USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 52
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 52
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Thron C. Thronson grew up on the home farm in Grant county and there he received his education in the common schools. When twenty-one years of age he bought his father's farm in Evansville township, Douglas county, in partnership with his brother, Ingvald. but not long thereafter pur- chased his brother's interest. The land was unimproved and he set to work at once bringing it under a good state of cultivation and improvement, erect- ing a comfortable dwelling and a good barn. There was a grove of about six acres on the place.
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On December 7, 1904, Thron C. Thronson was married to Maria Erick- son, a native of Norway, from which country she came to the United States with her mother, two brothers and sister, in 1891, locating in Minneapolis, where she remained until her marriage. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thronson, namely: Carlton Everett, born on October 28, 1905; Oswald Arthur, April 30, 1907; Morris Theodore, December 26, 1910, and Sidney Frederick, September 9, 1913.
Mr. Thronson has prospered as a general farmer and has purchased two hundred and seven acres additional land. He handles a good grade of live stock of all kinds common to this locality. He raises all varieties of grain, but wheat is his main crop. Politically, he is a Republican. He has been chairman of the township committee and also served as supervisor for nine years. He belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church at Erdahl and is a member of the official board of the same. He belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America lodge. He is secretary of the Erdahl Farmers' Elevator Company.
JENS O. STRAND.
Jens O. Strand, one of Grant county's best-known and most substan- tial pioneer citizens, a well-to-do farmer of Lien township, former super- visor of that township and for many years clerk of his local school district, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, but has been a resident of Minne- sota since he was eighteen years of age and of Grant county since 1871, being therefore one of the oldest continuous residents of the county and a witness to and participant in the wonderful development that has marked this region within the past forty years or more. He was born on a farm in the stift of Nordje Trondjhem on July 4, 1850, son of Otto E. and Karen Johanna (Jenson) Strand, natives of that same district, who were among the pioneers in this section of Minnesota, their last days being spent on their homestead farm in Grant county.
Otto E. Strand was born in the year 1821 and grew to manhood on his native farm. After his marriage he continued to make his home there until 1868, when, with his wife and his son, Jens, the subject of this sketch, then eighteen years of age, and his daughter, Henrietta, he came to the United States and proceeded with his family directly to Minnesota, settling in Goodhue county, where he and his son worked on farms until 1871, in which year the family drove over to this part of the state by ox-team, the
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trip occupying about three weeks, and settled in Grant county; thus having been among the pioneers of the county, for at that time this part of the country was very sparsely settled, indeed. Upon arriving here Otto Strand and his son homesteaded the south half of section 6 in Lien township and the family there established a new home. For some little time after com- ing out here the Strands lived in a dug-out which they constructed on the hillside near the center of the homestead tract, and later erected a log house, which stood on the site of the present comfortable farm house on the Strand farm. When the family settled there the settlers were few and far between and the wide prairie presented a desolate aspect. The railroad then was pushing along and the present prosperous village of Herman consisted of a cluster of tents of the railroad construction crew. There was not a single house between the Strand homestead and the line of the railroad and the present county-seat town of Elbow Lake had not even been thought of. Amid the discouragements and hardships of the frontier the Strands began to develop their pioneer farm and it was not long until they began to see their way clear, and in due time came to be recognized as among the most progressive and influential farmers of that part of the county. Mrs. Strand, the pioneer mother, died on the homestead in 1874, about three years after the family had settled there, and the father did not marry again. He was an earnest member of the United Lutheran church and was one of the leaders in the organization of a church of that com- munion in his community in early days. During the last twelve years of his life he was afflicted with blindness, but otherwise remained a vigorous man, and lived to the great age of ninety-one years and seven days, his death occurring in 1912. Of the three children born to him and his wife there is but the one survivor, the only son, the subject of this sketch. Henrietta, the daughter, who was a young girl when the family came to this country. married Mr. Stumprud and died years ago on a farm near Donnelly. Another daughter, Olesa, died in Norway before she was three years old.
As noted above, Jens O. Strand was eighteen years of age when he accom- panied his parents to this country. He had received excellent schooling in his native land and there had been confirmed. During the two years the family remained in Goodhue county after coming to Minnesota he worked on farms there and when the family moved over into Grant county he and his father homesteaded a half section in Lien township, as already set out, and began to create a farm. Five years after settling on that farm he married and, his mother having died two years before, he and his wife
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maintained the home of his father until the latter's death. As the elder Strand grew older the general management of the farm more and more fell to the son, who for many years before his father's death was in practical charge of the place, though the affairs of the two always were conducted in partnership. They bought land in partnership and at one time were the owners of five hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Strand has brought the old homestead place up to a high standard of cultivation and improvement and has fine buildings on the place. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and keeps a herd of about fifty Shorthorns. In his political affiliations Mr. Strand is an ardent Prohibitionist and has been so for many years. For the past sixteen years he has served as clerk of his school district and also for some time served as supervisor in his home township.
