USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 91
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Peter P. Overgaard, a well known and respected farmer, was born in Riceland township January 19. 1869. His parents, Peter and Susan Overgaard, were natives of Norway and crossed the
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
briny deep to make a home for themselves in a new and strange country in the forties. They first settled in Wisconsin and re- mained there for about ten years, after which they came to Free- born county and located in Riceland township, where the father was one of the early settlers. He took a claim of about 200 acres and did general farming until his death in 1890, when his son, the subject of this sketch, assumed the responsibility of running the farm and caring for his mother. Peter P. Overgard attended the common schools of Riceland and spent one term at the Luther Academy, Albert Lea, but his father's death ended fur- ther pursuance of his studies. He later purchased the old homestead and has since made numerous improvements and here pursues general and dairy farming. He raises Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Overgard was married to Caroline Winjum, daughter of Ole K. Winjum, of Albert Lea, in 1896, and six children have come to bless their home: Vivian, Pearl, Peter, Raymond, Alyda and Henry, who are all at home. In politics Mr. Overgard votes with the Republican party and he is a member of the Lutheran church. That he has the regard and confidence of the community is evidenced by the length of time he has served in different offices in the township. He has been assessor for the past six years, has been town clerk, and is stockholder and director in the Riceland Creamery and stock- holder and director in Lerdal Telephone Company.
Christ Yost was born in Germany September 15, 1837, the son of Frederick and Louisa Yost. He received his education in Europe and came to United States in 1857, locating on a farm near Chicago. He lived there and later worked in the city of Chicago. In 1866 he purchased land in Nunda and moved here. He later sold this first purchase and bought his present farm in section 16, and followed general and dairy farming till 1907, at which time he sold his farm to his son and lives a retired life on the old home place. On May 11, 1862, he married Elizabeth Lucas and to this union were born seven children. Frederick W. married Susan Harrington; Mary L. married Ernest Linde- mann ; Katie A. married Charles Fink; Margaret A. married Frank Fink; Louis married Emelia Smith and they live on the home place. John, the youngest child, married Lottie Marby. On September 15, 1910, John was killed in an automobile acci- dent. Mr. Yost's wife died in September, 1896. On December 11, 1898, Mr. Yost married Minnie Barst. He is a member of the Lutheran church. He votes with the Republican party.
Valentine Katzung, one of Manchester's leading farmers, was born in Germany, January 4, 1845, son of Joseph and Margaret (Hoffman) Katzung, who came to America with their family in 1855, first locating in Winnebago county, Illinois, where the
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mother died some years after, the father following her to the grave some time later. Valentine attended the schools of his native land, and came with his parents to America in 1855, at ten years of age, locating with them in Winnebago county, Illinois, and there attending the English schools, completing his education and there growing to manhood. Then he resided for a year in Columbia county, Wisconsin. In June, 1862, he came to Minne- sota, and on January 1, 1863, joined the Union army by enlist- ing in Company F, First Minnesota, serving until October 15, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., on account of the close of the war. He served in most of the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment engaged. He was wounded in the left ankle at the Battle of Gettysburg, which kept him from his company for seven weeks, after which he re- sumed his duties until discharged. Then he returned to Minne- sota and located in Faribault county for four years, after which he came to this county and located in Mansfield township, where he purchased eighty acres of land in section 9, and here estab- lished his home and engaged in farming. He first constructed a sod house in which he and his family lived for nine years. His present home was erected in 1903, and is one of the finest in the township. Mr. Katzung worked hard, and by dint of hard labor and his untiring efforts he prospered as the years glided by and added to his holdings from year to year until he owned over a thousand acres of land, one section, 640 acres, of which was across the line in Keister township, Faribault county, the balance being in the present farm in Manchester township, where he still re- sides. The section of land in Faribault county he has divided among his sons, August, Edward, William and Herman, who are now substantially located on the land. Aside from the farms, he equipped them with stock and horses, and fitted them in every way to begin life for themselves upon a substantial foundation. Mr. Katzung follows general farming and a visit to his large farm shows the evidence of his thrift and farsightedness. Mr. Katzung is an independent Republican and the family faith is that of the German Lutheran church, of which they are faithful attendants and of which Mr. Katzung is a liberal supporter. He, together with others, was instrumental in the building of the Manchester Creamery, in which institution he is a stockholder and director at the present time. Like all others who fought for the Union cause, he is still loyal and intensely patriotic, and has for a good many years been an active member of Ash Post, G. A. R., of Alden, Minn. He was married August 2, 1868, to Chris- tina Yost, daughter of Frederick and Fredereka Yost, natives of Germany, where she was born February 10, 1850. She has proven a capable and faithful helpmeet through all these years
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and deserves much credit for the present prosperous condition of the family. Of the thirteen children who have blessed their union eleven are living. They are: August, Edward, William, Ferdinand, Herman, Fred, Bertha, Ernstina, Alwena, Louisa and Elizabeth. Those dead are Minnie and Katherine. .
