USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 58
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The municipal judge is elected for four years and receives for his services the fees from the office. The present incumbent is C. J. Sawbridge. The treasurer also is elected to serve for the term of one year; he receives a salary of one hundred dollars annually. The two justices of peace, who now are Chris Johnson and F. J. Pffeferle, are elected for a term of two years and receive only fees. The constables are elected for a period of two years and are paid in fees. G. M. Ross and A. B. Erickson are the con- stables serving at the present time. The members of the city council are elected for a period of two years and receive no salary. The council is now constituted as follow: First ward, E. M. Olson and Gunder Bartel- son; second ward, S. S. Oksness and H. B. Solberg: third ward, F. E. Hodgson and Frank Wylie: fourth ward, E. S. Lamson and P. P. Bjerkeng.
The board of education is composed of six members, who are elected to serve for a period of two years. They receive no salary for their ser-
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vices. R. E. Lincoln, A. Brandenburg, Mrs. E. E. Adams, O. M. Haugen. Mrs. C. R. Wright and N. F. Field are now serving on the present board of education.
The auditor is appointed by the council for one year and receives a salary of two hundred and forty dollars yearly. Adolph Boe is the present auditor. The council also appoints the city clerk to serve a year, the present clerk being H. J. Collins, who receives an annual salary of twenty-one hun- dred dollars. The city attorney is appointed by the council to serve for a period of one year and receives an annual salary of three hundred dollars. C. L. Alexander is at present serving in the capacity of city attorney. Steve Butler is the present assessor. . This office is filled by appointment by the city council, the tenure being one year. The assessor receives five hundred dollars yearly for his services. The city engineer and street commissioner are each appointed by the council to serve for one year. M. B. Starr is the present city engineer and draws an annual salary of six hundred dollars for his services. The street commissioner, Charles Hanson, receives three hun- dred and fifty dollars yearly. The city council also appoints the members of the public commission, as well as the water and light commissioners, both of whom serve for a period of three years and receive no salary. The mem- bers of the public commission at this time are J. A. Brown, Robert Hannah and J. S. Ulland. The present water and light commissioners are George B. Lowry, F. H. Straub and C. R. Wright. The superintendent of the elec- tric light plant. now filled by J. W. Peterson, is appointed by the water and light commissioners. He receives a monthly salary of one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The board of health is appointed by the council. The present members are Dr. J. G. Vigen, Cyrus Beall and W. T. Bell. Doctor Vigen is the secretary of the board and is allowed an annual salary of one hundred and eighty dollars.
The chief of the fire department, Durkee Prentiss, is an appointive of the mayor. The members of the fire department, twenty-six in number, are volunteers and serve from year to year as long as their service is satis- factory. A sketch of the fire department is given elsewhere in this chapter.
FERGUS FALLS IN 1916.
If the solitary grasshopper who sat on the hill on August 20, 1870, and watched the heavily loaded wagons of George B. Wright drive across the valley into Fergus Falls, could return to the same place in 1916 and look about him, he would witness a most striking change in his surroundings. On the afternoon of that day the first spade-full of dirt was turned for the first dam across Red river in Fergus Falls: from that day may be reckoned the beginning of the history of the city. The story of the growth of the village from that day until it emerged as a full-fledged city in 1881. has
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been told in detail in the preceding pages. The history of the city in its first years has also been covered in detail. The municipal growth of the city has been set forth from the time its first charter was issued in 1881 down to the beginning of the administration of the present mayor, Leonard Eriksson. The part the railroad has played in the growth of the city is set forth in the chapter on railroads. Other chapters tell of the city's banks, newspapers, schools and churches; still others speak of its fraternal, social, literary and musical phases. Mr. Mason in his reminiscences, has delved into the innermost life of the city and preserved for all time to come scores of interesting incidents dealing with the life of the city in its various stages.
