History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 73

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

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J. P. LARSON

J. L. MILLER

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

is a loyal member of the Danish Baptist church and is now serv- ing in the capacity of chairman and trustee of that organization. Mr. Larson has attained his present high place in the regard and esteem of his community by his conscientious principles and faith- ful service in all public offices to which he has been elected, and by his unselfishness and generosity. Mr. Larson has ever exerted himself in the interests of the industrial development of his local- ity, being a great believer in co-operation in all' lines of endeavor. He is president of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association of Bath township; president of the Clarks Grove Hardware & Im- plement Co., president of the Clarks Grove Lumber, Fuel & Stock Co .; president of the Clarks Grove Mercantile Co .; stockholder in the Citizens' National Bank of Albert Lea; stockholder and di- rector in the State Bank of Clarks Grove and stockholder in the American Gas Light & Machine Co. of Albert Lea.

Martin Mikkelsen was the first white child born in Bancroft township. His parents, Lars and Dorthea (Hendricks) Mikkelsen, came to the United States from Norway and in 1855 settled in Freeborn county, where the first few years of their lives in this country were spent in a rude dugout, in which humble dwelling their son Martin was born, March 10, 1857. The father was a farmer and for some time engaged in hauling wheat to different points by means of a team of oxen. The family alleges that he drew the first load of general merchandise to what is now the city of Albert Lea from Winona. He had an active part in the im- provement of the community in which he made his home and en- tered into rest February, 1898, the mother having passed away two years previous to this time. Martin, the subject of this biog- raphy, resides on the old homestead and the log. cabin which was his home through the years of his boyhood now forms a part of one of his barns, and the comfortable house which is his residence today was erected by his father late in life. The prosperous con- dition of the home and farm today is due largely to constant and persevering endeavors. Mr. Mikkelsen owns 120 acres of land and cultivates about one-half of it. He raises Poland China hogs and general purpose horses. His home is situated about three" miles from Albert Lea and he is one of the scientific and substan- tial farmers in the township. Mary Gilbertson, daughter of Gil- bert and Martha Gilbertson, became Mrs. Mikkelsen in 1894 and their home has been blessed by the following children: Luther .. Agnes, Maude, Emma, Carl, Ida and Elvin M. Politically, Mr. Mikkelsen votes the Republican ticket, but he has never sought public office. He attends the Norwegian Lutheran church of Ban- croft, and is a respected member of this organization.

J. L. Miller of Gordonsville was born in Mercer county, Penn- sylvania, the son of Peter J. Miller, who was a weaver. The

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

mother having died when the subject of this biography was only three months of age, the father, in 1866, moved to Freeborn coun. ty, Minnesota, where J. L. received his education, attending public schools of Gordonsville. They located in Shell Rock township, where the father bought a farm and where he lived till his death in 1886. The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 8, 1850, and when eighteen years of age rented the farm from his father and in company with his brother, in 1875, bought a farm which they worked in addition to the home place. He followed general farm- ing until 1907, at which time he rented his farm and moved to Gordonsville and assumed the duties of cashier in the Farmers' State Bank, which position he still occupies. In 1875 he married Mary Buchanan, who is a native of Canada, and two children have been born to them, Mabel, who is now Mrs. Reynolds of Shell Rock, and Ben, who is assistant to his father in the bank. Mr. Miller is a member of the M. E. church. He votes with the Re- publican party and has been a member of the town board fifteen years, as well as a member of school board many years. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Albert Lea, Zurah Temple of Min- neapolis, the M. W. A., the United Workmen and the Mystic Toilers. He is a stockholder in the Building Association of Gor- donsville.

John L. Melander, now deceased, was one of the pioneer resi- dents of Carlston township, having come to this place in the spring of 1856. He located on a farm and broke the land and erected some buildings, here establishing a home for the remainder of his life. He carried on a general farming business together with black- smithing, and his energy and ambition made both enterprises suc- cessful. He married Ellen Nelson, a native of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1880, and this union was blessed with five children : Gustave, Carl and Henry M., and Carl and John L., de- ceased. Henry M. is a successful teacher and the other two sons are at home. Mr. Melander was called to the Great Beyond, Dec. 17, 1909, and his widow resides on the home farm, which is cared for and cultivated by her sons. This farm consists of 186 acres of fertile soil and is situated on the shores of Freeborn lake. Mrs. John L. Melander was born in Sweden, June 15, 1852, and when she was thirty years of age left the land of her birth and came to the United States. Upon reaching this country she came west to Minnesota and secured employment in Carlston township, where she later met and was married to John L. Melander. Her maiden name was Ellen Nelson. Her parents spent their lives in their na- tive land. Mrs. Melander owns a valuable farm of 186 acres, which her sons care for and cultivate. That she is a woman en- dowed with good sense and excellent judgment is acknowledged by the residents of the locality in which she has made her home

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

since her marriage. It should be noted in this connection that Mr. Melander was for many years known as John L. Melder, and as such his name appears many times in this history.

