History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 66

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1343

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 66

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Henry Wold, one of the leading agriculturists of Spring Grove town- ship, is conducting an excellent farm, and is taking his part in the develop- ment of the region in which he lives. He is a native of this township, having been born in section 32, Sept. 27, 1872, son of Knudt and Berget Wold. He attended district school in his neighborhood, and attained his higher education at the Valder Business College at Decorah, Iowa. In 1895 he and his brother, Peter A., rented the home place, and in 1899 he and his brother, Peter A., bought 201 acres in section 30, over the hill from the father's farm. In 1909 Henry disposed of his interests to Peter A. and purchased the old homestead of 220 acres in section 31. To the de- velopment of this place he has since devoted his attention. It is located seven miles southwest of Spring Grove Village and four miles southeast of Mabel. One hundred and sixty acres are under the plow, and there is a good equipment of tools and machinery. The family dwelling is a com- fortable two-story house of ten rooms. The farm buildings consist of a barn built in 1914, 36 by 74 by 20, with a hip roof, and an eight-foot stone basement with a cement floor, a swine house, a granary, and a stave silo. On this place Mr. Wold carries on diversified farming and stock breeding. With a Hereford sire he is breeding into the Hereford stock from high graded Shorthorns, and has a splendid herd. He also has a drove of some seventy-five Poland-China hogs. Mr. Wold is a member of the American Society of Equity and a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery at Mabel. He is a prosperous, hard working man, and thoroughly deserves the success with which he has met in life. Mr. Wold was married in 1909, to Emma, the daughter of Mathias and Mary Tomeraasen, formerly of Benson, Minn., now of Willmar, Minn. This union has been blessed with five children, Bernice Marjorie, born March 11, 1912; Ruby Viola, born Feb. 26, 1914; Verna Iona, born June 2, 1915; Hildus Eugene, born March 22, 1917; and Orlin Eleanor, born Sept. 1, 1918. The family attends the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church at Mabel.

Charley M. Langland, for the last thirteen years assistant cashier of the State Bank of Spring Grove, president of the Commercial Club of the village, and the owner of a good farm of 200 acres in Winneshiek county,

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Iowa, was born in Pleasant township, that county, on the farm mentioned Nov. 25, 1870, son of Mons and Maria (Johnson) Langland. The parents were natives of Norway, whence have come so many hardy settlers of this region. Both came to this country when young, the father at the age of fourteen and the mother at that of four years, and both families settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa, though in different townships, the Langlands locating in Pleasant township while the Johnsons took a farm in Highland. After their marriage the parents of the subject of this sketch began farming in Pleasant township, and in time developed a farm of 120 acres on which both died, the father June 4, 1899, and the mother July 20, 1891. They were members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. Charley M. Langland acquired his primary education in the district school, which he attended until reaching the age of nineteen years. Then in 1889, in the fall, he became a student at Breckenridge Institute, Decorah, Iowa, and pursued his studies there during the winters of 1889 and 1892, his sum- mers being spent on the home farm. In the spring of 1892 he began teach- ing school, an occupation in which he continued for seven years, the last two years of that time in Spring Grove village school, where he taught from the fall of 1896 to the spring of 1898. His vacations were spent in working on the home farm, and in the winter of 1895-96 he improved his education by attendance at the Valder Normal and Business College at Decorah, Iowa. In the fall of 1898 he again entered the Breckenridge Institute at Decorah and was a student there until the following spring, with the intention of taking a University course. But his father's health having begun to fail a year previously and not improving, he returned home and took charge of the farm, which he operated until the fall of 1899. He was then appointed deputy auditor of Winneshiek county, the duties of which office he assumed Sept. 18, 1899, and in which he continued until March, 1903. He then resigned and went back to the home farm, which he bought two years previously, his father's death having occurred, as previously narrated. In 1902 he had also bought an additional tract of eighty acres adjoining the farm on the west, which increased his landed property to 200 acres. The name of Valley View Farm, which he gave to the place, was the first recorded farm name in Winneshiek county. The place is well provided with buildings of modern type, including a two-story frame house; a frame barn 30 by 70 by 14 feet in size, with a full basement of nine feet and cement floors ; a granary, 26 by 26 by 10 feet ; machine shed, 22 by 48; poultry house, 12 by 30, on the "Minnesota model"; a triple- wall silo, 14 by 32, and corn cribs. The farm, now leased to a tenant, is well stocked with Hereford grade cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine, with full blooded registered sires for each herd. On Oct. 1, 1906, Mr. Langland came to Spring Grove to take the position of assistant cashier in the State Bank of this village, in which he is still serving. Here he has made his power felt as an able business man, and is now serving as president of the Commercial Club and also of the Spring Grove high school board. He is a director and stockholder in the bank, and also a stockholder in the Spring Grove Hospital, the Spring Grove Stock & Grain Company, of which he is treasurer, and in the Twin City Fire Insurance Company of Minneapolis.

