History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 96

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


USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 96


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).


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south of the village. This is a valuable piece of property containing 143 acres, of which 100 acres are under the plow. The farm is well equipped, and the excellent set of buildings include a two-story stone house, one of the oldest in the community, but in good condition; a frame barn 30 by 70 by 16 feet, with full stone basement; a swine house 12 by 60 feet with cement feeding floor ; corn cribs, a machine shed, granary and stave silo. This farm is prospering under the care of a tenant, while the owners devote their time to their business interests in Spring Grove. In addition to this, they own forty acres joining the village limits on which is their abattoir and buildings for the housing of their employes. Each also owns a pleasant home in the village.


Col. William H. Harries, for many years one of Houston county's most distinguished citizens, commonly known as Captain Harries, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1843, and came to La Crosse, Wis., in 1855. April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 2d Wis. Vol. Inf., and made an admirable record as a gallant and loyal soldier. He was promoted through the various ranks, and on Dec. 21, 1864, was commissioned captain of Co. F, Third United States Volunteers, which formed a part of the corps com- manded by General Winfield S. Hancock. Capt. Harries participated in many of the important engagements of the war. In the Battle of Antietam he was severely wounded through the left lung, this being his only serious injury. He received his honorable discharge April 17, 1866. Returning to Wisconsin, Capt. Harries began the study of law, and later entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, graduating in 1868 with the degree of LL.B. Within the summer of the same year he established himself at Caledonia, and was admitted to the Minnesota bar May 6, 1868. He served four years as county attorney. He was president of the village, a member of the board of education and served in other public capacities. His reputation grew, and in time he was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-first Congress. In 1884 he was appointed collector of internal revenue for the state of Minnesota and served four years. Then he resumed his practice in Caledonia. In 1901 he was appointed one of the trustees of the Minnesota Soldiers' home; in 1907 he became secretary of the board, and in 1911, commandant of the home. From this position he has but recently retired. Col. Harries has been prominent in G. A. R. affairs. In 1901 he was department commander of the Minnesota Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has also been commander of the Minne- sota Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He has also been honored with many high positions in the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic order. Sept. 15, 1870, Capt. Harries married Anstis L. Dunbar, daughter of William F. Dunbar, the first state auditor of Minnesota. She died July 7, 1881, leaving three children: Mrs. J. Frank Smalley, Paul W. and Mrs. Walter E. Krick. On July 15, 1882, Capt. Harries married Hattie H. Dunbar, the sister of his first wife. She died in 1895, leaving three children, Estella, Beatrice and Donald D.


James J. Belden, one of the notable pioneers of Houston county, and one of its earliest public officials, who was for nearly 60 years a resident of the village of Caledonia, was born in Wethersfield, Conn., Sept. 13, 1822,


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and died in Caledonia, Minn., Sept. 18, 1913. At the age of 15 years he removed to Meriden, and later to Hartford, Conn., in which latter place he learned the tinsmith's trade. In 1849 he removed to South Hadley Falls, Mass., and there on Jan. 10, 1850, was married to Anstis F. Dunbar, a native of that state. There he remained for about four years and then, in 1854, came with his family to Houston county, Minnesota, arriving in Caledonia, April 10. Here he bought 160 acres of government land located within what are now the corporate limits of Caledonia city, and opened a shop, and later built a store building which he used for many years, the latter standing on the site now occupied by the drug store of his son, W. D. Belden. Putting in a stock of hardware, Mr. Belden conducted his store and also followed the tinsmith's trade until 1888, and retired to his home on his farm until the year of his wife's death, which occurred Oct. 3, 1902. After that be- reavement he took up his residence with his daughter Evaleen in apartments over the B. F. R. drug store, the building which he owned, and there he con- tinued to reside until his death, Oct. 18, 1913, at the age of 91 years. A man of keen intelligence and high and forceful character, Mr. Belden's excep- tional qualifications were early noticed by his fellow citizens, not only in Caledonia, but throughout the county, and he had not been here more than a year when, in 1855, he was elected to the office of county treasurer. In 1856 he was elected clerk of the district court, to which office he was after- wards elected for two more terms. He was also for many years deputy clerk and at various times served as village and school trustee. At the time of his death, in addition to the store building previously mentioned, he also owned 40 acres of the orginal claim on which he settled in 1854. Mr. Bel- den's active career as one of the leading business men of Caledonia covered a period of about 48 years, and he saw the village develop from a few scat- tered houses into the flourishing community it is today, a transformation in which he, himself, was a leading factor. Honorable in all his dealings, and strict in the performance of duty, whether of a public or private character, he died one of the best known and most respected citizens in Houston county, one whose memory will long endure. To Mr. and Mrs. James J. Belden were born three children: William Dunbar, now one of the leading citizens of Caledonia, where he is engaged in the drug business; Evaleen, who is em- ployed in her brother's store as assistant pharmacist, and James E., who died at the age of 11 years.


