USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 74
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greater part of her time to church work. She was a devout mem- ber of the First Baptist Church of Albert Lea and loyally fol- lowed it through its various vicissitudes, living to see it in its new home and in a flourishing condition. She also was a strong advo- cate of temperance principles, being a member of the Albert Lea Woman's Christian Temperance Union for many years. During the last years of her life she made her home with her daughter, . Mrs. T. E. Noble. Mr. Chamberlain died in May, 1907, and Mrs. Chamberlain, in her 78th year, passed away December 19, 1909. At the close of a most useful life we have this tribute paid her: "Mrs. Chamberlain was a sterling character and was a Christian in its truest sense in every walk of life."
William N. Nelson, extensive land owner and retired farmer, now residing in Albert Lea, was born in Wiota, La Fayette county, Wisconsin, Sept. 14, 1855, son of Even and Johannah (Christian- son) Nelson, pioneers of 1858. William N. was brought to Minne- sota in 1858, and was reared to manhood in Albert Lea township, receiving his early education in the schools of district 54. In 1878 he purchased a farm of 160 acres in section 13, Freeman township, the tract now being known as the "Dick Windt place." Through hard work and by untiring efforts, Mr. Nelson forged ahead, and with the years attained great prosperity. He acquired extensive holdings, developed and improved several tracts of land, erected suitable buildings, and conducted agricultural operations in a modern manner on a large scale, becoming one of the sub- stantial men of the county. He was a fancier of black Poll-Angus cattle and Poland China hogs, and for twenty years bought, raised, fed and shipped cattle to the markets, more particularly to Chi- cago, his annual business in this line amounting to something like $100,000.00. In the fall of 1876 he and C. Rood purchased a threshing outfit, which they operated several autumns. Being in- terested so greatly in cattle, it was but natural that he was in- terested in organizing the first creamery at Glenville and became one of its directors. During the period of his agricultural and live stock operations, Mr. Nelson made his home on the family farm- in Albert Lea township, and upon retiring in 1905, left his son, Maynard J., on the place, thus making a continuous occupancy of the farm by the Nelson family since 1858. Aside from farming, Mr. Nelson has interested himself in real estate. At the present time he owns 4000 acres of land, including 700 acres in Freeborn county, considerable territory in Murray county, this state, where he first acquired land in 1894, and also large tracts in Montana, Texas and North Dakota. He is also interested in the Albert Lea Land Co. and the Madison Valley Land & Stock Co., both of Al- bert Lea. These companies he helped organize and is serving them as president. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank,
WILLIAM N. NELSON
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MRS. WILLIAM N. NELSON
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of Albert Lea; the Freeborn County State Bank, of Albert Lea, and the Glenville State Bank, of Glenville. Since 1890 he has been a third owner, with his brothers, C. E. and J. E., in the Nelson Bros. department store in Albert Lea. While in the coun- try Mr. Nelson served honorably in many school and township of- fices. He was on the town board and has the distinction of serv- ing a quarter of a century on the school board of district 54, which school he attended as a boy. In 1905, the subject of this sketch retired from farm work and moved to a pleasant home which he erected on Fourth street, Albert Lea. Here he and his wife live in well-deserved retirement, although Mr. Nelson is still actively engaged in looking after his various properties. It has been said of Mr. Nelson that he started in life by driving an ox team, on the farm for his father, and has now reached the stage where he drives a fine White Steamer automobile for himself. William N. Nelson and Emma B. Haug, who was born at Wiota, Wis., Dec. 3, 1858, were married May 24, 1877, and this union has been blessed with four children. Edgar H. lives in Shell Rock township; May- nard J. works on the old home farm; Wilda L. is a student in St. Olaf college, Northfield, and Elmer P. is doing well in the Albert Lea schools. The family faith is that of the Norwegian United Lutheran church.
