USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 61
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
620
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
and the best of schools, believing that in them rests the future success of the growth and prosperity of the township and the county. Being a man of broad experience and excellent judgment, his advice is often sought in matters pertaining to the welfare of the community where he lives and . where he is held in the highest esteen.
EVEN E. BJERKE.
One of the many well-known and successful farmers of Elk Lake town- ship, Grant county, who are natives of Norway, is Even E. Bjerke, who was born on June 26, 1844, the son of Even Olson and Martha (Johnson ) Bjerke, also natives of Norway, who spent all their lives in their native country, well-known farming people, who were held in the highest regard. They were the parents of seven children, Ellena, Karene (who died when but a child), Olena, Bergena, Johannes, Hans and Even.
Even E. Bjerke received his education in the public schools of Norway and there he lived until he was twenty years of age, when he decided to come to America. On his arrival in the United States, in 1864, he located in Chicago, where he remained for two years, after which he came to Minne- sota and located in Houston county, the next year coming on over to Grant county, where he obtained a tract of wild land in Elk township and there began his life as a farmer and stock raiser. There were still many Indians in the district at that time and the neighbors were few and far apart. The nearest market was at Benson, where Mr. Bjerke sold his first wheat, which was the first shipped from that place, now one of the well established wheat markets of this section. As a farmer and stock raiser Mr. Bjerke has been quite successful and is now the owner of three hundred and sixty-eight acres of land in Grant county, as well as much land in other counties. He home- steaded in sections 15 and 12 and made his improvements in the latter sec. tion. The first buildings, were, of necessity, but rude affairs, but all these have been replaced by modern and substantial structures.
As a young man, Even E. Bjerke was united in marriage to Anna Lee and to this union the following children have been born: Matilda, who died when but a child; Edward, Conrad, William, Emil, Eda, Selma, Martin, John, Levi and Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Bjerke have long been identified with the social and religious life of the community where they are held in the highest regard. Coming, as he did, into the county, with Anton Hubred,
621
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
one of his nearest neighbors, for many years, Mr. Bjerke was closely identi- fied with the early civic and educational history of the township and the county. He was one of the carliest pioneers of the district, and assisted in the organization of the first school district and assisted in the building of the first school house in the county. He has served as township clerk and as a member of the board of supervisors, and was for two terms county commissioner, always giving the same careful attention to the public work that he did to his own. Some years ago he retired from the activities of the farm life and moved to Barrett, where he now resides.
FRED WEIGAND.
Fred Weigand, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Lawrence township, Grant county, was born in Germany, on July 11, 1863, the son of George and Katarina Weigand, also natives of Germany, who spent all their lives in the land of their nativity, the father dying in 1877, at the age of forty-seven years and the mother, in 1878, at the age of forty- one years. They were the parents of six children, Fred, John, George, Rochus, Leonhard and Carl The parents were prominent in the com- munity in which they lived and took much interest in the social and religious activities of the same. Their children are all still residents of Germany, with the exception of George, Fred and Carl.
Fred Weigand received his education in the public schools of his native country and there grew to manhood. He served for three years in the German army and there received excellent training. In 1892 he decided that he would come to America and after landing in this country, proceeded directly to Chicago, arriving there on January 16. Having left Germany on January 5. he had been eleven days in making the journey. From Chi- cago he went to Iowa and located at Rockford, where he remained until 1900, in which year he came to Minnesota, locating in Lawrence township, Grant county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which farm he has increased by later purchase, to two hundred and forty acres. The land was undeveloped at that time, but today Mr. Weigand has one of the finest farms in the township. He has set out a beautiful grove and has erected modern and substantial buildings. He has a barn that is forty by forty-eight feet, with a shed that is twenty-four by forty-eight feet and a silo that is sixteen by thirty and holds one hundred and twenty tons. He
622
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
has been quite successful, and today he is recognized as one of the substan- tial farmers of the county. He is a firm believer in intensive farming and in the most thorough cultivation of the soil, his farm and buildings being evidences of the careful care and attention that they receive.
Fred Weigand is a Republican and has always taken an active interest in the civic affairs of his township and the county. He has been clerk of the school board for the past ten years and has served as township treasurer for a number of years. He is active in all affairs that have to do with the growth and betterment of the community and is held in the highest regard by all who know him.
On October 6, 1897, Fred Weigand was united in marriage to Minnie Kuck, who was born in Germany in 1877, the daughter of Carl and Minnie Kuck, who came to the United States in 1882 and located at Rockford, Iowa, where they now live retired lives. To Fred and Minnie Weigand have been born seven children, Carl, Albert, Leonard, Bertha, Lizzie, Anna and Walter, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Weigand are members of the Presbyterian church.