·David A. Davidson was born April 29, 1859, and is a native of Norway, the son of Andrew and Rachel Davidson, who came to the United States in 1868 and settled on section 35, township of Mansfield, where they bought forty acres of land. Their son, David, began to work out as soon as he was old enough and later rented some land and started for himself. In 1885 he bought eighty acres of land in sections 22 and 27. Here he made his home and built a house, barn and the other buildings necessary, and he also in many ways made other improvements. On Febru- ary 5, 1891, he married G. Skogen, of Wisconsin, and to them have been born eight children. Mr. Davidson is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican. He has held the office of assessor five years, has also been school clerk nine years, which is evidence that he has the confidence of the people in the community in which he resides.
George Olson, who was born August 19, 1843, is still actively engaged in farming on section 29 in Nunda township. He is the son of Ole and Carrie (Gunderson) Trondson, who were natives of Norway. The subject of this biography came to the United States in 1871, after learning the carpenter's trade in Norway, and located in Albert Lea, where he followed the business of carpenter and builder for more than thirty years. In 1901 he came to his present home in Nunda and took up farming, which has been his chief business to the present time. He has made notable use of his trade by building himself a handsome dwelling on his farm, modern in all essentials. In February, 1886, he mar- ried Christiana Emmons, and to them have been born nine chil- dren, two of whom are deceased. The living are : Carl, Otto, Etta, Lester, Morris, Alice and Russell. Carl operates the garage in Emmons. Mr. Olson is a member of the Lutheran church. He votes with the Republican party.
J. P. Nelson, the owner of Maple Leaf Stock Farm, came to this country from Denmark in 1881. Two years after his arrival here his parents, Ole and Maren (Olsen) Nelson, came and settled in Bancroft township. J. P. was born July 31, 1866, in Den- mark and was only fifteen years old when he left home to seek his fortune in America. For some time after reaching this coun- try he worked out by the month and spent about six years travel- ing, working on the railroad and in the pine woods, and even- tually settling in Bancroft. He purchased the William Kennedy farm, which he cultivated and made yield abundantly for eight
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years, after which he moved to another farm a year. He rented his present farm a year and then purchased it from N. T. Sand- burg, the pioneer. This farm comprises 2471/2 acres of good land, of which Mr. Nelson keeps about 200 acres under cultivation and the remainder is in meadow and pasture. He is interested in gen- eral farming, but devotes a greater portion of his time and atten- tion to dairying. Formerly he favored Shorthorn cattle. Now he keeps a valuable dairy herd of Holstein cows and ships their milk to the local creamery, being president of the Bancroft Co-operative Creamery Association. He married Carrie Hen- drickson, a daughter of Ole and Martha Hendrickson, and to this marriage two children have been born-Mamie and Ella. Mr. Nelson is prominent in the affairs of his township and at present is the justice of the peace. He is an independent voter. He is held in high esteem by his fellow men and well deserves their trust and confidence, as his life of honesty and integrity bears witness.
Seth Sleeper Challis was born on a farm in Corinth, Vt., April 7. 1822. He gained his education in the schools and academy of that town and worked for a time at the carpenter's trade. When about twenty-five years of age he went to Manchester, N. H., where, for several years he worked in the cotton factories, taking an occasional fishing trip to the banks of Newfoundland for cod. mackerel and halibut. November 22, 1852, he was married in Mathuen. Mass., to Ann Julia Orr, also a native of Corinth. They settled in Gloucester. Mass., where he worked at the carpenter's trade. In January, 1857, he sailed from New York to California by way of Panama, his wife and two daughters returning to the old home at Corinth. Five years later he returned across the plains, and the following June he and family arrived in Hart- land township, where the next year he filed on the homestead in section 31 and built a house, hauling much of the lumber from Minneapolis by ox team, also using black walnut, sawed at the mill in Freeborn. He was active in the organization of a militia company, of which he was made captain, and in starting the pub- lic school in district No. 10, for which he built the first school house, which is still in use. Having sold his farm, he removed to Freeborn village in 1896, where he died November 8, 1905. Mrs. Challis celebrated her ninetieth birthday August 13, 1911, having with her the four daughters, Julia Emma, widow of W. L. Hansen ; Roanna F., born in Massachusetts; Polly Abby, now Mrs. Christ Olsen, and Lucy Jane, now Mrs. I. H. Seath, born in Minnesota. The three older daughters were school teachers. All live at Freeborn.
