History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 83

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

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 83

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).

Jgorgen Schulze, an early settler in Wilmington township, where he cleared land and developed a farm, was born in Germany, Dec. 29, 1832. He grew to manhood in his native land, where in 1856 he was married. His wife Katherine was born March 3, 1834. In 1865 they came to the United States, landing at New York, whence they proceeded directly to Houston county, Minnesota, arriving here with but nine dollars in cash. With this small capital they began pioneer farming in section 36, Wil- mington township, and, after some early privations, by hard work suc- ceeded in developing a farm, with good buildings and a fair equipment. After nineteen years of steady effort, Mr. Schulze died on the homestead, Nov. 8, 1884, and was survived by his wife, who is still residing on the farm. They reared nine children: John, now in Lyons, Neb .; William, who has spent considerable time in traveling and has not yet settled in a permanent home; Ida, now Mrs. Christ Bisping, of Shadron, Nebr .; Louisa, the widow of the Rev. J. M. Maisch, and a resident of Milwaukee, Wis .; Alfred, of Loveland, Colo .; Minnie, now Mrs. Sam Paus, of Scoby, Mont .; Emma, re- siding with her mother, and who now owns and takes care of the old home, except 40 acres that were purchased by her brother, Otto C .; Otto C., above mentioned, who is operating an 80-acre farm; and Herman, who is engaged in the auto and garage business at New Albin, Iowa.

Otto C. Schulze, a well known farmer and prosperous citizen of section 36, Wilmington township, was born in this township and section, Feb. 1, 1874, son of Jgorgen and Katherine Schulze. He was reared on his parents' farm, on which he became industrially active at an early age, attending school but little. At the age of 22 years he began farming for himself, renting the Robinson farm in the vicinity of his home. This farm he worked for three years, at the end of that time renting another farm in Fairmont, Minn., which he operated for two years. Afterwards for three years he worked a rented farm in Breckenridge, Minn. Then returning to Houston county, Minnesota, he bought 40 acres of the old home farm in Wilmington township, and has since purchased another tract of 40 acres, thus having a farm of 80 acres, with improved land and an adequate set of

Digitized by Google

614

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

buildings. Mr. Schulze is engaged in general farming, keeping graded cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is a Republican in politics, and a mem- ber of the Eitzen congregation of the German Evangelical church. Mr. Schulze was married Dec. 5, 1896, to Dora, daughter of Henry and Dora Kohlmeyer, of New Albin, Iowa, and who was born March 28, 1875. Eight children have been born of this union, as follows: Elwin H., born Oct. 21, 1897, who is a farm hand; Verona Minnie, born April 3, 1899, residing at home; Floy J., born March 9, 1901, who is a farm hand; Freeman B .; born Dec. 20, 1903, a student; Howard C., born March 7, 1904; Dora E., August 27, 1908; Harold J., Aug. 5, 1912, and Clarence L., Dec. 19, 1915, who are residing on the home farm.

Gilbert Selland, proprietor of Pine Grove Stock Farm, in section 35, Wil- mington township, was born on this farm, Nov. 18, 1872, son of Nels and Guri Selland. In his boyhood he attended district school three months each winter, being obliged to work for the rest of the year on the home farm. Though not as robust as the other members of the family in his younger life, today he is comparatively well and strong. He has always remained on the place, purchasing the property in 1902, and is engaged in diversified farming. In 1910 he began breeding registered Shorthorn and Durham cattle, of which he has sold quite a number, though keeping on hand a herd of about 35 head. He also raises from 50 to 75 graded Poland-China hogs yearly, having a full blooded sire. Since the farm be- came his property Mr. Selland has made some valuable improvements on it, having remodeled the house and erected a number of buildings. Among the latter are a frame barn, 30 by 56 by 18 feet in size, with a full stone basement of eight feet; a machine shed 18 by 40; double corn crib, 18 by 22, with an eight-foot driveway; a stave silo, 14 by 31, and a hog house 13 by 30 feet. In addition to this farm he also owns a half section of farm land in Geraldine, Mont., which is partly improved and which he rents out, making a yearly trip there. He is a stockholder in the Honey Creamery at Bee, this county, also in the Spring Grove Hospital and Spring Grove Stock and Grain Co. Mr. Selland has never married, his mother and sister keeping house for him. In politics he votes for the man rather than with the party, and religiously he is a member of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church at Wilmington.

