USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 67
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
The family faith is that of the Universalist Church, of which they are loyal members.
Charles H. Henion, one of Freeborn county's early settlers, was born in Albany county, New York, son of Henry and Eliza- beth Henion. natives of that state. He received his education in the schools of Albany, and worked for his father on the farm. preparing himself for the occupation of farming, when he should become of age. He left his old home in 1857 and came west. stopping first in Wisconsin, and later coming to Minnesota, where he bought land in Geneva township. This farm of 160 acres, Mr. Henion purchased of the government, and he at once set about improving and developing it. He drew logs from a distance, sawed them and erected a frame house, and in the fall of that same year, went back to New York and was married. He brought his wife to Minnesota, and they settled on the farm which he had purchased. Some years later, he built a new and larger house and erected the necessary outbuildings. He has followed general diversified farming and his ambition and energy have made him successful in his life's work. . To himself and wife, five children were born : Ophelia, now Mrs. Montaney, of Geneva ; Alva. prosperous farmer of Geneva; Cora, who married Mr. Kuckenbacher. of Geneva; Lillie, deceased; Sabina, now Mrs. Morrison, of North Dakota. The wife and mother passed away in 1879, and Mr. Henion married Mrs. Amelia (Anderson) Cameron, widow of Albert Cameron, June 23, 1896. She was born in Kane county, Illinois, April 4, 1861, daughter of Segal and Emma (Madland) Anderson. Mr. Henion votes with the Republican party.
Edwin Evenson is son of Louis and Anna Evenson, who were among the early pioneers of this country, emigrating from Nor- way to America. where Edwin was born March 17, 1872, in Rice- land township. His parents first settled in Wisconsin, but later moved to Minnesota and purchased land in Riceland township, and here they carried on general farming, developing and im- proving their property. Their son was educated in the district schools. and early in life began assisting his father on the farm. As the father grew older, the son gradually assumed the burdens of the farm work, and in 1893 took entire charge of the old home- stead. His father passed away in 1907, and his aged mother makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch, on the old home place where they now reside. Mr. Evenson has built a fine new house and has a well cared for farm. He raises many hogs for market and home purposes. and has an excellent dairy herd of Holstein cattle. He married Hanna Olson. of Norwegian parentage and birth. in 1895; and to them three children have been born: Marvel, Abbie and Eva. His wife having
MR. AND MRS. ELLEF ANDERSON
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
died in 1904, Mr. Evenson was married to Anna Mehus, of Iowa, in 1907. He has held many offices of trust in his township, and at present is treasurer of the school board, and previous to this time he served on the town board. Among the many. business interests which occupy his time are : Stockholder in the Riceland Creamery and Telephone Company, also in the Farmers' Mutual Live Stock Association. Business interests prevent his engaging actively in politics, but his views agree with those of the Repub- lican party. The teachings of the Lutheran Church are accepted by himself and family, and he is loyal to its precepts.
Ellef Anderson (deceased), formerly a resident of Hartland township, was one of the well-known and highly-respected men in the county. He was born in Norway on October 14, 1842, son of Andrew and Kari Anderson, grew to manhood in his native land and there received his education. In 1864 Mr. Anderson came to America and during the fall of that year to Freeborn county, locating in. Manchester township. He was employed by various farmers for three years, after which he bought 160 acres in section 27 and went to work on his own responsibility, breaking and developing his land and erecting the necessary buildings. He later added to his farm until he owned 320 acres, and he carried on general diversified farm- ing. Mr. Anderson was elected to serve in many of the public offices in the township, being a member of the town board and clerk of the school board. Owing to careful and honorable business dealings and untiring industry, Mr. Anderson grew more prosperous each year. Landing in this country with but one silver dollar (the same dollar still being in possession of Mrs. Anderson), he set to work with great courage, and at the time of his death he owned real estate in Albert Lea, Minne- apolis and also in Superior, Wis., and bequeathed $500 to the Luther Academy at Albert Lea. Mr. Anderson died November 26, 1898, and he is survived by his widow and four children. He was united in marriage with Nellie Jordahl on October 1, 1865. She was born in Norway, September 17, 1845, daughter of John and Thora (Nels) Jordahl, who came to this country in 1857, locating in Manchester township, where they engaged in farming until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were the parents of ten children, of whom four are now living: Joseph, who lives on the home farm; Turena, the wife of Sivert P. Knutson, of Hartland, with whom the mother now makes her home; Caroline, who married Sivert A. Ford, of Minneapolis, and Nellie, now Mrs. Albert M. Matson, of Hartland township. The family faith is that of the Lutheran Church.
