USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 81
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M. A. TESLOW AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
W. A. Brooks, one of the successful farmers of Freeborn town- ship, was born in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, January 8, 1860, son of Harvey and Lucinda (Mugridge) Brooks, who came from Canada to Wisconsin in 1848, first living in Green Lake county and after a few years moving to Columbia county in the same state, where the father died in 1900. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on a farm, attending the district school. In 1894 he located on a farm in Freeborn township, this county, in section 33, where he lived a short time, after which he purchased his present farm of 160 acres in section 34, where he has pros- pered. He married Ada Wright, and the home has been blessed by four children. They are: Herbert R., Edith M., Elsie V., and Laura E. Herbert R. is a merchant in Freeborn village. . He married Margaret Hanson. Edith is now Mrs. G. R. Borland, Elsie the wife of Theodore Nelson, and Laura is now Mrs. Howard Hammond. Mr. Brooks has a very fine herd of Jersey cattle and is a representative farmer. He has been supervisor of his township and president of the creamery association, of which he is a stockholder.
M. A. Teslow has been supervisor of the town of Hayward for the past fifteen years and has also served as chairman of the town and treasurer of school board for nine years. He was born in Norway December 22, 1856, and came to America with his parents, Andrew and Anna Teslow, when he was seven years of age. He attended the district school in Hayward and there spent his boy- hood, his father having purchased a farm in this township. After leaving school he worked with his father until 1883, at which time he bought eighty acres of land and started farming on his own responsibility. As opportunity afforded he added to this farm until he owned 120 acres, upon which he followed general farming until 1908. Of this he has sold eighty acres and bought the old homestead of 160 acres, where he engages in diversified farming. He has improved his property by draining the marshes and repair- ing the buildings. February 2, 1883, he married Ida E. Ofstehage, who was born near Eau Claire, Wis., July 26, 1864, daughter of Ole and Ingeborg Lunde, both now deceased. They have seven children : Olaf M., Alma, Beatrice, Irene, Walter, Raymond and Volborg Adelaide. Volborg, a twin of Walter, is dead. Mr. Tes- low votes independently, and attends the Lutheran church. He owns stock in the Hayward creamery and in the Hayward farm- ers' elevator, and also has numerous interests in various other enterprises.
Andrew Teslow and family came to America from Norway in 1863 and first located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he worked as a painter, an occupation for which he had prepared himself before coming to this country. Three years after reaching
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
this country he came to Albert Lea, where he worked at his trade for a period of six years. At this time he made his home in Hay- ward township, where he had purchased some land. Eventually he gave up his work as painter and carried on general farming until his death, June 10, 1907. His widow makes her home with her son, M. A. Teslow. They were parents of eleven children : M. A., of Hayward; Hans, of William county, North Dakota ; Andrew, of Minneapolis; Gilbert, of Hayward; Anton, of Minneapolis ; Peter, of Minneapolis; Mary, now Mrs. Carl Jenson; Minnie, a teacher, and Richard, of Montana. Lizzie and an unnamed child are dead.
