USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 72
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and Martha (Parks) Thurston, who came to Albert Lea in the fifties. The Thurstons were a prominent family in the early days. Prof. Thurston served as county superintendent of schools some fourteen years, and died at Washington, D. C., in 1906. After the death of Mrs. Thurston, in 1887, Prof. Thurston married Mrs. Frank Tanner, who died in 1909.
William Wallace Johnson was born on a farm in New York state, May 11, 1832, and there spent his early life. He removed to Wisconsin in the early fifties, and purchased a farm near Columbus, where he lived for a time. There he formed a partner- ship with William Hazleton, and in 1869 Hazleton & Johnson came to Albert Lea and continued business here for about three years, after which the partnership was dissolved, and from about 1872, Mr. Johnson was in business alone. He was very success- ful, built up a large business, and made investments in farm lands and city property, but during the latter years of his life was not as active as formerly as his health and age did not permit. At one time he took a prominent part in politics, was for several years a county commissioner, and for a long time served as chair- man of the Republican county committee, in which capacity he was a leader of shrewdness and daring. He assisted in many of the noted campaigns of the county and could have written some interesting political reminiscences. At the time of his death, March 25, 1907, Col. Johnson was a director of the First National Bank and a member of the finance committee; a director of the State Bank and a member of the examining committee; and a member of the auditing committee of the Albert Lea Building & Loan Association. He was strictly a financier and prospered exceedingly, but pursued the even tenor of his way and main- tained his business principles until the end. The subject of this sketch was married at Newark, Ohio, to Frances R. Preston, and she and three daughters survive him. Mrs. Johnson is one of the active women of Albert Lea, and her influence has ever been for good among her associates. Mr. Johnson was an upright, honest man and achieved his position in the community by per- severance and stick-to-itiveness, two important qualifications for any man to have if he hopes to win out in the battle of life. He devoted all his energies to his business and met with that success which always attends such efforts. He was genial and an admir- able conversationalist and delighted to give reminiscences of his early experiences. Thousands will remember him kindly and the family has a heritage of honor, bequeathed by his staunch life and upright character.
Peter C. Jensen, a prominent real estate owner of Albert Lea, was born in Denmark, March 11, 1857, son of Christian and Mary (Paulsen) Jensen, who came to America in 1868, located in Pilot
W. W. JOHNSON
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Grove township, Faribault county, this state, and lived on a farm twenty-one years. Christian Jensen spent his declining years with his son in Albert Lea, and died July 27, 1894. His wife died Feb. 7, 1892. Petr C. received his earlier education in Denmark and came to America with his parents in 1868. After attending the country schools of Pilot Grove, Faribault county, Minnesota, winters, and working on farms in the summer, he studied one winter in Winnebago City, and in 1874 came to Albert Lea, where he entered the employ of Wedge & Spicer in their drug store. In 1884 he purchased Dr. Wedge's interest, and the firm became Spicer & Jensen. After Mr. Spicer's death, Dr. A. C. Wedge again came into the firm, and Frank A. Barlow also joined the partnership, the company being conducted as Wedge, Jensen & Co. Two years later Mr. Jensen sold out to Wedge & Barlow and started in the drug business in his own building. In 1900 he sold out and retired. He still owns three stores on West Clark street, has erected a pleasant home at the corner of St. Mary and Water street, and spends his time looking after his various real estate and other holdings. He owns 480 acres of farm land in North Dakota, is a stockholder and director in the Citizens' National Bank of Albert Lea, is a director in the Albert Lea Land Co., and a director in the Madison Valley Land and Stock Co., of Albert Lea, which latter he helped to organize. Mr. Jensen was married Nov. 19, 1899, to Mrs. Laura A. (Smith) Spicer, and they have two children: Catherine June is a graduate of the Albert Lea high school and lives at home. Lucile Mar- guerite is a student-in the Albert Lea high school.