Nels Selland, who founded the farm in Wilmington township now oper- ated by his son Gilbert, was born in Hardanger, Norway, and came to Hous- ton county, Minnesota, at an early day, settling in Wilmington township. Here he met and married Mrs. Guri Leveson, the widow of Ole Leveson. Two weeks after his marriage he enlisted for service in the Civil War, serving for 14 months or until the end of the great struggle. Then return- ing home he bought 160 acres of wild land in section 35, Wilmington town- ship, eight miles southeast of the present village of Spring Grove, and set to work to develop a farm. He was a strong man, over six feet in height, and a good worker. His first dwelling was a small log structure, which he built and in which he resided until 1886, when he built the house now standing on the farm, consisting of a story and a half upright, with wings of one story. He also built a granary, his barns being hay and straw pole

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. NELS SELLAND

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by Google

ALFRED ALBEE AND FAMILY

Digitized by

Google

615

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

sheds for his cattle and teams. Aided by his wife and children, he grubbed and cleared the land well and succeeded at last in developing a good farm, on which he resided until his death, March 18, 1912, at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 12 days. His wife, who still resides on the old homestead, has attained the age of 87 years. They had six children: Olaus; Dorothy, now Mrs. Claus Nelson of Wilmington township; Gustave, a farmer in Wind- mere, N. D .; Gilbert, residing on and operating the home farm; Helen, now Mrs. Nels Oftedahl, her husband being a farmer in Twin Valleys, Minn .; and Nicolai, who is deceased.

Edwin F. Luehr, proprietor of a model farm in Wilmington township, near the Iowa state line, was born in this township, August 3, 1888, son of Henry and Louisa (Deters) Luehr, his parents being prosperous farmers of German origin. His education was continued in the district school up to the age of 18 years, after which he pursued a business course at Charles City, Iowa, and when about twenty attended the Minnesota State Agricul- tural College for a short term. Up to 1913 he worked with his father on the home farm, and then, in the spring of that year, rented of his father the farm he now resides on, which he purchased in the spring of 1914. Of its total area of 220 acres, 160 acres are in section 33 and the other 60 in section 34, the land being all improved. He has also added 561/2 acres near by, having an area of 2761/2 acres. The buildings are also substantial and of modern type, and include a good frame house of eight rooms, consist- ing of a two story upright and two wings ; a frame barn, 30 by 50 by 16 feet, resting on a full nine-foot stone basement, and with a lean-to, 24 by 30 feet, for cattle; a hog house, 20 by 70, with cement floor; a corn crib, 6 by 70, with cement troughs and feeding floor in front; also granary, car- penter and blacksmith shop, poultry house, ice house, machine shed, well house, silo and garage. He has fine wells, the water being raised by pumps to an elevated reservoir, so has running water through the house, to which he has added a summer kitchen with a modern laundry in the basement. He can also pipe water to all his buildings. His equipment is also very complete and includes a traction engine. Mr. Luehr does diversified farm- ing, including stock raising and dairying. He breeds full blooded Roan Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and is doing an excellent busi- ness both as a grain and stock raiser. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Luehr married Selma Bunge, daughter of Christian and Dorothy (Weneke) Bunge, her father being a merchant and farmer of Eitzen. She was born Sept. 12, 1889, and was educated in the common school of Eitzen, and the State Normal School at Winona, also taking a commercial course, subse- quent to which she worked several years as clerk in her father's store at Eitzen. They are members of the Eitzen congregation of the German Evangelical church. Mr. and Mrs. Luehr have one child, Lowell, who was born April 11, 1916.

