History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 70

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220

USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A. Frydenlund, an energetic and progressive farmer of Hay- ward township, came to this country from Norway in 1867 and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming for several years. He received his early education in Norway and worked for his parents, Andrew and Martha (Quand) Frydenlund, before seeking his fortune in this country. In 1870 he pushed farther west to Freeborn county and bought 160 acres of good farm land in section 17 Hayward township. Here he has a well cared for farm, on which he has erected some fine build- ings and made extensive improvements. He follows diversified farming, and prefers the Shorthorn cattle for his dairy business. Mr. Frydenlund was married to Cecelia Peterson, of Norwegian parentage in 1869, and to this union six children have been born : Albert, Oscar, John, Martha, Petia and Annie Sophia. In the affairs of his community, Mr. Frydenlund has always taken a prominent part. He has served as treasurer of town board for the past sixteen years and has been member of the school board for many years. As one of the directors on the creamery board

A. FRYDENLUND

MR. AND MRS. ROBERT FREEMAN

647

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

he has proven his efficiency and at the present time he is presi- dent of the Hayward Creamery Association. As a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank of Hayward, also of the Citizens' Bank of Albert Lea, combined with his numerous other business inter- ests he has but little time to devote to politics, but has held many offices in the Lutheran church, of which he is a member. The prosperity which he now enjoys is the result of his own untiring efforts, and he prides himself on the fact that he is "self made."

Robert Freeman, retired farmer now living in Glenville, was born in Northampton, England, March 18, 1840, son of John Freeman, the pioneer, from whose family the township of Free- man is named. Robert attended the English public schools and at fourteen years of age came to America and located near Castleton, Rutland county, Vermont. Three years later, in 1857, he moved to Illinois, and lived a year in Kaneville, Kane county. In 1858 he came to Minnesota and settled in Freeman township, where he pre-empted his present farm in sections 11 and 14. In 1862 he returned to Illinois, and worked hard until he saved $500.00. He was injured, however, while setting fence posts, by getting a splinter in his eye. For this affliction he was under the care of J. P. Walker in Chicago, for four months, using up all the $500.00 which he had saved. In 1874 he married Louisa Nelson, who was born in Sweden, Nov. 16, 1847, and came to America with her parents at six years of age. This union was blessed with three children: Dr. J. P. Freeman, Glenville; Mrs. Edna B. Mariner, of Glenville, and Mrs. Alice D. Flaskrud, of Armstrong, Minn. In 1875, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman returned from Illinois, and located on the farm Mr. Freeman had previously pre-empted in Freeman township, this county. On this farm they toiled and labored together, breaking and improving the land, erecting good buildings, and increasing their holdings until they owned 240 acres of excellent land. In 1907 they retired from farming life, and moved to Glenville, where they purchased a home, in which they are now spending their retiring days in peace and rest. On Aug. 2, 1899, the large and commodious barn on the Freeman farm, was struck by lightning, and destroyed, the loss being $1,500, in addition to 150 tons of hay and eleven head of cattle. Mr. Freeman is a Democrat in politics, and has served on the town and school boards. He also helped to organize the Freeman creamery, of which he was president for several years and in which he still holds stock.

James A. Robson, now deceased, was a prominent figure in the early life of Freeborn county, and his untimely decease is still mourned by the early settlers. He was born in New York state, May 23, 1826, son of English parents. In 1857, with J. F. Jones, he came to Freeborn county and laid out the townsite of Geneva.

648

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

In 1860 he was elected second sheriff of the county, and served until 1862. The trial and execution of Henry Kreigler took place during his term of office, and Kreigler was for a time confined in the Webber House, in Albert Lea, of which Mr. Robson became owner in 1860. In 1862, Mr. Robson raised Co. E, 10th Minn. Vol. Inf. and Sept. 8, 1862, was mustered in as captain of that company. In November of that year he was killed by an acci- dental discharge of a gun, this being Freeborn county's first sacrifice to the Civil War. In honor of his life and character, the old soldiers have named their G. A. R. post at Albert Lea the James A. Robson Post. Mr. Robson was married in early life to Martha Partridge, daughter of Harvey and Laura (Max- son) Partridge. To this union four children were born: Elsie M., John T., James Harvey and George, the latter of whom died when a small boy.

