USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 75
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a member of the town board for several years, and he is now one of the directors of school district 39. On May 27, 1890, Parthena M. Converse became his wife. She is a daughter of J. H. Con- verse, one of the early pioneers in the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruble four children have been born, Albert F., Blanche, Helen M. and Clifford A.
Henry Ruble and Mary E. Simonds, his wife, were the parents of George S. Ruble, the founder of Albert Lea, and John Ruble, one of the earliest pioneers of Pickerel Lake township. The founder of the Ruble family in America came from Hanover, Germany, about 1730, and settled in Miffin county, Pennsylvania. His name was Peter. To him were born four sons, Christian, Peter, Abraham and Mathias. The latter settled in the east end of the Kishocoquillas valley several years prior to the Revolution, and he also had four sons, Peter, Michael, John and Henry. The latter married Mary E. Simonds, of York county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born four sons, all natives of the above named valley. These sons were Simon, George S., Henry and John. The combined weight of these four brothers before the war was 1,265 pounds, and their combined height was twenty-four feet and ten inches.
John Ruble, one of the earliest pioneers of Freeborn county, and for many years one of the leading citizens of Pickerel Lake, was born in the Kishacoquillas valley, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1827, son of Henry and Mary E. (Simonds) Ruble, of German ancestry. At the age of two years he was taken by his parents to Wayne county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. He was mar- ried August 20, 1849, to Henrietta Fleck, born March 17, 1830, in Saxony, Germany, and removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, settling on a farm there three miles west of the city of Beloit. In 1856 he sold out his interests there and joined his brother, George S. in Freeborn county. He took a quarter section about three miles from Albert Lea in Pickerel Lake township, and in time added to his original preemption until he owned some six hundred acres. At an early day he commenced the sale of agricultural implements, and maintained warerooms and an office in this city. John Rubel died Aug. 27, 1884, and his wife passed away March 24, 1891.
George S. Ruble, the founder of Albert Lea, was born in Kishocoquillas Valley, Miffin county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1822, son of Henry and Mary E. (Simonds) Ruble. In 1829 he. was taken by his parents to Green township, Wayne County, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood, receiving but little schooling. On February 1, 1849, he marriey Elethear Humphrey, and removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, settling on a farm three miles west of the city of Beloit, where he engaged in farming and stock
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raising. In 1855 he sold out his interests in Wisconsin and came to Albert Lea, being the second settler on the town site. His part in the building of the city is told elsewhere. When the Civil War broke out he was among the first to respond to his country's call. He raised and became captain of Company H, of the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, was mustered in Decem- ber 5, 1862; spent the winter with his company in barracks at Fort Ridgley, and accompanied. General Sibley in his expedition against the Indians across the plains of Dakota in the summer following. He was mustered out at the expiration of his term of service, November 24, 1863. In 1864 he re-entered the army as senior first lieutenant of Company C, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, and went South with that organization. He was com- mander of the fort, on Cameron Hill, at Chattanooga, Tenn., and from there was transferred to Charleston, Tenn., and placed in command of Fort Bishop. He was mustered out of the service July 5, 1865, at the close of the war, after which he returned to Albert Lea. While in the South he had become impressed with the opportunity for business development at Chattanooga, Tenn., and decided to locate there, which he did in 1866. He opened business in the agricultural implement line and continued for a period of twelve years. He moved his family there in 1868, and built a house on Lookout Mountain, called "Ruble's Cottage Home." This he conducted as a hotel for twelve years, and it became a famous resort will known all over the South for good fare and genial hospitality. In 1871 his warehouse with all its contents was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of over $50,000.00. The Cottage Home was sold, Captain Ruble having returned to Albert Lea. His health began to fail on account of disease con- tracted from exposure while in the army, and he died July 2, 1886, and was buried in the family burying ground at Beloit, Wis., where his wife, who died February 6, 1892, is also buried. Tr many respects Captain Ruble was a remarkable man; of Lug, and powerful physique, with a fine and commanding figure; he was a man of great force of will, of indomitable energy and perse- verance. He stood six feet two and one-half inches in height, and his weight was 275 pounds, and all his brothers were like him -large men. In politics Captain Ruble was a Republican, but- was not an active partisan. He was appointed the first sheriff of Freeborn county. He was a charter member of the Western Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and was one of the first Knights Templar in the State. He left two children-Charles Newton Ruble, now deceased, and Mrs. T. P. Greene, of Shelbyville, Tenn. Another child, Simon, died in infancy.
