USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 59
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A. Larson, manager of the Albert Lea Construction Company, was born in Denmark on September 6, 1860, the son of Lars C. and Golvanna M. (Swenson) Larson. He was a mason and fol- lowed his trade up to the time of his death. The mother still lives in Denmark. The subject of this sketch attended the schools of Denmark and after leaving school followed the carpenter trade. Coming to America in 1885, he located in Hamilton county, Iowa, and followed his trade there for fourteen years. Then Mr. Larson came to Albert Lea, where he followed his trade as mason until 1907, in which year he established the North Albert Lea Con- crete Works. He conducted this business for two years and later incorporated and called the firm of the Albert Lea Construction Company. They manufacture everything in the line of concrete. In the year 1880 Mr. Larson was married to Amelia Larson, a
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native of Denmark. To their home have been born eleven chil- dren, two of whom are dead : Louis, of Albert Lea ; Johanna, now Mrs. Schultz, of Waterloo, Iowa; John, with his father; Mary, Minnie, George, Henning, Roy and Annie, all at home, and John and Stena, both dead. Mr. Larson is a Republican in his political life and attends the Danish Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Danish Brother- hood and owns his residence on Bridge street.
William M. Lane, a prosperous and progressive real estate dealer of Albert Lea, was born in Chicago. Ill., February 27, 1855, a son of Elijah B. and Amanda M. (Grannis) Lane. He spent his boyhood in Chicago and attended the excellent public schools of that city. When but seventeen years of age he went to California and there remained one year. Afterward he re- turned to Chicago, but after a stay of one and a half years there, he again started for California. However, he found a favorable business opportunity at Waterloo, Iowa, and there remained about two years, in the meantime marrying Margaret Eason, of that city. In 1888 he came to Freeborn county and purchased a farm of 120 acres in Alden township, where he conducted farming operations until the fall of 1908. It was during this year that he began to trade in real estate as a partner of P. Augustus Peter- son. In 1911 E. E. Chadwick purchased the interest of Mr. Peter- son, and the firm, which makes a specialty of city property, has since been known as Lane & Chadwick. In political life Mr. Lane is an independent voter. He attends the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. While living at Alden he was assessor for ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have a pleasant home at 919 North Pearl street. Their two daughters are: Nellie, now Mrs. W. W. Demmon, of Albert Lea, and Mabel M., who lives at home.
J. L. Klemme, one of Albert Lea's jewelers, was born in Vin- ton, Iowa, on December 2, 1877, only son of J. P. and Margaret Klemme, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. The father came to Iowa when a boy, locating in Winneshiek county. Later he removed to Vinton, where he was married. At this time he and his brother went into the dry goods business in Vinton. They car- ried on this business for some time. In 1883 J. L. came to Albert Lea, where he established a wholesale butter, egg and poultry business, in which he continued until January 1, 1910. He is now interested in the Lembke Dry Goods Company, of which he is secretary. The subject of this sketch attended the grade and high school of Albert Lea, and upon leaving school worked with his father about seven years. Subsequently he went into the piano business, representing various makes, and later added jewelry to his line of goods. His store was first located at 101
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Clark street, later at 135 South Broad, and in 1908 moved into the Lembke Dry Goods store, where he now carries a full line of jewelry and is also representative for the Schiller piano. He is a Republican and a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. Mr. Klemme never aspired to the holding of any public office.
