History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 97

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

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Sever K. Haugen was born in Wanamingo township, where he still resides, June 7. 1871, son of K. S. Hangen. He received his education in the schools of the neighborhood and worked on the farm with his father until 1899, when he began farming for himself on a farm of 240 acres in Sections 30-31-32 of Wana-

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mingo township. He improved the land and buildings and now carries on general and diversified farming, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Haugen was married February 21, 1900. to Thea C. Omsberg. daughter of Willard and Katrina (Lindtvedt) Omsberg, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1872 and settled in Wisconsin, where they remained until 1876, when they came to Holden township and remained there one year, after which they removed to Leon township and engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Haugen have four children: Corie B., born Octo- ber 14, 1901; Hazel L .. born October 15. 1902; Verna C., born June 3, 1906; and Kesper W., January 24, 1909. Mr. Haugen is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator of Bombay. Ile is an independent voter and he and his family attend the United Lutheran church.

Knute S. Haugen, a prosperous farmer of Wanamingo town- ship, was born at Haugen, in Hedalen Valders. Norway. October 26, 1833, and came to America in 1854, locating in Wisconsin. where he remained for six years. In 1860 he came to Wana- mingo township. where he bought eighty acres of wild land which he broke and cleared. erecting a home and necessary out- buildings. Ile continued to improve and add more land to his farm until he now has 500 acres. all in Wanamingo township and all under cultivation. On this farm he now successfully car- ries on a general line of mixed farming. Mr. Haugen was mar- ried August 26. 1858. at Blue Mont. Wis., to Bertha Nelson Reppen. daughter of Nels Jenson Reppen and Bertha Nelson Reppen. Mr. and Mrs. Haugen have had ten children: Chris- tine, married to Christian L. Kinstad, of South Dakota : Bertine. married to Ole Thompson, of South Dakota; Oline (deceased) ; Louise (deceased) ; Elizabeth (deceased) ; Matilda, married to Olaf E. Clauson, of South Dakota ; Syver, living in Wanamingo township: Nels, living in Wanamingo township; and Belle and Lewis, living at home. Mr. Haugen is a Republican in politics. He and his family are communicants of the Lutheran church.

Nels K. Haugen was born in Wanamingo township, where he still resides, November 21, 1876, son of K. S. Haugen. He re- ceived his education in the common schools and worked with his father on the farm until 1900. when he went to Great Falls, Mont., where he was employed as stationery engineer for three years. after which he returned to the old home and engaged in general farming on 120 acres, which he greatly improved, creet- ing a pleasant home and other necessary buildings. Mr. Haugen was married February 17. 1904. to Alma Findberg, daughter of Ole and Eva Findberg, natives of Sweden, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Hangen have two children : Evangeline, born No- vember 10, 1904, and Clarence, born September 19. 1906. Mrs.

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Hangen died May 27. 1909. Mr. Haugen is a Republican in poli- ties and a member of the United Lutheran church of Holden.

A. H. Dicke, of Featherstone, who has done excellent service as county commissioner, was born in Germany September 8, 1851, son of Frederick W. and Anna Dicke, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1852, and located in New Orleans, La., where they remained only a short time. Then they went to St. Louis, Mo., where the father worked for three years, after which they came to Red Wing, remained two years, then removed to Hay Creek township, which was not then organized, and took up a 'homestead. Here the family lived, and the father went to Red Wing to work. being employed on the courthouse building, which was at that time in the course of construction. In 1858 he left his work in Red Wing and devoted his whole time in clearing and cultivating the farm. There were three children in the family, two dying in infancy. A. H. Dicke received his education in the common schools of the township, and worked with his father on the farm, later purchasing 240 acres of land in Featherstone township. all under cultivation, on which he has made extensive improvements. built a new barn, and remodeled the other buildings, his home being pleasantly situated and well furnished. He 'now successfully conducts general farming opera- tions and also takes much interest in dairying. He was married in 1877 to Catherine Cordes, daughter of Frank and Meta Cordes, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in the early days, to Featherstone township. Mr. and Mrs. Dieke have had ten children, of whom eight are living: Anna, married II. P. Voth. of Featherstone: William lives at home; Louise married Peter H. Voth, of North Dakota; Herman, Fred, Walter, Lydia and Eddie live at home. In politics Mr. Dieke is a Republican, and is now serving his third term of four years as county com- missioner of Goodhue county, having been two times re-elected without opposition. He has also served on the Featherstone town board for eleven years. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, of which Mr. Dicke has been a promi- nent member of the board for the past twenty-five years, having always taken a most active interest in the welfare of the con- gregation. Mr. Dieke is a man of more than average ability and his fellow citizens have thoroughly appreciated his sterling qualities.

