USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 89
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public position but has been prominently mentioned in connection with several important offices. He has worked for the good of Albert Lea, and has served on a number of important boards and committees. He has been an enthusiastic booster for the Busi- ness Men's League, and has done good service as a member of the board of trustees of the Albert Lea College for Women. He is a member of the Masonic body, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the United Commercial Travelers, the Modern Woodmen and the Maccabees. Mr. Hurley was married October 31, 1901, to Agnes Perl, the daughter of Hon. and Mrs. Peter Perl, of Decatur, Ill., in which city the marriage took place.
William Granville Kellar was the second son of William and Elizabeth Kellar, born in Grant county, Wisconsin, August 17, 1847, died at Albert Lea January 23, 1902. His parents were among the very first settlers in the vicinity of Albert Lea, locat- ing one mile southwest of the court house September 27, 1856. He attended the common schools until 1865, when he entered Oberlin College in Ohio, and on returning was engaged for sev- eral years in surveying and engineering. He opened a real estate office in Albert Lea which he conducted until his death. For sev- eral years he was employed as field agent of the land department of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. He served several years as county surveyor and one term as mayor of the city of Albert Lea. On November 30, 1871, he was united in marriage to Ada Green, of Albert Lea, who died March 7, 1900. To this union one child was born-Mrs. H. A. Barck, of Albert Lea.
Alexander McNeill was born in the township of Richmond, thirty miles west of the city of Kingston, Canada, September 10, 1834. In 1847 he removed with his father's family to Milwaukee, Wis., where he learned the carpenter's trade. On August 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, 28th Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, being discharged from the army at Madison, Wis., August 22, 1865, having been engaged in six heavy battles and many minor engagements. He was married at Prairie du Chien, Wis., December 24, 1867, to Jennie Hamilton, which union has been blessed by one son, Willis M. McNeill, of Albert Lea. He settled in Albert Lea in the autumn of 1869 and has been engaged as a contractor ever since. He has been a prominent member of Rob- son Post, G. A .. R., from its organization, and has always taken a profound personal interest in the physical and moral upbuilding of Albert Lea. He is noted for his integrity, and our beautiful court house, erected under his master hand, stands as a monu- ment of his fidelity to public interests, for it is built upon honor, at a cost to the county far less than any of the estimates of the others who bid for its construction.
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Magnus Berglund, fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. John Berg- Jund, was born in Sweden September, 1864, and came with his parents to Freeborn county in 1868. He grew up on the farm, early learning to take part in the farm work. As time would permit he attended school in district 54, known as the Murtaugh school. He also went to high school at Albert Lea two terms, walking there three miles from his father's home. At twenty-one he became a member of the Swedish Baptist church and was an interested worker, being its first organist and for many years Sunday school superintendent. Upon leaving home he settled on a farm three miles due south of Albert Lea. He married Sigrid Johanna Nelson, of Freeborn county, in 1887, to which marriage three children were born. In the fall of 1891 he left the farm and entered the Baptist Theological Seminary at Mor- gan Park, Chicago, graduating in the spring of 1894. While at school he preached at DeKalb, Ill., and also built a new house of worship. Galesburg, Ill., was the next pastorate, but only for a year and four months. Then he came to Minnesota on account of the failing health of Mrs. Berglund, and to do mis- sionary work on the new iron ranges for two years. His wife died during this time. Cokato, Minn., was the next pastorate, but only for a year and four months, but he completed while there a new church building. In 1899 he became the Sunday school missionary of the Swedish Baptists in Minnesota and Wis- consin. With the exception of a few months when he was finan- cial secretary of Bethel Academy, he is still in. this work, having, however, dropped Wisconsin. He has started several new schools and organized quite a number of new churches. He has also started three Bible wagons. For years he has been holding sev- eral responsible positions in his denomination, such as trustee and executive member of the Swedish Baptist Conference of Min- nesota, trustee of Minnesota Baptist State Convention, trustee of Bethel Academy, school of the Swedish Conference of America, and trustee of the Mounds Park Sanitarium of St. Paul. His second wife is Ella Pauline Nordill, of Isanti county, and three children are born to this union. The present home is near Cam- bridge, Isanti county. J. LeRoy, the oldest son, lives in Montana.
