History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 102

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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Frank J. Vanberg, son of John J. and Johannah (Johnson) Vanberg, was born in Leon township, where he still resides, Au- gust 20, 1859. Ilis parents came to America in 1854, making the voyage in a sail boat, the trip lasting sixteen weeks. They spent about one year in Iowa, and in the spring of 1855 eame to Leon township, where they took up a homestead and built a home of logs, improving their land and engaging in general farming the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1860 and the mother in 1887. They had three children : Charles (deceased), Christine, married to Walford Anderson, of Belle Creek, and Frank J., the subject of this sketch. Frank received his education in the common schools of the township and worked on the farm. After- wards he managed a sawmill and feed mill in Wastedo, for fifteen years, and also ran a threshing outfit for some time. Since 1900 he has been engaged in farming on the old homestead, which con-

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sists of eighty acres of improved land and twenty-eight acres of timber. He has remodeled the outbuildings and built a new home, also making other general improvements. He was married in 1900 to Clarinda Anderson, daughter of C. J. and Ellen (Velan- der) Anderson, natives of Sweden, who came to America in the early days. settled in Cannon Falls township and engaged in farming. They are now retired and live in St. Paul. The father is an old Civil War veteran, having spent four years in the army. He enlisted in 1861 in Company D, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was promoted to the rank of corporal a year later. He took part in all the battles of the campaign, and was discharged with the regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Vanberg have three children : Florence, Blanche and Hazel. Mr. Van- berg is Republican in his political views, has held the position of assessor for seven years and is at present town clerk. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. at Cannon Falls, and he and his family attend the Swedish Lutheran church at Spring Garden.

Joseph Persig was born in Hay Creek township, where he still resides, May 5, 1871, son of Gottleib and Catherine (Bauleg) Persig, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1858 and settled in Hay Creek township, where they took up a homestead of 160 acres of land, which they broke and improved, and ear- ried on general farming. When the war broke out the father enlisted and served three years. After the war he returned home and took up farming. having erected a home and outbuildings as well as making general improvements. He died in 1895, and the mother in 1897. Joseph was one of six children: Julia and Annie, who were both vietims of the Sea Wing disaster; Lena. now of Noble county; William of Wacoota township; and Fred (deceased). Joseph attended the common schools of the town- ship and worked on the farm with his father, later coming into possession of the home place. In 1901 he was married to Freda Jones, by whom he has two children : Benjamin and Irene. Mr. Persig is Republican in his politics, but has never sought or held public offiee.

P. J. Frenn, an estimable and well-known citizen and farmer of Featherstone township, was born in Sweden, June 5, 1843, son of Lars and Christina (Swanson) Frenn, who upon coming to America in 1852 settled in St. Charles, Ill., where the father worked as a farm and stone mason about ten years. It was about 1864 when they came to Featherstone township and purchased the place which has since been the Frenn homestead. Here they lived for the remainder of their years, the father dying in No- vember, 1880, and the mother in September, 1874. P. J. Frenn received his education in the common schools and then took up farming on the home place, adding to the improvements which

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his father had started. He has brought the land to a high state of cultivation, and, aside from the commodious buildings for his stock, he has a comfortable residence for himself and family. The farm consists of 220 acres, all of which is tillable, and upon which he carries on general farming and dairying, selling cream in considerable quantities. Five acres of the farm constitutes a fine orchard, and there are also on the place many trees which Mr. Frenn has planted for shade. Aside from his land in this township, he also owns eighty acres in Wisconsin and 166 acres in Texas. In addition to being a good farmer, Mr. Frenn is a good carpenter, an occupation which he followed for ten years during his younger life. Although not an office seeker, he has consented to serve two terms on the town board, being elected on the Re- publican ticket, to which party he pays allegiance. Mr. Frenn was married July 26, 1872, to Christina M. Swanson, daughter of Carl and Inga C. Swanson, who lived and died in the old country. To this union were born eight children : Hilda M. Bruber lives in Hay Creek : Hanna C. lives in California ; Esther A. also lives in the same state; Carl S. married Wilhelmena Zignego and lives in Hay Creek township; Martin L. lives at home and helps on the farm; Albert E., Elmer A. and Lilly W. are also at home. The family attends the Swedish Lutheran church.