B. H. Knatvold, a banker and a furniture dealer, one of Albert Lea's most progressive business men, is a native of Norway, born on December 16, 1855. His parents, Egbert and Bertha Knatvold, came to America in 1862 and located in Wisconsin, where they remained only six months, then going to Austin, Minn., living there a short time. Leaving Austin they removed to Hayward township, Freeborn county, where the father farmed until his death. He enlisted in the Civil War and served until he was dis- abled. The mother died at the home of her son, B. H. Knatvold, in Albert Lea, where she had lived since her husband's death. The subject of this sketch gained his education in the district schools of Freeborn county and the high school of Albert Lea, after which he clerked in a drug store for a year. Then for two years Mr. Knatvold clerked in a general store. At the end of this time he entered the hardware store with his brothers, T. V. and H. E., for seven years, during this time acquiring an interest in the busi- ness. He sold his share in the firm eighteen years ago and estab- lished his present business in furniture and undertaking, at which he has been very successful. Mr. Knatvold was married in 1884 to Christine Jorgenson, and their home has been made happy with four children : Helen, now Mrs. Henry Sieglaff, whose husband conducts a cigar stand in the Hotel Albert; Robert, helping his father and who was in the Citizens' National Bank for three years ; Harriet and Rutlı, both at home. Politically Mr. Knatvold is a Republican. He is at present vice-president of the Citizens' National Bank and was at one time city treasurer. Mr. Knatvold lives at 410 Park avenue. His success has been made by the hardest work, and he is highly esteemed by all who know him. He is a Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Herbert E. Skinner was born in Albert Lea, Minn., March 5, 1871, and is the son of Robert B. and Martha J. Skinner, both pioneer residents of Freeborn county. He attended the public schools of Albert Lea, going through the high school and later spending two years at Macalester College, St. Paul, and one year at the Minnesota State University. Returning from school, he entered the employ of the R. B. Skinner Milling Company, where he remained for five years, serving the last two years as secretary of the company. Retiring from the milling business he opened a land and mortgage office, which he has ever since maintained. In addition to a big retail farm business he has wholesaled several
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large blocks of western lands and his real estate operations have been large and successful. He was married February 28, 1911, to Laura Christopherson, of Albert Lea, and lives on Park avenue. He is a member of Albert Lea Lodge, No. 66, Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Albert Lea Blue Lodge of Masons, a member of their Chapter and Commandery and a mem- ber of the Order of Mystic Shriners of Zurah Temple, Minne- apolis. Mr. Skinner was for four years a member of the city council. serving two years as chairman of the finance committee. He is a trustee of Albert Lea College and a trustee and member of the Presbyterian Church.
Robert B. Skinner, a resident of Freeborn county since 1861, and of Albert Lea since 1865, was born at Fort Ticonderoga, N. Y., on March 15. 1840. the son of John P. and Polly (Bisby) Skinner. The family left New York in 1852, settling first in Wis- consin. They came to Freeborn county in 1861, locating at Glen- ville. where the father died in 1872. The son remained in Wis- consin attending school and then came to Freeborn county. He worked on a farm for a short period and in 1862, in company with J. W. Smith, he organized a general store at Glenville, which they operated for a short time, under the firm name of Smith & Skinner. The business was successful and they decided to go in on a larger scale at the county seat. Accordingly, in 1865, they moved their stock of goods to Albert Lea and opened up in the Union block on Clark street, which, though one of the oldest buildings in Albert Lea, is still standing. Later they erected a double block on Broadway, which they occupied for several years as a general store, until the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Skinner then erected the brick building later occupied by W. W. Johnson as a clothing store, and engaged for a few years more in the mercantile business, part of the time alone and part of the time in company with William Hazelton. . In 1879, when the Minneapolis & St. Louis built through Albert Lea, Mr. Skinner left the mercantile business and erected the first large elevator ever built in Freeborn county. He later bought an elevator at Twin Lakes, and for some time was actively engaged in the grain business. About 1882, in company with his brother, John E. Skinner, he formed the R. B. Skinner Milling Company, which was successfully operated as a flour mill until 1905, when it was sold to a Minneapolis firm. Since 1905 Mr. Skinner has not been actively engaged in business, though he has maintained an office downtown and has bought and sold considerable land. In 1868 he was married to Martha J. Eliot, of Hawley, Mich., who died in 1910. As a result of this union four sons were born : Herbert E., Theodore G., Ray P. and Robert M. The three former reside in Albert Lea, where they are engaged in business, and the latter
R. B. SKINNER
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resides at Baudette, Minn., where he is engaged in the banking business. Mr. Skinner was one of the original incorporators of the Albert Lea Building & Loan Association, was one of the first directors and assisted very materially in the formation of this company. He is a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church of Albert Lea, and soon after the organization of this church was elected an elder, a position which he has held ever since. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge. While never active in politics, he has during his residence in Albert Lea been a mem- ber of the school board and has served one term as alderman from his ward, declining a re-election. He lives on Park avenue, is a thoroughly self-made man and has always had the best inter- ests of Albert Lea at heart.
Mrs. Robert B. Skinner was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York, September 5, 1847, daughter of Rev. George Eliot, a Methodist minister, and moved to Mower county, Minne- sota in 1866. In 1868 she was married to Robert B. Skinner, and moved to Albert Lea, where she resided until her death on Febru- ary 19, 1910. She was one of the original members of the library board, and was one of the founders and early members of the old Albert Lea Hospital Association, now known as the Naeve Hos- pital. She was a devout member of the Presbyterian church, and at her death was survived by her husband and four sons. Most of Albert Lea's pioneer women were women of strong mentality and of religious temperament. The excellent school system that the city now enjoys, the splendid church organizations, and the healthful moral tone of the community at large, is probably the outgrowth of the early influences of the county's noble band of pioneer women, whose ranks are fast growing thinner. Mrs. Skinner was one of these women, and her gentle sympathies and refining influences were always directed toward the uplift and betterment of the community.
