USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 68
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Andrew Grinager, one of the pioneer settlers of Wilmington township over half a century ago, was born in Hadiland, Norway, Sept. 22, 1826. In his native land he learned the trade of carpenter, and in time was married to Marn H. Ness, who was born in the same locality, April 17, 1822. In the summer of 1864, with his wife and three sons, Lars, Hans and Andrew, he left Norway for America, and landed at Quebec after a voyage of seven weeks. By steamboat and rail the family came west to Lansing, Iowa, this trip occupying three weeks, and from Lansing to Wilmington township. Soon after a daughter, Betsey, was born to them there. For seven years the father, Andrew Grinager, worked in this vicinity at his trade of car- penter. Then in 1872 he engaged in farming, buying 80 acres of wild land in section 33, Wilmington township, where he had to grub a space on which to build a small log house of one room. In that dwelling he and his family resided for about ten years, but at the end of that time he was able to erect a small frame house, and in 1898 he built a much better one. All the members of the family worked together to develop the farm, and in time they got 75 acres under the plow, and had erected a number of sub- stantial buildings, including a frame barn, 20 by 42 feet, with a lean-to for cattle of 16 by 42 feet; a double corn crib, 18 by 18, with an 8-foot drive- way; a tool shed, granary, hog house, feed house and carpenter shop. In 1893 the father sold the place to his son Lars, who still operates it. Mrs. Andrew Grinager died on the farm March 25, 1906, her husband passing away a year and three months later, on June 19, 1907. They were indus- trious and frugal people, well respected, and were useful members of the Wilmington congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. Politically he was a Republican. Their sons Hans A. and Andrew A. are now associated together as contractors and builders in Wilmington town- ship, residing in section 33, and their daughter Betsy is the wife of M. Severin of the same township.
Lars A. Grinager, proprietor of the old Grinager homestead in section 33, Wilmington township, but now retired, was born in Hadiland, Norway, Oct. 8, 1852, son of Andrew and Marn (H. Ness) Grinager. He was in his thirteenth year when, in the summer of 1865, he accompanied his parents and two brothers to America, coming from Quebec, their landing point, to Lansing, Iowa, and thence to Wilmington township, Houston county, Minn. He had received some schooling in his native land and attended district school for a very limited period here, his services being needed by his father on the farm, which had to be developed from a tract of wild land. Here he has since resided, having purchased the farm in 1893. It has an area of something over 100 acres, with a good set of buildings and he now leases
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it out. He retired after a prosperous career, and is a stockholder in the Wilmington Creamery Association. On Feb. 16, 1883, Mr. Grinager mar- ried Ingeborg H., daughter of Halvor and Kjerste Wermager, her family being near neighbors of the Grinagers. Mr. and Mrs. Grinager are mem- bers of the Wilmington congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. They are among the older residents of the township and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
Hans A. and Andrew A. Grinager, who under the firm name of Grina- ger Bros., are engaged in business as contractors and builders, residing in section 33, Wilmington township, are the sons of Andrew and Marn (H. Ness) Grinager, and were born in Norway, Hans A. on Dec. 23, 1857, and Andrew A. on Nov. 20, 1863. They came to this country with their par- ents and their brother Lars in the summer of 1865, settling in this county and township, where their father worked the first seven years as a car- penter, in 1872 taking a farm in section 33, Wilmington township. In the development of that farm the brothers took an active part, having previ- ously attended school for awhile. Hans, who learned the carpenter's trade, at the age of 26 set up in business for himself, and when Andrew was 24 he began an apprenticeship to it under his brother. Ever since then they have worked together, making their home with their brother Lars on the old farm of their parents. They have erected many buildings in Wilming- ton township, and adjacent parts of Houston county, also in Iowa, and on several occasions have filled contracts in North Dakota. Expert workmen at their trade, they have won a good reputation and have prospered, each being now well to do. Hans, in addition to his direct business interests, owns a good farm of 80 acres in the vicinity of the parental homestead. They are members of the Wilmington congregation of the Norwegian Evan- gelical Lutheran church. In politics they are aligned with the Republican party.
