USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 8
USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 8
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
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lina Anderson had five children, of whom Mrs. Swedback was the youngest. She was educated in Sweden and, when twenty-seven years old, came to America, being married upon her arrival at Red Wing, Minnesota, to the late John Swedback. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Swedback removed from Red Wing to Minneapolis, where Mr. Swedback was engaged in black- smithing. In about four years, he bought a blacksmith shop at Delano, Wright county, to which they removed. After ten years the shop burned. He then established a small saw-mill at the same place, which he operated about two years. On account of the shortage of lumber at Delano, they moved to Upsala in 1884. He ran a mill here for some ten years. After- wards he operated the mill at other places until his death, on December 31, 1899, at which time he was fifty-seven years old. After his death the mill was sold. Mr. and Mrs. Swedback had started a general store in Upsala about 1884, and to this Mrs. Swedback devoted her attention. In 1909 she sold out and later purchased another store, which she operated until 1913, when she sold it to her son, Charles. Mr. Swedback, with the assistance of some farmers, had organized the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery Company. Later, Mrs. Swedback purchased the creamery, and operated it for about five years. After putting it into good running order, she sold out to the farmers who are operating it at the present time. Mrs. Swedback is a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank. She is the mother of four children, as follow : Andrew ; Dorthia, deceased ; Charles ; and an infant, who is deceased. Being a strong Republican, the late John Swedback had held many local offices of trust and responsibility during his life.
Charles J. Swedback, the youngest living child in his parents' family. was educated in the public schools at Delano and Upsala, Minnesota. After finishing his education, he assisted his father in the lumber business until his father's death, in 1899.
On May 2, 1900, Charles J. Swedback was married to Minnie Nelson, who was born on March 7, 1875, in Sweden and who came to the United States with her mother when she was seven years old. They settled at Delano, in Wright county, and lived there until 1898, when they removed to Bemidji, where she was married. Mrs. Swedback is the daughter of Nils and Carrie Nelson. Her father died in Sweden and her mother, who had two children, Minnie and Martin, is still living.
When Charles J. Swedback was married he was a stationary engineer. a trade which he followed off and on for many years. In 1902 he opened a grocery store at Bemidji, operating it for three and one-half years. During
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this period he was actively interested in politics. He served as a member of the Bemidji city council. He then moved to Big Falls, where he built and operated the first telephone system of the town. He was also postmaster for a couple of years. Upon selling the telephone company, he moved back to the Bemidji, remaining two years, until 1911, when he came to Upsala with his family and purchased his mother's store.
Mr. and Mrs. Swedback have two children, Vernon and Meille. The latter is attending school.
Mr. Swedback is independent in politics. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Yeomen.
HENRY HEDIN.
Henry Hedin, a prosperous merchant of Upsala, Morrison county, Minnesota, who enjoys perhaps the largest trade of any merchant in the town, is a native of Minneapolis, born on May 25, 1880.
Mr. Hedin's parents, Ole and Mary (Littleburg) Hedin, are both natives of Sweden, the former having been born at Yarpin on November 4, 1858, and the latter having been born at Malcalm on January 10, 1860. Ole Hedin came to America early in life and, after landing in New York City, moved west to Michigan, settling at Escauaba, where he met his wife and was married. After living in Michigan for about two years, where he worked in the timber, he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was there engaged in brick and stone work for about six years. He next came to Elmdale township, Morrison county, and purchased forty acres of land in the woods. He cleared this land, put it under cultivation and later bought forty acres of land which he had cleared. He next bought eighty acres of land in the same section and farmed the entire one hundred and sixty acres for several years. Finally he sold eighty acres of the farm to his eldest son but is still engaged in cultivating the remaining eighty, where he makes his home. His wife came to the United States alone and lived in Escauaba, Michigan, until her marriage. She has borne her husband seven children: Henry, John, Arvid, Selma, George, Christina and Emma, the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hedin are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Hedin is independent in politics.
Henry Hedin attended district school in Elmdale township, but pro-
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ceeded only as far as the fourth grade. He assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-two years old, after which he worked in the coal yards of Minneapolis for one year.