Hans W. Jensen, secretary and sales manager of the American Gas Machine Company, of Albert Lea, was born near Copenhagen, Denmark, July 14, 1867, son of Nels Jensen and Anna (Felt- house) Jensen, who brought him to America and located in Rice- land township, Freeborn county, July 4, 1868. Some two and a half years later he was taken by them to Bath township, and there grew to manhood. He attended the country and city schools, taught school for a while, and took a course at Pillsbury Academy. Owatonna, in this state, from which he was graduated in 1892. After teaching at Bancroft, this county, two years he entered Dennison University at Granville, Ohio, but had spent but three months of his second year there when he was called home by the death of his father. After settling up the estate, he came to Albert Lea with his mother and entered the employ of the Briggs
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Drug Company for a year. The following year he spent in Cali- fornia, then returned to Albert Lea and became salesman for the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, now the International Harvester Company. He remained with this company fifteen years, was promoted from time to time, became cashier and assistant to the general agent, and remained with the agency four months after it was transferred to Mason City, Iowa. In January, 1910, he assumed the duties of his present position. He is also a stockholder and director in the same company. In politics Mr. Jensen votes independently. He is a thorough believer in work for young men, and is president of the City Sunday-School Asso- ciation, president of the local Baptist Brotherhood, and also secretary of the Baptist State Brotherhood. He was a member of the Baptist State Convention Board two years and its auditor one year. The Albert Lea Business Men's League and the Albert Lea Auto Club both count him as an enthusiastic and active member. The subject of this sketch was married September 7, 1898, to Carrie M. Nelson, of Bath township. He is a trustee of Pillsbury Academy at Owatonna.
Nels Jensen was born in Denmark and there married Anna Felthouse. They came to America July 4, 1868, located in Rice- land township, Freeborn county, Minnesota, and there remained some two and a half years, subsequently moving to Bath town- ship. There they farmed until his death, after which his wife came to Albert Lea, where she passed away ten years later. In the family were five children. Anna M. died at the age of sixteen years. Andrew N. still lives in Bath township. Nels P. attained considerable distinction in the Baptist denomination and became dean of the Scandinavian Theological Department of the Univer- sity of Chicago. He died at Sierre Madre, Cal., in 1895. James C. is a successful real estate dealer in Albert Lea. Hans W. is secretary and sales manager of the American Gas Machine Com- pany of Albert Lea.
Henry J. Harm, a jeweler of Albert Lea and president of the city council, was born in Boston, Mass., January 3, 1870, the son of John H. and Augusta Harm, both natives of Germany, who settled in the United States at the time of the Civil War, locating in Boston. The father was a wagon maker. Coming to . Minnesota in the '70s, he located in St. Peter, where he remained for some time, then coming to Albert Lea. Here he worked at his trade up to the time of his death, which occurred during a visit to Boston in 1878. The mother died December 30, 1906. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of Albert Lea. Upon leaving school he learned the jewelers' trade, and in 1904 bought out Theo. E. Schleuder's jewelry stock at 211 South Broadway, where he still carries on a successful business. Mr. Harm was married to Anna Marx, daughter of Herbert Marx,
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of Shakopee, on November 17, 1908. He is a Republican in his political affiliations, being chairman of the Republican County Committee, and is a loyal member of the Elks, Knights of Macabees. Mr. Harm is one of Albert Lea's progressive citi- Washington street. It is worthy of note that Mr. Harm's ener- getic advocacy of a better and bigger Albert Lea has resulted in some of the city's most notable improvements.