Charles H. Ruble, one of the leading and representative farmers of Pickerel Lake township, was born in Beloit, Wis., July
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13, 1852, son of John and Henrietta (Fleck) Ruble, the pioneers, who brought him to Pickerel Lake township in April, 1856, where he received his education, and has since continued to reside, engaging in farming pursuits. He now owns 100 acres in section 11, where his home is located, and 260 acres in sections 1 and 2. Like his father before him, he has been prominent in town affairs. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, has served as town clerk and assessor to his own credit and to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens, and at the present time is treasurer of school district 39. The subject of this sketch was married, November 29, 1881, to Eliza Heising, and this union has been blessed with four children: Harry E., of Albert Lea; John D., who conducts his father's farm in sections 1 and 2, Pickerel Lake township; Lanetta V., now Mrs. F. C. Hill, of Albert Lea township; and Edna, who is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian church.
P. O. Rosenberg, a prosperous farmer of Hayward township, was born in Norway, July 17, 1862. In 1881 he came to America with his parents, Agnat and Mathias Rosenberg, and located in Hayward township, where the father purchased eighty acres of land and here he carried on general farming until his death in 1902. The mother still resides on the old homestead. The subject of this biography was educated in the schools in Norway, and, having completed his work in them, he started out for himself when he reached this country and purchased forty acres of land in Hayward township, section 32. To this he has added from time to time as opportunity afforded and he now has 360 acres, with over 250 acres under cultivation. On his farm Mr. Rosen- berg has made all improvements except building the house. He does general and dairy farming and keeps a herd of grade cattle. He also raises Poland china and chester white hogs. In 1891 Sene Monson, a native of Norway, became his wife, and this marriage has been blessed with five children : Arthur M., Chester M., Pearl Sophia, Odin C. and Russell M. Mr. Rosenberg upholds the tenents of the Republican party, has held various of- fices in his township and has served a number of years as director i .: ci school board. He is one of the stockholders in the Glenville Creamery.
It" H. Rofshus was born in Norway, January 16, 1850. He came to America with his parents when he was but nine years old, and for about a year after reaching this country they lived in Dane county, Wisconsin, after which they moved to Minnesota and settled in Bancroft. Here they purchased a farm and spent the remainder of their lives; the mother's death occuring in 1889 and the father's five years later. Iver H., their son, took charge of the farm as he grew older and at the present time resides here,
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carrying on diversified and dairy farming. He disposes of his dairy products to the Riceland Co-Operative Creamery, of which he is a stockholder, and for six years was a director. Carrie Olson, daughter of Ole and Terena Olson, both deceased, became the wife of Mr. Rofshus in 1876, and they are the parents of nine children : Annie, Tilda, Helen, Olave, Sophia, Martin, Irwin and Hazel, and Henry, who is dead. Mr. Rofshus has 119 acres of land. In political ideas he adheres to those advanced by the Republican party, but his careful attention to the betterment of his home and farm have prevented his seeking public office. His genial manner, together with his excellent judgment, have won the regard of the community in which he resides.
N. H. Rasmusson, banker, was born in Freeborn county, Nunda township, April 7, 1868, son of Hogan and Christi (Nelson) Rasmusson, who came to the United States in 1857 and settled in Wisconsin, where they remained but one year. Many of their friends from Norway were settling in Freeborn county, and in 1858 they came here and bought 160 acres of land at $1.25 per acre in Nunda, where they followed general farming. It was here they lived until 1908, and here their children, Christina, N. H., Albert, Isabell, George, Betsy, Andrew, Hanna and Tilda grew up. In 1908 the father died; the mother now lives in Emmons. The subject of this biography was born April 7, 1868, and grew to manhood attending the local schools, the St. Ansgar Academy, and working on his father's farm. After completing his school work he taught two years. It was while teaching that he became interested in telegraphy, to which he zealously applied himself and in a short time became well versed in this work. He worked in various stations in Wisconsin and later was assigned to the station at Norman, Iowa, which was the railroad station for Emmons at that time. He was so well suited to this work that he followed it in the same position over nine years. Appreciating that the opportunity for advancement in this line is somewhat remote he resigned and became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Emmons in 1902. He was later made cashier and has since occupied that position. The bank under his man- agement has steadily increased in business and risen in the estimate of the public, and today has a high place in the regard of the people of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. In 1894 Mr. Rasmusson married Gurine Nelson, daughter of Nels and Carrie Nelson, natives of Norway, who located in Nunda in 1859. They here followed farming and reared their family. The mother died in 1907; the father still lives in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Rasmusson have been born two children, Cora and Hattie. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Lutheran church. He is with the Republican party in politics, but gives
N. H. RASMUSSON
CHARLES SCOVILLE
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but little time to political affairs. Being socially inclined, he has accepted invitations to join several fraternities, among which are A. O. U. W., M. W. A., M. B. A., L. P. O. E., Sons of Norway and the Masonic order.