Henry O. Thompson is a native of Norway and first saw the light of day on January 12, 1854, the son of Ole and Ingeborg Thompson, who came to the United States in 1858, landing in Quebec on July 4. They first settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they remained two years, after which they went to Iowa, where they settled in Winneshiek county, took a homestead and followed general farming for eleven years. The elder Thompsons also lived, in later years, in both Minnesota and South Dakota. The father died October 8, 1889, and the mother March 17, 1906. The subject of this sketch when nineteen years of age went to Wyoming, where, for one year, he worked as a helper in a kitchen, cooking for a government camp. He then returned to Rock county, Minnesota, where he bought 160 acres of land, with stand- ing crops, for $440. He later sold this land and went to Worth county, Iowa, where he bought a ninety-five-acre farm, which he worked for four years. He then sold his ninety-five acres and bought 242 acres in section 34, Nunda, where he now resides. It was here that a frame stable was built 14 by 24 feet, and in this for three months his family lived. During these three months he excavated and walled up a roomy basement, placing a granery on this basement when he could. Here for eleven years the family had a home. To the visitor in the fine large home of Mr. Thomp- son today it does not seem that the family suffered any ill-effects from this experience. Many beautiful evergreen and orchard trees, in all more than a thousand, have been planted around and near the home by Mr. Thompson, and it is now one of the very attractive and beautiful homes of the locality. In addition to the home farm Mr. Thompson also owns 190 acres in Worth county, Iowa, 236 acres in Hartland township, Worth county, Iowa, and forty acres in section 24, Nunda. He and his family work nearly all this land. He keeps 100 head of Shorthorn grade of cattle, some hogs, and about fifty sheep. About fifteen horses are kept for farming and driving purposes. In 1878 the subject of this biography married Ingeborg Haugrud, and to them have been born twelve children, four of whom, William O'Neal, Inga Sedelia,
H. O. THOMPSON, RESIDENCE AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
Eden Tolen and Josephine Melinda, died in infancy. Sevrena Ovedia, Alfred Orlando, Inga Tonetta, Eddie Tolen, Selmer O'Neal, Ida Dietta, Evelina Rutea and Henry Ingwald are all at home. Mr. Thompson is a Luthern Church member. For many years he voted the Republican ticket, but now strongly favors the principles of the Prohibition party. He has been clerk of School District 105 for ten years, and president and treasurer of the Star creamery several years. He is a stockholder in the Union creamery, of Emmons, the Emmons Telephone Company, and the Acorn Brick & Tile Company, of Glenville.
Peter Berglund, the possessor of 160 acres in Albert Lea town- ship, was born in Sweden May 12, 1857, son of John and Anna Berglund, who came from Sweden to America in 1869 and bought land in Albert Lea township. The father died in 1904, while the mother is still living on the same farm with her youngest son. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools and has always pursued farming as a vocation. He married Anna Christina Wicklander, and they have nine children: Anna, Frances, Milton, Leslie, Stanley, Emma, Evelyn, John and Phillis. Mr. Berglund carries on general farming and takes great pleasure and interest in his cattle and hogs. The pleasant farm is three miles from the city limits of Albert Lea, and here, with its ample house and good buildings, fertile acres and well-cared-for live stock, Mr. Berglund, surrounded by the members of his family, rejoices in the life of the independent farmer. Mr. Berglund is a member of the Baptist Church, and is affilated with the grange. For several years he was treasurer of the Albert Lea Dairy Asso- ciation. Anna, one of his daughters, is the wife of James Soren- son, manager of the State Bank of Clarks Grove, where they reside.
John Bessesen is a well known jeweler of Albert Lea and has lived here many years. Always an optimist and an enthusiastic worker for the interests of his community, he is a firm believer in the advantages of the middle west; and the disposition to assist in its development brought him here from across the Atlantic. John Bessesen was born at Bergen, Norway, on May 25, 1847. He received his early education in the public schools of his native city and there learned the jewelry business. He was an only son, his father being an expert shipbuilder in the city of Bergen. In 1867 the subject of this biography, accompanied by his parents, came to America and located first at Madison, Wis., where the father took up the work of cabinet maker, contractor and builder. John, the son, went to Black Earth, Wis., where he started in business for himself as a jeweler. In 1869 he married Delia Vehum, of Madison, Wis., who grew to womanhood in this coun- try, but who traces her lineage back to ancestral, royal title in
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
northern Europe. Her parents left the estate in the family line and with their children came to this greater land of promise and social equality. One year after his marriage Mr. Bessesen and his wife, Delia, immigrated to Minnesota, and with them came Mr. Bessesen's parents. They purchased a quarter section of land five miles south of Albert Lea, which they improved and made productive. Three years later Mr. Bessesen moved to Albert Lea and established himself in his chosen occupation of jeweler. His father took up the work of contractor and builder, at which he continued until his death, which occurred in the eighties. Mr. Bessesen and his estimable wife have made Albert Lea their home since, with the exception of two years which they spent in North- wood, Iowa. Four sons have been born to them. These sons are all professional men and well established in the Northwest. Dr. A. N. Bessesen, the eldest, is a physician and surgeon, located in Minneapolis, where for the past eighteen years he has given faith- ful service as Surgeon in the Hospitals and as Professor in the College. N. Daniel Bessesen is an attorney and has won an envi- able reputation practicing law in Minneapolis. Hon. H. J. Bes- sesen, of Harvy, N. D., is also an attorney-at-law, and while he has succeeded unusually well in practice he has also been most suc- cessful in political circles in the state and is at present State Senator. While in Bismarck during the last two sessions he brought to successful issue many important political plans. The fourth son, Dr. W. A. Bessesen, is located in his home town, Albert Lea, where success has followed him in all his work and where he devotes himself to the especial needs of the community. John Bessesen still continues in his business in Albert Lea and main- tains an active interest in public affairs.