P. M. WESTLUND.
There is no more persistent and careful tiller of the soil in Land town- ship, Grant county, than P. M. Westlund, who was born in Sweden, Octo- ber 18, 1860. He is a son of Magnus and Martha (Sjelleson) Westlund, both natives of Sweden, where they spent their earliest years, immigrating to America in 1879 and locating near Redwing, Minnesota, moving on to Grant county in 1886, and purchasing the present farm of the family in Land township, where they have since resided. The father is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. His family consists of the following chil- dren : Nels, P. M. and Emma.
P. M. Westlund spent his boyhood in Sweden, where he attended the public schools. He was nineteen years of age when he accompanied the family to the United States. He worked with his father the first year after arriving here, in the vicinity of Hastings, Minnesota, and was also employed in Minneapolis at the plumbing trade during the summer seasons for a few years. In 1888 he came to the family homestead in Land township, Grant county, and has since resided there, engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has managed well and has met with pronounced success in his
623
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
chosen calling, and now owns a valuable and well-improved farm of two hundred and forty acres, on which he has erected practically all the build- ings, and has also made many other excellent improvements on the place.
In 1896 P. M. Westlund was married to Christine Olson, the daughter of Olof Larson and to this union two children have been born, Edwin and Mabel. Politically, Mr. Weslund is a Republican, but takes no active part in politics.
CHARLEY J. ANDERSON.
Charley J. Anderson, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Elk Lake township, Grant county, was born in Sweden, on May 18, 1873. the son of John and Ellen ( Nelson) Anderson, who also were born in Sweden and there continued to live until 1881, when they decided to come to America. Upon landing in this country they proceeded at once to Mich- igan and located at Manistee, where they remained for four years. In 1885 they came to Minnesota and located in Roseville township, Grant county, where they remained for two years, after which they moved to Stevens county, where John Anderson engaged in farming and where he lived until the time of his death. His widow is still living. They were the parents of six children, Nels, Anna, Hannah (deceased), Charley, Paul ( deceased ) and Andrew.
Charley J. Anderson was about twelve years of age when he came to this county with his parents and he completed his education in the public schools of Michigan. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, assisting with the farm work, and remained with his father until he was twenty- three years of age, when he engaged in farming for himself on one hundred and sixty acres of the old home farm, in Stevens county, where he remained until the fall of 1900, when he came to Grant county, where he now has two hundred and twenty-two acres in Elk Lake township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has a fine dairy herd.
In the fall of IS96 Charley J. Anderson was united in marriage to Matilda Lofgren, who was born in Sweden, daughter of Olof Lofgren, and to this union six children were born : Edner, Ruben, Viola, Leonard, Clifford and Mildred, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are active mem- bers of the Swedish Mission church, and have always taken much interest in the religious and social life of the community. They and their family are prominent in the district and are held in the highest esteem by all who
624
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
know them. Mr. Anderson has taken a keen interest in the civic life of the township and has done much toward its growth and development. He has ever been ready to assist with his time and ability in the promotion of any worthy cause that had for its purpose the betterment of the social and the financial development of the township and the county. His life has been an active one, and he has accomplished much of value to himself and the community in which he lives.
FRED HENRY SYMONDS.
Fred Henry Symonds, one of Grant county's best-known and most pro- gressive young farmers, chairman of the board of supervisors of Lawrence township and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in that township, is a native son of Grant county and has lived in the county all his life. He was born on the paternal homestead, nearby his present place of residence in Lawrence township, August 14, 1885, son of Franklin P. and Isabel (Swift) Symonds, the former a native of the state of Massachu- setts and the latter of New York, who are still living on their homestead farm in Lawrence township.
Franklin P. Symonds was born in Essex county, Massachusetts, Janu- ary 22, 1852, son of Henry B. and Elizabeth (Leighton) Symonds, the for- mer a native of that same state and the latter of Maine. Henry B. Symonds was born in 1821, of old New England stock, and his wife was born in 1831, daughter of Smithson and Eliza ( Yallaly) Leighton, who left Maine in 1858 and moved to Michigan, settling about eighteen miles north of Benton Har- bor, where they spent the remainder of their lives. For some years after his marriage, Henry B. Symonds continued to make his home in Essex county, Massachusetts, where he was connected with saw-mills and factories, and in the fall of 1861 moved to Michigan, settling on a farm in Allegan county, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. In 1864 he enlisted for service in one of the Michigan regiments and was with the Army of the Potomac during the closing year of the Civil War. His death occurred in 1898 and his widow survived until 1908. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Franklin P. was the first-born, the others being as follow : Lewis, who lives in northern Michigan; Rensselaer, who lives in Allegan county, Michigan; Warren and Willard, twins, the former of whom died in Michigan in 1914 and the latter of whom was last heard from in Texas;
625
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Leander, who lives on the old home place in Allegan county, Michigan, and Abbie Jane, a daughter, who died in infancy while the family still lived in Massachusetts.