Harvey Partridge was born in Connecticut, and lived suc- cessively in New York state and Wisconsin, before coming to Geneva village in 1864. His wife, whose maiden name was Laura Maxson died at Geneva, after which Mr. Partridge went to live with his son in Albert Lea where he died.

John L. Gibbs, former lieutenant governor of the state of Minnesota, and for a long time one of the most prominent men in southern Minnesota, died in Owatonna, Nov. 28, 1908. He was born in Bradford county, Penn., May 3, 1838. He received an academic education, and was graduated from Ann Arbor law school in 1861. Coming to Minnesota, and being admitted to the bar, he was elected county attorney of Freeborn county in 1862. Two years later, in 1864, he was elected to the lower house of the Minnesota legislature, being re-elected in 1865, 1876, 1877, 1885 and 1895, being speaker of the house in 1877 and 1885 and a prominent candidate for the position in 1895. In 1887 he was appointed railroad and warehouse commissioner for the state of Minnesota by Gov. A. R. McGill and was reappointed by Gov. William R. Merriam. Mr. Gibbs was chairman of a number of important political conventions. He was prominently mentioned for the governorship in a number of campaigns, and, in 1896, he was elected lieutenant governor under Governor David M. Clough. Mr. Gibbs had a strong personal following in the rural districts of the state, due in a large degree to his love for farm life, and his determination to raise its standard of living. When not busy with his official duties he resided on a farm in Geneva, · in which town he held many local offices. He was among the first to see the importance of the dairy interests, to the new state, and was always in demand as a speaker on this and other topics at all farmers' gatherings. He was also long prominent in Masonic circles. He married Martha Partridge Robson, who

J. L. GIBBS

MRS. J. L. GIBBS

649

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

was born May 3, 1838, daughter of Harvey and Laura (Maxson) Partridge and widow of Sheriff James A. Robson. Mrs. Gibbs now makes her home in Owatonna, but still owns the homestead of 240 acres, adjoining the village of Geneva.

O. S. Gilmore was for many years a prosperous merchant in Freeborn village and is a prominent man in that village at the present time. He was born in Addison county, Vermont, Feb- ruary 17, 1844, son of Epenetus and Laura (McQuivey) Gilmore. In 1865 he came west with his parents, who stopped for about six weeks in Wisconsin, after which they came to Freeborn and set- tled on section 32 and here engaged in farming. For two years O. S., the subject of this biography, was employed as clerk in T. A. Southwick's store in the village of Freeborn and at the end of this period he entered into a general mercantile business, which he conducted for twenty-eight years. During his busi- ness career he entered into partnership with G. P. Lattin and later sold out his interests to J. G. Scott, after which he organ- ized a new firm known as O. S. Gilmore & Son. Mr. Gilmore married Jennie E. Leonard, daughter of Carl and Mary Ann (Wasmer) Leonard, natives of Germany, and this marriage resulted in five children; Ansel E., married Bertha Scoville; they have one child, Gordon; Laura, wife of Charles Morris, has two children, Thomas and Rita; Otis J. married Gertrude Miller, and they have one child, Florence; Clyde travels for a business house ; and Merle G. is at home. Mr. Gilmore is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1862 in Company A, 6th Vermont Vol. Inf. He was honorably discharged on account of illness six months later and returned to his home. It can be truly said of Mr. Gilmore that the increasing years have brought to him increasing honor; he has the respect and confidence of all who know him and possesses those qualities which have won for him the high esteem in which he is held. For fifteen years he was treasurer of the town and served as treasurer of the school for thirteen years, acting with marked wisdom in both offices. He has now retired from the activities of a business life and resides in the village in which for so many years he has been recognized as a leading citizen. He is an independent voter and he and his good wife are active workers in the Methodist church.