Thomas Henry Armstrong, who died at his home in Albert Lea December 29, 1891, was born in Milan, Ohio, February 6, 1829. He became a student in Western Reserve College, Hudson, and grad- uated from that institution in 1854; he taught one year in an academy at Berlin Heights, Ohio, and attended the law school in Cincinnati in 1854-55, and in the latter year was admitted to the bar. He went to La Crosse, Wis., in 1855 and opened a law office, but the next autumn found him located at High Forest, where he resided until 1874, when he removed to Albert Lea. It was while at High Forest that Mr. Armstrong was twice elected to the lower house of the state legislature, once being speaker, as well as lieu- tenant governor. After removing to this city he was twice chosen to represent Freeborn county in the state senate, and he did it well. Up to 1861 Mr. Armstrong had always been a Democrat, but when the mighty effort was made to wreck the Union he became, a Republican and gave his means and influence to the cause of right. From that time to his death he was an unswerving Repub-
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
lican, being one of the party's most progressive and enthusiastic members. Mr. Armstrong was married April 1, 1868, to Mrs. Elizabeth M. Butman.
Julius Clark. The following word picture is given of an early figure in Freeborn county history : "As we drive along a crooked wagon track, not yet worn to dust, we pass a low log building. An old man of sixty years stands in the door looking over a beau- tiful prairie and the distant hills beyond, but not one sign does he see that man had ever visited his beautiful retreat. His long hair, once auburn, is sprinkled with gray, while his large protrud- ing eyes glow through large steel-bowed glasses. He wears no beard, but is sadly in need of a shave, while his clothes are coarse and his cowhide boots are out at the toes. A huge quid of tobacco bulges his thin cheek so as to almost hide his Roman nose. In speech he drawls his words and one sees at once his education has been sadly neglected. Under this rough exterior, however, there is a kindly heart and he is liked by all who knew him." Such was Julius Clark, Albert Lea's first merchant and first jus- tice of the peace. His store was on East Clark street, where the Metropolitan hotel now stands. He had been a merchant in Ohio when, in 1855, he saw adversity and quietly boxed up his goods, shipping them down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Brownsville, Minn., and in March, 1856, walked into the prospec- tive village of Albert Lea. George S. Ruble soon made him believe he had reached the right place, making him a present of two lots, which today are worth thousands of dollars. When his goods arrived in May, 1856, no building had been prepared and they were left on the prairie until a "bee" was gotten up and his log store erected, all giving a helping hand. While here he pre- empted the now beautiful farm of Dr. A. C. Wedge, west of the city. He was here but about three years, returning to his Ohio home, where he died some years ago.
William Kellar, son of Isaac and Sarah Kellar, was born at Louisville, Ky., December 24, 1820, and died at Albert Lea, Minn., February 25, -1892. His ancestors were of German descent and emigrated to Kentucky with Bryant, a co-explorer with Daniel Boone, settling at Bryantsville, near the present city of Danville. In 1832 Mr. Kellar removed with his father's family to Edgar county, Illinois, where he remained until he reached manhood. In 1842 he went to the lead mines in Grant county, Wisconsin. In 1843 he was engaged in teaming, hauling goods for the govern- ment from McGregor, Iowa, to the Winnebago Indian reservation at Fort Atkinson. In 1844 he returned to his old home in Illinois, where, on February 15, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth C. Kies. To this union three sons were born: Curtis B., William G. and Martin V. He at once removed to Grant county, Wisconsin,
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
where he followed farming until the fall of 1855, when he sold his farm and, on May 5, 1856, arrived at the prospective village of Albert Lea, locating on the old Blue Earth road, one mile south- west of the court house. Here he remained to the end of life, his wife passing to that undiscovered country September 16, 1884. In 1864 he enlisted in Company C, First Minnesota Heavy Artil- lery, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. For forty years he was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and it was at his home that the first religious meeting ever held in the vicinity of Albert Lea took place, viz., May 3, 1857, Rev. Sylvester N. Phelps preaching. He was known as an honest, kind-hearted, Christian gentleman.