Gunvold Johnsrud, a distinguished citizen of Bancroft town- ship, has been active in public affairs for many years. In his township he has been assessor, treasurer and justice of the peace, and has served on his school board for thirty years. He did good service in the legislatures of 1899 and 1901 and in the extra session of 1902. He was also postmaster at Albert Lea for four years. The subject of this sketch was born in Norway, March 31, 1841, and there received part of his education. In 1857 he came to America, and after living three years in Wisconsin, came to Minnesota and located in Hayward township. Feb. 19, 1862, he joined the Union Army by enlisting in Co. H, 1st Battalion, 16th United States Infantry. He was honorably discharged at Look- out Mountain, Tenn., Feb. 19, 1865, and returned to Freeborn county. In 1872 he purchased 160 acres in Bancroft, where he still lives and follows general farming. Being interested in all that pertains to the affairs of the old veterans he has been a prominent worker in Robson Post, No. 5, G. A. R., of which he was a charter member. He was married June 26, 1866, by the venerable Rev. Torgerson, to Anna Egilsdotter Bosbon, who died
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June 12, 1900, leaving eight children, seven living and one dead : Edward Andreas Johnsrud, born Oct. 7, 1867; Gjertrud Rosanna Harrison, Sept. 4, 1869 ; Gulbrand Johnsrud, Sept. 24, 1871; Karen Hendrix, May 20, 1875 ; Nora Amanda Jerlow, July 13, 1884; Alma E. Hanson and Elna J. Elias, twins, Dec. 26, 1887. Berthol is dead. The family faith is that of the Lutheran church. In addi- tion to the offices already named Mr. Johnsrud was appointed assistant assessor of revenue on Sept. 30, 1871, and served until the office of assessor was merged with that of collector. Under his jurisdiction was the work in Houston, Mower, Fillmore, Free- born, Faribault, Martin and Jackson counties.
D. L. Klove, the poplar merchant of Gordonsville, was born in Iowa April 13, 1871, son of L. D. and Carrie Klove. They came to this country from Norway, where the father had conducted a mercantile business. In the sixties they located in Decorah, and later moved to Northwood, where the father established a general store which was his chief business interest until 1890, when he sold out and retired. He died in 1898, his wife passed away when their son was but three years old. When a boy Mr. Klove attended school in Iowa, and later completed his education in the Univer- sity of Wisconsin. For several years after finishing his college course, he was employed at various occupations, such as traveling salesman, bookkeeper and other lines of business interests. He purchased a hardware store in Northwood, Iowa, and here he was associated in business with W. Brebner for the year of 1894. After this he sold out and was again employed as a traveling salesman. About one year later he accepted a posi- tion with Cook Robinson Company and remained with them for several years, after which he traveled for another company. In 1908 he returned to Gordonsville and here conducts a general mercantile business at the present time. He was married in 1894 to Hanna Haugen, who died a year later. Sept. 29. 1904, he married Lillian Booen, born at Gordonsville, Minnesota, Oct. 7, 1877. Mr. Klove is a member of many fraternities, among them are the M. W. A., Iowa State Traveling Men's Association, and the Minnesota Travelers' Health Association, of New Ulm.
Soren Jacobson, who for the past twenty-three years has been secretary of the First Danish Baptist church, of Clarks Grove, is one of the prominent and influential men of Bancroft township. He was born in Denmark May 6, 1852, son of Jacob and Anna (Larson) Nelson, who came to America in 1874 and located in Bancroft township, where they carried on general farming the remainder of their days. Soren, the subject of this sketch, received his early education in the schools of his native land, and was twenty-two years of age when he came to this country with his parents. After his arrival in this county, Mr. Jacobson went to
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J. G. JOHNSON
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the district school near his father's farm for two winter terms, and being of a studious mind and a deep thinker, he has read and studied a great deal during his busy life and today is one of the well posted and well informed men in the community in . which he has resided for so many years. For a period of four years, after reaching Bancroft township, he worked for various farmers, after which he purchased land and began farming for himself. He now owns 198 acres in Bancroft township in sec- tions 10 and 11, a greater portion of which is under cultivation, and the remainder in pasture and timber lands. He carries on general farming together with dairying and specializes in raising grade cattle for dairy purposes, disposing of their milk to the Clark's Grove Creamery. Mr. Jacobson has reached his present prosperous condition by years of hard work and untiring energy, and his home and farm are well improved and the good buildings are an evidence of his skill as a carpenter. In his political views, he votes with the Prohibitionist party. Mr. Jacobson has held the office of member of the school board for fifteen years and his ser- vices in this capacity have given general satisfaction. Mary Christianson became his wife in 1878 and they are the parents of nine children, Anna, Hannah, Sara, Adena, Reuben, Alice, Jo- seph, Jacob, who was killed by a railroad accident, and Joseph, also deceased. In addition to his other interests Mr. Jacobson is a stockholder in. the Clark's Grove Mercantile Co.