Daniel Hord was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1842. At the age of three years, he was brought west by his parents, stop- ping at Wisconsin for a period of six months, thence to Win- nebago county, Ill. There he received his schooling and grew to manhood, coming west to Minnesota with his parents in 1857, and locating in Manchester township, Freeborn county. In Aug., 1866, he crossed the prairies to Omaha, Neb., where he remained until the spring of 1867, after which he continued his journey

650

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

to Ogden, Utah, remaining there until the winter of 1868, when he returned to Freeborn county, having been called home by the death of his father. He lived on the home place until the farm was sold. He was married April 8, 1868, to Mary Smith, who was born Sept. 3, 1852, Winnebago county, Ill. In 1872, they moved to Itasca, Minn., where he farmed two years. They returned to Freeborn county in 1874, and settled in section 7, Pickerel Lake township. In the spring of 1876 they removed to Alden township, where he farmed for one year. In 1877 they went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and there he worked a year on a ranch in the Black Hills. While in Wyoming, they lost a child, who died of smallpox. In 1878 they came back to Alden, and located on section 23, where they lived and carried on general farming until 1902, when they sold their farm and moved to the village of Alden, where they have since resided. They have three living children: Bertha, is now Mrs. E. H. Ostrander, of Alden township, and has ten children. Clark is a popular mem- ber of the Odd Fellows, and is a successful business man of Alden, having conducted a dray line for the past nine years. He married Daisy Kraushaar, and they reside with his parents. Edna lives in Alden. She is the wife of Earl Stanley.

Harrison Hord, territorial pioneer, of Freeborn county, and a native of Virginia, and Amelia (Connard) Hord, his wife, a native of Ohio, came to Manchester township in 1857, and took a claim in section 31, where they followed general farming until the death of Mr. Hord, Jan. 19, 1868. His wife passed away, Nov. 12, 1893.

William D. Smith, a native of New York state, and Susan (Hunn) Smith, his wife, a native of England, came to Freeborn county in 1858, locating in Manchester township. Some years later they moved to Hayward township this county, where they remained for five years; thence going to Pickerel Lake township, where they lived until 1881, when they removed to Moody county, South Dakota, where Mrs. Smith still lives, Mr. Smith having died Feb. 18, 1906.

James H. Goslee, retired farmer and substantial citizen of London, was born in Glossenbury, Connecticut, on Jan. 31, 1831, son of Henry and Maria Goslee. He received his education in the school of his home state, and came west to Minnesota in 1857. He located in the township of London and purchased 160 acres of land, to which he has added as the years have passed until at the present time he owns 600 acres. The first few years of his life on the farm in this county, he spent in raising wheat, but some time before the wheat failure, he engaged in stock raising. When the wheat failure came, he not only did not lose money but profited by raising cattle, which he fattened and

JAMES H. GOSLEE

MR. AND MRS. M. J. HOWE

651

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

sold, and which brought the best of market prices. On March 2, 1860, Mr. Goslee married Zillah T. Beach, of New York, and to them two children were born: Henry A. Goslee, of Austin, who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in that city; and Dwight who died at the age of seven years. Mrs. Zillah Goslee was summoned by death January 14, 1891. Eliza- beth McKenty married Mr. Goslee July 6, 1892, who died in September, 1894. On Oct. 17, 1899, he married Annie J. Porter, of Connecticut, and they are the parents of one son, James Alan- son. Mr. Goslee is a respected member of the church of United Brethren and he affiliates with the Republican party. He has been elected to serve in the office of town treasurer for six years, and has also efficiently served as the town assessor. He belongs to that class of sturdy and enterprising men who have had an important part in the work of transforming the county from a state of comparative wilderness to one of the most productive and progressive counties in Minnesota. In addition to his farm inter- ests he is a stockholder in the bank at Lyle and also a stockholder and director in the telephone company in the same place.

M. J. Howe, one of the prominent men of Alden township was. born in Rutland county, Vermont, August 13, 1847, son of Albert C. and Julia (Baker) Howe. In 1864 the father brought his family to Pickerel Lake township in this county and four years later M. J., the subject of this sketch began farming for himself. He at present owns 350 acres in sections 22 and 23 Alden town- ship, which he has acquired by earnest endeavor and entirely by his own efforts. He uses the most up-to-date farm machinery and conducts his whole farm along lines which have received the scientific approval of recent years. He raises a good breed of Durham cattle, and his horses are of Norman, French and Belgium breeds. His fine dwelling house and substantial farm buildings are evidences no less of prosperity than of the years of careful attention and hard work which have made them possible. Mr. Howe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is independent and has been a member of the local school board and of the town board of supervisors for some years. He married Ella M. Howe, daughter of O. C. C. Howe. She was born in Cateraugus county, New York, September 23, 1849. To this union have been born eleven children: James was born January 24, 1871, and died September 12, 1899. Ebeneezer was born June 5, 1872, and is now a resident of Alden village. Oliver was born March 17, 1874, and now resides in Browns Valley, Minnesota. Mary was born February 3, 1876, and mar- ried Ora Briggs, of Milbank, S. D. Florence was born October 13, 1878, and married John Briggs and now, lives in Minneapolis. Clarence was born July 19, 1880, and now resides in Pickerel