J. C. Anderson, Bath township, was born in Denmark, June 21, 1849, and came to America in 1867. He located in Bath,
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where he worked out on a farm and later went to Rochester and secured employment there, after which he went into a camp in the woods of Wisconsin bordering on the Black river. Here he was employed for some time, after which he returned to Minnesota and purchased a farm in' Bancroft, on which he farmed for thirty-two years. He sold part of this 200-acre farm to the railroad and in 1906 moved to Bath, where he now resides and owns forty acres here which is nearly all under the plow. Mr. Anderson married Sina Jacobson in 1875, who is of Danish birth and parentage. To them six children have been born, three living: Thea, who married James Jensen, of Bath township; Mary, of St. Paul, who married M. A. Larsen, and Martha, at home. Anna died at twenty years; Mary and Christina died in infancy. Mr. Anderson is a self-made man, owing his present comfortable circumstances to years of hard work. His home, situated three miles north from Clarks Grove, is one of the sub- stantial and well-built homes in that community.
Thor Anderson, now deceased, was a prominent figure in Manchester township for many years, and in dying left a heritage of honor to his successors. In township affairs he always took an active part, and occupied practically all the town offices within the gift of his fellow voters, doing especially good work as a fair and impartial town assessor. A devout believer in the Christian religion, he did the Freeborn Central Church invaluable service as treasurer for many years. Thor Anderson was born in Norway, May 17, 1823, and in 1852 came to America, locating in Rock county, Wisconsin. In 1856 he came to Freeborn county with the earliest settlers, and pre-empted a quarter section, which he broke and improved, erecting suitable buildings. His success was pronounced from the start, and in time he was the proud possessor of 1,200 acres of land. After a useful and happy life, he died April 15, 1909. While a young man he mar- ried Kari Evenson, who died April 18, 1897. To this union was born one child, Ingeborg, November 24, 1848. She came to this country with her parents in 1852, located in Wisconsin, and in 1856 came with them to Freeborn county. She attended school, was reared on a farm and, October 27, 1867, was married to Iver A. Rodsater. They spent a happy life together, reared nine children, and attained an enviable position in the community. Mr. Rodsater died December 27, 1867.
Axel G. Brundin, a prominent citizen of Albert Lea, first saw the light of day July 24, 1859, in Sweden, and was brought to the United States at the age of seven by his parents, John G. and Augusta Katherine (Arnglund) Brundin, who spent twc years in La Crosse, Wis., after which they moved to Minnesota, living first in Hokah and then in Wells, and in 1874 coming to
MR. AND MRS. THOR ANDERSON
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
Albert Lea. Axel attended school in the different towns in which his parents lived and completed his education in Albert Lea, from 1873 to 1876 clerked in a general store at Alden, and then engaged in the meat business. In 1877 he went into part- nership with his brother Charles and established a market in Albert Lea. This partnership continued until January 1, 1909, when it was dissolved. Each of the brothers now conducts a market. The firm of Brundin Bros., packers, was continued until 1908, when it was incorporated as the Brundin Packing Company and later became the Albert Lea Packing Company, under which name it is known at the present time. Mr. Brundin is now a heavy stockholder in this concern, and was at one time its presi- dent. In 1885 Mr. Brundin married Ella M. Ruble, a daughter of John Ruble, of Pickerel Lake, and they are the parents of Stacia and Beth. Mr. Brundin is affiliated with the prominent social organizations of Albert Lea, being a member of the Ma- sonic Lodge, the Royal Arcanum, the Odd Fellows and the Elks. He has served as city treasurer for four terms and has also. served in the council for three terms, and has been a member of the county board for the past ten years. These responsible posi- tions, which he has so satisfactorily occupied, prove his ability and trustworthiness, and he can be truly spoken of as one of Albert Lea's leading and public-spirited citizens.