Upon returning home, Henry Hedin was married, on July 27, 1904, to Agusta Mokros, a native of Elmdale township, Morrison county, born on September 14, 1883. Mrs. Hedin has lived in this township all her life. She has borne her husband three children, Herold, Albin and Robert. Mrs. Hedin's parents were Carl and Susie Mokros, both of whom were born in Germany.
After his marriage, Mr. Hedin purchased forty acres of land in Elm- dale township and farmed this land for two and one-half years, when he purchased the blacksmith shop in Upsala. After operating the shop for some two years, he leased the blacksmith shop and built a store building. He opened a general mercantile store and carried a general line of hardware and groceries as well as meat, having added a butcher shop in 1910. Mr. Hedin owns all the buildings in which his stores are housed.
Mr. Hedin is a progressive citizen. He owns his own automobile. which is not only used for a pleasure car but also' in his business. Politi- cally, he is independent.
ALFRED PEHRSON.
Alfred Pehrson, who is a successful merchant at Upsala, Morrison county, Minnesota, is a native of Sweden, having been born near Malmo, November 12, 1877.
Mr. Pehrson is the son of Peter and Bengta Pehrson, both of whom were born in Sweden and who lived there until reaching middle age. They then came to America and settled at Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Peter lehrson was engaged in carpentering, having learned his trade in his native land. After living in Minneapolis for six years the Pehrsons moved to Morrison county, purchasing eighty acres of land near Elmdale. After farming this land for twenty years, Peter Pehrson sold the farm and has since been living retired on three acres of the old homestead. He is an independent Republican in politics. Mrs. Peter Pehrson was reared, edu- cated and married in Sweden. To Mr. and Mrs. Pehrson have been born five children, Axel, Alfred, Nellie, Esther and Arthur. Of these children. Nellie is the wife of Andrew Martinson and Esther is the wife of Oscar Martinson.
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Alfred Pehrson was only one and one-half years old when his parents came to America. He received a good common-school education in the public schools of Upsala, and when his education was finished worked on the farm with his father for three years, until he was eighteen years old. He then went to Galchutt, North Dakota, and worked on a farm for two years. At the age of twenty, Mr. Pehrson began working in a saw-mill at Virginia, St. Louis county, Minnesota. After working for one season at Virginia, he moved to lower Minnesota, where he worked in a saw-mill for two years. At the end of this time he came back to his home in Upsala and here was engaged as a clerk in the store he now owns for a period of eight years.
On December 22, 1904, Alfred Pehrson was married to Ellen Anderson, a native of Sweden, who was born on October 4, 1886, and who came to the United States when a small girl with her parents. They settled in Elmdale township, where she lived until her marriage. Mrs. Pehrson is the daughter of Otto and Gustava ( Rundquist) Anderson, both of whom are natives of Sweden and who, after reaching middle life, came to America, settling in Morrison county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Pehrson have been the parents of two children, Gordon Alfred and Kenneth.
After his marriage, Mr. Pehrson rented his father's farm and farmed for one year. He then returned to Upsala and again was employed as a clerk in the store he now owns. In November, 1909, he purchased the store and has been successfully conducting the store ever since. Alfred Pehrson is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery Association. He is independent in politics. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen of America.
ALFRED M. STOLL.
Alfred M. Stoll was born on January 2, 1889, at Little Falls, Morrison county, Minnesota. He is the son of Stanislaus and Gertrude (Saumpf) Stoll, the former of whom was born near St. Nazianz, Wisconsin, and who studied for the priesthood at Quebec, Canada, mastering the German and French languages. After nearly finishing his studies he decided not to fol- low that vocation, and after coming to the United States he was engaged in teaching school at Pierz for a few years and then worked as a bookkeeper in a flour-mill and store at Gravelville, then worked at Royalton and Pierz. From Royalton he removed to Little Falls, where he was employed by the J.