Henry James, of Featherstone township, was born in Middle- sex, Ontario, April 14, 1847, son of Henry and Margaret (Max- well) James, natives of Sheffield, England, who came to Canada when young. The father, a veteran of the Civil War, devoted his life to farming. Henry, the son, received his edneation in the schools of Canada, and in 1869 came to the United States,

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locating in Belle Creek, where he bought a farm of eighty aeres, later purchasing 120 aeres in Section 2, Featherstone. This he improved, erected all the necessary buildings, and has since car- ried on general farming, dairying and stock raising. December, 1875, he was married to Aletha Chandler, daughter of Samuel P. and Martha (Miller) Chandler, both natives of Maine, who in 1846 came to Illinois, where they remained eight years, after which they removed to Minnesota, coming to Red Wing in 1854. Later they went to Belle Creek township, where they lived on a farm. The father, who was a clergyman of the Episcopal church, was the first supervisor of Belle Creek township, and died in 1902. He is mentioned in various places in this history. The mother died when Aletha was small. Mr. and Mrs. James had three children : Fannie P., a teacher ; Thomas W., of Red Wing, employed by the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company; and Margaret (deceased). Mr. James is a Democrat in his politics, and he and his family are members of the Episcopal church.

Otto H. Bang, a prosperous farmer living on Section 14, Featherstone township, is a native born son, having made his appearance in life's arena March 12, 1857, only a short time after the first settlement of Featherstone. His parents, Henry and Fredericka (Horstmeyer) Bang, were natives of Germany and came to America at an early age. The father settled first in Illi- nois, worked on farms for a while, then located near St. Paul. In 1856 he came to Featherstone, took up 160 aeres on Section 24, and there lived until his death at the age of seventy years, May 29, 1894. His wife survived until August, 1906. Otto H. was one of eleven children, six of whom are still living. He received his education in the district schools and worked on the home farm until 1891, also running a steam threshing machine. He then rented a farm in Goodhue township two years, after which he returned to Featherstone and purchased his present farm of 160 acres, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. For the past two years he has been an assessor of the township. He is a Republican in politics and belongs to the Modern Woodmen. The faith of the Methodist church is the family religion. Mr. Bang was married in 1891 to Minnie S. Kress, who died leaving two children, Maynard, a pupil in the Red Wing high school, and Walter, who died in infancy. Later Mr. Bang married Mary Bluhm, nee Mary Holst, the daughter of Claus and Mary Holst, early settlers of Belvidere township, but now living at Fair Oaks, Cal. . The first husband of Mrs. Bangs was John G. Bluhm, a native of Germany, who came to America at the age of seventeen and remained with his parents in Feather- stone township until his marriage. At the time of his death he owned 160 acres of well improved land in this township. He

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died in California, where he had gone for his health, February 5, 1901. To this union were born, in Featherstone township, three children: Lydia L. is the wife of Charles Kress, of North Da- kota ; George B. Bluhm is a farmer of North Dakota, and Harvey W. Bluhm lives at home. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bang by their present marriage. It is worthy of note, in connection with this sketch, that Mrs. Bang was the first white child born in Belvidere township, while her father, Clans Holst, is honored as one of the pioneer Germans of this county.

