History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 95

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

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 95

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John G. Voss, a well known and successful farmer of Hokah township, was born in Germany, December 18, 1850, and came to America in 1869, locating in Bush Valley, Houston county, Minnesota, where he worked as a farm hand. Later for a while he followed the cooper's trade in Hokah vil- lage, and was also for several years a section hand on the railroad. In February, 1912, he moved onto his present farm, where he has since carried on agricultural pursuits with good financial results, and is now numbered among the substantial and influential citizens of his township. Mr. Voss was first married to Hannah Dabold, by whom he had four children, Emma, George, Gertrude and Julia, of whom Gertrude is now deceased. Emma is the wife of Austin Cook and has four children, Ruth, John, Jane and Robert. George married Elsie Whited, and has two children, Edward and Margaret. Julia is now Mrs. Warren Spurrier and has four children, Alma, Ethel, Esther and Jesse C. Mrs. Hannah (Dabold) Voss having died, Mr. Voss married for his second wife Lena Westphal, who also died after becoming the mother of six children, namely, Arthur, Gilbert, Charles, Orinda, Florence and Minnie, of whom Arthur, Charles and Orinda are now deceased; Gilbert served in the U. S. navy during the recent war; Florence, who was graduated from the Hokah public schools, and the La Crosse State Normal school in the class of 1917, is now a proficient teacher ; and Minnie is a student in the Hokah public school. Mrs. Lena (Westphal) Voss died and Mr. Voss married for his third wife her sister, Mrs. Fredericka (West- phal) Papenfuss.

Charles Voss, son of John G. Voss, was one of those brave and noble young Americans who were called upon to make the supreme sacrifice for

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their country. On July 26, 1918, he enlisted in the Fourth Pioneer infantry and subsequently trained at Camps Wadsworth and Stuart Lee, after which he was sent to France. There he died Oct. 9, 1918, of pneumonia, two days after landing, following an attack of Spanish influenza developed on the transport. He was a few months over 21 years of age, having been born in Hokah May 30, 1897. Memorial services were held in the Methodist church in Hokah, the full house demonstrating the high esteem in which he was held. The following sympathetic letter from his army chaplain was received by his parents : "My Dear Mr. Voss: These are days when chaplains have a sad duty to perform. It is that of telling the home folks that their loved one has been mustered out of their country's and life's service by that Grim Commander whom none of us can disobey. Your son, Charles Voss, private in supply company, 4th Pioneer infantry, was called to his eternal reward at 12:20 a. m., Oct. 9, 1918, from this camp hospital (Camp Montoir) in Base Section No. 1. His death was due to pneu- monia, following an attack of Spanish influenza developed on the transport coming to France. We laid his body to rest this afternoon in the beautiful American cemetery No. 21 in this base. To you, bereft so soon of the lad you offered for your country's service, I extend my deepest sympathy and with it these words : "Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal." Ten- derly yours, Walter B. Hilton, Chaplain, First Lieut. Engineers, A. P. O. 701, American E. F., France.

Helmer Loken, a well-to-do general farmer of Yucatan township, who is operating a good farm of 200 acres in section 1, was born on his present farm, Aug. 5, 1879, the son of Hans H. and Waren (Holgren) Loken. Hans H. Loken was a furniture maker by trade, but devoted most of his life to farming. He came to Houston county in 1878, and lived here for many years. In 1904 he returned to a farm near Manistee, Mich., where he died in 1914, and where his widow is still living. Helmer Loken attended the district school on Oak Ridge in his native township, and at the age of eighteen started working out as a farm-hand. Six years later he rented the home farm, and as his means permitted, purchased it. He has a well improved farm, and carries on general farming, stock raising and dairy- ing. He is an independent voter, and is much interested in public affairs, though not caring to mingle actively in politics. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Loken was married Dec. 17, 1910, to Mary Halverson, daughter of Targe and Mary (Oset) Halverson, and this union has been blessed with five children: Marcella, born May 24, 1912; Henry, born Sept. 8, 1913; Tilbert, born April 2, 1915; Elvin born Oct. 17, 1916; and Harris, born March 15, 1919. It is interesting to note that all Mr. Loken's brothers and sisters are still living, the children in his father's family being George, Oscar, Hans, Telmer, Fred, Edward, Arthur, Helga and Martin.

