History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 72

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

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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).

Jesse Scofield, one of the pioneers of Caledonia township, now deceased, came to Houston county in the spring of 1855, a single young man, from Berrien county, Michigan. One mile west of Caledonia village was a grub farm with a frame house on it, which place Mr. Scofield, having had some experience in farming, purchased and began to improve. A few years later, when he had made some progress, he was married, July 17, 1859, to Almira Paddock, who was born at White Oak Springs, Wis., April 8, 1843, and had come to Caledonia township, Houston county, with her parents on Sept. 1, 1853, when in her tenth year. Less than two years after their marriage the Civil War broke out, and circumstances ordained that Mr. Scofield should leave his home and serve for a while as one of the defenders of the Union. He was one of the fortunate ones who returned safely after having done his duty as a soldier, and he immediately resumed the work of improving his farm. This task in time was well accomplished as he made it into one of the best eighty-acre farms in this part of the county, bringing his land into a high state of cultivation and erecting a comfortable frame house with barns and outbuildings. He was a Republican in politics and served in some minor offices, but never sought public distinction, preferring the peaceful avocation of farming and the joys of a quiet home life. In 1888 he sold his farm and retired with his wife to the village of Caledonia, where after five years of peaceful leisure, he died suddenly and without any immediate warning of heart failure, on Sept. 17, 1907. His widow is still living at the old home in Caledonia. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Scofield were the parents of six children: Charles J., born Aug. 8, 1860, now a well known business man and banker of Spring Grove; Jane, born Oct. 14, 1862, who died in infancy ; Edward J., born Oct. 18, 1864, who is an attorney residing at Elbow Lake, Minn .; Lillie J., born March 24, 1867, now Mrs. Frank E. Newberry, who is engaged in the photographic business at Clarksville, Iowa ; Mary, born July 9, 1872, who died in infancy ; and Bertha, born May 24, 1874, who is now Mrs. William R. Garrett of Orange, Calif. Mrs. Scofield, though now seventy-four years old, is still in the enjoyment of good health, and spends her winters with her daughter in California.

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C. J. SCOFIELD

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Charles J. Scofield, one of the leading citizens of Spring Grove who has made a name for himself as a successful banker and business man, was born on a farm in Caledonia township, Aug. 8, 1860, son of Jesse and Almira (Paddock) Scofield. He was educated in the public school and at Belden Academy in Caledonia, completing his studies at the age of about seventeen years. Remaining on his parents' farm until the spring of 1879, he then began working as clerk in the general store of Sprague Bros., where he remained until the firm closed out their business in the spring of the follow- ing year. On that occasion Mr. Scofield entered the employ of J. P. Lommen, who also kept a general store, and acted as clerk for him until the fall. He then went to Minnesota Lake, Minn., where he worked in a similar capacity during the following winter in the general store of N. W. Vance. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Scofield returned to Caledonia and again entered the employ of J. P. Lommen, with whom he remained until December, 1881. In the spring of 1882 he went to Colorado, where he spent some time pros- pecting for silver, returning home, however, in July, and resuming work as an employee of Mr. Lommen, with whom he staid this time until January, 1889, when he assumed the duties of county auditor, to which office he had been elected in the fall of 1888. His service proved so satisfactory that he was four times re-elected, serving for five terms, or for a period of ten years. At the end of that time Mr. Scofield became connected with the "Houston County State Bank," now the First National Bank of Cale- donia, and remained with it for one year. He then resigned and became a salesman for the International Harvester Company, under S. L. Wright of the Winona branch, his territory comprising Houston and Fillmore counties. In 1904 Mr. Scofield came to Spring Grove and organized the State Bank of Spring Grove, becoming its cashier, with O. B. Tone as president, and this position he has since retained. On April 26, 1886, he was united in mar- riage with Eliza Dabold, daughter of Jacob and Magdalina (Birch) Dabold, of Hokah, Minn., and he and his wife began housekeeping in Caledonia, where he owned a good residence, going to and fro between Caledonia and Spring Grove after the organization of the bank in 1904. In 1907 he built a comfortable home in Spring Grove and moved here with his family. Mr. Scofield organized the Hokah State Bank of Hokah, Minn., and became its president, which office he now holds. He was also one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Harmony, Minn., and one of its directors for the first year, but resigned to give an opportunity to local men. He is still, however, a stockholder in the institution. Since 1881 he has been a member of the Blue lodge of Masons at Caledonia, and since 1882 a member of the Chapter. He also belongs to the local lodges of Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Politically he is a Republican. He worships with and assists in supporting the Methodist Episcopal church in Caledonia, of which his wife is a member. Mr. and Mrs. Scofield are the parents of two children: Archibald C., born May 2, 1891; and Theodore Rosevelt, born Nov. 23, 1900.