John G. Johnson, a well-known farmer of Riceland, son of George and Kirstie Johnson, first saw the light of day September 29, 1865, on the farm where he now lives. His parents migrated to America from Norway in 1856, first settling in Madison, Wis- consin, and in 1860 coming to Minnesota, where they bought land in Riceland township and here founded their home. The father carried on general farming, improving his property from time to time until his death, which occurred in 1875. His wife died in February, 1911. John G. began his early education by attending the district schools and later he finished a business course in the Wilmer Seminary and Institute at Wilmer, Minn. Then he se- cured a position as bookkeeper in one of the leading stores at Albert Lea. He returned to the old home in 1889 and purchased it and as opportunity has afforded he has added to it until at pres- ent he owns 200 acres. Mr. Johnson conducted general and dairy farming for several years, then rented his farm and went to Albert Lea, where he engaged in the grocery business for three years, after which he returned to his farm and has since built a fine new house here and in many ways improved the place. He owns a fine herd of Holstein cattle, raises Poland China hogs and keeps well-bred horses for farm and driving purposes. Emma Hanson of Bancroft became his wife in 1892 and two children were
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born to them. One is Clara Josephine and the other is dead. Mrs. Johnson died in 1895 and in 1898 Mr. Johnson was married to Mary Bell of Riceland. To them five children have been born, three of whom are living, George, Gladys M. and Erna Catherine. Two are dead .. Mr. Johnson is a respected member of the Luther- an church and in politics he votes the Republican ticket. He has served on both town and school boards and is stockholder and was manager of Riceland Creamery. He has the confidence of all associated with him in business or social interests.
James M. Larson is a worthy example of those men who have left the shores of their native land to seek their fortunes in a new and, to them, strange country. He was born in Denmark, Febru- ary 12, 1853, and came to America in the fall of 1874, locating at Neenah, Wis., at which place he remained one year. He spent the next two years in Howard county, Iowa, and came from there to Carlston township and secured employment of L. C. Hassett, for whom he worked several months. Observing the customs of the residents of this county and rapidly acquiring their language, Mr. Larson soon decided to assume the responsibility of farming for himself and purchased 160 acres of land in section 29. Here he is still occupied with general farming, making a specialty of raising Holstein cattle of registered stock. Mr. Larson was married to Mary Larsen and this marriage has resulted in four children. Mabel is the wife of Nels P. Nelson and they are the parents of one child, Zola M .; Emma is a teacher in the district schools ; : Laura N. and Martha are at home. Mr. Larson's home is one of the picturesque residences in Carlston, the house, barns and all buildings having been erected by himself. Three years ago he made a visit to his old home in Denmark, this trip being made pos- sible by the years of hard work in this country which have been crowned with success. He is a member of the Grange and is ac- tively interested in the welfare of the community. He has served as postmaster in the town and as treasurer and director of his school district. He is a stockholder in the Alden Co-operative Creamery, was president of that creamery five years and for nine years did all its shipping. For many years he has been a member of the First Baptist church and a trustee of that organization for a long period. He was also Bible leader a long time and, being a conscientious man, is a staunch supporter of county option.
Charles F. Leonard, who is one of the prosperous farmers of Carlston. was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, May 12, 1855. His parents were Carl and Mary Leonard, natives of Ger- many, who came to Freeborn county, July 4, 1857. When a boy Mr. Leonard attended the district school in Freeborn township and village and was busy during his vacation periods assisting his father with the farm work and fitting himself for a life of useful
J. M. LARSON
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J. C. JOHNSON
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
labor. He now owns the old homestead of 130 acres in Sections 4 and 5 and is carrying on diversified farming together with stock raising and dairying. He has himself erected all the fine build- ings on the place. Clara Derby, daughter of Charles and Harriet Derby, became the wife of Mr. Leonard, and their home has been gladdened by the birth of four children, Birda, Pearl, Floyd and Hettie. Birda married Masse Peterson and Pearl is the wife of F. A. Gilmore. Mr. Leonard is a member of the M. W. A. and also of the M. B. A. and is one of Carlston's foremost men. He is now serving his tenth year as school clerk and is a stockholder in the M. W. A. hall in Freeborn village.