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Always a Republican in politics, while living in Winneshiek county, Iowa, he served at different times in public office, being for a while clerk of his township, deputy auditor of the county for three and a half years, and two years as a member of his school board. Mr. Langland was married Sept. 12, 1911, to Clara Elizabeth, who was born at Fergus Falls, Minn., April 21, 1884, daughter of Hans T. and Karen Hills. The children of this union are: Corine Minerva, born Sept. 23, 1912; Maurice Howard, born Jan. 12, 1914; Richard Alexander, born July 3, 1917; Joseph Thomas, born Feb. 16, 1917; Lois Elizabeth, born Dec. 23, 1918. Mr. Langland and his family wor- ship with the Spring Grove congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, he being a member of the Highland congregation of that religious body in Winneshiek county, Iowa, which he formerly served as treasurer for nine years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Langland are taking an active part in the progress and welfare of the community in which they reside.

Knudt O. Wold, one of the earliest settlers of Spring Grove township, was born in Christiana-Stift, Dec. 22, 1830, and was there reared to young manhood. In 1850 he came to America and lived for a while with a brother in Wisconsin. In 1852 he came to northeastern Iowa, and a few months later to Spring Grove township, then a wilderness almost entirely unin- habited. He staked a claim near the present village of Spring Grove, but during a temporary absence his claim was jumped by a newcomer, and not being of a pugnacious disposition, Mr. Wold moved over the line into Winona county. Here he built a log cabin and prepared for pioneer life, but this claim also was jumped. Then he decided to get still further into the wilderness, so he took a claim near Springfield, in Jackson county, this State. But upon the Inkpaduta outbreak he became discouraged at this venture and came back to Spring Grove township and secured land in section 31. He cleared and developed this land, and by hard work created a good farm. Then he bought a tract of land in section 30, which he afterward sold to his sons, Henry and Peter A. After a long and useful life he died January 1, 1907, and was widely mourned as a good husband, a considerate father, and a respected citizen and neighbor. He was a man of sincere religious beliefs and was active in the affairs of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church at Mabel. Mr. Wold was married as a young man to Mary Anderson and by this marriage there were four children, Ole, Theodore, Marie and Matilda. Ole lives in Mabel in Fillmore county, this State. Theodore lives in Enderline, N. D. Marie is Mrs. Christ Espelund, of Northwood, Iowa. Matilda, now deceased, was the wife of Henry Helgeson. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Wold married Berget Burtness and by this union had eleven children, Christina, Henry, Peter A., Carl, Elginus, Adolph, Rudolph, Oscar, Beatha, Osella and Laonard. Peter is a farmer of Spring Grove town- ship. Henry A. owns the home farm. Carl lives at Elbo Lake, Minn. Elginus lives in Minneapolis. Adolph has served in the United States Infantry. Beatha is the wife of Charles Cady, of Mabel. Osella lives with her mother in Mabel, Minn. Leanard has served with the Aviation corps in France. Christina and Rudolph are deceased. Oscar lives in Montana. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

