History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 97

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

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 97

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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J. P. LOMMEN

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ried, Oct. 29, 1875, to Sarah Quarve, of Spring Grove. She died in October, 1902, leaving seven children: Georgiana, Josephine, Peter, John S., Wil- liam, Lucille and Harold. Georgiana, who was graduated from the Cale- donia High School, the Winona State Normal School and the Minnesota State University, is now a teacher at the University farm. Josephine, who acquired her education in the Caledonia High School and the Winona State Normal School, has for several years been a primary teacher in the Cale- donia schools. Peter, who was educated in the Caledonia High School, is residing at home. John S., whose literary and professional education was acquired in the Caledonia High School and the Chicago Dental College, and served with the United States forces in France. William also attended the Caledonia High School, subsequently became foreman in the motor testing department of the Twin City Tractor Company, and served in France with the American forces. Lucille, after leaving the Caledonia High School, was graduated as a nurse from the Lutheran Hospital at La Crosse and for some time was superintendent of the health depart- ment of that city. She is now superintendent of nurses at the Lutheran Hospital. Harold, who was educated in the Caledonia High School and St. Paul College of Law, is now a practicing attorney. It will thus be seen that all of Mr. Lommen's children have received a good mental training and are doing useful work of a high character, reflecting credit on their upbringing.

Mr. Lommen has many interesting stories to tell of his boyhood in the early days. As a youngster in those far-distant times he endured such hardships as the present generation has little conception of. In spite of his present broad information acquired by observation and reading, he had but little early education, such schooling as he was able to obtain being ac- quired during the few winter months when work was dull on the farm in a small frame building on practically the present site of the High School at Spring Grove. When he was only 10 years old he was able to plow alone with a yoke of oxen. At the age of 12 years he hauled his first load of grain to Brownsville. Grain was also hauled from here to Lansing, Iowa; La Crosse, Wis., and Rushford, Minn., many of which trips Mr. Lommen accompanied. The experience endured on these journeys he will never forget. Camping under the wagons where night overtook them, sometimes spending several days away from home, driving the oxen over the rough trails, often stuck in the deep prairie mud or in the muck of the swamps, beset with mosquitoes and other pests, the boy learned to endure priva- tions and acquired that sturdiness of health that has since stood him in such good stead. Wheat in those days brought but little money and what little was obtained was usually spent for lumber and provisions for the little pioneer home, many of the millers paying only in trade. At the age of 16 he started to operate a threshing machine, run by horsepower. He worked from before sunrise until after dark, then, tired out, going some- times three or more miles for the purpose of watering the horses. One fall he worked until after Christmas. The crew slept on the straw piles, and one night awoke to find themselves covered with a foot of snow. But such work was building up the country, and Mr. Lommen and his friends

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lived to see a pioneer region develop into one of the most progressive and highly improved farming communities in the upper Mississippi Valley.

John Rank, formerly a well-known farmer and merchant of Rice- ford, who later engaged in agriculture and stock raising in Houston town- ship, but is now living retired in La Crosse, was born near Berlin, Ger- many, Aug. 4, 1827. At the age of 21 he married Christina Krause, a native of the same locality as himself, born Nov. 10, 1830, and with his bride set out for America. Locating first in Portage county, Wisconsin, he worked out and attended school during the winter. After a brief resi- dence there he removed to Onalaska, La Crosse county, where he also worked for others for a short time. Then moving to Riceford, Minn., he settled on a farm, which in time he increased to an area of 800 acres, also owning and operating a threshing outfit. In addition to this he engaged in the general mercantile business, conducting a store for many years. As each of his sons married he gave them a farm, except Peter H., whom he gave the store at Riceford when he moved to Houston township in 1888. Here he took a farm and engaged in stock buying, which was his main business for twelve years, at the end of which time he moved to Houston village. At the age of 80 years he retired and took up his residence in La Crosse, where he is now living in the enjoyment of good health. During his active career he served at various times on the local school board. He and his wife have been the parents of seven children: Peter H., John (deceased), George, William, Edward, Charles and Emma (deceased). Mrs. Rank died Dec. 12, 1916.