Alfred Albee, a well known farmer and respected citizen of Wilming- ton township, residing in section 25, was born in this township, July 22, 1862, son of Charles F. and Sarah (Paine) Albee. His parents were among the best known pioneer settlers in this part of the county, having arrived here from Rhode Island in 1854, and he was reared to manhood on their

Digitized by Google

616

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

farm, acquiring his elementary education in the district school, and later attending an academy in Minneapolis. Until the age of 27 years he re- mained with his parents on their farm in section 13, and was then married, Sept. 25, 1889, to Charlotte G., daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Gil- christ) Ratcliffe. He began domestic life on the parents' old farm in sec- tion 25, which he rented for two or three years. About 1886 he bought the Jerry Shumway farm of 80 acres in section 25, and nine miles south of Caledonia, where he is now living. On the place was a comfortable house but no barns. This defect he remedied by erecting a good frame barn, 32 by 70 by 16 feet, with an ell, 20 by 40 by 16, all on a full stone basement of eight feet. He also built a double corn crib, 31 by 32, with a 15-foot drive, where he shelters his wagons; and in 1911 he built a hollow-tile silo 14 by 37 feet in dimensions. Having added 40 acres to this farm, it now has an area of 120 acres, all good land and under the plow. Mr. Albee raises graded Shorthorn cattle and Duroc swine, keeping pure-blooded sires, and his equip- ment is modern and of the best class. He is also a stockholder in the Wil- mington Creamery Company and the People's Co-Operative Stock and Grain Co. of Caledonia. In addition to the farm already described, Mr. Albee bought an improved farm of 100 acres, four miles southwest of Caledonia, on the Caledonia and Spring Grove road, which his son, Charles Benjamin, is now operating. Politically he gives his adherence to the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Albee have been the parents of six children, namely: Charles Benjamin, previously mentioned, who was born Jan. 28, 1891; Alfred Leonard, born Aug. 27, 1894, who with his brother, Edgar Jay, born Sept. 22, 1898, served their country in the war with Germany, but are both now home; Ralph Halstead, born Nov. 29, 1900; Mabel Carlotta, born May 24, 1903, and Donald Ratcliffe, born Nov. 4, 1906. The last three men- tioned are residing on the home farm with their parents. The religious affiliations of the family are with the Portland Prairie M. E. church.

Dedrich Thiele, a well known and respected resident of Winnebago township, where for a number of years he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, was born in Germany, and came to the United States alone at the age of 14 years, locating at Elmhurst, Ill., whence two years later he re- moved to Allamakee county, Iowa. After working as a farm hand for some years, he was married about 1878 to Anna Lager, a native of this country, and with his wife and family he came to Winnebago township, Houston county, in 1895, and took a farm. There he and his wife are still residing, having 160 acres in section 30 and 40 acres in section 29, the two tracts being contiguous so as to form an undivided farm, which is provided with substantial buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Thiele are now practically retired, the farm being worked by their two sons, Edward and John. They have had in all nine children, namely: Theodore W., a prosperous farmer of Wil- mington township; Alfred, telegraph operator at Hazel Green, Wis .; Louis, who is a farmer in Wilmington township; Walter of Winnebago township; Edward and John, above mentioned; Emma, now Mrs. Ferdinand Voigt, her husband being a farmer in Caledonia township; Matilda, wife of Alfred Deters, a farmer of Winnebago township; and Anna, wife of Alfred Meiners, a farmer of Allamakee county, Iowa.