Christian Larsen, a highly respected citizen of New Denmark, Albert Lea, was born in Denmark on January 10, 1846. His parents were Lars and Mary Anna (Swensen) Jorgensen, natives of Denmark, where they both died, the former on September 12, 1856, and the latter November 9, 1864. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of his native land and he came to America during the month of September, 1864. After reaching this country Mr. Larsen located in Wisconsin, where he remained for a year and a half, after which he went to Illinois and later
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to Iowa, but later returned to Wisconsin and remained in La- Crosse until November 30, 1870, at which time he came to Minne- sota. Here he located in Riceland township, in this county, bought 40 acres of land in section 9, erected a house and good out- buildings, and engaged in farming. As prosperity afforded he added to his original possessions until he owned 150 acres, all located in the same township and in section 9. This land was broken, cultivated and developed by Mr. Larsen, and it thus be- came more valuable each year. Mr. Larsen carried on general diversified farming until May 15, 1893, when he sold his prop- erty, moved to Albert Lea, purchased three and one-half acres just out of the city limits, erected a fine house and good barn, and settled down to enjoy his well earned years of rest and retire- ment. He has been an independent voter and served in many of the prominent public offices in the township where he made his home during the active years of his life. He was elected to the office of town treasurer, which he held for four years; became supervisor of the town, serving for one year; served as chairman of the town board for eight years, and for many years he was a member of the school board. Among the various business in- terests with which Mr. Larsen has been associated are: Stock- holder in the Lerdal Creamery, of which he was the president for two years; stockholder in the Clarks Grove Mercantile Co .; one of the directors of the Albert Lea State Bank, for one year, and now a stockholder in this bank and also in the Citizens National Bank, of Albert Lea ; a stockholder in the Building & Loan Asso- ciation of Albert Lea, and the owner of considerable city prop- erty. On December 29, 1869, Mr. Larsen married Mary Andersen, who was born in Denmark on October 22, 1851, daughter of Iver and Maren Madsen. She came to America with her parents in 1866 and to Freeborn county in 1870, locating in Bath township, where her father died on February 9, 1877, the mother dying March 22, 1907, in Albert Lea.
Emil Nelson, postmaster and prominent citizen, was born July 13, 1859, in Freeman township, Freeborn county, on the northeast quarter of section 23, township 101, range 21, taken as a home- stead by his father, Lars, in 1856. He spent the first twenty-two years of his life on the farm in section 23, near Gordonsville, Minn. He attended common school at Gordonsville and the high school at Northwood, Iowa. He studied telegraphy at Gordonsville, a small station on the B. C. R. & N. Ry. (now C. R. I. & P.). His first position was as operator at Flandreau, S. D., March 10, 1883. After filling several positions as extra agent he was transferred to Albert Lea December 27, 1884, as operator and assistant to agent, which position he held until November 1, 1890, when he resigned and engaged in the stock and grain business at this
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
place and Gordonsville. He was elected and held the office of register of deeds from January 1, 1893, until January 1, 1897, and engaged in the real estate and mercantile business until 1904. Ile was appointed postmaster January 18, 1904, which posi- tion he still holds. He was assessor of Albert Lea from 1897 to 1901. He is a member of the Masonic order from the blue lodge to the shrine, and also belongs to Albert Lea Lodge, No. 66, K. of P. He was married November 18, 1896, to Lora E. Higgins, daughter of William A. Higgins, and they have two bright chil- dren, D. Wyeth Nelson, born February 5, 1899, and Olive A. Nel- son, born September 28, 1905. These children spent two years in Berlin, Germany, with their mother-1908 and 1909-Wyeth at- tending German school and their mother studying music.
Lars Nelson, early pioneer and member of the first board of supervisors of Freeman, was born in Norway and married Agnetta M. Johnson. After coming to America they located in Wisconsin, and about 1856 came to Freeborn county and located in Freeman township, entering 160 acres in section 23. There they broke and improved the land and remained until June 15, 1863, when they moved to Shell Rock township, locating on 160 acres of land in sections 32 and 33. There they continued to carry on general farming many years, developing and improving the land and erecting the necessary buildings. In 1886 they moved to Oregon, where they now make their home.