John J. Akre, proprietor of a well equipped blacksmith's shop in the village of Spring Grove, was born near Highlandville, in Pleasant township, Winneshiek county, Iowa, March 27, 1872, son of John and Martha (Sar- vold) Akre. The parents were both natives of Norway, the father born June 5, 1829, and the mother Sept. 29, 1836. Both came to this country in 1861, and were married in Big Canoe, Winneshiek county, Iowa, by Rev. C. Clauson, July 5, 1862. In the same county they took a tract of wild land, containing 120 acres, which they subsequently developed into a good farm, bringing 90 acres under cultivation, and erecting good buildings, including a frame house and barn. The father died June 6, 1904, and the mother Dec. 6, 1902. Their family numbered eight children, four sons and four daughters: Martin, now engaged in the creamery business at Highland- ville, Iowa; Ole, who is pastor of a Norwegian Lutheran church at Hins- dale, Mont .; John J. the subject of this sketch; Jonas, now on the old home farm in Iowa; Inga, wife of James Cowan, a farmer in North Dakota; Hattie, wife of Krog Ovre, a farmer of Mercer, N. D .; Anna, a twin sister of Hattie, and now Mrs. Peter J. Bidne, of Highlandville, Iowa, her hus- band being a butter maker; and Bella, who is the wife of Mark Vossenberg, a farmer of Mercer, N. D. John J. Akre resided on his parents' farm until
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LEVOR TIMANSON QUARVE AND FAMILY
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attaining his majority, his education being acquired in the district school. In 1893 he started to learn the blacksmith's trade with E. T. Reed, of Decorah, Iowa, and at the end of three years was a finished blacksmith. Thus practically equipped for an independent career, he established him- self in business at Locust, Iowa, where he remained until 1900, when he moved to Bee, Houston county, Minn. Here he erected a house and con- ducted a shop until 1913, in which year he came to Spring Grove and estab- lished his present business in general blacksmithing and wagon wood- work. He rents his shop, a one-story building, 24 by 60 feet in size, located on Main street near the hotel, and has built up a good trade, being the only man in this locality who does gas welding, either of steel, malleable or cast- iron pipe. He is a Republican in politics and has served as village con- stable, but gives his chief attention to his growing business. On Feb. 28, 1898, Mr. Akre was married at Locust, Iowa, to Nellie, daughter of Ole Juve of that place. He and his wife are members of the Spring Grove con- gregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. They have a wide acquaintance throughout this part of the county and enjoy a deserved popularity. Mr. and Mrs. Akre have one daughter, Martha, who was born Oct. 28, 1914.
Levor Timanson Quarve .- The transformation of an unproductive wilderness into a flourishing and civilized region, marked out with fruitful farms, dotted here and there with schools and churches-the evidences of that higher culture that goes beyond material prosperity-and with grow- ing villages, the centers of trade and commerce and social activities, is not the work of a day, but rather one of many years, participated in by many individuals, initially inspired by the hope of self-advancement, but gradu- ally broadening in scope and reciprocally and collectively beneficial. To have been an active and potent factor in such a work-a part of the onward and upward movement of humanity-has been the happy lot of the subject of this sketch, Levor Timanson Quarve, now living retired in the village of Spring Grove, and known to all the older inhabitants of the southern part of Houston county, as one of its original pioneers. Mr. Quarve was born in Naes, Halingdahl, Norway, Dec. 26, 1830. His parents, who were wealthy farmers, conscientiously performed their parental duties, doing their utmost to rear their children in the principles of sound morality and make good men and women of them. Their son Levor attended school but four days in his native land, his long hours of industry being employed chiefly in the herding of cattle. When he was 18 years old, the family emigrated to the United States. The voyage was a long one, lasting many weeks, and the ship encountered tempestuous weather. Such minor dis- comforts might have been borne, but a greater misfortune was in store for them, as the father was taken seriously ill on shipboard and died a few days after their landing at New York. He was but 53 years old, having been born in 1795. Leaving one son, George, in New York, the bereaved mother brought the other children west to Rock county, Wisconsin, where they had friends who had preceded them to this country, and where George soon joined them. In that locality they remained for several years, and there Levor T. improved his education, learning writing and arithmetic. In the