Benjamin Whittemore, inventor, was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, July 22, 1856, son of James and Anna A.
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(Tuttle) Whittemore, natives of New England, who came west in the early forties, and in 1867 moved to Missouri, where James died in 1896, his wife being still alive. Benjamin received his education in Wisconsin and Missouri, to which latter state he went with his parents in 1867. In 1877 he came to Freeborn county, and on January 3, 1878, he married Nancy Jennie Barden. The following two years they spent in Carthage, Mo. Then they returned to Freeborn county and located on the old Barden home- stead in Manchester township. Mr. Whittemore is a Prohibi- tionist and a member of the Presbyterian church. He has in- vented the Whittemore Twentieth Century Road Grader, which was patented March 15, 1910. Simple and strong in its construc- tion, the machine will cut a roadway eighteen feet wide, or a narrower width if desired. The work is done by two grader bars, each ten feet in length on one side of the machine. These bars are hinged, so as to swing in or out as may be desired, so as to cut and grade a wide or narrow roadway, as wanted. The bars will cut heavy sod as well as scrape up the loose dirt. At the rear of the machine is a V-shaped device of the same construction as the grader bars. This can be handled independent of the grader bars at the side, and with the aid of levers, raised or lowered, so that dirt gathered up in the grading can be carried along and let out wherever needed to fill up holes and depressions, and the roadway rounded in perfect shape at the same time. Each part is under perfect control by the use of levers or wheels, so that various conditions existing along the roadway can be taken advantage of by the operator. Moreover, the machine adjusts itself to all conditions without extra adjustment on the part of the operator. For propelling the grader a twenty-horsepower traction engine or a gas tractor is used, which enables it to move right along, making a shallow or deep cut as conditions may de- mand, at the rate of from two and one-half to three miles per hour. The machine is mounted upon three wheels, two in front and one at the rear, and is easily handled. The machine weighs about one and a quarter tons, is built of first-class material in all respects and is notably strong and durable. It can be made of any size desired, to grade from eight to thirty feet.
Mrs. Benjamin Whittemore, whose maiden name was Nancy Jennie Barden, was born in Erie county, New York, April 29, 1857, daughter of Gilbert J. and Harriett (Sherwood) Barden, pioneers of Manchester township. She came west with her parents in 1858, and was educated in the public schools of Albert Lea, after which she engaged in teaching for four years, one and a half years of this service being in the Albert Lea schools. She is a very interesting woman of the old New England type, and her recollections of the trials and struggles of the early days
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are very vivid. January 3, 1878, she married Benjamin Whitte- more, and after two years in Missouri they settled on her parents' homestead, where they still reside.
Gilbert J. Barden, deceased, a pioneer of 1858, in Manchester township, was born in Erie county, New York, March 18, 1826, son of Gilbert J., Sr., and Lina Washbourn Barden. He was mar- ried November 17, 1853, at Colden, N. Y., to Harriett Sherwood and in the spring of 1858 they located in section 24, Manchester township, this county, and secured 160 acres of government land, on which they engaged in farming. Some years later he estab- lished a livery stable at Albert Lea, which he conducted for six years. He was the first veterinary surgeon in the county. It is worthy of note as history that Mr. Barden, in the early days, walked from Albert Lea to McGregor, Iowa, a distance of 144 miles, to earn money to get shingles to cover his log cabin. He died November 7, 1894, at the old homestead, his declining years having been cared for by his daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Whitte- more.