Even Nelson (deceased) was born in Norway and came to America in 1853. Shortly after his arrival in this country he married Johannah Christiansen and they located in LaFayette county, Wisconsin, where he followed his trade as shoemaker. In 1858 they moved to Freeborn county and located on section 36, Albert Lea township. There he acquired a quarter section, erected a log house and started breaking the land. He continued to fol- low general farming, gradually improved his place, built a frame house and suitable barns, and went through all the hardships in- cident to pioneer life. As opportunity afforded, he increased his holdings and at one time owned considerable tracts of land. In 1877 he left the home place in charge of his son, William N., and moved to another farm, where he passed the remainder of his life. To himself and wife, Johannah, five children were born, of whom William N. resides in Albert Lea ; Amelia married M. P. Johnson, now deceased; C. E. and J. E. are merchants in Albert Lea, their firm being known as the Nelson Brothers, and Julia married Erick Ramsey of Park River, N. D. Some years after the death of Mrs. Johannah Nelson, Mr. Nelson married Anna Olson of Wiota, Wis., this marriage taking place May 17, 1878. To them a family of seven children were born: Eva, the wife of Edward Storvick, of Albert Lea ; Ida, now Mrs. John Abba, of St. Paul; Archie, of Al- bert Lea ; Mabel, Chester, Guy and Edward, at home. Mr. Nelson
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passed away Nov. 6, 1909, and his widow resides on the home farm near Albert Lea, in Albert Lea township.
Ed. Open, the successful farmer of section 15, Riceland, is a native of Norway and was born Oct. 1, 1866, son of Nels and Ellen Open, who lived their lives in the old country. Mr. Open received his education before coming to the United States in 1881. He first worked out by the month three years after he came here, mostly on farms. In 1884 he went to South Dakota, where he fol- lowed railroading seven years. Tiring of this work, he came to Freeborn county and bought 145 acres in sections 15 and 22, and has so well succeeded that he now has 190 acres. This success has been achieved by general and dairy farming, followed in an in- lustrious manner. In 1889 he married Ingeborg Ramsey of Iowa and to them has been born one child. Ella. Mr. Open is a member of the Lutheran church and for several years was one of the di- rectors of the Lutheran parochial school of Riceland. In politics he is a Republican and has been elected to both school and town boards. For over five years he has been treasurer of the Riceland Creamery, is a stockholder in the local telephone company and has served as supervisor on the town board. Mr. Open is one of the men of whom it may be truly said that he is a self-made man of sturdy character.
Nicholas Ott was born in Switzerland, Nov. 30, 1857, son of Nicholas and Margaret (Urfer) Ott. He came to the United States with his parents in 1858 and located near LaCrosse, Wis., where he later attended school. When he was twelve years old the fam- ily moved to Albert Lea township and here he attended the public schools. After completing his education he engaged in farming and now owns 220 acres of land, part of which is in Pickerel Lake township and part in Albert Lea township. He keeps a high grade of Shorthorn cattle and raises many Poland-China and Berkshire hogs which yield him a substantial income. He disposes of his dairy products to the Co-operative Creamery, of which he is a stockholder. He has made many improvements on his farm and his well-built and comfortable home is one of the landmarks in that locality. He married Carrie Jeklin in 1882 and they are the parents of four children: Robert, who married Emma Lembke; Cyrus, Willis and Corenia. Mr. Ott's abilities have been recog- nized by his fellow-citizens to the extent that they have elected him to the office of treasurer of school district 102 for twelve con- secutive years. He has also been supervisor of the township in the past, serving in these offices with common sense and excellent judgment. He affiliates with the Prohibition party and is a mem- ber of the M. W. A. Camp, 835, of Albert Lea. Mr. Ott owes his present prosperous condition to his own hard work and farsight- edness, retaining through the years the respect and good will of
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all with whom he has had to deal. Mr. Ott is a stockholder and has been a director in the Emmons Mutual Telephone Association.
Nicholas Ott, Sr., and his wife came from Switzerland to this country in 1858 and settled near LaCrosse, Wis., where he fol- lowed the occupation of farming. They remained near LaCrosse eleven years, after which they moved to Minnesota and located in Albert Lea township, and here spent the remainder of their lives. To them were born six children: Margaret, Mary, Mattie, Nich- olas; John and Lydia are deceased. Mr. Ott died in 1881 and his wife a few years previous to that time. When the Otts first came here they erected a log cabin and lived there for a time until a comfortable home was later erected. Nicholas Ott, Sr., purchased 320 acres in the early days, but later disposed of a part of it.
