USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 65
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this biography received his education in the common schools of the county and later worked on the home farm. He followed farming till 1900. at which time he came to Emmons and pur- chased from his brother the store which he had conducted some years. Since that time he has engaged in the mercantile busi- ness here. In 1880 he married Betsy Sorbo, daughter of Ole and Gunvur Sorbo. natives of Norway, who were pioneers in Worth county. Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Clemmetson have been born three children : Emma, who is now Mrs. Adolph Leonhardi. and Grace, who is at home; Emma, the first child, is deceased. For- merly a Republican and now a progressive, Mr. Clemmetson endeavors to cast his ballot and use his influence for the best men. rather than for party organization. He is a member of the village council at present and has held town and other offices while living in Worth county, Iowa. He is a member and an active worker in the Lutheran Church and belongs to several fraternities, among which are M. B. A., A. O. U. W. and Sons of Norway.
Henry A. Ebert, the prosperous hardware merchant of Alden. was born in Jackson county. Minnesota, in 1871. His parents were Fred and Bertha (Hohenstein) Ebert, natives of Germany. who came to the United States in 1864 and settled in Minnesota. He spent his boyhood attending the district school near his old home and working for his father on the farm, and when he had reached the age of 20 years. he secured a position as a clerk and was employed in this capacity for eight years. At the end of this period he was able to assume the responsibility of conduct- ing a business, so he and his father bought the store in Alden. and he bought his father's interest in the business in 1903 and has since conducted it. He carries a large stock of hardware and harness and his careful management and hard work have made him one of the successful merchants in the village. He married Ada Packard. daughter of A. M. Packard, and they have two children. Veryl and Carrol. That Mr. Ebert has the confidence and esteem of the residents of Alden is shown by his serving as treasurer of the town for the past ten years. He is in every respect a public-spirited citizen.
James A. Finley, who for many years has held various offices of trust and responsibility in his township, is one of the promi- nent men in Alden. He was born in New Castle. Pa., March 19. 1868. and came to Minnesota with his parents, Alexander and Eliza (Johnston) Finley in 1882. He attended school in district 130. Alden township. and there acquired his early education. For five years after leaving school he worked as a carpenter in South Dakota. after which he returned to Minnesota and located in Mansfield, where he bought a farm on which he conducted
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diversified farming for a period of two years. He then sold this piece of property and purchased 160 acres of land in Alden, in section 34, and here has a well kept and valuable farm, which now comprises 340 acres. He has a large portion of this farm under careful cultivation and engages in general and dairy farm- ing. He married Alice, daughter of C. M. and Maletha (Metz) Oliver, and their home has been gladdened by the following children : Russell, Max, Claude, Carl, Faith, Merle and Grace.
Alexander Finley, a well known resident of Douglas county, was born in Ireland and came to America in 1846. He located first in Pennsylvania, where he was employed as a stone mason, and later he went to New Castle and secured employment in the iron works of that place. Wishing to see more of the country, and aiming to better his financial condition, he left Pennsylvania and spent one year in Illinois, after which he moved to Mans- field and became a farmer. Several years later he went to Alden and was here engaged in farming, an occupation which he conducted most successfully. He married Eliza Johnston of Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of James A. Finley, a progressive farmer of Alden.
Dr. J. H. Gleason, dentist and newspaper-man, was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, March 28, 1877, son of John and Rebecca (White) Gleason. His parents were natives of New York state and came to Goodhue in 1851. The father for some years drove the stage from Red Wing to Clear Lake, Ia., and later took a homestead in Goodhue county. He died in 1902; the mother is living with her daughter in Alden. J. H. was educated in the common schools of Goodhue county, and followed this with a high school course. After completing the high school, in 1894, he attended the business college in Red Wing two terms. He later took the complete course in the Chicago College of Dental Surgery. From the dental college he graduated in 1901 and soon after located in Alden, where he soon gained a lucrative practice. In 1909 he bought the Alden "Advance" and has since been successful in the newspaper work without injury to his dental practice. In 1902 he married Grace Lockwood, of Ackley, Ia. Dr. Gleason is a leader in the Republican circles of his vicinity and has been mayor of Alden three terms. In the fall of 1910 he was a candidate for Legislature and received the Republican nomination at the primaries, but was defeated at the general election. For a young man and one who is in a sense a new comer in the locality, he has made a great number of friends, who believe in him and have confidence in his judgment and ability. Though he has had responsibility placed on him before, it does not need the gift of prophecy to see that he will in the coming years be called upon to assume greater responsi-
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bility for his party and locality than he has in the past. He is a member of the B. P. O. E., M. W. A. and I. O. O. F.