Archibald C. Scofield, assistant cashier in the State Bank of Spring Grove, was born in Caledonia, Minn., May 2, 1891, son of Charles and Eliza (Dabold) Scofield. He acquired his literary education in the local schools,

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including the high school, and in 1913 was graduated after a year's course from the Wisconsin Business University at La Crosse. He entered the bank in the fall of that year and as assistant cashier has since proved him- self a capable and popular young business man. He owns a comfortable residence in the village. On Jan. 24, 1913, Archibald C. Scofield was mar- ried to Bessie Bishop, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Sturmer) Bishop, of Cassville, Wis. He and his wife have two children: Vera E., born Jan. 1, 1914; and William A., born Feb. 9, 1915. The Methodist Episcopal church of Caledonia numbers Mr. and Mrs. Scofield among its active members.

Charles Hoegh, now living retired in the village of Spring Grove, of which village he was formerly president, and who was also the proprietor of a flourishing hardware and agricultural implement business, was born in the northern part of Norway-the "Land of the Midnight Sun"-near the Kaabjord copper mines, on Dec. 1, 1845. His parents were Ove Gulberg and Anna (Scheldrup) Hoegh, the father being a physician for the mining com- pany. Later in life Dr. Hoegh became superintendent of and physician for the lepers of northern Norway, the country being divided for that purpose into two districts, north and south, with physician and superintendent for each. Dr. Ove Gulberg Hoegh died in his native land in 1864, having many years survived his wife, who passed away when the subject of this sketch was a year and a half old. Charles Hoegh was educated in the common schools of Norway, which he attended until he was fourteen years old. After that he spent two years and a half in Schleswig, Germany, returning home at the age of seventeen. From that time until 1866 he was employed in a general store in North Norway. With four years' experience of mer- cantile life, he came in May, 1866, to the United States, landing at Quebec, Canada, from which city he came directly to La Crosse, Wis., where he re- mained for six months. In the fall of the same year he came to Brownsville, Houston county, where he obtained a position as clerk in the store of C. H. Justin. By 1870 he had saved enough to go into business for himself and accordingly formed a partnership with John Cluss and engaged in the hard- ware business in Brownsville, under the style of Hoegh & Cluss. In 1874 this partnership was dissolved and the stock divided, and Mr. Hoegh came to Spring Grove, where he opened a hardware store which he conducted as sole proprietor until 1903. He then sold his stock and business to G. G. Ristey and engaged in the agricultural implement business, which he con- ducted until 1914, in which year he retired. Since then he has resided in the village in the enjoyment of a competence acquired by many years of industry, and is a respected and influential citizen. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company of Spring Grove. A Repub- lican in politics, though not strongly partizan, he has served four terms as president of the village. Mr. Hoegh was united in marriage, Aug. 3, 1869, with Theoline, daughter of Christian and Karine Thompson of Wilmington township. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Anna, born Aug. 22, 1871, now Mrs. Olaus Myhre of Spring Grove; Inga, born June 27, 1874, who is the wife of Dr. M. Ravn of Merrill, Wis .; Ove, born July 14, 1877, now proprietor of a jewelry business in Spring Grove; and Nanna, born June 4, 1885, who graduated from the Spring Grove high school, and

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is teacher of English in the high school at Wausau, Wis. Mr. Hoegh, though he came alone to America, had brothers and sisters who also emi- grated to this country. His brothers Knute and Oscar came after him, and both became physicians, Knute settling in Minneapolis, where he is still engaged in practice. Oscar, who settled in La Crosse, Wis., died in June, 1917. The sisters who came were: Ragnhild, now Mrs. T. Tillisch, of Merrill, Wis., and Valborg, who married Dr. Ravn of Merrill, but died in 1902.