Carl Leonard, now deceased, was for many years a respected resident of the township of Carlston. He came to the United States from Germany in 1837 and spent some years in Newark, N. J., and also in New York city. He came west in 1848 and lo- cated on a farm in Wisconsin and was there engaged in farming for about nine years and then he moved to Minnesota and bought a farm in Manchester. He disposed of this farm in 1872 and pur- chased land in sections 4 and 5 in Carlston, and here he con- tinued farming until 1883, at which time he rented his farm and retired from active life. For some time after this he made his home with his son Frank in North Dakota and accompanied him to Hanley Falls, where they resided for some time, after which they moved to the village of Freeborn, and it was here that he passed away in 1898. His wife still survives. They were the parents of six children : Jennie, wife of O. S. Gilmore; Elizabeth Denning, of Louisiana; Charles F., of Carlston; Mrs. Samantha Miller, of Freeborn township; Isabelle Ewing, of Boise City, Ia .; and Frank.
J. C. Johnson, a prominent farmer of Bath township, was born in Norway, August 2, 1846, son of Christopher and Kari (Prestegard) Johnson, who brought him to America in 1856, lo- cating in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they remained for four years, after which they came to Minnesota. J. C. received his ed- ucation in the common schools of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and cared for the home farm during the time that his father was in the Civil War. Some years later, Mr. Johnson was employed by a raft company on the Mississippi river, after which he located in Wabasha county, this state, and worked on a farm. In 1872 he acquired some land in Bath township and began farming. on his own responsibility. He now owns 160 acres, of which 100 are under cultivation, and he devotes much time and attention to raising Shorthorn cattle, general draft horses and Poland-China hogs. He keeps a dairy herd of twenty-four cows and disposes of their milk to the Clark's Grove Creamery. His farm, which is well improved, has been made more valuable and productive each
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
year under the careful management given by its owner, who has attained his present prosperous condition by dint of hard work and self-reliance. In politics Mr. Johnson adheres to the tenets of the Republican party, and he has held many offices of trust and re- sponsibility in the township and county, having served as county commissioner for six years and in the Legislature for one term, in 1907. He has also been town clerk for the past twenty years and been elected to the offices of justice of the peace, town as- sessor and chairman of the board of supervisors. He is at the present time vice-president of the State Bank of Clark's Grove, and he has held the office of secretary for the Clark's Grove Creamery Association for sixteen years, and to his interest and en- thusiasm are due a great deal of the growth and prosperity of the latter organization. Mr. Johnson married Guri Baarsen, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Baarsen, and to them have been born thirteen children, of whom Cora is now Mrs. Martin Tufte ; Edna, a teacher in the Luther Academy at Albert Lea; Emma is a teacher, Ada attends Luther Academy, Joseph is clerk of Bath township, Norman is at home; Nora, Karla, Luther, Reuben (as- sistant cashier of the State Bank of Clark's Grove), Clara and Vi- ola are at home. One is dead.
Christopher Johnson, one of the early settlers in this county, now deceased, came to the United States from Norway in 1856, with his wife, Kari (Prestegard) Johnson, and family. They located first in Dane county, Wisconsin, where for four years the father carried on general farming, after which they moved to Bath township, Minnesota, making the trip by means of a team of oxen. Their first home in this county was in a dugout, where they passed one winter, after which Mr. Johnson built a house of logs. At the breaking out of the war between the North and South, Mr. Johnson enlisted in Co. K., 15th Wis. Vol. Inf., on January 1st, 1862. He served his adopted country for three years and four months and was honorably discharged and returned to his farm, where he spent the remainder of his life. The wife and mother passed away in 1863 and Mr. Johnson's death occurred later. To him and wife five children were born : Erick, retired farmer, living in Albert Lea ; Mary, now Mrs. John Peterson, of Bath township; » John C., a prominent farmer of Bath township ; Christopher, living on the old homestead ; Ole C., a farmer of Bath township.
F. E. Baker, a prosperous Riceland farmer, was born in the township where he still resides, Dec. 29, 1865, son of William H. and Mary E. (Starks) Baker, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York. After completing his studies in the country schools, he took courses of instruction at Austin for several years, after which he continued to work on the home farm in company with his father. Later he purchased his present farm of 100 acres
WILLIAM H. BAKER
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
in section 20, Riceland, and here he carries on general farming, making a specialty of live stock raising, and paying particular attention to high grade Shorthorns, Poland-China hogs and good horses, which latter he keeps for farm work and driving purposes. Mr. Baker votes with the Republican party and has served as treasurer of the town five years. He is a stockholder in the local creamery and telephone companies and in the Citizens' National Bank of Albert Lea. The subject of this sketch was married Dec. 9, 1889, to Stella Ross, a daughter of J. C. Ross, of Albert Lea township. Mrs. Baker died in 1904.