L. T. Scott, who has been prominently identified in the growth and development of the village of Freeborn, was born in Wyoming county, New York, June 16, 1830. His parents were W. E. and Eliza (Fuller) Scott, who spent their lives on a farm in New York. L. T. received his schooling in his native state and came west to Minnesota in 1856. He homesteaded land in section 26, Freeborn township, and cut logs with which he built a house. He and his wife, Marian Purdie, also a native of New York, endured great hardships and privations, but with the courage of. the early pioneers, they struggled against all difficulties and year by year toiled and prospered. The nearest market to which Mr. Scott could sell his grain was at Hastings, and to make this trip required six days by ox team. At times he sold his grain for only 35 cents a bushel. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott six children were born: George F., who was the second white child born in the township; Agnes M., married to Fineus S. Howard; Nettie, the wife of George P. Lattin; Larinda, married to Albert T. Schoen ; Peter P. and John G. For forty years Mr. Scott was engaged in general farming interests. He retired from active life in 1896 and moved into the village of Freeborn. He is the president and a director of the First State Bank of Freeborn, and was one of the founders of this institution. He has held many prominent offices in the town, among which are chairman of the board of supervisors, which office he occupied for seventeen years. He was the first postmaster in the town and erected the first hotel, in which was opened the first general store in Freeborn village. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and Eastern Star lodge of Albert Lea and took his first degree in 1861. A public spirited citizen, Mr. Scott is held in respect and admiration by his asso- ciates and venerated by the younger generations.
Charles Scoville, an esteemed resident of the village of Free- born and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Onondago county, New York, June 27, 1841, son of Lemuel and Eleanore (Reese) Scoville. His father was a native of Connecticut, who moved to New York in the early forties, where he followed the occupation of farming, and in 1858 he came west to Minnesota, locating in Freeborn township, where he spent the remainder of his days. Charles, the son, remained in his home state until the breaking out of the war, and then he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-sixth New York Vol. Inf. He served his enlistment of two years and was honorably discharged, coming to Minnesota in 1863. Here he homesteaded land in section 13, Freeborn town-
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ship, and carried on general farming for two years, after which he again enlisted to fight for his country, this time in Company A, Ninth U. S. Veteran Volunteers. One year later he returned to Minnesota and resumed his labors on the farm, which he continued until 1884, when he moved into Freeborn village. Mr. Scoville married Ann Ball, daughter of John and Charlotte (Smith) Ball, the former of whom was a native of Vermont and a stonemason by trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Scoville eight children were born: Charlotte is the wife of Rev. P. H. Fisk, Nina is now Mrs. Page Guthrie, Grace married John Luther, Herbert M. married Mary Stoddart, Bertha married Ansel Gilmore and they are the parents of one boy, Gordon. Donald, the youngest child, was a graduate of the Albert Lea high school, and a young man uni- versally beloved, died in early manhood. Two died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Scoville's daughters were school teachers and the family is one of which they are justly proud. For thirteen years Mr. Scoville was a mail carrier between Hartland and Freeborn and during his service in this capacity lie never missed a day's duty, but was busy in all kinds of weather and never faltered in his task. He is a member of the G. A. R. and adjutant of Ash Post, No. 98, of Alden. He is also a member of the M. W. A. lodge of Freeborn. For eight years he was constable in Freeborn township.