Charles R. Brundin, who for thirty-three years has been en- gaged in carrying on a meat business in the city of Albert Lea, was born September 18, 1861, in Sweden, son of John G. and Augusta Brundin, and came to the United States with his parents in 1867. They located first in La Crosse, Wis., but later came to Hokah, thence to Wells, Minn., and in 1874 settled in Albert Lea, and there Charles attended school and grew to manhood. After completing his education, Mr. Brundin engaged in a meat market, and since 1877 he has been interested in this particular line of business. In partnership with his brother, A. G. Brundin, he established the market known as Brundin Bros., and in 1909 he bought out his brother's interest, having organized the pre- vious year the Brundin Packing Company, which is now known as the Albert Lea Packing Company. In 1884 Rose Geissler be- came his wife, and their marriage was blessed with the birth of four children : George H., Glenn C., John G. and Marvel. Mrs. Rose Geissler Brundin passed away in 1904 and some time later Mr. Brundin married Jenny Batty, widow of John Batty, a former resident of this county. In political convictions Mr. Brundin is a member of the Taft Republican party, and he be- longs to the many fraternal orders of Albert Lea, being a Mason, in which order he has advanced from the Blue Lodge to the Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
the A. O. U. W. He has been of service to the city of which he has for so many years been an esteemed resident by serving as alderman from the First ward for a period of two years, but his many business interests have prevented further seeking of public office. He owns a fine modern residence, situated at 701 Foun- tain street, and also owns the place of business at 239 Main street, Albert Lea, together with farms and other real estate. His direct business methods, together with his fairness and honesty, have made him both popular and respected by all with whom he has had business dealings, and by all his fellow men.
John G. Brundin, a pioneer resident of Albert Lea and one of that city's highly respected men, was born in Sweden on October 28, 1830. He spent his boyhood in the land of his birth and there acquired his education. On June 19, 1855, Augusta C. Arnglaund became his wife, and to them have been born six children : John W. (deceased) ; Axel G .; Charles R .; Emma, now Mrs. William Flindt; Abbie, the wife of H. F. Hovland; Char- lotte Augusta, at home with her father. In 1867 Mr. Brundin decided to leave his old home in Sweden and seek his fortune in the United States. His first home in this country was in La Crosse, Wis., where he was employed by the Davidson Steamboat Company for a period of two years, after which he came to Minne- sota and made his residence in Hokah, Houston county. Here he secured employment with the Southern Minnesota, which had shops and terminals in that city. His work in this company's shops was making patterns, and to him should be given credit for the interior design of the first passenger coach, which was built and used on this road. When these shops later moved to Wells Mr. Brundin was still retained as one of their valued em- ployees, and he remained as such until 1874, when he resigned and moved to Albert Lea, where he established the first foundry and machine shop located in that city. This business was con- ducted under the name of Brundin & Paulson until 1880, when it was succeeded by J. G. Brundin, afterwards known as Brundin & Son. In 1895 John G. Brundin disposed of his interests and retired from active life. His faithful and devoted helpmeet passed away December 6, 1893. Mr. Brundin resides at 919 Madison street, his home being cared for by his daughter Gusta. He upholds the principles advanced by the Republican party and attends the Lutheran Church, of which he is an esteemed member. In the past he has served Albert Lea by acting as alderman from the Second ward, and he has ever been vitally interested in all movements which have tended toward the de- velopment and improvement of the town and county in which he resides.
MR. AND MRS. BENNETT ASLESON
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
Bennett Asleson, pioneer and successful man of affairs, was born in Norway, August 20, 1833, and came to America in 1854. After living three years in Wisconsin, lie came to Freeborn county in 1857, located on section 22, Manchester township, entered 160 acres of land, broke and improved it, and in time increased his holdings until he owned 450 acres. It is interesting to note that he built his house from brick manufactured by himself. Mr. Asleson was the first assessor of Manchester township, has been on the school board some thirty years, and town treasurer a sim- ilar period. In 1881 he served in the state legislature. Aside from his farming interests he owns the Newton Hotel, at Albert Lea, and is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Albert Lea, the Albert Lea State Bank, the Manchester State Bank and the Citizens' National Bank of Albert Lea, in which latter institution he is a director as well. The subject of this sketch was married June 24, 1865, at Albert Lea, by Augustus Armstrong, to Gunhild Petersen, who was born in Norway, May 28, 1841, came to America in 1849, lived two years in Wisconsin, then located in Minneshiek county, Iowa, and in 1865 came to Freeborn county. Mr. and Mrs. Asleson had five children. Ashley, Turena and Turena are dead. Augustus operates the home farm, and Tilda Amanda lives at home.