A. V. Garlock, M. D., is a rising young doctor who is rapidly establishing a large practice in the town and township of Hartland. He was born in Carlston, September 22, 1884, son of John L. and Selina (Trigg) Garlock, the former of whom is a native of the Empire State and the latter of English birth. They came to Minnesota in 1866, where the father followed the occupation of farming until 1897, when they moved into the town of Wells and reside there at present. A. V., their son, went to the dis- trict school near Wells and later attended the high school in town. After finishing school he was employed for a year at teaching, after which he spent the succeeding five years in the drug business. In time he decided to practice medicine and went to Minneapolis and entered the Hamlin University for two years, and then the Northwestern College of Medicine, at Chicago, two years. He graduated from this institution in 1910, and came to Hartland in 1911, where he enjoys a large practice. He is a member of the M. B. A. lodge, M. W. A. and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
James Christianson, B. S. and M. D., was born in Denmark August 15, 1871, son of Christian and Lena (Hemmingsen) Soren- sen. He acquired his early education in his native land and came to the United States in 1892, where he was employed for some time as a farmer. He worked on a farm near Alden, Minn., and during the winter following attended school at Elkhorn, Ia .; later he attended the Normal Academy in Waterloo. After com- pleting the course at this academy, he attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Ia., and completed the course in Didactis and graduated from this institution in 1899. He then engaged in the study of medicine in the Iowa State University and grad- uated in 1905 with the degree of Bachelor of Science, besides his degree of Doctor of Medicine. While in attendance at the State University he was an assistant instructor in pathology and bac- teriology. He came to Alden in 1905 and established his office and he has won the confidence of the residents of that commu- nity. He married Maude Brachney, daughter of J. W. Brachney, of Washta, Ia .. in 1906. He at present is health officer of the city of Alden, county physician, and a member of the I. O. O. F., the M. B. A .. M. W. A. and D. B. S. lodges, and he is also a member of the National Grange.
George P. Meadowcroft, who for the past eight years has been clerk of London township, and also taken an active interest in the educational advancement of the town by serving as a mem- ber of the school board for ten years, is one of the popular and progressive men in that community. He was born in Wisconsin
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in 1854 and his parents, James and Katherine Meadowcroft, moved to Minnesota and located in London in 1865, where the father. though a tailor by trade, engaged in general farming, which industry he conducted most sucessfully. He passed away in 1875 and is survived by his widow and sons, James, George and William, and a daughter, Ellen. The subject of this biography attended the county schools when a boy, and assisted his father with the farm work, and, when he was 17 years old, he began working for himself, and for four years was employed by differ- ent farmers in the locality. At the end of this period he pur- chased some land and has added to this as he has been able and now owns eighty acres in section 11, London township; also 320 acres located in North Dakota. He carries on general and dairy farming and by hard work and good management has made his 'land most productive. Mrs. Jennie Bonallie Sang became his wife in December, 1899, and to them one daughter, Ima, has been born. Mr. Meadowcroft is a Socialist in his political views and he is recognized as a thoughtful and serious minded citizen, whose opinions are respected by friend and neighbor.
Alba F. Bump is a native of this county, having been born in London township, October 19, 1880. His parents, Percy and Marietta Bump, came to Minnesota from New York. The father served three years in the Civil War and was lieutenant in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteers. At the close of the war he returned to London and purchased 240 acres of land in sec- tions 22 and 27. He retired from active farming in 1894 and moved into the city of Austin, where he resides at present, and where he has taken an active part in the political affairs of the town. Alba F., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools in Austin and after finishing his education, he took up the work of the home farm, on which he resides now. He is interested in general and dairy farming and is vice-president of the Enterprise Creamery. On November 19, 1902, he was mar- ried to Ida Davison, and to them have been born three children : Thelma May, Edna Marietta, and Percy Fay. Mr. Bump is a staunch member of the Republican party and he belongs to the M. W. A. He is interested in all movements which tend to the betterment of his township and county.