652

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

Lake township. William was born December 14, 1881, and died May 10, 1882. Joseph was born December 25, 1884, and is still at home. Maggie was born September 12, 1886, and married Jesse Marsh and is living at home. Helen was born March 3, 1888, and married Earl Stevens. Harriet was born March 24, 1894, and married Robert E. Conn, of Cass county, Indiana.

Carl Hendrickson, one of the noteworthy and substantial citi- zens of Freeborn county, has occupied many offices of respon- sibility and honor, and in all has shown his ability, honor and integrity. He was on the town board of Hartland several years, served as town treasurer fifteen years, and for four years was county commissioner from his district. He was born in Norway, May 12, 1838, son of Ole and Mary Hendrickson, and was by them brought to America in 1850, spending his boyhood and young manhood in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where his parents spent the remainder of their days. In 1868, he came to Minne- sota, and purchased 160 acres in section 2, Hartland township, where he erected his home and other buildings, and where he has since carried on general farming, developing and improving his land, and adding to his possessions from time to time until he owns 440 acres all in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Hendrick- son was married in 1859 to Esther Matson, who has long since passed to the Great Beyond, leaving nine children: Henry, of Colorado; Mrs. Carolina Burtness, Mrs. Emma Sibblrud, Mrs. Oliva Jordahl, Mrs. Louisa Peterson, Mrs. Tilda Cole; Ole, of South Dakota; Albert, who farms with his father, and Martha, who died at eight years of age. The family faith is that of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Hendrickson is a liberal supporter.

William Hazleton, a retired business man of Albert Lea, was born February 7, 1825, at Chester, New Hampshire. His parents were William and Mercy J. (Cochrane) Hazleton, of whom the former was a prosperous merchant in Chester, where he died, and the latter passed away at Columbus, Wisconsin. William, the son, subject of this biography began his early education in the public schools of Chester, and completed them in a private seminary at Nashua, New Hampshire. He entered the business world in Chester as a wholesale shoe manufacturer, shipping his product to Boston. In conjunction with this he conducted a retail store for four years, after which he disposed of his interests on account of ill health, and came west. He located first in Colum- bus, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the general merchandise business with W. W. Johnson, which was in 1856. They con- tinued to operate this store until 1869. They then moved their stock of goods to Albert Lea, and here he engaged in business with W. W. Johnson for several years. He eventually sold out his share of the stock and entered into a similar business with

CARL HENDRICKSON

MR. AND MRS. ENDRE GULBRANDSON

653

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

Robert Skinner, with whom he continued for about four years, and at the end of this period, he purchased Mr. Skinner's inter- ests and conducted the store on his own responsibility for three years. Mr. Hazleton was instrumental in organizing the first creamery in Freeborn county, the Fountain Lake creamery, which was the second creamery organized in the state. For several years Mr. Hazleton was manager of this creamery association, and he later engaged in buying and selling eggs and poultry with J. H. Larkin. They built a cold storage egg plant which they operated for three years, and at the expiration of that time Mr. Hazleton retired from an active business life, and now resides in his home at 114 Water street, which he erected the first year that he came to Albert Lea. In political opinions, he is a staunch Republican. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church. On August 25, 1859, Mr. Hazleton and Martha M. Brigham were married at Keesville, New York. Mrs. Hazleton was born at Keesville, January 2, 1837, daughter of John and Mary (Moore) Brigham, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Hazleton three chil- dren were born, of whom Fannie is the wife of Dr. L. G. Hewitt of Northwood, Iowa, and William B. and Edward C., are deceased.

J. P. Hanson, a native of Hayward township, was born on the farm where he now lives November 17, 1862, son of Peter and Annie Anderson, both natives of Norway, and who came to the United States in 1861. The subject of this sketch attended the country school which was then conducted in a log building. He later worked on his father's farm and worked out by the month for some years. In 1888 he rented his father's farm and after the death of his mother he bought it and today has a well improved farm of 160 acres, where he follows general farming and raises stock. The land he has tiled and improved to a high state of cultivation since purchasing it. In 1885 he married Annie Solsnes, a native of Norway, and to them have been born seven children, Philip, Agnes E., Milla G., Inga J., Harlof W., Palma G., and Loif T. Mr. Hanson is a member of the Lutheran church. He votes with the Republican party, has been a mem- ber of the town board and was on the school board fifteen years. He is a stock holder in the Hayward creamery and also in the Farmers' elevator of Haywood.