Ole Peterson, a prominent citizen of Hayward township, has held many offices of trust and honor in that town, among which are a member of the board of supervisors, in which capacity he has served for the past seven years, and member of the school board, serving here for five years. He was born in Norway, July 18, 1862, and came with his parents to America when he was eighteen years old. They settled in Albert Lea, where they es- tablished a home and resided until the end of their lives. The father passed away in 1890 and his widow survived him but a year. Ole, the subject of this sketch, began his early education in the schools of his native land and completed it in the schools of Hayward, after which he began railroad work for the B. C., R. & N., which he followed for a period of sixteen years, the last eight years being car inspector. Later he bought eighty acres in section 19, town of Hayward, and rented additional land and here con- ducts general and dairy farming, together with stock raising. He prefers the Holstein-Fresian breed of cattle for dairy purposes and raises Poland China hogs to supply the ever-increasing de- mands of the markets. Betsy Hanson, of Norwegian parentage, married Mr. Peterson in November, 1888, and they have three children : Oscar, Gyda and Philip. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Lutheran church and contributes liberally to its support. He also belongs to the Order of United Workmen and in politics votes independently. He is a stockholder in the Hayward Cream- ery and a man whose good judgment is respected by his fellow- citizens.
William P. Pickle, one of the oldest settlers of Freeborn coun- ty, was born in Onandaga county, New York, Dec. 31, 1834. When he was two years old, his parents moved near Marshall, Mich. He spent his time on a farm and in a select school in Dane county, Wisconsin, until he was eighteen years old. He then was appren- ticed to the blacksmith trade at the Upton Mfg. Co. at Battle Creek, Mich. He worked at his trade until 1857, at which time he
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crossed the plains in a prairie schooner drawn by four yoke of oxen. He mined gold at Pike's Peak and Leadville. Buffalo were then plentiful and he hunted and killed a large number, also was engaged in many Indian fights. He shod the first government mules that carried the mail across the plains from Fort Kearney, Neb. In 1859 he returned east and located in Freeman township, this county, until 1862, at which time he enlisted in Co. A, 21st Iowa Vol. Inf., in response to the call for volunteers to quell the rebellion. He saw active service and fought at Fort Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge and the Siege of Vicksburg. In January of 1864, while at Vicksburg, he was sun-stricken and had the brain fever, from which he never entirely recovered. He was promoted to corporal and transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. He was mustered out April 7, 1865. After the war he re- sided for one year with his father in Hartland township, and on May 27, 1865, he married Mary L. Kraushaar. He returned to Freeborn county and bought 160 acres of land in Nunda, where he lived until 1888, at which time he moved to Albert Lea and engaged in the well and windmill business. In 1890 he started a general store at Clover. A year later he again moved to the farm, where he resided until 1898, at which time he moved to Albert Lea and retired from active work. On Aug. 18, 1905, he passed out of this life and now lies at rest in the cemetery near the Ger- man Lutheran church, near Clover. His widow and their five children : Lillian Nelson, Fargo, N. D .; Walter H., Edwall, Wash .; Martin E., Detroit, Mich .; Etta Jones, Clover, Minn., and Ralph H., Albert Lea, Minn., still survive him. Mr. Pickle served in va- rious town and school offices and was held in high esteem. He was a member of the local Masonic lodge.
Ralph H. Pickle of the American Gas Machine Co., of Albert Lea, was born in Nunda township, this county, Jan. 11, 1880, son of William P. and Mary L. (Kraushaar) Pickle. He received his education in the public schools of this county and the Iowa City Commercial College and the Irish Business University of Iowa City, Iowa. He began work in the office of the Sharp Mfg. Co. shortly upon completion of his school work, which he continued until the spring of 1904. At that time he engaged as a traveling salesman in specialty lines until 1907, at which time he engaged with the American Gas Machine Co., jobbing their product, with headquarters at Des Moines, Ia. He discontinued his office during 1909 and traveled direct from headquarters at Albert Lea until Dec. 1, 1910, at which time he assumed charge of the shipping and stock departments for the above company. Aside from his reg- ular vocation, Mr. Pickle makes a special study of agriculture, which he carries on on his farm in Itasca. He is one of the pio- neers in the raising of alfalfa in this county, and believes it will
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soon be as common as clover. He has been especially successful in the raising of potatoes, having secured large yields of fine qual- ity tubers. Mr. Pickle votes independently and belongs to the U. C. T. and K. O. T. M. lodges. He was married Jan. 24, 1904, to Nellie E. Lawson, daughter of Lawrence and Hannah (Nelson) Lawson, of Boone, Ia., and this union has been blessed with three children : Virginia, Manford and Ramona.