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fall of 1853, in company with his brother George, he set out to find a good piece of land on which to settle and lay the foundation of a future pros- perity. Such land was easy to find in Rock county if money had been no object to him, but of the latter commodity he had very little and could not hope to buy an improved farm. It was necessary to begin at the beginning, take wild land that could be procured at a nominal price, and develop it by long years of toil. With that object in view he explored localities in north- eastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota, and finally found what he sought in Spring Grove township, Houston county, this state, the tract being located two miles west of the site of Spring Grove village, though at that time the village was non-existent. There, at the age of 24 years, he settled in the spring of 1854. There were but five white men within a considerable area, namely, T. A. Berg, O. A. Berg, Knut Kielan, Fengal Flaaten, and a man by the name of Boo. This Mr. Boo, who seems to have been of an acquisitive disposition, claimed to own all the land in this vicinity, and not only that, but practically the entire county. On this assumption he tried to prevent others from settling unless they bought their land from him. Mr. Quarve, however, disregarded his claims and took possession of the tract he had selected, and not long afterwards Mr. Boo disappeared from this part of the country. With his mother and his brother George, Mr. Quarve estab- lished a home, building a large log house, which is still standing on the Olaus Myhro farm, and then plunged into the hard work necessary to change the virgin soil into fields of cultivated grain and suitable pasture for cattle. This was a work of time, but in time was well accomplished. About two years after he had entered upon it, or on May 21, 1856, he took a wife in the person of Kriste Knudson Berg, of Orfordville, Rock county, Wis., a young lady whose solid worth he well knew from previous acquaint- ance. She was the daughter of Knut and Ragnil Berg, natives of Norway. Her father had died on the ocean voyage to this country and her mother when Kriste was ten years old. To Orfordville Mr. Quarve went to obtain his bride, and thence he brought her to Houston county, taking the train to Belvidere, Ill., then striking out to the Mississippi River, where they took a boat to Brownsville, Minn., from which place they made the journey on foot to the farm in Spring Grove township. Mr. Quarve's mother con- tinued to reside on the farm until her death, which occurred Nov. 27, 1881, when she was in her ninetieth year, having been born in January, 1791. By the time of his mother's death Mr. Quarve had acquired no less than 840 acres of land, of which amount he had 540 under cultivation, a splendid record of agricultural achievement seldom equalled in this region. More- over his activities were not confined to his own personal aggrandizement, for many times during his active career he showed himself possessed of public spirit in the promotion of worthy enterprises. While the great Civil War was in progress he secured many volunteers for the defense of the Union, and gave liberally of his time and means for that cause. He was also active in the establishment and support of schools and churches and everything tending to advance the religious, educational and moral wel- fare of the community. It is said of him that he "worked day and night" in his efforts to establish the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church in
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Spring Grove, and in the erection of its first church edifice, as well as in that of the larger and better buildings that succeeded it, and besides con- tributing largely to its support, he served the congregation as one of its most efficient trustees and in other capacities. Until 1895 he continued to reside on his farm, and then, feeling it time to retire from active work, he sold the place and built a comfortable residence on the Black Hammer road, half a mile from the business center of Spring Grove village, where he has since made his home. Here on Dec. 10, 1910, his wife, who had been his faithful and loving helpmate for 54 years, passed to her final rest, and since then his two unmarried daughters, Olave and Ella, have presided over the household. Though up to recent years a strong and robust man, Mr. Quarve finally began to show the effects of age. In 1914 his eyesight began to fail, and since 1916 he has been almost totally blind. He still keeps up and about, however, having the loving care of his daughters and the warm sympathy of numerous old friends and acquaintances, some of whom occa- sionally drop in for a few words of cheer. Of the 11 children born to him and his wife, five are now living, their record and that of those deceased being in brief as follows: Timon, born March 17, 1857, now a merchant in Fessenden, N. D .; Knute, born Nov. 22, 1858, who has been an invalid from infancy and resides with his father and sisters; Erick, born July 2, 1861, who died in infancy; Olave, born July 25, 1863, now at home with her father; Caroline, born April 1, 1865, who married Christian Storlie, and died Jan. 21, 1913; Edward, born May 2, 1869, who is a prosperous farmer in Spring Grove township; Karl, born July 23, 1872, who died in infancy; Live, born Dec. 23, 1873, who married O. A. Myhro and died Sept. 2, 1909; Matilda, born April 23, 1876, who died in infancy; Ella, born Aug. 7, 1878, who, as previously stated, is helping to care for her father; and another child who died in infancy. Thus briefly sketched is the history of this worthy pioneer whose life work forms part of the warp and woof of Hous- ton county's development, closely interwoven with that of other hardy settlers here, many of whom have already passed away, but the result of whose labors will forever endure.