Franklin P. Symonds was about nine years of age when his parents moved from Massachusetts to Michigan and on the home farm in the forests of Allegan county he grew to manhood. When twenty years old, in 1872, he came to Minnesota and homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in section 2 of Lawrence township, Grant county, being one of the earliest settlers in that township. He there erected a claim shanty, twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions, with a shingle roof, and began to develop his place. Four years later he married and established his permanent home on the farm. In 1882 he built a substantial frame dwelling on his place and has several times remodeled and made additions to the house. In that same year he also built a new barn, which was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1890, after which he erected his present commodious barn. As he prospered in his affairs, Mr. Symonds added to his land holdings until now he is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of land in one body. He keeps a herd of about sixty Hereford cattle and about fifteen horses. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Creamery Company at Wendell and has been a stockholder in the same since the time of its organization. Politically, Mr. Symonds is a Prohibitionist. He has served as a member of the board of township supervisors, for some time chairman of that body, and has also served as township treasurer.
It was in 1876 that Franklin P. Symonds was united in marriage to Isabel Swift, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, a daughter of James Swift and wife, who came to Minnesota in 1871 and settled in Otter Tail county, and to this union five children have been born, of whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Walter, who died at the age of four months; Laura, who married Adolph Mann and lived on a farm in Lawrence township, west of the Symonds place; Mary, a music teacher, who makes her home with her parents, and Lewis, also at home. The Symondses are members of the Pres- byterian church and have ever given earnest attention to the general good works of their community.
Reared on the paternal homestead in Lawrence township, Fred H. Symonds received his elementary education in the public schools of his home district and supplemented the same by a course in the high school at Fergus Falls, after which he remained on the home farm, a valued assistant to his
(40a)
626
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
father in the development of the same, until 1911, the year before his mar- riage, when, in partnership with his father, he bougth the southeast quarter of section 2 in Lawrence township. A year later he bought his father's inter- est in the same and has since been the sole proprietor. He has improved the farm in admirable shape and has a very comfortable and pleasant home. Mr. Symonds is a shareholder in the farmers' creamery at Wendell. He is a Democrat and is the present chairman of the board of supervisors of Law- rence township. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Wen- dell and with the Modern Woodmen of America at the same place, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
It was on December 12, 1912, that Fred S. Symonds was united in mar- riage in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, to Ethel Borst, who was born at Inde- pendence, in Trempealeau county, that same state, March 16, 1890, daughter of Henry and Annie ( Bugbee) Borst, the former a native of Iowa and the latter of Wisconsin, who settled in Trempealeau county after their marriage and later moved to Buffalo county, where Henry Borst is still making his home and where his wife died on April 30, 1912. To this union two children have been born, Annie Elizabeth, born on November 1, 1913, and Franklin Borst, December 9, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Symonds are members of the Pres- byterian church and take an active interest in the beneficences of the same, as well as in all movements designed to advance the common welfare of the community in which they live.
CHARLES S. PETERSON.
Charles S. Peterson, a well-known merchant at Evansville, doing an extensive business in the furniture and retail-meat line, is a native of Iowa, but has been a resident of Minnesota since he was four or five years of age. He was born at Osage, Iowa, December 23, 1873, son of Andrew and Elsa Peterson, natives of Sweden, who were' married in their native land and in the latter sixties came to the United States, settling in Iowa, whence they later came to Minnesota, settling in Douglas county, where the latter spent the rest of her life and where the former is still living.
Andrew Peterson had been trained to the trade of blacksmith in his native country and upon locating at Osage, Iowa, continued to follow his trade there until 1878, when he and his family came to Minnesota, driving through to Douglas county in a "prairie schooner." Mr. Peterson entered a
ยท
627
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
homestead tract of eighty acres in Urness township, on which he built a small claim shanty and established his home, living there many years. As his affairs progressed he erected a nice two-story frame house and good farm buildings, and otherwise improved the place until he had one of the best farms in that neighborhood. To his original homestead tract he added an adjoining "eighty" and farmed the quarter section until about 1901, when he sold his place and he and his wife moved to Alexandria, where the latter died in 1905 and where he is still living. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three died in infancy, the others being as follow: Ellen, wife of M. A. Schledrup, of Minneapolis; N. A., a farmer, living two miles west of Alexandria; Mary, wife of Oscar Nelson, of Alexandria; Charles S., the subject of this biographical sketch, and Wilbert, of Two Harbors, this state.