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

CARL G. MORKEN

Digitized by

Google

617

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

Theodore W. Thiele, who is successfully engaged in agriculture and stock raising in section 36, Wilmington township, was born in Union City township, Allamakee county, Iowa, May 2, 1880, son of Dedrich and Anna (Lager) Thiele. He was about 15 years old when he came with his parents to Winnebago township, Houston county, where he continued to attend school during the winters up to the age of 19 years. From the age of 18 he worked out as a farm hand for four years and then engaged in carpenter work, which he followed for about three years. In 1905 he returned to his father's farm in Winnebago township and remained on it for two years, and for three fall seasons was also engaged in threshing. In 1908 he bought his present farm in section 26, Wilmington township, containing 80 acres, all under the plow except one acre. He has a good frame house and frame barn, with a double corn crib, hog house, granary and workshop. In 1915 he rebuilt the house, which now contains ten rooms and is a comfortable two-story residence. A machine-shed and poultry house were also erected by him, and in addition to these improvements the farm is well fenced and under good cultivation. Mr. Thiele carries on diversified farming, keeping Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, including blooded sires. His teams, tools and equipment are also of the best quality. On June 17, 1909, Mr. Thiele was united in marriage with Louisa B., daughter of Leonard and Emma (Brinker) Rauzenberger of Waterloo township, Allamakee county, Iowa, and who was born May 25, 1885. He and his wife have one child, Benjamin D., born Sept. 10, 1910. They are affiliated religiously with the Eitzen congregation of the German Evangel- ical church.

Carl G. Morken, who is the owner of one of the rich and productive farms of Wilmington township, containing 180 acres and situated in section 34, it being known as "Oakland Farm," was born in Tronjen, Norway, Nov. 1, 1864, son of Gundar and Sara Morken. When he was two years old his parents brought him to the United States, settling in Iowa, not far from the Minnesota state line. Three years later his mother died and the father went back to Norway, Carl G. being adopted by a cousin of the father's who lived in the vicinity. Of his father he subsequently lost trace and does not know today wheher he is living or not. With his parents by adoption, Mr. and Mrs. Lars Morken, Carl G. continued to reside and was treated by them as though he were their own son. When he was 14 they settled in Wilmington township, Houston county, Minnesota, and here he attended the common school to the age of 16. For two years more he lived with Mr. and Mrs. Lars Morken, and then began working out as a farm hand in Wil- mington township, being employed for two seasons by E. O. Steneroden, on a farm two miles north of our subject's present location. Altogether he worked out on farms in this vicinity for five years. At the age of 23 he went to Cumberland, Barron county, Wisconsin, where he was employed at lumbering for a year and a half. After that he worked the same length of time as clerk for Ole Ritan, who kept a general store in Cumberland. In the fall of 1890 Mr. Morken went to North Dakota, where he engaged in thresh- ing, returning to Wilmington township early in the winter. For the next six years he hauled cream for the Wilmington Creamery. In 1896 he began

