USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 61
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MR. AND MRS. OTTO SELKE
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of his parents' eleven children, was educated in the district school on Pine Creek and in early youth assisted his father on the home farm. Later he engaged in agriculture on his own account and finally took a farm of 160 acres in Pine Creek Valley, which he operated until his retirement in 1914, when he moved to the village of La Crescent. As the result of his former years of industry and thrift he is now in comfortable circumstances. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Doehle was married Oct. 29, 1902, to Emilie Petry, daughter of Carl and Katherine (Foster) Petry. Her par- ents were natives of Germany, the father being an officer in the quar- termaster's department of the German army. The mother was born in 1837 in Nierstein, but they spent their lives for the most part in Darmstadt, neither coming to this country. Mrs. Doehle was the fifth born of their nine children.
Otto F. Selke, who is prosperously engaged in agriculture on a farm of 150 acres in section 17, La Crescent township, was born in La Crescent, June 18, 1881, son of Frederick and Christina (Hettmann) Selke. The father, born in Germany in 1850, came to Minnesota at the age of 26 years, settling on a farm on South Ridge, La Crescent township, Houston county, where he remained until his death in April, 1895. His wife subsequently carried on the farm until 1907, when she retired from active work but con- tinued to reside on it until 1917, when she removed to Hokah, this county. In 1918 she went to Donna, in southern Texas, near the Mexican border, where she remained until March 1, when she returned to the old farm where she now lives with her son, Otto F. Frederick and Christina Selke were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth. Otto F. Selke was educated in the district school and began industrial life as his father's assistant on the home farm. For nine years he was associated with his father in operating a threshing outfit and sawing timber. From 1908 to 1912 he operated the home farm on his own account under rental and then purchased 150 acres of it, which constitutes his present farm, which he has under good cultivation. He is engaged in general farming, having adequate buildings and an equipment of modern tools and machinery. Since starting in for himself he has made good progress and has taken his place among the prosperous citizens of his township. In 1915 and 1916 he served as town assessor. As a native of the township and a son of early settlers here he is widely known and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Selke was married at Hokah, this county, on Nov. 6, 1907, to Theresa Ruff, daughter of John and Amelia (Kletzke) Ruff, she being the youngest of their seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Selke have two children: Alice, born July 9, 1910, at Hokah, and Esther, born in La Crescent, Nov. 3, 1912. John Ruff, father of Mrs. Selke, was born in Germany, June 24, 1853, and was seven years old when he came to this country. For two or three years he resided in Philadelphia and then came with his parents to Houston county, Minn., where he grew to manhood and becam a farmer, residing in this locality until his death, which occurred March 21, 1909. His wife, who was born in Germany in 1845, died in 1887. They were the parents of seven children, of whom their daughter Theresa, now Mrs. Selke, was the youngest.
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Frank A. Hafner, one of the younger farmers of La Crescent township, who rents and operates a farm of 440 acres belonging to his mother, was born in this township, June 13, 1895, son of Frank H. and Maggie (Rein- hardt) Hafner. The parents were natives of Houston county, the father born in La Crescent and the mother in Caledonia. They were reared in this locality and after their marriage owned and operated farms in La Crescent township until the father's death, which occurred Dec. 3, 1917. The mother, Mrs. Maggie Hafner, now resides in a comfortable modern home in Hokah. Frank A. Hafner was educated in public and parochial schools at Hokah and La Crosse. Brought up to agricultural pursuits, he subsequently worked with his father until the latter's death, when he took charge of the farm, renting it from his mother. It is a well improved place with good buildings and a complete equipment of modern tools and machin- ery, Mr. Hafner operating it successfully, carrying on general farming, with a view to specializing in stock raising. In May, 1919, he purchased an improved farm of 105 acres in Caledonia township, where he will make his future home and where he will carry out his plans of general farming and stock raising. In common with the members of the Hafner family gen- erally, he is a member of the Catholic church. On April 23, 1918, Mr. Haf- ner was married at St. Peter's church, Caledonia, to Clara Rose Konzem, the daughter and youngest of ten children of John and Barbara (Konzem) Konzem. Both her parents were born in Germany, the father in 1843 and the mother in 1853. Mr. Konzem at the age of 21 years settled in St. Paul, Minn., where for about five years he was employed in the lumber mills. He then came to Caledonia, Houston county, where he bought a farm with his wife, who had come to this place at the age of seven years. He died in 1898, but his wife, who survived him, is still residing on the farm which they purchased together.