W. C. Peck was born in New London, Huron county, Ohio, April 6, 1832, son of Harris and Martha (Stimpson) Peck, natives of New York, who in 1831 moved to Ohio, where they lived until 1858, during which year they moved to Minnesota and located in Albert Lea. The elder Peck was here engaged in the furniture business until the time of his death. W. C., the subject of this biography, attended school in Ohio and completed his education in the Painesville high school. After leaving school he took up the work of carpentry, which he followed until he came west in 1854, first locating in Rockford, Ill., and later in Peoria. In 1861, Mr. Peck came to Albert Lea and was employed at carpentry with his father until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Co. F, 4th Minn. Vol. Inf., and served three years. He was hon- orably discharged at Madison, Wis., in 1864, after which he re- turned to Albert Lea and again took up his carpentry work. In 1872 Mr. Peck went to Chicago, working for an agricultural ma- chine company, and in this occupation he remained until 1882, when he resigned and came again to Albert Lea, where he re- sumed his old trade. In 1905 he retired from an active life and is living in his home near the city. He is a Socialist and has pro- gressive views. He belongs to the Robson Post, G. A. R., and is a highly-esteemed citizen. On Feb. 25, 1854, Sarah A. Green, of Painesville, O., became his wife, and their marriage has resulted in the birth of two children, Frank G., a wood manufacturer, of Chi- cago, and Maude M., who lives at home.
A. C. Paulson, the well-known and popular banker of Alden, was born in Chicago, Ill., May 25, 1872, son of Paul Carlson and Anne Nelson, the former of whom was lost in the great fire of Chicago. In later years the mother married Ole Paulson and they reside in Martin county, Minnesota. When a boy, Mr. Paulson laid the foundation for his future success in life by close applica- tion to his studies. After completing his education he went to Chicago, where he secured employment and received good bus- iness training. He returned to Martin county in 1906 and went to work in the bank in Conger, Minn., as cashier, being immedi- ately put in charge of the bank. Three years later he accepted the position of cashier in the Security State Bank of Alden, where he is employed at the present time. Annie Olson became his wife on Jan. 23, 1895, and to them one child was born, Arthur, which
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cost the mother her life. On Feb. 28, 1905, Mr. Paulson married Myrtle Brown, a daughter of R. N. and Anna Brown, and this marriage has been blessed by the birth of a daughter, Lois G. Mr. Paulson favors the ideas advanced by the Republican party and attends divine worship at the Presbyterian church, of which he is a loyal and respected member. He is a member of the Mod- ern Brotherhood of America and in every respect one of the pub- lic-spirited and progressive citizens of Alden, his success in life being due to his just and conscientious dealings with his fellow- men.
Hans Peterson, who has served his fellow-citizens by acting as chairman of the board of supervisors one term, supervisor several terms and member of the school board for the past twenty-seven years, is one of the influential men of Carlston township. He was born in Denmark, April 27, 1861, and came to the United States six years later with his parents, who located in Illinois, where they remained three months. They moved from there to Freeborn county, Minnesota, in 1867, and settled in Carlston, where the father built a small house, broke the land and prepared to follow the occupation of farming. Hans, the son, was educated in the log school house near his home, and during vacation months helped his father with the farm work. Octavia Svendsen became his wife and their home was blessed by the arrival of six children : Hjalmar, Jens, Victor, Guy, Nora and Hulda. Mr. Peterson owns a valuable farm comprising 200 acres in sections 9 and 16, and here conducts general farming, keeping a large percentage of his land under cultivation. His father is dead and his mother makes her home with her son at the age of four score and four years. In addition to his other interests he is a stockholder in the Alden Co-operative Creamery.
Isaac W. McReynolds, affectionately known as "Father" Mc- Reynolds, was an important factor in the early life of Albert Lea. His deep religious convictions, his rugged piety, his common sense and his benignant disposition, all combined to make a man of rare personality. His influence and that of a few others of strong re- ligious faith did much toward making early Albert Lea a law- abiding and God-fearing community and prevented much of the lawlessness usually associated with the beginning of pioneer com- munities. Isaac W. McReynolds was born in South Carolina, Feb. 4, 1806. In 1816 he moved with his parents to Jefferson county, Indiana, where they resided on a farm three years. In 1827 Isaac McReynolds moved to Grant county, Wisconsin, and there en- gaged in mining and farming until 1856, in the meantime partici- pating in the Black Hawk war and taking part in the battle of Bad Axe. In 1856 he came to Freeborn county and lived the first year with William Kellar, at the same time proving up a claim of
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160 acres, one mile west of the Freeborn county courthouse, in Albert Lea township. He brought his family here the next year. Father McReynolds broke and developed his farm land and erected a log house (still preserved) and suitable outbuildings, and carried on general farming until failing health prevented a continuation of this work. In connection with this he preached and presided at funerals, as a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. At an early date he sold a part of his farm for a nominal sum, to an association of Albert Lea citizens, and the beautiful Albert Lea cemetery now occupies the site. When he was ready to retire, he deeded his farm to his son Frank, but continued to reside on the home farm until his death, Feb. 18, 1899. The subject of this sketch was married in 1834 to Nancy Sparks, a native of Tennessee, born June 7, 1808. Mrs. McRey- nolds was a fitting companion for her noble husband, assisting and encouraging him in all his endeavors, and cheering the hard. ships of a pioneer home with Christian fortitude and sweet womanly love. She died Feb. 16, 1892, and went to her grave sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. McReynolds were the parents of eight children: Margaret and Sarah are twins, the former being married and living in Albert Lea, and the latter being dead. The next children were Jane, Henry, Mary, Franklin M., all deceased, an infant who died before being named and Frances E. (Nielsen), who now owns and oc- cupies the old homestead.