Mrs. Gilbert J. Barden, whose maiden name was Harriett Sher- wood, was born at Salisbury, Vt., August 21, 1832, and was there educated. She came west with her husband in the spring of 1858 and will always be remembered by the people of Freeborn county for her many kind deeds and acts. She was among the first nurses in the city, and for several years assisted Dr. A. C. Wedge. Like him, she was always ready and willing to go where duty called. She was loved and cherished by all who knew her and her name will never be forgotten in this county. As an evidence that she was as brave and capable as she was kind, the story is told that she once drove an ox team alone from Albert Lea to McGregor, Iowa. She died September 25, 1910, leaving one daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Whittemore, of Manchester.
Charles Baker Augur, whose work in behalf of the Albert Lea College will constitute his perpetual monument, was born in Tal- cottville, Lewis county, New York, June 10, 1864. He graduated from the Lowville Academy, Lowville, N. Y., class of 1884, and from a postgraduate course in the same institution in 1888. Four years later he graduated from the Union Theological Seminary, New York. He spent the summers of 1890-91 in Minnesota in behalf of the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath School Work. From 1892 to 1896 he was pastor of the First Pres- byterian Church of Fulda, Minn., and from 1896 to 1897 he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Morgan, Minn. Then he was called to Albert Lea to accept the position of secretary to the Albert Lea College for Women. He was secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Albert Lea College for four and a half years, resigning in May, 1902 On account of impaired health, he pe-
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titioned the Mankato Presbytery for the privilege of "demitting" the ministry, which petition was granted after the legal require- ment of one year's consideration, and his membership transferred from the Presbytery of Mankato to the First Presbyterian Church of Albert Lea. He has been president of the board of trustees of the Albert Lea College from the date of reorganization in 1905 to the present time. He is also junior member of the McArthur- Augur Land Company, of Tracy, Minn., and secretary of the fol- lowing corporations : Lincoln Land Company, Minnetex Land Company and the Mexican-American Land & Colonization Com- pany.
Elliott Ash, farmer, veteran of the Civil War and estimable citizen, was born in Wayne county, New York, December 30, 1836, son of John P. and Polly (Widger) Ash, natives of New York state, who came to Wisconsin in 1848 and there ended their days. Elliott received his early schooling in New York state. He later attended the Evensville (Wis.) Seminary and Milton College, of Old Milton, Wis., and then taught for several years. September 9, 1861, he enlisted at Janesville, Wis., in Company A, 13tlı Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and after serving two years re-enlisted as a veteran soldier, serving until December 26, 1865, being mustered out at San Antonio, Tex. During his service he was promoted from private to corporal, and from corporal to sergeant. After leaving the army he returned to Janesville, Wis. June 5, 1866 he came to Freeborn county and bought land in Nunda township, on which he lived three years. Later he sold that and purchased eighty acres in section 31, Manchester town- ship, which he broke and developed and where he erected the necessary buildings. Mrs. Ash also owns eighty acres, making a farm of 160 acres in all. Mr. Ash's first wife, Jennie E., whom he married March 13, 1866, died March 18, 1867. June 13, 1868, he married Ophelia D. Hall, and this union has resulted in two children. Ida is the wife of D. J. Chamberlain, a farmer of Stearns county, Minnesota. Leslie E. is at home. Mr. Ash is a member of Ash Post, No. 98, G. A. R., of Alden, and has served as its com- mander. He is an independent voter, has served as justice of the peace ten years and holds stock in the Armstrong Creamery. The parents of Mrs. Ash, Daniel C. and Sarah (Watts) Hall were natives of New York state. They came to Freeborn county in 1864 and located in Manchester township, where they spent the remainder of their lives in farming.
Jens O. Jensen, a pioneer of Manchester, was born in Norway November 16, 1813, and was married December 25, 1832, to Mar- tha Olsdatter. In 1850 they came to Wisconsin, and after liv- ing there nine years came to Freeborn county in 1859 and settled in section 24, Manchester township. Of the ten children, three
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sons were killed in the Civil War. Andrew was shot through the heart in Georgia, Ole died in the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Hospital, and John was killed in Virginia. Both Jens O. Jensen and his wife are now dead.