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J. R. Lukes, the well known owner of the grain elevator at London, was born at Cleveland, Ohio, July 30, 1873. His parents, Anton and Mary (Vana) Lukes, were natives of Bohemia, who emigrated from that country to this in 1870 and located at Cleveland. Here the father worked at his trade as a wagon maker for many years, but eventually engaged in the grocery business until his retirement. J. R., his son and subject of this biography, was an ambitious and industrious boy, receiving his
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primary education in the graded schools of Cleveland, and later attending night school, working during the day as a carpenter. When he was 21 years of age he decided to come West and make his way in the world. He worked for a time at his trade as carpenter in Freeborn county and then taught school for four terms. In 1902 he accepted a position as the manager of the Central Lumber and Coal Company at London, and performed the duties of this office most ably for five years. He took charge of the grain elevator in 1907, which he had purchased four years previous to that time, and where he is engaged in business at present, buying and selling all grains grown in this fertile state. Annie Raymond, daughter of Joseph Raymond, one of the first settlers in Oakland township, was married to Mr. Lukes in 1898 and a daughter has come to brighten their home; Libby. Mr. Lukes has ever taken an active interest in the affairs of his community, was clerk of the school board three terms, is a stockholder in the creamery and also stockholder and director in the London State Bank. He is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges at Lyle, Minn., and of the Z. C. B. J. He favors the policies of the Socialists and votes with them.
Charles L. Butts, retired farmer and veteran of the Civil War, was born in La Grange county, Indiana, in 1844, the son of Jacob and Sarah Butts. In 1856 he came to Minnesota and made his first home in this state in Ramsey, where he secured employment until the war between the North and South broke out and then he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Minnesota Volunteers, and went to the front. He saw active service in the following bat- tles : Chickamauga, Corinth, Iouka, Vicksburg and Nashville, as well as many other battles of less importance. In 1865 he was honorably discharged and came to Austin, where he was en- ployed at masonry work for several years. In 1887 he pur- chased eighty acres of land in section 24, London township, and followed general farming. He made many improvements on his property, including a large and very comfortable dwelling house, surrounded by a fine lawn and hedges, and he owns a valuable productive orchard. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party and he is a member of the G. A. R. Adeline Markett, born in New Hampshire in 1854, became his wife Decen- ber 20, 1871. and their marriage has resulted in two children : Cora, now the wife of Chris Carson, and Maude, who married William Wynn. of Mower county. They are members of the Christian Church.
Joseph Chrs, an early settler in this county, was born in Bohemia, where he grew to manhood and was married. He came to America in 1867, and located first in Chicago, where he remained for three years, after which he came to Minnesota and
JOSEPH CHRS AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
located in Mower county. In 1873 he moved to this county and settled on section 36, Hayward township, where he carried on general farming for five years, after which he went to section 24, there following the same occupation. In 1905, he retired from active life and moved into the village of Glenville, where he resides at the present time. Mr. Chrs married Frances Benes, of Bohemia, and their son, Joseph, is a prosperous farmer of Shell Rock.