Albert J. Berglund was born in Albert Lea township, Decem- ber 25, 1869, son of Johan and Anna Maria Berglund. In the district school No. 54 the subject of this biography acquired his education and spent the early years of his life on the home farm. After completing his studies Mr. Berglund engaged in general diversified farming, working on the home farm with his father until he was 24 years of-age, when he purchased a farm com- prising 140 acres, which were located in Albert Lea township, section 22. Here Mr. Berglund developed the land, erected a good house and the necessary outbuildings, and for several years carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1904 he rented his property and moved to the city of Albert Lea, where he had purchased an interest in the Peterson Hardware Company, and became secre- tary of the firm. He remained with this concern until September 22, 1908, when the company was reorganized as the Albert Lea Hardware Company, of which Mr. Berglund became vice-presi- dent. In January, 1911, Mr. Berglund disposed of his interests in this business, after which he accepted a position with the American Gas Machine Company, of Albert Lea, in the capacity of traveling salesman, remaining with this concern for three months, after which he secured his present position as salesman for the United Flour Mills Company. Politically, the subject of this biography is an independent voter, and while he has ever been actively interested in all movements which have tended
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
toward the improvement and uplifting of conditions in his town and county, he has never sought public office. He is a respected member of the Baptist Church of Albert Lea, and fraternally he belongs to the Masonic Lodge, A. F. & A. M., the K. O. T. M., A. O. U. W., R. N. A. and the I. O. O. F. Mr. Berglund was united in matrimony, May 10, 1894, with Mary E. Gustaveson, born in Sweden February 21, 1874, daughter of G. and Bengta (Larson) Gustaveson. Mr. and Mrs. Berglund are the parents of three children, of whom Gladys was born May 21, 1895; Wenona died when two years of age, and Bertha Wenona was born July 28, 1900.
Johan Berglund, or Johan Emerson as was his boyhood name, was born in Torp Socken, Medelpad, Sweden, November 29, 1834. Upon entering military service he took the name Johan Berglund. It seems that all who entered military service took a new name. Anna Marie Persdotter was born at the same place in Sweden, November 15, 1831. She became the wife of Johan Berglund in 1855. Shortly after their marriage, through Bible study, they could no longer believe in the tenets of the State church. For this they were persecuted and life was made a hardship. Be- cause also of poverty in that cold northland both had seen days when they could not eat all they wanted, even of bread made from the bark of trees. Anxious for their growing family, they sought a country that promised more. of freedom and of bread. In the year 1868, therefore, they set out for "Isanti postoffice, Isanti county, Minnesota, U. S. A., North America," for such was their baggage labeled. They arrived in August at their destination but seem to have been dissatisfied with the sandy soil of that county and only stayed seven weeks. Late in Sep- tember the same year they came to Freeborn county and located on the farm three miles southeast of Albert Lea, where he lived, raised his large family and died, and where Mrs. Berglund still lives with her youngest son. They came to Albert Lea one year before the railroad. The price of that first 160 was $1,100, but he had only $75 ; and a stove and cow were actual necessities and each cost $40. But a neighbor loaned him $100 to pay down on the farm, which had seven acres broken and a cellar in a side hill lined with rough untrimmed oak boards, covered with a shanty of boards, making an up and downstairs, and in this, with two families part of the time, they had their home for nearly three years. Mr. Berglund was handy with tools and the $100 borrowed was paid in building houses at 75 cents a day. He put up all his own buildings as fast as he could afford the lumber. His first two winters were spent in the pine woods of northern Minnesota. Coming from a forest country and with keen eye and strong arm, his own grove yielded sills and joists and rafters,
MR. AND MRS. JOHAN BERGLUND
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