James Jensen, a respected and honored resident of Manchester and veteran of the Civil War, was born in Norway, August 13, 1839, son of Jens O. and Martha Jensen, who brought him to Wis- consin in 1851, and with whom he came to Freeborn county in 1859, settling in section 24. February 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and after three years was mustered out in Tennessee, receiving his papers of honorable discharge. At the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, while driving an ambulance, he was wounded in the left leg above the knee. After his discharge he returned to Manchester town- ship and has since engaged in farming. He has improved his land and erected buildings and has added forty acres to his original farm, until he now owns 150 acres of good land. He is a member of the Robson Post, G. A. R., votes the Republican ticket, and attends the Lutheran church. He was married January 4, 1871, to Sena M. Peterson, born in Norway January 22, 1848, daughter of Peter Ammundsen and Maren Christensen, his wife. who came to America in 1865 and located in Manchester township, where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen have had seven chil- dren : John, Sena, Ingeborg M., Ella A., Petra M., Maria and Jane M. John, who assists in working the home farm, was born March 5, 1876. Sena Johanna Petersen is a widow living in Albert Lea. She was born July 21, 1880. The other five are dead.
Rev. Oluf H. Smeby, clergyman and educator, has been a resi- dent of Albert Lea for many years, and has exerted an influential and uplifting influence. He was born in Rock Prairie, Rock county, Wisconsin, January 31, 1851, son of Hans and Helene (Fryslie) Smeby, who came to America in 1850, and after stop- ping a few months in Rock county, Wisconsin, came overland by ox team to Alamakee county, Iowa, where they took a home- stead and engaged in farming the balance of their days. Oluf H. attended the district schools of Alamakee county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1865, at fourteen years of age, entered the Luther Col- lege at Decorah, Iowa, graduating from the full six years' course in 1871. Then he entered Concordia Seminary at St. Louis and- graduated in 1874. being at once ordained to the ministry in the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod at Chicago, the services being conducted by the venerable Rev. H. A. Preus. Soon after his ordination he received a call to the Freeborn congregations as assistant to the Rev. E. Wulfsburg. In 1876, when the congrega- tions were divided, he became pastor of the Albert Lea, Hayward and Oakland congregations. ministering to these people for some
JAMES JENSEN AND FAMILY
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years. The Moscow and Trondhjem churches were added to his circuit, and he filled the pulpits of these five churches until 1894. Under the able leadership of Rev. Smeby the congregations grew until the work was too much for one man, consequently a division was made, and the Rev. Smeby was retained by the Albert Lea congregation. Since that time he has successfully ministered to this congregation, both to his own credit and to the satisfaction of his parishioners. For twelve years after the establishment of the Luther Academy at Albert Lea, he was a teacher there, serv- ing also as secretary for some fifteen years. He was closely iden- tified with the establishment of this school, and has always labored hard for its progress. Rev. Smeby has attained distinc- tion in many ways. For twelve years he served as secretary of the Iowa district of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod, and then be- came vice-president, which position he still retains. In 1898-99-00 he served as a member of the Hymn Book Committee, and in 1908 he was chosen a member to represent his synod in the preparation of a new hymn book, which will be a joint one, prepared by a committee consisting of representatives from the three great Nor- wegian Lutheran bodies: The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the United Lutheran Synod and the Hauge Synod. Rev. Smeby has been chairman of this joint committee three years, and the book will probably be ready for publication in 1912. The sub- ject of this sketch was married June 29, 1876, at Chicago, Ill., to Marie Carlson, who was born in Skien, Norway, August 12, 1854,' and came to America in 1868. This union has been blessed with nine children. Ida Mathilde is dead. The living are as follows: Rev. Hartwick C. preaches in Viroqua, Wis .; Diana H. married Dr. A. O. Aaker, and they live in Velva, N. D .; Rev. Olof V. preaches at Waterloo, Ia .; Volborg C., Agnes M., Frederick R., Theodora S. F. and Ida H. are at home.
John F. D. Meighen, one of the foremost attorneys of southern Minnesota. has attained an enviable reputation during the decade that he has practiced law in Albert Lea and neighboring cities, and is already far on the road to that brilliant success that his friends have predicted for him. He is regarded as one of the able attorneys of the state and one of the most prudent, studious and careful lawyers found anywhere. As a counsellor his opinions are regarded as safe, sound and reliable wherever he is known. A striking characteristic of Mr. Meighen's personality and tem- perament is a painstaking attention to detail in all the lines of his endeavor, and this, together with his ability and uprightness, has been an important factor in winning for him the universal con- fidence with which he is regarded. John Felix Dryden Meighen was born in Spring Valley, Minn., September 25, 1877. He attended the common schools and later entered the Upper Iowa University,
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