William H. Baker, a territorial pioneer of Freeborn county., was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22, 1837. At four years of age he removed with his parents to New York state, and was later taken by them to Illinois, where he received his educa- tion and grew to manhood. On July 4, 1857, he came to Freeborn county, and pre-empted 160 acres in Riceland township, section 20. He first lived in a dugout, then in a log cabin and later erected a frame house. He broke all the land and brought the farm to a high degree of cultivation, continuing general farming to the present time and making a specialty of high grade Shorthorn cattle. He was town assessor for some time, town clerk for twelve years and school clerk for several years. Aside from his farm holdings he owns stock in the Riceland Creamery and in the Citizens' National-Bank, of Albert Lea. The subject of this sketch was married Oct. 20, 1862, to Mary E. Starks, a native öf New York state, and they have one son, F. E. Baker, a farmer of Riceland township. The family faith is that of the United Breth- ren church.
Ole Larson is one of the prominent and well-known men in Bath, and as president of the Clarks Grove Creamery and director of this institution he has given general satisfaction to all parties interested. He was born in Denmark, Sept. 5, 1856, and was brought to this country by his parents. When a boy he attended the common schools near his home and during vacation months he helped his father with the many tasks which constitute the daily life of the successful farmer. He remained at home assist- ing his father until he was twenty-four years old and then he purchased some land and began farming for himself. He 'now owns 228 acres of valuable land on which he has erected a fine house and all necessary buildings. He raises graded stock, and Poland China hogs and carries on general farming with marked success. Hannah Mathiason, daughter of Lars C. Mathiason, of Carlston township, became the wife of Mr. Larson, Oct. 23, 1881, and six children have been born to then : George, Eleanor, Albert, Harry, Nannie and LeRoy. Mr. Larson owes his success in life to
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years of hard work and careful management. He is a stockholder in the Citizens' National Bank of Albert Lea and in the State Bank of Clarks Grove, and a stockholder and director in the Clarks Grove Hardware & Implement Co., the Clarks Grove Mer- cantile Co. and the Clarks Grove Lumber, Fuel & Stock Co.
Nels Larson, a pioneer resident of Bath township, now de- ceased, came to America in 1861 with his wife, Katie (Hansen) Larson. They made their home in Racine, Wis., for the first two years after their arrival in this country, where Mr. Larson en- gaged in general farming. Feeling that there were greater op- portunities offered farther west, he left Racine and came to Min- nesota and secured some land and here made his home until sum- moned by death, Feb. 19, 1901. His widow survives him, still re- siding on the old home farm. To them were born eight children, of whom Ole, born in Denmark, Sept. 5, 1856, is now one of the prosperous farmers of Bath township.
J. P. Larson, a retired farmer residing in Clarks Grove, is one of the leading men in that locality. He first saw the light of day in Denmark, June 18, 1839, and his parents were Lars and Anna Larson. When he was twenty-two years old he left his home in Denmark and came to the United States and settled in Racine county, Wisconsin, where he was employed for the following eight years at farming. He then went to the city of Chicago and worked for fifteen years as a carpenter. At the end of this period he moved to Minnesota and settled in Bath township, purchased land and again became a farmer. He made many improvements on his property and kept the land under cultivation and engaged in general and dairy farming, preferring Shorthorn cattle for that purpose. He disposed of his dairy products to the Clarks Grove Co-operative Creamery, and was a stockholder in this organization and its president for twenty years. He resigned from his position in the creamery in 1909, as his increasing years have made active service impossible. Four years previous to this he left his farm and moved into the village of Clarks Grove. In 1886 he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Christianna Peterson and this marriage has resulted in four children: Edward now has charge of the old home farm, Julius and Lillian are employed by the Skinner, Chamberlain & Co. department store in Albert Lea ; Hanna is at home. Politically, Mr. Larson is a member of the Republican party, but he inclines toward the principles endorsed by the Prohibitionists. That his sterling qualities are recognized by his fellow-citizens is shown by his being elected to serve as as- sessor of the township for fourteen successive years and also by his acting as supervisor for many terms. He has ever taken an active interest in the educational advancement of the township and held an office as member of the school board for thirty-five years. He
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