William Finn, who owns and operates a farm of 208 acres in La Crescent township, residing in section 5, was born in this township, Feb. 15, 1857, son of Patrick and Mary (Cain) Finn. The parents were natives of County Limerick, Ireland, the father born in 1814 and the mother in 1824. On emigrating to America they spent some time in the Eastern states and then came west to Wisconsin and were engaged in farming several years near Fox Lake. Then coming to Minnesota they settled on a farm in Pine Creek Valley, Houston county, where they spent the rest of their lives. William, who was the fourth born of their eight children, was educated in the district school in Pine Creek Valley. Until 25 years old he worked for his father, after which he spent two years in Minneapolis. He then re- turned to Houston county, lived here awhile in Pine Creek Valley and Money Creek and then spent a year in La Crosse. Then returning to Hous- ton county he settled on his present farm of 208 acres, which he is conduct- ing on a profitable basis. For several years he has served as a member of the town board of supervisors and was town assessor for four or five years, rendering efficient service in both capacities. In politics he is an independent Democrat, and in religion a member of the Catholic church. For twenty years he has been a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.
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WILLIAM FINN AND FAMILY
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Mr. Finn was married Feb. 25, 1892, to Mary Farrell, born April 14, 1865, daughter of Bartholomew and Honora (Casey) Farrell. Both parents were born in Ireland, the father in County Cork in 1829, and the mother in County Clare in 1834. Mr. Farrell emigrated to Vermont at the age of 18 years and was engaged in farm work in the East until his marriage, when he and his wife came to Houston County, Minnesota, and took a farm on Pine Creek, where they were among the first settlers. Their daughter Mary was the fourth born of their seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Finn are the parents of three children : Frank, born April 6, 1894, a veteran of the United States Service in the Great War; William, born Sept. 21, 1898, and Eileen, born July 7, 1901.
John S. Harris, one of the pioneers of the horticultural industry in Houston county, the founder of Sunnyside Gardens at La Crescent, was born at Seville, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1827. In his native state he learned the carpenter's trade, but while still a very young man enlisted for service in the Mexican war of 1845-46, from which he returned broken in health. Soon after he came west to La Crosse, Wis., and there in 1851 began market gardening, continuing there until 1854. During that period he was mar- ried to Melissa J. Clayton, who was born in New York State, Aug. 17, 1831. From La Crosse they moved to La Crescent, Houston county, where in the spring of 1856 Mr. Harris established the Sunnyside Gardens of 40 acres and engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and flowers, making a spe- cialty of the more valuable varieties. In that business he was engaged until his death in March, 1901, gaining a widespread reputation as an expert horticulturist. He was a charter member of the State Horticultural So- ciety, a contributor to many horticultural magazines, and at times lectured for state horticultural institutes. He and his wife were the parents of four children : Emma J., who died in September, 1917; Frank I .; Eugene E., of Onalaska, Wis .; and Ida M., now Mrs. D. W. Robinson, of Caledonia.
Frank I. Harris, a retired horticulturist and fruit cultivator, now re- siding in the village of La Crescent, was born in La Crosse, Wis., Nov. 25, 1854, son of John S. and Melissa J. (Clayton) Harris. He was an infant when his parents moved to La Crescent, Houston county, Minn., his father establishing the horticultural farm known as Sunnyside Gardens. Here as he grew up he attended the local school, later taking a course at the La Crosse Business College. At the age of 21 years he became associated with his father as a partner, the connection lasting for twenty years, at the end of which time he leased the place and continued the business alone, inheriting the property at his mother's death. After taking over the business he dropped the vegetable industry, which his father had followed in part, and devoted his energies to fruit culture, in which he achieved a pronounced success. In 1913 Mr. Harris retired and took up his residence in the village, where he is now living. He is a stockholder in the La Cres- cent Bank, the La Crosse Telephone Company and the Cumberland Fruit Package Company. Since his retirement he has served in various town offices, including those of village recorder, assessor and school clerk, in which last mentioned position he is now serving. In politics he is an inde- pendent Democrat. He is now conducting a store at La Crescent handling
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a line of merchandise, candies, ice cream, fruit and the like. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Harris was married at Baraboo, Wis., Jan. 25, 1882, to Dora G. White, eldest of the two children of Alvin C. and Mary (Courtright) White. Her parents were natives of eastern states, the father born in New York in 1826 and the mother in New Jersey in 1828. On coming west they settled .first in Illinois, then in Wisconsin, later in Kansas, and finally, about 1884, in Minnesota. The father died in January, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of two sons and one daughter: Ralph, now at Sunnyside, and John, who resides at home, a veteran of the United States service in the great war, and Vinnie M. Cook, who resides at home.