Thomas R. Morgan is the son of Evan and Winifred (Reese) Morgan, the former of whom was a clergyman. He was born in Wales, August 22, 1834, and came to America in 1838 with his parents, who located in Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, where the father followed.his trade as a hatter and also engaged in farming. The family moved to Union, Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1845, where the father took a pre-emption claim, and the son, Thomas, acquired his early education and grew to manhood. Ten years later, in 1855, they came to the township of Moscow, took a claim of 160 acres and built a log house, in which Thomas R. resides at the present time. He has made many changes in the locality in which he has made his home for so many years, his log house be- ing the center around which has grown the present prosperous home, farm and community. The changes in his home have kept pace with the rapid improvement of the locality, developing from the ten by twelve rude log house with its split log floor to the present home, of which the original house now forms one room. The growth of the home is a parallel with the growth of the boy who built the log house to the elderly man, whose advanced thought is now blazing a trail along which he believes men of the future will travel in the continued upbuilding of a United States for the men of the nation. He has entertained in his home several of the most advanced political thinkers of the day, and while en- tertaining them he arranges meetings of the people in the com- munity, that his friends and neighbors may profit by the ideas advanced by his distinguished guests. August 28, 1859, he mar- ried Felicia Lowry, a daughter of Rev. S. G. Lowry, of Indiana, and to them have been born eight children: Wade is deceased ; Winnifred married Jerome Johnson of Elk City, Okla .; Mary is the wife of T. R. Jones and lives in Idaho; Julia and Lowry are deceased; Jane, a former teacher, is now at home; Margaret, an accomplished artist and teacher, died at the age of thirty-two years, in 1910, and one child died in infancy. Mr. Morgan has served on the school board, has been town clerk for many years and has also held the office of justice of the peace. He also organ- ized the school in district 95.

Ole O. Midthun is a native of this county, being born in Ban- croft township, March 27, 1861, son of Ole and Annie (Olson) Mid- thun, natives of Norway. The elder Midthuns came to the United States in 1851 and settled first in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they lived till 1858. In that year they came to Freeborn county, Minnesota, and settled on the land which their son now owns. Buying land for $1.25 per acre, they began the cultivation of the

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

soil as best they could with the rude implements, many of them of their own invention, which were the best to be had at that time. For some time they lived in a dugout and later erected and occupied a log house. Here they continued to lead active and useful lives until death. The father died in 1890 and the mother in 1904. Ole O., subject of this biography, was educated in the public schools and on leaving school he at once took up the work of managing the home farm. He has 160 acres of land and most of this is under a high state of cultivation, the remainder being in hay and timber, which are valuable. He has erected a fine dwell- ing house, large barns and roomy outbuildings, which facilitate the handling of his stock and crops. He gives much time to his dairy herd, which affords him a constant and profitable income. In politics Mr. Midthun is independent. He has been super- visor and chairman of the town and school clerk in his district nine years. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Mid- thun is one of the thoroughly progressive and energetic farmers of the community.

C. Nielsen, a prominent citizen of Bancroft township, and for twenty-three years in charge of the Clarks Grove postoffice, which he kept at his home, is a native of Denmark, born April 12, 1837, son of Nels Christiansen and Annie Nelsen, natives of Denmark, who came to this country late in 1863 and located in Bancroft township, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father dying Sept. 1, 1874, and the mother, Aug. 4, 1895. The sub- ject of this sketch received his education in the schools of Den- mark, and in 1863 came to America, locating for five months in Wisconsin. In October of that year he came to Bancroft and en- gaged in farming with his parents. After his father's death he took charge of the place for his mother, and after her death came into possession of the place. To the original homestead he has added land by purchase until he now owns 249 1-4 acres, 200 in section 11 and the rest in section 2. Mr. Nielsen has been conspicu- ously successful as a farmer and is now one of the substantial men of the township, being also a stockholder in the American Gas Ma- chine Co. of Albert Lea. A Prohibitionist in politics, he has been treasurer and director of his school district many years and has also served a considerable time as justice of the peace. Mr. Nielsen was married May 18, 1869, to Henrietta Borgesen, who was born in Denmark, March 25, 1850, and this union has been blessed with thirteen children, of whom nine are living: George W., Annie, Lena, Mary, Minnie, Niels, Emma, Harry and John. The family faith is that of the Danish Baptist church.