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Peter A. Wold, an energetic and successful farmer of Spring Grove township, was born on section 32, in the township where he still resides, Dec. 10, 1874, the son of Knudt O. and Berget Wold, who were born in Nor- way, came to America in the sixties and settled in Spring Grove township, where they were worthy and respected citizens. Peter A. Wold attended district school until he was about fifteen years of age. He was reared to farm pursuits on the home place and in 1895, with his brother Henry, rented the homestead. In 1899 he and the same brother, Henry, bought from their father a tract of 201 acres in section 30, in the same township, just across the hill from the home place. This partnership continued until 1909, when Peter A. bought out his brother's interest and became sole owner and proprietor. When the brothers started to operate this farm a log house and an old frame house and old frame barn were on the place. In 1902 the brothers erected a good barn, 42 by 60 by 16 feet, with full stone eight-foot basement. After securing the farm in 1914, Peter A. remodeled the old frame house into a comfortable residence and constructed a stave silo, 16 by 32 feet. The farm is now one of the most sightly in the town- ship. The house is surrounded with evergreen trees set out by the owner, and everything about the place bespeaks thrift and care. In 1914, at the same time that Mr. Wold made the improvements on the farm in section 30, he purchased a tract of 200 acres in sections 28 and 29, Spring Grove township, to which he moved. This place is two miles east of the old home- stead. The buildings on this place were in fair condition, but only fifty acres had been broken. To the development of this farm Mr. Wold has since devoted his attention. He has an excellent equipment of tools and machinery and intends to make the place one of the best in the township. Aside from carrying on general farming and raising the usual diversified crops, Mr. Wold specializes in cattle, horses and swine. For some years he raised Shorthorn cattle, but is now grading to Herefords, having a herd of some sixty or seventy head. His drove of Poland-China swine, number- ing about 75, is headed by several full-blooded sires. Mr. Wold is a stock- holder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery, of Mabel. He is also a member of the American Society of Equity. In politics he is a Republican, but has never cared to seek public office. He is a hard working, industrious man, highly regarded by his neighbors and associates.

Mr. Wold was married, Feb. 14, 1905, to Clara Thomeraasen, daughter of Mathias and Mary Thomeraasen, then of Benson, Minn., now of Willmar, Minn. This union has been blessed with seven children : Blanche, Perley, Myron, Vernon, Russell, Glennis and Arlien.

Bjorn Anderson Kvelve, though never a resident of Houston county, was a man with an interesting history. The subject of this sketch was born in Vikedal, Norway, June 3, 1801, his parents being peasants. After he had grown to manhood he became the owner of a small farm in the vicinity of his birthplace, and also of a small coasting vessel, dividing his time between farming and coast trading, carrying fish and other commodi- ties to Stavinger and bringing back various merchandise. In Stavinger he came into contact with a body of Quakers, in whose doctrines he became

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interested and with whom he identified himself in religious communion. As this was in the second decade of the last century, he was still but a young man, between 20 and 30 years of age, but being a born agitator, he made himself conspicuous by his advocacy of the Quaker doctrines, which, as they differed so widely from the religious faith of the great majority of the people, made him unpopular and got him into some trouble. He also found himself mixed up in more unpleasantness when, in July, 1831, he married Abel Catherine Von Kroh, who was born in Sandeid, Vikedal, Nor- way, Oct. 8, 1809, and whose parents, belonging to a prominent military family, were opposed to the match. Less than five years later, however, Bjorn Anderson Kvelve cut loose from all these disagreeable associations, becoming the leader of a large company that in the spring of 1836 sailed from Stavinger, Norway, for America. Here in the United States he and his wife found that no one cared what their religion was nor what had been their respective social positions in their native land, so long as they showed a desire to work and conducted themselves like decent people. They first located in Rochester, N. Y., but in 1837 came west as far as the "Fox River Settlement," in La Salle county, Illinois, where they remained until 1840. Then in June of that year Anderson Kvelve went to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he bought 80 acres of government land in Albion township and built a log cabin. In the following year he brought his family to the new home, his wife being the first white woman to make her residence in that township, and their daughter Martha was the first white child born there. This daughter is now Mrs. Lewis Johnson, of Goodhue county, Min- nesota. The education of the older children was begun by their father, who later engaged private teachers for them. Thus matters went along, the parents working hard at developing a farm, until 1850, when the scourge of cholera-in those days more common than now-struck the community, and among the victims were the subject of this sketch and one of his sons. There were ten children in the family, the son Bruun, or "Brown," not hav- ing yet been born. All, including the mother, took the disease, but all, with the exception of the father and the son above mentioned, recovered. The coffins for the dead were made by Ole Teigen, a neighbor, who attended to the funeral ceremonies. In the following April was born the son Bruun, now known as Brown Anderson, a prominent citizen of Spring Grove village, Houston county, Minn. Four years later the mother married Engle- bret Amundson, a native of Norway, who had been in her employ for some time previous. This union resulted in one son, Albert, now a practicing physician in Cambridge, Dane County, Wis. Mrs. Englebret Amundson died about 1883. Of the eleven children by her first marriage, eight are now living.