A. H. Hardy, of Featherstone township, was born in Janes- ville, Wis., July 22, 1845, son of Samuel and Mary (Carlton) Hardy, natives of Massachusetts. The father spent his early life in the east coming west to Rock county, Wisconsin, when thirty- five years of age. He remained a few years, then went to Green county, and in 1854 came to Minnesota, where he took up a homestead in Burnside township and built a log cabin which still stands. Later he removed to Pine Island township and carried on general farming until he retired from active live and moved to Red Wing, where he died in 1888. The mother passed away in October, 1887. They had a family of fourteen children, of whom only three are living: A. II. Hardy received his education in the common schools, and worked with his father. He enlisted in Company A, Hatch's Independent Cavalry, July 20, 1863, and served three years, being discharged June 6, 1866. During this time he was in the Dakotas. Mr. Hardy was married in 1874 to Melissa (Benham), daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Heliker) Ben- ham, natives of New York state. They emigrated west in the early days, and came to Wisconsin, and later removed to Minne- sota, remaining but a short time, when they went still farther west to Montana, where the father died, on May 30, 1906, having spent forty years in Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy are the par- ents are thirteen children : Harriet (deceased) ; Edith, of Min- neapolis; Flora, now Mrs. Hennings, of North Dakota; Matilda

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J., married to Gust Anderson, of Featherstone; William (de- ceased) ; Ethel, of Minneapolis; Albert, Jr., living at home ; Edward, of Minneapolis; Mabel, at home; Helen, at home; Arthur, at home; and Cyrus and George (deceased). Mr. Hardy has been in Goodhue county for twenty-five years. Eleven years he spent in Douglass county. He has a farm of forty-seven acres in Featherstone township and rents 200 acres, where he carries on general farming and dairying, keeping from fifteen to twenty cows for the purpose. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Red Wing and is a Republican in politics. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

J. A. Edstrom, whose father was the second man to take up land in Leon township, has been town clerk twenty-three years, county commissioner six years, assessor four years, and has held school office since nineteen years of age. He carries on general farming as he has for many years past, owning 485 acres, 135 of which is in Leon township. The subject of this sketch was born in the province of Smaland, Sweden, July 12, 1848, son of M. A. and Mary E. (Jackson) Edstrom, who first located in Illi- nois, and one year later came up the Mississippi by boat to Red Wing, May 11, 1855, at that time a pioneer village. There they lived on the levee in tents for some weeks, and then came to Leon township and pre-empted 160 acres on Section 21, where they erected a cabin and started bringing the wilderness under- cultivation. The Edstroms were true pioneers, and had many thrilling experienees. In the winter of 1856, 200 Sioux camped near the farm, and though carefully watched stole hay and pro- visions, and even helped themselves to seed eorn which the fam- ily was carefully hoarding for planting the following spring. During the first years of their residence in Leon the Edstroms hauled grain to Red Wing by ox team, and on one occasion, when the family provisions were running low, the father shouldered fifty pounds of flour and carried it all the way from Red Wing to the homestead, a distance of twenty-two miles. M. A. Ed- strom did some carpenter and blacksmith work, but devoted the greater part of his life to farming. He died January 18, 1890, and his wife preceded him to her grave, September 12, 1887. J. A. was educated in the primitive public schools, was brought up on the farm, and has always made farming his business. He was married in 1872 to Matilda Magnusson, daughter of C. M. and Ellen Magnusson, natives of Sweden, who located in Goodhue county in 1865, and in Leon township in 1867. Her father died in 1908, at the advanced age of ninety years, and the mother passed away in 1904. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Edstrom are: A. M., who has been a merchant, but now is farming at Randolph; Agnes, who for some time attended the Red Wing

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Seminary, now married to Theodore G. IIultgreen, a Chicago rail- road man, and Frances, a school teacher who has received the advantages of an education in the Cannon Falls high school. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church.