H. C. Nelson, farmer, banker, political leader and former sena- tor, was born in Norway, June 14, 1848, son of Christopher and Mary Nelson, who came to the United States in 1856 and settled in

MR. AND MRS. C. NIELSEN

H. C. NELSON

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where the father worked out and worked a farm for himself until 1861, at which time he came to this county and took up land in section 28, town of Hayward. This was prairie land and he at once set to breaking it and plant- ing crops. He continued farming this land until 1879. In that year he sold his land and moved to Manchester, where he followed general farming until shortly before his death, which occurred in 1889. His wife died in 1910. H. C. Nelson, being only eight years of age when he came to America, received his education in this state after getting started in his studies in Wisconsin. When his school days were over he worked with his father on the home farm. His father enlisted in the 1st Minnesota and while he was absent H. C. conducted the farm and continued to work there till 1868. He later worked on the railroad and ran threshing machines each fall for several years. In 1870 he purchased 160 acres in sections 22 and 27 and so cultivated and improved this land that bỳ fol- lowing general farming he was able to add to his land from time to time and in 1904 he owned 600 acres, 100 of which is in sec- tion 21, where he now resides. He continues farming to the pres- ent time and keeps a large herd of good Shorthorn grade cattle. In 1870 he married Caroline Larson, a native of Norway, who died in 1880. To this union were born six children, Clinton Oliver, Minnie, Charles Theodore, Clara Henrietta, Emma J. and William Milton. In 1881 he married Thea M. Larson, a sister of his first wife, and to them have been born ten children, Frederick A., Dora V., Laura, Edgar, Ida, Ruth, Samuel, Esther, Naoma and Con- stance. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Nelson is a progressive in politics and does not feel that he owes his vote to any one party at all times, and he has voted for prin- ciples rather than for party. That he has had good cause for not holding to any party is apparent from the offices to which he has been elected, among which are chairman of the board of super- visors, fifteen years ; town clerk, two years; assessor, four years, on the school board fourteen years and senator from this district in the Legislature of 1891 and 1893. He is also president of Farmers' State Bank of Hayward, director of Citizens' National Bank of Albert Lea and president of the Farmers' Mutual Insur- ance Co. of Manchester. Mr. Nelson is widely and well known as a business man of unusual good common sense and with an ability to do the things in the present which prove to be of great good in the future. It is this farsightedness which has given him the position of advisor which he so often is called upon to occupy in his community.

Mathias Nelson, now deceased, was born in Norway, where he spent the early years of his life and where he was educated and married. He came to America in 1851, and located in Lafayette

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

county, Wisconsin, where he carried on general farming until 1858. He then came to Minnesota and settled in Albert, Lea town- ship, where he purchased land and followed general farming un- til summoned by death, Aug. 25, 1893. His wife, whose maiden name was Agnes Rood, died in 1898. Their son, C. M. Nesson, is now a prosperous farmer of Shell Rock township.

C. M. Nelson, an extensive land owner and prosperous far ner of Shell Rock, was born in Albert Lea township, July 23, 1858, son of Mathias and Agnes (Rood) Nelson. His education was ac- quired in the public schools of Freeborn county. At the age of twenty-one he purchased 120 acres of the home farm in section 25, Albert Lea township, and by hard labor and untiring ffort, combined with intelligence and economy, in time added to his- property until he owned 200 acres, upon which he erected modern buildings and made many improvements. Mr. Nelson continued farming on this place until 1903, when he moved to the city to look after his extensive business and real estate interests. In 1908 he determined to again become an agriculturist, and accordingly took up his residence on his fine farm of 260 acres in section 6, Shell Rock township, where he now resides. He is now one of the successful and scientific farmers of the county, and his prosperity is due solely to his own industry and ability. In addition to 500 acres of good farm land in Freeborn county, Mr. Nelson owns buildings occupying half a block on one of Albert Lea's principal streets, including the modern factory of the Albert Lea Gas Light Co., and all the structures east of that to the alley. He is-a stockholder in the Co-operative Creamery, the Citizens' State Bank and the Acorn Brick & Tile Co., all of Glenville. Although Mr. Nelson's business and agricultural life has been a busy one, . he has nevertheless found time to hold various town offices of re- sponsibility, being elected on the Republican ticket, to the plat- form of which party he staunchly adheres. The subject of this sketch was married Oct. 4, 1888, to Mattie Frydenlund, who has always proved a faithful and capable helpmeet, loyal to home and family. This union has been blessed with three children, Mabel A., Conrad A. and Arnold V., all at home. The family attends the Lutheran church.