Digitized by Google

618

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

farming on his own account, buying a farm containing 80 acres of im- proved land eight miles south of Caledonia, in Winnebago township. There he remained until 1904, when he purchased his present farm of 180 acres in section 34, Wilmington township, and moved on to it, at the same time selling his Winnebago farm. On his new property was a frame house and a barn 32 by 56 feet in dimensions, with a full stone basement of eight feet. This barn Mr. Morken rebuilt in 1910, and it now measures 32 by 76 feet on the same foundation. He has also erected a modern, two-story, eight- room frame house, with dormer chambers on the east and west sides. He has also a fine tile-block silo of 14 by 36 feet, together with a hog house, machine sheds, granary, corn cribs and other buildings, all in good condi- tion. The house is fitted with modern plumbing, hot and cold water and other conveniences, while the barn is equipped with a complete James sys- tem of stalls, stanchions and carriers. Both house and barn are lighted by electricity. It will thus be seen that Mr. Morken's farm is up to date in all its appointments. It lies just north of the Iowa state line, the surface being undulating, and the soil a black loam, with a clay and rock subsoil, and is one of the most beautiful farms in this section. All of the land is under cultivation except about 20 acres, which are in timber. While engaged in the active operation of the place Mr. Morken followed diversified farming, breeding grade Red Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China swine, his herds having full-blooded sires, and he gained a high place among the successful and prominent men of his township and county. In 1914 he leased the farm to his son Oscar, and retired from active work, though he continues to re- side on the place. A Republican in politics, he has for a number of years taken an active part in the affairs of local government. For some years he served efficiently as town treasurer and is now chairman of the town board. Mr. Morken was first married to a daughter of Ole Ofstedahal of Wilming- ton township. She died Sept. 2, 1913, after having been the mother of two children, Oscar and Melvin, the latter of whom lived but one year. On Jan. 3, 1917, Mr. Morken married Lena Ofstedahal, a sister of his first wife. He and his family are religiously affiliated with the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, being members of the Wilmington congregation, of which he is a liberal supporter. Aside from his interest in the farm, he is a stock- holder in the Wilmington Creamery Company and the Spring Grove Hos- pital. Oscar Morken, who after attending the common school, was a pupil for one year in the Southern Minnesota Normal School at Austin, and also attended for a year the Minnesota Agricultural College, is now one of the prominent young farmers of Wilmington township. On Sept. 1, 1915, he was married to Stella Olsgard, daughter of Helger Olsgard of Spring Grove township, Houston county.

Knute O. Myhre, proprietor of one of the best farms in Wilmington township, consisting of 220 acres in section 27, and who is also the owner of other property, was born July 4, 1849, his parents being among the earliest settlers here. On their arrival in the county they took the land where he now lives, or a part of it, and here he has always resided. His education was limited, as his parents were poor and he had to assist them at an early age, helping to grub and clear the farm. In 1870, on attaining

Digitized by Google

619

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

his majority, he bought the property, the value of which he has since greatly increased. Among the buildings he has erected are two frame barns, one 32 by 66 by 18, and the other 26 by 50 by 16 feet ; a granary 18 by 24 by 9; machine shed, 18 by 36 by 9; hog house, 26 by 40; a double corn crib, 22 by 32, with a ten-foot drive; and a poultry house, 14 by 20 by 10. Mr. Myhre brought 150 acres of his land under the plow, with the farm well fenced, and with a good operating equipment. He bred Shorthorn cattle and Duroc- Jersey hogs successfully and with profitable results, being thus actively en- gaged until 1915, when, having accumulated an ample competence, he leased the farm to his son, Ole K., and retired, still continuing, however, to reside on it. It is beautifully situated five miles southeast of Spring Grove village. In addition to this property he owns 60 acres in section 27, on the Iowa state line. He is interested in the educational and religious development of the community in which he lives, being a faithful member of the Wil- mington congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, and was instrumental in building both the old and new church edifices. His business interests aside from those derived from his farm are those of a stockholder in the Spring Grove Stock and Grain Company, the Honey Creamery at Bee, and the Spring Grove Hospital. Mr. Myhre was married, June 17, 1875, to Ellen, daughter of Ole and Leif Tollefson of Pine Creek, Iowa. He and his wife are the parents of nine children: Sarah, now Mrs. Andrew Lerhol of North Dakota; Lizzie, Anna and Ole K., resid- ing at home, the last mentioned being proprietor of the farm; Olaf, of Wil- mington township; Sophia, who married Michael Hagen; Emma, now Mrs. Abraham Wisland; Carl, of Wilmington township; and Albert, who died of influenza while serving his country in France.

