USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 9
USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume II > Part 9
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Theodore Bordsen was practically self-educated. What little schooling he received was in the public schools of Port Washington, Wisconsin. As a young man he came with the family to Douglas county and found employ- ment in working on the farm in the summer time. That his education was not neglected, and that he had made the best of his opportunity for self- education, is evidenced by the fact that he was qualified to teach school, and engaged in that occupation during the winter months. In 1873 he taught
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his last school and then took a position as clerk in the United States land office, holding that position for two years. After that he was for a short time engaged as clerk in a store. Since 1877 he has been continuously con- nected with some office in the court house in Alexandria. From 1877 to 1879 he was register of deeds. He was county auditor for nine years, and has been county treasurer since 1890.
In 1881 Theodore Bordsen was united in marriage to Marie Aaker, a daughter of L. K. Aaker, of Alexandria, and to this union three children have been born, Dr. Theo Laurence Bordsen, who is a physician and surgical specialist, of Portland, Oregon; Camilla, who married Albert O. Hayes, who is connected with the geological survey in Canada, and Carl W. Bord- sen, who is stenographer for United States Senator Knute Nelson in Wash- ington. Mr. and Mrs. Bordsen are members of the United church, of which he has served as trustee and also as clerk.
CHRIS JOHNSON.
Chris Johnson, a prominent and successful retired farmer and business man and president of the Grant County State Bank at Herman, was born in Sweden on October 26, 1851, being the son of John Johnson and wife. The parents were natives of Sweden and there lived their lives, they having died some years ago.
Chris Johnson received his education in Sweden and there grew to man- hood. He made his native country his home until he was twenty-five years of age. Being anxious to advance in financial affairs, he decided to come to America. Having the push and the determination he knew that he would succeed. In 1876 he left his home and came to Minnesota, locating at Her- man, where he engaged in railroading for a number of years, after which, in 1880, he homesteaded one hundred and and sixty acres of land in Max- well township, Grant county. He at once began the task of developing and improving his tract of land and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1892, in which year he entered the general mercantile business at Herman, in partnership with Frank Falstrom, under the firm name of Falstrom & Johnson, which partnership continued until the store was sold in 1910.
Upon disposing of the mercantile business, Mr. Johnson assisted in the reorganization of the Wells bank, the new banking institution being known
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as the Grant County State Bank. At the inception of the new bank, Mr. Johnson was elected a director and on July 3, 1914, was made president of the institution. Other than his connection with the bank he has been retired from business since 1911.
In 1885 Chris Johnson was united in marriage to Tilda Anderson, also a native of Sweden, who came to this country alone the same year that she was married. To this union have been born five children, Hilda, Hugo, Roy, Herbert and Enoch. The family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and take an active interest in church work.
Chris Johnson's life has been a valuable and useful one in the com- munity in which he has lived so long. He has always taken an active part in local affairs and his efforts have ever been for progress and advancement. He is recognized as a man of sterling worth, with high ideals and noble purposes.
MAGNUS B. RUUD, M. D.
Dr. Magnus B. Rund, of Alexandria, coroner of Douglas county and one of the best-known young physicians in this part of the state, is a native son of Minnesota and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at Fosston, in Polk county, March 4, 1887, son of Edward Ruud, a well-known druggist of that place. Upon completing the course in the public schools he became an aid to his father in the drug store and later entered the Uni- versity of North Dakota, from which he was graduated, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1907, after which he entered the medical department of the University of Minnesota and was graduated from that institution, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1911. For about a year thereafter Doctor Rund was engaged as an interne in the University hospital and then took the practice of a physician at Lowry for three months. In April, 1912, the month in which he was married, Doctor Rund moved to Alexandria, where he began the practice of his profession and where he has ever since been located, having built up a fine practice in and about Alexandria. Doc- tor Rund has taken an active interest in local civic affairs since locating at Alexandria and is now serving as coroner of Douglas county. He also is the local surgeon for the Soo Line Railway Company. Doctor Ruud is an active member of the Alexandria Commercial Club, an earnest factor in the work of promoting the best interests of his home town, and is also a member of the Douglas County Medical Society, of the Minnesota State
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Medical Association and of the American Medical Association. in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
It was on April 4. 1912, that Dr. M. B. Rund was united in marriage to Ella May Oie, of Cooperstown, North Dakota, and to this union two sons have been born, John Edward and Robert Henry. Doctor and Mrs. Ruud attend the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all local good works, ever helpful in the work of promoting such agencies as are designed to advance the common welfare hereabout.