James F. Jones, pioneer and prominent citizen, now deceased, was one of the real builders of the county, and the importance of the village of Geneva as a trading point in the early days was due to his sagacity, business ability and industry. He was born in Onondaga county, New York, June 15, 1822. When quite young he was apprenticed, as was often the custom in those days, to a tanner, and subsequently mastered the trade of tanner, currier and shoemaker. At the age of twenty-one years he married Adelpha Moon, and after a few days the young couple started with a team of horses, a covered wagon, and some household goods for Milwaukee. Just before reaching their destination Mr. Jones was taken ill with a fever and was compelled, by reason of ill health, to spend the winter with his brother in that city. In the following spring he took up some land, but the subsequent year sold out and moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he purchased a farm. Three years later his health again failed, and, taking his wife, he returned to New York state, where he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. Every winter he brought the product of his labor to Wisconsin, traded the footwear for wheat, had the wheat made into flour at Janesville, and then shipped the flour from Milwaukee to Buffalo, where it was sold. He continued in this way for three years. Then he again took up his residence on his farm in Rock county. In 1856 he came to Freeborn county, bringing a stock of merchandise. With Capt. James Robson he pre-empted the site of Geneva, platted a village, established a hotel and a general store, and engaged in these pur- suits, combined with general farming. At the time of the Civil War the partnership was dissolved, and Captain Robson went to the front, where he was killed. Mr. Jones continued to live in Geneva, and with the passing of the years prospered and accumu- lated large tracts of land; becoming one of the substantial moneyed men of the county. He died in 1900 and his death was sincerely mourned. James F. and Adelpha (Moon) Jones were the parents of six children : Hiram, Eugene, Helen, Adelle, Jay and Mark. Mrs. Jones died in 1890.
Mark M. Jones is one of the well-known business men of southern Minnesota. Receiving his training under his father, James F. Jones, the sagacious founder of Geneva, and coming to Albert Lea as a young man, he has established his place in the
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business, social and political life of the county. His business of writing fire, windstorm, life and accident insurance is one of the largest in this part of the state, and while he makes no parade of the volume of business done in his office, insurance authorities de- clare that more than two-thirds of the fire insurance written in Albert Lea passes through his hands. He has done his share toward the upbuilding of Albert Lea by erecting, in 1903, in com- pany with Dr. A. C. Wedge, the beautiful Wedge-Jones block, a two-story structure of light brick trimmed with stone, located at the corner of Broadway and Main street. Born October 27, 1865, Mark M. Jones received his earlier education in Geneva, the place of his birth, and later attended a commercial college at Decorah, Iowa. He worked with his father until twenty-one years of age and then engaged in the mercantile business in Geneva for three years. After that he came to Albert Lea and worked in the First National Bank two years. This work was too confining, so he entered the drug business with Wedge & Barlow and stayed with them two years. Later he engaged in his present business. His offices in the Wedge-Jones building are among the best equipped in the state. Although he has many times refused to run for office, Mr. Jones served as a member of the city council eight years and was president of that body four years, his influence ever being toward the upbuilding and progress of the city. He belongs to Western Star Lodge, No. 26, A. F. & A. M .; Osman Temple, of St. Paul, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Albert Lea Lodge, No. 66, K. of P .; Albert Lea Lodge, No. 813, B. P. O. E .; Albert Lea Lodge, No. 61, I. O. O. F., and Cincapin Camp, No. 835, M. W. A. The subject of this sketch was married in 1893 to Mamie Wedge, daughter of Dr. A. C. Wedge. She died in 1905, leaving one son, Albert, born July 13, 1895. Mr. Jones and his son still make their home with Dr. and Mrs. Wedge.
Robert Anderson was born in Chicago, July 24, 1864. His parents, Erick and Marie Anderson, came from Denmark to America in 1864 and located at Racine, Wis., where they re- mained five years. In 1869 the family came to Freeborn county, where Erick Anderson obtained land and established a farm and home in Bath township. Here he remained until his death, in 1888. His wife survived him until 1897. Their son, Robert, was educated in the schools of the county and after leaving school clerked in the drug store of Barlow & Spicer, of Albert Lea, for twelve years. In 1897 he was elected to the office of register of deeds of Freeborn county, in which responsible position he was retained for ten years. Following this he accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Freeborn County State Bank, in which position he is still retained. In 1890 Robert Anderson was united in marriage to Marie Torgenson, and two children have blessed
ROBERT ANDERSON
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their home-Eulalia and Robert, Jr. Mr. Anderson is a progressive citizen and interested in all that helps to advance his home town and county. He is a vigorous Republican politically, and an in- fluential member of the Norwegian Synod, and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen's Lodge and the Danish Brotherhood. He is at present serving the public as clerk of the school board, and served four years as alderman of the Second Ward. He is also abstracter for Freeborn county.