so that his first frame house was all his own make, with rough lumber on the outside and indeed that was all there was, no paper, no siding, no plastering, the first year or two. He grubbed most all his land by his own hand and hired for the breaking. At times he would have to pay as high as 22 per cent on borrowed money. But he paid for that first 160 and bought another at double the price of the first, and bought another and another and more, until before letting it to his children he had owned some 800 acres. Almost every dollar was by hard work taken out of the soil to pay for his lands. His business was farming and lie attended to his business and succeeded. He was a hard worker and his wife stood nobly by him. Nine children were born to them, five in Sweden and four on the old homestead. Peter, with his family, lives near the old homestead. Bertha E. is Mrs. James Olson, of the same township. Mary was the wife of Rev. Iver Larson and died three months before her father. Magnus and family live in Isanti county, this state. Erick and family live in Albert Lea township. Albert and family live in the city of Albert Lea. Alfred and family live on the old homestead. Emma died in infancy and another Emma is Mrs. Oscar Lundstrom, in Albert Lea city. Their children's children number forty-eight and great- grandchildren three. Of these forty-four are living, so that their direct descendants today are fifty-one, and nearly all live in Free- born county. In politics he was an independent voter. He was road overseer, assessor and member of town boards at different times. In later years his conviction was strong against the liquor traffic and he cast his lot with Prohibition. Some years before leaving Sweden the Berglunds joined the Baptist faith. Not long after their arrival in Albert Lea religious services were started in their home. The first organized Scandinavian Baptist work in Albert Lea was a Sunday-school in their home. When the Danish Baptist Church was started they became members. With his own team, aided by a son, Johan, he hauled the first load of lumber for that Danish church. The tower of that same building rests on rocks from his farm. He gave of time, labor, money and was one of the most regular attendants, walking the three miles from his home. When, in 1883, the Albert Lea Swed- ish Baptist Church was started, they became its equally strong supporters, giving of time, labor and interest. Mr. Berglund was a member of this church when he died, his wife being there still. All of the children followed in their parents' footsteps and are members of the Baptist churches, nearly all in the First Baptist Church of Albert Lea. He gave two of his children to the gospel ministry. He was the means of starting the first Bible wagon among his own countrymen. In the early days people around him worked Sunday and weekday alike; soon, however, a neigh-
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
bor told him that through his example they had decided that nothing was gained by breaking the laws of the universe. Johan Berglund died February 22, 1904. He left some land, some money and many children, but like that man on whose birthday he died; his greatest heritage was the example of his noble life .- Contributed by Rev. M. Berglund.
Frank A. Blackmer, M. D., now deceased, exerted an influence on the community which will never be forgotten. He was ener- getic, kindly, ambitious and generous, and one of those men who may truly be said to have been a friend of everyone. He was a devoted husband and father and a loyal comrade. He was a friend of all young men, and no deserving case of any sort was ever refused his sympathy and aid. All in all his was a useful life, and the city of Albert Lea is the better for his having lived in it day by day during his active career. His death, July 11, 1900, was the cause of universal mourning, and during his funeral every business house in the city was closed as a tribute of what he had meant to the people of this county. Frank A. Blackmer was a native of Ohio, born at Amherst, Loraine county, January 16, 1847, son of Franklin and Minerva (Wil- kins) Blackmer, the pioneers. Frank A. Blackmer attended public school in Ohio and afterwards in Albert Lea. He was but ten years old when his parents removed here, and he aided his father in driving the ox team from McGregor, then the west- ern end of the railroad, across the prairie to the new home. Two years later, at the age of twelve, while working in the field one day, he came to the conclusion that he would strike out for him- self, and hanging his scythe in a tree he came to town to get work. From that time forward he depended entirely on his own efforts, both for a livelihood and for his education, which he was deter- mined to have. He did odd jobs and soon accepted a position with the local newspaper, the "Southern Minnesota Star," edited by Swinford and Grey, where he soon learned to set type. Shortly after Dr. Burnham needed someone to publish his paper at the rival town of Itasca, two miles distant. and Isaac Botsford and Frank Blackmer were employed. Itasca, however, lost the county seat, and hauling the Itasca printing office and old hand press, which they had taken for wages, across the prairie by ox team to Blue Earth City, founded the "Blue Earth Post," which is still one of the largest and most influential journals in the state. It was about this time-1862-that an Indian outbreak was threatened, and Botsford and Blackmer took an active part in the raising of a company of volunteers. Frank Blackmer, at the age of fifteen, became orderly sergeant of Company C, Fifth Minnesota volunteer infantry, February 14, 1862. The company
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