Thomas Finn, one of the leading stock farmers of La Crescent township, residing in section 1, was born at Fox Lake, Wis., Feb. 1, 1853, son of Patrick and Mary (Cain) Finn. The parents were both natives of Ireland. The father, Patrick Finn, born in County Limerick in or about the year 1818, when a young man emigrated to the United States, locating first in Massachusetts, where for five or six years he was engaged in railroad work. Then coming west, he settled in Wisconsin, taking a farm, but in 1863 re- moved to Pine Creek Valley, Houston county, Minn., where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives as farmers. Their son Thomas, who was the second born in a family of nine children, attended school in Pine Creek Valley, and lived and worked on the home farm until reaching the age of thirty years. He then bought his present farm of 280 acres, which he has since operated, giving particular attention to the breeding of Durham cattle, Chester White and Poland-China hogs, and other good stock, in which branch of the farming industry he is doing a profitable business. He has served as town supervisor several terms. In politics he is a Democrat and in religion a Roman Catholic. June 1, 1883, Mr. Finn was united in marriage with Honora Farrell, daughter of Bartholomew and Norah (Casey) Farrell, she being the second born of their nine children. Her parents were natives, respectively, of County Cork and County Clare, Ireland. The father on coming to this country settled in Vermont, where he was married, and then with his wife, and accompanied by a brother, came west to Houston county, settling first at Toledo Mill in Pine Creek Valley, and later buying land and establishing a farm in La Crescent township, on which he and his wife re- sided for the rest of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Finn seven children have been born, Mary, John, George, Morris, Annabel, Margaret and Roger. Morris was in the United States service three months at Camp Dodge. Margaret is a teacher.
Helmer K. Ike, a prominent farmer and respected citizen of Black Hammer township, residing in section 27, was born in this township Aug. 11, 1876, son of Knut and Maren Ike. The parents came to America at an early date, and the father, now nearly eighty years old, is living on the old homestead in this township. They had five children: Cornelius, deceased; Helmer K., subject of this sketch; Martin; Carl, now a farmer at Wild Rose, N. D .; and Sarah, wife of O. E. Dahl, who is working Mr. Ike's farm. Helmer K. Ike acquired his education in the district school, which he attended as he had opportunity up to the age of fourteen years. Outside from school
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THOMAS FINN AND FAMILY
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hours he had to work hard on the home farm, being his father's assistant up to the age of twenty-one years. On May 27, 1898, he was married to Anna Maria, daughter of Thor E. and Anna Maria (Otterness) Holum, of Black Hammer township, her mother having been one of the first white children born in this section. In the year following his marriage Mr. Ike rented the Vinge farm in Black Hammer township, he and his wife having in the meanwhile resided on his parents' place. He operated the Vinge farm until the fall of 1901, at which time he bought the Orested farm in section 27, four and a half miles north of Spring Grove Village, on which he in now living. The property was improved, but the buildings were poor, consisting of a small frame house and a few sheds. Mr. Ike has added sixty- one acres to the original area and now has 125 acres, the farm being well fenced and well tilled. In 1910 he built a frame barn, 32 by 56 by 16 feet in size, with a full nine-foot stone basement; and in 1915 he erected a modern two-story, ten-room house, provided with furnace heat and other con- veniences. He has also made other improvements, and has running water in all his buildings. One hundred acres of his land are under the plow, the rest being in timber and pasture. He is raising Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, having fullblooded sires, and is doing a prosperous busi- ness. He also owns stock in the Spring Grove Creamery, Stock & Grain Co., and the Equity Shipping Association. In politics a Republican, he has served for the last ten years as town clerk, and has for years been a member of the school board of his district. His residence is one of the most beautiful in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Ike are the parents of three children: Mel- vin, born Sept. 17, 1899, who graduated from Spring Grove high school in 1918; Theodore, born Nov. 17, 1901, and Clara, born April 8, 1906, the two latter residing on the home farm. Mr. Ike and his family are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Congregation of Black Hammer, of which he is a trustee.