It now remains to give a brief survey of the city as it stands today- forty-eight years after the first settler, Ernest Buse, built his rude log cabin on the banks of the Red river of the North. What have the years wrought? Has the prediction of its founder come true? Is Fergus Falls "the coming city"? From a humble beginning in 1871 there has arisen a flourishing city of eight thousand; the one industry of 1871 has arisen to a place where scores of industries may now be found. The hundreds of barrels of flour which are manufactured daily in the city, the manufactured products of many other kinds, the making of which give employment to hundreds of citizens, bear ample witness to the growth of the city. One might wonder whether the graveyard war of the seventies had anything to do with the establishment of the present casket factory. Undoubtedly the river has made the city what it is today. It is impossible to think of the city attain- ing the prominence it has without giving most of the credit to the silent river which wends its way through the city. Its waters have literally poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the coffers of the citizens; on its banks have stood all of these years mills and factories of various kinds and, whatever else may be said, it remains true that Fergus Falls owes its exist- ence as an industrial centre to the Red river of the North.
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The most important industry of Fergus Falls is the manufacture of flour and the three mills of the city have a daily capacity of more than one thousand barrels, the Red River Milling Company alone manufacturing seven hundred barrels a day. This company erected a new plant in 1915 which cost one hundred thousand dollars and stands as the finest mill in the state for its size. It has an elevator capacity of eighty thousand bushels of grain. It is not possible to give a detailed description of all the industries of the city, but the following list of industries may indicate in a general way the place Fergus Falls holds as an industrial center: Two woolen mills, two sash and door factories, two cigar factories, two bakeries, tile factory, knitting factory, meat packing house, ice plow factory, casket factory, broom
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factory, foundry, ice cream factory, butter and cheese factory and potato cutter factory. In addition to these industries there are a number of smaller concerns engaged in manufacturing on a small scale. Among these may be mentioned blacksmiths, wagon-makers, cement block workers, tailors and dressmakers.
The city also has a wholesale fruit house and a wholesale grocery com- pany. There are three large elevators, which handle an immense amount of grain every year. Two greenhouses find a ready market for their out- put; two laundries are engaged in an effort to assist the board of health in improving sanitary conditions in the city; two hospitals, five druggists, nine dentists and fourteen physicians are doing all within their power to preserve the health of the people. The wants of the inner man may find satisfaction in any one of eight hotels or one of twelve different restaurants. The ten barbers of the city attend to the hirsute wants of the masculine portion of the population. Merchandise of one kind or another, dry, wet, hard, etc., may be found on sale in more than forty different stores.
The social desires of the people are met by a large number of fraternal, benevolent and social organizations; the spiritual side of the city's life is ministered unto by no less than eighteen churches, the educational welfare of the children is in the hands of a school board, which neglects no oppor- tunity to improve the schools of the city. In addition to the public schools, there are two colleges, Park Region Luther College and Northwestern Col- lege, both denominational institutions, but drawing very largely from. the immediate vicinity of Fergus Falls.
It is not the purpose of this brief summary to give in detail the various factors which go to make up the life of the city, but rather to indicate in a general way what may be found in it. It should be said, however, that Fergus Falls is in a position to supply ample power at a low rate for any number of additional factories. Within the past few years there has been developed within five miles of the city an electric power plant which promises to be the biggest industry of its kind in the Northwest. The Otter Tail Power Company, with an investment of a million dollars already, is now supplying electric light, heat and power to twenty towns in this sec- tion of the state and is making preparation to extend its field of operation.
What of the future? How large a city is Fergus Falls destined to become? The growth of a city in this day and age of the world depends upon a variety of contending factors. First and foremost is the question of railroad facilities. Whether this city has such facilities in this direction as will insure its continued growth is a mooted point, but it seems that with two railroads the city is in a position to give its manufactured products com- paratively easy access to the outside world. Certainly conditions will be
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improved when the road is built through from Fergus Falls to Detroit by way of Pelican Rapids. At different times in the past a railroad has been projected to run from a point on the Great Northern, probably at Camp- bell, northeast to Fergus Falls and diagonally across the county to Perham. Such a road would open up the interior of the county and be of great benefit to the county in general and to Fergus Falls in particular.
The great need of the city at the present time is very apparent to any one who visits it in the spring of the year. The first view a stranger gets of its streets is not prepossessing and it is not too much to say that if the two main streets-Lincoln avenue and Mill street-were paved it would actually add to the prosperity of the whole city within a very short time. It is the avowed policy of the present city administration to pave these two streets. An improved lighting system is also very much needed and the prospects are that this feature will receive attention in the near future. A commercial club has been organized within the past year, which promises to be of real benefit to the city. They are planning to assist in an advisory capacity every movement which has for its purpose the improvement of the city along any particular line. The city has the possibilities of growth, but only a progressive citizenry can bring it about-and only the future can tell the story.