Targe Halverson, a well-known and respected farmer of Yucatan township, was born in Norway, Nov. 20, 1837, and came to America in 1865, settling in Yucatan township, this county, where he took land and de- veloped a good farm. He is an honorable hard-working man and stands well in the community. He and his wife are the parents of nine children:

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Sarah, Mary, Tina, Alma, Olga, Clara, Mabel, Gena and Nina, all living except Olga.

John Fishel, one of the pioneer settlers of Brownsville township, now deceased, was born in Ohio, where he became a farmer. He married Rachel Holliday, a native of Pennsylvania and later they came west to Houston county, settling on land in Brownsville township, at a time when Caledonia was an insignificant hamlet containing but a few small houses. On the land he took Mr. Fishel remained until his retirement from active work in 1901, or for more than half a century, during which time he labored hard and developed the place into a well equipped and profitable farm. On re- tiring he moved to Hokah, where his death occurred in 1911. His wife, who still survives, is now residing with her son Charles R., in section 19, Mound Prairie township.

Charles R. Fishel, an enterprising farmer and dairyman, residing in section 19, Mound Prairie township, was born in Brownsville township, Houston county, Minn., June 3, 1879, son of John and Rachel (Holliday) Fishel. His education was acquired in District school No. 33, in his native township, and until the age of 22 years he was engaged in assisting his father in the improvement and cultivation of the home farm. He then left home and went to Hazelhurst, Wis., where for two years he was employed in a large box factory. He then engaged in farming on his own account, and so continued for several years with some intermissions, making two trips west, each in the fall, and being employed one fall at bridge work. He then purchased a farm two miles south of Hokah, Houston county, but after operating it for two years, sold it and entered the employ of the Hoffman & Ender Hardware Co. of Hokah, with whom he remained for three years. Having bought a tract of land in Florida, he then made a trip to that distant state to inspect his property, which he still owns, and on his return purchased the farm of 87 acres on which he is now residing, and where he is making extensive improvements. He is breeding up in Jersey cattle and is doing a good dairy business, also giving some time to other branches of farm work, and is making good progress on the road to fortune. He is a member of Camp No. 3263, M. W. A., at Hokah. Inde- pendent in politics, he is serving as school clerk and highway overseer. Mr. Fishel was married Dec. 13, 1904, to Grace Wooley, daughter of Frank and Henrietta (Fischer) Wooley, of Hokah, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Fishel have four children, Floyd Franklin, George Ralph, Eunice Julia Louise and Clarence Melvin. The family attend the Presbyterian church.

Richard Duxbury, a pioneer settler of Fillmore county, Minnesota, was born in Newton More, Lancashire, England, November 14, 1833, son of William Duxbury and Ann (Whittaker) Duxbury. He had six brothers and three sisters, all of whom came to the United States with their father and mother about 1848, landing at Salem, Massachusetts, where they re- sided for three or four years. The mother died there. Thence they moved to the vicinity of Janesville, Wisconsin, where William Duxbury engaged in farming and spent his last years. Richard came to Minnesota in 1857 and in 1859 was married at Harmony, Fillmore county, to Miranda M. Barnes, who was born in Wisconsin, March 19, 1841. She was a daughter of 45

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Moses Barnes, a native of Massachusetts, who settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1853, and late in life moved to Marshall, Lyon county, where he died. Richard Duxbury was a farmer during all his active life. He served in the Civil War with the Union forces as a volunteer, a private in the Second Minnesota Light Artillery under Major Hutchkiss. He was a re- publican in politics, a thoughtful reader, and a lover and student of English history. He was a member of the Episcopal church. His wife was reared a Baptist. He died November 20, 1907, at St. Paul, having survived his wife eleven years and six months. They were parents of ten children, seven of whom are living, Lorinda, wife of Albert H. Daniels, residing at Pine City, Minnesota; Francis A. Duxbury, a lawyer, at Caledonia, Minnesota; L. N. Duxbury, a farmer in Fillmore county; Lodema, wife of F. M. Mc- Gowen, Los Angeles, California; W. R. Duxbury, a lawyer in St. Paul; F. R. Duxbury, a real estate dealer at Pine City, and Leslie of Worthington. Francis A. Duxbury, the dean of the Houston County Bar, was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, April 11, 1862, son of Richard and Miranda M. (Barnes) Duxbury. His father was a farmer and he worked at home on the farm until he was man grown. His schooling was limited to the com- mon schools. As a young man he taught in the common and village schools of Fillmore county for a period of ten years and gained the reputation of a good teacher. While thus engaged he devoted his spare time to the study of law and general reading and in 1895 passed the examination of the State Board of Law Examiners and was admitted to the Bar. He has been in active practice of the law at Caledonia for twenty-four years and has made continued progress and notable success. He is the senior member of the firm of Duxbury & Duxbury, lawyers, in association with his son, Lloyd L. Duxbury. Mr. Duxbury was for many years a member of the Caledonia High School Board and during the recent war with Germany was Chair- man of the Liberty Loan Committee for Houston county. In 1915 he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention from the First Con- gressional District. He represented his district in the State Senate for two terms beginning in 1910. As a Free Mason he is Past Master of Cale- donia Lodge No. 20, Past High Priest of Hokah Chapter No. 16, and is affiliated with the Scottish Rite and the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Modern Woodman of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and for several years has served as a member of the Law Com- mittee of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota A. O. U. W. He is president of the Caledonia State Bank. On October 18, 1884, Mr. Duxbury was united in marriage to Susan A. Addison, whose father, John Howcraft Addison, was one of the pioneer farmers of Fillmore county, having settled there in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Duxbury have two sons, Lloyd L., born April 19, 1886, and Leland S., born November 14, 1888. Lloyd L. is a graduate of the Univer- sity of Minnesota and of Harvard Law School, and is now in active practice with his father. Leland S. is also a graduate of the Minnesota university and the Harvard Law School and is now Chief Examiner for the State Securities Commission at St. Paul.