Franklin M. McReynolds, now deceased, a veteran of the Civil War, and for many years an honored resident of Albert Lea town- ship, was born in Wisconsin in 1840, son of Isaac McReynolds and Nancy Sparks McReynolds. He came to Freeborn county in 1857 with his mother and other members of the family, his father hav- ing located here in 1856. He grew to manhood on the McReynolds farm, one mile west of the city of Albert Lea, and for several years taught school in various districts in this county. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. C, 5th Minn. Vol. Inf., and served until honorably discharged for ill health, doing excellent valiant service against the Sioux during the Indian campaign. After a well-spent life devoted largely to farming, Mr. McReynolds passed away, Jan. 18, 1893, his funeral being conducted by the G. A. R. and by the Masonic order, in both of which he was a prominent member. At the time of his death the Freeborn County Standard said: "Mr. McReynolds was in every respect a valuable citizen, always up- holding everything that was best in the community. He never married, but leaves a host of friends to mourn his death, his ill- ness having extended over a period of seven years. His father was the first minister of the Methodist faith that resided here and Franklin M. was ever a consistent follower of that faith."
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Frances E. Nielsen (McReynolds) was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, September 23, 1845, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Sparks) McReynolds. She came to Minnesota with her mother in 1857, her father having located here the previous year. Here she grew to womanhood and has always remained on the home farm, faithfully caring for her parents, her brother and her husband during their last days, and at the same time conducting the house- hold affairs with ability and economy. She was married April 18, 1889, to Lewis Nielsen, who was born in Denmark, February 9, 1862. Mr. Neilsen attended the schools of his native country, there grew to manhood, and at the age of twenty, in 1882, came to America, locating in Freeborn county. He was employed in vari- ous places for a short time and then secured employment on the McReynolds' farm. Here friendship ripened into courtship, and he was married in due time to the daughter of the house. For several years before his death he managed and conducted the old McReynolds' homestead and made many improvements, erecting a fine home, a large barn, and necessary outbuildings, being in a prosperous and successful condition when death called him, July 10, 1909. After coming here he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church and served as steward and trustee of the local congrega- tion until the time of his death. He was also a stockholder in the Albert Lea Creamery. Since his death Mrs. Nielsen has continued to live on the home place, renting her land. Like her parents, her brother and her husband Mrs. Nielsen is a devout Methodist and is interested in every good work.
Fred S. Ruble, a successful and prosperous farmer who resides in Pickerel Lake township, was born in that township on Novem- ber 20, 1865, son of John and Henrietta Ruble, the pioneers. The subject of this biography was educated in the district school near his home and later completed his studies in Albert Lea, after which he engaged in general farming, working with his father on the home place. In 1890 he started farming on his own responsi- bility, purchasing 200 acres of the old homestead located in sec- tions 12 and 13. Here Mr. Ruble erected all the buildings and made many improvements, his barn being considered one of the finest in the county. As time has passed and prosperity made it possible, Mr. Ruble has added forty acres to his original farm, making a total of 240, all of which are under a high state of cultivation. He makes a specialty of raising pure bred cattle of the Holstein-Fresian variety, having forty head of registered stock, which have taken many prizes at state and county fairs. He is a prominent member of the Holstein-Fresian Breeders' Asso- ciation of America. Mr. Ruble is a supporter of the principles of the Republican party and, being of a fraternal disposition, he has allied himself with the M. W. A. He has been selected to serve as
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