The directory which follows gives a complete list of all the business and professional interests of the city :
Abstractors-C. L. Alexander, Barke & Barke. N. F. Field.
Agricultural Implements-O. Bertelsen & Co., Hille & Wagner. G. P. Hoffman. Mah- ler & Straus, E. J. Webber Company.
Artists-Mrs. E. B. Hunt.
Auctioneers-Chris Johnson, William Courteney.
Automobiles-A. J. Anderson, Bergerud, Miller & Loseth. J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, C. G. Elliott. Fergus Automobile Company, Isaacson Brothers. Martin Johnson Auto Company, P. K. Onstead J. E. H. Hanson, W. H. Will.
Automobile Tire Repairers-G. S. Adair, Haller Brothers, Fergus Auto Company. Bakers-E. Erickson, C. W. Kaddatz.
Bands and Orchestras-Anderson Orchestra, City Band, City Orchestra. Hand's Orchestra, Elks Band. Park Region L. C. Band.
Banks-Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Fergus Falls National Bank. First National Bank. First State Bank, Scandia State Bank.
Barbers-E. A. Brown, T. C. Halverson, P. A. Honeycutt, Katzenberger & Bates, T. T. Nelson, Wick & Puckett, John Leite. Fred Evenson.
Bicycles-A. N. Jorstad, J. D. Lightfoot, O. Bertelsen & Company.
Billiards-Connolly Brothers. P. K. Onstad. I. S. Bunker.
Blacksmiths-E. H. Beers, Claypool & Barhard, A. J. Fellows. Henry Kugler. Ole Larson, Sevrin Larson, F. L. Shaw. C. H. Welby.
Boat Builders-J. N. Winana, E. H. Beers.
Booksellers and Stationers-J. H. Beise, J. N. Palmquist. W. R. Smith, Westberg & Kissinger.
Boots and Shoes-Anderson Department Store. C. J. Bender, Berglund & Rolandson,
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Eames' Toggery Shop, Edward Elofson, Field & Hanson, Golden Rule Department Store, Grass Clothing Company, Home Trade Shoe Store, Iverson & Lee (Incorporated), Otter Tuil County Co-Operative Company, J. T. Wilson, Leader Department Store, J. C. Penney Company.
Bottlers-Fergus Beverage Company, Fergus Ice Cream Company.
Brewers Fergus Brewing Company.
Broom Manufacturers-Blood Broom Manufacturing Company.
'Building Material-Elliott & Whitson, Fergus Lumber Company, Fergus Manufac- turing Company, M. T. McMahon, Sandbeck Lumber Company, Scandia Sash & Door Company, J. A. A. Winther & Son.
Building and Loan-Northwestern Building Association, Otter Tail Building & Loan Association, Park Region Loan & Building Association.
Carpenters and Contractors-M. J. Albjerg, A. J. Aunan, Thorvald Brothen, George Glasgow, Moritz Grolimund, W. J. Gustafson, O. P. Halvorson, Peter Haugen. J. P'. Johnson, Lmson-Gray Company, John Lauritzen. I. M. Otteson. M. M. Noyes. Peterson & Bergerson, O. L. Ronning, Scandia Sash & Door Company, William Schueller, Adolph Smith, T. J. Stang, E. G. Stolson, Swanson Electric Company, W. H. Thompson, T. J. Wilson, J. C. Woodworth.
Carpets, Rugs and Draperies-E. T. Barnard, Martin Benson, Golden Rule Depart. ment Store. Johnson & Company.
Casket Manufacturers-Fergus Casket Works.
Chiropractors-Arthur Anger, Gustav Henderson.
Cigar Manufacturers-Hunt Brothers, Kreutzer Brothers.
Civil Engineers-Hans Blegen, M. B. Starr, O. G. Molden.
Clothes Cleaners-Widegren & Sterrett, R. T. Eames.