Curtis B. Kellar is the oldest of three sons of William and Elizabeth C. Kellar, and was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, May 19, 1845. At eleven years of age he removed with his father's family to Albert Lea, Minn., where they located one mile southwest of the town September 27, 1856. He helped his father on the farm during the summer and attended Albert Lea schools during the winter. In February, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Fifth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and after his dis- charge from the army he attended the academy at Bloomington, Wis., and later at Oberlin College, Ohio. On his return from school in the spring of 1866 he was employed by Frank Hall as a bookkeeper in his store on the southeast corner of Broadway and Clark street. It was in the office of this store that Mr. Hall started the first bank in Albert Lea, in fact the first bank in the county, in the spring of 1867, appointing Mr. Kellar his cashier. In 1868 Mr. Hall built a brick building on the northeast corner of Broad- way and William street and removed his banking business to this building, where Mr. Kellar has been constantly employed ever since, being without doubt the oldest banker in the state in point of service. He has faithfully worked his way up, on his merits only, from a bookkeeper to president of the First National Bank of Albert Lea, Albert Lea, Minn., a bank with a capital and sur- plus of $150,000 and assets of over $1,000,000. He was married at Boscobel, Wis., May 28, 1867, to Mary E. Nixon. Two children were born, Minnie Florence, now the wife of H. N. Brown, of Minneapolis, and Horatio Ellsworth, now cashier of the Bank of Hamilton, Hamilton, N. D. He has been a lifelong Republican, but took no active interest in politics. For the last fifteen years he has been city treasurer of the city of Albert Lea. He is a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church of Albert Lea and was at its organization elected to the office of ruling elder, a position he has since held. He is a trustee and was for a number of years also a treasurer of the Albert Lea College. He has been
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
greatly interested in this college and has given liberally of his time and money to its upbuilding and maintenance.
Martin V. Kellar, son of William and Elizabeth Kellar, was born in the township of Clifton, Grant county, Wisconsin, Novem- ber 14, 1849. At the age of six years he removed with his father's family to Albert Lea, arriving on September 27, 1856, and took up his residence one mile southwest of the court house, which has been his home ever since. He attended the Albert Lea schools up to 1866, when he attended Hamline University a short. time, then located at Red Wing. He returned and followed farming until 1872, when he attended Carleton College, Northfield, for two years, he being the first student from Freeborn county to attend that today popular institution. He finished his education at the St. Paul Business College in 1874. In 1880 he opened a railroad land office at Lake Benton, Lincoln county, but soon closed it to take charge of grading and platting a large tract of land in western Minnesota for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, after which he opened a land office for this company at Pipestone, which he operated for two seasons. In 1882 he entered the banking house of H. D. Brown & Co., in Albert Lea, as book- keeper, where he remained for five years. On December 9, 1884, he was united in marriage at Martinville, Wis., to Emma C. Kies. His health failing in 1886, he sought the old farm home again, and has been in the dairy business ever since. He has recently sold his farm and erected a pleasant home just outside the city limits. On the incorporation of the city of Albert Lea he became clerk of the township and afterwards town treasurer for an unbroken period of seventeen years. He has been for many years a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 26, A. F. & A. M. He is one among the very few who have seen the village of Albert Lea grow from one log cabin to a city containing 6,192 souls. Mr. Kellar is noted as an historical investigator, and the present history will stand perpetually as his monument, as its preparation would have been impossible without his help, his memory and his judgment.