Erick Karlsbraaten, the founder of a good farm in section 21, Black Hammer township, lying six and a half miles from Spring Grove Village, was born in Norway, Feb. 2, 1853, and died on his farm in this township, June 21, 1912, at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a very young child when he came with his parents to the United States. In September, 1872, he was married to Kari Rask, who was born in Norway, June 28, 1844, and who had come with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Rask, to Houston county, Minnesota, in 1857. In 1874, the second year after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Karlsbraaten bought their first land in section 21, Black Hammer township, a wild tract which forms a part of the present farm. For some years their only dwelling was a dugout with pole and sod roof, but they labored hard to improve their lot, clearing the land and erecting better buildings according to their progress. They also in time bought more land, building up the farm to its present area of 280 acres, besides purchasing a tract of 100 acres not far away from the homestead. The buildings which they erected include a comfortable seven-room frame house; a barn 32 by 64 by 18 feet, with full stone basement of nine feet, for horses and cattle; a granary, two machine sheds, poultry house, etc., all being in good condition. Mr. Karlsbraaten was a steady, industrious man and a
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respected citizen of his township. In politics he was a Republican. He was a prominent member of the Black Hammer congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. His wife, who survives him, is still residing on the old home farm. Their children were as follows: Olaus, now living in Spring Grove Village; Maria, wife of Knute Dahle of Black Hammer township; Martin, a carpenter living at home; Ingeborg, deceased ; Hannah, who lives on the home farm and keeps house for her mother and brother, Elling; and Elling E., who is operating the farm, and who is unmarried.
Elling E. Karlsbraaten, who is operating the old Karlsbraaten farm in section 21, Black Hammer township, was born in Wilmington township, Houston county, Minnesota, Nov. 3, 1872, son of Erick and Kari (Rask) Karlsbraaten. He was about two years old when his parents moved to the farm in Black Hammer township on which he is now living, and where his early years were spent amid somewhat primitive surroundings, the family residence being a dugout. This, however, was in time replaced by a com- fortable dwelling. In the work of clearing the land and cultivating it, and erecting good buildings, Elling E. assisted his father, and has had much to do with the general improvement of the estate, which now contains 280 acres, besides another tract of 100 acres in the vicinity. Since his father's death the subject of this sketch has operated the farm, his mother residing with him. It is well equipped with all the necessary teams, tools and ma- chinery, and is stocked with graded Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, each herd having pure bred sires. The present house is a fine modern residence, with beautiful surroundings, and the farm is well fenced with all the buildings in good condition. Mr. Karlsbraaten is doing an extensive and profitable business and ranks among the leading men of his township. He is a member of the town board, having been supervisor for two terms, and in politics is a Republican. He is a member of the Black Hammer congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church.
Erick Ellestad, for many years a substantial farmer of Wilmington township, was born in Norway, and came to America in youth. For some time he worked as a farm hand in Wilmington township, and on March 24, 1874, married Guri Erickson, daughter of Torkel and Amelia (Krausag) Erickson. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ellestad moved onto what is now the William Gjergingsen farm in Wilmington township. There they toiled and labored together for many years, and there raised their large family of children. A Republican in politics, Mr. Ellestad took an active part in the affairs of his neighborhood, served on the town board and in other local offices, and was especially prominent in church affairs. In 1903 the family moved to Spring Grove Village where Mr. Ellestad died Jan. 22, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Ellestad were the parents of nine children: Henry, Tollef, Amelia, Gerhard, Carl, Emma, Clara, Gena and Nellie. Henry was born Feb. 20, 1876, and now operates his mother's farm in Black Hammer township. Tollef was born Jan. 22, 1877, and operates a farm near Holt, Minn. Amelia was born Aug. 28, 1879, and is the wife of Andrew Weiss- ness, a farmer of Charleston, N. D. Gerhard was born Dec. 16, 1882, and is now a farmer at Keene, Mckenzie county, N. D. Carl was born Feb. 1, 1885, and works on his mother's farm. Emma was born Nov. 10, 1886, married