Clothing and Gents' Furnishings-Anderson Department Store. C. J. Bender. Eames' Toggery Shop, Field & Hanson, Grass Clothing Company. Iverson & Lee ( Incorporated ). O. J. Schei, Haagenson & Johnson, J. C. Penney Company.
Coal and Wood -- J. W. Campbell, Elliott & Whitson, Fergus Fuel Company.
Collections-C. L. Alexander, Fergus Adjustment Company, Fergus Falls Collections Agency, Hilton & Thompson, Chris Johnson, F. J. Pfefferle.
Colleges and Schools-Northwestern College, Park Region Luther College, Trinity Lutheran Parochial School.
Confectioners-F. W. Balfour, John Brenden, E. Erickson, A. C. Glorvigen, Peter Lein, Mirras Brothers, P. J. Skaar, Halvor Oftelie. Edward Elofson. Charles Nyberg.
Creameries-Fergus Co-Operative Creamery Association, Fergus Ice Cream Company. Dentists-G. E. Bell, G. W. Harris, H. J. Laffitte, J. E. Metcalf, Nelson & Nelson, H. E. Niebels, John Schacht, F. N. Whittaker.
Dray Lines-Nels Dahling. H. L. Hansen, C. H. Newton. Pioneer Dray Line, Swan- son Transfer Line.
Dressmakers-Miss Augusta Braaten, Miss Mathilde Hansen, Mrs. Jeanette Johnson, Langvick Sisters.
Druggists J. H. Beise, J. T. Johnson, J. N. Palmquist. Westberg & Kissinger. Le & Neison.
Dry Goods-Anderson Department Store, Golden Rule Department Store. Leader Department Store. Otter Tail County Co-Operative Company, Solen-Gates Company, J. C. Penney Company.
Electric Supplies-Municipal Electric Light Store. Otter Tail Power Company, Swan- son Electric Company.
Elevators-Farmers Co-Operative Elevator Company. Fergus Flour Mills Company. Red River Mills.
Engines and Threshers-J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, Hille & Wagner, Mahler & Straus.
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Engravers-Hansen Brothers, J. N. Rovang, F. J. Straub, A. M. Fargeman. O. D. Leidal.
Express Companies-Great Northern Express Company, Northern Express Company. Florists-Fergus Falls Floral Company.
Flour and Feeds Mills-Fergus Flour Mills Company, Red River Milling Company, O. J. Fossen.
Foundry-Fergus Iron Works Company.
Fruit-Fergus Fruit Company.
Furnaces Joseph Bauer, Fergus Iron Works Company. William Gulena, Frankoviz Hardware Company, Taylor Hardware Company, George Langdon.
Furniture-Anderson & Sanden, E. T. Barnard, Martin Benson, Johnson Furniture Company.
Garages-Bergerud & Miller, C. G. Elliott, Fergus Automobile Company. Martin Johnson Auto Company.
Grain and Stocks-C. E. Lewis & Company.
Grocers -( Wholesale) Beall & McGowan Company, ( Retail) Anderson Department Store, W. T. Bell, Edward Bye. H. P. Bye & Company, M. J. Fossen. Golden Rule Depart- ment Store, J. P. Haave, E. J. Larson, Peter Lein, Mrs. Andrina Lerfald, O. C. Olson, Otter Tail County Co-Operative Company, P. M. Ree.
Hardware-Frankoviz Hardware Company, Maire & Bell Hardware Company. Sture- Lein Hardware Company. Taylor Hardware Company.
Harness-C. J. Hansen Company, J. C. Knoff.
Hides-E. J. Ness.
Hospitals-Fergus Falls State Hospital for Insane, St. Luke's Hospital. Wright Hospital.
Hotels-Bismarck Hotel, Christiania Hotel, Grand Hotel, Hotel Cecil, Hotel Kad- datz, Metropolitan Hotel, Occidental Hotel, Park Hotel.
Ice Cream Manufacturers-Fergus Ice Cream Company, Mirras Brothers
Ice Dealers J. W. Campbell, Fergus Brewing Company.
Ice Plow Manufacturer-Fergus Falls Rotary Ice Plow Company.
Jewelers-A. M. Fargeman, Hanson Brothers, O. D. Leidal, J. N. Rovang. F. II. Straub.