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W. Berg Hardware Company as a bookkeeper. After one year of residence in Little Falls, he made the race for clerk of the court but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, he made the race for county treasurer in 1883 and was suc- cessful, remaining county treasurer until his death, in 1891. While living in Little Falls, he became well known in Morrison county as one of the leading Democrats. When the old flour-mill burned, he assisted in fighting the flames and, as a result of exposure at this fire, died in July, 1891, at the age of thirty-three years. He was one of the prominent leaders in the Ger- man Catholic church at Little Falls and a Democrat in politics. He was also a member of St. Joseph's Society.
Mrs. Gertrude (Stumph ) Stoll was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, 1865, and was educated in the district schools of the county. She lived at home with her parents until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs S. Stoll had five children, as follow: Anthony P. is cashier of the German State Bank, of Pierz; Adelaide is married to Dr. Frank Sykora, of Brainerd; Edward J. is a cashier of the Farmer's State Bank, at Dent, Minnesota: Alfred M. is the subject of this sketch: Reinhard M. is assistant cashier of the German State Bank, at Pierz.
Alfred M. Stoll was educated in the common schools and in the Cath- olic parochial schools. After finishing his elementary education, he attended the Little Falls high school for two years and was then employed by the W. H. Ryan Hardware Company for two years. At the end of this period, Mr. Stoll removed to Frazee, Minnesota, where he engaged in the lumber business. He returned, however, to Little Falls and was employed by the Little Falls Hardware Company as manager of the company. He was next employed by the Buckman Hardware Company at Fargo, North Dakota, for one year and then returned to Little Falls and was employed as head salesman for Julius Jetka Hardware Company for two years.
In May, 1914, Mr. Stoll announced his candidacy as clerk of the Mor- rison county court. In the fall of 1914 he was triumphantly elected to this position and still holds the office.
Alfred M. Stoll was married on November 25, 1913, to Margaret Fromelt, a native of Todd county, who was educated at Little Falls and who is a graduate of both the Little Falls high school and the Little Falls Business College. At the time of her marriage Mrs. Stoll was employed by JI. Landahl, a real estate dealer of Little Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Stoll have one child.
Alfred M. Stoll is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Benevol- ent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, the
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Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. and Mrs. Stoll are members of the German Catholic church. Mr. Stoll is a member of the Little Falls Volunteer Fire Relief Association.
JOSEPH J. CHIRHART.
Joseph J. Chirhart, manager of the Royalton branch of the Rudd Lum- ber Company, is a native of Stearns county, Minnesota, born near Holdings- ford, November 13, 1885. Mr. Chirhart is the son of Isadore and Mary ( Thierse) Chirhart.
Isadore Chirhart, who was born in New York state in 1850, came to Stearns county, Minnesota, when twenty-one years old. There he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. His mother also took a home- stead adjoining her son, which he later acquired. Isadore Chirhart is still living. He is an ardent Democrat and has held several minor offices, includ- ing those of assessor and trustee. His wife was born near Evansville, Indi- ana, and came with her parents to Stearns county, Minnesota, where her parents took up land. She lived with them until her marriage. Eleven children were born to Isadore and Mary (Thierse) Chirhart, of whom Joseph J. was the fifth born.
Like most boys reared on the Minnesota frontier. Joseph J. Chirhart was educated in the public schools. He attended district No. 12 in Stearns county for about eight months in the year, and after finishing his education assisted his father until reaching his majority. He then removed to Bowlus, Morrison county, and began life on his own responsibility, working in a lumber yard for the Bargerding Lumber Company. After remaining for three months, in 1908, Mr. Chirhart came to Royalton where he was engaged to take charge of the Royalton branch of the same firm. In the fall of 1912, the Rudd Lumber Company purchased the Royalton branch of the Bargerding Lumber Company, and Mr. Chirhart was retained as manager of the local branch.
Joseph J. Chirhart was married in 1910 to Harriet Van Denheuvel, the daughter of Arnold and Anna (Schmitt) Van Denheuvel, natives of Hol- land who, after coming to America, first settled in Wisconsin, and then in Pierz township. Later they bought a farm in Royalton, where they now make their home. Mrs. Chirhart was born at Hay Springs, Sheridan county, Nebraska, on January 31, 1888, and was educated in the Nebraska district schools and those of Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Chirhart have had two children, Raymond and Jerome.