Ove Gulberg Hoegh, proprietor of a flourishing jewelry business in Spring Grove village, was born in the building in which he is now conducting business, July 14, 1877, son of Charles and Theoline (Thompson) Hoegh. He acquired his primary education in the village school, which he attended up to the age of fifteen, and was then for two years a pupil at Gale College, Galesville, Wis. Subsequently until he was nineteen, he resided at home with his father, and then went to Watertown, S. D., where he remained four years as shipping clerk in the wholesale grocery of T. Tillisch. He then returned to Spring Grove and for a while was occupied in his father's store. Then going to Peoria, Ill., he entered the Bradley Polytechnic School there, where he learned the trade of watchmaking. In 1903 he engaged in the jewelry business in Spring Grove, and in 1907 increased his scientific knowl- edge by taking a course in optometry, the conduct of which business he com- bines with that of a jeweler. In 1911 he bought out the stock of B. L. Ons- gard and today is proprietor of a fine and well appointed store and has a profitable trade. In politics a Republican of broad tendencies, he has taken a more or less active part in local affairs, having served several terms as a member of the village council, and is prominent in the business and social life of the community. He was reared in the faith of the Norwegian Evan- gelical Lutheran church, and he and his family worship with the Spring Grove congregation. Mr. Hoegh was married June 17, 1908, to Clara, daughter of Clarence E. and Mary (Rathman) Lyman, of Caledonia, this county. Their children are: Elizabeth, born Aug. 21, 1909; and Karl Lyman, born Sept. 30, 1911.

Baldwin N. Onsgard, one of the rising and progressive young business men of Houston county, cashier of the Onsgard State Bank, was born in the village of Spring Grove, Jan. 23, 1887, son of Nils O. and Guri (Trostem) Onsgard. After completing the regular course in the public schools of his native village, in 1903 he entered the Wisconsin Business University at La Crosse, where he pursued special studies to fit him for a business career. In the following year he entered the private bank of his father at Spring Grove, then known as the Bank of Spring Grove, but now as the Onsgard State Bank, where he applied himself to learning the banking business. His work in this capacity was temporarily interrupted when in 1907 he went to Valparaiso, Ind., where he took a special law course at the Northern Indiana Law School. In 1910 he entered the State University of Minnesota, at St. Paul, Minn., where he also took a special law course. In January, 1911, he was elected cashier of his father's bank, which position he has since retained, having proved his ability as a financier and built up a solid business reputation. He has identified himself closely with general

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local interests, is now serving as treasurer of the Commercial Club, and since 1912 has been treasurer of the Spring Grove Board of Education. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Onsgard was married Aug. 9, 1911, to Martha Carlson, of Minneapolis, Minn., who was born July 3, 1886, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Carlson. Of this union there is one child, Baldwin Alden, who was born May 29, 1916. The religious affiliations of the family are with the Lutheran church.

Nils O. Onsgard, founder of the Onsgard State Bank of Spring Grove, and for many years one of the most prominent business men in this part of the country, was born in Hallingdal, Norway, May 21, 1837. He was eleven years old when he came to the United States with his parents, the voyage lasting ten weeks. On the same vessel and at the same time came his future wife, Guri, with her parents, Ole and Kari Guelson Trostheim, she, however, being then a baby a year and a half old. During the voyage it fell to his lot to take care of her for much of the time, and, whether he liked the task or not, it was faithfully accomplished. After arriving in this country the two families settled on farms near Orfordville, Wis., and Nils O. Onsgard and Guri Trostheim grew up in the same locality. On July 17, 1864, they were married at Orfordville, and until the spring of the following year resided with Mr. Onsgard's parents. Mr. Onsgard at that time was work- ing at the trade of stone mason, which he had learned in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1865 he and his wife came to Spring Grove, Houston county, Minn., where they first began independent housekeeping. Soon after arriving here Mr. Onsgard formed a partnership with Nels Hendrickson in the general mercantile business. It was through Mr. Hendrickson, a previous acquaint- ance of his, that Mr. Onsgard had come to Spring Grove, and the partnership with him was continued to 1870, when Mr. Onsgard entered into the farm implement business, in which he continued until 1879. In that year he formed a partnership with H. E. Kieland, with whom he operated a general store until 1890. In that year he organized a private bank in the rear end of his store, which he called the Bank of Spring Grove, and which was conducted as a private institution up to 1907 when it was organized as the Onsgard State Bank, with himself as president. This office he retained up to the time of his death on Aug. 14, 1914, and his management of the institution was conducted on sound, conservative business lines that inspired confidence, while lending stability to the financial interests of the com- munity. The bank occupied quarters in Mr. Onsgard's store for only three years, as in 1903 he erected a goor brick bank building, adjoining the store on the south and facing Wilmington avenue. He also built a large and beautiful residence on Maple avenue which was then the best house in the village, and is now occupied by his widow. For more than twenty years Mr. Onsgard was village postmaster, and for many years served as village treasurer. Though a natural money-maker, he was a man of honor and in- tegrity and sound common sense; also, when occasion called for it, helpful and charitable to others, and by no means a worshiper of wealth. He was a close student of public questions and a man of strong opinions, generally in the right. His social obligations in life, as son, husband, father and friend, were always creditably discharged. The stable and rapid progress