Gustav Larson, of Featherstone township. is a fine example of a self-educated, self-made man. In addition to acquiring his present fine property, he also found time to serve the town as supervisor sixteen years, and as a member of the school board for several terms. Ile was born in Sweden, November 5, 1849, and came to America as-a boy of eleven years with his parents, John and Carrie Johnson) Larson, in 1860, locating in Wash- ington county, Minnesota, near Stillwater. until 1867. when they took up their residence in Vasa township. Later they came to Featherstone and lived until about eighty years of age. in a home built purposely for them by their son. Gustav attended the public schools, but has received the greater part of his educa- tion from reading and observation. He is a deep thinker and has a retentive memory. so that his mind is a storehouse of gen- eral information obtained by himself. He subscribes to numerous newspapers and magazines, and keeps well abreast of the times by perusing the latest books. When he came to his present farm of 160 acres. in 1872. the land was so wild that it was impossible to get with a team into what is now the front yard. The place is now in a high state of cultivation and is well adapted to the general farming operations which Mr. Larson conducts. Among the improvements on the farm is a gasoline engine which is used to supply the motive power needed in pumping water, sawing wood and grinding feed. Mr. Larson was married in 1873, to Martha Anderson, daughter of E. M. and Louise Anderson, born in New York state where they stopped for a short time after coming to this country from Sweden. They settled in Vasa in

the early days and carried on farming. The mother is now deceased, but the father still lives on the old homestead at the good old age of seventy-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have five children : Richard is employed by the Tri-State Telephone Company, at Minneapolis; Edna is the wife of P. J. Engberg. cashier of the First National Bank, of Braham, Minn .; Esther is a teacher in a Minneapolis business college: Alice is the wife of Delmar Brynildson, a merchant of Vasa village, and Ernest O. is at home. The family worships at the Swedish Lutheran Evangelical church.

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Daniel J. Mix, now residing on section 29, Featherstone town- ship, where he owns and operates 160 acres of farm land, was born in Genesee county, New York, October 22, 1854, a son of Daniel and Sophia (Park ) Mix, who moved to Woodson county, Neosho Falls, Kansas, when Daniel J. was but a few weeks old, and there ended their days, the father at the age of eighty-two and the mother at the age of fifty years. Daniel J. received his education in the public schools, the district where he attended having been organized by his father. It was taught by his older sister, she being the first teacher in that district. After leaving school, Daniel J. continued to work on the home farm until 1875. when he came to Red Wing, and for fifteen years was engaged in running a threshing machine. He spent the next four years in operating a portable sawmill in Pierce county, Wisconsin, and then purchased his present farm, where he has made many improvements in the way of buildings and equipment. He does general farming and raises stock to some extent. Mr. Mix is a Republican in politics and has been a justice of the peace for many years. He was married, December 24, 1883, to Clara Anderson, daughter of Nels and Justine Anderson, born in Sweden, the native home of her parents, in 1863. The family came to America in 1867 when Mrs. Mix was a small girl. stayed in Pennsylvania for a short time and then located in Boone county, Iowa, where the mother died. Subsequently the father came to Pierce county, Wisconsin, and farmed for about fifteen years before his death. Mrs. Mix received a common school education in the schools of Iowa and Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Mix have been born three children. all of whom first saw the light of day in Featherstone township. Frank Jay assists his father at home. George Park goes to the Red Wing schools, and Raymond Lorenzo is a pupil in the district schools. Mr. and Mrs. Mix attend the Methodist Episcopal church in the town of Featherstone.

James Brennen. of Welch township, was born in Lowell, Mass., December 4, 1853, son of Thomas and Winnifred (McDermott) Brennen, who came to Minnesota in 1857 and located in Dakota county for a short time, then removed to Washington county. where they remained until 1867, after which they came to Goodhue county and located in Welch township, where they pur- chased 160 acres of land, which the father cleared and improved. built a home, barn and other ontbuildings, the lumber for which they hauled from Hastings. They carried on general farming and stock raising, until the death of the father March 13, 1876. The mother died May 25, 1883. There were four children in the Brennen home: Timothy of Rice county; Thomas of Welch: Ellen, and James the subject of this sketch. James received his education in the common schools and worked on the farm with

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his father and later purchased the farm, where he has since made improvements and carries on general farming and stock raising. Ife was married in 1876 to Mary McDermott, daughter of Michael and Ann (Brennen) MeDermott, the father being one of the oldest settlers in the state. He came in 1849 and settled in Dakota county where he farmed until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Brennen were blessed with nine children : Mary, Anna, Teressa, Ellen. Jane, Loretta. Seraphine, Thomas and Florence. Mr. Brennen is Democratie in his political views and has been a member of the town board for the past ten years, also clerk, treasurer and director of school district No. 114 for two terms.