OLE B. IVERSON.
Ole B. Iverson, one of the well-known business men of Norcross, was born in Vernon county, Wisconsin, on October 3. 1861, the son of Baard and Susan Iverson, natives of Norway, who were married in Dane county. Wisconsin, where they lived for some years, at the end of which time they moved to Vernon county, same state, where the father engaged in general farming, and became the owner of two farms. They remained residents of Vernon county until 1879, when they came to Minnesota. and located in. Gorton township, Grant county, where Mr. Iverson homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. He developed and improved that farm and there he and his wife made their home until 1891, when they returned to the land of their nativity, where they died some years ago. They were the par- ents of four children, Christina, Agrim, Ole B. and Hannah, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the only survivor.
Ole B. Iverson received his education in the public schools of Vernon county, Wisconsin, and there grew to manhood. As a lad he assisted his father with the work on the home farm and when the family moved to Grant county he continued farming and is now the owner of the old homestead in Gorton township. There he did much in the way of development and improvement, and engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1901. in which year he retired from the farm and moved to Elbow Lake, where he engaged in the wood business for some two years. He then moved to Norcross, where he conducted a saloon and bowling alley for six years, and since that time has operated a pool room. He continues, however, to look after the interests of his farm and has been quite successful.
In 1891 Ole B. Iverson was united in marriage to Mary Hanson, of
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Grant county, and to this union one child was born, who died in infancy. Mary Iverson died in 1802 and in 1893 Mr. Iverson was married to Bertha Hawkinson, who was born in 1875 in Wisconsin, the daughter of Knute and Carrie Hawkinson, who moved from their home in Wisconsin to Grant county in 1878 and bought a homestead right in Gorton township, where the father died and where the widow, with her son, Louis Hawkinson, still lives. To Ole B. and Bertha Iverson have been born six children, Mary, Sophia, Olivia, Benne, Arthur and Albert, all of whom are living save Olivia. Mr. and Mrs. Iverson are active members of the United Lutheran church and take a proper interest in church work. They have long been prominent in the social life of the community in which they live.
Politically, Ole B. Iverson is identified with the Republican party and has always taken an active interest in local affairs. He does not aspire to office, yet he has ever used his influence to further the interests of his home community.
WILLIAM F. BEHRENDS.
William F. Behrends, one of the well-known and successful business men of Alexandria, was born at Appleton, Minnesota, on March 31, 1893, the son of Frederick and Augusta ( Henkle) Behrends, natives of Germany and Minnesota, respectively.
Frederick Behrends resided in the Fatherland until he was sixteen years of age and there learned the butcher's trade, at which he worked for some years in the land of his nativity. At the age of sixteen he came to America and on his arrival in the United States came directly to Minnestoa and located at Lamberton, where he worked at his trade for some time. While a resident there he was married to Augusta Henkle and later he and his wife moved to Appleton, where Mr. Behrends operated a meat market and invested in land. He continued in the meat business for many years, but for the past few years he has devoted his time to the buying and fattening of cattle. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of good land, the most of which he uses for pasture. In addition to his large farm, he is the owner of much other land which he rents.
Frederick and Augusta Behrends are the parents of five children, Har- riet, Mabel, William F., Elizabeth (deceased), and one who died in infancy. Harriet is the wife of C. L. Stuart, a tailor of Havre, Montana, and Mabel married J. M. Keene, a train dispatcher, of Havre, Montana. Mr. and
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Mrs. Behrends are prominent in the social and religious life of the con- munity and Mr. Behrends has always taken an active interest in the local affairs of the township, where he is recognized as one of the substantial and promi- nent citizens.