William Dunbar Belden, one of the leading business men of Caledonia, proprietor of a large and flourishing drug business, and who has for a num- ber of years been a live factor in public affairs, was born at South Hadley Falls, Mass., Dec. 13, 1850, son of James J. and Anstis F. (Dunbar) Belden. He was a child in his fourth year when he accompanied his parents to Cale- donia, Minn., and here he was subsequently reared, acquiring his early edu- cation in public and private schools, including the high school. Later he attended the Caledonia Collegiate institute and in 1871 entered the Univer- sity of Minnesota, where he pursued more advanced studies. He returned to Caledonia and founded the Caledonia academy, one of the first institutions of its kind in the state, providing a preparatory collegiate course, which led up to the university course. This institution he conducted for eight


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W. D. BELDEN


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years, or until 1880, when, on account of ill health, he went to Colorado and spent six months in the mining districts. Then returning to Caledonia, he purchased the drug business of Mr. Coe, whose store was located where Molitor's furniture store now stands. This he conducted until 1885, when he sold it and removed to Waseca, Minn., where he was engaged in the drug business until the spring of 1889. Then once more returning to Caledonia, he started his present drug business. In the following year, 1890, he bought the Argus newspaper, which he conducted subsequently until 1897. In 1903 Mr. Belden organized what is known as the Belden-Fullerton-Rhines Med- ical Company, incorporated, he, himself, being the president and general manager. It was conducted as a corporation until Dec. 31, 1918, when Mr. Belden purchased the outstanding stock and became the sole proprietor. He is now carrying a full line of drugs, stationery and toilet articles, making a specialty of prescriptions. As early as 1876 Mr. Belden was appointed county superintendent of schools, but never served, as before he took office the legislature had made the position an elective one. He has, however, served efficiently on the board of education. From 1894 to 1897 he was deputy collector of revenue for the First Congressional district. He was the first president of the Caledonia Commercial club, serving as such for several terms, and has been a member of its executive committee since its organization. With commendable public spirit, in 1910 he began the agi- tation for a new city hall, and being elected a member of the council in the following year, he threw his influence and vote in favor of the movement, which, after gathering way, resulted in the present beautiful city hall, a building fully adequate in size and equipment to the needs of a population of several thousand. Mr. Belden also took a patriotic part during the recent war with Germany. He has been vice president of Houston Chapter of the Red Cross, and was chairman of its shipping branch for the whole county. As chairman of the Houston County Loyalty league he also did much to promote loyalty and patriotism throughout the county, and his efforts had their full share in accomplishing the results which gave the county its reputation for doing its share in every way possible toward winning the great conflict. On Sept. 5, 1883, Mr. Belden was united in marriage at Waseca, Minn., to Mrs. Sarah W. Jennison, whose family name was Welch. Of this union four children have been born: William W., June 22, 1884; Anstis, July 6, 1886; James E., April 6, 1891; and Arvilla, Sept. 8, 1896. The first born, William W., is now postmaster of Caledonia. Anstis, who was graduated from the Caledonia high school and the Winona State Nor- mal school, and for some time followed the occupation of a teacher, is now the wife of C. A. Patchin, superintendent of schools at Worthington, Minn., where Arvilla, who received the same education as her sister, is now a teacher. James E. Belden, well known salesman, acquired his educa- tion in the Caledonia high school, the University of Decatur, and the Uni- versity of Minnesota. For some years he has been district sales manager for Brown & Bigelow of St. Paul, dealers in advertising specialties, making his headquarters in Chicago. He has won a high reputation as a salesman, being familiarly known to his employers and business associates as "Twenty Thousand Dollar Jim," as he far exceeded the average of good salesmanship,


