years. In 1898 he entered the employ of Tolliff Jacobson & Co., of Alexandria, and in 1899 took a position in Jacobson's bank, at Lowry, and after a short time there he was transferred to Jacob- son's bank at Lindstrum, where he remained until April, 1902. In October.
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1902, he went to Osakis and took a position as cashier of the Security Bank, of that place. A year later that bank was re-organized and became the First National Bank of Osakis, Mr. Evenson being continued as cashier of the reorganized institution. In 1906 Mr. Evenson bought Mr. Jacobson's inter- est in the bank, became president of the same, and is still serving in that capacity.
In 1908 Nels M. Evenson was united in marriage to Elvira R. Ruby, daughter of James A. Ruby, of Seward, Nebraska, and to this union two children have been born, Katherine Ann and Charlotte Louise. The Even- sons are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Evenson is a Republican, and was formerly a member of the village council. He also served as president of the Commercial Club of that city. He is a member of the Masonic order and has attained to the Shrine. He also is a member of the Knights of Pythias and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both of these organizations.
STINER S. SKINNEMOEN, JR.
Stiner S. Skinnemoen, Jr., a well-known merchant at Wendell, was born in Clayton county, Iowa, June 21, 1870, a son of Stiner S. and Criste ( Olson ) Skinnemoen, both natives of Norway, who came to America in 1869 and located in Clayton, Iowa, where they remained for two years, at the end of which time they came to Minnesota and Mr. Skinnemoen took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Grant county, on which he built a house and other buildings, improved the land and made a good farm. He still lives in the old homestead on that farm. To him and his wife were born five children, Stiner, Ole, Nels, John and Henry. The Skinnemoens are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and the elder Stiner Skinnemoen has served as trustee of the congregation.
The junior Stiner S. Skinnemoen received his elementary education in the public schools of Grant county and afterward attended the Park Region Lutheran College at Fergus Falls for two years. After leaving college he worked with his father on the farm until 1902. He is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Grant county and is also interested in the farmers' elevator in Wendell, and is a stockholder in the local bank. In 1902 he removed to Wendell and engaged in the general merchandising busi- ness, in partnership with E. A. Dybdal and L. H. Pikop. In the spring of 1915 he bought Mr. Dybdal's interest in the store and, with Mr. Pikop, has
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since continued the business. They carry a large stock of general merchan- dise and do a thriving business, with a substantial trade in the town and sur- rounding country.
In July, 1904, Stiner S. Skinnemnoen, Jr., was married to Emma Soleah, daughter of Andrew E. and Bertha ( Haugen ) Soleah, of Otter Tail county. Mr. and Mrs. Skinnemoen are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and he is a Republican in politics.
WILLIAM EVERETT HICKS.
William Everett Hicks, deceased, was one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Douglas county. He was born at Sand Point, Long Island, son of Nathan Woodhull Hicks, a prominent resident of that com- munity, and there spent the early years of his life. When but a lad he removed with his parents to Brooklyn, New York, and there received his education in the public schools of that city. After completing his schooling at the age of eighteen years, he engaged in newspaper work, as a reporter on the New York Tribune. For four years he followed his chosen work on the Tribune and then, in 1857, became financial editor of the New York Evening Post, which position he held for five years, at the end of which time his health began to fail, and he resigned his position. He and his family then spent the year 1863 traveling in Europe. Having regained his health, Mr. Hicks returned to the United States, locating again in New York City, where he engaged in business in Wall street. Although successful in his business ventures, he decided, in 1866, to locate in the West. In the summer of that year he and his family came to Minnesota and located in St. Paul. In the fall of 1866, he came out to this part of the state on a hunting expedition and was so charmed with the country and its scenery and beautiful lakes, that he decided to locate here. He purchased from the townsite company the land on which the city of Alexandria now stands and also became largely interested in timber lands. In 1867 he built in the village of Alexandria a log building, which he stocked with merchandise and thus engaged there in the mercantile business.
Mr. Hicks had much faith in the future of the new townsite, and in 1868 he built the Woodhull House and the building which served as the first court house for Douglas county. The court house building was also the home of the zilerandria Post, which Mr. Hicks established in 1868. In
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that same year he donated the ground for the court house square as well as for the site of the Congregational church. He erected a saw-mill and soon did an extensive business. In 1868 he was elected by his district as repre- sentative in the Legislature, and in that capacity he performed a most valu- able service for his home people as well as the state in general. As a mem- ber of the Legislature he was recognized as one of the leaders in all pro- gressive and substantial movements. He was an untiring worker and a man of broad views and much ability.