Charles Edstrom, of Leon township, was born in Sweden, Feb- ruary 14, 1850, son of Magnus A. and Mary E. Edstrom, natives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1854 and settled in Henry county, Illinois, remaining over winter, after which they came to Minnesota, traveling by boat up the Mississippi river and landing at Red Wing, where there was at that time only a small group of houses. They went on to Leon township and pre- empted land in Section 21 and engaged in farming until . the death of the father in 1890. The mother died in 1887. They had seven children. all of whom are alive. John A., a farmer of Leon township; Christine, married to Aarn Larson, of St. Paul; August, of Belle .Creek: Mary, married to Charles Jackson, of Vasa township; Axel, living in Vasa : Ferdinand F., of Leon town- ship; and Charles, the subject of this sketch. Charles attended the public school of the township and worked on the farm with his father. While working at home he often drove cattle to Red Wing for ten cents a trip, the trip taking two nights and a day. Later he engaged in farming for himself, and purchased 120 acres which he improved and developed, and where he now lives, carrying on general farming. He was married, in 1876, to Chris- tine Onstad, daughter of Ragnald J. and Martha (Iverson) Onstad, who came to America in the early days and settled in Chicago, III., remaining for three years, after which they came to Leon township and engaged in farming, which they have since continued. They had nine children, all of whom are living. Mr. . and Mrs. Edstrom have been blessed with four children: Emma, married to Joseph Swenson, of Wanamingo township; Arthur, who lives at home; Susie, married to Selmer Hommedahl, of Wanamingo; and Frederick, who is at home. Mr. Edstrom is a Republican in his political views, and has served as supervisor and on the school board. The family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church.

K. K. Esterby, was born in Leon township, where he still resides, January 24, 1867, son of Knut and Rannei (Hongo) Esterby, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1863, stopped one year in Fillmore county and then moved to Zum- brota, where they remained for a short time, subsequently coming to Leon township, where they bought 160 acres, and carried on general farming until the death of the father, July 6, 1900, the mother having passed away in 1877. K. K. Esterby received his education in the common schools of Leon and worked on the farm with his father up to the time of his death, when he came

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in possession of the farm, which he improved and on which he erected a new house. He now owns 194 aeres in Leon township, 160 acres under cultivation, and has carried on general farming and stock raising. Mr. Esterby was married in 1901 to Martha Berg. daughter of Iver and Martha Berg, natives of Norway. They have seven children, four living in Wisconsin and three in Minnesota. They came to America. settling in Wisconsin, and in 1902 removed to the home of their daughter, Mrs. Esterby, in Leon township, where they have lived most of the time, but have also occasionally stopped with their children in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Esterby have five children : Clarence. Edwin, Ida, Olga and Clara, all living at home. Mr. Esterby is a Republican in his political views, and he and his family attend the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Frank Ferdinand Edstrom, a farmer of Leon township, has been town clerk five years. He was born July 22. 1866. on the old homestead where he now resides, and after finishing the course in the common schools of his neighborhood took up farm- ing, which he has since continued. He owns 126 acres on which lie conducts general farming and stock raising. selling both cream and butter. He is a Republican in politics, is interested in public affairs, and, being a thorough believer in the advantages of a good education, has served on the school board several terms. He was married December 15. 1897. to Hanna Olson. daughter of Swan Olson, of 1416 Twelfth street, Red Wing. To this union

have been born five children, Reuben L .. Mildred E., Russell F., Harvey L. and Verna E. The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church. Since taking possession of the home place, Frank F. Edstrom has conducted many improvements and altera- tions, including the building of a new house and barn, replacing the original buildings erected by his father, Magnus Edstrom, who settled here in 1855. Mr. Edstrom is a good man, a good farmer and a good citizen, and is well liked by the people of the community at large.