Lloyd L. Duxbury, lawyer, residing in Caledonia, was born in Fillmore county, Minn., April 19, 1886, son of Francis Adelbert and Susan A. (Addi-

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MR. AND MRS. OLE ANDERSON

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son) Duxbury. He is unusually well equipped for his profession having graduated from the Caledonia high school, and from the academic de- partment of the University of Minnesota in the class of 1908. In 1911 he was graduated from the law school of Harvard university, and in April of the following year was admitted to practice. Since that time he has been as- sociated with his father as a member of the law firm of Duxbury & Dux- bury, with offices in Caledonia. He has been very successful in his pro- fessional work and has a high standing in the county and state as a lawyer. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Caledonia Lodge No. 20 A. F. & A. M., also to Camp No. 2936 M. W. A., of the same village. He is a member of the Acacia Fraternity of Harvard university and was Presi- dent of the Chapter while attending the law school. Mr. Duxbury was married September 11, 1915 to Valerie S. Coon, of Brookline, Mass. They have one son, Myles Addison, born June 14, 1916.

Ole Anderson, who owns and operates a good 50-acre farm in May- ville township, where he has resided for the last 28 years, was born in Norway, May 28, 1853, son of Andreas and Olena Olson. He attended school in his native land and after beginning industrial life was engaged for some time in boat building. In 1892, at the age of 40 years, he came to the United States, and proceeding west to Houston county, Minn., bought his present farm in section 8, Mayville township, though it was then but a tract of wild land. Its present flourishing aspect is the result of his own exertions, and to bring this about, he had to break, grub and clear the land, besides erecting his house and outbuildings, all of which work was well done. As a general farmer he has achieved success and has added to the agricultural productiveness of his township. Mr. Anderson was mar- ried April 18, 1880, to Caroline Olson, a native of Norway. They have had four children: Hulda, now Mrs. Phillip Krick of Union township; Axel, residing on the home farm; Constance, now Mrs. Ingvald Ingvaldson, of Mayville township; and Carl, who died at the age of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and the surviving members of their family belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mrs. Anderson was born June 4, 1858.

Ole K. Rauk, now living retired in the village of Spring Grove, after a long and successful career as a farmer, was born in Hellingsdal, Norway, March 12, 1843, son of Knute and Berget (Aslesen) Rauk. In 1859 the parents left their native land for America, with five children, Hans K., Halgrem, Asle, Ose, and Ole K. Landing at Quebec after a voyage of five and a half weeks on the ocean, they came directly to Houston county, Minne- sota, settling in Spring Grove, where the father found employment, work- ing about two years for others. In 1861 he bought 20 acres of wild land in section 35, Spring Grove township, and erected on it a small log house, which was the family dwelling for 20 years, after which a small frame house was erected. Both parents died on the farm when about 75 years old, the father's death preceding the mother's by a year. Ole K., who was the second youngest member of the family, had attended a common school in Norway, and for a brief time was a pupil in the school of his district in Spring Grove. But his opportunities in the latter direction being very