John M. Olson was born in Welch township, where he still resides. November 22. 1881, son of Andrew and Hannah Olson, natives of Sweden who came to the United States in the early days. and settled in Vasa township, where they purchased land and remained until the late seventies, when they bought 160 acres in section 29 and engaged in farming until the death of the father in 1899. The mother still lives at home. After the death of the father, the sons took charge of the farm and have carried on general farming. and also selling considerable cream to the Welch creamery in which they are stock holders. J. M. and his brother made all the improvements on the farm and buildings. There were six children in the Olson home: Charles, now of South Dakota: Oscar of Cannon Falls; Anton; Vietor, a civil engineer; Luther of Kansas City, employed by the Armour packing plant as assistant meat inspector : and J. M., the subject of this sketch.

Charles Black, was born in Welch township, where he still resides, July 21. 1869, son of Archibald and Elizabeth (Mul- holland) Black. natives of Ireland. They lived in Scotland until they came to this country. in 1868. when they located in Welch township and bought land which they improved and carried on general farming until the death of the father in 1889. The mother died in 1906. They had a family of nine children : Archibald, Charles, Mary. James, Elizabeth, William, Richard, Annie and Sarah. Charles received his education in the public schools of the township, and since 1900 has farmed on the home place of 160 acres with his brothers and sisters. He also buys and ships all kinds of live stock. He was married in 1907, to Hattie May Gipford. daughter of Julius and Hattie Teichman Gipford. of Red Wing. They have one son, Donald Mulholland. Mr. Black is a Republican in politics and has held the office of supervisor of Welch township for the past five years.

Frank Boothroyd was born on the farm where he now resides in Welch township, on October 8, 1866, son of William and Mary (Bevers) Boothroyd, natives of England, who came to the United

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States in 1852. Frank was educated in the common schools and worked with his father on the farm. June 27, 1894, he was married to Emma Tillman, daughter of Erick and Nellie (Person) Tillman, natives of Sweden. Mr. Tillman came to this country in 1865 and settled in Afton, Minn., where he remained six years, after which he came to Welch township, bought a farm, and engaged in farming. The mother died March 23, 1906, and the father August 29, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Boothroyd have one child, Myrtle, who attends the high school at Red Wing. Mr. Boothroyd has a fine farm of 270 acres, all under cultivation, and carries on general and diversified farming, and dairying. also stock raising. He has been justice of the peace eight years and is at present town clerk. which office he has held for eleven years. He belongs to the M. W. A. of Welch, of which he has been clerk for nine years. He is also director and secretary of the Welch Co-Operative Creamery Company, and director and treasurer of Goodhue County Co-Operative Mercantile Company. In politics he is Republican.

John Berg, of Welch township, was born in Sweden, July 16, 1846, son of Nels and Marie Berg. also natives of Sweden. John Berg received his education in the schools of Sweden, and in 1868 came to this country, and located in Red Wing, remaining for two years. Then he went to Minneapolis, where he worked at brick making for a while, and later went into the business of brick making for himself. In March, 1885. he came to Welch township, and bought a farm of 120 acres of improved land. This he continued to improve and has remodeled the house and outbuildings. He now has a fine farm, with a large grove of soft maple, birch and butternut trees. He has made a success of general farming and has taken a great interest in bees, owning thirty-two hives. Mr. Berg was married January 21, 1875, to Clara Anderson, who is now deceased. They had a family of eight children: Emil C., Aleda E., Oscar T., Edward J., William E., Edgar E., Albin N. and Fred L. Mr. Berg is at present town treasurer, which office he has held for the past twenty years, and is also treasurer of the school district No. 5. In his polities he is a Republican.

Peter Jefferson, a business man of Welch, was born in Sweden October 9, 1849. son of Jefferson and Annie (Anderson) Larson, natives of Sweden where the father died. Peter received his education in Sweden, and came to America in 1873 locating in Red Wing where he worked at various labor until 1877, when he purchased a team and wagon, went to Yellow Medicine county, and bought 160 acres of land two miles south of Granite Falls, the county seat. This land he improved, carrying on general farming for fourteen years. His wife, however, was in poor

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health and thinking a change of climate would be beneficial, he sold his farm and went to Sweden also taking his daughter with him. He left his family there, returned to this country, eame to Goodhne county and in 1893 engaged in business in Weleh village. where he has since successfully continued, enjoying a good trade and holding the confidence of the community. In 1881 he was married to Carrie Nelson by whom he has one child, Nina J. Wife and daughter live in Sweden. Mr. Jefferson is an independent voter. and was supervisor in Yellow Medicine county for nine years. Ile also established a school on his farm, thereby showing his publie spirit and his interest in education.