August Haggstrom was born in Leon township, where he still resides, April 9. 1860, son of C. A. and Martha C. (Johnson) HIaggstrom, who came to America in 1854 and located in Andover, Ill., where they remained for one year, after which they came up the Mississippi river by boat, landing at Red Wing, where they lived a short time. In 1855 they removed to Leon township and took up a homestead which the father broke and improved, and built a log-cabin at a cost of $2.40 in cash, in which cabin the Swedish Lutheran Conference of the state held their meeting in 1859. He followed general farming until he retired in 1894, when he erected a fine house, where he lived up to the time of his death. October 4, 1904, at the age of seventy-eight years. He served as

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supervisor of the township for several years. The mother died January 30, 1905, at the age of seventy-seven. Mr. Haggstrom took charge of the farm in 1894 and made many improvements, building a new home and other outbuildings necessary. He now carries on general farming and stock raising. He was married in 1894 to Melinda Larson, of Rice county, daughter of Simeon and Christina Larson, who came to America in 1870 and located in Vasa township, but later removed to Holden township, where the father engaged in the carpenter's trade. Mr. and Mrs. Hagg- strom have five children: Arthur E., Ephriam, Elmer, Clarence and Myrtle. Mr. Haggstrom is a Republican in his political views, and has served as' assessor for five years, also as chairman of the board for three years. He has also been clerk of the school board of district No. 48 since 1882. The family attends the Swedish Lutheran church.

K. K. Hougo, who was born in Hallingdol, Norway, April 7. 1840, came to this country in 1861. In 1862 he purchased forty acres in Minneola, which he sold in 1864, and bought his present place of 160 acres in Leon township one year later. To shelter himself and his parents, he first erected a sixteen by sixteen cabin. which constituted the family residence until 1869 when & larger cabin, sixteen by twenty-four, was constructed. In 1890, the present comfortable home was erected. Mr. Hougo has brought the wild land to a high state of cultivation, having 120 of the 160 aeres under the plow. On this land he carries on gen- eral farming and stock raising. In addition to his Goodhne county property he owns 240 acres in Mahnomen county, this state, upon which reside his children, Mons and Annie. Mr. Hougo has been for many years an independent voter and has served on the town board, has been justice of the peace and con- stable, and has held school office for over twenty years. With: the exception of two years he has been a member of the board of directors of the Leon Farmers' Fire Insurance Company since 1876, and was one of the organizers of that company. Mr. Hougo was married in 1877 to Martha Munson, daughter of Mons and Annie (Olson) Munson. The former, a spry and healthy old lady, is still living at the good old age of eighty-nine years. To Mr. and Mrs. Hougo have been born ten children, of whom seven are living: Mons. Gerena, Knut, Annie, Marie, Andrew and Clara. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Knut Hougo, parents of K. K. Hougo, came to America in 1863 and joined their son, who came over some time before. They spent. the remainder of their days on the Hongo homestead, the father dying at the age of eighty-four years and the mother at the age of sixty-seven years. Before the arrival of Mr. Hongo's parents in this country, he lived with

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Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Locke, for whom he worked. They treated the stranger as though he were their own son, and. Mr. Hougo always looks back on their kindness with such gratitude that he feels toward them almost as he does toward his own parents.

E. L. Otterness, of Leon township, was born in Norway, Sep- tember 7, 1840, son of Lars and Martha Otterness, natives of Norway. He received his education in the common schools of Norway, and came to Leon township in 1857 and joined his broth- er, who came in 1855. He remained with his brother, working on the farm for seven years, after which he purchased 160 acres of land in the township, where he built a small house and other buildings and improved the farm, carrying on general and diversi- fied farming. In 1866 he was married to Randi Bergman. Mr. and Mrs. Otterness have had seven children : Jensine (deceased) ; Lars of Minneapolis: Bengt Lawrence, of Yellow Medicine county ; Ingebor, of Leon, and Edward, living at home. Mr. Otterness has now retired from active life, and his son manages the farm and owns eighty acres of the homestead. Mr. Otterness. is a Democrat in his political views, and has been assessor, super- visor for three years, and member of the school board for thirty years, but holds no office now. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

John Ring, of Leon township, is a fine example of the men who as poor boys came to this country to seek their fortunes, and by honest toil and frugal habits. succeeded in achieving eon- siderable property and an honorable position in the community. He was born in Norway, July 13, 1861, son of Ever and Hendreka (Vardahl) Ring, who lived and died in the old country. It was in 1883 that John Ring came to America. He stayed at Chicago with his brother for a short time and then came to Leon town- ship, where he entered the employ of Gilbert Nelson, working on the farm in the summertime and in the woods during the winter. He wooed and won the daughter of the household, Martha by name, and married her in 1887. Her parents who eame to this county before the war, are now both dead. At once after his marriage, John Ring set at work with a will to become a man of means. In this he has succeeded, now owning one farm of 235 acres, known as Wood Lawn Stock and Grain Farm; an- other of 134 acres in this county, and one of 320 acres in Edmond county, South Dakota. Upon the farm where he lives he has erected some roomy buildings and conducts stock and general farming. He has an imported Belgian stallion, and is also a breeder of several high grades of cattle and swine. Being an intelligent farmer, he believes in a rotation of crops, and by the use of this method secures the best results from his land. Of his nine children, Ililda, the first born, is dead, while Anna, Joseph,