Endre Gulbrandson, a sturdy old pioneer of Freeborn county, now deceased, assisted in the development of the county from the earliest days, and left a heritage of honor and integrity which has been held untarnished by his large family of children. He was born in Aadalen, Norway, Dec. 4, 1812, son of Gulbrand and Kari Gulbrandson, descended from many generations of Norsk ancestors. He grew to manhood in Norway, was there married, and there spent his early manhood. In 1852 he brought his family

654

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

to America, and located for a time in Iowa county, Wisconsin, later moving to Wingville, Grant county, in the same state. May 8, 1856, the family started for Minnesota. Endre left his family in Houston county, and walked to Mitchell, Iowa, where he met his relative, Peter Lunde. The two men staked out claims in Hay- ward township, this county, and then returned for their families, the Gulbrandson family arriving about the middle of the sum- mer. For a time the family lived in a dugout on a claim of 160 acres in section 17, but later they moved to a claim in section 8, and there lived in another dugout. In 1863 a log house was built, 20x30 feet, two stories high. Mr. Gulbrandson prospered with the years, and his agricultural operations proved so successful that he increased his holdings until he owned 280 acres of good land. Although a true American, he never forgot the scenes of his child- hood and early manhood, and in 1885 he made a trip to the old country, spending six months in visiting friends and relatives. Mr. Gulbrandson exerted a great influence in his community, and participated actively in political life. He was interested in every- thing which he believed to be for the betterment of his town, and was in every way a good citizen. In his home, he was a loving husband and devoted father, and in the community he was a staunch friend. Thoroughly trained in the tenets of the Lutheran church, he possessed a true Christian character, and was an active promoter of religion in this county. He lived until his death in the log house, which he erected in the early days. The house is still preserved and is owned by his son, Vegger Gulbrandson. Endre Gulbrandson died March 27, 1886, and his wife Marit Hanson, who was born in Aadalen, Norway, Sept. 2, 1814, and whom he married in 1840, died Feb 21, 1898. This worthy couple had a family of eight children: Gilbert, deceased ; Julia, deceased; Hans, of Albert Lea; Vegger, of Albert Ica : Kari, now Mrs. Lars Lunde, of Hayward; Maria, deceased ; Elsie L., of Albert Lea, and Edward, deceased.

Hans Gulbrandson, proprietor of the Gulbrandson Hardware Company, dealer in hardware, farm machinery and implements, and all kinds of vehicles, was born in Aadalen, Norway, Oct. 9, 1844, son of Endre and Marit (Hanson) Gulbrandson, the former of whom died in 1886 and the latter in 1898. The family came to America in 1852, lived in Iowa county, Wisconsin, two years, moved to Grant county in the same state in 1854, and May 8, 1856, took up their residence in Hayward township, this county, where Hans spent his youth. In the fall of 1868 and again in the fall of 1869, he worked in a hardware store in Austin. In 1870, he started selling farm implements at Albert Lea in partnership with his brothers, Gilbert and Vegger. In 1876 Gilbert disposed of his interests, and in 1877 a hardware department was added.

HANS GULBRANDSON

655

HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

Hans and Vegger conducted the business until January, 1900, when Vegger retired, and since that date, Hans has been the sole owner. The block which contains the farm machinery stock was erected in 1898 by the subject of this sketch. The block in which is located the hardware business was erected in 1886 by Hans and Vegger Gulbrandson. Hans Gulbrandson has always been a Republican, but at the request of his brother Gilbert, voted for Horace Greeley for president of the United States. For many years he has been a devoted member of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, of Albert Lea, the Synod with which this church is connected being the oldest Norwegian Luth- eran church body in the United States. The subject of this sketch was married July 4, 1878, at Albert Lea to Olava Elizabeth Nel- son, and this union has been blessed with three children: Einar and Edmund are employed by their father. Martha A. is wife of the Rev. A. E. Strom, of Fertile, Wis.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 70

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220