William F. Behrends completed his schooling in the high schools at Appleton, and was graduated from the same with the class of 1912. Dur- ing the last three years of his high-school work he was employed in a drug store and for fourteen months thereafter worked in a drug store at Havre, Montana, and then returned to Minnesota, where he entered the State Uni- versity and completed the course in pharmacy there in 1915. He took the state examination and received his certificate three months before his gradu- ation. After he had completed his work at the university Mr. Behrends was employed by a drug firm at Crookston for six months, at the end of which time, on November 8, 1915, he went to Alexandria, where he pur- chased the drug stock of C. A. Waldren. Since assuming possession of the store he has added to the stock and made many changes in the store. In addition to his complete line of drugs he handles wall paper, maga- zines, books, candies and photographic supplies and has an up-to-date soda fountain, which is of the latest sanitary type. He caters to the best trade of the community and his motto, "Courteous Treatment," is strictly adhered to by all connected with the store. During his short business career in Alexandria Mr. Behrends has won the confidence and the respect of the people of the community by his courteous and business-like principles. He believes in keeping the best of all articles and especially does he look after his supply of pure drugs, believing, as he does, that the public is entitled to the best that can be obtained. His stock is ever fresh, and he buys in quantities that make it possible for him to give the people the latest supplies on the market.
On June 25, 1915, William F. Behrends was united in marriage to Avis B. Sloss, and to this union one child, Jean, has been born,. Mr. and Mrs. Behrends are active members of the Congregational church, take much interest in church work and are prominent in the social and religious life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them. They take much interest in the betterment of the social and the moral conditions of their home town and have devoted much time and attention to this line of work.
While in school, William F. Behrends was active in the student life of the university and was a member of the Phi Delta Chi fraternity, in the affairs of which he took a prominent part. Since becoming a resident
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of Alexandria he has taken an active interest in local affairs and is a sup- porter of all enterprises that have a tendency to promote the growth and development of the community.
HON. GEORGE P. CRAIG.
The Hon. George P. Craig, judge of probate for the county of Douglas and one of the best-known and most influential residents of the city of Alexandria, is a native of the Old Bay state, but has been a resident of this section of Minnesota since he was twelve years of age and has consequently been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development that has marked this region during the past half century. Judge Craig was born in the old city of Salem, Massachusetts, July 14, 1855, son of George B. and Sophia W. ( Wilson ) Craig, the former a native of the state of Massa- chusetts and the latter of New Hampshire, who later became pioneers of this section of Minnesota and spent their last days in Douglas county, for many years honored and influential residents of the Osakis neighborhood.
George B. Craig had quite an adventurous career before coming to Minnesota to take up his final residence on a homestead farm in Douglas county. He was born in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, March 1, 1831, son of Samuel and Clarissa ( Perkins) Craig, the former of whom, a native of Maine and of Scottish descent, was for many years a provision merchant in that city. Upon completing his schooling in the schools of his native city. George B. Craig became a sailor and for ten years followed the sea, visiting nearly all the important ports of the world. In the days before the discovery of gold in California he spent several years in that territory and then returned to his boyhood home, where he married and for ten years thereafter was in partnership in business with his father. In 1864 he again responded to the call of the sea, and became a sailor on a vessel that after a tempestuous voyage around Cape Horn presently put into port at San Francisco. Until the spring of 1866 Mr. Craig remained on the Pacific coast and then started out into the wilds of British Columbia with a small party on what proved to be a fruitless quest for gold, afterward returning down the Columbia river to Colville, proceeding thence over into Montana, where during the summer of 1866 he delved in the mines. In the fall of that year he and thirteen others equipped a small boat and floated down the Missouri river to Sioux City, Iowa, from which place he returned home
HON. GEORGE P. CRAIG.