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Fletcher, George, Geneva, Frances, John Matthews and Hanna live at home. The members of the family attend the Norwegian Methodist church.

Mons S. Urevig is a man of considerable prominence in the community wherein he resides. He has been nine years chairman of the township of Leon, three years assessor, ten years notary public, eighteen years school clerk and justice of the peace since 1884. In 1876 he was one of the incorporators of the Leon Mu- tual Fire Insurance Company, and has since been one of its directors, also serving thirteen years as its treasurer, a position he still holds. He is a prominent member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and a contributor to its support, being a public spirited and progressive citizen in every respect. Mons S. Urevig was born in Norway, March 31, 1848, son of Sever and Martha (Stene) Urevig, the former of whom died in that country. In 1861 mother and son set out for America and settled in Columbia county, Wisconsin, for three and a half years. In 1864 they came to Goodhue county, and settled in Holden township. In 1872, Mr. Urevig came to Leon township, and for one year rented a farm. Ile then purchased his present place of 150 acres, thirty of which is timber land and the remainder plowed land. Here he carries on general farming and raises graded stock. Mr. Urevig was married in 1871 to Gertrude Flom, daughter of Ever Flom, a blacksmith, who spent his latter years in Holden town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Urevig are the parents of six children : Sever lives in Goodhue township, this county; Edward farms in Mah- nomen county, Minnesota; Martin is at home; Minnie, who died in 1904, was married to J. A. Jacobson; Louise died June 28, 1909, and Mabel, wife of Peter Strom, is on a homestead in North Dakota. Mrs. Urevig died in November, 1903.

G. V. Young is another of those men who were born and brought up in this county, and have since spent their days here. He first saw the light of day in Leon township, October 20, 1868, son of S. A. and Johanna (Johnson) Young, natives of Sweden, who came to Illinois in the early days, and after staying there for a time came up the river by boat to Red Wing. The father worked in the woods for a while and then homesteaded land in Leon township. Aside from farming, he engaged in the real estate business, and at one time was the possessor of 1,280 aeres in this county and 160 in Blue Earth county, this state. He died in 1899, his wife having passed away in 1889. G. V. Young was brought up on the farm, attended the public schools (and also attended school at Northfield and a business college at Red Wing), afterward taking up farming. He now owns 215 acres of good land, upon which he carries on general farming and stock raising. A Republican in politics, he has served on the

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school board and is always the friend of every good movement, being a fine example of the worthy sons of the early pioneers. He was married October 23, 1907. to Selma E. Swanson, daughter of M. N. and Eva (Enberg) Swanson, who, like the Youngs, were early settlers in the county.

Edward G. Otterness was born in the township of Leon, where he still resides, February 4, 1870, son of Guttorm and Martha Otterness, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1855 and located in Koshkonung, Wis., for a short time, coming in 1856 to Leon township, where the father purchased a farm, which he broke and improved, brought to a high degree of cultivation, built a home, and carried on general farming, which he has since continued, being one of the prosperous farmers of Leon town- ship. In early days he lived among the Indians and suffered all the hardships of pioneer life, working hard to till the soil and hauling grain to Red Wing. There were nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Otterness, of whom four are living: Peder, a farmer of Wanamingo; Lars, a farmer of Kenyon township; Annie ; and Edward. the subject of this sketch. Edward received his education in the common schools of the township, and now carries on general farming and stock raising, having attained con- siderable success. Ile is a genial, hard-working man, always ready to do his share in anything that tends to the betterment of the community. He is a Republican in politics and attends the Lutheran church.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 102

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264