Russell Bigelow Abbott, educator and clergyman, son of Joseph and Mary, was born August 8, 1823, on a farm near Brook- ville, Ind. There he made his preparation for college in the coun- try school, in teaching, and in private study. He entered Indiana University, and was graduated with credit, receiving the degree of A. B., in 1847, and A. M. 1850. The degree of D. D. was con- ferred upon him by Gale College in 1886. After leaving college he taught two years in Muncie, Ind., and five years in Newcastle, and spent two years as principal of Whitewater Presbyterial Academy, two years as principal of Anoka public school, one year as principal of St. Paul Female Seminary, and eighteen years as president of Albert Lea College. While teaching at Newcastle
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
he studied theology under the direction of the Presbytery of Muncie, and was licensed as a probationer for the gospel ministry in the year 1853. After further study and preaching in vacant churches, he was ordained to the ministry by the Presbytery of Whitewater in 1857. He was pastor of the Presbyterian church of Brookville seven years, of the church of Knighttown two years; at Albert Lea, Minn., first pastor, fifteen years; at Jackson, five years. He supplied some other churches shorter periods ; spent much time visiting villages and country school-houses, preaching and organizing Sabbath-schools; organized eight churches; dedi- cated ten church buildings, part of them in other presbyteries ; was one year Moderator of the Synod of Minnesota; and was six times a member of the General Assembly. He was the author of the new office of administration in Presbytery for the supply and conservation of feeble and vacant churches, called the Pastor-at- large, sometimes called "The Winona Plan." He was the founder and first president, and for many years the chief supporter, of Albert Lea College. He was three times married; first to Eliza A. Baugh, of Bloomington, 1847; second, Sophronia J. Leech, of Oxford, 1861; third, Marietta Hunter, of Ripon, 1881. He has preached up to this date 5,298 times. He has written-nearly ready for publication-"Books of the Bible," lectures, two vols. ; "Bible History," one vol .; "History of Winona Presbytery"; "Historical Sketch of Albert Lea College," and numerous ser- mons and addresses.
Dr. Franklin Blackmer was one of the pioneers in this county. He was born in New York, where he attended school and grew to manhood. In 1831 he married Minerva Wilkins, who was also a native of New York, and five years later, in 1836, they moved to Amherst, O. In 1856 Dr. Blackmer came to Minnesota and located on a claim near Pickerel Lake, and the following year he moved his family here and they settled on a farm west of the town, which has since been incorporated into the city of Albert Lea. After coming to Minnesota, Dr. Blackmer practiced his pro- fession only during the Civil War, when he took charge of Dr. Wedge's practice, the latter having enlisted as surgeon in the army. Dr. Blackmer passed away February 2, 1877, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a man held in high esteem by all and noted for his kindness and hospitality, and his sterling qualities won the respect of the citizens of the county.
Edwin Clark Stacy was born at Hamilton, N. Y., September 5, 1813, and moved with his parents to Columbus, Pa., thence in 1836 to Ann Arbor, Mich. He studied law with the law firms of Miles & Wilson at that place, then entered the law office of Judge A. C. Stacy at Tecumseh, Mich., being admitted to the bar in 1840. In September of the same year he returned to Pennsylvania, and
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
was married to Elizabeth Densmore Heath, who was his wise counselor and faithful helpmate through all the succeeding years. They came west June 6, 1856, and located on a government claim at the head of Geneva lake in this county, in the then wilds of Minnesota. In 1857 he was appointed by Gov. Gorman, of the territory of Minnesota, one of three commissioners to organize Freeborn county. In the same year he was elected to the consti- tutional convention which framed the organic law of the state, and served in that body with marked ability. In December 1859 he moved to Albert Lea and was elected to three terms as county auditor, as judge of probate and one term as superintendent of schools. He was elected city justice in June, 1875, and held the office many years, being re-elected every two years. He was a life-long Democrat in politics, always standing high in its counsels and management. He was long a member of the order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Stacy had four children, Dorr, Day, Lynn and Lizzie, the last two being deceased. Judge Stacy died April 29,1897.
Albert Miller Lea was born in Richland, Tenn., July 23, 1808. His parents were Maj. Luke Lea and Lavinia Jarnagin. At thir- teen years of age he entered college at Knoxville, Tenn. In 1827 he received an appointment at West Point, and graduated the fifth in his class in 1831. He was appointed a lieutenant in the Thir- teenth Artillery but shortly afterwards exchanged positions with the since noted John B. Magruder, of the Seventh Infantry, and was stationed at Fort Gibson, then on the extreme frontier. From thence he was ordered to Washington, there receiving instructions and orders to report to Knoxville, Tenn., to survey and plan im- provements for the Tennessee river and its tributaries. From this time he passed through the usual variations in army life, being detailed for different duties in several parts of the country, and in 1835, was in Fort DesMoines, Ia., and there received orders to undertake a summer campaign which has since become famous as the trip through Freeborn county.
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