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estimated at about $20,000 a year, by doing that much business in the month of January, 1918, alone. This was the largest month's business ever re- corded on the books of the firm; hence his sobriquet of "Twenty Thousand Dollar Jim" is one reflecting high credit on himself, and one of which his parents and friends are justly proud. The subject of this sketch and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Demo- crat, but his political activities have been exercised with a view to the gen- eral good and with minor regard to party affiliations.


Andrew Honaas, proprietor of a cement block factory, and general cement contractor, of Spring Grove, was born in Caledonia township, Aug. 5, 1872, son of Andrew Peterson Honaas and his wife, whose maiden name was Guirene Butne Haug. The parents were born and married in Nor- way and emigrated to the United States in 1869, coming directly to Houston county and buying 80 acres of land in section 30, Caledonia township, on which almost the only improvement was a log shack. There, after some 12 years of strenuous farm work, the father died on Jan. 15, 1882. There were five children in the family: Andrew, the subject of this sketch; Peter, the second son; Ole, who died at Le Roy, Minn., in 1898; Anna, now Mrs. William Lloyd, of St. Paul, Minn .; and Gustina, who is unmarried and resides in St. Paul. Some time after the death of the father, his widow married a Mr. Melbraaten of Spring Grove township. She died in the spring of 1909. Andrew Honaas, direct subject of this article, was edu- cated in the schools of Caledonia township and Spring Grove village, and the Winona Business college, where he completed the full course in 1889. He then returned to Spring Grove and to the farm of his stepfather, Mr. Melbraaten, where he remained for three years. In the spring of 1895 he went to Grand Meadow, Mower county, Minnesota, where he was em- ployed in miscellaneous occupations until the spring of 1896. Then going to Crookston, Minn., he entered the employ of the Red River Lumber Co. as talley man and lumber grader and was there until the fall of 1901. After his return to Spring Grove he remained for a year on the Melbraaten farm three miles south of the village. Then buying his mother's village property and renting other land, he engaged in the raising of tobacco, which occu- pied him for several seasons. After that he entered the employ of C. J. Sylling as manager of the creamery cooper shop, and was with him until 1906, when he resumed tobacco raising and continued in it up to the spring of 1916, when he established himself in his present business. In this line of industry he is making satisfactory progress, and is respected as a wide- awake and honorable business man. He is a stockholder in the Spring Grove hospital and takes a helpful interest in everything calculated to benefit the community in which he lives. For the past six years he has served as clerk of the Spring Grove high school. In politics he is independent. Mr. Honaas was married Dec. 30, 1896, to Ella Christine Almaasbak, who was born in Norway, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Almaasbak, and who came alone to this country in 1893, her parents remaining in their native land. At the time of her marriage she was a resident of Harmony, Minn. After some nine years of married life her health began to fail and she took a trip to Norway in the hope that it might benefit her. It failed to do so,


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WILLIAM E. McNELLY AND FAMILY


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however, but she survived five years longer, passing away at her home in Spring Grove on Sept. 15, 1910. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Honaas; Glenora Belinda, born in Crookston, March 7, 1898, who is keep- ing house for her father; Anna Clarissa, born March 4, 1903, who is now in her third year in the Spring Grove high school; and Alpha, born June 19, 1908.