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The Chirhart family are members of the Royalton Catholic church. Independent in politics, Mr. Chirhart has served as trustee of the village of Royalton for several years. He is now beginning his second term, having filled the office with credit to himself and the people who elected him.
J. KENNETH MARTIN.
One of the influential citizens of Little Falls, Morrison county, Minne- sota, who ranks as one of the city's leading bankers and business men, is J. Kenneth Martin, cashier of the First National Bank of Little Falls. a large landholder in Morrison county, the owner of two business blocks in Little Falls and a man who is heavily interested in various banks throughout Minnesota and other states. He is a man of excellent endowments and upright character and not only has been prominent in the financial and com- mercial life of the city but has been prominent in public affairs generally. He has stood first and foremost by the material advancement of his home city and has loyally supported at all times every worthy public enterprise.
J. Kenneth Martin is a native of Benton county, Minnesota, and was born on a farm near St. Cloud, October 8, 1871. He is the son of Lycurgus F. and Flora (Knapp) Martin. Lycurgus F. Martin, who died suddenly in September, 1909, at the age of sixty-nine years, was a native of Oxford. Ontario, Canada, born on July 27, 1841. When he was still a young man he immigrated to Wisconsin but soon afterwards settled near St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he worked in a stone quarry for a few years. Later he removed to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, southeast of Royalton in Benton county. He cleared this land, put it under cultiva- tion, and lived upon the farm for twelve years, when he removed to Rice. Minnesota, and for a few years operated the hotel. Upon selling the hotel. he removed to Sentinel Butte, Billings county, North Dakota, where lie homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. He received the patent on the land and lived upon it for eight years, after which he operated a fruit ranch near Los Angeles, California, for one year. Mr. Martin was pre- paring to remove permanently to Los Angeles but died suddenly shortly after his return from Los Angeles in 1909. He was a member of the Epis- copal church and a prominent Mason. Mrs. Flora (Knapp) Martin was born on a farm in Wisconsin on June 9, 1844. She bore her husband four children, Alfred L .. J. Kenneth, Maude E .. and Blanche A., who married J. Il. Russell.
J. KENNETH MARTIN
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J. Kenneth Martin was educated in the common schools of Benton county. After finishing his elementary education, took up telegraphy and for a number of years worked for the St. Paul & Duluth railroad, the Soo line and the Northern Pacific railroad. In 1902 he abandoned the telegraph- er's key, at which time he had been serving as agent of Royalton, and then came to Little Falls and accepted a position as bookkeeper of the First National Bank of Little Falls. He held this position for two years and was made teller of the bank. He was teller for two years and then was made assistant cashier, in which position he also served for two years. In 1906 Mr. Martin was elected cashier and still holds this position.
The First National Bank is one of the leading financial institutions of Morrison county. Mr. Martin has had no little part in its recent growth. The business of the bank has grown marvelously in the past few years. Not only is the cashier of the First National Bank popular with the other officers and directors of the institution but he is likewise popular with the bank's depositors and with the public generally.
In 1900 J. Kenneth Martin was married to Lottie L. Tanner, a native of Little Falls, Minnesota, born there on May 2, 1874. Mrs. Martin has lived in Little Falls all her life. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have three children, Kenneth T., Herbert L., and Frederick L., all of whom live at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Kenneth Martin are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Martin is a prominent Mason in Morrison county and a stanch Republican.
PETER VIEHAUSER.
There is no positive rule for achieving success, yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which may well be followed. The life of Peter Viehauser, the manager of the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery Association, of Upsala, is a striking evidence of what persistent effort will accomplish. The man who is prosperous generally is the man who can see and utilize the opportunities which come his way. Such a man is Mr. Viehauser.