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to Salem. During his arduous trip across the country through the West Mr. Craig determined to become a settler out here in the new country and in the spring of 1867 he came to Minnesota with his family, arriving at Osakis on April 21 of that year. After a bit of prospecting he selected a homestead site at a point nine miles north of that village, in Douglas county, and there established his home, being thus among the very earliest settlers of that part of the county. The country thereabout at that time was all still in its wilderness state and he was compelled to cut a road for the last two miles on his way to his homestead site. Mr. Craig became one of the most substantial farmers in that section and for some time served as clerk of the township, in other ways also contributing of his time and his energies to the public service of the pioneer community. There he remained the rest of his life, his death occurring in February, 1900. His widow remained on the homestead place until the fall of 1914, after which she made her home with her son, Frank W. Craig, at Osakis, where she died in August, 1915, being then ninety years of age. She was born on a farm in New Hamp- shire, August 17, 1825, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (George) Wil- son, natives of that same state, but whose last days were spent in Massa- chusetts. To George B. and Sophia W. (Wilson) Craig five children had been born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Frank W., Clara W. (deceased), Walter J. (deceased), and Clara S.
George P. Craig was not quite twelve years old when he came to Minne- sota and he grew to manhood on the homestead farm north of Osakis, com- pleting his schooling in the district school that early had been organized in that neighborhood. From the days of his boyhood he was an able assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the homestead farm and continued farming until he entered upon his official duties in the court house at Alexandria in 1897. He had early begun to take an interested part in the civic affairs of his home community and of the county at large and became widely known in political circles throughout the county. Pre- vious to 1897 he had held minor public offices and on January I of that year became deputy register of deeds. So satisfactorily did he perform the important duties of that position that he was retained in the register's office for sixteen years, or until entering upon the duties of judge of probate for Douglas county, to which important office he was elected in 1912. In the succeeding election of 1914 Judge Craig was re-elected and is now serv- ing his second term as judge of probate. He is a member of the United (7a)
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Modern Brotherhood of America and of the Ancient Order of United Work- men, in the affairs of which organizations he takes an active interest, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various beneficences of which they take a warm interest, as well as in all community good works, helpful factors in the promotion of all agencies for the better- ment of conditions hereabout.
It was on March 14, 1891, that Judge Craig was united in marriage to Ada M. Richards, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Henry Rich- ards and wife, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Ver- mont, who had located in Wisconsin and who had later come to this sec- tion of Minnesota, settling in Douglas county among the pioneers of 1868. To this union two children have been born, Mary R., who is a clerk in the office of the treasurer of Douglas county, and Guy G. B., now a student in the Alexandria high school.
ALFRED J. DAHL.
Alfred J. Dahl, merchant and postmaster at Ashby, was born at Eagle Lake, Ottertail county, this state, August 1, 1882, of Norwegian ancestry, his parents, John A. and Alva B. (Johnson) Dahl, both being natives of the kingdom of Norway.
John A. Dahl came to America when a young man. He first located in Wisconsin and later came to Minnesota and located at Ashby; later going to Eagle Lake, Ottertail county, where he remained for some years. He then returned to Ashby where he has since continued to live. He is a carpenter by trade. Mr. Dahl has been twice married. His children by his first marriage are Alfred J., Isabella and Edgar. His second wife was Josephine Bothum and the children by this marriage are Mabel, Pearl and Walter, Politically, Mr. Dahl is independent.
Alfred J. Dahl received his early schooling in the public schools of Ashby. He afterwards attended the business college at Hutchinson, Min- nesota, and completed his business course in the business college at Min- neapolis. After leaving college he was employed for a time as a clerk in a general store at Ashby. In 1908 he engaged in the meat business with Frank Bemis as a partner, this partnership continuing for about a year, when Mr. Bemis bought his partner's interest and conducted the busi- ness alone. In 1908 Mr. Dahl was appointed postmaster of Ashby, and at
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that time he bought the office of the Ashby Post and became proprietor of that paper, continuing to own it for about three years. In 1913 he sold the paper and a year after bought one of the two meat markets in the town and formed a partnership with the owner of the other meat market. A year later that partnership was dissolved and Mr. Dahl still continues in business in connection with his duties as postmaster. He recently formed a partnership with Theodore Peterson in the mercantile business and has a very complete store called the "Quality Store."