Theodore Naeve, whose name and that of his good wife, Dora- thea, will be sacredly perpetuated in Albert Lea, in the designa- tion given to the splendid new city hospital, had his part in the upbuilding of the commercial interests of Albert Lea, and lived a life which was an example of earnest endeavor and substantial, manly character. Theodore Naeve was born in Bargen, Holstein, Germany, Oct. S, 1844, and came to America after the Civil War, in 1865, securing employment as clerk in a store in Dubuque, Iowa. Later he went to Waterloo and engaged in selling goods for five years, part of the time with Charles Soth as a partner. About 1873 he came to Albert Lea, and two years later married Dorathea Soth, a sister of his partner. As head of the business firm of Naeve & Soth he was remarkably successful. He trans- acted a money lending business for himself and others, and man- aged this difficult business to the satisfaction of loaner and bor- rower. In 1889 he built the large and splendid residence which in 1911 was moved away to make way for the hospital which bears his name. Mr. Naeve was a singularly quiet and reserved man, and was ever kind, courteous and pleasant to all. He was notably conscientious, exemplary in all his habits, just, methodical, and prompt in his dealings. As a husband, friend and citizen he was held in the highest esteem. He was honest, just and true, and
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
his death was a real loss to the community. He died at his home, September 12, 1891, very suddenly, having been in his accustomed health the day previous.
Mrs. Dorathea Naeve was one of those women whose name will ever be held in loving remembrance in Albert Lea, and the suf- ferers whose hours of illness are made comfortable in the splendid new Naeve Hospital, which stands on the site of her residence, will bless the generous intention which made this institution possible. She was born at Domitz, Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Ger- many, July 25, 1841, oldest child of Johann and Henrietta Soth. In the family was a sister, Bertha, two years younger, and a brother, Charles, five years younger than Dorathea. The whole family came to America in 1849 and settled in Watertown, Wis., where soon afterward the parents died of cholera, within a week of each other. About a year later Bertha was drowned. Charles and Dorathea, thus bereaved, for some time boarded out, and later were taken and reared by their uncle, Adolph Krueger, who lived on a farm near Watertown. At fourteen Dorathea had fin- ished her schooling, and a few years later went to Milwaukee, where she worked for some time. In 1869 her brother, Charles, went into the saddlery business in Waterloo, Iowa, and Dorathea went there to keep house for him. In 1873 they came to Albert Lea, and here Dorathea continued to keep house for her brother, who had formed a business partnership with Theodore Naeve, who opened a general store. On May 27, 1875, Dorathea Soth was married to Theodore Naeve. The wedding took place at the home of relatives in Eau Claire, Wis. Several years later Mr. and Mrs. Naeve built a house on the corner of Water street and West avenue, where they lived until 1889, when they moved to their new home on Fountain street. In 1890, having no children of their own, they adopted a daughter, Edith, who became a true daughter in every respect. After the death of Theodore Naeve, September 12, 1891, Mrs. Naeve continued to live in Albert Lea until the fall of 1906, when she moved to Minneapolis in order to give her daughter the benefits of a University education. On May 4, 1908, Dorathea Naeve died in Minneapolis as the result of an accident. She was buried in her vault in Albert Lea cemetery on May 7, 1908. Mrs. Naeve had no opportunity for securing an education so far as schooling was concerned, but she was widely · read and spent much time in travel. She had for several years spoken of bestowing her Albert Lea home, where she had lived seventeen years, upon the city for the purpose of an improved hospital. Her wish was carried out, after her death, by her brother, Charles Soth, and the gift was accepted.