In 1855 William E. Hicks was united in marriage to Theresa T. Miller, of Brooklyn, and to that union five children were born, Marie, Ida E., Will- iam E., Norman W. and Cleveland H. Marie Hicks married W. F. Can- field; Ida and Norman Hicks are deceased and Cleveland H. Hicks is the private secretary of United States Senator Knute Nelson. Mr. Hicks was a devout member of the Congregational church and he and his wife took much interest in church work, being active in the social and religious life of the community. They took much interest in all local affairs and were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them. Mr. Hicks died in Alexandria on July 17, 1874, mourned throughout this entire region, for which he had done so much.
HERBERT O. WAGNER.
Herbert O. Wagner, a well-known and successful banker of Erdahl, was born at Becker, Sherburne county, Minnesota, on April 2, 1875, the son of John A. and Kate (Foster) Wagner.
John A. Wagner was an early settler in Sherburne county, where, in 1852, he took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which cost him one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, and also bought one hundred and sixty acres at two dollars and fifty cents an acre. After having secured his claim, he left his mother to look after his interests and then went to Colorado, where he worked in the mines for some years. While there he enlisted in the Second Regiment, Colorado Volunteer Cavalry, and was engaged help- ing put down the guerilla warfare in Missouri, Tennessee, Kansas and Colo- rado. At the close of the war, he returned to Becker and there he developed and improved his farm and engaged in general farming and stock raising until the time of his death, in 1914, at the age of seventy-eight years. His widow died in 1915, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the par- ents of seven children, John C., Katie, Ruby, I. S., Herbert O., Ernest J.
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and Frank, all of whom are living save Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner were prominent in the social and religious life of the community, and Mr. Wagner was active in local affairs, having much to do with the early development of his township and county.
Herbert O. Wagner received his education in the common schools of Sherburne county and in the high school of Monticello, after which he attended business college at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he was graduated with the class of 1893. During the time he was in school he assisted his father with the work on the farm and after having completed his schooling, he worked on a farm near Devil's Lake, North Dakota, during the summers and taught school in southern Minnesota in the winter, and continued thus engaged until his marriage, in 1897, to Minnie Jones, of Monticello, after which he engaged in farming in Sherburne county, for the next ten years. There he was engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he was quite successful. He then entered the State Bank at Maple Plain, as assistant cashier, and remained with that institution for six months, at the end of which time he moved to Hawkins, Wisconsin, where he organized the Hawkins State Bank, and became cashier of the same, which position he held until August, 1914, when he sold his interests and returned to Monti- cello and there engaged in farming for a year. In the fall of 1915 he moved to Erdahl and there, organized the First State Bank and was later elected cashier of the same, with his wife as assistant cashier, which positions they now hold. The officers of the bank are as follow: President, Charles Bradford; vice-president, Ole A. Thompson; cashier, Herbert O. Wagner. and assistant cashier, Minnie Wagner. The directors of the institution are Charles Bradford, Ole A. Thompson, Herbert O. Wagner, A. G. Westboe and C. E. White. The capital of the bank is twelve thousand dollars, with a surplus of two thousand four hundred dollars.
The First State Bank of Erdahl started business in small quarters, but through the efforts of the stockholders and the officers the institution has grown to large proportions and is today recognized as one of the strong and growing banks of this part of the state. The officers of the institution have the confidence and the respect of the business men of the community and are held in the highest regard and esteem. Owing to the growth of the institution, the bank left its old quarters in the fall of 1916 and moved into its new brick building, modern in every respect. The bank is equipped with a Diebold safe, one of the latest and most modern patterns, and is burglar proof. The residents of the community, as well as the owners of the bank, take much pride in the institution and are liberal supporters of the same.
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Herbert O. and Minnie Wagner are the parents of two children, Stewart A. and Cor H., the former of whom is now a student of the medical school at Hamlin University, after having completed the high-school course at Monticello, and the latter is now a student in the high school. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent in the social and the religious life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them.
In addition to his many other duties, Mr. Wagner, with his brother. I. S. Wagner, has established the Wagner Lumber Company at Erdahl, the firm carrying a full line of building material. Having the confidence and the respect of the entire community, they hope to conduct the business in such a manner as to merit the support of those who contemplate building or are in need of anything in their line of business. Herbert O. Wagner has always taken an active interest in the civic life of the community and has ever exerted his influence in behalf of the best interests of the township and the county. a strong supporter of all public improvements that tend to the betterment and the growth of his home district. He is a firm believer in good roads and good schools, believing that in these rests to a great extent the future suc- cess of the district, as well as the state. Being a man of broad views and much experience, he is often consulted on matters relating to proposed public improvements and to him is due much of the progressive spirit manifested in the town as well as in the surrounding territory. He is broad-minded and looks to the interests of the community in general. His life has been an active one and he has accomplished much that is worthy of emulation. Few men in the community are held in higher regard and respect. Ever ready to assist a friend and neighbor, he has won for himself a host of friends in the business and social world.