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NILS O. ONSGARD

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'of the business community of Spring Grove and vicinity in particular owed much to his efforts. For about a year before his death he had been in declining health, but on July 17, 1914, he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, an event which comparatively few married people are privileged to enjoy. A little less than a month later he passed away, his life work ended. Mr. Onsgard was politically a Republican. He was a member of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, and for years was a trustee of the Spring Grove congregation, not only being a faithful official but also a regular attendant at the services. He and his wife were the parents of six children, of whom five survive him. The one deceased was Barba Caroline, who was born in 1855, became a student at St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minn., and died in 1873 at the age of eighteen years. The survivors are: Carrie, born Dec. 31, 1866, now Mrs. Peter T. Newhouse of Spring Grove; Oline, born July 14, 1872, wife of attorney O. K. Dahle of Caledonia and president of the Onsgard State Bank of Spring Grove; Nellie, born July 1, 1877, now Mrs. Oscar E. Hallan of Spring Grove; Oliver, born April 4, 1882, cashier of a bank at Rolette, N. D .; and Baldwin, born Jan. 23, 1887, who is the present cashier of the Onsgard State Bank of Spring Grove.

John M. Walhus, widely known as an enterprising and successful mer- chant of Spring Grove village, proprietor of an up-to-date general store, was born near Highlandville, Winneshiek county, Iowa, Sept. 29, 1858, son of Mikkel and Ingeborg Walhus. The father was born in Hadeland, Norway, in 1830, and died in Spring Grove, Minn., May 9, 1907, at the age of seventy- six years. The mother, who was born in Telemarken, Norway, in 1834, and came to America with her parents at the age of seven years, is now living with her daughter Lise in Spring Grove. The family numbered nine children: John M., the subject of this sketch; Lars, now a retired farmer in Bremen, N. D .; Christian, residing in Winneshiek county, Iowa; Anton, living on the old home farm in Winneshiek county ; Martin, a farmer, stock buyer and auto dealer of Mabel, Minn .; Lise, previously mentioned, who lives in Spring Grove; Marie, residing in Worth county, Iowa, the widow of Hans Hoveland; Karene, who married Ole Weium, a Lutheran pastor, whom she survives; and Margaret, wife of Rev. A. O. Langhough, a Lutheran pastor now stationed at Eleva, Trempealeau, Wis. John M. Walhus in his boyhood attended the district school near the parental home- stead in Winneshiek county, Iowa. Bidding farewell to that temple of learning at the age of sixteen, he then entered Breckenridge Institute at Decorah, Iowa, which he attended for a term or two, and after that took a short course in the John R. Slack Business College at Decorah. Thus mentally equipped, in September, 1884, he came to Spring Grove and began work as clerk in the general store of Nels Hendrickson, acting in that capac- ity for two years. At the end of that time, or on April 3, 1886, Mr. Walhus was united in marriage with Ingeborg Hendrickson, daughter of Nels and Berget Hendrickson, her father being his recent employer, with whom he now entered into partnership under the firm name of Hendrickson & Walhus, at the same time buying a one-third interest in the business. The concern flourished until April, 1901, when Mr. Hendrickson retired and the

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business was sold. In the same summer Mr. Walhus built his present brick store on the corner of Maple and Wilmington avenues, in Spring Grove vil- lage, which he opened in the fall, well stocked with boots and shoes, dry goods and groceries, and which he has continued to conduct, it being now one of the principal stores in the village. In 1886, the year of his marriage, Mr. Walhus erected a comfortable house on Maple avenue, where he and his wife have since made their home. He is a stockholder in the Spring Grove Stock & Grain Company and the Spring Grove Hospital. Active and enterprising, he has through honorable methods built up a good busi- ness and is numbered among the leading merchants in this part of the county. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Walhus have had nine children, of whom four-Martin (first), Bessie, Venzenora and Arnold- died in early childhood. The survivors are: Josephine Belinda, born May 18, 1887, who resides at home and is acting as clerk in her father's store; Martin (second), born Jan. 12, 1889, who was graduated from Spring Grove high school, and later, in 1903 as doctor of dental surgery from the University of Minnesota, and is now practicing as a dentist in Caledonia; Nora Louise, born March 10, 1894, who was graduated from Spring Grove high school in 1914, and as a trained nurse from the Lutheran Hospital at La Crosse in 1917, on Oct. 1, 1918, entered the hospital at Fort Snelling, Minn., as army nurse; Bessie Vienna, born Jan. 18, 1896, who was graduated from the Spring Grove high school in 1915; and Inga Caroline and James Arnold, twins, who were born Sept. 24, 1903, and are now high school students. Mr. Walhus and his family are members of the Spring Grove congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church.