Joseph Chrs, Jr., an influential citizen of Shell Rock town- ship, was born in Bohemia, January 6, 1856, son of Joseph and Frances (Benes) Chrs. He acquired his education in the schools of his native land and came to America in 1867. For a period of four years after his arrival in this country Mr. Chrs was engaged in farming in Illinois, after which he went to Chicago, where he secured employment in a box factory, and he worked there for four years. In the fall of 1875, he came to Minnesota and located on section 35, Hayward township. He purchased eighty acres at first and added to this as prosperity afforded, until he now owns 400 acres. In 1901 he purchased the farm on which he resides at the present time, moving to this location in 1903. This valuable farm is situated in section 8, and has been well improved and made more productive each year under the care given by Mr. Chrs. He is a loyal Republican, and he has held various offices in the townships in which he has made his home, having served as supervisor, also member of the school board for many years. He is a stockholder in the Citizens State Bank, at Glenville, and also a stockholder in the Glenville Creamery. He owes his pres- ent prosperous condition to his own efforts, having been an indus- trious man whose good judgment and common sense have won the respect of his fellow citizens. He was married March 3, 1878, to Josephine Schradle, who is also of Bohemian birth, and to them have been born five children, of whom, Emma, is the wife of John Funfar, of Hayward; Anton works the old farm in Hayward; Josephine, married Thomas Pocosky, of Hayward; Anna, lives at home; Joseph Lewis, is at home. The family faith is that of the Catholic Church.
H. R. Buchanan, who is a progressive farmer residing in Shell Rock township, was born December 26, 1878, son of William Buchanan, of Canadian birth. He spent his boyhood days attend- ing school in district number 50 and helping his father on the farm. When he completed his primary course in the country school he went to the Nora Springs Seminary, pursuing his studies there for two years, after which he returned to his home and there assisted his father for a time. He was given eighty acres of land by his father and later he purchased thirty acres and he has nearly all of it under a high state of cultivation, and
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here he conducts general farming. Sena Borshem, of Worth county. lowa, became his wife March 22, 1904, and three children have come to bless their home: Archie, Doris and Sidney. Mr. Buchanan is an independent voter, but has devoted most of his life to carrying on the work of his farm and has not mingled in politics.
S. R. Buchanan was born September 15, 1883, the son of William and Ruth (Beighley) Buchanan, who came to Freeborn county in the sixties and located in Shell Rock, where William Buchanan acquired 500 acres of land and carried on extensive farming operations until 1907. In 1907 he moved to Northwood, la., where he now resides and buys and ships .stock. S. R. was educated in the common schools of the county, followed by a two years' course at Nora Springs Seminary, where he completed the business course in 1904. After finishing his studies he taught in the business department of his alma mater two years. He later returned to Shell Rock township and rented the old home farm of 280 acres and here carries on general farming and stock rais- ing. In 1907 he married Mabel Gullickson. of Northwood. Ia., and to them two children, Arcley Ann and Wilbur Ross, have been born. Mr. Buchanan is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is a Republican and has served as member of the board of supervisors, and is now town clerk.
Anders Pedersen, a farmer citizen of Carlston township, was born in Torpe, Moen, Denmark, October 27, 1839. He migrated from his native land to America in 1869. After a short stay in Wisconsin he moved west to Minnesota, locating in Freeborn county. The first year he worked on farms in the neighborhood during harvest season and during the fall and winter was employed in a furniture store in Owatonna. Meantime he had purchased ninety acres of land in Carlston township. In the spring of 1869 he was married to Bodil Kirstine Jensen, and moved onto the farm he bought. To them were born two sons : Jens P., born April 27, 1870, and Harold, born October 31, 1871. Jens P. now owns the fine home farm, which has expanded to 210 acres, all under cultivation, and his father is living with him. Harold is living at Holyoke. Col. »He is married and has two children, George and Helen. Anders Pedersen, the subject of this sketch, has been assessor and supervisor of Carlston town- ship and is one of the highly respected citizens of his community. Mrs. Pedersen died in 1897.
H. M. Wulff, the agreeable and genial postmaster of Hartland village, is a native of Norway, having been born in that country on the second day of June, 1847. His education was acquired in the schools of his native land and he there learned the carpenter's trade. When he was 19 years old, he sailed from the shores of
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ANDERS PEDERSEN
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
the homeland and came to America, landing at' Quebec. Later that same year he came west, first stopping in Detroit, Mich., and later making Chicago his headquarters. He remained in Chicago for ten years, working at carpentry and eventually was employed on the police force. In 1877, he came to Minnesota and settled in Hartland, where he followed his trade for two years and was appointed constable and marshal of the village, and later, deputy sheriff of the county. Mr. Wulff served in this capacity for five years and then engaged in farming. His farm was situated in sections 18 and 19, and the following nine years after he purchased this farm he tilled the soil and made many improvements on his land. In 1903 he moved into the village of Hartland and received the appointment of postmaster. Mr. Wulff married Belle Brictson, who is of Norwegian birth and parentage, and to this marriage ten children have been born: Harry, Agnes, Bella, Dora, Helma, Oscar, Hjalmar and Jacob; Dansforth and another Jacob are deceased. Agnes is the wife of E. R. Hopperstad, and they have one son, Ronald; Dora married Earl Cram and they are the parents of Ennis. The many respon- sible offices in the township which Mr. Wulff has occupied prove him to be a man who has the entire confidence and esteem of the residents of the community in which he resides.