Lester Vandercook Spicer, born in Erie county, Ohio, March 10, 1837, was the oldest son of Isaac Gamble Spicer, of Fort Ann, N. Y. (a descendant of early Connecticut pioneers), and Cornelia Francis Vandercook, born at Pittstown, N. Y., of Dutch-Patroon ancestry. At an early age he went to Oregon, where he was engaged in mining and lumbering at Salem and Joseph. Return- ing to Ohio, he conducted a hardware store, and in 1865 moved with his mother and younger brother to Fulton, Mo. In 1870 he came to Albert Lea. He was married April 18, 1872, at Fulton, Mo., to Laura Ann Smith. Mrs. Spicer is the oldest daughter of James Henry Smith and Elizabeth Marshall Duggins, of Bedford and Nelson counties, Virginia. In 1872 Mr. Spicer entered a partnership with Dr. A. C. Wedge in the Corner Drug Store, which business he continued until his death. Having purchased 270 acres of wild timber land he converted it into one of the best stock farms in southern Minnesota and in doing so was one of the first to introduce blooded short-horn cattle in Freeborn county. Mr. Spicer was killed November 29, 1884, by one of his blooded bulls near the present Floral Fair grounds, which was then the west part of his farm. He was the father of five children: Irene, who died December 30, 1899; Cora Francis, who married Bert E. Ross and lives at Pasadena, Cal .; Emma Vandercook, who married
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MR. AND MRS. JAMES SORENSON (LAH)
Eliz dato (Butz) Spices
·Nov. 27-1954 Cerbad Hermange
,HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
697
Alfred E. Au lives at La Crosse, Wis .; Lester Wedge and John Lovely. His widow still resides in Albert Lea.
Lester Wedge Spicer, of the firm of Barlow & Spicer, drug- gists and stationers, was born in Albert Lea, October 20, 1876, son of Lester Vandercook and Laura Ann (Smith) Spicer. He was reared in the city of his birth, attending public school and Childm & graduating from the high school in 1895. In 1897 he graduated from the College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, and in 1899 became junior member of the present firm. Mr. Spicer is an independent voter and has served as county coroner. He is a Dr Bank Nicha member of several fraternal orders. The subject of this sketch was married March 10, 1909, at Wooster, Ohio, to Elizabeth New- berry Beebe, born July 20, 1878, daughter of William O. and Vyme con Iricho Fanny Allyn (Sill) Beebe, of Wooster, formerly of Cuyahoga V. Juk 8-1943 Falls, Ohio. Mrs. Spicer is a graduate of Wooster University Sme rund To this union has been born one daughter, Margery Elizabeth, - B- Supt. 3. 194 born June 29, 1910. mund DV DR Michula mich 7-1942 - Died Richeste, With
James Sorenson (Lah), a veteran of the Civil War, who lives Vct . 14-195: on section 35, Nunda, is a native of Norway, born. June 9, 1839. His father was Sorenson Lah, who died in 1888. The subject of: this biography came to America with his parents and settled first in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he worked out by the month for farmers of that locality for three years. He then went to Worth county, Iowa, and took a pre-emption of 160 acres with his father and worked this land till the first call for troops, in August, 1862. He enlisted in Company B, Thirty-second Iowa Vol. Inf., which command was organized under the direction of Captain A. B. Miller. This company took part in the engage- ments at Vicksburg, Yellow Bayou, Pleasant Hill, Alexandria, Red River campaign, Nashville, the fighting in and around Mobile and Montgomery, as well as many minor engagements. In August, 1865, he received his discharge in Clarksville, Iowa: When he returned home he bought eighty acres in section 35, Nunda, where he now owns 120 acres, and also 126 acres just south of this in Iowa. He has also started his children with land for farming. The log house which is at present his home is the one which he constructed in the sixties, and is one of the few remaining log houses which have not been sided over. On March 12, 1867, Mr. Sorenson married Mary Olson, a native of Norway, who came to Iowa with her parents and experienced all the hard- ships incident to the life of the pioneer girls during the war period. When laborers were hard to find during the war years she earned from one to two dollars per day doing a man's work on nearby farms. This sturdy old couple has reared a family of twelve children: Julia Sophia, married Asley Larson, of Nunda; Jensena Christiana, married Edward Brewer, of Worth county,
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Iowa; Sam, married Louise Loberg; Clara Marie, married Thoaten Flaten, of Nunda; Olena Frederica, married Ole Larson. Ole Johan is at home, as are also Emma Matia and James, who married Betsy Brewer. Betsy Magina married Henry Hanson. Anna Louisa, Mary Josephine and Ole are deceased. The Sorenson family attends the Lutheran church. Mr. Sorenson is a Re- publican in politics and has been town supervisor many years and member of school board in district 72 over forty years. He is a member of Robson Post, No. 5, G. A. R.