Elmer O. Kroshus, proprietor of Spring Grove Garage in the village of Spring Grove, was born in Spring Grove township, about four and a half miles southwest of the village, Aug. 29, 1893, son of O. A. and Christine Kroshus. His education, begun in the district school, was continued in the Spring Grove village school and in the high school, each of which he attended for a year. Until reaching the age of 18 he resided on his parents' farm, acquiring a good practical knowledge of agriculture. He then went to work at the carpenter's trade, at which he spent three years in the employ of con- tractors, being for a part of the time with Hallan & Roble and afterwards with Carl Errikson. He then engaged in auto repair work and after acquir- ing a sufficient knowledge of that business, in the spring of 1917 opened the Spring Grove garage, which he is now conducting as sole proprietor, doing repair work and carrying auto supplies, including oils and gasoline. He has already built up a large business and won a reputation as one of the enterprising and successful young men of the village. Mr. Kroshus was married Feb. 13, 1917, to Ruby, daughter of Gulik G. and Mathia Risty, of Spring Grove. He and his wife have one child, Marcellus Oberlin. Mr. Kroshus is a Republican in politics. He and his wife are members of the Spring Grove congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church.


William E. McNelly, a respected citizen of Wilmington township, who owns one of the finest places on Portland Prairie, was born in the township where he still resides, Dec. 20, 1857, son of John and Nancy (Schumway) McNelly. His early education was acquired in the common schools and at the Brownsville high school, and he later attended the Caledonia academy under the superintendence of W. D. Belden. After that he taught school for eight years in Houston county. In 1884 he began farming for himself in section 25, Wilmington township. Ten years later he bought 120 acres in section 36. To this he added 70 acres but later sold 40 acres, so that for many years his farm consisted of 150 acres. This place he brought to a high stage of development, having 100 acres under the plow and the remainder in timber and pasture. In 1918 he sold this place to Otto H. Deters, and acquired the nearby farm of August F. Guhl. This farm con- sists of 180 acres and includes the John McNelly homestead of 80 acres, the old Joseph Winkelman homestead of 80 acres, and 20 acres of tim- ber. The land is as good and well kept up as any in the county, and has a new barn, the largest and best of any in this part of the county. As a general farmer he has made good progress, and is numbered among the prosperous citizens of his township. In addition to his direct farming interests he is a stockholder in the People's Co-operative Elevator Co. of Caledonia; the Wilmington Co-operative Creamery Co., and the First Na- tional Bank of Caledonia, having for years been a director of the bank McNelly is also a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church


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of Portland Prairie, which he has served as a trustee and in other offices. A Republican in politics, he served as town assessor for six years and has been a member of the school board for more than 30 years. On Oct. 19, 1879, Mr. McNelly was married to Samantha Wright, daughter of Charles and Mary (Metcalf) Wright of Wilmington township. She died Feb. 9, 1890, leaving four children: William Oscar, born June 4, 1881; Chester Leroy, June 12, 1883; Mary Etta, Sept. 21, 1885, and Charles Eugene, July 31, 1888. William Oscar is now county attorney of McLeod county, Minn., being a graduate of the law department of Minnesota university. He re- sides in Hutchinson, that county. Chester Leroy, who is an agricultural school and college graduate, is now agricultural agent for Dodge county, and resides at Dodge Center, Minn. Mary Etta graduated, like Chester, from the Minnesota Agricultural school at St. Paul, and is now the wife of George Briggs of Grantsburg, Wis., her husband being agricultural agent for Burnett county, that state. Charles Eugene, who was a student for two years in the Minnesota Agricultural school, is now a prosperous farmer near Buhl, Idaho. On June 3, 1891, Mr. McNelly was united in marriage with Jessie P., daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Gilchrist) Ratcliffe, of Mt. Hope, Allamakee county, Iowa. There are two children of this mar- riage: Frank Ratcliffe, born April 5, 1892, graduated from the Minnesota Agricultural school and now lives at home. He enlisted in the United States service for the Great War, March 11, 1918. Served in France over six months, and was discharged March 31, 1919. Irving Benjamin was born Oct. 11, 1893, graduated from the Agricultural school and the School of Engineering of the University of Minnesota, enlisted in January, 1918, in the Aviation Corps, became a second lieutenant, and is now located at Bruno, Minnesota.