Christian K. Storlie, a prominent representative of the agricultural community in Spring Grove township, residing in section 18, was born in section 4, this township, May 9, 1862, son of Knute and Anna Storlie. His parents were pioneer settlers in this locality, and Christian himself had an opportunity in his early years to become acquainted with pioneer methods of agriculture in helping his father develop the home farm, upon which he resided until reaching the age of 35 years. His education was obtained through attendance at the district school up to the age of 15 years. On June 25, 1891, Mr. Storlie was united in marriage with Ragnhild Caroline Quarve, a schoolmate of his, who was born April 1, 1865, and whose parents were near neighbors of the Storlies. Mr. and Mrs. Storlie began domestic life on their present farm, which Mr. Storlie at first rented from his father- in-law, but which he bought in 1897. It was an improved farm of 120 acres, of which 110 acres are now under the plow. The soil is good and the farm well fenced and provided with good buildings and equipment. In 1902 Mr. Storlie built a fine two-story, ten-room house, with a detached
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kitchen, and which is one of the best farm houses in the county. He con- tinued the work of improvement in 1914 by erecting a modern frame barn, 35 by 56 by 14 feet in size, with a full stone basement of eight feet and cement floor. He has also a granary, 18 by 20 feet; a corn crib, 6 by 30; poultry house 10 by 18; machine shed, 14 by 40, and a feed house, 10 by 10. Mr. Storlie also owns a good Overland automobile. His farm is well stocked with Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China swine. Industrious and thrifty, he has made good progress in life and is numbered among the well to do citizens of his township. For six years he has been a widower, his wife having died Jan. 31, 1913. They were the parents of eight chil- dren; born as follows : Alma Levina Clarisa, Nov. 28, 1895; Kenneth Levi, May 8, 1898; Anna Magdalena, March 5, 1900; George Levard, Jan. 29, 1902; Ruth Alvina, Nov. 10, 1903; Teman Cornelius, Feb. 16, 1906 (died in infancy) ; Erick Tillman, Oct. 29, 1908; Caroline Lucille, Jan. 30, 1913. All the children are residing at home, the eldest daughters presiding over the household. Mr. Storlie and his family are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church and take a prominent part in its religious and social activities.
Peter S. Bergrud, proprietor of a good farm of 160 acres in section 13, Spring Grove township, was born in section 22, this township, April 22, 1870. When he was a year old his parents moved to the farm in section 13 on which he now resides and where he was reared. Here the father, who was born in Norway, died in 1906, the mother having previously passed away, in 1895. They had been married in this country, and were steady hardworking people. Peter S., who assisted his father in developing the farm, in his boyhood days attended the district school, which he left at the age of 15 years. He then attended the Decora institute at Decora, Iowa, for five winters. Then turning his attention to farm work, he remained at home until he was 20. In 1892 he went to Fargo, North Dakota, where he worked two years as a farm hand, but in 1894 returned to Spring Grove township, Houston county, and rented the home farm, which he bought in 1901. It is favorably located one mile southeast of Spring Grove village, and of its total area of 160 acres, Mr. Bergrud has 125 under the plow. The produc- tive soil makes it a desirable piece of property, and it is also provided with a good set of buildings, including a comfortable frame house, a frame barn, corn cribs, poultry house, granary and machine shed. Besides raising the usual crops, Mr. Bergrud is a successful breeder of Red Poll cattle, having two herds, one of registered and the other of grade animals. He is also a stockholder in the Spring Grove Co-operative Creamery and the Spring Grove Stock and Grain Company, and has taken his place among the pro- gressive and prosperous farmers of his township. Over 22 years ago, on June 7, 1896, Mr. Bergrud was united in marriage with Hannah Hender- son, who was born in Spring Grove township, this county, a little northeast of the village, Dec. 15, 1874, daughter of Benjamin and Anne (Bjore) Hen- derson, and he and his wife began housekeeping on the farm on which they now live. They have three children : Addie Minerva, born April 18, 1897, who is a graduate of the Spring Grove high school; Ruth Balinda, born June 25, 1901, who is a student in the high school; and Sigmund Benjamin.