Peter Larsen, representative farmer of Albert Lea, was born in Denmark, October 16, 1865, son of Lars and Anna Larsen. His father died in 1873, and the mother is now living in Riceland township, this county. Peter, the subject of this biography, was educated in Denmark and he came to America in 1882, locating in Riceland township. For a period of ten years Mr. Larsen worked at farming in Riceland, after which he came to Albert Lea, where he was employed until 1907, then renting Dr. A. H. Street's farm, which he is caring for and cultivating at present. In 1908, Mr. Larsen purchased eighty acres in section 21, Albert Lea township, and he works this in connection with Dr. Street's property. Politically Mr. Larsen votes independently and he has never sought public office. He married Mary Christiansen on May 13, 1895, and they are the parents of six children, Laily, Ruth, Lyman, Harold, Wendel and Acton. The family attend the Lutheran church.
Dr. Avalin H. Street has been a prominent citizen of Albert Lea for many years. He was born in Orleans county, New York, on April 29, 1833, son of Chapin and Dolly (Ness) Street, the former of whom passed away in Illinois, and the latter in New York. Avalin, the subject of this biography, commenced his education in the public schools of Orleans county, subsequently attending the academies at Albion and Kerryville, N. Y. Later he graduated in dentistry and medicine in his native state and prac- ticed dentistry in the East until thirty-six years of age, when he decided to try his fortunes in Minnesota. Accordingly in 1869 he came to Freeborn county, and opened a dental office in Albert Lea. For a time he also practiced medicine. Retiring eventually from public life, Dr. Street bought a farm comprising a half section located in Alden, and there he made his home for several years, after which he returned to Albert Lea and purchased the John G. Godley farm of 295 acres, on which he resides at the present time. This farm is located about two miles out of the city, and, though seventy-eight years old, Dr. Street walks into Albert Lea nearly every day. He still owns the farm in Alden but rents it. He has served as justice of the peace in the past, and he has even been a public spirited man. He has left an
MR. AND MRS. JOHN A. SCHOEN
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endowment of $10,000 to the Albert Lea College, this to be made available after his death.
T. O. Selstad, who has been supervisor of the town of Bancroft for the past twelve years, is one of the prominent men in his community. He was born in Bancroft, June 30, 1862, son of Ole and Aasne Selstad. His early boyhood was spent on the home farm assisting his father and making himself generally useful. He received his education in the country school near his home and later in life began farming on his own responsibility, an occupa- tion which he has followed since and in which his efforts have been crowned with success. He owns 120 acres of land and raises Holstein cattle, does a profitable dairying business and stock raising. He also raises a good grade of hogs for which he finds ready market. The fine, substantial house in which Mr. Selstad now lives was built by him and he also has made many improvements on the other buildings belonging to him, and has erected a silo. He was married to Christina Overland June 24, 1889. He is a respected member of the Lutheran church and is its treasurer. He is a Republican in politics, but has independent views. As a member of the school board he has shown his interest in educational lines and, in fact, Mr. Selstad is in sympathy with all movements which are for the advancement of humanity in general. He is a stockholder and director in the Lerdal Tele- phone Company, having served as its manager.
Ole Selstad was born in Norway and migrated to the United States in 1858. He settled in Wisconsin for about two years, after which he came to Bancroft and purchased a farm and made his permanent home and here reared his family. To himself and wife, Aasne, were born seven children, Ole O., Matilda, Halvor, Ida, T. O., Annie and Edna. Mr. Selstad entered into rest in 1888 and his widow survived him for five years.
John A. Schoen, deceased, was for many years a citizen of Albert Lea. He was a native of Germany, having been born in that country January 2, 1829, son of Otto and Mary Schoen. The subject of this biography grew to manhood, was educated in the land of his birth, and when twenty-three years of age, left his old home and crossed the ocean to America. Upon his arrival in this country, Mr. Schoen located in New York and engaged in gardening on the Hudson river, where he carried on this line of business until 1858, when he disposed of his interests and came to Minnesota. He settled in this state first in Hartland township, where he bought 160 acres of Government land, on which he erected a log house and made many improvements and resided for several years. As prosperity afforded he added to his original possessions and purchased forty acres of land across the line in Freeborn township, where he eventually moved and built a
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