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Gerhard Gilbertson of Mckenzie county, North Dakota, and died Feb. 10, 1911. Clara was born Jan. 1, 1889, was educated at Faribault, and lives at home. Nellie, born Feb. 12, 1892, and Gena, born Dec. 25, 1893, both died in infancy. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Spring Grove, in which they have all taken an active part. Guri Erickson, now Mrs. Erick Ellestad, was born at Pine Creek, Alamakee county, Iowa, October 23, 1855, daughter of Torkel and Amelia (Krausag) Erickson, both of whom came to America from Norway as children. Losing her mother when she was two years old, the child Guri was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Tollef Haagensen, of Black Hammer township, who proved faithful and loving foster parents. Mr. and Mrs. Haagensen were among the pioneers of Black Hammer township, and purchased the 174 acres where their foster daughter now lives when Franklin Pierce was president of the United States. They both died in Fillmore county, she in September, 1896, and he in June, 1903. While still in Spring Grove Village, Mrs. Ellestad purchased the homestead of her foster parents, and placed her son, Henry, in charge, moving there herself some time after her husband's death. This farm of 174 acres, five miles northwest of Spring Grove Village, is well fenced, well tilled, and highly productive, 115 acres being under the plow and the remainder in timber and pasturage. The operating equipment is good, and the buildings are excellent. When Mrs. Ellestad purchased the place there was standing on it a substantial and comfortable frame house built over a half century ago, as well as a good frame barn on a full stone nine- foot basement, granary and other buildings. She and her son have added a stave silo, poultry house, machine shed, granary and other buildings. In the summer of 1919 she erected a new modern frame house of twelve rooms. In addition to carrying on general farming and raising the usual crops, a specialty is made of pure blood and grade short horn cattle and Poland- China swine, some fifty or sixty hogs being shipped annually. Mrs. Ellestad is a hard working, highly respected woman, justly proud of her fine family and farm. She is much interested in early history, and has preserved the log buildings erected in the fifties by her foster-parents.
Ole A. Stenehjem, who established the fine Stenehjem farm in Black Hammer township, was born in Norway, May 18, 1848, son of Ammond and Kari Stenehjem. He was only a year old when he accompanied his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1854. Then coming to Houston county, Minnesota, they settled in Wilmington township, their first dwelling here being a hut or shack of poplar poles, with a sod roof. Being very poor they worked hard to improve their condition, and their son, Ole, had to make himself useful at a very early age, getting little schooling. In 1869, while still residing with his parents, Ole assumed the responsibili- ties of domestic life on his own account by marrying Anne Ellestad, and until 1872 they made their home on a part of the Stenehjem farm in Wilmington township. In the latter year, however, he purchased 160 acres in sections 22 and 28, Black Hammer township and moved onto the land, where he immediately began improvements. A subsequent purchase of fifty-two acres enlarged his farm to an area of 212 acres, which is its size today. When he took possession of his original purchase, but twelve acres
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had been broken, and Mr. Stenehjem hired help to grub and break more of the land, also buying a small log house in the vicinity, which he moved onto it, and in which he and his family lived for many years. With oxen and horses he continued the work of improvement, his wife often helping him in the field, and success finally crowned their united efforts, so that the farm is now one of the best in the county. In 1899 Mr. Stenehjem built a fine two-story brick house, surrounding it with beautiful evergreens planted by his own hand, and among the buildings he had previously erected were a good frame barn, a granary, machine shed, corn cribs and ice house, all of which are now in good condition. The farm is also well fenced, and the tools, machinery and other equipment are of the best. On Feb. 22, 1903, Mr. Stenehjem passed from this life's activities to the life beyond the grave, his loss being deeply regretted throughout the community. His widow, who survives him, is still residing on the old homestead, the farm being now operated by her son, J. Selmer. Born in Norway, Oct. 22, 1847, she came to this country at the age of ten years, and has now attained that of seventy-one, being still in reasonably good health. Mr. Stenehjem, who was a Republican in politics, served the town in various official capacities. He was a prominent member of the Black Hammer congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical church. To him and his wife the following chil- dren were born: Maria, now Mrs. Hans Trehus of Wilmington township; Albert, deceased; Emma, wife of H. M. Habberstad, of Kindred, N. D .; Peter, of Esmond, N. D .; Hogen O., of Plentywood, Mont., where he is engaged in the banking business; Clara, residing at home; Anna, now Mrs. Olof Drovdal, of Anagard, N. D .; Inga, wife of Adolph Soleum, a farmer of Black Hammer township; and J. Selmer, who is operating the home farm.
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