Charles A. Rank, who for a number of years was one of the enterpris- ing farmers of Houston county and a citizen held in high esteem, was born at Riceford, Minn., May 12, 1870, son of John and Christina (Krause) Rank. He attended school at Riceford and also the Houston High School. After the removal of the family to Houston township in 1888 he took charge of the farm and was thus occupied, while his father was engaged in stock buying, until two years after his marriage, which occurred Jan. 10, 1892, his bride being Anna M. Chapel, daughter of Harvey and Julia (Wydhoff) Chapel. After two years' domestic life on the home farm he settled on a farm of 140 acres in section 8, Money Creek township, and engaged in agri- culture and stock raising on his own account, making a specialty of the latter branch of industry. In course of time he increased the size of his farm to an area of 490 acres, which amount he owned at the time of his death on June 22, 1914, and to which his widow has since added 80 acres more. An active and enterprising man, he was one of the founders of the Money Creek Creamery and was a stockholder in both of the Houston banks. He and his wife were the parents of four children: Gale C., Genevieve E., Ralph Elsworth and Helen Viola. Gale C., who is a farmer in Money Creek township, married Laura Marie Wells, of Dodge Center, Minn., and has two children, Roland Charles and Ruth Marie. Genevieve E. is the wife of Arthur Ronnenberg, a farmer residing three miles west of Money Creek, and has one child, Caryl Arthur. Ralph Elsworth and Helen Viola are living on the home farm with their mother. All these children

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MR. AND MRS. CHARLES RANK AND RESIDENCE

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have received a good education and a careful home training, their mother having always been solicitous that they should be qualified to take a creditable place in society and be well equipped for all the duties of life. Herself a woman of unusual determination of character and business abil- ity, she has capably managed the farm since her husband's death, besides, as above mentioned, increasing its area, and her home is one of the most modern and completely equipped in Houston county. She is a member of the Red Cross Society in Houston, and also of the Ladies' Aid Society, of which she was formerly president.

Matheias O. Myhre, a respected farmer of Black Hammer township, residing in section 7, was born in Gulbrandstahl, Norway, Dec. 22, 1866, son of Ole and Anna Myhre. At the age of 3 years he accompanied his parents to Spring Grove township, Houston county, Minnesota, the father working out for three years for Ole H. Hanson. In 1872 the family moved to Black Hammer township, where Matheias was reared to manhood, at- tending district school up to the age of 14 years. The household was a large one, numbering nine children, of whom the first three, John, Matheias 0. and Ole, were born in Norway, and the others in Black Hammer town- ship, Houston county. Those native born were: Lena, now Mrs. G. G. Arnsten, of Black Hammer township; Bertha, wife of Elling Karlsbratten, of Esmond, N. D .; John, deceased; Clara, wife of A. K. Dahle, of Black Hammer township; and Olaus and Tina, who are deceased. Matheias O. remained at home until 22 years of age. In December, 1893, he was mar- .ried to Sophia, daughter of Peter and Gunil Moen, of Black Hammer town- ship, and has since been engaged in agriculture and kindred occupations on his own account, owning a small farm in section 7 and also operating a portable sawmill and threshing outfit. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Black Hammer congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. He and his wife have been the parents of eight children: Gertrude, who is now Mrs. Clarence Hoff, of Yucatan township; Owen, who died Oct. 18, 1898; Innie C., died April 21, 1909; Sarah J., died March 23, 1904; Sarah J. (second) ; Peter; Juleman, died Nov. 15, 1909; and Ina C., who is residing at home.

Michael McCormick, who settled in Money Creek township, Houston county, at an early date and for awhile conducted agricultural operations in that township, was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States in early manhood. In Caledonia, Houston county, he was married to Mary Gallagher, a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and they took land in Money Creek township and engaged in farming. After being thus occu- pied for awhile they left the county, taking 40 acres of timber land in Pleasant Hill township, Winona county. There being no buildings on the tract, they erected a log house and Mr. McCormick began the improvement of the place, with the aid of a yoke of oxen. There he and his wife made their home for the rest of their lives and finally died, each at the age of 72 years. They were Catholics in religious faith and were among the earliest members and active workers of the Catholic congregation in Pleasant Hill township. He also served as a member of the school board. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick had in all eight children, three of whom died in infancy. 46

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Of these two were daughters-Catherine and Anna. Those who grew to maturity were: Mary, Christie, Matthew, James F. and Margaret.

Matthew McCormick, who has charge of the dray business for the Standard Oil Company's plant at Caledonia, was born in Pleasant Hill town- ship, Winona county, Minnesota, March 4, 1872, son of Michael and Mary (Gallagher) McCormick. His early years were spent on the farm of his parents, where he was engaged in agriculture. Then coming to Houston county, he engaged in farming on shares on a farm of 480 acres in Black Hammer township and was thus occupied for twelve years, raising a good grade of cattle, sheep and hogs. At the end of that time he moved to Caledonia township, buying a tract of 80 acres, on which he followed agriculture for three years, finally, however, selling 40 acres of his land. Of the other 40 acres he is still the owner. About six years ago Mr. McCormick engaged in the dray business, securing the patronage of the Standard Oil Company, with which concern he is still connected. A Catholic in religion, he helped to build the parochial school connected with St. John's Catholic church of Caledonia. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. While living in Black Hammer township he served as path master.