Charles S. Peterson was not yet five years old when his parents moved to Douglas county and he was reared on the pioneer farm in Urness town- ship, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of the same and supplementing the same by a course in a business college at Sauk Center, after which he clerked in the general store of S. P. Hanson at Sauk Center for about eighteen months. at the end of which time he returned to the home farm, where he remained until his marriage in the fall of 1895. In the meantime he had bought a tract of forty acres in Urness township, not far from the paternal homestead, and on that place he and his wife began housekeeping, remaining there two or three years. Mr. Peterson then sold his farm to advantage and moved to Hoffman, where he engaged in the res- taurant business, but about seven months later sold his restaurant and moved to Kensington, where he bought a meat market, to which he later added a livery stable. He remained at Kensington for more than nine years, at the end of which time he sold his business there and moved to Evansville, where, in partnership with his wife's brother, N. J. Lindstrum, he engaged in the hardware and farm-implement business, continuing thus engaged for about four years, when the firm sold out to the Evansville Hardware and Lumber Company. In the spring of 1915 Mr. Peterson opened a furniture store at Evansville and also opened another meat market and is now conducting both establishments and is doing very well. His store is well stocked and his meat market is well equipped in up-to-date, hygienic shape. Mr. Peterson is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to political affairs. but has not been a seeker after public office, though he served as a member of the council while living at Kensington.
It was in October, 1895, that Charles S. Peterson was united in marriage
628
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
to Emma Lindstrum, daughter of Lars and Maria Lindstrum, pioneers of Douglas county, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Rudolph Irvin, who is now a student at Northwestern College at Fergus Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the same, as well as in all neighborhood good works.
JOHN W. NELSON.
John W. Nelson, a well-known farmer of Brandon township, Douglas county, and an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in Ireland on October 19, 1832, a son of William and Mary (Braden) Nelson. Thomas Nelson, the grandfather, was born in Ireland, where he followed farming. William Nelson, the father, was three times married, the first wife dying early, and the second was the mother of John W. Nelson, who was very young when his mother's death occurred in Ireland. The third wife was Catherine Collins and that union was without issue.
William Nelson came to America in 1850 and settled on a farm on Long Island, New York, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, the former dying there in 1896. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To William and Mary (Braden) Nelson the following children were born: John W., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who married and died in March, 1864, and James Goodfellow, an architect and builder at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
John W. Nelson received part of his education in Liverpool, England, where his father worked for some time in a grocery store. He later emi- grated to New York, then went to Philadelphia to visit his uncle, James G. Nelson, with whom he made his home until about 1865, when he came to Minnesota ; coming to the wilds of a new state to hunt, trap and fish-to get away from city life, which he never liked, and for awhile he made his living hunting and fishing throughout this "park region" of Minnesota. When he came here there were only one or two houses where now stands the town of Alexandria. He was one of the earliest pioneers of this county. He took up a homestead in 1865-in section 35 of what is now Brandon township- paying one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre for two hundred and two acres (that is for all over one hundred and sixty acres). In 1872 Mr. Nelson married Martha Stewart, whose death occurred in 1894. To their union the following children were born: Elizabeth, who married John Sherman; Mary
629
DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
Jane, who married Charles Williams; William J., who married Euchine Baker and now lives in Yellowstone county, Montana, and Martha, who mar- ried Louis Bylund and continues to live on the homestead farm.
Mr. Nelson cleared and developed his land in Brandon township; how- ever, he has a good deal of timber land yet. The land skirts Lake Nelson, which was named after him. He has been quite successful as a general farin- er and is one of the best-known citizens in his part of the county, which he has been influential in developing for half a century. He has lived through all the stages of progress that have been made in Douglas and adjoining counties, and talks interestingly of the early days here, when the land was still an Indian domain and wild game was abundant. He has always been a great lover of nature and of the outdoors. He once owned a good deal of land, but has given the major portion of it to his children. He prefers the simple life and has never cared for a pretentious home or the trappings of wealth in any form. He is now well advanced in years, but is hale and hearty, because of his outdoor life and steady habits. He is a fine type of the old pioneer hunter and has always worn his hair long, like other plains- men of an earlier day, a habit Mr. Nelson began in the early days to keep mosquitoes off his neck. Mr. Nelson has served as clerk of his school dis- trict and was chairman of the board of supervisors for several years. Dur- ing the Civil War he enlisted in the Fourth Union Regiment of Philadelphia, under Colonel McClain, and was corporal of Company F. His services were principally confined to Pennsylvania, where his command was on guard duty.
FRANK H. HEALD.
Frank H. Heald. register of deeds in and for Grant county and one of the best-known men in public life in this section of the state, is a native son of Grant county and has lived there all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Pomme de Terre township, January 17, 1872, son of Aaron and Margaret H. (Young) Heald, the former a native of the state of Maine and the latter of Scotland, pioneers in Grant county, where their last days were spent.
Aaron Heald was the son of Timothy and Elizabeth ( Martin) Heald, members of old families in New England, the former tracing his descent back to the days of the Pilgrims. They came West early in the fifties and located at Minneapolis, where they remained until about 1866, when they
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.