M. T. Nilan, merchant of Eggleston, was born in Pittsburg, Pa .. July 18. 1859, son of Patrick and Sarah (Maloy) Nilan, natives of Ireland who came to America in 1851 and located in Virginia where they lived until 1855. Then they moved to Pitts- burg. Pa .. remaining there until June, 1868. when they came to Minnesota and engaged in farming in Welch township, until their death. They had twelve children. nine of whom are living. M. T. Nilan received his education in the public schools and later attended a business college at Minneapolis. After leaving sehool he worked on the farm seven years. He then took charge of the elevator at Eggleston, also conducting a small store. This he continued until 1902 when he was obliged on account of his great increase of trade to build a larger store. He has since condueted a general store, and carries hardware. Mr. Nilan has been twice married. His first wife was Jane O'Connell, daughter of Patrick and Catherine O'Connell. by whom he had two children: Annie married to Mat. P. Gulden, and Catherine (deceased). The mother died January 9. 1888. and May 1. 1893. Mr. Nilan was married to Catherine Glynn, a native of Kansas, daughter of Martin and Catherine (Connell) Glynn. natives of Ireland. Mr. Glynn was a contractor and mason and died in Kansas where Mrs. Glynn is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Nilan have eight children: Sarah, born April 9, 1894; Edward. born October 22, 1895; Catherine. born August 23. 1897: Ellen. born May 3, 1899 ; Mary L., born February 2. 1901: Dorothy, born April 16. 1902; Michael. born November 2. 1903. and Martin G., born August 23, 1905. Mr. Nilan is Democrat in politics. He was the station agent at Eggleston for twenty-five years, and has been postmaster since 1882. In addition to his business interests he owns land in. Welch township consisting of 726 acres, most of which is timber. He is a member of the K. of C. and he and his family are communicants of the Catholic church.

August Westerson, a well known resident of Welch village, was born in Sweden October 1, 1854, son of Lars and Betsy Nelson) Westerson. natives of Sweden, who came to America

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in 1855 and settled in Moline, Ill., where they remained a short time, after which they came to Minnesota and bought land in Vasa township, and engaged in farming until in 1895 when they retired and spent the remainder of their lives with their children. The father died in 1898 and the mother in 1902. A. Westerson was educated in the common schools of the county, after which he worked on the railroad. In 1873 he learned the milling trade, which he followed until 1903. IIe spent two and a half years in the Diamond Milling Company at Red Wing, then went to Hastings where he rented and operated the mill there until 1892 when he went back to Welch, operated the Weleh Roller Mill until 1903, and then took charge of the elevator there. He was also agent for the Great Western railroad until June, 1909. Mr. Westerson was married in 1876 to Kate Larkin, who died in January, 1880. In 1882 he was married to Margaret Wynn, daughter of Pat and Catherine Wynn. old settlers of Belle Creek township, where they were farmers. To this union was born one ehild, Marie, who lives at home. The mother died in 1908. Mr. Westerson has one sister and two brothers living. The sister, Esther, married J. R. Tampain, of Cannon Falls; Charles lives at Abercrombie, N. D., and Frank is in Montana. Mr. Westerson is independent in politics and while in Hastings served as com- missioner and alderman. He belongs to the M. W. A. of Cannon Falls.

Charles A. Nylen, blacksmith and implement dealer, was born in Sweden January 23, 1874, son of Andrew and Anna (Mattson) Nylen, natives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1890 and located in Vasa township, Minnesota, where the father worked two years, then rented a farm and engaged in farming for three years, after which he went to Burnside township and rented a farm, where he remained another three years. He then returned to Vasa township and purchased 240 acres of land, of which 100 is under cultivation. Here they remained for ten years, and in February, 1909, he moved to Welch village and started a blacksmith shop and implement house. He now rents his farm and has sold all his farming machinery and stock. He has always lived with and cared for his parents. He has one brother living at Argyle, Minn. He also had one sister, Mary, who died in 1907. Mr. Nylen is a stockholder in the ereamery. He is an independent voter, and belongs to the Swedish Lutheran church.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 97

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