In 1906 Alfred J. Dahl and Alessa V. Johnson were united in mar- riage. To this union two children have been born, Harold and Ethel. Mr. Dahl is independent in politics. He has served for some time as village clerk. His lodge membership is with the Woodmen.
REV. EMIL JOSEPH STEINACH.
The Rev. Emil Joseph Steinach, pastor of St. Nicholas Catholic church at Belle River, to which also belong the Catholics of Carlos, was born at Uzumach, Switzerland, February 14, 1868, son of Emil Joseph and Gene- vieve (Fritschi) Steinach, both of whom spent their lives in their native land. The father was a tanner and saddler by trade.
The subject of this review spent his boyhood in his native land where he attended the common schools and an academy. When sixteen years old he came to America, a member of a large party of immigrants, and entered a convent in Mercer county, Ohio. After finishing his studies there he entered the Indian school at Rensselaer, Indiana, as a teacher, and remained there until in December, 1890. He was then ordained to the holy priest- hood by Archbishop Elder at Cincinnati, Ohio, December 22, 1890, after which he entered the seminary at Carthagena, Ohio, as teacher of Latin and Greek, and also did hospital work at Dayton and Cincinnati. From there he went to the Bunning Indian School in California, where he taught among the Pueblo Indians for three years, at the end of which time he returned to Burkettsville, Ohio, where he built a parochial school and had charge of the parish at Burkettsville for over one year. While there his parents died in Switzerland. At his own request, Father Steinach became secularized and entered the diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota, as a secular priest. About that period he sent for his two sisters in Switzerland and they made their home with him. His first charge was at Holdingford, Minnesota, where
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he spent eighteen months; then spent three years at Sauk Center, building a new parochial school while there. He then went to Fergus Falls and had charge of the parish there, also of the parishes of Elizabeth, Pelican Rapids and Maine, all in Ottertail county. After spending. about one year there he took charge of the parish at Breckenridge, and there built a com- fortable priest's house. Father Steinach then went to Wheaton, Traverse county, and had charge of the work there, also at Dumont and Cillis at the same time. Six months later he was transferred to Rice, Benton county, where he spent about eight years, during which time he built a new parochial school and also taught school. He then was transferred to the parish of St. Nicholas, in Belle River township, Douglas county, where he has since remained. During his work there covering eight years, Father Steinach has greatly increased the congregation and in 1916 completed a new church edifice.
Father Steinach is a member of the Knights of Columbus at Long Prairie. He founded lodges of Foresters at Sauk Center and at Brecken- ridge (one each for men and women), and one at Rice. He is not now a member of the Foresters.
ROBERT F. RARER.
Robert F. Rarer, a well-known and substantial farmer of Grant county, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Gorton township, besides other lands in the county and a quarter of a section in California, is a native of the old "Buckeye" state, but has been a resident of Minnesota since 1876 and of Grant county since 1880, in which year he took up a tree claim in Delaware township. He was born on a farm in the near vicin- ity of Enosville, Ohio, September 30, 1859, son of George and Rosa (Vance) Rarer, natives of Pennsylvania, who grew up in that state and were married there, after which they made their home on a farm about a mile from Enos- ville, Ohio, where they lived until 1865, when the family moved to the vicinity of Tower Hill, in Shelby county, Illinois, where George Rarer bought a farm and made his home for many years, later leaving the farm and moving into Tower Hill, where he engaged at the wagon-making trade; later mov- ing to Irving, in Montgomery county, that same state, where he was engaged at the same trade until his retirement from business, when he returned to Tower Hill, where he spent his last days, his death occurring at the age of seventy-seven years. His widow, who was his fourth wife, survived him
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