ANTON H. GREGERSEN.
Anton H. Gregersen, head of the well-known firm of A. H. Gregersen & Company at Alexandria, dry goods and general furnishings; first president of the Commercial Club of that city, first president of the local board of works, vice-president of the First National Bank, secretary-treasurer of the Alexandria Heating Company and actively identified with other commercial and industrial enterprises in that city, is a native of the kingdom of Den- mark, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was seventeen years of
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age. He was born in the city of Copenhagen on September 13. 1865, son of Hans and Christina Gregersen, who spent all their lives in their native land, and received a commercial training in connection with his general schooling in the days of his youth.
In 1882, he then being eighteen years of age, Anton H. Gregersen came to the United States and proceeded directly to Minnesota, locating for a time at Alden, in Freehorn county; presently going thence to Minneapolis, where he began working for the wholesale house of Regan Brothers. From there he went to Litchfield and was there engaged as a clerk and bookkeeper in a general store until 1887, in which year he went to St. Paul and was there connected with the wholesale house of C. Gotzian & Company and later with the clothing store of H. C. Burbank & Company, bookkeeper and credit man for the latter concern until 1899, when he engaged in business for himself at Alexandria, buying the interest of W. T. Hendren in the dry-goods store with which he ever since has been connected, entering business there as a member of the firm of Gilbert & Gregersen. Three years later Mr. Greger- sen bought Mr. Gilbert's interest in the establishment and has since continued as general manager and active head of the concern, which is conducted under the firm name of A. H. Gregersen & Company and which has built up a large trade in and about Alexandria. When Mr. Gregersen engaged in business in Alexandria his store employed but three clerks. He now employs sixteen clerks and the business has more than trebled in volume. In addi- tion to managing his own extensive establishment Mr. Gregersen has taken an active interest in the general business affairs of Alexandria ever since locating there and has been one of the prime factors in the development of the commercial and industrial interests of the town. Upon the organization of the Alexandria Commercial Club he was elected president of that organ- ization and has ever since given his most thoughtful attention to the affairs of the same. He also was the first president of the board of works after Alexandria began to do business as a corporation and was for four years the head of that important public body. He is secretary-treasurer of the Alexandria Heating Company, which operates the new heating plant in that city and he also has an interest in a garage there.
In 1884, a little more than two years after coming to . Minnesota, Anton H. Gregersen was united in marriage to E. J. Gottschamer, of St. Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Gergersen have a very pleasant home in Alexandria and take an earnest interest in the general social activities of their home town and in all proper movements having to do with the general welfare of the com- munity in which they live.
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JOSEPH H. WETTLESON.
Joseph H. Wettleson, secretary and treasurer of the Herberger-Wettle- son Company, incorporated, dealers in dry goods at Alexandria, and who for years before becoming connected with that firm was a well-known commer- cial traveler. traveling ont of Alexandria, is a native of Wisconsin, born in Stoughton, that state, June 19, 1867, son of Jacob and Mary (Johnson) Wettleson, natives of the kingdom of Norway, the former of whom is now living retired in the city of Los Angeles, California, where the latter spent her last days, her death occurring in 1910.
Jacob Wettleson was about ten years old when his parents, Wettie and Susan Wettleson, came to the United States from Norway in 1841 and set- tled on a homestead farm in Dane county. Wisconsin, where they spent the remainder of their lives. He grew up on that homestead farm, receiving his education in the public schools, and later became a grain buyer in Stoughton, afterward becoming engaged in the mercantile business and was for years one of the leading business men of that town. He also took an active part in the civic affairs of his home town and was the first mayor of the city of Stoughton, where he remained until his retirement from business and removal to Los Angeles, where he is now living and where he is very comfortably situated. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Susan, Josephine, William, Joseph, Emma and Theresa. The mother of these children, who, as noted above, died at Los Angeles in 1910, was a young woman when she came to this country from Norway with her parents, John Johnson and wife, in 1851. John Johnson was a goldsmith and both he and his wife spent their last days in Wisconsin, where they had settled upon coming to this country. Both the Wettlesons and the Johnsons were active workers in the Lutheran church.
Joseph H. Wettleson was reared at Stoughton, receiving his schooling in the public schools of that town and early entered upon his mercantile career, beginning as a clerk in a store in his home town. He later became engaged as a commercial traveler and made his headquarters at Alexandria, where he ever since his made his home. Mr. Wettleson continued his service as a traveling salesman for fifteen years and then, on July 22, 1914, formed his present connection, as a partnership, with the Herberger-Wettle- son Company, incorporated. dealers in dry goods at Alexandria. Mr. Wet- tleson is the secretary and treasurer of the company, which has a large and well-equipped store and which has built up a fine business in and about
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Alexandria, being one of the best-known dry-goods firms in this part of the state. Mr. Wettleson is the present president of the Alexandria Commercial Club.