John McNelly, a resident of Houston county for over 60 years, and during the greater part of that time one of its leading citizens, was born in County Down, Ireland, March 25, 1830. At the age of 18 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Norwich, Conn., where he remained for seven years, working first as clerk in a store and later as a traveling sales- man. In 1855 he came west to Houston county, Minnesota, settling in Wilmington township, where he made his subsequent home. He was present at the organization of the town and was chosen as its first clerk. Subsequently he served in other local offices, including that of county com- missioner. In 1874 and 1875 he was a member of the House of Representa- tives at St. Paul, and in 1876 was elected state senator for two years. A man of more than ordinary intelligence, taking a lively interest in public affairs, he served his constituents faithfully and won in a high degree their confidence and respect. After a long illness, he passed away at his home in Wilmington township, April 21, 1918, aged 88 years and 26 days. Mr. McNelly was first married, Feb. 15, 1852, to Nancy Shumway, who died a few years later. On Nov. 11, 1869, he was married to Alida Henderson, who also died a few years after her marriage. On Oct. 25, 1893, Mr. Mc- Nelly married Charlotte Cas, who also preceded him in death. He is sur- vived by eight children, 32 grand children, and 27 great grandchildren. The surviving children are: Mrs. Ella E. Graves, of Sioux City, Iowa; William


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JOHN D. HAPPEL AND FAMILY


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E. McNelly, of Wilmington, Minn .; Mrs. Anne M. Lusk, of Bigelow, Minn .; Mrs. Etta Ripley, of Fergus Falls, Minn .; John H. McNelly, of Duluth, Minn .; Mrs. Eugenia E. Guhl, of Canada; Mrs. Mabel E. Bunge, of Miloma, Minn., and Robert J. McNelly, of St. Charles, Iowa.


George Stroud, a representative citizen of Spring Grove township, was born in Alamakee county, Iowa, and came to this county with his parents in 1860, locating on section 7, Spring Grove township. He was one of a family of nine, his four brothers and four sisters now making their home in Fillmore county. July 20, 1898, he married Marie Stainer, daughter of Andrew and Sarah Stainer, of Fillmore county, and began homemaking on a part of his parents' farm. He now owns 120 acres, 85 of which are under the plow. In 1895 he erected a comfortable frame house and in 1909 built a frame barn 32 by 50 by 20 feet with a hip roof. He carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of Poland China swine, of which he has a drove of about seventy-five. Mr. and Mrs. Stroud have six children : Grace, born Aug. 31, 1896, now Mrs. Johan Bloomingdahl, of northern Min- nesota ; Della, born July 11, 1898, now Mrs. Grant Boyd, of Waukon, Iowa; George, born Dec. 5, 1900; Elsie, born June 27, 1905; Geneva, born Oct. 11, 1909; and Hazel, born Feb. 28, 1914.


John D. Happel, a prominent farmer of Brownsville township, own- ing 276 acres of good agricultural land, was born in Mound Prairie town- ship, Houston county, Minnesota, Dec. 6, 1871, son of Jacob and Martha L. Happel. He acquired his education in the Day Valley district school, and his agricultural training on his parents' farm, on which he remained until arriving at the age of 22 years. For about six years thereafter he worked out, and then, at the age of 28, for one year rented a farm in Mound Prairie. For two years subsequently he operated a feed and sawmill in Looney Val- ley, near Houston, but at the end of that time sold out and moved to the Tom Sheehan farm in Brownsville, which he rented for two years. Then in 1906 he bought the farm he now owns, of 156 acres in sections 20 and 21, Brownsville, an improved place on which he has, however, made further improvements and where he has followed general and diversified farming with marked success. In 1916 he bought 120 acres more, in sections 17 and 22, making his entire estate to consist of 276 acres in all, which he is oper- ating to the best advantage and with satisfactory financial results. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' elevator and the Hokah State bank, and is fraternally affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ger- mania Aid society of Brownsville. Mr. Happel was married April 5, 1900, to Mary Wohlers, who was born in Brownsville, Feb. 3, 1878, daughter of Henry and Minnie (Deptner) Wohlers. Of this marriage five children have been born : Clarence H., Jan. 14, 1901; Luella M., Sept. 4, 1902; Elmer J., Nov. 24, 1904; George W., Feb. 20, 1911; and Norman R., Nov. 2, 1917.