Mr. McCormick married Rose McDonnell, who was born in Hokah, this county, daughter of Michael McDonnell. He and his wife have three children: Helen Rose, Mary Angeline and Leo Matthew.

Moses Emery, soldier of the Civil War, former clerk of court, former postmaster at Caledonia, prominent fraternity man and one of the county's most useful and active citizens, is now engaged in the coal and fuel business in Caledonia, where he is doing an excellent business and where he is held in high regard by all his townsmen. He was born in Morgan, Orleans county, Vt., April 10, 1847, son of Joshua and Sally (Hadley) Emery. Joshua Emery, a carpenter and farmer, brought his family to Minnesota in 1855 and settled in Rushford, Fillmore county, five years later coming to Money Creek, this county, where both died. They were honored, respected people, highly regarded by their neighbors and friends. Their ten children were as follows: Martha (deceased) ; Stephen, who died in 1862 while serving in the Civil War; Sarah, Betsy, Moses, Mary, George, Phoebe, Louisa and Belle. The son Moses was a boy of 7 when he came to Minnesota and of 12 when he came to Houston county. In July, 1864, then a youth of but 17 years, he enlisted in Company K, 11th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until July, 1865, when he was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Money Creek. Feeling the desirability of a better educational equipment, he enrolled as a student in the High School at Winona, which he attended two years. Then he went to Rushford, in Filmore county, and clerked in a store there the year that the Southern Minnesota railroad was being constructed to that place. Subsequently locating in La Crescent, this county, he became purchasing agent and salesman for the Toledo Woolen Mills at La Crescent, Minn., and later salesman for Pratt & Hall, Chicago shoe dealers, and remained in their employ two years. In 1875 he engaged in the general mercantile business at Money Creek, this county, and the same year was appointed postmaster.

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MR. AND MRS. MOSES EMERY

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In the fall of 1886 he was elected county clerk of court. He took office the following January and in April, 1887, moved to Caledonia. About 1891 he opened a clothing store in Caledonia. By re-election he served as clerk of court for eight years. In 1897 he became postmaster at Caledonia. In this capacity he established the first three rural delivery routes in southern Minnesota, emanating from the Caledonia office, and before the close of his term he had established three more. After. retiring from the postmaster- ship Mr. Emery and his wife made a trip to Montana to visit their daughter, Gertrude, who with her husband resides on a ranch near Glendive. After a six months' stay there they went to South Dakota and remained a year and a half, proving up on a homestead on the newly opened Cheyenne Indian reservation, on which they lived for two years, or until they had proved up on their property. Then returning to Montana they resided in that state about a year. In the fall of 1912 they returned to Houston county, and in 1914 Mr. Emery engaged in his present business as coal and fuel dealer. In addition to the offices mentioned Mr. Emery has served in several other positions, such as town clerk and member of the town board in Money Creek township. He was also postmaster at Money Creek village, making in all over twenty-five years that he has served as postmaster in this county. For more than half a century he has been a member of the Masonic order, having joined Mystic Circle Lodge, U. D., A. F. & A. M., at Houston in 1868, and during all that remarkably long period he has been an active and useful member of the order. For many years he has belonged to Caledonia Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He also helped to organize Oriental Lodge, No. 84, at Money Creek, and Eagle Butte Lodge, No. 174, at Eagle Butte, S. D. Mr. Emery was mar- ried, Feb. 9, 1875, to Anna Webster, who was born in Hayesville, Ohio, in March, 1856, daughter of William and Martha (Thompson) Webster. This union has been blessed with three children: Leslie W., Gertrude L. and Hazel M. Leslie W. was born May 7, 1876, and is now a grain buyer at Spencer, Iowa. He was married in November, 1902, to Sophia Langen, and they have four children, George, Donald, May and John Webster. Gertrude L. was born Nov. 10, 1882, and was married in October, 1907, to W. S. King, of Burns, Mont. She has two children, William and Virginia A. Hazel M. was born April 22, 1886, and was married in September, 1909, to D. C. Mero, assistant cashier in the Sprague State Bank at Caledonia. She has one child, Eugene Emery. The family faith is that of the Pres- byterian church.