Peter Viehauser was born in Stearns county, Minnesota, March 5, 1881, the son of John and Anna Viehauser, the former of whom was born in Illinois, where he was educated and where he lived until he came to Stearns county, Minnesota. There his parents took up a homestead, which he later
(27)
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received and upon which he now lives. Although he was a farmer in early life, he later engaged in the butcher business at Albany for two years and then became manager of the mill at Albany. He is still living and is identi- fied with the Democratic party and the Catholic church. Anna Viehauser, his wife, was born in Germany and came to the United States with her parents when three years old. They also settled in Stearns county, where Anna was educated and where she lived until her marriage. John and Anna Viehauser have been the parents of eight children, of whom Peter, the sub- ject of this sketch, is the eldest living. One child older than he died in infancy. The others are George; Catherine, who married Jacob Willen- bring; Mary, who married Michael Willenbring; Joe; Lena, who married Bartol Muyres; and John.
Educated in the public schools of Albany, after he had finished his edu- cation, Mr. Viehauser worked for the Albany Creamery for three years, beginning at the age of thirteen. When he was sixteen years old, he moved to Freeport, Minnesota, where he was a buttermaker for the Freeport Creamery Association. There he remained for two years and then came back to Albany, where he worked for about four months in a flour-mill. Upon leaving Albany, Mr. Viehauser came to Upsala to accept a position in a creamery controlled by Mrs. J. Swedback. In about eight years she sold out to the Farmers' Co-operative Association and the firm name was changed to the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery Association in 1908. Mr. Viehauser has been manager of the creamery at Upsala for the past fifteen years, now being a stockholder in the concern.
On October 7, 1914, Peter Viehauser was married to Bertha Anderson, the daughter of Otto and Gustava (Rundquist) Anderson, both of whom were born in Sweden and who, after coming to America, settled east of Upsala, where they still live. Mrs. Viehauser was born in Minnesota.
Among Mr. Viehauser's financial interests it may be said that he is a stockholder and director in the Farmers' Bank of Upsala, also a stockholder in the bank at Bowlus. He owns about eighty acres of land near Albany, in Stearns county, and forty acres near Burtrum, in Todd county, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Viehauser also own their own home in Upsala.
Peter Viehauser is independent in politics. He is a member of the Bankers' Casualty Company. A man of accurate business instincts, indus- trious habits and genial manners, Peter Viehauser is honored and respected by the citizens of Upsala and vicinity.
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REV. JOSEPH CHARLES JANSKI.
There is no earthly station higher than the ministry of the gospel. No life can be more uplifting and grander than that which is devoted to the amelioration of the human race, to a life of sacrifice for the betterment of mankind. One who is willing to cast aside all earthly crowns and laurels of fame in order to follow in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene is deserving of the most sympathetic consideration and the highest praise from mankind. It is not possible to measure adequately the heights, depth and breadth of men who are consecrated to the cause of the Christian religion. The influences of such men continue to control the lives of others through suc- ceeding generations. One of the ardent, loyal and true spirits of the great Christian church is the Rev. Joseph Charles Janski, the pastor of the church at Bowles, Morrison county, Minnesota.
Joseph Charles Janski, a native of North Prairie, Minnesota, was bap- tized there, took his first communion at North Prairie, was confirmed there, ordained as a priest at North Prairie, read his first mass in the church there, and was pastor of the church at North Prairie for two years.
Father Janski is a son of Casper and Mary (Schelonka) Janski, both of whom were born in Silesia, Poland, Germany. Casper Janski, when twenty-three years of age, immigrated to the United States, and after land- ing in New York City traveled to St. Cloud, Minnesota. Later he bought eighty acres of land in Stearns county, Minnesota, and was married at North Prairie, where he lived for four years. Subsequently he bought one hundred and fifty acres of land in Two Rivers township, where he is now living. He also owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Benton county. His wife, Mary Schelonka, came to the United States with her parents when thirteen years of age. They settled one mile south of North Prairie, where she lived until her marriage to Casper Janski. To this marriage have been born the following children: Susan, Joseph, Nicholas, John, Roman, Rose, Paul, Helen, Raymond, Regina and Clara.
Joseph Charles Janski was the second child in his parents' family, his birth occurring at North Prairie, January 28, 1881. He received his ele- mentary education in the district schools of North Prairie, following which he assisted his father on the farm for five years. He then became a student at St. Francis' Seminary, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating from the classical course of this institution with the class of 1903. Afterwards he attended St. Paul Seminary, at St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating from this
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