Peter Johnson Lommen, one of the first Norwegian settlers of Spring Grove township, was born in Valders, Norway, Sept. 24, 1822. At the age of 15 he began to learn the trade of shoemaker in the city of Christiana, but within two years had to return home on account of failing health. He then engaged in agriculture and was thus occupied in his native land until 1851, in which year he emigrated to America. Locating first in Dane county,


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Wisconsin, he remained there until June of the following year, when he came to Houston county, Minnesota, taking a tract of land in section 3, Spring Grove township. This place he made his home until his death, by industry and thrift developing it into a fine farm of 290 acres. After having won a high place as one of the representative farmers and esteemed citizens of the community, he passed away in 1886, his loss being universally re- gretted. Mr. Lommen was twice married, first to Jorend Olsen Riste, who died in 1862. She left seven children: Jorend, now Mrs. Mons Fladager, of Spring Grove; Mary (Marit), wife of Ole Langlie, of Lake Preston, S. D .; John P., a merchant of Caledonia; Ole, a farmer in North Dakota; Elizabeth, deceased; Tosten, a farmer of Benson county, North Dakota; and George, a farmer and merchant of Fessenden, N. D. For his second wife Mr. Lommen married Maria Arntsen, who is also now deceased. Of this union there were four children born: Christian, who is now dean of the medical department of the South Dakota State University; Andrew, a physician practicing at Lanesboro, Minn .; Sarah, now Mrs. Ning Eley, of Desplaines, Ill .; and Ingeborg, who is a teacher in the University of Iowa. John P. Lommen, who has the distinction of being the first white child born in Houston county, his birth having occurred on his father's farm in Spring Grove township, Dec. 12, 1852, was a son of Peter J. and Jorend (Olson Riste) Lommen. On that farm he grew to manhood, his educa- tion being acquired in the school of his district. In 1874, having attained his majority, he left the parental homestead and went to Lanesboro, Fill- more county, where for a year he was clerk in a general store. In 1875, returning to Houston county, he formed a partnership with O. B. Olson, and on May 1 they opened a general store in Caledonia, which they oper- ated under the firm name of Olson & Lommen until 1880. The stock was then divided and the partnership dissolved, Mr. Olson going to Preston to engage in business, while Mr. Lommen remained in Caledonia. In 1882 Mr. Lommen purchased the store building and in the following year rebuilt and enlarged it, and it is now one of the largest in the village, being a solid brick structure measuring 521/2 by 60 feet, with two stories and basement, two apartments and double windows. At the time he made these improve- ments Mr. Lommen put in a full line of general merchandise, including dry goods and farm machinery. In 1899 he incorporated the business as J. P. Lommen Company, at the same time becoming president of the company, which position he still retains. During the years of his heaviest trade he carried a stock valued at about $35,000 and did a business of over $100,000, a result achieved by industry and capacity, united with a scrupulous hon- esty in all his transactions. In addition to his important mercantile inter- ests Mr. Lommen is the owner of a large farm of 320 acres in the Red River Valley, which he operates with the assistance of his son, and also has extensive real estate holdings in the village of Caledonia. For eight years he served as a member of the village council, a part of the time as president, and he has always manifested a keen interest in every prac- tical movement for the benefit of the community in which he resides, as well as of the county in general. In politics he is a Republican, while his religious affiliations are with the Lutheran church. Mr. Lommen was mar-




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