Brown Anderson, a prominent business man of Spring Grove village, where for the past thirty-eight years he has successfully conducted a restaurant and confectionery business, was born in Albion township, Dane county, Wisconsin, April 7, 1851, son of Bjorn Anderson Kvelve and his wife, whose maiden name was Abel Catherine Von Krogh. His parents were Norwegian immigrants who, on coming to the United States in 1837, had settled first in Rochester, N. Y., and then in La Salle county, Illinois,

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whence they had removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1840. In the fall of 1850 the father and one of his sons fell a victom to cholera, the father thus never seeing his son Bruun, now known as Brown Anderson. The latter at the age of 14 went to live with a sister near New Lisbon, Wis., and remained with her for four years. Then going to Decorah, Iowa, he entered the Lutheran college there and three years later was graduated from the teachers' department. He also took up salesmanship, at which he was employed in different lines for a year or more. When about 23 years old he came to Houston county and engaged as clerk with Nicholas Koob, of Caledonia, with whom he remained for three years. About the end of that period he began domestic life, being united in marriage, March 11, 1876, with Caroline Henri, of Black Hammer township. She was born in Nor- way, Jan. 8, 1853, daughter of Ole and Martha Henri. The father dying in his native land, the mother had come to Minnesota with her six children- three sons and three daughters-Caroline then being about 6 years old. About the time of his marriage Mr. Anderson left the employ of Mr. Koob and for awhile thereafter was engaged in the music business. He then opened a restaurant in Caledonia, which he conducted for a short time, afterwards serving as deputy sheriff and turnkey under Sheriff Walter Goergen. These occupations were merely tentative, but in March, 1881, he found the right groove when he came to Spring Grove and opened on Main street the restaurant and confectionery business which he has since conducted, having always remained at the same location. In this line of work he has been successful and is now one of the prosperous and influential business men of the village, owning a comfortable home on Maple avenue. He has for a partner his son Albert, who now shoulders much of the work. He and his wife have been the parents of nine children, of whom eight are living. The record in brief is as follows: Martha Catherine, born Dec. 7, 1876, who is now the wife of Nelius Hendrickson, a general merchant of Sattre, Iowa; Bernhard O., born March 23, 1878, now a jeweler at Kin- dred, N. D .; Albert, born April 6, 1880, who, as already mentioned, is in business with his father; Anna Maria, born March 4, 1882, who died in July, 1888; Carl A., born Oct. 10, 1883, now in the agricultural implement business at Fallon, Mont .; Andreas Emil, born Dec. 14, 1885, who is a jeweler and optician at Towner, N. D .; Inga Matilda, born Jan. 4, 1888, now Mrs. William A. Bandel, station agent for the Northern Pacific Rail- road at Hebron, N. D .; James Frederick Otto, born Sept. 15, 1890, who is engaged in the grocery and crockery business in Spring Grove; and Rudolph Bruun Martin Kvelve, born Jan. 1, 1892, an accomplished violinist, who entered the United States Army in 1917 and saw active service in France. Mr. Anderson and his family are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, those at home attending the Spring Grove congregation. In politics Mr. Anderson is a Democrat. During his long residence in Spring Grove he has gained an established reputation as a reliable business man and public-spirited citizen, taking an interest in whatever is for the good of the community, of which he is one of the promi- nent members, and his surviving children have grown to useful manhood and womanhood, reflecting credit on the family name.

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Nels Olsgard, one of the energetic and successful farmers of Spring Grove township, was born in the township where he still resides, March 12, 1871, one of the eleven children of Ole and Thora Olsgard. Ole Olsgard was born in Norway in 1830, and there married his wife, Thora, who was born in the same country in 1835. Their children were Henry, Rachel, Ole, Teman, Leva, Oline, Peter, Nels, Ida, Mary and Belinda, all of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Olsgard came to America in 1867, and located at once in Wilmington township, this county. After a year there they moved to section 32, Spring Grove township. Only a few improvements had been made, but a small log cabin had been built. In this log cabin the family made their home. But one night the cabin burned to the ground, and the family sought shelter at the home of Arne Solberg. Then a comfort- able two-story log house was built. Later this was replaced with the present sightly frame dwelling. Ole Olsgard died Nov. 3, 1898, and his widow moved to Spring Grove village where she died in March, 1918. Nels Olsgard, the subject of this sketch, was born in the home of Arne Solberg, while his family found temporary shelter there. He received his early education in the district schools of his neighborhood, and also had the advantages of courses in the Breckenridge Institute and the Valder Business College, both at Decorah, Iowa. Since then, with the exception of one summer spent in North Dakota, he has remained on the home farm. To the original tract of 120 acres he has added 120 acres, so that he now has a fine farm of 240 acres on which he carries on general farming and dairying. In 1914 he built a modern barn, 34 by 76 by 16 feet, with a full-stone, nine-foot base- ment, provided with cement floors, with James equipment and furnishing space for thirty head of cattle and twelve horses. The cream separator room is twelve feet square. The farm also has two machine sheds, granary, calf shed, swine house, and a lean-to feeding shed with cement floors. Thus equipped, Mr. Olsgard carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of cattle, swine and horses. He has about fifty high grade Hereford cattle and about 100 Duroc-Jersey swine, both of which herds have full-blooded registered sires. His horses are of a high grade Belgian breed. The equip- ment of the farm is of the best, and located as he is, six miles southwest of Spring Grove village and five miles east of Mabel, he finds a ready market for all his products. His place is kept in the best of condition, and is a tribute to the care and thrift of its owner. Mr. Olsgard was married Feb. 5, 1908, to Lena Tollefsrud, daughter of Ole and Gurine Tollefsrud, of Spring Grove township, who was born in the same cabin as himself. Both are active in the social affairs of the community, and both are deeply inter- ested in the work of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation at Spring Grove.