Nels Nelson, who was formerly engaged in the work of agricultural improvement in Houston township, but is now deceased, was born in Sweden, where he grew up and was married. With his wife Carrie he emigrated to Norway and later in 1885 to the United States, coming directly to Houston county and settling in the southern part of Houston township. There he took land and engaged in farming, which was his occupation until the closing years of his life. His death took place in October, 1901. His wife now resides with a son in Amery, Wis. In the family there were seven children, of whom there are now living three, Charles, Gust and Alfred D.

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Alfred D. Nelson, an enterprising and successful farmer, residing in section 18, Money Creek township, was born near Christiana, Norway, March 6, 1872, son of Nels and Carrie Nelson, natives of Sweden, who moved to Norway and in 1885 came to America and settled in Houston township, this county. Alfred D. thus became a resident of this county when he was 13 years of age. He attended the district school in Storer Valley and was reared to farm pursuits by his father. At the age of 19 he rented a farm for himself in Mound Prairie township. Five years later, with his brother, he purchased a farm in Houston county and resided on it another five or six years. At the end of that period he purchased his present farm. This place contains 160 acres of valuable land, which Mr. Nelson has continued to develop and improve. He remodeled the house, ornamented it with pebble dash, added a large sun porch, well screened, and supplied it with a hot-air heating plant, an electric lighting equipment and other conveniences. He has also constructed and remodeled his other buildings. For the comfort and convenience of himself and family he has acquired a six-passenger Buick automobile. He successfully carries on gen- eral farming, keeps good graded Holstein stock and does a prosperous busi- ness. He has equipped his farm with the latest tools and equipment and does much of his work with the aid of a Case tractor. A Hinman milking machine furnishes him with facilities for milking his twenty-five cows. At Houston he is president of the Houston Creamery Company and a stock- holder in the Farmers' Elevator, and he is likewise a stockholder in the Independent Harvester Company branch at Plano, Ill. His fraternal rela- tions are with the Yeomen. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Nelson was married in November, 1900, to Sena Henderson, who was born in Houston county, daughter of Julius Hender- son. Her parents, natives of Norway, were early settlers in Houston county. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, all of whom are residing at home, namely: Ella Gladys, Henry L., Cora, Olive, Albin and Eileen Avis.

Ole O. Tollefsrud, who developed a fine farm in Spring Grove town- ship, of which he was a resident for most of his life, was born in section 32, that township, Oct. 31, 1859, son of Ole and Lesczie Tollefsrud. His par- ents, who had arrived from Norway in the spring of that year, settled in section 26, Spring Grove township, on the farm on which he was reared to manhood. As they were poor and the country wild, he had but limited educational opportunities, being obliged to work at an early age, and remained on the home farm until his marriage. That event occurred Feb. 21, 1883, when he took for his bride Gurine, daughter of Knute and Annie Storlie, of section 9, Spring Grove township. Buying a farm of 150 acres in section 29, in that township, of which seven or eight acres had been broken, he began farming on his own account, he and his wife making their home in a three-room log house, which continued to be their dwelling place for more than twenty years. Working together they cleared their land and in time built a good two-story frame house of eight rooms, with a detached summer kitchen; a frame barn, 32 by 50 by 18 feet, with full basement ; a machine shed, 16 by 30; a granary, 16 by 24, and other neces-

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ALFRED D. NELSON AND FAMILY

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sary buildings. In 1906 Mr. Tollefsrud bought 120 acres in sections 28 and 29, half a mile north of the old home, and improved the place by the erec- tion of good buildings, renting it to his son Oscar from 1908 to 1913, when the latter bought it. He also bought twenty acres adjoining and which lay in the village of Mabel. In addition to this property he was the owner of eleven city blocks in Austin, Minn. In 1912 Mr. Tollefsrud sold the old home farm to his son Clarence and moved to Mabel, where he owned a good house. There he died in 1916 after a sickness of eight months, having previously enjoyed good health. He had always been a hard working man and had enjoyed a career of great prosperity, in addition to the interests already mentioned, being a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery, of Mabel, and the Spring Grove Stock & Grain Company. In politics a Republican, he served his district on the school board for a num- ber of years. His religious affiliations were with the Mabel congregation of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. A good husband, kind father and faithful friend, he was also a useful and public spirited citizen, always ready to lend his aid to a worthy cause, whether for the moral or material welfare of the community, and was highly respected and esteemed by his fellow citizens. His wife, who survives him, is still a resident of Mabel. The children born to them were as follows: Clarence Olaus (first), born Jan. 27, 1884, who died March 27, 1884; Lena Albertina, born Feb. 8, 1885, now the wife of Nels Olsgard, a farmer of Spring Grove township; Clarence Olaus (second), born Jan. 11, 1887, who is now on the old farm; Oscar Reginus, born March 29, 1889, now farming in Spring Grove town- ship; Olga Gustine, born June 5, 1891, wife of Gust Larson, of Spring Grove township; Anna Clarine, born Aug. 8, 1893, wife of R. B. Gullings, of Minneapolis ; Leonard Elginus, born Sept. 7, 1896; Mabel Genova, born Jan. 17, 1898, now the wife of Thomas A. Trehus, of Spring Grove; Lilly Viola, April 30, 1901; Richard Odine, Sept. 25, 1903, and Milford Alvin, June 13, 1906, who are residing at home in Mabel and attending school.