In 1887 Joseph H. Wettleson was united in marriage to Anna Eells, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and to this union four children have been born, Paul. Joseph, Philip and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Wettleson are meni- bers of the Congregational church and take a proper interest in all measures having to do with the advancement of the common welfare of their home community. Mr. Wettleson is a Mason and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that order.
WILLIAM JOHN BARR MOSES.
William John Barr Moses, editor and publisher of The Forum at Brandon and one of the best-known and most popular of Minnesota's con- siderable circle of literary men, author of "Dreaming River" and numer- "ous short stories, sketches and magazine and newspaper articles without number, proprietor of "Oakdene Park," a delightful lakeside place and an equally delightful home at Lake Latoka, near Alexandria, besides a pleas- ant home at Brandon, where he lately has made his residence, is a native of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of the period spent in extensive travels through Europe and in this country. He was born at the village of Terrace, in Pope county, this state, June 27, 1874, son of William and Mary ( Morrison ) Moses, whose last days were spent in Alexandria.
William Moses was born at Knowlton, in the province of Quebec, Canada, April 16, 1842, and completed his schooling in the Waterloo Acad- emy, after which he taught school for some years, farming during the sum- miers. He married Martha Ralston and in 1868 came with his wife to Minnesota, settling at Owatonna, where for a few years he operated a wind grist-mill. He then moved to Pope county and started a store and water- power mill, the only mill within a radius of seventy-five miles. Around that mill and country store a village presently sprang up which became known as Terrace, and there Mr. Moses continued to make his home for ten years. While living there his wife died without issue, and in 1873 he married Mary Morrison, who was born on March 23, 1842. In 1882 William Moses left Terrace and moved up into Douglas county, locating at Alexandria, where, in partnership with J. M. Wiley, he became engaged
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in the general mercantile business and where he made his headquarters the rest of his life. Mr. Moses was a very active business man and his com- mercial and banking connections gradually extended to distant towns. He was president of the Douglas County Bank at Alexandria and was con- nected with the First National Bank of Elbow Lake, with the Bank of Carrington at Carrington, North Dakota, and with the Citizens' Bank at Drayton, same state. He also held commercial connections in other towns in North Dakota and was long accounted one of the most influential and progressive business men hereabout. William Moses died on June 25, 1914, and his widow survived less than a year, her death occurring in March, 1915. They were the parents of two sons, the subject of this sketch having a younger brother, C. M. Moses, born on December 5, 1876, now general agent for the Great Western Assurance Company of Winnipeg at Minot, North Dakota, who married Robina Halcrow and has four children, Charles William, Dorothy Elizabeth, John Halcrow and George Harold.
William J. B. Moses was about eight years old when his parents moved from Terrace to Alexandria and he grew to manhood in the latter city. He was graduated from the Alexandria high school in 1893 and then entered Hamline University at St. Paul and was graduated from that institution in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. Mr. Moses also took a part of his undergraduate work in the University of Minnesota, after whichi he took a post-graduate course in the English department of the University of Chicago. During 1896 Mr. Moses traveled extensively in Europe and upon his return home entered upon his life work as an author, since then having devoted practically his whole time to the writing of novels, short stories, poems, magazine articles and humorous sketches. Mr. Moses has had one novel published, "Dreaming River" ( Stokes, New York, 1909), and has written for a great many popular publications, including the Peoples Magasine, All-Story, Red Book, St. Nicholas, Puck, Judge, Life, Smart Set, Woman's Home Companion, The Housekeeper and the like and has also written for many of the leading newspapers of the country, including the Springfield ( Massachusetts ) Republican, the New York Times, the Newe York Sun, the New York Herald, the Boston Globe, the Chicago News, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Record-Herald and others too numerous to mention. Mr. Moses was librarian at Alexandria for two years. On Octo- ber 15. 1915, he purchased The Forum, published at Brandon, and has since been the editor and publisher of the same, a six-column quarto paper of wide circulation and large influence throughout this section. Since then Mr.
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Moses has been making his home in Brandon, where he owns a very pleas- ant residence property. For some years previously he had been living in his delightful country home, "Oakdene Park," near Alexandria, a tract of twenty-six acres at Lake Latoka, and his father's old home place in Alex- andria. The elder Moses was a prominent member of the Methodist church at Alexandria and was one of the leading factors in the substantial estab- lishment of that congregation there, but his son is a member of the Epis- copal church, a vestryman, and for some years served as lay reader in the church.
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