C. T. Nelson was born in Hayward township, August 8, 1875, son of H. C. Nelson. He received his early education in the dis- trict school near his home and later in life attended the Luther Academy. After completing his schooling he purchased 120 acres of land in section 27, and assumed entire charge of it, carrying on a general farming business. He later disposed of this property and bought eighty acres in section 22, and here has since made his home, adding eighty acres more in section 15, thus making 160 acres in his farm. He does general and dairy farming and raises

MR. AND MRS. C. M. NELSON

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

many Poland China hogs and is one of the successful farmers in the community. He has made many improvements on his farm and built a new barn and cultivates about 100 acres of his land. In 1904 he married Ingeborg Skaar, daughter of G. C. Skaar, of Hayward. He is a Democrat in political opinions and his religion is the teachings of the Lutheran church. He has served in many of the responsible offices in the township, having been elected chairman of the town board in 1910 and the following year served as director of the school board. He has been a member of the school board and is a director and stockholder in the Hayward Creamery. A man of good judgment and integrity, Mr. Nelson is held in high esteem by the residents of the community in which is his home. He served as state boiler inspector under Governor Johnson during Johnson's first term.

Emil Nelson, one of the earliest settlers of the county, was born in Urskoug, Norway, Oct. 25, 1851. He came to America with his parents, Lars and Anna Nelson, who settled in Bath township and there reared their family of five children. Ole is now employed as buttermaker at Northfield; Julia is the wife of Peter Baardson; Lena is engaged in the millinery business in Ellendale, and Anna married James Logeson. Emil, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the family. He has followed farming for the greater share of his life, starting for himself at twenty-four years of age, and now has under cultivation about one-half of his 160 acres. Martha Jordahl of Sogen, Norway, became his wife in 1876 and to them have been born five children. Thorena is a teacher, Joseph and Louise are at home, Mabel is a teacher and Clara is the wife of Louis Ackland. Mr. Nelson has devoted his life to his home and family and never mingled in politics to any extent, but votes with the Republican party. He attends the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he has long been a member. He is a stockholder in the Manchester Creamery, of which he was secretary one term. He has also served as school director.

Thomas Ellwood Noble was born at Marquette, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, Dec. 30, 1856, son of John H. and Emma Lyon Noble, early pioneers. He acquired his education in the county schools of Marquette and Kingston, and for six years after leav- ing school was employed on a farm. In 1882 he went to Iowa, re- maining there two years, and on March 1, 1885, he came to Free- born county and located in Manchester township. Here Mr. No- ble rented the George B. Chamberlain farm, which he worked until 1898, and then purchased 158 1-2 acres of the same farm, located in section 26, Manchester. He remodeled the buildings, cultivated and improved the land and engaged in general and dairy farming, making a specialty of raising graded Jersey cat- tle. In 1906 Mr. Noble moved to North Albert Lea, where he

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

made his home until May, 1911, when he moved into Albert Lea. He purchased a home at 616 West Clark street and there resides at the present time. Mr. Noble's time is occupied with home and farm interests, assisting in the agricultural department of the local high school. In political activities Mr. Noble has adhered to the views of the Prohibition party, and he was elected to serve in the State Legislature in 1907 and again in 1909 on the Prohibi- tion platform, being one of the three first men of that party to serve as legislators in Minnesota. He has held township and school district offices, always taking an interest and participating in matters pertaining to the public welfare. He is a stockholder in the Manchester State Bank and also in the Manchester Creamery and for several years was a director of the latter organization. In 1910 he was elected to be the first president of the Minnesota State Corn Growers' Association, of which he is one of the char- ter members, and was re-elected in 1911. He is an attendant of the Baptist church and a contributor to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the M. W. A. Mr. Noble married Dora Cham- berlain, daughter of George B. and Emily Skiff Chamberlain, on April 23, 1885, and their one son, William, formerly a student at the University of Minnesota, now occupies a position with Skin- ner, Chamberlain & Co., in Albert Lea.