Charles Hazen Farnsworth. Occasionally there is a com- munity fortunate enough to possess a man acknowledged to be of
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
sound sense, good judgment, and enthusiasm in the promotion of the community interests, who combines with these qualities the ability to clothe his thoughts in forceful prose, both written and spoken, and who is fearless in his advocacy of his firm con- viction of the right, and in his denunciation of those things which he believes to be wrong. Albert Lea has such a man in Charles H. Farnsworth. As an earnest advocate, Mr. Farnsworth is known as a friend of education. Himself a successful teacher, he be- lieves in the value of appropriate education as the solution of some of the most difficult problems which confront the American people today, and to the end that the cause of proper education may be advanced, Mr. Farnsworth uses his pen, his voice and his influence. Not alone, however, as an advocate of scholarship is Mr. Farnsworth known, his reputation as a gallant soldier being one of his proudest assets. Not only did he show distinguished bravery on the field, but since the great army was disbanded he has proven himself ever the friend of the old soldier, interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the veteran, and a leader in instilling patriotism in the younger generations. Charles H. Farnsworth was born in Beekmantown, Clinton county, New York, December 1, 1838, son of Samuel H. and Cynthia (Hazen) Farnsworth. He received his early education in the district schools of his native county, and in 1856 came west to Chicago, going thence to Portage City, Wis. For some time he traveled in various places, observing the local customs and manners, and in the interim teaching two terms in a school near Madison, Wis. This experience showed him the need of advanced education to assist in the activities of life. Accordingly, enriched in knowl- edge by the district and select schools, as well as by his experience at traveling and teaching, he returned to his home state and en- tered the New York State Normal College at Albany, N. Y., graduating in 1860. Then he taught school again, studying for the legal profession. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in February, 1862, as a private in the 96th New York Volunteer Infantry, being immediately appointed regimental quartermaster sergeant. Stephen Moffitt, afterward general, was colonel of this regiment. With this command, Mr. Farnsworth saw service throughout the Peninsular campaign under General Mcclellan. Becoming disabled by disease, he was discharged in 1862. He returned home and recovered from his illness sufficiently to teach two terms in the North ward school, in Plattsburg, N. Y. In 1863 he again responded to his country's call and entered the 16th New York Volunteer Cavalry as lieutenant in Company G. By promotion he was later transferred to Company K in the same regiment, being mustered out at the close of the war and given the rank of captain. With the Sixteenth he saw service on the
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skirmishing line throughout the campaign of the Wilderness. He commanded the troop next to that of Captain Dougherty, who pursued and captured Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. Captain Farnsworth himself was on duty at the trial of the per- sons charged with conspiracy in connection with Lincoln's death. At the end of his service he returned to Plattsburg and was ap- pointed a keeper at Dannemora prison. There he served three years. At the end of that time he resigned and came west with his father's family, locating in Lancaster, Grant county, Wiscon- sin, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits a few years with his father. Then he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and became a con- ductor for the C. D. & M. railway. Two years later he moved to Burlington, Ia., and engaged as express messenger for the Ameri- can Express Company. In 1883 he took up his residence in Albert Lea, coming here as an express agent and remaining with the express company about ten years. While still in that employ he was instrumental in having a Bell telephone system installed here, and became its manager. Then he secured a franchise and estab- lished an electric light plant. Since that time he has devoted much of his time to real estate and to public service. He was one of the prime movers in securing the adoption of the present county fair system in Freeborn county, and is a member of the city charter commission. He has taken an active part in many public discussions, and has been a liberal contributor to the press. In this capacity he became a close personal friend of Robert Bur- dette, formerly of the Burlington "Hawkeye," now a clergyman in California. While it is not generally known by his present friends, Mr. Farnsworth has a rare poetic gift, and in his earlier life wrote some very beautiful poems, which he has often been urged to publish in book form. Mr. Farnsworth is a loyal mem- ber of Robson Post, No. 5, G. A. R., for which he is patriotic in- structor. It is worthy of note that by the approval of the gen- eral commander, Captain Farnsworth is entitled to wear the Cross of L. A. (Lincoln's Avenger). Among other good works Mr. Farnsworth labored hard for the establishment of the Ramsey School, and it was at his suggestion that it received its name. The Farnsworth family reside at 1019 St. Joseph street. The sub- ject of this sketch has been a staunch Republican through life. He was married July 4, 1863, at Grand Isle, Vermont, to Frances I. Rice, daughter of Franklin E. and Sarah (Paige) Rice, natives of Vermont, the former of whom died August 31, 1883, and the latter December 15, 1845. The father was a dentist. Mrs. Farns- worth received her education in the New Hampton Institute at Fairfax, Vt., and until her marriage was a teacher giving instruc- tion in the common branches and in music and French. This union has been blessed with three children. Two are living : Rolla