Ole K. Myhre, a well known farmer and respected citizen of Wilming- ton township, residing in section 27, was born on the farm on which he now lives, Sept. 27, 1880, son of Knute and Ellen (Tollefson) Myhre, the par- ents being of good Norwegian stock. He acquired his education in the dis- trict school, which he attended from the age of 12 to that of 18 years, the rest of the time being mainly occupied with work on the home farm. On April 3, 1910, he was married to Theoline, daughter of Ole and Guri Engene of Wilmington township, and immediately after his marriage bought a quarter section of unbroken land near Ray, Wilkins county, North Dakota, and with his wife took up his residence on it, building a frame house and granary and barn. There he resided until 1915, during which time he broke 100 acres of the land. He then returned to Wilmington township, Houston county, making his home on his father's farm, which he has since rented, owning the stock, teams and tools. His farm is well stocked with Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, and he keeps full-blooded sires to improve the herds. He has made good progress and is numbered among the successful young farmers of Wilmington township. He and his wife are the parents of four children : Ella Genora, born Dec. 23, 1910; Olga Charlotte, Nov. 30, 1912; Clifford Arnold, Feb. 21, 1915; and Oscar Tilman, Jan. 12, 1917. The two eldest were born on the Dakota farm. Mr. Myhre and his family are members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation at Wil- mington. In politics he is a staunch Republican.

Digitized by Google

620

HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY

Ole Engene, who half a century ago became a pioneer settler in Wil- mington township, and who died in 1905 after a life of useful activity, a widely known and respected citizen, was a native of Halingdal, Norway, where he grew to manhood and was married to Guri Flaget. By trade he was a shoemaker, but seeing no prospects of acquiring a competence in his native land, in June, 1867, he and his wife, with their son Amund, then about a year old, took passage on a sailing vessel for America. After being five weeks on the ocean they were landed at Quebec, and came west by boat and cattle train to Lansing, Iowa, where they remained for a year, the father working at his trade of shoemaker: In 1868 they came to Wilming- ton township, Houston county, where Mr. Engene worked the first year for Asle Swenson at grubbing and similar work, he and his family living in a log cabin near the present home of his son Albert O. In 1869 he bought 120 acres of grub land, of which only six acres had been broken, and began to develop it. He and his family lived in the log house until it burned down in 1884, when Mr. Engene built another, which now forms a part of the house in which his son Albert lives. For a number of years he used oxen for his draught work, hauling his grain to Brownsville, Minn., and to Lan- sing, Iowa. He also bought and developed 40 acres more land, adjoining his original tract, and in the evenings and when stormy weather prevented outdoor work he mended shoes for his neighbors, both he and his wife working hard to advance their fortunes. In 1898 he bought another 120- acre tract on section 26, Wilmington township, near the original farm, and also 40 acres of woodland, for timber and pasture, in Iowa, which tract also was located near his home. In 1900 he sold his original farm of 120 acres to his son Albert O., and moved to his farm in section 26, where he died Nov. 22, 1905. Since his death his widow, who lives on the farm with two daughters and a son, the son working the farm, has erected a number of buildings on it, which include a two-story frame house with up- right and wing, a frame barn, 32 by 72 by 16 feet in size, and a machine shed. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Engene were as follows: Amund, born Jan. 6, 1866, who was a successful farmer at Kindred, N. D., where he died Jan. 22, 1912; Barbara, born May 26, 1868, who is the wife of T. H. Benson, a farmer in the same locality; Caroline, born in August, 1871, now Mrs. O. H. Benson of Margo, Saskatchewan, Canada; Albert O., born April 2, 1873, a prosperous farmer on the old home farm in section 35, Wilmington town- ship; Peter, a farmer in St. Louis county, Minn., who also owns a large farm in Kindred, N. D .; Ole, born in April, 1878, who is a farmer at Esmond, N. D .; Anna, born July 11, 1880, wife of N. O. Monson of Roslyn, S. D., her husband being a general merchant; Randina, born Feb. 8, 1882, who is re- siding with her mother in section 26; Nicolai O., born in March, 1885, who is operating his mother's farm in section 26, Wilmington township ; Theoline, born Sept. 27, 1887, now Mrs. Ole K. Myhre of this township; and Elida, born June 25, 1889, who resides with her mother.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 83

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

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