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limited, he was accustomed to study at home when he had a few minutes to spare, giving special attention to arithmetic, as being a branch of knowledge likely to prove of most use to him in business affairs. The first year after the arrival of the family in the township he began working out in order to help his parents. By 1867 he had saved a little and bought 40 acres of land. A year later he bought 80 acres more, all wild. Then he bought the old home place of 20 acres and kept on purchasing land until he had 197 acres in one piece. In the meanwhile he was cultivating and im- proving it, among the buildings he erected being a good, two-story, frame house consisting of an upright and wing; a frame barn, 30 by 60 by 15 feet in size, with a full stone basement of 9 feet; a granary, 16 by 20 by 12; machine shed, 16 by 30 by 8; and a woodshed, 12 by 14 by 10. His son has since erected a stave silo of 14 by 30 feet. A few years ago Mr. Rauk retired, selling a part of his farm to his son Edward, and took up his residence in Spring Grove village, where he owns a good house and has a comfortable home. For the past two years he has been confined to his bed with rheumatism, but bears this misfortune with patience, supported by the loving companionship of his wife, who has been his faithful partner in many years of toil, and by his faith in a future life, being a devout member of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. It is now nearly 53 years since Mr. Rauk began domestic life, being united in marriage with Gunehild, daughter of Elling and Guinil Ellingson of Spring Grove township. Their union has been blessed by the birth of eight children: Gunehild, born July 11, 1865, now Mrs. Andrew Tyrebakken of Wilmington township; Knute, born Dec. 1, 1869, who is living in Harvey, N. D .; Bertha Caroline, born May 31, 1873, now Mrs. C. J. Schansberg of Spring Grove village; Edward, born May 31, 1879, who owns and resides on the old farm in section 35; Emma, who died in infancy; Emma Otelia, born April 3, 1882; Albert Julius, born Nov. 6, 1884; Carl Oliver, born Nov. 6, 1888; and Ginard, born Oct. 24, 1891. Emma Otelia is the wife of J. J. Billigmeier, of Alberta, Canada. Albert Julius and Ginard are the owners and proprietors of a general store at Beaver Creek, Minnesota. Carl Oliver is in the meat busi- ness at Taylor, Wis., with Tilford Schansberg, under the firm name of Schansberg & Rauk. Mrs. Rauk, who was born in Norway, June 14, 1844, and is therefore now in her seventy-fifth year, is still active and able to take care of the home, being a smart and careful housekeeper. She and her husband are highly esteemed within a wide circle of friends and ac- quaintances.

Ole B. Tone, who died at his home in Spring Grove village, in March, 1917, was for a number of years one of the most prominent and highly esteemed citizens of Houston county, an able and influential business man, and at one time a member of the state legislature. He was born at Ness Hallingdal, Norway, April 14, 1847, being a member of a family which numbered 14 children. When he was a year old he was brought by his parents to America, they settling at Rock Prairie, near Orfordville, Wis. There as he grew up he acquired a limited education in the common school. When only 15 years old he enlisted for service in the Civil War as a member of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry and was a soldier for three years. At the

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end of the war he returned home, and in the spring of 1867, with Naarve Roen, came to Houston county, Minnesota, looking for a business location, and took up his temporary residence with George Temanson of Spring Grove township. That fall he engaged in business with Mr. Roen at Rice- ford, this township, and the partnership was continued until the summer of 1869, when it was dissolved. After that, for several years Mr. Tone was variously employed, residing with a Mr. Oatman at Riceford. There in the spring of 1873 he opened a general store, of which he was proprietor until 1879, when he sold it to John Rauk. During that period he also served as postmaster. For about a year after he had disposed of his store Mr. Tone was engaged in the real estate business. He had by this time acquired a considerable amount of prominence and popularity, which led to his elec- tion on the Republican ticket, in the fall of 1880, as representative to the state legislature, in which he served one term, from Jan. 4, 1881, to March 4, 1882. After that he pursued a mercantile career for awhile, buying and selling, and still residing with Mr. Oatman. In January, 1885, Mr. Tone went to Orfordville, Wis., where on the twenty-second of that month he was united in marriage with Randa, daughter of Erick and Mary Ovestrud of that place. Bringing his bride to Spring Grove, he began housekeeping over Hendrickson's store, but that summer built a com- modious, two-story frame house on Maple avenue, into which he moved with his wife in the fall. A shrewd business man, he containued buying and selling various kinds of property up to 1889, in which year he bought the hardware business of T. T. Bergh of Spring Grove, becoming a partner in it with O. B. Nelson under the style of Nelson & Tone. In this occupa- tion he remained until 1907 when he sold his interest and retired. In the same year he was appointed village postmaster, which office he held until 1912. He then resigned it in order to become president of the Spring Grove State bank, which was then just being organized, and in which posi- tion he continued up to the time of his death, which was due to heart failure. Mr. Tone was also interested in the Farmers' and Merchants' bank of Orfordville, Wis., and the People's State bank of St. Paul. A man of strong convictions, he was a power in the business community, and had a wide acquaintance not only in this section but throughout various parts of the state, and to some extent in Wisconsin. He had an indomitable will, yet was just and even tender-hearted and generous. His wife Randa, who was born at Orfordville, Wis., May 20, 1858, died at the age of 51 years Sept. 27, 1909, her death, like his own being due to heart failure. They were both, with their children, members of the Spring Grove con- gregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. The children were as follows: Cora, born Feb. 22, 1886, now Mrs. John Schansberg of Spring Grove; Beldin, born Jan. 13, 1888, who resides in St. Paul, Minn .; Elmer, born Nov. 28, 1889, now in the mercantile business at Hamblin, Montana ; Mandy, born Feb. 4, 1892, a student in a Minneapolis Business college; Owen Ralph, born Dec. 17, 1895, who served in the United States army during the Great War; Phebe, born Jan. 9, 1900, who is studying nursing at La Crosse; and Owen R., born Jan. 27, 1895, who died in in- fancy.