Dr. J. W. Browning, a prominent Canadian physician, was born in Somerset, England, in 1845, the son of William Joseph Browning, an English watchmaker, who brought his family to Canada in the early fifties. Dr. Browning received his degree from the Victoria University of Toronto and has since practiced his profession successfully in Exeter, in the Province of Ontario. As is the custom with physicians in many Canadian towns, he is also the proprietor of a drug store. He is interested in public welfare and has served as president of the County Reform Association of his county. He was married as a young man to Nellie Cash, who was born in Ontario in 1848 and died in 1875, the daughter of David Cash, a native of Wales, who for many years was a Canadian manufacturer. To this union were born two children: Addie, now Mrs. (Judge) George Mahaffy, of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, and William E., a physician and surgeon of Caledonia, Minn. After the death of his first wife Dr. Browning mar- ried Elizabeth E. McDonnell and to this union there have been born five children: H. J., a physician in Manitoba; Percy H., connected with the Dominion Rubber Company at Toronto, Canada; Eva May, wife of George

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Hawkins, of Exeter, Ontario; Earl F., a hardware merchant at Niagara, Canada; and Hazel L., wife of Ollie Becker, of Hamburg, Ontario.

William E. Browning, M. D., proprietor and house physician of the Caledonia Hospital, an institution in which the people of Houston county generally take a justifiable pride, is also widely known as a public spirited citizen, interested in and an active promoter of whatever is calculated to benefit the community in which he resides. Born at Exeter, Ontario, Canada, July 31, 1873, he is the son of Dr. J. W. and Nellie (Cash) Brown- ing, and descends from a family noted for the number of its members who have achieved success in the medical profession. It was natural, therefore, that after receiving his literary education in the schools of his native vil- lage he should enter McGill University at Montreal, from which he was graduated in 1899. His medical education was further perfected by a few months of practice with his father, and in December of the year of his graduation he came to Caledonia and opened an office. His determination, even while in college, was to some time be at the head of a hospital of his own, and this ambition was realized when in 1903 he established the Cale- donia Hospital, then a small institution but whose growth made necessary the erection of the present splendid and commodious structure five years later. Of this important institution he has continued to be the proprietor and house physician. His professional ability, combined with good busi- nes management, has caused it to take high rank among similar establish- ments in this region. Dr. Browning has long been an active member of various medical societies. He served for several years as president of the Houston and Fillmore Counties Medical Society, was formerly vice-president of the Southern Minnesota Medical Society, and is likewise a member of the Minnesota State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the British Medical Society and the Association of Railroad Surgeons of America, and holds a fellowship in the American College of Surgeons. He is president of the local pension board, Caledonia health officer and local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. Aside from his professional associations Dr. Browning has identified himself closely with the general interests of the community in which he lives and Houston county at large. For a number of years he was vice-president and for two years was president of the Commercial Club of Caledonia, having also served that club for some years as chairman of the roads committee. His interest in permanently improving rural highways is also shown by his work in the capacity as president of the Houston County Automobile Asso- ciation. He has been chairman of the Houston County Chapter of the American Red Cross since its organization at the beginning of the war, and a member of the American Medical Corps. His intellectual interests extend far beyond the range of his profession and include a broad knowledge of several other sciences. At his downtown office, on the second floor of the Abbott Block, may be seen what is considered by many to be one of the best collections of Indian relics and curios and rare fossils in the state, a collection that has proved a source of entertainment and instruction to his friends, patients and other visitors. He is also a philatelist and numis- matist of no mean acquirements, and his collection of stamps and coins, one

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History of Houston County, Minnesota, Part 97

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

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