Junk Dealers-Reuben Sigelman.
Justices of the Peace-Chris Johnson, F. J. Pfefferle.
Knitting Works Fergus Falls Knitting Works.
Kodaks, Cameras and Supplies-J. H. Beise. J. N. Palmquist. Westberg & Kissinger. Ladies' Ready-to-Wear-Anderson Department Store. Golden Rule Department Store, Leader Department Store, Solem-Gates Company, Otter Tail County Co-Operative Com- pany, J. C. Penney Company.
Laundries-J. B. Auxer, Fergus Falls Steam Laundry.
Lawyers -- C. L. Alexander, Barke & Barke, W. P. Bayley, James A. Brown, Leonard Eriksson, N. F. Field, G. W. Frankberg, Hilton & Thompson, J. W. Mason. N. T. Moen, G. C. Olmstead, C. J. Sawbridge, J. L. Townley.
Libraries-Fergus Falls Public Library.
Lime, Plaster and Cement-J. W. Campbell, Elliott & Whitson, Fergus Fuel Com- pany.
Livery, Feed and Sale Stables-J. B. Claypool, J. L. Cook, J. V. Matthews. I .. L. Riley.
Lumber-Fergus Lumber Company, M. T. McMahon, Sandbeck . Lumber Company. J. A. A. Winther & Son.
Marble and Granite Works Fergus Marble Works.
Meat Markets-The Anderson Market, Frey Ment Market, Theodore Johnson. Peter- son & Sorenson, C. E. Carlson.
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Midwives-Mrs. Annie Kjell.
Milk and Cream-Fergus Ice Cream Company.
Milliners-Miss Helga Hage, Leader Department Store, Miss L. B. Overwick.
Mortgage Expiration Lists-Miss Bertha Herrmann.
Motorcycles-O. Bertelsen & Company, A. N. Jorstad, P. K. Onstad, John L. Light- foot.
Music Teachers-Miss M. G. Bertelsen, Mrs. C. A. Billings, Miss Lorena Billings, Mrs. R. I .. Button, Miss M. A. Gilloley, Miss A. A. Lewis, Northwestern College School of Music, Martin Read. Jr., Miss Augusta Schacht, M. C. Jonshoy, Mrs. E. T. Ferry, Mrs. A. C. Dorrum.
Musical Merchandise-A. J. Anderson, J. N. Rovang.
News Depots Westberg & Kissinger, W. R. Smith.
Newspapers-Fergus Falls Daily and Weekly Journal, Fergus Falls Free Press, Fergus Falls Ugeblad, Wheclock's Weekly.
Oculists and Aurists-J. A. Freeborn, T. N. Kittelson.
Oil Dealers-Minnesota Oil Company, Standard Oil Company.
Optometrists-I. D. Leidal, Miss Mary Fargeman, F. J. Straub.
Osteopaths-J. L. Curtis.
Meat Packing Companies-Fergus Packing Company.
Painters-Barsness & Ronning, C. G. Elliott, Walter Peterson, K. F. Rosenberg, A H. Sahol, H. B. Shonts, George Wright, J. F. Horton.
Phonographs and Talking Machines-J. N. Rovang, Iver Leidal, F. J. Straub, Otto Benson.
Photographers-Mrs. E. H. Andrews, W. N. Babajoff, Axel Carlson, W. T. Oxley.
Physicians and Surgeons Baker & Burnap, W. W. Drought, C. O. Estrem, J. A. Freeborn, O. M. Haugan, T. N. Kittelson, John Lyng, Frank Naegeli, O. T. Sherping, J. G. Vigen.
Piano Tuners-A. A. Aasen, Martin Read, Jr.
Pianos and Organs-A. J. Anderson, O. Bertelsen & Company, J. N. Rovang, John- son Furniture Company.
Plumbing and Heating-Joseph Bauer, Frankoviz Hardware Company, William Galena, G. R. Langdon, Taylor Hardware Company.
Potato Cutter Manufacturer-J. N. Winans.
Potato Warehouse-Barclay & Company.
Printers-Fergus Falls Free Press, Fergus Journal Company, Lundeen Printing Company, Ricker Printery, Ugebald Publishing Company, Wheelock & Mantor.