John H. Noble, born April 15, 1832, was a native of New York state. In 1846 he moved to Marquette, Wis., and settled in Green Lake county, where he acquired some land and engaged in gen- eral farming. He later met and married Emma Lyon, who came to Wisconsin in the early forties with her parents from Duchess county, New York, and settled in what is now Lyons, Wis. Emma Noble died on March 24, 1864, leaving a family of four children, two girls, Emma and Harriet, having died in infancy. Of the four, Ellwood resides in Albert Lea; Josephine married Lewis Phillips of Clarks county, Wisconsin; Judson L. lives in Fair- water, Wis .; Lucy died at Bristol, N. Y., Aug. 23, 1905. Mr. No- ble had by a second marriage two more sons, Samuel, of Fair- water, Wis., and Carleton, of Kingston, Wis. Mr. Noble died July 30, 1903, survived by his third wife, Eunice Gardner Noble, who.now resides at Bristol, N. Y.

George B. Chamberlain was born Nov. 22, 1820, in Palmer, Hamden, Mass. In his early youth he moved with his parents to Cattaraugus county, New York, where, in March, 1855, he was married to Emily Skiff. They settled on a farm in Ellicottville, where to them were born Ella M., now Mrs. Charles Fellows of Albert Lea; Denna M., who died in infancy, and Dora E., now Mrs. Ellwood Noble, Albert Lea. In the fall of 1859 they moved to Lyons, Wis., where they spent the winter with the parents of Mrs. Chamberlain. The spring of 1860 they came overland with

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

horses and wagons to Manchester, Freeborn county, occupying the home built in section 26 by Smith S. Skiff. This was the first house built in the township, it being built in the summer of 1856. Later they moved on to their own farm, adjoining, where they re- sided until April, 1885, when Mr. Chamberlain rented the farm to T. E. Noble. In this home their son, William G. Chamberlain, now of Albert Lea, was born. They returned to permanently re- side with T. E. Noble's family in the fall of 1903, moving with them to Albert Lea, where Mr. Chamberlain died on May 2, 1907. Mrs. Chamberlain survived him till Dec. 19, 1909, when at the age of seventy-seven, she, too, passed away.

Mrs. George B. Chamberlain. Emily Skiff, daughter of Stephen and Mehettable Skiff, was born in Cattaraugas county, New York, on March 29, 1832. She was one of a family of seven daughters and four sons. In young womanhood she came with her parents to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where she spent a number of years before returning to her native state on a visit. There on March 18, 1855, she was married to George B. Cham- berlain. They settled upon his farm in Ellicotville, N. Y., where three daughters were born to them : Ella M., now Mrs. C. R. Fel- lows; Dora E., now Mrs. T. Ellwood Noble, both of Albert Lea, and Demia, dying in infancy. In the fall of 1859 they decided to try their fortunes in what was then the "Far West," taking with them horses and wagons with which to convey themselves and a small quantity of household goods. The first stage of the journey was via the Great Lakes to Wisconsin. After passing the winter at Lyons they resumed their journey in the spring with the horses and covered wagon. Their objective point was Manchester, Minn., where two of Mrs. Chamberlain's brothers, Benjamin and Smith Skiff, had previously secured land, the latter having built the first log house in the township of Manchester in the year 1856. This house is. at the time of publication, still standing at its original location on Section 26. To this home Mr. Chamberlain came, securing adjoining land, upon which they lived for the next quarter of a century. Here was born a son, William G., now of the firm of Skinner, Chamberlain & Co., of Albert Lea. In the meanwhile acquaintances and relatives had been coming to Free- born county and establishing homes. Among these was the family of E. K. Pickett, whose wife, Philina Skiff Pickett, was a sister of Mrs. Chamberlain. With the courage and cheerfulness of youth these early settlers endured privations, overcame diffi- culties, and shared with each other their joys and sorrows. In the year 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain rented their Manchester farm and purchased a home near Albert Lea. They continued to live in and near Albert Lea for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Chamberlain, upon leaving the farm, was enabled to devote a

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History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 73

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