J. D. Bighley, a respected citizen of Gordonsville, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvan , August 14, 1866. His parents were W. H. and Sarah Bighley, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Minnesota in 1868 and located on section 21, Shell Rock town- ship. Here they followed general farming until the Grim Reaper summoned them. Their son, the subject of this sketch, worked with his father on the farm and attended the school near his father's residence. When he completed his education, he learned telegraphy, an occupation which he followed for two years. He then went to Wisconsin, and became a carpenter, working at this trade for two years, after which he returned to Shell Rock and was employed by the Eckert and Williams Lumber Company four years ago and made its manager. Shortly after this, the business was sold to a new company and Mr. Bighley returned to his former occupation, at which he continued until 1907, when he secured the position of manager of the lumber yards at Gor- donsville, owned by the F: L. Crane Lumber Company of Austin, and here he is employed at the present time. Emma Piper, of Reeseville, Wis., became his wife in 1891, and their home has been brightened by the arrival of two children : Myrtle and Mabel. In political views, Mr. Bighley favors the Prohibition party and he is a member of the American Yoemen.
J. H. Lightly, a prominent citizen of Oakland, is of American parentage. His father and mother, John and Sarah (Earl)
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Lightly, were natives of New York State and they came to Wis- consin about 1846, where they remained for a period of ten years, after which they came to Oakland township and home- steaded land and engaged in general farming. It was here that the subject of this sketch was born March 4, 1866. His boyhood was spent helping his father on the home farm and acquiring his early education in the school near his home. In 1900 he assumed entire charge of the farm and his father retired from active life and moved into the village of Oakland, where his death occurred eight years later. From the farm Mr. Lightly went into the village of Oakland and in 1905 established a wagon and repair shop, where he conducts a profitable business now. He is the eldest of a family of nine children: Ed, H. B., C. H., Walter, Lou, Nellie, Rose and one who died in infancy. Mr. Lightly has been tendered several public offices which he never accepted. He attends the Baptist Church and votes with the Republican party. His mother died July 3, 1911.
Hans N. Bergerson was born on the farm where he now resides, on June 17, 1864. His parents, Nels and Helen Bergerson, were of the sturdy Norse stock which has done so much to make southern Minnesota the land of comfort which it is today. The mother died January 25, 1885, but the father lived to a ripe old age. He died in 1898, having rounded out a life of many years which were filled with good works, not alone for his family, to which he was devoted, but also to the community in which he lived. Hans N. was educated in the country schools, but when 21 he left school and began farming, and also took up the work of threshing grain for the farmers of his neighborhood, which work he followed eighteen falls. When his father retired from active farming he took up the work of the home place and has since conducted it and there is every evidence that he has done so successfully. He keeps about 35 head of Hereford cattle, raises 50 hogs annually, and keeps 11 head of horses and mules for farm and driving. He is a strong advocate of the dairy farm and is a stockholder in the Emmons Creamery. His farm is one of 130 acres, in section 29, Nunda. On October 4, 1896, he married Emma Iverson, of Silver Lake, Worth county, Iowa, and this union has been blessed with four children, the oldest of whom was Grace Helen, and the first great sadness was brought into the home by her death when but 6 years old. Nora Irene and Henry Earl attend school and with Grace Helen, the baby, make up the family. Mr. Ber- gerson is a member of the Lutheran Church. He votes with the Republican party and has been school clerk in district 44 for the past eight years, and has also held various offices in the creamery and church organizations, as well as being town supervisor one term.
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