It was in 1876 that Jens O. Strand was united in marriage to Anna Rolien, also a native of Norway, who came to Minnesota with her parents when a girl, and to this union three children were born, Conrad, a farmer, at home, assisting in the management of the farm; Albert, who died when past twenty-six years of age, and Herman, who also is at home assist- ing in the operation of the farm. Mr. Strand is a member of the United Lutheran church and is a deacon in the same. His wife died in 1904.
S. S. LANDT.
The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, November 1, 1842, a son of Frederick and Anna (Edwards) Landt, both natives of New York. His wife, Margaret A. (Wilber) Landt, was born in Albany, New York, May 18, 1843.
Frederick Landt was a farmer in New York. He removed to Jeffer- son county, Wisconsin, in 1836, and located on a farm in that county. He lived there until 1849, when he removed to Big Springs, Adams county, Wisconsin, and made this his home until his death, which occurred in January, 1880. His wife died in 1879. They reared ten children.
S. S. Landt was educated in the public schools of New Haven, Adams county, Wisconsin, and worked on the farm during his early years. Later he attended the Bronson Institute at Point Bluff, Wisconsin. On September 14, 1861, Mr. Landt responded to President Lincoln's call for volunteers to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, by enlisting in Company D, Tenth
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Wisconsin Infantry, and served for more than three years as a soldier in the Civil War, being discharged in November, 1864. The Tenth Wisconsin Regiment, commanded by Col. A. R. Chapin, Scribner's Brigade, Rousseau's Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, commanded by General George H. Thomas, participated in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. Under the same command in the Army of the Cumberland, com- manded by General Rosecrans, the regiment participated in the battle of Stone's River, December 31, 1862, losing heavily in killed and wounded. Under the same command the regiment fought in the battle of Chickamauga and in the battle of Missionary Ridge. Under the general command of Sher- man the regiment participated in the Atlanta campaign, taking conspicuous part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, July 27, 1864, several other severe battles of that campaign and around Atlanta. It was with Sherman on the march to the sea; from Savannah on through the Carolinas, until the closing battles of the war. In all these campaigns and engagements Mr. Landt was with his regiment in the full discharge of a soldier's duty.
Returning to his home in Adams county, Wisconsin, after his discharge from the army, Mr. Landt engaged in farming until 1879, when he removed to Packwaukee, Marquette county, Wisconsin, and there engaged in the general mercantile business for about three years. He then returned to his farm and resumed farming operations. In 1886 he was elected treasurer of Adams county, Wisconsin, and served in that office until 1894. In that year he was elected as a representative from Adams and Marquette counties in the Wisconsin Legislature. In July, 1895, he was appointed superin- tendent of the state public schools for the neglected and dependent children, in which position he served until 1899, and during which time he was chosen a delegate to represent Wisconsin in an international convention of charities and reforms held at Toronto, Canada. In 1899 Mr. Landt removed to Milwaukee and there engaged in the manufacture of sheet- metal utilities. In 1911 he came to Minnesota and engaged in the cream- ery business at Herman, with his son, Homer A. Landt, in which he has since been engaged. They operate a general creamery and also handle creamery and farm products. In addition to the other official positions mentioned, S. S. Landt was superintendent of the Wisconsin state prison farm during the years 1901-2-3. He has a fine record as a soldier and as an official and his character as a citizen is above reproach.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Landt are: A. B., H. A., Elma, Ernest and Cora. Mr. Landt is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a Republican and affiliates with the Masonic and Eastern Star lodges.
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Herman A. Brandt, was educated in the public schools of Friendship, Adams county, Wisconsin, and later attended the Wisconsin Business Col- lege at La Crosse, from which he was graduated. After leaving college he learned the creamery business and in 1911 came to Herman and took charge of the creamery plant here as general manager. In 1908 he was married to Nellie Nolan, daughter of Andrew and Mary A. Nolan, and to this union four children have been born, Theodore, Elizabeth, Leon and Alice. The Catholic church is the family church. H. A. Landt is a Repub- lican and a member of the Yeomen's lodge.
O. H. ANDERSON.
O. H. Anderson, a well-known farmer of Elk Lake township, Grant county, was born in Houston county, this state, in October, 1864, the son of Halvor Anderson and wife, and is a brother of Andrew H. Anderson of Grant county.