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S., an attorney practicing in Ogden, Utah, and Mary C., who is proofreader in the office of the Albert Lea Publishing Com- pany, at Albert Lea. Addie was born May 13, 1864, and died March 3, 1865. The parents of Charles H. Farnsworth were Samuel H. Farnsworth, born March 3, 1813, and Cynthia Hazen Farnsworth, born November 5, 1817, both natives of Clinton county, New York. The father was a merchant a part of his life, but devoted the greater part of his career to agricultural opera- tions. He was an honored citizen of his county and held posi- tions of trust and honor, including the superintendency of the schools of Clinton county, New York. About 1870 he brought his family to Lancaster, Grant county, Wisconsin, but still later went to Cherokee, Ia., and spent his declining years with his daugh- ter, Mrs. Lillian Scribner. He died September 10, 1883, and his wife passed away May 19, 1878. Both are laid to rest at Lancas- ter, Wis. They were the parents of eight children : Charles Hazen lives in Albert Lea, Martha died November 14, 1840, Cynthia Z. married Charles Bushnell and they live at Condon, Ore., Sarah P. died November 4, 1858, George P. died December 15, 1902 ; he was a veteran of the Civil War; Mary T. married John Studebaker and they live in Los Angeles, Cal .; Lillian Jane married Roderick Scribner and they live at Cherokee, Ia .; Nathan lives at Bakers- field, Cal .; his wife, Fannie Hornibrook, died May 25, 1903. Samuel Farnsworth was the son of Philip and Puah (Parsons) Farnsworth. Philip Farnsworth, grandfather of C. H. Farns- worth, served with the American forces of artillery at the battle of Plattsburg, N. Y., in the War of 1812. Cynthia Hazen Farns- worth was the daughter of Charles Hazen, her mother's maiden name being Emery. The ancestors of the Farnsworth family in America can be traced to three brothers who emigrated to Con- necticut from England before the Revolutionary War, there be- ing records of the birth of Dr. Farnsworth in Connecticut in 1715.
Nels Johnson, who was the first person of Swedish birth to settle in Mansfield, was born in Sweden March 25, 1840, and 29 years later came to Freeborn county and settled in Mansfield. He came to the United States in 1868 and worked one year near Des Moines, Ia., with a party of his countrymen. On coming to Freeborn county he located on section 20, in Mansfield, and has ever since carried on extensive farming operations there, both as a general farmer and also as a stock raiser. He erected barns and other buildings and has since made additions thereto, until he now has an excellently furnished home place and a well equipped farm of 480 acres. When he first came to this farm he planted many trees, and his reward today is a beautiful grove of willows and other trees near his house. One of the recently fallen trees is from a stump more than three feet in diameter, and this grew
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
from a twig planted by the subject of this biography when he was first on the land. Religiously Mr. Johnson is affiliated with the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican of the pro- gressive type. He has always borne his share of the public work but has continued to refuse public office. In October, 1862, he married Pernilla Person, a native of Sweden, who died in March, 1907. To this union were born three children, only one of whom, Hanna, wife of Ole Nelson, of Mansfield, is now living. He later adopted his nephew, Henry, who is now a successful farmer in Mansfield. On October 3, 1909, the subject of this biography mar- ried Hanna Simonson, a native of Sweden. When a visitor today spends an hour at this home and sees the trees that have been planted, the land that has been drained, cleared and improved, he realizes what an immense task was performed by Mr. Johnson and those other men who came here at an early day and made the way for our comforts and advantages of today.
Guttron O. Trytten, who came from Norway to the United States when fifteen years of age, was born May 3, 1850, the son of Ole O. and Annie O. (Honsey) Trytten. The subject of this biography settled first in the township of Bath, Freeborn county, and lived there till 1872, when he, with his parents, moved to Iowa and bought land in Winnebago county. He acquired land on his own responsibility and lived in Winnebago county until 1901, when he sold his farm there and came to his present home on section 32, township of Mansfield, and bought 160 acres of land. He here erected a comfortable dwelling, good barns, sheds and all necessary buildings. He has followed general and dairy farming, and that he has done so successfully is evident from the general view of his farm as well as from general inspection. Annie O. Sorbo, of Silver Lake, became his wife on November 26, 1874, and this union has been blessed with nine children, Oscar Alex- ander, Gustina, Annie Sophia, Ole, Clara Mary, Edwin Seuzrin, Ida Josephine, Julia and Alfred. Mr. Trytten is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he supports the principles of the Republican party. He has been director of school district 41 three years, was six years chairman of the board of super- visors of Norway township, Winnebago county, Iowa, and presi- dent of the Winnebago County Stock Company five years. He is stockholder in the Scarville Farmers' Elevator Company and is interested in many other similar enterprises. Mr. Trytten's pres- ent high place in his community and his personal success have been won by dint of hard work and his unfailing hard common sense, which will continue to be a service to his friends and his community as well as in advancing his own interests.
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