T. L. Torgenson, a respected citizen of Albert Lea, was born in Norway, August 6, 1848, son of Lars and Anna Torgenson, who brought him to America in 1853. The family lived in Clayton county, Iowa, until the spring of 1860, when they came to Min- nesota and located in Manchester township, the father dying in 1869 and the mother in 1893. T. L. attended the district school and remained on the farm until 1875, when he moved to Free- born village and drove a stage from there to Albert Lea for the government. In 1877 he moved to Albert Lea. He was deputy sheriff fifteen years and was also one of the pioneer auctioneers of the county. At the incorporation of the city of Albert Lea he was one of the first police officers. Some years ago he retired, and now lives at 305 South Newton street. The subject of this sketch was married April 2, 1867, to Anna M. Fossum, and this union has been blessed with six children-Anna M. is the wife of Robert Anderson, of Albert Lea ; L. P. lives in Albert Lea ; Nora, now Mrs. Beckwith, lives in Portland, Oregon; George A., Thea- dora V. and Olive M. all live in Albert Lea.
S. L. Hanson, manager of the G. A. Olson Manufacturing Com- pany, is a native of Freeborn county, having been born here on August 16, 1869, the son of Ole Hanson Indahl and Gunild (Bagaason) Hanson, natives of Norway. The father was a farmer in Norway and came to America about 1852. He remained in Wisconsin and Illinois a short time and in 1856 came to Minne- sota, locating in Freeborn county, Bancroft township, where he farmed until his death in 1896. The mother still lives in Albert Lea. The subject of this sketch attended the district schools of Bancroft and later the Luther Academy, of Albert Lea, graduating from the commercial department in 1893. Leaving school, Mr. Hanson clerked in a store for about eight years and then entered the hardware business in partnership with his brother, C. J. Han- son, and Frank Hillebrand. They established the firm of Han- son-Hillebrand Hardware Company, continuing in this until 1904. At this time they consolidated with the Hille Hardware Company and incorporated under the firm name of Jewel Hardware Com- pany. Mr. Hanson sold out his interests in the fall of 1909. In the year 1903 the subject, with G. A. Olson and Alfred Chris- topherson, established what is known as the G. A. Olson Manu-
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facturing Company, manufacturers of farm appliances. Mr. Han- son has taken an active part in the business since 1904 and spends his time during the winter months on the road for the firm. Ida Anderson became his wife in 1904, and their home has been blessed with two children-Oren Ellen and Magdalene Louise. Mr. Hanson is an independent voter and attends the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He makes his residence at 206 Adams avenue. Mr. Hanson is an up-to-date and progressive business man, and is always interested in the welfare of his home city.
O. C. Hayden, a progressive clothing merchant of Albert Lea, was born in Black Hawk county, Iowa, March 25, 1852, the son of O. M. and Eleanor (Session) Hayden, natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively. The father was a farmer and came to Iowa about 1852, locating in Black Hawk county. He farmed there a number of years and then went to Nebraska, where he entered the clothing business. After being there some fifteen years, he went into Canada, where he conducted a clothing busi- ness until the time of his death in 1909. His wife died in 1908. The subject of this sketch attended the district schools of Iowa and went one term to Grinnell Academy in Iowa. Leaving school, he worked on the farm and ran threshing machines. About 1877 he came to Freeborn county, where he farmed and auctioneered about five years, after which Mr. Hayden entered the mercantile business at Glenville. The next few years he was in business in Albert Lea and Twin Lakes, then going to Duluth, where he was in the commission business. At the end of two years Mr. Hayden established a wholesale grocery in Duluth. In 1890 he sold out this business and came to Albert Lea, going into a general mer- chandise business in partnership with W. F. Gage, the firm name being Gage-Hayden Company. Mr. Hayden was the buyer and manager of the clothing department. In 1902 Mr. Hayden sold out and entered the clothing and shoe business in the Nissen Block and later in the Wedge-Jones Block, where he was president of O. C. Hayden & Co., Inc., a general department store. About 1908 his stock was burned out and he established another clothing and shoe business. He now has one of the finest equipped stores of its kind in the state and does a most flourishing business. In the year 1873 Mr. Hayden was united in marriage to Lottie Burn- ham, daughter of Julius and Julia A. Burnham. To their home have been born three children-Julius Clyde, a lawyer in Es- canaba, Mich .; Wynne, M. D., of Sedan, Kas .; Victor, who died when eighteen months old. In his political life Mr. Hayden is a Democrat, and he affiliates with the Congregational Church. He is a faithful member of the Masonic and Woodmen fraternities, but never aspired to any public office. His pleasant home is sit- uated at 1102 Ermina street.
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