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Christian J. Schansberg, of the firm of Schansberg & Muller, meat dealers of Spring Grove, was born in Coon Valley, Vernon county, Wiscon- sin, Feb. 16, 1871, son of John and Bergete (Steenberg) Schansberg, early Norwegian settlers in that locality. He studied in the district school in Coon Valley, spent two winters as a student at Lanesboro, Minn., and then took the full course at a business college in La Crosse, Wis. In the mean- time he had worked summers on his father's farm. In the fall of 1889 he came to Caledonia, in this county, and in 1893 to Spring Grove, where he is now a prominent citizen. Mr. Schansberg has taken a prominent part in public affairs, and has done good work as a member of the village board. In politics he is a Republican. He worships at the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. Mr. Schansberg was married June 20, 1901, to Bertha Caroline Rauk, daughter of Ole K. and Gunhil Rauk, of Spring Grove township, and this union has been blessed with two children: Gladys Beola, born Aug. 31, 1902; and James Orlando, born Oct. 18, 1906. The family residence, built in 1907, at the corner of Wilmington street and Hendrick- son is one of the finest in the village, furnished with steam heat and other modern conveniences.

John J. Schansberg, of the firm of Schansberg & Muller, meat dealers of Spring Grove, was born in Coon Valley, Vernon county, Wisconsin, Jan. 8, 1879, son of John and Bergete (Steenberg) Schansberg. He was educated in the district schools and learned farming from his father. In 1896 he came to Spring Grove, and here has since remained. He is a successful business man, and occupies a substantial position in the community. In 1898 he purchased the old Ole B. Tone homestead, on Maple avenue, in Spring Grove village. This home, Mr. Schansberg has remodeled into a handsome, comfortable residence, with all modern improvements, and here he and his family are pleasantly located. On May 10, 1910, Mr. Schansberg married Cora Tone, the daughter of Ole B. and Randy (Ove- strud) Tone, the former a prominent banker and business man of Spring Grove. This union has been blessed with three children. Jerome C. was born April 22, 1916, and Ruth Borgel was born Dec. 7, 1918. One died in infancy. Mr. Schansberg was reared in the faith of the Norwegian Evangelican Lutheran church and is affiliated with the Spring Grove con- gregation.

Schansberg & Muller, the firm consisting of the brothers, Christian J. and John J. Schansberg and J. F. Muller, conduct an extensive meat and provision business in Spring Grove, and have one of the leading business establishments of the village. The business here had its beginning in 1893, when Christian J. Schansberg, who since 1889 had been employed by the Caledonia firm of Schansberg, Solberg & Co., came to Spring Grove and with C. H. Schansberg, S. J. Solberg and J. J. Solberg, of that firm estab- lished the Spring Grove company of the same name. June 20, 1901, C. H. Schansberg and S. J. and J. J. Solberg retired from the firm, and Christian J. Schansberg formed a partnership with John J. Schansberg under the firm name of Schansberg Brothers. In 1916, J. E. Muller was admitted to the firm, and the company assumed its present name. In 1910 Christian J. and John J. Schansberg purchased the Knute Gilbertson place, two miles

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 95

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

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