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DR. AND MRS. THOR E. JENSEN
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born Aug. 18, 1911. Mr. Bergrud and his family are members of the Spring Grove congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. In the summer of 1919 Mr. Bergrud erected just outside the village limits a modern house of ten rooms, fitted out with electric lights, and heated with hot water.
Thore Erlemoen Jensen, M. D., who died at his home in Spring Grove, April 6, 1915, was widely known throughout the greater part of Houston county, and even in the neighboring state of Iowa as a type of the good physician, and as such was greatly beloved. His career and personality justified the esteem in which he was held. He was born in Tolgen, Norway, March 5, 1840, son of Jens and Marit (Peterson) Erlemoen, his parents being farmers by occupation. With them he came to America in 1853, the family stopping for a brief period in Wisconsin, but reaching Spring Grove, Houston county, Minn., the same year. They arrived here with very slen- der resources, but managed to secure a tract of wild, government land in section 10, two miles west of Spring Grove village, on which the father built a small log house. The subject of this sketch was then a boy of 13, and was one of four children-two boys and two girls-all born in Norway. All are now deceased, except Kjerstine, an unmarried lady now residing in Spring Grove village. Thore had attended a common school in Norway, and in Houston county he went to school for a short time, though his attend- ance was not prolonged, as he had to assist his parents on their pioneer farm. Being resolved to obtain an education, however, he spent as much time as possible in reading, especially along scientific lines. Having chosen the medical profession as the sphere of his future activities, in 1872 he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he entered a medical school, from which he was graduated in 1874. Then returning to Spring Grove, he opened an office in the village and began a notable career that lasted practically with- out intermission for nearly 40 years, and which left an impress on this region that will not easily be effaced. For years he was the only practicing physician in this locality, his territory extending as far as Houston on the north and Decorah, Iowa, on the south. Always anxious to increase his knowledge and efficiency, after a few years' practice he went to New York City and took a post graduate course at the N. Y. Post Graduate School. As a pioneer physician he endured many hardships, spending much of his time on the road in all kinds of weather, hastening to minister to the patients who had need of him, and no matter how onerous the service, he never neglected a duty. To do this required great endurance, but he possessed it, being of a strong sturdy type. To most of his patients and their families, he was not only a physician but a sympathizing friend, and was loved by the children and young people, as he was esteemed by the old. In such manner he faithfully performed the important duties of his almost sacred calling, until about four years before his death, though he had been ailing for several years before his practical retirement. Even then there were many who would not give him up as their physician, but came long distances to consult him when he could no longer visit them at their homes. During his first few years of practice Dr. Jensen owned and conducted a drug store, being associated during the latter part of that period with
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Elling Reierson as partner, but he finally sold his interest in the drug busi- ness to Mr. Reierson and gave his entire attention to the medical and sur- gical practice. The good he accomplished could hardly be over estimated. Wherever he went he inspired hope and radiated sunshine, human sympa- thy and happiness; and when he at last passed from life's activities the news of his death brought a sense of personal loss to hundreds of homes throughout this region. Almost at the beginning of his professional career, on Oct. 10, 1875, Dr. Jensen was united in marriage with Ingeborg Onsgard, who was born in Norway, Nov. 3, 1853, daughter of Knute and Berget (Vibe) Onsgard, and who had accompanied her parents to Houston county, Minesota, when seven years old. As the daughter of pioneer far- mers in Spring Grove township, she did much to help her parents establish their new home, and when old enough drove the oxen many a day while her father held the breaking plow. She survives her husband, who left her in comfortable circumstances, and resides in a new modern cottage near her married daughter, Mrs. Nels Kjome, in Spring Grove. At one time Dr. Jensen owned a fruit ranch near Red Bluff, Calif., but sold it before his death. He owned, however, a comfortable and commodious residence in the south part of the village. His home life was ideal and was the more dear to him from his frequent enforced absence from the domestic circle due to the demands of his profession. Dr. and Mrs. Jensen were the parents of three children ; James C .; Bergette Matilda; and Inga Theoline. James C., a physician at Hendricks, Minn., who graduated from Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, in 1899, from the medical course at the Univer- sity of Minnesota in 1903 and took post graduate work at the New York Post Graduate School. Bergette Matilda is the wife of Nels Kjome of Spring Grove; and Inga Theoline is residing with her mother in the village.
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