Knute Onsgard, one of early settlers of Spring Grove township, now deceased, was a native of Norway, where he grew to manhood and was married to Berget Vibe. Having little expectation of attaining to com- fortable circumstances in their native land, in 1860 they emigrated to Minnesota, coming directly to Spring Grove township, Houston county, where they bought 160 acres of wild government land, situated two and a half miles west of the village. With very limited resources they began in

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MR. AND MRS. NELS OLSGARD MR. AND MRS. OLE OLSGARD

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a humble way, living in a small log house and developing the land with the aid of oxen. Progress was slow but steady and in time a flourishing farm occupied the place of the original wild tract. On this place Mr. Onsgard died Feb. 2, 1901, having several years previously sold the farm to his son Martin K. His wife survived him 15 years, finally moving with her son to the village, and dying at his home there March 24, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Onsgard had eight children: Ingeborg, now residing in Spring Grove vil- lage, the widow of Dr. Thore E. Jensen; Kari, who married Ole Gullingson, of Detroit, Minn .; he died in 1914; Gure, who married Gul Traaen; Bella, deceased, who was the wife of Teman Evenson; Christian, now a physician in Rushford, Minn .; Lauritz, a physician in Houston, Minn .; Martin K., a merchant in Spring Grove village; and Marie, a resident of Great Falls, Mont., and the widow of Herman Gunvalson.

Martin K. Onsgard, one of the leading merchants of Spring Grove, dealing in boots, shoes, dry goods and groceries, who is also the owner of a fine farm in Spring Grove township, was born on the farm mentioned, situ- ated two and a half miles west of the village, Aug. 30, 1868, son of Knute and Berget (Vibe) Onsgard. He acquired his education in the district school, which, however, he attended but for a limited period, becoming industrially active at an early age as his father's assistant on the farm, and he continued to act as such until about 1897, when he purchased the property, his parents continuing their residence thereon. In 1901 the father died, but the mother continued to reside with her son Martin, who operated the farm until 1906, when he rented it to a tenant and moved to the village, where he lived retired until the following year. He then bought a restaurant, which he conducted until the fall of 1908, when he sold it to Albert Vik. In March, 1909, he opened his present store on Main street, in partnership with Helmer Holje, but having bought his interest in 1911, he has since been the sole proprietor, and has established himself as a successful merchant, keeping a stock of up-to-date goods and giving good value to his customers. Before leaving the farm he had brought it into excellent condition, having 160 acres under the plow, with good herds of grade Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey swine, the herds having full- blooded sires. He had also improved some of the buildings and erected others, which, as they now stand, include: a good, two-story house of 12 rooms; a frame barn 30 by 50 by 14 feet in size, with a full stone basement of 8 feet; a granary 18 by 24; milk house 10 by 10; machine shed 20 by 24; double corn crib 18 by 24, with an 8-foot drive between the cribs; and a hog house 24 by 44, with a cement feeding-floor. In addition to the interests already mentioned, Mr. Onsgard is a stockholder in the Root River Electric Co. He is a member of the village council and is usefully active in every- thing that concerns the good of the community in which he resides. He was married, Dec. 23, 1899, to Tena, daughter of Hans and Eli Forsyth, of Money Creek township, Houston county. He and his wife are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican.

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 66

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1343

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1919
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1343