Halvor and Tilda (Olson) Anderson, the parents of O. H. Anderson, were natives of Norway and there received their education in the public schools, grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. They con- tinued to live in the land of their birth until 1861, when they decided to come to America, where they could make a home for themselves and their family. Upon their arrival in the United States, they proceeded directly to Iowa, locating in Allamakee county, where they remained for three years, at the end of which time they came to Minnesota, settling in Houston county, where they remained for three years. In 1867 they came to Grant county, making the journey of over three hundred miles with an ox-team, being more than a month on the way. They were accompanied by four other families, all save one of whom settled in Urness township, these families being the first to settle in the township, with the exception of one family, of which Mrs. Anna Goodmanson is the oldest living representative, and their early life here was one of hardships and privations. Here Halvor Anderson homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section II, which he later increased to seven hundred and thirteen acres. This farm he ' developed and improved and here he engaged in general farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1908. His widow is still living, at the age of eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were the parents of eight children, Andrew, Betsy, Olaus, Albert, Anna, Hilda, Hannah and
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John. Hilda is the widow of Augustus Satterlund and lives in Grant county. The family became active in the social and civic life of the com- munity and were active members of the Lutheran church when the meetings were held in the school house, for the lack of a church.
O. H. Anderson received his education in the public schools of Elk Lake township and grew to manhood on the home farm, assisting in the development of the same. In 1885 he and his brother, A. H. Anderson, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section II, where O. H. Anderson ever since has continued to engage in general farming and stock raising. He now owns the place and is recognized as one of the sub- stantial citizens of the county. He has had much to do with the growth and the development of the neighborhood and owing to his wide experience and excellent judgment is often consulted in matters relative to the interests of the township and the county. His life has been an active one and he has accomplished much that is worthy of emulation. He is an active member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and has long been identified with the social life of the township. He has never married.
EDWARD LIEN.
Edward Lien, a well-known and successful farmer of Lien township, Grant county, was born on the old homestead in section 15, of that town- ship on May 30, 1880, the son of Ole and Margaret (Hustad) Evenson Lien, who were born in Norway, he on December 17, 1835, and she, August 26, 1845. Even and Bergit Lien, the paternal grandparents of Edward Lien, were natives of Norway and they continued to live in the land of their birth until 1861, when they came to America. Upon their arrival in this country they came directly to Minnesota and settled in Goodhue county, where the death of the grandfather occurred in 1865. The grandmother, after the death of her husband, came to Grant county, where she died in 1906, at the age of ninety-two years. They were the parents of Ole Evenson, Ingebor, Berget, Olaug, Rande, Annie and Tollof. Ole Evenson, Olaug and Randie are now deceased.
Ole Evenson Lien received his education in the public schools of Nor- way and there resided until 1861, when he came to Minnesota with his parents and located in Goodhue county. In 1869 he came to Grant county and located in Lien township, later named in his honor. He was married
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in Otter Tail county, on June 25, 1871, to Margaret Hustad, and to this union eleven children were born, namely: Belisa, the wife of Andrew Per- sen, a well-known farmer of Lien township; Inga, the wife of Iver Stamness, of Lien township; Edward, the subject of this sketch; Hannah, who is at home with her mother; Lena, the wife of Helmer Olson, of Erdahl town- ship; John, who is with his mother in Elbow Lake, and five sons who died, Even, John, John, Eddie, and Eddie.
Ole Evenson Lien and wife were always active in the work of the Lutheran church and were prominent in the social and religious life of the community. Mr. Lien was active in the affairs of the township and had much to do with the early civic life of the district. He was a patriotic citi- zen and gave three years of his life to the services of his adopted country, he having enlisted in Company D, Tenth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, August 22, 1862. Upon the close of the war he returned to Min- nesota, and became a prosperous and successful farmer. Twelve years before his death, in 1902, he removed to Elbow Lake, where he lived a retired life and where he died on November 2, 1914.
Edward Lien received his early education in the public schools of his home township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad he assisted his father with the farm work. After completing his work in the local schools he entered Park Region College, where he completed his education. As a young man he engaged in farming and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land, it being his father's old home- stead. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has been successful. He is a member of the Synod Lutheran church, and prominent in the social life of the community.
JAMES R. BORRILL.
James R. Borrill, a well-known and successful farmer of Roseville township, Grant county, was born in Lincolnshire, England, on March 10, 1850, the son of John and Ann ( Holmes) Borrill, also natives of Lincoln- shire, the former born on March 18, 1818, and the latter, August 6, 1829. There they received their education and were married. They continued to reside in the land of their birth until 1851, John Borrill being engaged as a laborer. On their arrival in the United States, early in the year 1852, they located near White Pigeon, Michigan, where they remained for two
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years. They then came to Minnesota and located in Dakota county, where John Borrill obtained government land, as a "squatter," and engaged in farming until 1876, when he sold his interest in the place and removed to Stevens county, where he homesteaded eighty acres. That farm he developed and improved and there engaged in general farming until he retired from the active duties of farm life and moved to Morris, renting his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Borrill continued to reside in Morris, until the time of their death. he dying in November, 1904. and she in 1910, at the age of eighty- one years. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and always took much interest in church work. They were the parents of the following children: James R., Mollie, George, John, Ida, Belle, Robert, Freeman, Walter. Nellie, Emma and Robert. Mollie is the widow of Mr. Beach and lives at Seattle, Washington. Robert died in infancy. George was the first white child born in Dakota county, Minnesota, and is now a farmer of Saskatchewan, Canada. John is a farmer of Adams county, North Dakota. Ida is single and lives at Morris. Belle is also single and lives at Seattle, Washington. Robert is a clerk at Seattle, Washington. Freeman Elsworth died in infancy. Walter lives in Minneapolis, where he is a stock broker. Nellie lives in Olympia, Washington, and is a sten- ographer, and Emma is the wife of Frank Smith and lives in Alberta, Canada.