Real Estate, Loan and Mortgage Companies-C. L. Alexander, O. J. Anderson, R. J. Angus. C. D. Baker, Barke & Barke. F. G. Barrows. W. P. Baylay, W. J. Breen, E. P. Brush, N. M. Faunce, Fergus Land Company, Robert Hannah, F. F. Hodgson, Chris Johnson, A. R. Kitts, Lake & Lowry, W. H. McBride. Moulton & LeDean, Park Region Land & Loan Company, F. J. Pfefferle. B. H. Phinney, G. H. Rink, M. H. Stand, E. M. Townsend, Ulland Land & Loan Company, Charles Wright Company, Wright Investment Company.
Repair Shops-Moritz Grolimund, H. H. Mau.
Restaurants John Brenden, Christiania Cafe, M. D. Curry. E. Erickson, O. T. Flaget, A. C. Glorvigen. R. H. Grossmann, Miss M. S. Hanson. C. W. Kaddatz, Peter Lein, C. A. Nyberg, Mrs. Christena Tagg.
Sash and Doors-Fergus Manufacturing Company, Scandia Sash & Door Company. Sewing Machine O. Bertelsen & Company, Golden Rule Department Store, J. N. Rovang, Singer Sewing Machine Company, M. Benson.
Shoemakers-Fergus Falls Shoe Hospital, O. H. Toftely.
. Silos-Charles Wright. Company. George Bomney, Mahler & Strauss. Sandbeck Lumber Company.
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Stemship Agents-Chris Johnson, Oliver Olson, M. H. Stang.
Stenographers-Miss Bertha Herrman, J. P. Vandersluis.
Storage and Transfer-O. J. Slettede & Son.
Tailors-HI. J. Broeker, T. H. Johnson, J. M. Swenson, W. F. Tank.
Tea and Coffee-Grand Union Tea Company.
Telephone and Telegraph-Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company, Western Union Telegraph Company
Theatres-Bijou Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, Lyric Theatre.
Tile Manufacturer-Denniston Tile Works.
Tinners-J. F. Adelsman. Joseph Bauer, Frankoviz Hardware Company, Sture-Lein Hardware Company, Taylor Hardware Company.
Typewriters Charles Wright Company, John Lightfoot.
Undertakers and Embalmers-E. T. Barnard, Martin Benson, Johnson Furniture Company.
Upholsterers-O. J. Slettede & Son. Soren Field.
Vacuum Cleaning-O. J. Slettede & Son.
Variety Stores-Fair Store. T. P. Peterson, Shackel & Pfefferle.
Veterinary Surgeons-O. A. Norman, A. O. Rustad.
Wall Paper-W. R. Smith, O. J. Sahol.
Water, Light and Power-Municipal Electric Light Store, Municipal Water Works Office, Otter Tail Power Company.
Woolen Goods-Northern Woolen Company, Red River Woolen Company.
Woolen Mills-Fergus Falls Knitting Works, Fergus Falls Woolen Milis Company.
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CHAPTER XXX.
REMINISCENCES OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY, 1869-1872. By Ole Jorgens.
On the 5th of July, 1869, I settled on my homestead claim on section 33, township 133, range 40, the township now being the town of Aurdal. With me came Edwin Anderson and my wife's uncle, Stengrim Syversen. Anderson settled on an adjoining quarter section next to my claim, on the west side. His claim took in several fractions on both sides of Otter Tail river. There were only three white families in Aurdal township at this time. These families were Engebret Nelson, John Anderson and Erik Erikson Bergen.
Our first temporary neighbors were a band of Indians, all in nature's artless simplicity. We did not know whether they were unfriendly Sioux or harmless Chippewas-we lived in Minnesota during the summer of 1862, and now seeing this large camp of Indians on the river bank near us, we could not help but surmise what might happen to us next. Inside of one week's time after our arrival and settlement came a few more settlers; the first were the Torguson brothers, the Halland brothers and the Halden family, the latter settled inside the township of Fergus Falls.
Into Tordenskjold township came several new settlers during the early part of the summer of 1869. There all settlers had to hold their claims as squatters, as the township was not yet subdivided into sections and quarter sections.
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