Lars M. Quinnell, in former years a prosperous agriculturist of Wil- mington township, was a Norwegian by birth, and a ship carpenter by trade, who came to the United States in 1856, settling in La Crescent, Minn. On the same boat on which he crossed the ocean were Mr. and Mrs. Eskel Quinnell and their children, their daughter Anne, then six years old, who in time became his wife. With her father, Eskel Quinnell, Mr. L. M. Quinnell bought a farm in Wilmington township, Houston county. His marriage to Miss Quinnell took place Jan. 1, 1869. She was then in her nineteenth year, having been born Oct. 7, 1850. Buying his father-in-law's interest in the farm, Mr. Quinnell gave his whole time to its development and erected a good set of buildings, including a two-story, eleven-room brick house. There he remained until 1893, when he retired from the farm and took up his residence in Spring Grove village. Three years later he was killed in a thresher accident, being crushed by the engine. His wife, who survived him, is now a resident of Spring Grove. They were the parents of seven sons and two daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are now living, namely: Emil, a prosperous merchant of Spring Grove village; Martin, who is a farmer in North Dakota, and Johanna, now Mrs. Jacob Evenson of Mckenzie, N. D.

Emil L. Quinnell, proprietor of a flourishing mercantile business in Spring Grove village, who has also served repeatedly in public office, was born in Wilmington township, March 14, 1877, son of Lars M. and Anne Quinnell. His primary education was acquired in the local schools, and he

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MR. AND MRS. CHARLES W. WHEATON

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afterwards attended the village school and the Wisconsin Business Univer- sity at La Crosse, where he was graduated when about twenty-two years old. In the spring of 1899 he went to Hickson, N. D., where he became clerk in the general store of A. M. Hoveland, remaining there until Christmas. He then returned to Spring Grove and entered the employ of N. T. Newhouse, general merchant, with whom he remained until the fall of 1904. After resigning his position with Mr. Newhouse, he was married Sept. 14, 1904, to Josephine Halseth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. I. Halseth, of Hester, Iowa, and who had been conducting a millinery store in Spring Grove since 1899. In company with Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Clauson, who had been recently married, they took their wedding trip to St. Louis, and attended the World's Fair. Then entering into partnership with Oscar Clauson he began his career as an independent merchant, the firm handling groceries, boots and shoes and dry goods. The partnership was continued until the fall of 1916, at which time Mr. Quinnell bought Mr. Clauson's interest and has since been the sole proprietor of the business. His store is one of the best and most popular in the village and through honest dealing and courteous treatment of his customers he has built up an excellent trade. He is also a stockholder in the Root River Electric Company, the Spring Grove Hospital and the Horsebreeders' Association. Mr. Quinnell is also the owner of the old "home farm" in Wilmington township, which he purchased in 1914 and which has an area of 200 acres. It is a well improved place, well provided with good buildings. These include a large, two-story, eleven-room brick house; two frame barns, one 34 by 68 by 16 feet in size, with full stone basements, and an addition of 16 by 34 feet, for a colt barn and poultry house; the other a stock and hay barn, 20 by 40 by 14 feet; a machine-shed 24 by 50; three corn cribs, a hog house with cement floor, which he built in 1915; also a granary, 16 by 24 by 10, with a seven-foot stone basement. There is also a fine water system supplying running water to every building on the farm. About 155 acres of the land are under cultivation. This farm is operated by a tenant to whom Mr. Quinnell has leased it, his business in the village engrossing his whole personal attention. For three or four years he has been a member of the Commercial Club, serving as secretary, and is also chief of the volunteer fire department. He has also served as village clerk and assessor and for several terms as justice of the peace, in fact, tak- ing an active part in all affairs pertaining to interests of the general com- munity. Mr. Quinnell is a member of the American Brotherhood of Yeomen, Lodge No. 1539, at Spring Grove, of which he has been foreman for two or three years, being a charter member of the lodge. He also earned the special trip to Des Moines, Iowa, one year for securing the greatest num- ber of members. His fraternal affiliations also include membership in Camp No. 9244, M. W. A., of Spring Grove. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are the parents of one child: Laura Annette, who was born July 6, 1908, and is now a student in the Spring Grove high school.

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 72

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

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