James R. Borrill received his education in the public schools of Dakota county and there grew to manhood on the home farm. As a young man he went to Stevens county with his father and there he homesteaded eighty acres of land and engaged in farming. The farm at that time was all wild prairie. He erected a small claim shanty and at once began the task of breaking the land. The first year he succeeded in breaking ninety acres on his own place and that of his father. In time he had his farm well developed and erected good and substantial buildings, and there he lived until he was thirty years of age, and then, in 1880, he came to Grant county, where he purchased the homestead right to one hundred and sixty acres in section 30 of Roseville township. There were no buildings on the place at that time, but were later erected by Mr. Borrill. There he resided for two years and was then married and moved to his wife's homestead in the township. He later sold his homestead and has continued to live in section 32. where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, paying particular attention to the dairy business, and keeps about twelve milch cows. He has developed the farm and improved the same with good and substantial buildings and
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now has one of the most desirable places in the township, where he is recog- nized as one of the substantial and successful men of the community.
On December 27, 1882, James R. Borrill was united in marriage to Margaret Kerr, who was born in St. Louis and there received her education in the public schools and grew to womanhood. In 1878 she came to Grant county and homesteaded the farm of one hundred and sixty acres where she now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Borrill have no children of their own, but have adopted their nephew, Walter L. Borrill, the son of John Borrill, the brother of Mr. Borrill. Mr. and Mrs. Borrill have long been identified with the interests of the township and the county, having come to the township when the life of the pioneer was a most strenuous one. Here they endured the life of the early settler and submitted to the hardships and privations of the early life on the plains. By hard work and economy, they have today one of the ideal farm homes of the township and are held in the highest regard by all. Since coming to the township in 1880 Mr. Borrill has served as clerk of the school board.
ANDREW ISAKSON.
Of the many well-known and successful farmers of Elk Lake township, Grant county, who are natives of Norway, it is well to mention Andrew Isakson, who was born on October 19, 1856, the son of Isak and Ellen (Linbo) Swenson, both natives of Norway, who were educated in the public schools, grew to maturity and were married in their native land. Ellen Swenson was born in 1820 and Isak Swenson in 1823. They remained in Norway until 1870, when they decided to come to America. As a young man and until he came to this country, Isak Swenson was engaged in the mines of Norway. On his arrival in the United States he located in Edger- ton, Wisconsin, where he remained until the fall of 1870, when his family joined him and they came to Minnesota, locating in Steele county, where the father engaged in farming, and where he remained the rest of his life. Isak and Ellen Isakson were the parents of the following children: Ellen Maria. Sven, Ole, Maren Helvine, Grete Johane, 'Ellen Sofie, Syvert Gus- tav, Bertha Martine, Andrew, Timan, Edward, Trina Ollave and Martinius. Mr. and Mrs. Isakson were active members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and were prominent in the social and religious work of the town- ship.
Andrew Isakson received the greater part of his education in the pub-
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lic schools of Norway attending school but very little after coming to the United States, although only fourteen years of age at the time. He assisted his father with the work of developing and cultivating the home farm, remaining a resident of Steele county, Minnesota, until he was twenty- six years old, when he came to Grant county and purchased forty acres of land in Elk Lake township, to which he has since added until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land in section 19. all of which is under high cultivation and well improved. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which he has met with a very commendable degree of success.
As a young man, Andrew Isakson was married to Lise Anderson, and to this union the following children have been born : Anne Elvine, Josephine Marie, Edward Isak, Clara Elizabeth, Hannah Matilda, Agnes Karoline, Ida Juliane, Lina Alexandria, Karl Norman and Timan Melvin. The wife and mother died in 1904, being mourned by many friends and neighbors, who admired and loved her for her many noble qualities of womanhood. Mrs. Isakson was a member of the Synod Lutheran church as is Mr. Isak- son, and was active in church work, as well as prominent in the social life of the community. For the past four years Mr. Isakson has been a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the local society of the church and has had much to do with the success of the organization. He has always taken an active interest in the civic life of the township and has used his influence in the promotion of all worthy causes.
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